bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mitochondrial dysfunction induced by bedaquiline as an anti-Toxoplasma alternative
Authors: Shi Yuehong , Jiang Yucong , Qiu Haolong , Hu Dandan , Song Xingju 
Published: December 2023

AbstractToxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic parasite that infects one-third of the world’s population and nearly all warm-blooded animals. Due to the complexity of T. gondii’s life cycle, available treatment options have limited efficacy. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop new compounds or repurpose existing drugs with potent anti-Toxoplasma activity. This study demonstrates that bedaquiline (BDQ), an FDA-approved diarylquinoline antimycobacterial drug for the treatment of tuberculosis, potently inhibits the tachyzoites of T. gondii. At a safe concentration, BDQ displayed a dose-dependent inhibition on T. gondii growth with a half-maximal effective concentration (EC50) of 4.95 μM. Treatment with BDQ significantly suppressed the proliferation of T. gondii tachyzoites in the host cell, while the invasion ability of the parasite was not affected. BDQ incubation shrunk the mitochondrial structure and decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP level of T. gondii parasites. In addition, BDQ induced elevated ROS and led to autophagy in the parasite. By transcriptomic analysis, we found that oxidative phosphorylation pathway genes were significantly disturbed by BDQ-treated parasites. More importantly, BDQ significantly reduces brain cysts for the chronically infected mice. These results suggest that BDQ has potent anti-T. gondii activity and may impair its mitochondrial function by affecting proton transport. This study provides bedaquiline as a potential alternative drug for the treatment of toxoplasmosis, and our findings may facilitate the development of new effective drugs for the treatment of toxoplasmosis.
In vitro ruminal-microbial fermentation pattern: nutritional insights about some agricultural crop mesocarps (peel) in ruminant nutrition
Authors: Kazemi Mohsen 
Published: December 2023

AbstractDifferent agricultural crop wastes (ACW) such as mesocarps (peel) are annually produced after consuming their edible parts in the world without any scientific information about their nutritional potential. Therefore, a study was conducted to determine the ruminal-microbial fermentation pattern and nutritional potential of some crop mesocarps (peel) including different species of melons (Watermelon, Galia melon, Rockmelon, Til sabz, and Til atashi) as well as cucumber and eggplant using common and standard laboratory methods. The amount of crude protein (CP) varied from 7.19 to 19.1% of dry matter (DM) for Til sabz and cucumber mesocarps, respectively. The highest (34.1% of DM) and lowest (15.4%) content of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) were related to eggplant and Til sabz peels, respectively (p < 0.05). The content of non-fiber carbohydrates (NFC) varied from 38.7% for eggplant peel to 66.6% for Til sabz. All mesocarps had a low DM percentage (4.88% of DM for cucumber to 8.45 for eggplant). Rockmelon peel had the highest amount of calcium (5.25 g/kg DM) and magnesium (5.75 g/kg DM) compared with the other mesocarps (p < 0.05). The highest amounts of potassium (33.4 g/kg of DM), sodium (7.15 g/kg of DM), and zinc (21 mg/kg of DM) were observed in the peels of watermelon, Til atashi, and cucumber, respectively (p < 0.05). The potential of ruminal-microbial gas production also differed from 55.6 ml/200 mg of DM for eggplant to 63.1 ml for Til sabz peel. Except for cucumber (8.75 MJ/kg of DM) and eggplant (8.71 MJ), other mesocarps (different melon species) had almost similar metabolizable energy (ME, 9.06–9.50 MJ/kg of DM). Among the studied mesocarps, the lowest ruminal-microbial DM and organic matter (OM) digestibility was also observed in eggplant and cucumber (p < 0.05). Gallia melon had the highest acid-base buffering capacity (267 mEq×10− 3,p < 0.05). According to our findings, the mesocarps of melons showed a higher nutritional value than the cucumber and eggplant. In general, Til sabz exhibited a notable favorite and superior nutritional characteristic compared with the other mesocarps.
Enrichment and toxic effects of triclosan on aquatic macrophytes Eichhornia crassipes and Hydrilla verticillata exposed to triclosan in sediments
Authors: Yan Xiuxiu , Hu Fangyu , An Jing , Yin Yongchao , Zhang Lingyan , Wei Shuhe 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Background
Clarifying the enrichment and response processes of triclosan (TCS) in hydrophytes is crucial for assessing the ecological risk of TCS in aquatic environments. This study delves into the chronic toxic effects of TCS in floating plant Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms and submerged plant Hydrilla verticillata (L. f.) Royle exposed to TCS sediments through hydroponic experiments.

Results
The absorption abilities of hydrophytes to TCS were species-dependent. The concentration of TCS in the roots of E. crassipes was significantly higher than that in its leaves, while the absorption capacities of the leaves of H. verticillata to TCS were stronger than that in its roots. Furthermore, the physiological indexes, including chlorophyll concentration, soluble protein concentration, and antioxidant enzyme activities, showed a significant decrease with the exposure concentration and time of TCS. Although the chlorophyll and soluble protein concentrations and the antioxidant enzyme activities in the leaves were initially increased at a low concentration of TCS (at 7 days of exposure), they decreased significantly over time. Compared to the leaves, the physiological indexes of the roots were more sensitive to the ecotoxicological effects of TCS. The inhibition effects of TCS on H. verticillata were significantly higher than those on E. crassipes, which may be associated with the absorbing abilities of TCS and the growth characteristics of the plants. Pearson’s correlation analysis found a significant negative correlation between the TCS concentrations and the antioxidant enzyme activities in the plants.

Conclusions
This study highlighted the differences in the uptake and enrichment process and toxic effects of TCS by different aquatic plants. Compared with E. crassipes, H. verticillata is more sensitive to TCS toxicity.
Healthcare‑associated infections in intensive care unit patients with and without COVID-19: a single center prospective surveillance study
Authors: Bloch Nando , Rüfenacht Susanne , Ludwinek Magdalena , Frick Waldemar , Kleger Gian-Reto , Schneider Florian , Albrich Werner C. , Flury Domenica , Kuster Stefan P , Schlegel Matthias , Kohler Philipp 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Background
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic led to a global increase in healthcare-associated infections (HAI) among intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Whether this increase is directly attributable to COVID-19 or whether the pandemic indirectly (via staff shortages or breaches in infection prevention measures) led to this increase, remains unclear. The objectives of this study were to assess HAI incidence and to identify independent risk factors for HAI in COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 ICU patients.

Methods
We established a monocentric prospective HAI surveillance in the medical ICU of our tertiary care center from September 1st 2021 until August 31st 2022, during circulation of the SARS-CoV-2 delta and omicron variants. We consecutively included patients ≥ 18 years of age with an ICU length of stay of > 2 calendar days. HAI were defined according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control definitions. HAI rate was calculated per 1,000 patient-days or device-days; risk ratios (RR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) for COVID-19 versus non-COVID-19 patients were calculated. We used multivariable Cox regression to identify independent risk factors for HAI. As a proxy for institutional COVID-19 burden, weekly COVID-19 density (i.e. percentage of COVID-19 patients among all ICU patients) was included in the model as time-dependent co-variable.

Results
We included 254 patients, 64 (25.1%) COVID-19 and 190 (74.9%) non-COVID-19 patients; 83 HAI in 72 patients were recorded, thereof 45 ventilator-associated lower respiratory tract infections (VA-LRTI) (54.2%) and 18 blood stream infections (BSI) (21.6%). HAI incidence rate was 49.1/1,000 patient-days in COVID-19 and 22.5/1,000 patient-days in non-COVID-19 patients (RR 2.2, 95%-CI 1.4–3.4). This result was mainly due to different VA-LRTI rates (40.3 vs. 11.7/1,000 ventilator days, p < 0.001), whereas BSI rates were not statistically different (9.4 vs. 5.6/1,000 patient days, p = 0.27). Multivariable analysis identified COVID-19 as main risk factor for HAI development, whereas age, mechanical ventilation and COVID-19 density were not significant.

Conclusions
These data from the fourth and fifth wave of the pandemic show a higher HAI incidence in COVID-19 than in non-COVID-19 ICU patients, mainly due to an increase in pulmonary infections. A diagnosis of COVID-19 was independently associated with HAI development, whereas institutional COVID-19 burden was not.
Quantifying Surgical Completeness in Patients with Aspirin Exacerbated Respiratory Disease
Authors: Levin Marc , Chan Yvonne , Sommer Doron D. , Thamboo Andrew , Lee John M. 
Published: December 2023

Background Aspirin exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) in patients who have had sinus surgery remains a management challenge. Aspirin desensitization and biologics are additional treatment options. It remains unclear if patients require a more comprehensive surgery prior to implementing such additional therapies. The purpose of this study was to quantify prior surgery completeness in AERD patients at a tertiary rhinology practice. Methods Paranasal sinus CT scans were reviewed by four academic rhinologists to assess surgery completeness. Using a published CT grading system, each sinus was graded on the completeness of surgery and middle turbinate reduction. A score out of 14 was calculated for each patient (7 per side). Results Sixty-one patients with AERD out of 141 available were included. Mean inter-rater agreement across all sinuses was moderate (k = 0.42). The mean completeness score was 6.7/14. The following procedures were rated as complete (means): uncinectomy (L: 84%, R: 82%, k = 0.44), maxillary (L: 83%, R: 77%, k = 0.32), middle turbinate reduction (L: 45%, R: 46%, k = 0.31), anterior ethmoid (L: 35%, R: 39%, k = 0.51), sphenoid (L: 36%, R: 35%, k = 0.4), posterior ethmoid (L: 30%, R: 30%, k = 0.48), frontal (L: 22%, R: 21%, k = 0.46). Conclusion Prior surgery in AERD patients were mostly deemed incomplete. Uncinectomy and maxillary antrostomy are the most common procedures previously performed. It remains toe seen whether this would be considered ‘adequate’ surgery or more ‘complete’ surgery is required to achieve greater disease control.
Sphericity of lymph nodes using 3D-CT predicts metastasis in lung cancer patients
Authors: Sugai Kazuto , Sekine Yasuharu , Kawamura Tomoyuki , Yanagihara Takahiro , Saeki Yusuke , Kitazawa Shinsuke , Kobayashi Naohiro , Kikuchi Shinji , Goto Yukinobu , Ichimura Hideo , Sato Yukio 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Background
The presence of mediastinal lymph node metastasis is important because it is related to the treatment and prognosis of lung cancer. Although prevalently used, evaluation of lymph nodes is not always reliable. We introduced sphericity as a criterion for evaluating morphologic differences between metastatic and nonmetastatic nodes.

Methods
We reviewed the cases of 66 patients with N2 disease and of 68 patients with N0-1 disease who underwent lobectomy with mediastinal dissection between January 2012 and December 2021. The sphericity of the dissected station lymph nodes, which represents how close the node is to being a true sphere, was evaluated along with the diameter and volume. Each parameter was obtained and evaluated for ability to predict metastasis.

Results
Metastatic lymph nodes had a larger short-axis diameter (average: 8.2 mm vs. 5.4 mm, p < 0.001) and sphericity (average: 0.72 vs. 0.60, p < 0.001) than those of nonmetastatic lymph nodes. Short-axis diameter ≥ 6 mm and sphericity ≥ 0.60 identified metastasis with 76.2% sensitivity and 70.2% specificity (AUC = 0.78, p < 0.001) and 92.1% sensitivity and 53.9% specificity (AUC = 0.78, p < 0.001), respectively. For lymph nodes with a short-axis diameter ≥ 5 mm, sphericity ≥ 0.60 identified metastasis with 84.1% sensitivity and 89.3% specificity.

Conclusion
By using 3D-CT analysis to examine sphericity, we showed that metastatic lymph nodes became spherical. Our method for predicting lymph node metastasis based on sphericity of lymph nodes with a short-axis diameter ≥ 5 mm could do so with higher sensitivity than the conventional method, and with acceptable specificity.
Characterizing deaths among adult patients with severe acute respiratory infection: during the pre- and COVID-19 pandemic periods in Bangladesh, 2018–2022
Authors: Hassan Md Zakiul , Islam Md. Ariful , Shoshi Homayra Rahman , Hossain Md. Kamal , Shirin Tahmina , Chowdhury Fahmida 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Background
Severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) is a leading cause of mortality globally, peaking during the COVID-19 pandemic. We analyzed SARI-associated deaths during the pre-and-pandemic periods in Bangladesh to identify the contributing factors.

Methods
We analyzed data from hospital-based influenza surveillance at nine tertiary-level hospitals in Bangladesh. We considered March 2018–February 2020 as the pre-pandemic period and March 2020–February 2022 as the pandemic period and included adult (≥ 18 years) participants in our study. Surveillance physicians identified WHO-SARI case definition meeting inpatients and collected demographics, clinical characteristics, and outcomes at hospital discharge and 30 days post-discharge. We performed rRT-PCR for influenza and SARS-CoV-2 viruses on collected nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs. We used multivariable Cox's regression models to calculate the hazard ratio (HR) for factors associated with SARI deaths in these adult patients.

Results
We enrolled 4392 SARI patients during the pre-pandemic and 3824 SARI patients during the pandemic period. Case fatality ratio was higher during the pandemic: 13.62% (521) [in-hospital: 6.45% (247); post-discharge: 7.17% (274)] compared to pre-pandemic, 6.01% (264) [in-hospital: 2.01% (89), post-discharge: 4% (175)] (p < 0.001). Pre-pandemic, influenza was detected in 14% (37/264) of SARI deaths. Influenza was detected during the pandemic in 2.3% (12/521), SARS-CoV-2 in 41.8% (218/521), and both viruses in only one SARI death. History of smoking and the presence of 1 or more co-morbid conditions independently attributed to SARI deaths in adults in the pre-pandemic period. SARI deaths in such patients were also associated with respiratory difficulties on admission in both pre-pandemic (aHR 2.36; 95% CI:1.65–3.36) and pandemic period (aHR 2.30; 95% CI: 1.57–3.35) after accounting for age, sex, smoking status, presence of 1 or more co-morbid conditions, and detection of influenza and SARS-CoV-2 viruses.

Conclusions
During the pandemic, SARI mortality increased; influenza-associated mortality declined, and SARS-CoV-2 caused over a third of SARI deaths. Post-discharge mortality was higher than in-hospital mortality during both periods. Limiting premature discharge and strengthening post-discharge monitoring and nursing services could reduce unexpected deaths. Formative research to better understand post-discharge mortality is essential to reduce SARI deaths.
Phenetic and cladistic analyses of Boraginaceae Juss.
Authors: Abdel-Hameed Usama K. , Obaid Wael A. , Hassan Walaa A. , Al Shaye Najla A. , El-Ghany Salma S. Abd 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Background
The systematics of family Boraginaceae draw attention of many botanists for many years. The current study's primary goals are to clarify phenetic and phylogenetic relationships within Boraginaceae according to morphology and molecular characteristics and to evaluate the morphological characters that can be applied in systematics of Boraginaceae.

Results
The macromorphological characters of 39 species, 2 subspecies and 5 varieties of wild boraginaceous plants were extracted and subjected to phenetic and principal component analysis that was performed for detecting the most important characters differentiating the studied taxa. The generated dendrogram is divided into five clear groups; Arnebia decumbens var. macrocalyx and Heliotropium curassavicum are the most distantly related species, while Echium angustifolium subsp. angustifolium and E. angustifolium subsp. sericeum are the most closely related species. The phylogenetic relations among the examined taxa were determined using DNA barcoding of the rbcl gene. The phylogenetic analysis generated a cladogram showing that among the studied taxa of Boraginaceae there is a bolster for three clear lineages with resolved relationships.

Conclusions
It is concluded that the chosen morphological characters were important in species delimitation, where more than half of the total morphological variations (67.94%) were explained by the first two principal components, indicating that the morphological characters showed high variability, which is useful for discrimination, and these characters, in addition to molecular characters, shared in drawing the phenetic and phylogenetic relationships within Boraginaceae that were considered not monophyletic groups. Boraginaceae contained some monophyletic genera such as Heliotropium and Alkanna, while the other studied taxa expressed a non-monophyletic relationships.
The Structure of the Pacinian Corpuscles Considered with Reference to the Homologies of the Several parts composing them
Authors: Schäfer Edward 
Published: December 2023

ABSTRACT
Studied generally, a Pacinian corpuscle may be looked upon as consisting of three parts—the central fibre, the core, and the capsular enclosure. I propose in the first place to note down the result of observations upon the structural appearances presented by each of these parts, as ordinarily met with, without entering into the consideration of the variations which present themselves more than may seem necessary for the elucidation of the structure; and then to discuss briefly the homologies which the component parts of the Pacinian corpuscle severally bear to the parts which compose the entering nerve, at the same time indicating the manner in which the structures of the one appear to become continued into those of the other.
Some Account of Modern Researches into the Nature of Yeast
Authors: Bennett A. W. 
Published: December 2023

ABSTRACT
The long-received hypothesis that yeast is genetically connected with various species of mould has been subjected to severe criticism by de Bary, 1 and still more recently by Reess,2 who have clearly shown that we have at present no sufficient reason for assuming a genetic connection between the two groups of organisms. Since his discovery of the occurrence of ascospores in beer-yeast, Reess has, on the contrary, endeavoured to establish the claim of ferment-fungi to be considered as organisms sui generis allied to Endomyces and Taphrina (Exoascus).
On the Pathology of Sheep-Pox.1
Authors: Klein Dr. 
Published: December 2023

ABSTRACT
Variola Ovina, or sheep-pox, is a disease which, although it is not communicable to man, and possesses a specific contagium of its own, very closely resembles human smallpox, both as regards the development of the morbid process and the anatomical lesions which accompany it. This correspondence is so complete that it cannot be doubted that the pathogeny of the two diseases is the same. That is to say, that whatever explanation can be given of the way in which the material cause or contagium produces its effects in the one case will also serve as a key to the understanding of the other. The present investigation was therefore undertaken in the confidence that the application of the experimental method to the investigation of the ovine disease would not only yield results of value, as contributory to our knowledge of the infective process in general, but would throw special light on the pathology of smallpox.
On Nematode Hæmatozoa in the Dog
Authors: Lewis T. R. 
Published: December 2023

ABSTRACT
When making a microscopical examination of some glandtissue from the mesentery of a pariah dog, I observed that the sanguineous fluid squeezed out of the preparation on the slide contained numerous minute nematode worms in a state of great activity, and presenting at first sight a marked resemblance, both as to the character of their movements and their size, to the hæmatozoa formerly described as existing in human blood. I had long been desirous of obtaining living specimens of a canine hæmatozoon for comparison with those found in man, though not with any very sanguine hope of thus pronouncing as to their identity, since it is well known that the embryos of many Filariœ of widely differing size and habitat present no appreciable difference either of size or form.
OPTIMIZATION OF LOGISTICS PROVIDERS’ ACTIVITIES IN THE CONTEXT OF BUILDING NEW SUPPLY CHAINS
Authors: Sergeeva Tatiana G. , Zyatikova Lyudmila A. 
Published: December 2023

Background. Currently, there is a process of redistribution of existing cargo flows, an active search for new alternative options for cargo delivery is underway, new logistics chains are being formed. In the rapidly changing conditions of the functioning of the country’s economy, the importance of road and rail transport is increasing. Road transport is the fastest–changing channel in the development of new transport chains. The importance of rail transport also remains very high, especially when transporting goods over long distances. Improving the efficiency of logistics companies in the construction of new transport corridors directly depends on the choice of the company’s business strategy and the development of the company as a whole. The purpose of the current study was to optimize the activities of logistics companies by determining the feasibility of developing its own fleet of rolling stock, warehouses and terminals of a logistics company.
Materials and methods. Methods of system analysis, comparison, systems theory, logistics, outsourcing, as well as the architecture of logistics systems with the participation of providers were used. The tools for evaluating the efficiency of logistics companies are presented, which allow us to draw conclusions about the required number of transport infrastructure facilities, about the choice of the type of transport necessary for the full development of a given cargo flow in new supply chains.
Results. The analysis of the method of minimizing the costs of logistics companies, using the method of comparative analysis, which takes into account the costs of maintaining transport infrastructure facilities, the costs of maintaining and servicing vehicles, the costs of organizing transportation, by searching for the break-even point of a logistics company.
Conclusion. A methodology has been developed for assessing the feasibility of involving a logistics provider in the implementation of transportation and transferring part of the work to it on outsourcing terms.