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Staphylococcus pseudintermedius is a frequent cause of infections in dogs. Infectious isolates of this coagulase-positive staphylococcal species are often methicillin- and multidrug-resistant, which complicates therapy. In staphylococci, methicillin resistance is encoded by determinants found on mobile genetic elements called Staphylococcal Chromosome Cassette mec (SCCmec), which, in addition to methicillin resistance factors, sometimes encode additional genes, such as further resistance factors and, rarely, virulence determinants. In this study, we analyzed SCCmec in a collection of infectious methicillin-resistant S. pseudintermedius (MRSP) isolates from predominant lineages in the United States. We found that several lineages characteristically have specific types of SCCmec elements and Agr types and harbor additional factors in their SCCmec elements that may promote virulence or affect DNA uptake. All isolates had SCCmec-encoded restriction–modification (R-M) systems of types I or II, and sequence types (STs) ST84 and ST64 had one type II and one type I R-M system, although the latter lacked a complete methylation enzyme gene. ST68 isolates also had an SCCmec-encoded CRISPR system. ST71 isolates had a psm-mec gene, which, in all but apparently Agr-dysfunctional isolates, produced a PSM-mec peptide toxin, albeit at relatively small amounts. This study gives detailed insight into the composition of SCCmec elements in infectious isolates of S. pseudintermedius and lays the genetic foundation for further efforts directed at elucidating the contribution of identified accessory SCCmec factors in impacting SCCmec-encoded and thus methicillin resistance-associated virulence and resistance to DNA uptake in this leading canine pathogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Design Methods Results Conclusions No Patient or Public Contribution What Is Already Known What This Paper Adds Develop evidence‐based recommendations for managers to support primary healthcare nurses to thrive at work.A mixed‐methods sequential explanatory design.National data were collected in 2020 via an e‐survey based on a meta‐analysis of antecedents of thriving from 213 primary healthcare nurses across New Zealand. Structural equation modelling analysis identified the key factors supporting primary healthcare nurses to thrive. This informed a second open‐ended e‐survey in 2022 of 19 nurses from one primary healthcare organization. The thematic analysis provided recommendations for improving management strategies to support thriving primary healthcare nurses.The vitality component of thriving significantly reduced burnout and intention to leave organization and profession. In contrast, the learning component of thriving had a significant positive effect on burnout. The key factors that support thriving at work are empowering leadership and perceived organizational supports (decreases burnout and intention to leave organization and profession through enhanced vitality). Recommendations for improving thriving were made in eight key areas: communication, effective management, professional development, scope of practice, autonomy, effective orientation, reward and work–life balance.Vitality is important in reducing burnout and turnover intentions. While learning was identified as increasing burnout, professional development and training for managers were identified as essential. Hence, the vitality dimension of the thriving at work construct should be studied at the dimension level, but more research is needed into the impact of learning on thriving over time. Primary healthcare nurses have identified that empowering leadership and perceived organizational support are critical factors in supporting them to thrive, and they provide specific recommendations for managers to improve these factors in the clinical setting.This study collected data from Registered Nurses only. A plethora of existing research focuses on resilience in nurses rather than thriving at work. Enabling employees to thrive at work contributes to improved well‐being and sustainable organizational performance. Empowering leadership and perceived organizational support are the key factors that support primary healthcare nurses to thrive at work. The vitality dimension of the thriving at work construct should be studied at the dimension level, and further research is needed into the impact of learning on thriving over time. Primary healthcare nurses recommend that managers focus on improving communication, management efficiency, professional development, scope of practice, autonomy, orientation, reward and work–life balance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organizations may hire newcomers as a source of creativity, bringing fresh ideas and novel solutions to benefit organizational performance. However, the conditions that foster newcomer innovation are not well understood. Drawing on behavioral plasticity and cue consistency theories, we investigate the combined influence of new job self-efficacy and two work design factors (work autonomy and work demands) affecting how supervisor creativity expectations (SCEs) translate into newcomers behaving innovatively. Two-wave data were collected from 108 graduates of a university in China. Results using reliability-corrected single indicator latent moderated structural equation modeling (RCSLMS) supported our hypotheses. Thus, SCEs predicted newcomer innovative behavior more strongly for newcomers with low new job self-efficacy. Moreover, supporting cue consistency theory, newcomers who perceived high SCEs and low new job self-efficacy demonstrated the highest level of innovative behavior when work autonomy was high or work demands were low. These results broaden the application of behavioral plasticity theory for understanding newcomer behaviors. Further, our findings emphasize the importance of consistent work environment cues to encourage newcomer innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Staphylococci are major causes of infections in mammals. Mammals are colonized by diverse staphylococcal species, often with moderate to strong host specificity, and colonization is a common source of infection. Staphylococcal infections of animals not only are of major importance for animal well-being but have considerable economic consequences, such as in the case of staphylococcal mastitis, which costs billions of dollars annually. Furthermore, pet animals can be temporary carriers of strains infectious to humans. Moreover, antimicrobial resistance is a great concern in livestock infections, as there is considerable antibiotic overuse, and resistant strains can be transferred to humans. With the number of working antibiotics continuously becoming smaller due to the concomitant spread of resistant strains, alternative approaches, such as anti-virulence, are increasingly being investigated to treat staphylococcal infections. For this, understanding the virulence mechanisms of animal staphylococcal pathogens is crucial. While many virulence factors have similar functions in humans as animals, there are increasingly frequent reports of host-specific virulence factors and mechanisms. Furthermore, we are only beginning to understand virulence mechanisms in animal-specific staphylococcal pathogens. This review gives an overview of animal infections caused by staphylococci and our knowledge about the virulence mechanisms involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dowager's hump is described as excessive kyphotic curvature in the thoracic spine with a Cobb angle of more than 40 degrees. This case report presents a 61 years old female office clerk who experienced headaches and neck pain for 3 years that extended into her right shoulder and upper chest. She consulted her primary care physician two months before seeing the chiropractor when the neck pain worsened. A diagnosis of cervicalgia related to osteoarthritis was made based on cervical and thoracic X-ray findings. The patient received non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (celecoxib and etoricoxib) and stretching exercises at home. At the onset of chiropractic care, radiographs showed loss of cervical lordosis, narrowing at the C4-5, C5-C6, and C6-7 intervertebral disc space with marginal osteophytes. Based on these findings, a working diagnosis of cervicogenic headache was established. After treatment for 9 months, the patient showed improvement in symptoms and function from cervical curve radiographic change and dextro-convexity of the thoracic spine. Avoiding forward head flexion and maintaining correct posture in daily activities will be key mechanisms to prevent the reoccurrence of Dowager's hump. The improvement of symptoms following chiropractic therapy has been shown to correlate with radiographic markers of spinal realignment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Facing China: The Prospect for War and Peace" by Jean-Pierre Cabestan is a translated book that provides a clear and readable overview of Chinese politics and international relations. The book covers topics such as Sino-US relations, China-India contention, and regional affairs like the South China Seas disputes and the Senkaku Islands conflict. The author argues that while a hot war between China and the US is unlikely, there are ongoing "gray zone" conflicts and trade and tech wars. The book is supported by extensive research and is recommended for policymakers, researchers, and academics studying Chinese foreign policy and international relations. [Extracted from the article]

Two-level data sets are frequently encountered in social and behavioral science research. They arise when observations are drawn from a known hierarchical structure, as when individuals are randomly drawn from groups that are randomly drawn from a target population. When the covariance structures in the group level and the individual level are the same, standard structural equation modeling software such as LISREL can be used easily to analyze 2-level data sets. However, if the data set consists of variables that have group-level characteristics, LISREL cannot be used in a straightforward manner to implement the analysis of structural equation models that have different structures at the group and individual level. This article illustrates how 2-level structural equation models with additional group-level variables, and hence different structures at the group and individual levels, can be analyzed by LISREL with appropriate settings. A small-scale simulation study was conducted to examine the performance of the proposed method. The results indicate that the proposed method can produce reliable parameter estimates, standard errors, and goodness-of-fit test statistics. The proposed procedure was also used to analyze real data from a study on leadership effectiveness, which examines the correlation between self-ratings and ratings from multiple subordinates.

Aim: To assess the validity of using Jugale (J) and Antegonion (Ag) on Posterior-Anterior cephalograms (PAC) as landmarks for transverse intermaxillary analysis when compared with Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT).

China's economic rise in global economic platform empowered by the go-out strategy is its attempt to establish a global presence, through which it develops economic relations by launching China-led development and economic projects. This article focuses on China's Belt and Road Initiative, in particular the political significance of China's economic footprints in the Middle East, with a view of understanding the geopolitical tensions between China and the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing on broaden-and-build theory and threat-rigidity hypothesis, we theorized and tested a multilevel model to examine the moderating effects of transformational leadership (TFL) on the team-level process that links positive/negative group affective tone (PGAT/NGAT) to team innovation via information elaboration. Data were collected from 299 team members and 65 leaders from Taiwanese companies at two time points. The multilevel path analysis demonstrated support for a positive indirect effect of PGAT on team innovation via information elaboration and a negative indirect effect of NGAT on team innovation via information elaboration. The positive indirect effect of PGAT on team innovation via information elaboration was found to be stronger when TFL was high rather than low. However, TFL did not attenuate the negative effects of NGAT. Negative group affective tone was negatively related to information elaboration when TFL was high, whereas NGAT had no significant relationship with information elaboration when TFL was low. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examined 20 goodness-of-fit indexes based on the minimum fit function using a simulation under the 2-group situation. Results support the use of the delta comparative fit index, delta Gamma hat, and delta McDonald's Noncentrality Index to evaluation measurement invariance. These three approaches are independent of model complexity and sample size. (SLD)

Summarizes the problem of factorial invariance in between-group difference studies, proposes a simplified notation intended to facilitate discussion of the problem, and suggests a structured approach for testing large models. Two computer programs are offered to help with the computation. (SLD)

In contrast to the virulent human skin commensal Staphylococcus aureus, which secretes a plethora of toxins, other staphylococci have much reduced virulence. In these species, commonly the only toxins are those of the phenolsoluble modulin (PSM) family. PSMs are species-specific and have only been characterized in a limited number of species. S. xylosus is a usually innocuous commensal on the skin of mice and other mammals. Prompted by reports on the involvement of PSMs in atopic dermatitis (AD) and the isolation of S. xylosus from mice with AD-like symptoms, we here identified and characterized PSMs of S. xylosus with a focus on a potential involvement in AD phenotypes. We found that most clinical S. xylosus strains produce two PSMs, one of the shorter a- and one of the longer b-type, which were responsible for almost the entire lytic and pro-inflammatory capacities of S. xylosus. Importantly, PSMa of S. xylosus caused lysis and degranulation of mast cells at degrees higher than that of S. aureus d-toxin, the main PSM previously associated with AD. However, S. xylosus did not produce significant AD symptoms in wild-type mice as opposed to S. aureus, indicating that promotion of AD by S. xylosus likely requires a predisposed host. Our study indicates that non-specific cytolytic potency rather than specific interaction underlies PSM-mediated mast cell degranulation and suggest that the previously reported exceptional potency of d-toxin of S. aureus is due to its high-level production. Furthermore, they suggest that species that produce cytolytic PSMs, such as S. xylosus, all have the capacity to promote AD, but a high combined level of PSM cytolytic potency is required to cause AD in a non-predisposed host. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that affects 15-30% of children and approximately 5% of adults in industrialized countries (1). Although the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis is not fully understood, the disease is mediated by an abnormal immunoglobulin-E immune response in the setting of skin barrier dysfunction (2). Mast cells contribute to immunoglobulin-E-mediated allergic disorders including atopic dermatitis (3). Upon activation, mast cells release their membrane-bound cytosolic granules leading to the release of several molecules that are important in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis and host defence (4). More than 90% of patients with atopic dermatitis are colonized with Staphylococcus aureus in the lesional skin whereas most healthy individuals do not harbour the pathogen (5). Several staphylococcal exotoxins can act as superantigens and/or antigens in models of atopic dermatitis (6). However, the role of these staphylococcal exotoxins in disease pathogenesis remains unclear. Here we report that culture supernatants of S. aureus contain potent mast-cell degranulation activity. Biochemical analysis identified δ-toxin as the mast cell degranulation-inducing factor produced by S. aureus. Mast cell degranulation induced by δ-toxin depended on phosphoinositide 3-kinase and calcium ([Ca.sup.2+]) influx; however, unlike that mediated by immunoglobulin-E crosslinking, it did not require the spleen tyrosine kinase. In addition, immunoglobulin-E enhanced δ-toxin-induced mast cell degranulation in the absence of antigen. Furthermore, S.aureusisolates recovered from patients with atopic dermatitis produced large amounts of δ-toxin. Skin colonization with S. aureus, but not a mutant deficient in δ-toxin, promoted immunoglobulin-E and interleukin-4 production, as well as inflammatory skin disease. Furthermore, enhancement of immunoglobulin-E production and dermatitis by δ-toxin was abrogated in [Kit.sup.W-sh/W-sh] mast-cell-deficient mice and restored by mast cell reconstitution. These studies identify δ-toxin as a potent inducer of mast cell degranulation and suggest a mechanistic link between S. aureuscolonization and allergic skin disease., Because mast cells (MCs) may play a critical role in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (3), we asked first whether S. aureus can release factors that induce MC degranulation. We [...]

Social dominance orientation (SDO) is a widely researched construct that indexes a preference for hierarchical intergroup relations. However, it remains unclear whether this preference (a) motivates people to seek out occupations that enhance hierarchical relations between groups (i.e., occupational assortment), (b) develops as a result of working within hierarchy-enhancing occupations (i.e., occupational socialization), or (c) both. One reason for this gap is that the large-scale longitudinal data required to simultaneously model assortment and socialization processes are scarce. In this study, we analyzed data from two waves of longitudinal data (spaced either 1, 3, or 5 years apart) from a nationwide sample of adults (N = 3,452–4,412) who were already working in either hierarchy-enhancing occupations (e.g., law enforcement) or hierarchy-attenuating occupations (e.g., social work). Results showed that SDO predicted an increased probability of working in a hierarchy-enhancing occupation 3 and 5 years later. Working in a hierarchy-enhancing occupation was also positively associated with SDO after 1 and 5 years. These patterns generally suggest that occupations both shape, and are shaped by, intergroup beliefs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Widespread antibiotic resistance among important bacterial pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus (1) calls for alternative routes of drug development. Interfering with crucial virulence determinants is considered a promising new approach to control bacterial infection (2). Phenol-soluble modulins (PSMs) are peptide toxins with multiple key roles in pathogenesis (3-5) and have a major impact on the ability of highly virulent S. aureus to cause disease (3), (6). However, targeting PSMs for therapeutic intervention is hampered by their multitude and diversity. Here we report that an ATP-binding cassette transporter with previously unknown function is responsible for the export of all PSMs, thus representing a single target for complete obstruction of PSM production. The transporter had a strong effect on virulence phenotypes, such as neutrophil lysis, and the extent of its effect on the development of S. aureus infection was similar to that of the sum of all PSMs. Notably, the transporter was essential for bacterial growth. Furthermore, it contributed to producer immunity toward secreted PSMs and defense against PSM-mediated bacterial interference. Our study reveals a noncanonical, dedicated secretion mechanism for an important class of toxins and identifies this mechanism as a comprehensive potential target for the development of drugs to efficiently inhibit the growth and virulence of pathogenic staphylococci., Several observations point to the value of targeting PSMs for drug development. First, PSMs have multiple crucial roles in pathogenesis. They efficiently lyse red and white blood cells (3), (7), [...]

Biofilms are surface-attached agglomerations of microorganisms embedded in an extracellular matrix. Biofilm- associated infections are difficult to eradicate and represent a significant reservoir for disseminating and recurring serious infections. Infections involving biofilms frequently develop on indwelling medical devices in hospitalized patients, and Staphylococcus epidermidis is the leading cause of infection in this setting. However, the molecular determinants of biofilm dissemination are unknown. Here we have demonstrated that specific secreted, surfactant-like S. epidermidis peptides--the β subclass of phenol-soluble modulins (PSMs)--promote S. epidermidis biofilm structuring and detachment in vitro and dissemination from colonized catheters in a mouse model of device-related infection. Our study establishes in vivo significance of biofilm detachment mechanisms for the systemic spread of biofilm-associated infection and identifies the effectors of biofilm maturation and detachment in a premier biofilm-forming pathogen. Furthermore, by demonstrating that antibodies against PSMβ peptides inhibited bacterial spread from indwelling medical devices, we have provided proof of principle that interfering with biofilm detachment mechanisms may prevent dissemination of biofilm-associated infection., Introduction Surface-attached cellular agglomerations of microorganisms called biofilms are an important virulence determinant in bacteria (1), mainly because biofilm formation significantly increases resistance to antibiotics and host defenses (2). Many [...]