Understanding Logistics Airmen’s Risk Information Seeking and Processing during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Organizational Meetings in an Extended PRISM Framework

The purpose of this survey-based research was to understand how organizational workplace meetings surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic impacted logistics Airmen across the United States Air Force and subsequently played a role into their risk seeking behavior on social media. Specifically, this research tested an expanded Planned Information Risk Seeking Model with organizational meetings as an antecedent to determine if current meetings influenced an Airman\u27s perceived behavioral control, attitude toward seeking, subjective norms, knowledge sufficiency an intentions to seek information regarding COVID-19

Exploitation of Host Polyubiquitination Machinery through Molecular Mimicry by Eukaryotic-Like Bacterial F-Box Effectors

Microbial pathogens have evolved exquisite mechanisms to interfere and intercept host biological processes, often through molecular mimicry of specific host proteins. Ubiquitination is a highly conserved eukaryotic post-translational modification essential in determining protein fate, and is often hijacked by pathogenic bacteria. The conserved SKP1/CUL1/F-box (SCF) E3 ubiquitin ligase complex plays a key role in ubiquitination of proteins in eukaryotic cells. The F-box protein component of the SCF complex provides specificity to ubiquitination by binding to specific cellular proteins, targeting them to be ubiquitinated by the SCF complex. The bacterial pathogens. Legionella pneumophila, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, and Ralstonia solanacearum utilize type III or IV translocation systems to inject into the host cell eukaryotic-like F-box effectors that interact with the host SKP1 component of the SCF complex to trigger ubiquitination of specific host cells targets, which is essential to promote proliferation of these pathogens. Our bioinformatic analyses have identified at least 74 genes encoding putative F-box proteins belonging to 22 other bacterial species, including human pathogens, plant pathogens, and amebal endosymbionts. Therefore, subversion of the host ubiquitination machinery by bacterial F-box proteins may be a widespread strategy amongst pathogenic bacteria. The findings that bacterial F-box proteins harbor Ankyrin repeats as protein–protein interaction domains, which are present in F-box proteins of primitive but not higher eukaryotes, suggest acquisition of many bacterial F-box proteins from primitive eukaryotic hosts rather than the mammalian host

Mycobacterium tuberculosis RNA Expression Patterns in Sputum Bacteria Indicate Secreted Esx Factors Contributing to Growth are Highly Expressed in Active Disease

To identify factors contributing to the ability of tubercle bacilli to grow in the lung during active infection, we analyzed RNA expression patterns in bacteria present in patient sputum. Prominent among bacterial transcripts identified were those encoding secreted peptides of the Esat-6 subfamily that includes EsxK and EsxL (Rv1197 and Rv1198). H37Rv esxKL and esxJI transcripts were differentially expressed under different growth conditions, and disruption of these genes altered growth phase kinetics in typical laboratory batch broth cultures. These growth defects, including the reduced intracellular growth of an ΔesxKL mutant in primary human macrophages, were reversed by either low multiplicity co-infection or co-culture with wild-type bacteria, demonstrating the ability of the secreted factors to rescue isogenic mutants. Complementing either only esxL or esxI alone (Rv1198 or Rv1037c) also reduced observed growth defects, indicating these genes encode factors capable of contributing to growth. Our studies indicate that the Mycobacterium tuberculosis Mtb9.9 family secreted factors EsxL and EsxI can act in trans to modulate growth of intracellular bacteria, and are highly expressed during active human lung infection

Host-Mediated Post-Translational Prenylation of Novel Dot/Icm-Translocated Effectors of Legionella Pneumophila

The Dot/Icm type IV translocated Ankyrin B (AnkB) effector of Legionella pneumophila is modified by the host prenylation machinery that anchors it into the outer leaflet of the Legionella-containing vacuole (LCV), which is essential for biological function of the effector in vitro and in vivo. Prenylation involves the covalent linkage of an isoprenoid lipid moiety to a C-terminal CaaX motif in eukaryotic proteins enabling their anchoring into membranes. We show here that the LCV harboring an ankB null mutant is decorated with prenylated proteins in a Dot/Icm-dependent manner, indicating that other LCV membrane-anchored proteins are prenylated. In silico analyses of four sequenced L. pneumophila genomes revealed the presence of eleven other genes that encode proteins with a C-terminal eukaryotic CaaX prenylation motif. Of these eleven designated Prenylated effectors of Legionella (Pel), seven are also found in L. pneumophila AA100. We show that six L. pneumophila AA100 Pel proteins exhibit distinct cellular localization when ectopically expressed in mammalian cells and this is dependent on action of the host prenylation machinery and the conserved cysteine residue of the CaaX motif. Although inhibition of the host prenylation machinery completely blocks intra-vacuolar proliferation of L. pneumophila, it only had a modest effect on intracellular trafficking of the LCV. Five of the Pel proteins are injected into human macrophages by the Dot/Icm type IV translocation system of L. pneumophila. Taken together, the Pel proteins are novel Dot/Icm-translocated effectors of L. pneumophila that are post-translationally modified by the host prenylation machinery, which enables their anchoring into cellular membranes, and the prenylated effectors contribute to evasion of lysosomal fusion by the LCV

Differences in level of confidence in diabetes care between different groups of trainees: the TOPDOC diabetes study

Background There is an increasing prevalence of diabetes. Doctors in training, irrespective of specialty, will have patients with diabetes under their care. The aim of this further evaluation of the TOPDOC Diabetes Study data was to identify if there was any variation in confidence in managing diabetes depending on the geographical location of trainees and career aspirations. Methods An online national survey using a pre-validated questionnaire was administered to trainee doctors. A 4-point confidence rating scale was used to rate confidence in managing aspects of diabetes care and a 6-point scale used to quantify how often trainees would contribute to the management of patients with diabetes. Responses were grouped depending on which UK country trainees were based and their intended career choice. Results Trainees in Northern Ireland reported being less confident in IGT diagnosis, use of IV insulin and peri-operative management and were less likely to adjust oral treatment, contact specialist, educate lifestyle, and optimise treatment. Trainees in Scotland were less likely to contact a specialist, but more likely to educate on lifestyle, change insulin, and offer follow-up advice. In Northern Ireland, Undergraduate (UG) and Postgraduate (PG) training in diagnosis was felt less adequate, PG training in emergencies less adequate, and reporting of need for further training higher. Trainees in Wales felt UG training to be inadequate. In Scotland more trainees felt UG training in diagnosis and optimising treatment was inadequate. Physicians were more likely to report confidence in managing patients with diabetes and to engage in different aspects of diabetes care. Aspiring physicians were less likely to feel the need for more training in diabetes care; however a clear majority still felt they needed more training in all aspects of care. Conclusions Doctors in training have poor confidence levels dealing with diabetes related care issues. Although there is variability between different groups of trainees according to geographical location and career aspirations, this is a UK wide issue. There should be a UK wide standardised approach to improving training for junior doctors in diabetes care with local training guided by specific needs.</p

Patient specific contouring region of interest for abdominal stereotactic adaptive radiotherapy

Contouring during adaptive radiotherapy (ART) can be a time-consuming process. This study describes the generation of patient specific contouring regions of interest (CRoI) for evaluating the high dose fall-off in stereotactic abdominal ART. An empirical equation was derived to determine the radius of a cylindrical patient specific CRoIs. These CRoIs were applied to 60 patients and their adaptive fractions (301 unique treatment plans). Out of the 301 unique treatment plans, 284 (94%) treatment plans contained the high dose fall-off within the CRoI. There was an expected predicted average timesaving of 2.9-min-per case. Patient specific CRoIs improves the efficiency of ART

Influencing air force logisticians' information seeking during the COVID-19 pandemic: the role of organizational meetings in an expanded PRISM framework

Purpose – This research aims to understand how organizational workplace meetings surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic impacted logistics Airmen across the United States Air Force and how these meetings impacted their risk seeking behavior on social media. Design/methodology/approach – This survey research tested an extended Planned Risk Information Risk Seeking Model (PRISM) with organizational meetings as an antecedent to determine if current meetings influenced an Airman's perceived behavioral control, attitude toward seeking, subjective norms, knowledge sufficiency and intention to seek information regarding COVID-19. Findings – Results of the CFA showed that the expanded PRISM model had good model fit. Additionally, using a custom dialog PROCESS macro in SPSS, it was found that perceptions of existing meetings were directly, positively related to attitude toward seeking, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control, and indirectly related to knowledge sufficiency threshold and information seeking. Theoretical and managerial implications are discussed. Originality/value – This research adds to the limited body of knowledge of crisis communication and effectively expands the PRISM model to include an antecedent that helps explain information seeking during times of uncertainty

A Patient-Specific Model of the Biomechanics of Hip Reduction for Neonatal Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip: Investigation of Strategies for Low to Severe Grades of Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip

A physics-based computational model of neonatal Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH) following treatment with the Pavlik Harness (PV) was developed to obtain muscle force contribution in order to elucidate biomechanical factors influencing the reduction of dislocated hips. Clinical observation suggests that reduction occurs in deep sleep involving passive muscle action. Consequently, a set of five (5) adductor muscles were identified as mediators of reduction using the PV. A Fung/Hill-type model was used to characterize muscle response. Four grades (1–4) of dislocation were considered, with one (1) being a low subluxation and four (4) a severe dislocation. A three-dimensional model of the pelvis– femur lower limb of a representative 10 week-old female was generated based on CT-scans with the aid of anthropomorphic scaling of anatomical landmarks. The model was calibrated to achieve equilibrium at 901 flexion and 801 abduction. The hip was computationally dislocated according to the grade under investigation, the femur was restrained to move in an envelope consistent with PV restraints, and the dynamic response under passive muscle action and the effect of gravity was resolved. Model results with an anteversion angle of 501 show successful reduction Grades 1–3, while Grade 4 failed to reduce with the PV. These results are consistent with a previous study based on a simplified anatomically-consistent synthetic model and clinical reports of very low success of the PV for Grade 4. However our model indicated that it is possible to achieve reduction of Grade 4 dislocation by hyperflexion and the resultant external rotation

Migration- and exercise-induced changes to flight muscle size in migratory birds and association with \u3cem\u3eIGF1\u3c/em\u3e and \u3cem\u3emyostatin\u3c/em\u3e mRNA expression

Seasonal adjustments to muscle size in migratory birds may result from preparatory physiological changes or responses to changed workloads. The mechanisms controlling these changes in size are poorly understood. We investigated some potential mediators of flight muscle size (myostatin and insulin-like growth factor, IGF1) in pectoralis muscles of wild wintering or migrating white-throated sparrows (Zonotrichia albicollis), captive white-throated sparrows that were photoperiod manipulated to be in a `wintering\u27 or `migratory\u27 (Zugunruhe) state, and captive European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) that were either exercised for 2 weeks in a wind tunnel or untrained. Flight muscle size increased in photo-stimulated `migrants\u27 and in exercised starlings. Acute exercise but not long-term training caused increased expression of IGF1, but neither caused a change in expression of myostatin or its metalloprotease activator TLL1. Photo-stimulated `migrant\u27 sparrows demonstrated increased expression of both myostatin and IGF1, but wild sparrows exhibited no significant seasonal changes in expression of either myostatin or IGF1. Additionally, in both study species we describe several splice variants of myostatin that are shared with distantly related bird species. We demonstrate that their expression patterns are not different from those of the typical myostatin, suggesting that they have no functional importance and may be mistakes of the splicing machinery. We conclude that IGF1 is likely to be an important mediator of muscle phenotypic flexibility during acute exercise and during endogenous, seasonal preparation for migration. The role of myostatin is less clear, but its paradoxical increase in photo-stimulated `migrants\u27 may indicate a role in seasonal adjustments of protein turnover