bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Accumulation of reactive carbonyl species in roots as the primary cause of salt stress‐induced growth retardation of Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Sultana Most. Sharmin , Sakurai Chisato , Biswas Md. Sanaullah , Szabados László , Mano Jun'ichi 
Published: February 2024

AbstractSalt stress on plants induces an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS), which then leads to the formation of reactive carbonyl species (RCS) such as acrolein and 4‐hydroxy‐(E)‐2‐nonenal (HNE), potent cytotoxins generated from lipid peroxides. We recently showed that salt‐stress treatment of Arabidopsis thaliana plants increased RCS levels, and exogenously added RCS‐scavenging chemicals alleviated the stress symptoms, indicating that RCS were responsible for the tissue damage in salt‐stressed plants. To obtain deeper insights into the role of RCS in stressed plants, we here analyzed changes in the levels of various RCS in the roots and shoots of A. thaliana. NaCl (90 mM) addition to the culture medium as a salt‐stress treatment caused growth inhibition and leaf chlorosis. Carbonyl analysis using HPLC revealed that the stress treatment induced a 2‐fold increase in the root levels of RCS, including acrolein, HNE and 4‐hydroxy‐(E)‐2‐hexenal (HHE). In the shoots, basal levels and stress‐induced increases of the RCS were lower than in roots. In the transgenic A. thaliana plants that overexpress the RCS‐scavenging enzyme 2‐alkenal reductase (AER) cDNA under the β‐estradiol (β‐ED)‐responsive promoter, salt stress induced less damage than in the wild‐type under β‐ED supplementation. The AER overexpression suppressed the stress‐induced increases in HNE, acrolein, HHE and (E)‐2‐hexenal in roots and in HNE in leaves, but not the ROS increase. These results suggest that the RCS increase in roots was the primary cause of salt‐induced damages. Enhancing RCS‐scavenging abilities, such as by AER overexpression, could be a new strategy to confer salt‐stress tolerance to plants.
Auxiliary selection in Italian restructuring: An insight into the size of the clause
Authors: Amato Irene 
Published: February 2024

AbstractIn Standard Italian, restructuring clauses are characterized by apparently optional transparency effects in the choice of the clausal perfect auxiliary. In the perfect periphrasis, the auxiliary associated with the modal verb can be either HAVE or the one corresponding to the lexical verb (BE or HAVE). In this paper, I argue that there is no true optionality: different auxiliaries show up because the modal verb can select complements of different sizes. Assuming that auxiliary selection is a form of person Agree, different complement sizes determine different Agree domains. In particular, the “transparent” auxiliary results from a vP complement, while a TP complement leads to HAVE insertion.
First case of presumed trigemino‐oculomotor synkinesis in a dog
Authors: Pompilio Silvia , Scuttari Michela , Zerbetto Katia , Andreis Maria Elena , Tirrito Federica 
Published: February 2024

AbstractAn 11‐year old, intact male Border Collie was referred with a history of subacute and progressive left eye exophthalmos and mydriasis associated with reduced pupillary light reflex, ventrolateral strabismus, and absence of physiologic nystagmus in the left eye. Neuroanatomical localization was consistent with a left oculomotor neuropathy, involving the general somatic and visceral parasympathetic efferent components. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the head were performed. Imaging findings were consistent with an infectious‐inflammatory process involving the left retrobulbar space and regional muscles, extending intracranially through the left orbital fissure. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was collected from the cerebellomedullary cistern, and the analysis revealed albuminocytologic dissociation. The dog was treated with amoxicillin and clavulanic acid and prednisolone at anti‐inflammatory dose; a significant improvement of neurologic status was observed afterward. However, 4 weeks after the initial presentation, the dog showed an abnormal, bilateral adduction of both eyes and third eyelid protrusion of the left eye while chewing the leash; the dog's mental status was normal, and the patient did not appear to be in discomfort during these episodes. A presumptive diagnosis of acquired trigemino‐oculomotor synkinesis, induced by the intracranial inflammation was made. To the authors' best knowledge, this is the first case of presumed trigemino‐oculomotor synkinesis reported in veterinary medicine.
Does a program‐based cognitive behavioral therapy affect insomnia and depression in menopausal women? A randomized controlled trial
Authors: El‐Monshed Ahmed Hashem , Khonji Leena Mohamed , Altheeb Marwan , Saad Moustafa Tag El‐Melook , Elsheikh Mahmoud Ahmed , Loutfy Ahmed , Ali Ahmed Salah , El‐Gazar Heba E. , Fayed Sara Mohamed , Zoromba Mohamed A. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractBackgroundMenopausal women often complain of a range of physical and psychological symptoms known as menopausal syndrome. These symptoms are associated with fluctuating hormone levels, sleep disturbances, and mood swings.AimThis study aimed to examine the efficacy of a program‐based cognitive behavioral group therapy (CBT) for insomnia and depression among women experiencing menopause.MethodsA randomized controlled trial of 88 women experiencing menopause was conducted in Egypt from June to September 2022 in outpatient clinics at Mansoura University Hospitals in Egypt. Participants were randomly assigned to a control group (45 women) and an intervention group (43 women). The intervention group received 7 weeks of CBT sessions. Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Beck Depression Inventory 2nd Edition (BDI‐II) were administered before and after the intervention.ResultsIn the intervention group, there was a significant difference in scores of the subdomains of PSQI, including sleep efficiency, daytime dysfunction, subjective sleep quality, and sleep disturbance (t = 8.911, 11.77, 7.638, and 11.054, respectively), while no significant difference in domains of using sleep medication, sleep duration, and sleep latency. Significant improvements were observed between pre‐and‐post‐intervention in the intervention group for the total scores of PSQI, ISI, and BDII‐II (t = 12.711, 16.272, and 12.384, respectively), indicating a large effect size for the three studied variables (r = .81, .87, .8, respectively).Linking Evidence to ActionThis study demonstrated the efficacy of group CBT for lowering insomnia and depression in women experiencing menopause. Thus, results indicated the need of considering prompt and appropriate interventions such as CBT as a safe treatment option to prevent the aggravation of sleep and emotional problems for menopausal women.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05920460.
Zooming in on amphibians: Which is the smallest vertebrate in the world?
Authors: Bolaños Wendy H. , Dias Iuri Ribeiro , Solé Mirco 
Published: February 2024

AbstractDuring the last decades several miniaturized frogs have been described from different parts of the world. Those frogs, measuring less than 25 mm, show similar miniaturization features as the loss of phalanges in both the anterior and posterior limbs and the reduction of bone elements. However, there seems to be a limit regarding the minimum size of frogs and here we wanted to find an answer to the question: which is the smallest amphibian in the world? In 2019, an endemic species of toad known only from two localities in southern Bahia, Brazil, was studied. When we compared the size of adult representatives of this species with those of other species discovered in various parts of the world in the last decade, we observed that individuals of Brachycephalus pulex are the amphibians with the smallest total length recorded, thus qualifying them to bear the title of the tiniest anuran amphibian, and also tiniest vertebrate in the world.
Sympathetic transduction of cardiac sympathetic nerve activity in healthy, conscious sheep
Authors: Gimhani Dilsha , Shanks Julia , Pachen Mridula , Chang Joshua W‐H , Ramchandra Rohit 
Published: February 2024

AbstractSympathetic transduction is the study of how impulses of sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) affect end‐organ function. Recently, the transduction of resting bursts of muscle SNA (MSNA) has been investigated and shown to have a role in the maintenance of blood pressure through changes in vascular tone in humans. In the present study, we investigate whether directly recorded resting cardiac SNA (CSNA) regulates heart rate (HR), coronary blood flow (CoBF), coronary vascular conductance (CVC), cardiac output (CO) and mean arterial pressure. Instrumentation was undertaken to record CSNA and relevant vascular variables in conscious sheep. Recordings were performed at baseline, as well as after the infusion of a β‐adrenoceptor blocker (propranolol) to determine the role of β‐adrenergic signalling in sympathetic transduction in the heart. The results show that after every burst of CSNA, there was a significant effect of time on HR (n = 10, ∆: +2.1 ± 1.4 beats min–1, P = 0.002) and CO (n = 8, ∆: +100 ± 150 mL min–1, P = 0.002) was elevated, followed by an increase in CoBF (n = 9, ∆: +0.76 mL min–1, P = 0.001) and CVC (n = 8, ∆: +0.0038 mL min–1 mmHg–1, P = 0.0028). The changes in HR were graded depending on the size and pattern of CSNA bursts. The HR response was significantly attenuated after the infusion of propranolol. Our study is the first to explore resting sympathetic transduction in the heart, suggesting that CSNA can dynamically change HR mediated by an action on β‐adrenoceptors.
imageKey points
Sympathetic transduction is the study of how impulses of sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) affect end‐organ function.
Previous studies have examined sympathetic transduction primarily in the skeletal muscle and shown that bursts of muscle SNA alter blood flow to skeletal muscle and mean arterial pressure, although this has not been examined in the heart.
We investigated sympathetic transduction in the heart and show that, in the conscious condition, the size of bursts of SNA to the heart can result in incremental increases in heart rate and coronary blood flow mediated by β‐adrenoceptors.
The pattern of bursts of SNA to the heart also resulted in incremental increases in heart rate mediated by β‐adrenoceptors.
This is the first study to explore the transduction of bursts of SNA to the heart.
Spray Cooling Heat Transfer of a Two-Fluid Spray Atomizer
Authors: Hsieh Shou-Shing , Huang Ching-Feng , Lin Jhen , Chen Yu-Ru 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
The paper presents an experimental study on the droplet size and velocity, as well as temperature distribution, of a two-fluid atomizer (dj = 1.6 mm; spray nozzle exit diameter) through optical nonintrusive interferometric particle image (IPI) and particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements with five different air–liquid ratios (Rs) at three spray heights with three target-plate initial temperatures. Cold flow visualization was made for the spray height of 50 mm at 25 °C. The Saunter-mean diameter (d32) was measured at the target temperature of 25 °C without heating and found to be in the range of 34.22 μm to 42.62 μm in terms of a correlation with WedjRedj. The measured impact velocity at the spray height of 50 mm was of 10 m/s to 30 m/s with three different initial target temperatures. It was found that the impact velocity displayed a strong function of the initial temperature. Furthermore, both the cooling curve and transient boiling curve were obtained with the identified cooling/boiling parameters of the cooling rate, critical heat flux (CHF), Leidenfrost temperature (LFT), as well as the onset of nucleate boiling (ONB). The best cooling performance was found at R = 0.242 for a spray height of 50 mm with the corresponding cooling rate of −19.1 °C/s, CHF of 486 W/cm2, and heat transfer coefficient (HTC) of 2.85 W/cm2K.
The adaptation of bumblebees to extremely high elevation associated with their gut microbiota
Authors: Dong Jiu-Hong , Xu Xin , Ren Zong-Xin , Zhao Yan-Hui , Zhang Yaran , Chen Li , Wu You , Chen Guotao , Cao Ruiqing , Wu Qi , Wang Hong 
Published: February 2024

ABSTRACT

Bumblebees are among the most abundant and important pollinators for sub-alpine and alpine flowering plant species in the Northern Hemisphere, but little is known about their adaptations to high elevations. In this article, we focused on two bumblebee species,
Bombus friseanus
and
Bombus prshewalskyi
, and their respective gut microbiota. The two species, distributed through the Hengduan Mountains of southwestern China, show species replacement at different elevations. We performed genome sequencing based on 20 worker bee samples of each species. Applying evolutionary population genetics and metagenomic approaches, we detected genes under selection and analyzed functional pathways between bumblebees and their gut microbes. We found clear genetic differentiation between the two host species and significant differences in their microbiota. Species replacement occurred in both hosts and their bacteria (
Snodgrassella
) with an increase in elevation. These extremely high-elevation bumblebees show evidence of positive selection related to diverse biological processes. Positively selected genes involved in host immune systems probably contributed to gut microbiota changes, while the butyrate generated by gut microbiota may influence both host energy metabolism and immune systems. This suggests a close association between the genomes of the host species and their microbiomes based on some degree of natural selection.

IMPORTANCE

Two closely related and dominant bumblebee species, distributed at different elevations through the Hengduan Mountains of southwestern China, showed a clear genomic signature of adaptation to elevation at the molecular level and significant differences in their respective microbiota. Species replacement occurred in both hosts and their bacteria (
Snodgrassella
) with an increase in elevation. Bumblebees’ adaptations to higher elevations are closely associated with their gut microbiota through two biological processes: energy metabolism and immune response. Information allowing us to understand the adaptive mechanisms of species to extreme conditions is implicit if we are to conserve them as their environments change.
VirulenceFinder for
Enterococcus faecium
and
Enterococcus lactis
: an enhanced database for detection of putative virulence markers by using whole-genome sequencing data
Authors: Roer Louise , Kaya Hülya , Tedim Ana P. , Novais Carla , Coque Teresa M. , Aarestrup Frank M. , Peixe Luísa , Hasman Henrik , Hammerum Anette M. , Freitas Ana R. ,   On behalf of the ESCMID Study Group for Epidemiological Markers (ESGEM)
Published: February 2024

ABSTRACT

Enterococcus faecium
(
Efm
) is a leading cause of hospital-associated (HA) infections, often enriched in putative virulence markers (PVMs). Recently, the
Efm
clade B was assigned as
Enterococcus lactis
(
Elts
), which usually lack HA-
Efm
infection markers. Available databases for extracting PVM are incomplete and/or present an intermix of genes from
Efm
and
Enterococcus faecalis
, with distinct virulence profiles. In this study, we constructed a new database containing 27 PVMs [
acm, scm, sgrA, ecbA, fnm, sagA, hylEfm, ptsD, orf1481, fms15, fms21-fms20
(pili gene cluster 1, PGC-1),
fms14-fms17-fms13
(PGC-2),
empA-empB-empC
(PGC-3),
fms11-fms19-fms16
(PGC-4),
ccpA, bepA, gls20-glsB1,
and
gls33-glsB
] from nine reference genomes (seven
Efm
+ two
Elts
). The database was validated against these reference genomes and further evaluated using a collection of well-characterized
Efm
(
n
= 43) and
Elts
(
n
= 7) control strains, by assessing PVM presence/absence and its variants together with a genomic phylogeny constructed as single-nucleotide polymorphisms. We found a high concordance between the phylogeny and
in silico
findings of the PVM, with
Elts
clustering separately and mostly carrying
Elts-
specific PVM gene variants. Based on our validation results, we recommend using the database with raw reads instead of assemblies to avoid missing gene variants. This newly constructed database of 27 PVMs will enable a more comprehensive characterization of
Efm
and
Elts
based on WGS data. The developed database exhibits scalability and boasts a range of applications in public health, including diagnostics, outbreak investigations, and epidemiological studies. It can be further used in risk assessment for distinguishing between safe and unsafe enterococci.

IMPORTANCE
The newly constructed database, consisting of 27 putative virulence markers, is highly scalable and serves as a valuable resource for the comprehensive characterization of these closely related species using WGS data. It holds significant potential for various public health applications, including hospital outbreak investigations, surveillance, and risk assessment for probiotics and feed additives.
Influenza-like illness symptoms due to endemic human coronavirus reinfections are not influenced by the length of the interval separating reinfections
Authors: Sechan Ferdyansyah , Edridge Arthur W. D. , van Rijswijk Jacqueline , Jebbink Maarten F. , Deijs Martin , Bakker Margreet , Matser Amy , Prins Maria , van der Hoek Lia 
Published: February 2024

ABSTRACT

After 3 years of its introduction to humans, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been declared as endemic. Little is known about the severity of the disease manifestation that future infections may cause, especially when reinfections occur after humoral immunity from a previous infection or vaccination has waned. Such knowledge could inform policymakers regarding the frequency of vaccination. Reinfections by endemic human coronaviruses (HCoVs) can serve as a model system for SARS-CoV-2 endemicity. We monitored 44 immunocompetent male adults with blood sampling every 6 months (for 17 years), for the frequency of HCoV (re-)infections, using rises in N-antibodies of HCoV-NL63, HCoV-29E, HCoV-OC43, and HCoV-HKU1 as markers of infection. Disease associations during (re-)infections were examined by comparison of self-reporting records of influenza-like illness (ILI) symptoms, every 6 months, by all participants. During 8,549 follow-up months, we found 364 infections by any HCoV with a median of eight infections per person. Symptoms more frequently reported during HCoV infection were cough, sore throat, and myalgia. Two hundred fifty-one of the 364 infections were species-specific HCoV-reinfections, with a median interval of 3.58 (interquartile range 1.92–5.67) years. The length of the interval between reinfections—being either short or long—had no influence on the frequency of reporting ILI symptoms. All HCoV-NL63, HCoV-229E, HCoV-OC43, and HCoV-HKU1 (re-)infections are associated with the reporting of ILIs. Importantly, in immunocompetent males, these symptoms are not influenced by the length of the interval between reinfections.

IMPORTANCE
Little is known about the disease following human coronavirus (HCoV) reinfection occurring years after the previous infection, once humoral immunity has waned. We monitored endemic HCoV reinfection in immunocompetent male adults for up to 17 years. We found no influence of reinfection interval length in the disease manifestation, suggesting that immunocompetent male adults are adequately protected against future HCoV infections.
Patient safety culture in South America: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Pedroso Aline Cristina , Fernandes Fernanda Paulino , Tuma Paula , Vernal Sebastian , Pellizzari Marcelo , Seisdedos Mariana Graciela , Prieto Constanza , Wilckens Bernd Oberpaur , Villamizar Omar Javier Salamanca , Olaya Lilian Arlette Castaneda , Delgado Pedro , Cendoroglo Neto Miguel 
Published: February 2024

BackgroundEvery year, millions of patients suffer injuries or die due to unsafe and poor-quality healthcare. A culture of safety care is crucial to prevent risks, errors and harm that may result from medical assistance. Measurement of patient safety culture (PSC) identifies strengths and weaknesses, serving as a guide to improvement interventions; nevertheless, there is a lack of studies related to PSC in Latin America.AimTo assess the PSC in South American hospitals.MethodsA multicentre international cross-sectional study was performed between July and September 2021 by the Latin American Alliance of Health Institutions, composed of four hospitals from Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Colombia. The Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSOPSC V.1.0) was used. Participation was voluntary. Subgroup analyses were performed to assess the difference between leadership positions and professional categories.ResultsA total of 5695 records were analysed: a 30.1% response rate (range 25%–55%). The highest percentage of positive responses was observed in items related to patient safety as the top priority (89.2%). Contrarily, the lowest percentage was observed in items regarding their mistakes/failures being recorded (23.8%). The strongest dimensions (average score ≥75%) were organisational learning, teamwork within units and management support for patient safety (82%, 79% and 78%, respectively). The dimensions ‘requiring improvement’ (average score <50%) were staffing and non-punitive responses to error (41% and 37%, respectively). All mean scores were higher in health workers with a leadership position except for the hospital handoff/transitions item. Significant differences were found by professional categories, mainly between physicians, nurses, and other professionals.ConclusionOur findings lead to a better overview of PSC in Latin America, serving as a baseline and benchmarking to facilitate the recognition of weaknesses and to guide quality improvement strategies regionally and globally. Despite South American PSC not being well-exploited, local institutions revealed a strengthened culture of safety care.
Comparing the immediate effects of different neural mobilization exercises on hamstring flexibility in recreational soccer players
Authors: D’souza Cyanna Joseph , Rajasekar Sannasi , Shetty Ruchit L. 
Published: February 2024

Background: Hamstring strain injuries remain a challenge for both athletes and clinicians given the high incidence rate, slow healing, and persistent symptoms. Increased tension in the neural structures is a known causative factor for hamstring tightness for which neural mobilization has emerged as a significant adjunct to routine stretching techniques. Objective: To compare the short-term effects of neural sliding and neural tensioning on hamstring length in male recreational soccer players with hamstring tightness. Methods: Sixty-two participants between ages 18 and 30 years were randomly assigned to one of the two groups viz. neural sliding or neural tensioning. Participants in either group performed the given stretching protocol in three sets. The Active Knee Extension Test (AKET) and Sit and Reach Test (SRT) were recorded before intervention, immediately after intervention, and after 60[Formula: see text]min. between- and within group-analysis was done using analysis of variance. Results: Between-group analysis showed that neural tensioning was more effective than neural sliding in improving hamstring length on both measures, however this difference was negligible. Within-group analysis demonstrated that the mean post-test scores on the AKET test and SRT were significantly greater than the pre-test scores in both groups ([Formula: see text]). A reduction in the post-test scores was observed after 60 min, irrespective of the type of stretching ([Formula: see text]). Conclusion: There was no difference in short-term effects of neural sliding or neural tensioning on hamstring flexibility in male recreational soccer players. Both groups showed improved flexibility immediately after the intervention with reduction in the effect after 60[Formula: see text]min.