bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Bacterial metallothionein, PmtA, a novel stress protein found on the bacterial surface of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
and involved in management of oxidative stress and phagocytosis
Authors: Maltz-Matyschsyk Michele , Melchiorre Clare K. , Knecht David A. , Lynes Michael A. 
Published: May 2024

ABSTRACT

Metallothioneins (MTs) are small cysteine-rich proteins that play important roles in homeostasis and protection against heavy metal toxicity and oxidative stress. The opportunistic pathogen,
Pseudomonas aeruginosa,
expresses a bacterial MT known as PmtA. Utilizing genetically modified
P. aeruginosa
PAO1 strains (a human clinical wound isolate), we show that inducing
pmtA
increases levels of pyocyanin and biofilm compared to other PAO1 isogenic strains, supporting previous results that
pmtA
is important for pyocyanin and biofilm production. We also show that overexpression of
pmtA in vitro
provides protection for cells exposed to oxidants, which is a characteristic of inflammation, indicating a role for PmtA as an antioxidant in inflammation. We found that a
pmtA
clean deletion mutant is phagocytized faster than other PAO1 isogenic strains in THP-1 human macrophage cells, indicating that PmtA provides protection from the phagocytic attack. Interestingly, we observed that monoclonal anti-PmtA antibody binds to PmtA, which is accessible on the surface of PAO1 strains using both flow cytometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay techniques. Finally, we investigated intracellular persistence of these PAO1 strains within THP-1 macrophages cells and found that the phagocytic endurance of PAO1 strains is affected by
pmtA
expression. These data show for the first time that a bacterial MT (
pmtA
) can play a role in the phagocytic process and can be found on the outer surface of PAO1. Our results suggest that PmtA plays a role both in protection from oxidative stress and in the resistance to the host’s innate immune response, identifying PmtA as a potential therapeutic target in
P. aeruginosa
infection.

IMPORTANCE

The pathogen
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
is a highly problematic multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogen with complex virulence networks. MDR
P. aeruginosa
infections have been associated with increased clinical visits, very poor healthcare outcomes, and these infections are ranked as critical on priority lists of both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization. Known P. aeruginosa virulence factors have been extensively studied and are implicated in counteracting host defenses, causing direct damage to the host tissues, and increased microbial competitiveness. Targeting virulence factors has emerged as a new line of defense in the battle against MDR
P. aeruginosa
strains. Bacterial metallothionein is a newly recognized virulence factor that enables evasion of the host immune response. The studies described here identify mechanisms in which bacterial metallothionein (PmtA) plays a part in
P. aeruginosa
pathogenicity and identifies PmtA as a potential therapeutic target.
Effect of ceftazidime-avibactam combined with different antimicrobials against carbapenem-resistant
Klebsiella pneumoniae
Authors: Wu Yun , Yu Wei , Chu Xiaobing , Zhang Jingjia , Jia Peiyao , Liu XiaoYu , Zhu Ying , Xu YingChun , Yang Qiwen 
Published: May 2024

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to assess the
in vitro
efficacy of ceftazidime-avibactam (CZA) in combination with various antimicrobial agents against carbapenem-resistant
Klebsiella pneumoniae
(CRKP). We selected 59 clinical CRKP isolates containing distinct drug resistance mechanisms. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of meropenem (MEM), colistin (COL), eravacycline (ERA), amikacin (AK), fosfomycin (FOS), and aztreonam (ATM), both individually and in combination with CZA, were tested using the checkerboard method. The interactions of antimicrobial agent combinations were assessed by fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) and susceptible breakpoint index (SBPI). The time-kill curve assay was employed to dynamically evaluate the effects of these drugs alone and in combination format. In the checkerboard assay, the combination of CZA+MEM showed the highest level of synergistic effect against both KPC-producing and carbapenemase-non-producing isolates, with synergy rates of 91.3% and 100%, respectively. Following closely was the combination of FOS+CZA . For metallo-beta-lactamases (MBLs) producing strains, ATM+CZA displayed complete synergy, while the combination of MEM+CZA showed a synergy rate of only 57.14% for NDM-producing strains and 91.67% for IMP-producing strains. In the time-kill assay, MEM+CZA also demonstrated significant synergistic effects against the two KPC-2-producing isolates (Y070 and L70), the two carbapenemase-non-producing isolates (Y083 and L093), and the NDM-1-producing strain L13, with reductions in log
10
CFU/mL exceeding 10 compared to the control. Against the IMP-producing strain Y047, ATM+CZA exhibited the highest synergistic effect, resulting in a log
10
CFU/mL reduction of 10.43 compared to the control. The combination of CZA and MEM exhibited good synergistic effects against KPC-producing and non-enzyme-producing strains, followed by the FOS+CZA combination. Among MBL-producing strains, ATM+CZA demonstrated the most pronounced synergistic effect. However, the combinations of CZA with ERA, AK, and COL show irrelevant effects against the tested clinical isolates.

IMPORTANCE
Our study confirmed the efficacy of the combination CZA+MEM against KPC-producing and non-carbapenemase-producing strains. For metalloenzyme-producing strains, CZA+ATM demonstrated the most significant synergy. Additionally, CZA exhibited a notable synergy effect when combined with FOS. These combination therapies present promising new options for the treatment of CRKP infection.
$$D^+ \rightarrow K_s^0 \pi ^+ \eta $$ reaction and $$a_0(980)^+$$
Authors: Ikeno Natsumi , Dias Jorgivan M. , Liang Wei-Hong , Oset Eulogio 
Published: May 2024

AbstractWe study the $$D^+ \rightarrow {\bar{K}}^0 \pi ^+ \eta $$

D
+

→

K

¯

0

π
+

η

reaction where the $$a_0(980)$$

a
0

(
980
)

excitation plays a dominant role. We consider mechanisms of external and internal emission at the quark level, hadronize the $$q {\bar{q}}$$

q

q

¯

components into two mesons and allow these mesons to undergo final state interaction where the $$a_0(980)$$

a
0

(
980
)

state is generated. While the $$a_0(980)$$

a
0

(
980
)

production is the dominant term, we also find other terms in the reaction that interfere with this production mode and, through interference with it, lead to a shape of the $$a_0(980)$$

a
0

(
980
)

significantly different from the one observed in other experiments, with an apparently much larger width.
Long-Term Risks of Cardiovascular Death among Older Patients with Major Hematological Malignancies: A Population-Based Cohort Study from SEER Database
Authors: Zhang Hanqing , He Minghao , Zhang Peng , Gao Yang , Ouyang Ling , He Xianjun , Han Na , Zhang Jinfeng , Guan Mengshan , Feng Yueqi , Li Yonghua 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Background:
The objective of this study was to identify the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related death in older patients with major hematological malignancies (HM).

Methods:
This study included 103,102 older patients diagnosed with seven major types of HM between 1975 and 2018 (median follow-up: 2.7 years) from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Result database. The proportion of deaths, Fine-Gray subdistribution hazards regression model, standardized mortality ratios (SMR), and absolute excess risk (AER) were used to evaluate the risk of CVD-related death.

Results:
For older patients with HM, CVD-related death ranked as the second leading cause of death, surpassed only by primary malignancy. Compared to the general older population, older patients with HM had higher SMR and AER of CVD-related deaths (SMR: 1.16–1.81; AER: 41.24–308.99), heart disease–related deaths (SMR: 1.19–1.90; AER: 39.23–274.69), and cerebrovascular disease–related deaths (SMR: 0.99–1.66; AER: −0.35 to 24.15). The proportion of deaths and cumulative mortality increased with the passage of survival time, especially in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma with stage I/II and those aged ≥85 years with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, surpassing primary malignancy. The risk of CVD-related death varied among different HM types.

Conclusions:
For older patients with HM, long-term cardiovascular risk management needs to be focused on while addressing the primary malignancy.

Impact:
Our results emphasize the need to manage long-term cardiovascular risk in older patients with hematological malignancies, especially in those identified as high-risk cases.
CAR T-cell Resistance to Oncogenic Transformation
Authors: Ruella Marco , June Carl H. 
Published: May 2024

Summary:
In this commentary, we discuss the investigation into reports of T-cell malignancies following chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy. We argue that although these cases should be thoroughly examined, current data suggest that such risks with autologous chimeric antigen receptor T cells are remarkably low compared with other cancer treatments. We also emphasize the importance of continued research, transparent reporting, and participation in postauthorization safety studies.
Preconceitos coloniais e complexos da descolonização segundo Sartre
Authors: Barroso Paulo 
Published: May 2024

For Jean-Paul Sartre, the oppressor breaks intersubjective solidarity and transforms the oppressed into an Other, fearing him and making him strange. It’s paradoxical since the colonizer is the one who “creates” the Other based on prejudice. This proposal follows a textual analysis focused on the essence of the colonial prejudice of the oppressor and on the complexes of liberation and independence of the oppressed peoples in the decolonization process. The objectives are: a) to highlight Sartre’s contribution to understanding colonial prejudices and decolonization complexes, as well as the position taken by the author against the war in Algeria and in favour of the colonial liberation movements in Africa; b) substantiate the position of respect for the Other as a fundamental question of an ethics of alterity.
Arabic Documents from Medieval Nubia
Authors: Khan Geoffrey 
Published: May 2024

This volume presents an edition of a corpus of Arabic documents datable to the 11th and 12th centuries AD that were discovered by the Egypt Exploration Society at the site of the Nubian fortress Qaṣr Ibrīm (situated in the south of modern Egypt). The edition of the documents is accompanied by English translations and a detailed analysis of their contents and historical background.
The documents throw new light on relations between Egypt and Nubia in the High Middle Ages, especially in the Fatimid period. They are of particular importance since previous historical studies from the perspective of Arabic sources have been almost entirely based on historiographical sources, often written a long time after the events described and distorted by tendentious points of view.
The Safety of Pediatric Bedside Tracheostomy
Authors: Madgar Ory , Kassif Lerner Reut , Devons-Sberro Stav , Nini-Perlstein Namma , Baltzan Amiad Levi , Rozendorn Noa , Paret Gideon , Pessach Itai M. , Alon Eran E. , Carmel Eldar 
Published: May 2024

Objective: Traditionally, pediatric tracheostomy has been viewed as a technically demanding procedure with a high complication rate, requiring the routine use of a formal operating room. Pediatric bedside tracheostomy in an intensive care unit (ICU) setting has not been widely reported, in contrast to the widespread adult bedside ICU tracheostomy. Transport of these critically ill, multiple life support systems dependent patients can be technically difficult, labor intensive, and potentially risky for these patients. Our study aimed to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of bedside tracheostomy in the pediatric ICU. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis of all pediatric patients undergoing tracheostomy at a tertiary care center, between 1st of January 2013 and 31st of December 2019. Results: During the study period, 117 pediatric patients underwent tracheostomy, 57 (48.7%) were performed bedside while 60 (51.3%) were performed in the operating room. Patients’ ages ranged from 2 weeks to 17 years of age, with a median age of 16 months. No case of bedside tracheostomy necessitated a shift to the operating room. There was no difference in 30-day morbidity and mortality between the 2 groups. Conclusions: Our results suggest that pediatric open bedside tracheostomy in an ICU setting is a safe procedure, with similar complications and outcomes compared to tracheostomy performed in the operating room.
Administrative reforms in Portugal and Spain: From bureaucracy to digital transition
Authors: Secchi Leonardo , Caeiro Joaquim Croca , Ramos Pinto Ricardo , Arenilla Sáez Manuel 
Published: May 2024

This article analyzes the administrative reforms that took place in the national governments of Portugal and Spain in the last 100 years. The shifts of administrative paradigms are the bureaucratic transition, the managerialist transition and the digital transition. The dimensions of analysis are the doctrines of the reforms; their justifications and underlying values; policy leadership, implementation styles and instruments; and resistance to change. We conducted a systematic literature review consulting 33 peer-reviewed articles on public management paradigms and 46 on administrative reforms in Portugal and Spain, and analyzed 32 official documents on the theme. The results show that the digital transition, compared with the two previous reforms, has relied on networked policy entrepreneurship, various instruments for policy change (beyond regulation), integration of values and a shift in the pattern of resistance to change. The article concludes that incremental changes occur between administrative reforms (punctuations), and the introduction of instruments inspired by one public management paradigm does not halt or replace the introduction of other instruments derived from other paradigms. Points for practitioners: Portugal and in Spain are vivid examples where public administration reforms have become more frequent and integrative of normative values. Over time, policy change leadership has moved down the organizational hierarchy and even been outsourced to external agents. Also, diversity of policy instruments has expanded, and the patterns of resistance to reforms shifted from a political/ideological type of resistance to a human/organizational type. The discursiveness of “new public governance” has ceded to the digital transformation of public administration.
Exploring the Theory of Employee Planned Behavior: Job Satisfaction as a Key to Organizational Performance
Authors: Hemsworth David , Muterera Jonathan , Khorakian Alireza , Garcia-Rivera Blanca Rosa 
Published: May 2024

This article introduces a significant advancement with the “Theory of Employee Planned Behavior” (TEPB), a novel extension of the well-established Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). The TEPB uniquely positions job satisfaction as a central determinant in driving organizational performance. Using data from county-level government institutions in the United States, this research offers a nuanced exploration into how employee satisfaction influences organizational commitment and citizenship behaviors, which, in turn, substantially impact organizational performance. Our approach utilizes a significant dataset involving 372 dyads across hierarchical levels in government institutions. Through the application of Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), we rigorously validate the TEPB model. The results highlight a significant relationship where enhanced job satisfaction leads to stronger organizational commitment. This heightened commitment further fosters organizational citizenship behaviors, crucial in achieving superior organizational performance. This work notably extends the TPB model by integrating organizational performance as a consequential outcome. It also provides empirical evidence of the direct relationship between job satisfaction and organizational performance, specifically in the context of government institutions. Such findings are invaluable for organizational executives and policymakers in recognizing the paramount importance of employee satisfaction for organizational success. Overall, the TEPB model presented in this study offers a holistic and practical framework for organizations seeking to understand and effectively manage employee behavior. By focusing on job satisfaction, organizations can foster a more committed and proactive workforce, significantly improving performance and efficiency.
Mechanical, rheological, thermal and morphological properties of pistachio shell powder reinforced / linear low-density polyethylene/polyolefin elastomer biocomposites
Authors: Singh Manjeet , Thite Amol , Ray Chowdhury Subhendu , Pant Harish Jagat 
Published: May 2024

In the present study, 20 wt% ENGAGE (a polyolefin elastomer) is melt blended with 80 wt% linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) followed by composite preparation with pistachio shell powder (PSP) in various compositions (40 wt% to 70 wt%). The effect of variation of PSP content on mechanical properties is studied. The processability of composites is improved because of the unique processability of ENGAGE. Consequently, filler-containing capability of the LLDPE/ENGAGE (LE82) blend is also enhanced considerably due to extra space generated by amorphous ENGAGE. Again, blending of 20 wt% ENGAGE with 80 wt% LLDPE is helpful for maintaining mechanical properties of LLDPE/ENGAGE/PSP composite in useful range. The rheological study confirms that complex viscosity (η), storage modulus (G’) and loss modulus (G”) remain almost unchanged with the incorporation of a high quantity of PSP into the LE82 blend system for all the composites in the entire frequency range. From the rheological study, it is seen that the thermoplastic nature of the composites is maintained. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) show the structural integrity of LE82 blend-based composites revealing the thermal stability of the organic filler and consequently the composites. SEM also shows uniform dispersion of PSP into the LLDPE/ENGAGE blend matrix. Such biocomposite with 70 wt% biodegradable component and reliable mechanical properties is attractive for wide spread applications.
Human or Not?: An Experiment With Chatbot Manipulations to Test Machine Heuristics and Political Self-Concepts
Authors: Huang-Isherwood Ke M. , Cho Jaeho , Hong Joo-Wha , Lee Eugene 
Published: May 2024

Chatbots have a growing role to play in political discourse, including in political campaigns, voter mobilization ventures, and dissemination of political news, though chatbots in the political domain are relatively understudied. While testing the machine heuristics and political self-concepts frameworks, we carried out a 2 × 2 experiment where both perceived conversational partner (i.e., bot, human) and topic (i.e., political, casual) were manipulated ( N = 126). During the experiment, participants exchanged chat messages with trained research confederates for 30 min. In support of the machine heuristics and political self-concepts frameworks, participants assigned to human partners reported more positive relationships and higher political interest. Through moderation analysis, liking the partner was found to differ between the perceived partner conditions, with perceived political knowledge varying more in the human conditions. Thus, the experimental findings add nuance to interpersonal (i.e., impression management and social identity theory) and human-computer interaction theories (i.e., machine heuristics and Computers Are Social Actors), and have broader implications for online political interactions and for decisionmakers of online political discourse spaces.
A clinical audit of patient outcomes in real-world acupuncture practice
Authors: Lowe Nick , Permyakova Natalia , Dutton Rodney 
Published: May 2024

Introduction: Clinical auditing represents a valuable and cost-effective method for the collection of patient outcomes and is increasingly being used to inform clinical guidelines. The aim of this clinical audit was to assess patient outcomes across a small subset of acupuncture practitioners and private practices in the United Kingdom. Methods: The Measure Yourself Medical Outcomes Profile (MYMOP) questionnaire and the Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC) scale were used as outcome measures. Additional questions assessed adverse events and patient experience with care. Clinical data were collected utilising an electronic patient-reported outcome measures (ePROMs) system. Results: Baseline data were collected for a total of 233 health complaints (from 232 patients), of which 45.9% were musculoskeletal and 26.2% were psychological. Follow-up outcomes data were available for 144 health complaints (61.8% completion rate). For PGIC responses, >90% of health complaints were reported as at least ‘minimally improved’. This was reduced to >51% when controlling for missing data. There was a gradual improvement in both mean MYMOP scores (24.5%–43.0%) and PGIC responses of ‘very much improved’ (12.3%–56.3%) over a 6-month period. A clinically significant improvement (>1 point change, p ⩽ 0.001) was seen in mean MYMOP scores compared to baseline from 4 to 8 weeks and symptom 1 MYMOP scores from 1 to 4 weeks. A moderately strong, negative correlation was seen between outcome measures (r = −0.507, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The majority of patients reported clinically meaningful improvements for their main health complaints/symptoms, which appeared to be sustained in the medium to long-term.
Press START to Teach – Can Simulation Games Close the Theory-Practice Gap?
Authors: Kienitz Anna , Eitel Alexander , Krebs Marie-Christin 
Published: May 2024

Background Student teachers commonly struggle to apply theoretical knowledge to their teaching. This theory-practice gap is a serious problem in teacher education. Over the past decade, simulations and serious games have been shown as an effective way to practice the transfer of theoretical knowledge in authentic settings of skill-use. Approximating theory-based teaching practice via repeated use of simulation games, thus, may be able to close the theory-practice gap in teacher education. Aim We aimed to assess whether repeatedly engaging with simulated teaching and theory-based feedback would improve student teachers’ teaching self-efficacy, transfer of theories into teaching situations and their perceived usefulness of theories. Method N = 86 student teachers learned twice with either a digital simulation game depicting decision-making in the classroom (simulation condition) or with screenshots of the game (control condition). After each phase, student teachers received theory-based feedback about (their) teaching. Results Against our hypothesis, there were no changes in both conditions regarding student teachers’ teaching self-efficacy, perceived usefulness of theories for practice, or integration of theory-based arguments into practical reasoning. Nonetheless, we found positive effects for learning time and motivation favoring the simulation condition. Conclusion Our results point towards the motivating potential of simulation games that was, however, not sufficient to close the theory-practice gap. It seems that the theory-practice integration within the simulation game needs to be even stronger to reveal the desired effects, which needs to be subject to further research.