Feeling Blue or Seeing Red? Similar Patterns of Emotion Associations With Colour Patches and Colour Terms

For many, colours convey affective meaning. Popular opinion assumes that perception of colour is crucial to influence emotions. However, scientific studies test colour–emotion relationships by presenting colours as patches or terms. When using patches, researchers put great effort into colour presentation. When using terms, researchers have much less control over the colour participants think of. In this between-subjects study, we tested whether emotion associations with colour differ between terms and patches. Participants associated 20 emotion concepts, loading on valence, arousal, and power dimensions, with 12 colours presented as patches (n = 54) or terms (n = 78). We report high similarity in the pattern of associations of specific emotion concepts with terms and patches (r = .82), for all colours except purple (r = .−23). We also observed differences for black, which is associated with more negative emotions and of higher intensity when presented as a term than a patch. Terms and patches differed little in terms of valence, arousal, and power dimensions. Thus, results from studies on colour–emotion relationships using colour terms or patches should be largely comparable. It is possible that emotions are associated with colour concepts rather than particular perceptions or words of colour

Making sense of free associations with PURPLE -A new coding scheme testing French speakers in three countries

The colour category PURPLE is strangely heterogeneous, potentially due to the use of different cognates. We asked French speakers from Algeria, France, and Switzerland (n = 274) to produce up to three free associations with violet (basic term), pourpre, and lilas (non-basic terms). We counted 2,075 associations. We developed a coding scheme that i) covers nine major themes, and ii) shows high inter-rater reliability. Overall, the themes colour terms and natural elements and objects were most prominent showing that participants provided closely related associations. Finally, violet triggered more diverse semantic associations than pourpre or lilas. This was true for all countries. It seems that the basic term PURPLE carries more diverse associations and connotations than the non-basic terms

The PURPLE mystery: Semantic meaning of three purple terms in French speakers from Algeria, France, and Switzerland

Studies on the colour category PURPLE yielded inconsistent category boundaries, focal colours, and colour-emotion associations. In French, there are at least three colour terms referring to the shades of purple, potentially weighing on these inconsistencies. Thus, we tested the semantic breadth and richness in semantic meaning of violet (basic term), lilas (non-basic), and pourpre (non-basic). We collected free associations in 274 French speakers from Algeria, France, and Switzerland, yielding 2,079 responses, of which 436 were discrete and 275 were unique. Frequency analyses and semantic coding supported the basicness status of violet in French, within a hierarchically structured semantic system. Moreover, the meaning of the three terms was not synonymous. Violet had the most abstract meaning. Lilas had the narrowest meaning, mainly referring to Natural Entities. Pourpre seemed close to RED. We found no differences between the countries. Future studies should extend this approach to other languages and other colour terms

Evaluation of carbapenemase screening and confirmation tests in Enterobacteriaceae and development of a practical diagnostic algorithm

RELIABLE IDENTIFICATION OF CARBAPENEMASE PRODUCING ENTEROBACTERIACEAE IS NECESSARY TO LIMIT THEIR SPREAD: This study aimed at developing a diagnostic flow-chart suitable for implementation in different types of clinical laboratories using phenotypic screening and confirmation tests. In total, 334 clinical Enterobacteriaceae isolates genetically characterized with respect to carbapenemase, extended-spectrum-beta-lactamase (ESBL), and AmpC genes were analyzed. 142/334 isolates (42.2%) were suspicious for carbapenemase production, i.e. intermediate or resistant to ertapenem AND/OR meropenem AND/OR imipenem according to EUCAST clinical breakpoints (CBPs). A group of 193/334 isolates (57.8%) showing susceptibility to ertapenem AND meropenem AND imipenem was considered as negative control group for this study. CLSI and EUCAST carbapenem CBPs and the new EUCAST MEM screening cut-off were evaluated as screening parameters. ETP, MEM and IPM +/- aminophenylboronic acid (APBA) or EDTA combined-disc tests (CDTs), and the Carba NP-II test were evaluated as confirmation assays. EUCAST temocillin cut-offs were evaluated for OXA-48 detection. The EUCAST MEM screening cut-off (< 25 mm) showed a sensitivity of 100%. The ETP APBA-CDT on Muller-Hinton agar containing cloxacillin (MH-CLX) displayed 100% sensitivity and specificity for class A carbapenemase confirmation. ETP and MEM EDTA-CDTs showed 100% sensitivity and specificity for class B carbapenemases. Temocillin diameters/MIC testing on MH-CLX was highly specific for OXA-48 producers. The overall sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of the Carba NP-II test were 78.9%, 100%, 100%, and 98.7%, respectively. Combining the EUCAST MEM carbapenemase-screening cut-off (< 25 mm), ETP (or MEM) APBA- and EDTA-CDTs, and temocillin disk diffusion on MH-CLX agar promises excellent performance for carbapenemase detection

Performance of copan WASP for routine urine microbiology

This study compared manual workup of urine clinical samples with fully automated WASPLab processing. As a first step two different inocula (1 and 10 μl) and different streaking patterns were compared using WASP and InoqulA BT™ instrumentation. A 10 μl inoculum produced significantly more single colonies than a 1 μl inoculum and automated streaking yielded significantly more single colonies as compared to manual streaking on whole plates (p<0.001). In a second step, 379 clinical urine samples were evaluated using WASP and manual workup. Average numbers of detected morphologies, recovered species, and CFU/ml of all 379 urine samples showed excellent agreement of WASPLab and manual workup. The percentage of clinical categorization of urine samples as "positive" or "negative" did not differ between automated and manual work-flow but within the positive samples automated processing by WASPLab resulted in the detection of more potential pathogens. In summary, the present study demonstrates that i) the streaking pattern, i.e. primarily the number of zigzags/length of streaking lines, is critical for optimizing the number of single colonies yielded from primary cultures of urine samples, ii) automated streaking by the WASP instrument was superior to manual streaking regarding the number of single colonies yielded, (for 32.2%) iii) automated streaking leads to higher numbers of detected morphologies (for 47.5%), species (for 17.4%) and pathogens (for 3.4%). The results of this study point to an improved quality of microbiological analyses and laboratory reports when using automated sample processing by WASP and WASPLab

Detection of Scedosporium spp.: Colonizer or pathogen? A retrospective analysis of clinical significance and management in a large tertiary centre

Infections with Scedosporium spp. are emerging in the past two decades and are associated with a high mortality rate. Microbiological detection can be associated with either a colonization or infection. Evolution from colonization into infection is difficult to predict and clinical management upon microbiological detection is complex. Microbiological samples from 2015 to 2021 were retrospectively analyzed in a single tertiary care centre. Classification into colonization or infection was performed upon first microbiological detection. Clinical evolution was observed until July 2023. Further diagnostic procedures after initial detection were analyzed. Among 38 patients with microbiological detection of Scedosporium spp.,10 were diagnosed with an infection at the initial detection and two progressed from colonization to infection during the observation time. The main sites of infections were lung (5/12; 41.6%) followed by ocular sites (4/12; 33.3%). Imaging, bronchoscopy or biopsies upon detection were performed in a minority of patients. Overall mortality rate was similar in both groups initially classified as colonization or infection (30.7% and 33.3% resp. (p=1.0)). In all patients where surgical debridement of site of infection was performed (5/12; 42%); no death was observed. Although death occurred more often in the group without eradication (3/4; 75%) compared with the group with successful eradication (1/8; 12.5%), statistical significance could not be reached (p=0.053). As therapeutic management directly impacts patients' outcome, a multidisciplinary approach upon microbiological detection of Scedosporium spp. should be encouraged. Data from larger cohorts are warranted in order to analyze contributing factors favoring the evolution from colonization into infection

Trends of the Epidemiology of Candidemia in Switzerland: A 15-Year FUNGINOS Survey.

The increasing incidence of candidemia and emergence of drug-resistant Candida species are major concerns worldwide. Long-term surveillance studies are needed. The Fungal Infection Network of Switzerland (FUNGINOS) conducted a 15-year (2004-2018), nationwide, epidemiological study of candidemia. Hospital-based incidence of candidemia, Candida species distribution, antifungal susceptibility, and consumption were stratified in 3 periods (2004-2008, 2009-2013, 2014-2018). Population-based incidence over the period 2009-2018 derived from the Swiss Antibiotic Resistance Surveillance System (ANRESIS). A total of 2273 Candida blood isolates were studied. Population and hospital-based annual incidence of candidemia increased from 2.96 to 4.20/100 000 inhabitants (P = .022) and 0.86 to 0.99/10 000 patient-days (P = .124), respectively. The proportion of Candida albicans decreased significantly from 60% to 53% (P = .0023), whereas Candida glabrata increased from 18% to 27% (P &lt; .0001). Other non-albicans Candida species remained stable. Candida glabrata bloodstream infections occurred predominantly in the age group 18-40 and above 65 years. A higher proportional increase of C glabrata was recorded in wards (18% to 29%, P &lt; .0001) versus intensive care units (19% to 24%, P = .22). According to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute, nonsusceptibility to fluconazole in C albicans was observed in 1% of isolates, and anidulafungin and micafungin nonsusceptibility was observed in 2% of C albicans and C glabrata. Fluconazole consumption, the most frequently used antifungal, remained stable, whereas use of mold-active triazoles and echinocandins increased significantly in the last decade (P &lt; .0001). Over the 15-year period, the incidence of candidemia increased. A species shift toward C glabrata was recently observed, concurring with increased consumption of mold-active triazoles

Secretome Analysis Defines the Major Role of SecDF in <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> Virulence

<div><p>The Sec pathway plays a prominent role in protein export and membrane insertion, including the secretion of major bacterial virulence determinants. The accessory Sec constituent SecDF has been proposed to contribute to protein export. Deletion of <i>Staphylococcus aureus secDF</i> has previously been shown to reduce resistance, to alter cell separation, and to change the expression of certain virulence factors. To analyse the impact of the <i>secDF</i> deletion in <i>S. aureus</i> on protein secretion, a quantitative secretome analysis was performed. Numerous Sec signal containing proteins involved in virulence were found to be decreased in the supernatant of the <i>secDF</i> mutant. However, two Sec-dependent hydrolases were increased in comparison to the wild type, suggesting additional indirect, regulatory effects to occur upon deletion of <i>secDF</i>. Adhesion, invasion, and cytotoxicity of the <i>secDF</i> mutant were reduced in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Virulence was significantly reduced using a <i>Galleria mellonella</i> insect model. Altogether, SecDF is a promising therapeutic target for controlling <i>S. aureus</i> infections.</p></div