In vivo detection of spectral reflectance changes associated with regulated heat dissipation mechanisms complements fluorescence quantum efficiency in early stress diagnosis.

Early stress detection of crops requires a thorough understanding of the signals showing the very first symptoms of the alterations in the photosynthetic light reactions. Detection of the activation of the regulated heat dissipation mechanism is crucial to complement passively induced fluorescence to resolve ambuiguities in energy partitioning. Using leaf spectroscopy, we evaluated the capability of pigment spectral unmixing to calculate the fluorescence quantum efficiency (FQE) and simultaneously retrieve fast absorption changes in a drought and nitrogen deficiency experiment with tomato.

Understanding the Saffron Corm Development-Insights into Histological and Metabolic Aspects.

The reproduction of L., a sterile triploid plant, is carried out exclusively through corms, whose size determines the saffron yield. The development of daughter corms (DC) is supported by photoassimilates supplied by the leaves as well as by the mother corms (MC).

Arabidopsis CDF3 transcription factor increases carbon and nitrogen assimilation and yield in trans-grafted tomato plants.

Grafting in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) has mainly been used to prevent damage by soil-borne pathogens and the negative effects of abiotic stresses, although productivity and fruit quality can also be enhanced using high vigor rootstocks. In the context of a low nutrients input agriculture, the grafting of elite cultivars onto rootstocks displaying higher Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) supports a direct strategy for yield maximization.

Fluctuations in Seminal Quality throughout the Year: How do Temperature, Humidity and Atmospheric Pressure Impact on Human Sperm Quality?

Background: Most studies evaluating the possible seasonal variation of semen quality have considered temperature as the only causal factor.

Aims: To assess possible seasonality in sperm quality and associations between semen parameters and several meteorological variables (temperature, humidity, apparent temperature and atmospheric pressure) in a large cohort of andrological patients.

Settings And Design: This was a retrospective, cross-sectional and correlational/descriptive study.

Persistent oligonecrozoospermia after asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection. A case report and literature review.

COVID-19 is known to have deleterious effects on different systems such as the respiratory, cardiovascular, central nervous, and gastrointestinal. However, conflicting data about the possible implications for male reproductive health and fertility have been reported. In addition, the long-term consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection remain unclear.

COVID-19 associates with semen inflammation and sperm quality impairment that reverses in the short term after disease recovery.

COVID-19 exerts deleterious effects on the respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and central nervous systems, causing more severe disease in men than in women. However, cumulative reported data about the putative consequences on the male reproductive tract and fertility are controversial. Furthermore, the long-term effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection are still uncertain.

A multi-strain probiotic promoted recovery of puppies from gastroenteritis in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Objective And Animals: Acute diarrhea is among the most common causes of veterinary consultations for dogs. A double-blind, placebocontrolled intervention trial was done with 120 puppies with gastroenteritis. These dogs were 1 to 4 mo old, male and female, of various breeds and sizes.

Ectopic expression of the transcription factor in potato enhances tuber starch and amino acid contents and yield under open field conditions.

Introduction: Cycling Dof transcription factors (CDFs) have been involved in different aspects of plant growth and development. In Arabidopsis and tomato, one member of this family (CDF1) has recently been associated with the regulation of primary metabolism and abiotic stress responses, but their roles in crop production under open field conditions remain unknown.

Methods: In this study, we compared the growth, and tuber yield and composition of plants ectopically expressing the gene from Arabidopsis under the control of the 35S promoter with wild-type (WT) potato plants cultured in growth chamber and open field conditions.

Alpha and gamma EEG coherence during on-task and mind wandering states in schizophrenia.

Objective: Electroencephalographic (EEG) coherence is one of the most relevant physiological measures used to detect abnormalities in patients with schizophrenia. The present study applies a task-related EEG coherence approach to understand cognitive processing in patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls.

Methods: EEG coherence for alpha and gamma frequency bands was analyzed in a group of patients with schizophrenia and a group of healthy controls during the performance of an ecological task of sustained attention.

Biological Role of Nutrients, Food and Dietary Patterns in the Prevention and Clinical Management of Major Depressive Disorder.

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a growing disabling condition affecting around 280 million people worldwide. This complex entity is the result of the interplay between biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors, and compelling evidence suggests that MDD can be considered a disease that occurs as a consequence of an evolutionary mismatch and unhealthy lifestyle habits. In this context, diet is one of the core pillars of health, influencing multiple biological processes in the brain and the entire body.

Is seminal quality worsening? A 20-year experience in Córdoba, Argentina.

Purpose: To assess the possible variations in semen quality during the last 20 years in Córdoba, Argentina, and to identify possible causal lifestyle or genitourinary factors.

Methods: Retrospective study of 23,130 patients attending an andrology laboratory. The 20-year period (2001-2020) was divided into four quinquenniums.

Video Games as a Complementary Therapy for Schizophrenia: A Systematic Review.

Background: Schizophrenia is a prevalent and serious disorder. Video games have shown potential as an aid in health care for people who suffer from schizophrenia. Although video games may contribute benefit in the treatment of schizophrenia, reviews on this topic are scarce.

Interferon γ, IL-17, and IL-1β impair sperm motility and viability and induce sperm apoptosis.

Urogenital inflammation is a known cause of male infertility. Increased levels of inflammatory cytokines, leukocyte counts and oxidative stress are highly detrimental for sperm quality thus compromising male fertility. Although cytokines affect sperm by recruiting and activating leukocytes consequently inducing tissue inflammation and oxidative stress, scarce to absent data have been reported about the putative direct effects of inflammatory cytokines on spermatozoa.

Association between Human Papillomavirus and Chlamydia trachomatis genital infections in male partners of infertile couples.

The prevalence of HPV infection and its relationship with other sexually transmitted infections was analyzed in a cohort of 117 male partners of infertile couples from Cordoba, Argentina. Semen samples and urethral swabs were obtained and the infection with HPV, Chlamydia trachomatis, HSV1, HSV2, Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum was analyzed. A prevalence of HPV infection of 27.

Do aging, drinking, and having unhealthy weight have a synergistic impact on semen quality?

Purpose: To evaluate if age, alcohol consumption, and body mass index (BMI) have synergistic effects on seminal quality, and to rank these factors based on their impact on semen.

Methods: Retrospective study of 9464 patients attending an andrology laboratory. Data on patients' age and daily alcohol intake were provided by the patients.

Results from a large cross-sectional study assessing Chlamydia trachomatis, Ureaplasma spp. and Mycoplasma hominis urogenital infections in patients with primary infertility.

Female and male infertility have been associated to Chlamydia trachomatis, Ureaplasma spp. and Mycoplasma hominis urogenital infections. However, evidence from large studies assessing their prevalence and putative associations in patients with infertility is still scarce.

Association between meteorological variables and semen quality: a retrospective study.

Spermatogenesis is a temperature-dependent process, and high summer temperatures have been linked to lower sperm concentration and count. However, reports describing the association between other meteorological variables and semen quality are scarce. This study evaluated the association between semen quality and temperature, humidity, pressure, apparent temperature (AT), temperature-humidity index (THI), simplified wet-bulb global temperature (sWBGT), and sunshine duration.

Ongoing Evolution in the Genus : Diversity of Flowering Strategies on the Way to Hysteranthy.

Species of the genus are found over a wide range of climatic areas. In natural habitats, these geophytes diverge in the flowering strategies. This variability was assessed by analyzing the flowering traits of the Spanish collection of wild crocuses, preserved in the Bank of Plant Germplasm of Cuenca.

Evaluation of convalescent plasma versus standard of care for the treatment of COVID-19 in hospitalized patients: study protocol for a phase 2 randomized, open-label, controlled, multicenter trial.

Background: COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and causes substantial morbidity and mortality. At the time this clinical trial was planned, there were no available vaccine or therapeutic agents with proven efficacy, but the severity of the condition prompted the use of several pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. It has long been hypothesized that the use of convalescent plasma (CP) from infected patients who have developed an effective immune response is likely to be an option for the treatment of patients with a variety of severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) of viral etiology.

Double-blind, randomized, controlled, trial to assess the efficacy of allogenic mesenchymal stromal cells in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome due to COVID-19 (COVID-AT): A structured summary of a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Objectives: 1. To assess the efficacy of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (MSC) versus a control arm as described in the primary endpoint. 2.

Age-related changes in selection, recognition, updating and maintenance information in WM. An ERP study in children and adolescents.

Possible age-related changes in different working memory (WM) subcomponents were assessed by analyzing the event-related-potentials associated with the n-back task. Two versions of the task (0- and 1-back) were administered to 168 subjects between 6 and 20 years of age. In both n-back tasks, lists of symbol-letter pairs were presented.

The targeted overexpression of SlCDF4 in the fruit enhances tomato size and yield involving gibberellin signalling.

Tomato is one of the most widely cultivated vegetable crops and a model for studying fruit biology. Although several genes involved in the traits of fruit quality, development and size have been identified, little is known about the regulatory genes controlling its growth. In this study, we characterized the role of the tomato SlCDF4 gene in fruit development, a cycling DOF-type transcription factor highly expressed in fruits.