bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Seeking information about Covid-19 vaccine on social media: a moderated mediated model of antecedents and behavioral outcomes
Authors: Malik Amara , Islam Talat , Mahmood Khalid , Arshad Alia
Published: April 2024

Purpose

Social media have been playing a critical role in seeking and sharing health related information and consequently shaping individuals’ health behaviors. This study investigates how information seeking about Covid-19 vaccine on social media is related to vaccine receiving intentions. The study furthers explores the association of trust in social media and uncertainty about Covid-19 with information seeking and the moderating role of prior social media experience on this association.

Design/methodology/approach

We developed a questionnaire and collected data from 525 educated social media users through “Google Forms.” Further, we applied ordinary least squares (OLS) regress to test the study hypothesis.

Findings

We noted that trust in social media and uncertainty about Covid-19 vaccine positively influenced information seeking which further positively affected vaccine receiving intentions. However, the moderating effect of prior social media experience was not only noted as weak but also found negatively affecting the associations of trust in social media and uncertainty about Covid-19 vaccine with information seeking.

Research limitations/implications

The findings provide insights into understanding of public perceptions regarding Covid-19 vaccine in the cultural contexts of a developing country. Further, it informs about the public patterns of seeking information related to health issues on social media, an understanding which may likely benefit policymakers, health care providers and researchers to understand the antecedents and behavioral outcomes of seeking information through social media during health crisis. The study also elucidates the leveraging power of social media to motivate the public to accept the Covid-19 vaccines.

Originality/value

The study uniquely combines the antecedents and behavioral outcomes of information seeking through social media in the particular context of Covid-19. It further extends the literature by introducing the conditional role of prior social media experience.
Insight into facilities management market in the UAE: trends, drivers, and threats
Authors: Mawed Mahmoud
Published: April 2024

Purpose

The UAE is among the fastest-growing facilities management (FM) markets globally. Nevertheless, conclusive evidence on this market is scarce in the literature. Therefore, this paper aims to provide an in-depth insight into the FM market in the UAE.

Design/methodology/approach

Fourteen interviewees were purposively selected to provide insight into FM status through their field experiences. A SWOT analysis of their answers held place.

Findings

Interviewees revealed that the main trends of FM in the UAE include interests in sustainability, integration of technology, health and safety, outsourcing FM, switching to total facilities management (TFM), and performance management systems use. Besides, the quality of the service in the FM market is driven by the real-estate boom, services sophistication, the increasing awareness of FM and focus on the quality of services. Furthermore, the interviews found that the recruitment of poorly skilled labors can threaten the FM market to meet the allocated budget, misperception of FM, the value of money, the lack of continuous follow-up with recent advancements in technologies and the lack of performance measurement models.

Originality/value

This paper highlights the major trends, drivers and threats of the FM market in the UAE, and the implications of its findings can direct FM organizations and researchers in their practices.
A deepened water table increases the vulnerability of peat mosses to periodic drought
Authors: Kokkonen Nicola , Laine Anna M. , Korrensalo Aino , Nijp Jelmer , Limpens Juul , Mehtätalo Lauri , Männistö Elisa , Tuittila Eeva‐Stiina
Published: April 2024

Here we address the combined impact of multiple stressors that are becoming more common with climate change. To study the combined effects of a lower water table (WT) and increased frequency of drought periods on the resistance and resilience of peatlands, we conducted a mesocosm experiment. This study evaluated how the photosynthesis of lawn Sphagnum mosses responds to and recovers from an experimental periodic drought after exposure to the stresses of a deep or deepened WT (naturally dry and 17‐year‐long water level drawdown [WLD] in fen and bog environments).

We aimed to quantify if deep WTs (1) support acclimation to drought, or (2) increase the base‐level physiological stress of mosses or (3) exacerbate the impact of periodic drought.

There was no evidence of acclimation in mosses from drier environments; periodic drought decreased the photosynthesis of all Sphagnum species studied. WLDdecreased the photosynthesis of bog‐originating mosses prior to periodic drought, indicating that these mosses were stressed by the hydrological change. Deep WTs exacerbated Sphagnum vulnerability to periodic drought, indicating that the combination of drying habitats and increasing frequency of periodic drought could lead to a rapid transition in lawn vegetation. Water‐retaining traits may increase Sphagnum resilience to periodic drought. Large capitula size was associated with a higher resistance; the bog originating species studied here lacked large capitula or dense carpet structure and were more vulnerable to drought than the larger fen originating species. Consequently, lawns in bogs may become threatened.

Recovery after rewetting was significant for all mosses, but none completely recovered within 3 weeks. The most drought‐resilient species had fen origin, indicating that fens are less likely to undergo a sudden transition due to periodic drought.

Synthesis: Water level drawdown associated with climate change increases the sensitivity of Sphagnum mosses to periods of drought and moves them closer to their tipping point as species on the edge of their ecological envelope rapidly shut down photosynthesis and recover poorly.
Industrial attractiveness of entomopathogenic Fusarium as biopesticide against melon thrips, Thrips palmi
Authors: Putri Novadhea Salsabilla , Kim Jae Su
Published: April 2024

Melon thrips, Thrips palmi (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), is a serious insect pest in crop productions, and synthetic chemicals are frequently used to control them. However, this practice causes residual issue in nature and makes melon thrips acquire strong resistance. To overcome these problems, a group of entomopathogenic fungi could be used as an alternative for controlling melon thrips. In this work, a total of 100 fungal isolates from soil in four different regions of Korea were isolated and subjected to virulence assays against melon thrips. Twenty‐five highly virulent fungal isolates, which showed 100% mortality 6 days after treatment, were determined. Liquid‐cultured filtrates of the selected isolates were further used to investigate their insecticidal activity against melon thrips, and of the 25 selected isolates finally seven isolates including Metarhizium spp. and Fusarium spp. showed high insecticidal activity in a dose‐dependent manner. Under a thermal stress at 121°C, culture filtrates of the seven isolates still kept their insecticidal activities. When liquid‐cultured spores were exposed to 45°C, spores of Fusarium isolates were resistant to the thermal stress, but those of Metarhizium isolates were susceptible to the stress. The culture filtrates of Fusarium isolates did not show any phytotoxicity to the tomato plants, followed by no phytotoxicity of liquid‐cultured spores, although mycotoxins need to be further clearly characterized. This work suggests that entomopathogenic Fusarium isolates are competitive in virulence against melon thrips and production of insecticidal metabolites compared to Metarhizium, and particularly attractive in sporal resistance against thermal stress, significantly stronger than Metarhizium.
Output‐dependent His bundle pacing: Unexpected His‐Purkinje system pathology unmasking
Authors: Chokesuwattanaskul Ronpichai , Siranart Noppachai , Jongnarangsin Krit
Published: April 2024

The anatomy of the His‐Purkinje system has been studied, yet there remains a knowledge gap regarding the impact of His bundle pacing and its electrocardiographic implications. This case report highlights the presence of His‐Purkinje system pathology without apparent clues on the surface electrocardiogram (EKG). By observing identical QRS morphology with varying HV intervals resulting from different pacing outputs, we demonstrate the presence of an electrical propagation block within the His bundle.
Unraveling Temporal Dynamics of Multidimensional Statistical Learning in Implicit and Explicit Systems: An X‐Way Hypothesis
Authors: Lee Stephen Man‐Kit , Law Nicole Sin Hang , Tong Shelley Xiuli
Published: April 2024

Statistical learning enables humans to involuntarily process and utilize different kinds of patterns from the environment. However, the cognitive mechanisms underlying the simultaneous acquisition of multiple regularities from different perceptual modalities remain unclear. A novel multidimensional serial reaction time task was developed to test 40 participants’ ability to learn simple first‐order and complex second‐order relations between uni‐modal visual and cross‐modal audio‐visual stimuli. Using the difference in reaction times between sequenced and random stimuli as the index of domain‐general statistical learning, a significant difference and dissociation of learning occurred between the initial and final learning phases. Furthermore, we used a negative and positive occurrence‐frequency‐and‐reaction‐time correlation to indicate implicit and explicit learning, respectively, and found that learning simple uni‐modal patterns involved an implicit‐to‐explicit segue, while acquiring complex cross‐modal patterns required an explicit‐to‐implicit segue, resulting in a X‐shape crossing of regularity learning. Thus, we propose an X‐way hypothesis to elucidate the dynamic interplay between the implicit and explicit systems at two distinct stages when acquiring various regularities in a multidimensional probability space.
Weight‐related discrimination, perceived stress and psychological and physical well‐being of persons with type 2 diabetes: A mediation analysis
Authors: Akyirem Samuel , Ekpor Emmanuel , Abwoye Diana Namumbejja , Wang Katie
Published: April 2024

Aims

The aim of the study was to examine perceived stress as a mediator of the association between weight‐related discrimination and physical and psychological well‐being among persons with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Methods

Data were obtained from 5104 persons with self‐reported T2D participating in the All of Us research programme in the United States. The Everyday Discrimination Scale, Cohen's Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and PROMIS Global Health Scale were used to measure weight‐related discrimination, perceived stress and health outcomes (physical and psychological), respectively. Mediation effects of PSS were tested by bootstrapping with 5000 random samples.

Results

Participants were, on average, 63.62 (SD 11.38) years old. Majority of them were female (55.53%), non‐Hispanic White (72.61%), married or living with a partner (56.92%), had a household income of <$35,000 (31.99%) and had some college education (33.54%). We found that approximately 18% of study participants reported having experienced weight‐related discrimination. We also found that weight‐related discrimination was independently associated with poor physical and psychological well‐being. These associations were partially mediated by perceived stress such that weight‐related discrimination was associated with greater perceived stress, which was in turn associated with poorer physical and psychological well‐being.

Conclusions

Given that weight‐related discrimination is associated with poor outcomes through elevated stress, interventions that target stress may disrupt this pathway thereby helping to reduce the health impact of weight‐related discrimination. This assertion should, however, be tested in future studies.
Factors affecting patients' journey with primary healthcare services during mental health‐related sick leave
Authors: Labourot Justine , Pinette Émilie , Giguère Nadia , Menear Matthew , Cameron Cynthia , Marois Elyse , Vachon Brigitte
Published: April 2024

Context

Best practice guidelines for the recovery and return to work (RTW) of people with mental disorders recommend access to the services of an interdisciplinary team combining pharmacological, psychological and work rehabilitation interventions. In the Canadian context, primary healthcare services are responsible for providing these services for people with common mental disorders, such as depressive or anxiety disorders. However, not everyone has easy access to these recommended primary healthcare services, and previous studies suggest that multiple personal, practice‐related and organizational factors can influence the patient's journey. Moreover, previous studies documented that family physicians often work in silos and lack the knowledge and time needed to effectively manage by themselves patients' occupational health. Thus, the care and service trajectories of these patients are often suboptimal and can have important consequences on the person's recovery and RTW.

Objective and Population Studied

Our study aimed to gain a better understanding of the patient journeys and the factors influencing their access to and experience with primary healthcare services while they were on sick leave due to a common mental disorder.

Methods

A descriptive qualitative research design was used to understand and describe these factors. Conventional content analysis was used to analyze the verbatim.

Results

Five themes describe the main factors that influenced the patient's journey of the 14 participants of this study: (1) the fragmented interventions provided by family physicians; (2) patients' autonomy in managing their own care; (3) the attitude and case management provided by the insurer, (4) the employer's openness and understanding and (5) the match between the person's needs and their access to psychosocial and rehabilitation services.

Conclusions

Our findings highlight important gaps in the collaborative practices surrounding the management of mental health‐related sick leave, the coordination of primary healthcare services and the access to work rehabilitation services. Occupational therapists and other professionals can support family physicians in managing sick leaves, strengthen interprofessional and intersectoral collaboration and ensure that patients receive needed services in a timelier manner no matter their insurance coverage or financial needs.

Patients of Public Contribution

This study aimed at looking into the perspective of people who have lived or are currently experiencing a sick leave related to a mental health disorder to highlight the factors which they feel hindered their recovery and RTW. Additionally, two patient partners were involved in this study and are now engaged in the dissemination of the research results and the pursuit of our team research programme to improve services delivered to this population.
Fully digital workflow of occlusal reconstruction treatment in a patient with congenital dentition defects
Authors: Guo Di , Zhou Zixuan , Sun Ke , Wang Wenshun , Yang Lijun , Fu Xingzhou , Tonin Bruna S. H. , Xu Haiping , Fu Jing
Published: April 2024

Objective

Occlusal reconstruction is a critical intervention for patients with dental hard tissue defects, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, and jaw position abnormalities. Clinical efficiency and outcomes of these procedures have improved with advances in digital technologies. This case report aims to illustrate a comprehensive digital workflow for occlusal reconstruction in a patient with congenital dentition defects, emphasizing the application of digital technologies to enhance treatment outcomes.

Clinical considerations

A 28‐year‐old woman with previously installed porcelain‐fused‐to‐metal bridge restorations presented with a fractured prosthesis and TMJ symptoms. A multidisciplinary approach was adopted involving the use of digital facebow, intraoral scanners, digital smile design, and CAD/CAM technologies. The process included the extraction of defective restorations, temporary restorations to refine jaw position, and final permanent restorations. The digital workflow facilitated precise diagnostics and treatment, culminating in the successful installation of permanent restorations. Regular follow‐ups at one‐ and three‐months post‐treatment confirmed stable occlusal function and high patient satisfaction.

Conclusions

This case report showcases the potential of multiple digital technologies to streamline complex dental treatments and achieve high‐quality results.

Clinical significance

The integration of digital technologies in occlusal reconstruction treatments offers significant benefits in terms of precision, patient comfort, and esthetic outcomes.
Multiple‐frequency ultrasound for the inactivation of microorganisms on food: A review
Authors: Mustapha Abdullateef Taiye , Wahia Hafida , Ji Qunghua , Fakayode Olugbenga Abiola , Zhang Lei , Zhou Cunshan
Published: April 2024

A multiple‐frequency ultrasound (MFU) technique is proficient in enhancing the effect of acoustic cavitation compared to a single‐frequency ultrasound. This comprehensive review delves into the complex field of MFU and its profound impact on microbial inactivation in food processing. The exploration begins with an intricate examination of the mechanism of power ultrasound, elucidating the intricate interplay of acoustic cavitation and its diverse effects. Subsequently, the mechanism of MFU was provided, which is basically the enhanced cavitation obtained during its application. Delving into the core mechanisms of MFU, the review navigates through microbial inactivation, unraveling the ways in which MFU disrupts and eliminates microorganisms. The exploration extends to the synergistic potential of combined applications, where MFU is applied with other treatment techniques to enhance microbial inactivation. Beyond its microbial inactivation prowess, the review meticulously explores the far‐reaching effects of MFU on the nutritional and quality attributes of food products. Furthermore, the diverse applications of MFU were also reviewed. In addition, limitations and adverse effects, emphasizing the importance of optimizing parameters to balance microbial safety and food quality, were also discussed. As the review unfolds, it lays the groundwork for future research, identifying avenues for further exploration and innovation in this dynamic field. In essence, this review not only consolidates the current understanding of MFU but also guides future research endeavors in the quest for more efficient, sustainable, and quality‐preserving food processing technologies.
Identification of phytoplasmas in stone fruit (Prunus sp.) and persimmon (Diospyros kaki L.) trees exhibiting leaf alterations and witches'‐broom in Jordan
Authors: Alloush Asem Habes Abu , Tedeschi Rosemarie , Alma Alberto , Bianco Piero Attilio , Quaglino Fabio
Published: April 2024

During field surveys conducted in 2020 in Jordanian orchards, phytoplasma‐like symptoms (leaf yellowing/reddening and rolling, and witches'‐broom) were observed in three stone fruit species (peach, European plum, sweet cherry) and persimmon. Molecular analyses identified phytoplasma strains belonging to the species ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’ (subgroup 16SrXII‐A) as largely prevalent in stone fruit and persimmon symptomatic plants. Moreover, ‘Ca. Phytoplasma omanense’ (16SrXXIX‐B) was found in few European plum symptomatic plants. In previous studies, such phytoplasma strains were identified in other important crops (almond, pomegranate, and grapevine) and in several putative insect vectors, suggesting their complex ecology in Jordan. Further studies are needed to in‐depth investigate the diffusion of phytoplasma‐associated diseases of stone fruits throughout the Country, to clarify their aetiology, and to study their epidemiological pattern(s).
Infant Faces Induce Behavioral Approach Tendencies: Evidence From a Manikin Task1,2
Authors: Yagi Yuto , Tomita Akitoshi , Nittono Hiroshi
Published: April 2024

Infant faces are generally perceived as being cute and motivate the observer to look at them longer. This phenomenon is thought to be based on elemental features called baby schema (e.g., a round face and a large forehead). This study investigated the behavioral tendencies of observers in approaching infant faces using a manikin task in which infant and adult face images were presented as stimuli. Participants (N = 40) were instructed to identify with the manikin, discriminate a face on the screen, and respond by moving the manikin closer to the face (approach trials) or farther away from it (avoidance trials). The faces were presented either upright or inverted. The results showed that the approach–avoidance indices (the mean reaction time and error rate of avoidance trials minus those of approach trials) were larger for infant faces than for adult faces regardless of face orientation, although the difference was greater for upright faces than for inverted faces. This approach tendency toward infant faces is possibly due to elemental features rather than face‐specific holistic features.
Effect of Patellar Morphology on the Risk of Osteochondral Fracture after Patellar Dislocation: A Cross‐sectional Study
Authors: Zhou Zirui , Hua Qiang , Wen Chenghong , Qian Wenduo , Su Jide , Yang Min , Lei Mingming
Published: April 2024

Objective

The risk of osteochondral fracture (OCF) after patellar dislocation has been shown to be related to patellofemoral anatomy, but its relationship to patellar morphology remains unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between patellar morphology and the risk of OCF after patellar dislocation.

Methods

A total of 140 patients with patellar dislocation between January 2018 and June 2023 were enrolled in this study and divided into two groups. Sixty‐five patellar dislocation patients with OCF were included in the OCF group, while 75 patellar dislocation patients without OCF were included in the non‐OCF group. Computed tomography was used to compare measurements of patellar morphology including Wiberg classification, patellar width and thickness, Wiberg angle, Wiberg index, facet ratio, lateral patellar facet angle, and patellar tilt angle. A logistic regression model was performed to evaluate the correlations between patellar morphology and the risk of OCF after patellar dislocation. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to calculate the area under the curve (AUC) and determine the diagnostic values of patellar morphology for OCF after patellar dislocation. Subgroup analyses for gender and age were conducted to compare the differences in patellar morphology of PD patients.

Results

Wiberg angle was significantly lower in the OCF group (p = 0.017), while Wiberg index (p = 0.002) and facet ratio (p = 0.023) were significantly higher in the OCF group. According to the results of logistic regression analysis, Wiberg angle (odds ratio [OR] = 0.96, p = 0.022) and Wiberg index (OR = 1.105, p = 0.032) were the final relevant factors for the occurrence of OCF after patellar dislocation. The AUC was 0.622 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.529–0.714) for Wiberg angle, 0.65 (95% CI: 0.558–0.742) for Wiberg index, and 0.702 (95% CI: 0.615–0.788) for the combination of Wiberg angle plus Wiberg index.

Conclusion

Wiberg angle and Wiberg index were independent risk factors for the occurrence of osteochondral fracture after patellar dislocation. Moreover, Wiberg angle, Wiberg index, and the combination of Wiberg angle plus Wiberg index had good predictive diagnostic value for the occurrence of OCF after patellar dislocation.
Reactivity of anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 antibodies in Serbian voluntary blood donors
Authors: Bezanovic Milomir Radoslav , Obradovic Zorana Budakov , Bujandric Nevenka , Kocic Neda , Milanovic Mirjana Krga , Majkic Milan , Obrovski Boris , Grujic Jasmina
Published: April 2024

Background

The COVID‐19 pandemic has major implications on the entire blood supply system worldwide. Seroepidemiological studies are certainly necessary for better understanding the global burden that the COVID‐19 pandemic represents.

Objectives

In this study, we analysed the association between demographic factors, COVID‐19 severity, vaccination status and the reactivity of anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 IgG antibodies in Serbian blood donors.

Materials and Methods

In a prospective study, demographic data and data related to previous SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, COVID‐19 severity and vaccination status among whole blood donors were analysed, from February 10 to August 10, 2022, at the Blood Transfusion Institute of Vojvodina, Serbia. The detection and determination of the level of anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 IgG antibodies were performed using LIAISON® SARS‐CoV‐2 TrimericS IgG immunoassay.

Results

A total of 1190 blood donors were included, 24.5% were female and 75.5% were male while their average age was 41 years. Anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 antibody values ranged from 2.40 to 3120 BAU/ml with a mean value of 1354.56 BAU/ml. Statistical analysis showed that COVID‐19 severity and vaccination status are linked with reactivity of anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 antibodies, while gender and age of voluntary blood donors are not related to the values of anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 antibodies.

Conclusion

The values of anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 antibodies in voluntary blood donors in Serbia are kept relatively high, especially in blood donors who have overcome the severe COVID‐19, as well as in donors who have been vaccinated against COVID‐19. Further SARS‐CoV‐2 seroprevalence studies in our country are certainly still necessary so global strategies to fight against COVID‐19 would be adequately evaluated.
Improving knowledge of quality and safety among general and acute care medicine advanced trainees through a brief quality improvement workshop
Authors: Aung Ar Kar , Ryall Mary-Ann , Davis Sarah , Shukla Aditi , Knight Anne , Lee Jennifer
Published: April 2024

Introduction: Quality and safety is a core competency, yet there are limited formalised quality improvement (QI) courses for physician trainees offered in Australia.
Methods: An introductory QI workshop was conducted for trainees at the Internal Medicine Society of Australia and New Zealand (IMSANZ) Conference 2022. The workshop covered principles of improvement science, QI tools and plan-do-study-act (PDSA) cycles. The contents were delivered through a small-group experiential learning format. Pre- and post-workshop surveys were administered to evaluate the participants’ perceptions and improvement in QI knowledge domains.
Results: Thirty-five trainees attended the workshop. Of all respondents, none had received formal QI training previously. Statistically significant improvements in nearly all QI knowledge domains were noted in the post-workshop evaluation along with improvement in participants’ motivation to further learn QI processes relevant to their vocation.
Conclusion: An introductory workshop can significantly improve knowledge and motivation to further learn QI amongst physician trainees.
Student perspectives on health informatics in a medical curriculum: A case study
Authors: Townsley Hermaleigh , Sumner Brett , O'Neill Amy , Kenwright Diane , Wilkinson Timothy , Grainger Rebecca
Published: April 2024

Introduction: Health informatics (HI) is the study and practice of technology used to improve the quality and efficiency of healthcare. Formal HI teaching lacks visibility in most Australasian medical schools. In this study, medical students collected data from their peers and recent graduates on the teaching and learning of HI to inform development of a needs-based integrated HI curriculum.
Methods: This mixed-methods case study of our medical degree program used clinically relevant vignettes to explore student confidence and opinions on HI. Current HI learning was benchmarked against recommendations. Recent graduates from University of Otago Medical School participated in an online survey (n = 26), and five focus group interviews of final-year medical students (n = 17) were carried out by a peer student.
Results: More than half of the participants surveyed felt confident in most HI topics, though many were less confident in telemedicine, evaluating electronic resources for patient use, data communication and data storage. Most students recalled learning some HI principles and agreed these should be integrated within their degree. Students highlighted that HI curriculum development should consider students’ self-identity as digital natives and the need for clinically situated, relevant and authentic learning to avoid tensions between theoretical HI concepts and clinical environments.
Conclusion: Medical students are critical consumers of potential HI curriculum content and expressed clear preferences for clinically relevant and up-to-date HI content. Key challenges in developing an HI curriculum will be ensuring a student-centered, authentic, contemporary and future-focused curriculum, with relevance demonstrated to digital native students.
Tackling International Markets: Bicultural Brand Positioning of Sport Leagues in Foreign Countries
Authors: Weisskopf Christian , Uhrich Sebastian
Published: April 2024

As sport league brands have increasingly extended their marketing activities into foreign countries, international brand positioning has become a relevant research topic. In this research, we introduce and examine the concept of bicultural brand positioning, an approach that combines a sport league’s connection to its home country with target-country associations. We integrate bicultural identity theory with the literature on brand benefits to propose two types of bicultural brand positioning: functional versus symbolic. Three experiments, using the National Football League and German satellite fans as the empirical context, provide evidence that bicultural brand positioning incorporating functional (vs. symbolic) benefits for the satellite fans increases bicultural brand image integration, defined as the perceived compatibility of combining the two country cultures, and has positive indirect effects on intentions to use the brand and positive word of mouth. These effects are driven by increased perceptions of cultural authenticity of the brand and brand convenience.
Tetrahydrofolate levels influence 2-aminoacrylate stress in
Salmonella enterica
Authors: Shen Wangchen , Downs Diana M.
Published: April 2024

In
Salmonella enterica,
the absence of the RidA deaminase results in the accumulation of the reactive enamine 2-aminoacrylate (2AA). The resulting 2AA stress impacts metabolism and prevents growth in some conditions by inactivating a specific target pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP)-dependent enzyme(s). The detrimental effects of 2AA stress can be overcome by changing the sensitivity of a critical target enzyme or modifying flux in one or more nodes in the metabolic network. The catabolic L-alanine racemase DadX is a target of 2AA, which explains the inability of an
alr ridA
strain to use L-alanine as the sole nitrogen source. Spontaneous mutations that suppressed the growth defect of the
alr ridA
strain were identified as lesions in
folE,
which encodes GTP cyclohydrolase and catalyzes the first step of tetrahydrofolate (THF) synthesis. The data here show that THF limitation resulting from a
folE
lesion, or inhibition of dihydrofolate reductase (FolA) by trimethoprim, decreases the 2AA generated from endogenous serine. The data are consistent with an increased level of threonine, resulting from low folate levels, decreasing 2AA stress.

IMPORTANCE

RidA is an enamine deaminase that has been characterized as preventing the 2-aminoacrylate (2AA) stress. In the absence of RidA, 2AA accumulates and damages various cellular enzymes. Much of the work describing the 2AA stress system has depended on the exogenous addition of serine to increase the production of the enamine stressor. The work herein focuses on understanding the effect of 2AA stress generated from endogenous serine pools. As such, this work describes the consequences of a subtle level of stress that nonetheless compromises growth in at least two conditions. Describing mechanisms that alter the physiological consequences of 2AA stress increases our understanding of endogenous metabolic stress and how the robustness of the metabolic network allows perturbations to be modulated.
Draft genome sequences of five
Stenotrophomonas indicatrix
strains isolated from soil
Authors: Żur-Pińska Joanna , Sharma Vrinda , Hay Anthony G.
Published: April 2024

Here, we present genome sequences of five
Stenotrophomonas indicatrix
strains, isolated from agricultural soil.
Stenotrophomonas
strains are commonly associated with the rhizosphere and are well-known for their ability to degrade xenobiotics. Yet, to date, knowledge about
S. indicatrix
is limited.
MYST regulates DNA repair and forms a NuA4-like complex in the malaria parasite
Plasmodium falciparum
Authors: Kalamuddin Mohammad , Shakri Ahmad Rushdi , Wang Chengqi , Min Hui , Li Xiaolian , Cui Liwang , Miao Jun
Published: April 2024

Histone lysine acetyltransferase MYST-associated NuA4 complex is conserved from yeast to humans and plays key roles in cell cycle regulation, gene transcription, and DNA replication/repair. Here, we identified a
Plasmodium falciparum
MYST-associated complex, PfNuA4, which contains 11 of the 13 conserved NuA4 subunits. Reciprocal pulldowns using PfEAF2, a shared component between the NuA4 and SWR1 complexes, not only confirmed the PfNuA4 complex but also identified the PfSWR1 complex, a histone remodeling complex, although their identities are low compared to the homologs in yeast or humans. Notably, both H2A.Z/H2B.Z were associated with the PfSWR1 complex, indicating that this complex is involved in the deposition of H2A.Z/H2B.Z, the variant histone pair that is enriched in the activated promoters. Overexpression of PfMYST resulted in earlier expression of genes involved in cell cycle regulation, DNA replication, and merozoite invasion, and upregulation of the genes related to antigenic variation and DNA repair. Consistently, PfMYST overexpression led to high basal phosphorylated PfH2A (γ-PfH2A), the mark of DNA double-strand breaks, and conferred protection against genotoxic agent methyl methanesulfonate (MMS), X-rays, and artemisinin, the first-line antimalarial drug. In contrast, the knockdown of PfMYST caused a delayed parasite recovery upon MMS treatment. MMS induced the gradual disappearance of PfMYST in the cytoplasm and concomitant accumulation of PfMYST in the nucleus, suggesting cytoplasm-nucleus shuttling of PfMYST. Meanwhile, PfMYST colocalized with the γ-PfH2A, indicating PfMYST was recruited to the DNA damage sites. Collectively, PfMYST plays critical roles in cell cycle regulation, gene transcription, and DNA replication/DNA repair in this low-branching parasitic protist.

IMPORTANCE

Understanding gene regulation and DNA repair in malaria parasites is critical for identifying targets for antimalarials. This study found PfNuA4, a PfMYST-associated, histone modifier complex, and PfSWR1, a chromatin remodeling complex in malaria parasite
Plasmodium falciparum
. These complexes are divergent due to the low identities compared to their homologs from yeast and humans. Furthermore, overexpression of PfMYST resulted in substantial transcriptomic changes, indicating that PfMYST is involved in regulating the cell cycle, antigenic variation, and DNA replication/repair. Consistently, PfMYST was found to protect against DNA damage caused by the genotoxic agent methyl methanesulfonate, X-rays, and artemisinin, the first-line antimalarial drug. Additionally, DNA damage led to the relocation of cytoplasmic PfMYST to the nucleus and colocalization of PfMYST with γ-PfH2A, the mark of DNA damage. In summary, this study demonstrated that the PfMYST complex has critical functions in regulating cell cycle, antigenic variation, and DNA replication/DNA repair in
P. falciparum
.
Interactions between
Epichloë
endophyte and the plant microbiome impact nitrogen responses in host
Achnatherum inebrians
plants
Authors: Jin Yuanyuan , Chen Zhenjiang , White James F. , Malik Kamran , Li Chunjie
Published: April 2024

The clavicipitaceous fungus
Epichloë gansuensis
forms symbiotic associations with drunken horse grass (
Achnatherum inebrians
), providing biotic and abiotic stress protection to its host. However, it is unclear how
E. gansuensis
affects the assembly of host plant-associated bacterial communities after ammonium nitrogen (NH
4
+
-N) treatment. We examined the shoot- and root-associated bacterial microbiota and root metabolites of
A. inebrians
when infected (I) or uninfected (F) with
E. gansuensis
endophyte. The results showed more pronounced NH
4
+
-N-induced microbial and metabolic changes in the endophyte-infected plants compared to the endophyte-free plants.
E. gansuensis
significantly altered bacterial community composition and β-diversity in shoots and roots and increased bacterial α-diversity under NH
4
+
-N treatment. The relative abundance of 117 and 157 root metabolites significantly changed with
E. gansuensis
infection under water and NH
4
+
-N treatment compared to endophyte-free plants. Root bacterial community composition was significantly related to the abundance of the top 30 metabolites [variable importance in the projection (VIP) > 2 and VIP > 3] contributing to differences between I and F plants, especially alkaloids. The correlation network between root microbiome and metabolites was complex. Microorganisms in the Proteobacteria and Firmicutes phyla were significantly associated with the R00693 metabolic reaction of cysteine and methionine metabolism. Co-metabolism network analysis revealed common metabolites between host plants and microorganisms.

IMPORTANCE

Our results suggest that the effect of endophyte infection is sensitive to nitrogen availability. Endophyte symbiosis altered the composition of shoot and root bacterial communities, increasing bacterial diversity. There was also a change in the class and relative abundance of metabolites. We found a complex co-occurrence network between root microorganisms and metabolites, with some metabolites shared between the host plant and its microbiome. The precise ecological function of the metabolites produced in response to endophyte infection remains unknown. However, some of these compounds may facilitate plant-microbe symbiosis by increasing the uptake of beneficial soil bacteria into plant tissues. Overall, these findings advance our understanding of the interactions between the microbiome, metabolome, and endophyte symbiosis in grasses. The results provide critical insight into the mechanisms by which the plant microbiome responds to nutrient stress in the presence of fungal endophytes.
Complete sequence of carbapenem-resistant
Ralstonia mannitolilytica
clinical isolate co-producing novel class D β-lactamase OXA-1176 and OXA-1177 in Japan
Authors: Hayashi Wataru , Kaiju Hiroyuki , Kayama Shizuo , Yu Liansheng , Zuo Hui , Sugawara Yo , Azuma Kaoru , Takahashi Akemi , Hata Yuka , Sugai Motoyuki
Published: April 2024

In 2020, the
Ralstonia mannitolilytica
strain JARB-RN-0044 was isolated from a midstream urine sample of an elderly hospitalized patient in Japan and was highly resistant to carbapenem (i.e., imipenem, meropenem, and doripenem). Whole-genome sequencing revealed that the complete genome consists of two replicons, a 3.5-Mb chromosome and a 1.5-Mb large non-chromosomal replicon which has not been reported in
R. mannitolilytica,
and referred to as the “megaplasmid” in this study based on Cluster of Orthologous Group of proteins functional analysis. The strain JARB-RN-0044 harbored two novel OXA-60 and OXA-22 family class D β-lactamase genes
bla
OXA-1176
and
bla
OXA-1177
on the megaplasmid. Cloning experiments indicated that
Escherichia coli
recombinant clone expressing
bla
OXA-1176
gene showed increased minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of imipenem, meropenem, and doripenem, indicating that
bla
OXA-1176
gene encodes carbapenemase. In contrast,
E. coli
recombinant clone expressing
bla
OXA-1177
gene showed increased MICs of piperacillin and cefazolin, but not of carbapenem. Interestingly, the 44.6 kb putative prophage region containing genes encoding phage integrase, terminase, head and tail protein was identified in the downstream region of
bla
OXA-1176
gene, and comparative analysis with some previously reported
R. mannitolilytica
isolates revealed that the prophage region was unique to strain JARB-RN-0044. The existence of a highly carbapenem-resistant
R. mannitolilytica
isolate may raise human health concerns in Japan, where the population is rapidly aging.

IMPORTANCE

Ralstonia mannitolilytica
is an aerobic non-fermenting Gram-negative rod commonly found in aquatic environments and soil. The bacteria can occasionally cause severe hospital-acquired bloodstream infections in immunocompromised patients and it has been recently recognized as an emerging opportunistic human pathogen. Furthermore, some
R. mannitolilytica
isolates are resistant to various antimicrobial agents, including β-lactams and aminoglycosides, making antimicrobial therapy challenging and clinically problematic. However, clinical awareness of this pathogen is limited. To our knowledge, in Japan, there has been only one report of a carbapenem-resistant
R. mannitolilytica
clinical isolate from urine by Suzuki et al. in 2015. In this study, whole-genome sequencing analysis revealed the presence and genetic context of novel
bla
OXA-1176
and
bla
OXA-1177
genes on the 1.5 Mb megaplasmid from highly carbapenem-resistant
R. mannitolilytica
isolate and characterized the overall distribution of functional genes in the chromosome and megaplasmid. Our findings highlight the importance of further attention to
R. mannitolilytica
isolate in clinical settings.
Experimental and analytical pipeline for sub-genomic RNA landscape of coronavirus by Nanopore sequencer
Authors: Chen Bo-Jia , Lin Ching-Hung , Wu Hung-Yi , Cai James J. , Chao Day-Yu
Published: April 2024

Coronaviruses (CoVs), including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, can infect a variety of mammalian and avian hosts with significant medical and economic consequences. During the life cycle of CoV, a coordinated series of subgenomic RNAs, including canonical subgenomic messenger RNA and non-canonical defective viral genomes (DVGs), are generated with different biological implications. Studies that adopted the Nanopore sequencer (ONT) to investigate the landscape and dynamics of viral RNA subgenomic transcriptomes applied arbitrary bioinformatics parameters without justification or experimental validation. The current study used bovine coronavirus (BCoV), which can be performed under biosafety level 2 for library construction and experimental validation using traditional colony polymerase chain reaction and Sanger sequencing. Four different ONT protocols, including RNA direct and cDNA direct sequencing with or without exonuclease treatment, were used to generate RNA transcriptomic libraries from BCoV-infected cell lysates. Through rigorously examining the k-mer, gap size, segment size, and bin size, the optimal cutoffs for the bioinformatic pipeline were determined to remove the sequence noise while keeping the informative DVG reads. The sensitivity and specificity of identifying DVG reads using the proposed pipeline can reach 82.6% and 99.6% under the k-mer size cutoff of 15. Exonuclease treatment reduced the abundance of RNA transcripts; however, it was not necessary for future library preparation. Additional recovery of clipped BCoV nucleotide sequences with experimental validation expands the landscape of the CoV discontinuous RNA transcriptome, whose biological function requires future investigation. The results of this study provide the benchmarks for library construction and bioinformatic parameters for studying the discontinuous CoV RNA transcriptome.

IMPORTANCE

Functional defective viral genomic RNA, containing all the
cis
-acting elements required for translation or replication, may play different roles in triggering cell innate immune signaling, interfering with the canonical subgenomic messenger RNA transcription/translation or assisting in establishing persistence infection. This study does not only provide benchmarks for library construction and bioinformatic parameters for studying the discontinuous coronavirus RNA transcriptome but also reveals the complexity of the bovine coronavirus transcriptome, whose functional assays will be critical in future studies.
Electrochemical Gas Separations for Green Energy Integration
Authors: Stracensky Thomas , Xu Hui
Published: April 2024

Separation and purification of molecules and compounds is one of the fundamental processes of chemistry and a hugely important factor in industrialization, accounting for as much as 15% of world’s energy consumption. As the world tries to limit and reduce the effects of climate change, simultaneous development of a green chemical economy and carbon sequestration strategies are needed. Both these goals need to effectively and efficiently separate gas phase molecules to make the implementation of these technologies feasible, requiring an even higher demand for economical and green gas phase separation. The current methods of gas phase separation used in industry rely predominantly on inefficient processes, such as cryogenic distillation or temperature or pressure swing absorption. Gas phase separation by electrochemical means can offer theoretically high energy efficiency separation, as the energy supplied can operate exclusively on the molecule of interest, if proper material and design criteria are met, while traditional methods act upon the entire gas mixture. Additionally, electrochemical separations can reduce the number of steps needed as they can simultaneously separate and compress the purified gas, easing the demand for high energy processing required when using mechanical pumps. However, the effectiveness of these technologies depends largely on the operating conditions and materials that make up the electrochemical cell. Thus, a key factor driving improvement in this field relies heavily on material development, such as improved membranes/separators, catalysts, and other cell materials which can in turn give rise to novel techniques and high performance of the electrochemically driven devices. Electrochemical gas phase separations integrated with green energy are critical to reaching climate change targets, but they in turn rely on the development of novel materials at enlarged scales and implementation of these technologies at reduced costs. In this article, we discuss the principles and applications of three electrochemical gas separations: hydrogen (H2) pump, ammonia (NH3)compression, and carbon dioxide (CO2) separation.
Ewing’s Sarcoma Disguised as Aneurysmal Bone Cyst Lesion: About a Case
Authors: El Khassoui Amine , Touraif Mariem , Tahiri Driss , Aghoutane El Mouhtadi , Salama Tarik , El Fezzazi Redouane
Published: April 2024

Aneurysmal bone cysts are defined as benign lesions. They expose the patients to a higher risk of pathological fractures. The typical clinical and radiological aspects of the tumor usually do not require a pathological confirmation before a definite treatment. However, in some cases, a malignant tumor will have the same clinical and radiological characteristics of a begin lesion. Our case highlights this fact. We present a case of a 13-year-old patient that presented to us with a pathological fracture. The X-ray and CT scan were in favor of ABC; however, the postoperative pathology revealed an Ewing sarcoma. A salvage treatment became mandatory after this finding but was refused by the parents, resulting in the death of the patient 6 months later. A biopsy must be mandatory each time we have a suspicious aneurysmal bone cyst even with typical clinical and radiological characteristics before starting a treatment plan.