Major Communities Research Articles

Enduring the COVID-19 Pandemic at a Major Research University

This descriptive study provides insights into the perceptions associated with the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s impact on degree progression, and protocols that a major R2 research university community would like to see remain in place once the pandemic ends. A Qualtrics survey was used to draw responses from the community. Our research findings conclude that: 1) Responses were mixed concerning KSU doing a good job in handling the COVID-19 pandemic, 2) The majority of student responses felt that transitioning to online course delivery did not adversely impact their degree progression, 3) Whereas vaccine availability and testing were what most impressed respondents about KSU’s handling of the pandemic, the discontinuation of a mask mandate after the Summer 2020 semester is what least impressed respondents, and 4) The ability to work remotely was the most popular protocol that respondents preferred to see remain in place after the pandemic ends.

Antagonistic Effects of Actin-Specific Toxins on Salmonella Typhimurium Invasion into Mammalian Cells

Competition between bacterial species is a major factor shaping microbial communities. It is possible but remains largely unexplored that competition between bacterial pathogens can be mediated through antagonistic effects of bacterial effector proteins on host systems, particularly the actin cytoskeleton. Using Salmonella Typhimurium invasion into cells as a model, we demonstrate that invasion is inhibited if the host actin cytoskeleton is disturbed by actin-specific toxins, namely, Vibrio cholerae MARTX actin crosslinking (ACD) and Rho GTPase inactivation (RID) domains, Photorhabdus luminescens TccC3, and Salmonella’s own SpvB. We noticed that ACD, being an effective inhibitor of tandem G-actin-binding assembly factors, is likely to inhibit the activity of another Vibrio effector, VopF. In reconstituted actin polymerization assays and by live-cell microscopy, we confirmed that ACD potently halted the actin nucleation and pointed-end elongation activities of VopF, revealing competition between these two V. cholerae effectors. These results suggest that bacterial effectors from different species that target the same host machinery or proteins may represent an effective but largely overlooked mechanism of indirect bacterial competition in host-associated microbial communities. Whether the proposed inhibition mechanism involves the actin cytoskeleton or other host cell compartments, such inhibition deserves investigation and may contribute to a documented scarcity of human enteric co-infections by different pathogenic bacteria.

The costliest signals of authenticity? How iconic deaths transform audience reception in hip-hop

The death of an artist can act as a costly signal of their authenticity, and cause enduring changes in audience valuations of their work. Drawing on novel digital trace data of audience evaluations from a major online music community, we show how the death of an hip-hop artist induces improvements to the valuations of their antemortem work. Such death-induced changes to audience valuations are mediated by the ability of some deaths – what we term iconic deaths – to act as costly signals of an artist’s authenticity. Iconic deaths that better signal authenticity produce greater death-induced improvements in audience valuations. Such costly signaling effects are more salient within discredited subgenres of hip-hop. We show how this is robust to complementary explanations, such as sympathetic eulogizing or audience expansion effects.

The LTAR Grazing Land Common Experiment at Walnut Gulch Experimental Watershed.

The Walnut Gulch Experimental Watershed (WGEW) Long-Term Agroecosystem Research (LTAR) network common experiment addresses the aspirational practice of brush management (BM) to reverse the prevailing condition of woody plant encroachment (WPE) and increase perennial native grass production. Across the western United States, the decision to implement BM includes consideration of management objectives, cost, and the expected impact on a diverse suite of ecosystem services. Maintaining or restoring grass cover will help meet the LTAR sustainable production, economic, and social goals, and averting degradation will meet environmental goals. This common experiment, focused on hydrologic and erosion impacts of BM, aims to inform land management decisions on three major plant communities in the Southwestern United States: creosote bush (Larrea tridentata), mesquite (Prosopis velutina), and pinyon-juniper (PJ, Pinus and Juniperus spp.). On the WGEW, applying tebuthiuron pellets to creosote bush increased grass cover and reduced runoff and erosion. The 2016BM experiment on the Santa Rita Experimental Range applied a commonly used liquid herbicide cocktail but achieved only 7% mortality on mesquite, probably because of the timing of the aerial application. Experiments manipulating rainfall amount and intensity on plots receiving fire, chemical, or mechanical BM treatments on PJ communities aim to improve process representation in simulation models. The deliverables of these BM experiments will be to (i) improve the performance of runoff and erosion models, (ii) enhance our ability to identify areas most at risk from reduced hydrologic function and soil erosion after shrub proliferation, and (iii) better predict how landscapes will respond to BM interventions. Ranchers, land management agencies, and watershed conservation organizations will benefit from training and availability of improved tools to focus treatments on areas where greatest net benefits might be realized.

Language policy and linguistic landscapes in the internationalization of a non-Anglophone university

PurposeInternationalization strategies that have been issued for a decade affect non-Anglophone higher education institutions (HEIs) in the clash of importance in preserving national language or using international languages. One of the observable objects of this dilemma is the inconsistent language display of universities’ public signages as a linguistic landscape (LL). To address these issues, the presence of language policy is urgent unless the preservation of the national language is no longer the responsibility of HEIs. However, rigorous discussion about language policy in non-Anglophone HEIs remains limited. This study aims to address the gap by providing a critical analysis of the existing language policy documents in an Indonesian higher education institution that has a multilingual environment and its effect on the LL.Design/methodology/approachThis case study used document analysis and LL analysis. The setting was an Islamic university in Indonesia that represents the trial importance of building religious identity, preserving the national language and engaging with international demands. The data were collected from National Law Enforcement websites, which provided various national policy documents and the institutional documents that were retrieved from the university website by using the document analysis method by Bowen (2009). The secondary data were 216 visual images of public signage in an Islamic university in Indonesia as the representation of multilingual phenomena. The additional data were gathered from a pilot interview with a lecturer and a student.FindingsThis study found that both the national government and institutional administration in Indonesia do not have a language policy that regulates LLs or language preferences in public places for HEIs. The university tends to solely refer to international accreditation policy by using either bilingual English-Indonesian or monolingual English in the public signage. However, the limited use of the Arabic language in specific venues such as mosques and musallas shows that Arabic serves neither as symbolic identity nor communicative functions.Research limitations/implicationsThis study sets a single case study in an Islamic university, and the policy documents were limited to the Indonesian Government and institutions as the representation of non-Anglophone countries. Further studies are expected to have a bigger and larger size of data and settings.Practical implicationsThis study implies that non-Anglophone countries’ governments should start to design and enforce a language policy that preserves national language and facilitates major national and international language communities, such as Thai, Arabic, Javanese and Malay, without being absent in international competitive labeling. A practical implication for religion-based and cultural-based universities is that the function of their Holy Book or local languages can be used as communicative functions to strengthen the religious and local identity.Social implicationsThis study implies that non-Anglophone countries’ governments should start to design and enforce a language policy that preserves their national language without being absent in international competitive labeling.Originality/valueGiven the fact that there is limited awareness to bring the discussion about LL patterns into language policy issues in non-Anglophone countries, this study was originally conducted as a case study to pilot the discussion about the absence of language policy as represented through LLs in Indonesia. This case study was brought up as a pilot discussion to urge non-Anglophone countries lawmakers to issue language policy at the university level. This message is meant to respond to internationalization programs that can potentially jeopardize the existence of the linguistic and cultural diversity of non-Anglophone countries.

Typology of Muslim Audience in Responding to Media Contents Consist of Religious Symbols

Audience is one of central terms that related with media according to the historical of the terms and the mass communication discourse. On the other sides, audiences referring to several authors who have given their concerns to it, audience related to economic, business, technology, politic, and etc. interest. Audience came after the media invented. However, the audience dynamic from the previous (ancestor) periods to our current time still relevant to be explored, described, and explained particularly that related to the Muslim community as the increasing community in world and as major community in Indonesia, in this research look through the religious symbols on media contents to be based of category of Muslim audience as the actor related with the media. Therefore, this research tries to find the typology of Muslim audience in responding to media contents consisting of religious symbols. This research using quantitative and qualitative data which was collected through cross-sectional survey. The UG approach and Active audience approach promoted by authors as Biocca being the theoretical based in collecting and analysis data of this research. The descriptive statistic is the quantitative result to be based the typology and the qualitative data to find the enrich and deeper description and explanation about how Muslim use media until researcher be able to make the categorization of Muslim audience regarding how they have responded to media contents consisting religious symbols. Finally, this research got seven big or rough categories of Muslim audiences in responding to media content containing religious symbols. There are clear enough that online platform media, primarily media social as the dominant media looking over the Muslim audience in this research as instagram. Almost 80% the audiences looking for the media content consisting of religious symbols when they are using media. Also the major of the audiences in this research are young people, which have educational background senior high school, and when they are asked through questionnaire they are students the particular sub-topics show us they are hesitated to give their judgment on them. However, even there are a number of interesting findings, two typical result that religious symbols could be used to educational purposes even they think the content usually bring to the controversy in society, at least what we find frequently on media social.

Community Health Workers Knowledge and Misconceptions Surrounding Osteoporosis Prevention: A Cross-sectional Survey.

Objective: To assess the knowledge, awareness, and common misconceptions about osteoporosis prevention and to identify gaps in understanding among community health workers in Lahore, Pakistan.Methodology: All Lady Health Workers (LHWs) in Lahore employed in the National Program for Family Planning & Primary Health Care were considered relevant ppulations. Primary objective was to know knowledge about prevention of osteoporosis by using a validated questionnaire “Osteoporosis Prevention and Awareness Tool” (OPAAT). Secondary objectives include attitudes, practices, and misconceptions regarding osteoporosis. This cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2023 to January 2024 after calculating sample size (n=300). The data was entered and analyzed using SPSS version 27. The Chi-square test was employed to demonstrate associations between socio-demographic variables and osteoporosis prevention, awareness, and misconceptions. Results: Among study participants (n=300) most aged between 39-48 years and 68% were married. Results showed that 18.67% of LHW has low knowledge, while 52.33% were having average knowledge regarding osteoporosis prevention and awareness. We found statistically significant association (p < 0.003) between greater levels of knowledge and academic qualification.Conclusion: LHWs, major community health workforce, found to have not only average knowledge regarding prevention of osteoporosis but also has false belief about; a finding that dictate a dire need for development of educational strategy for LHWs regarding this important health issue. Keywords: Lady Health Workers, Osteoporosis Prevention, OPAAT Score.

Penerapan Manajemen Kepagawaian di Pondok Pesantren Royatul Qur’an Batam

Islamic boarding schools play a major role, namely, as motivators, innovators, and community dynamists so that the relationship between pesantren and the community becomes harmonious, as a result, the existence and presence of Islamic boarding schools in community empowerment become stronger. The purpose of this journal is to see the success of the Royatul Qur’an Boarding School in implementing personnel management with reference to seven main activities, namely recruitment (personnel procurement), personnel development and development, personnel promotion and transfer, compensation for personnel, personnel welfare, personnel evaluation, termination of employment. employment relationship (PHK). This type of research is field research, namely research conducted with the direct aim of excavating and researching data relating to the effectiveness of the implementation of personnel management and what factors influence the implementation of personnel management at the Royatul Qur’an Integrated Islamic Boarding School in Batam. This research was conducted in November 2022. The results of the study after conducting interviews and collecting related data, the Royatul qur’an Integrated Islamic Boarding School has implemented all the main activities of personnel management in a well-managed and managed manner.

Effect of Post-Loop Diuretic Urinary Sodium Level on Length of Stay and Rehospitalization in Acutely Decompensated Heart Failure Patients.

In Indonesia, heart failure has become a major community problem because of the high cost of care, low quality of life, and premature death. Until now, loop diuretics are still the main therapy in patients with acute decompensated heart failure with clinical congestion. Diuretic responsiveness can be assessed objectively by measuring sodium urine. This study aimed to determine the response of natriuresis 2 h after loop diuretic administration and its relationship to length of stay and readmission within 30 days in daily clinical practice. This is a prospective cohort study conducted at the National Cardiovascular Center Harapan Kita Hospital in acute decompensated heart failure patients. Patient characteristics were collected from medical records. Response to intravenous (IV) loop diuretics was assessed using urinary sodium laboratory panels. The primary outcomes of interest in this study were length of stay and rehospitalization. Analyses were conducted between the outcome of interests and patient characteristics. There were 51 acute decompensated heart failure patients in this study with 78.4% males. The mean age was 52.47 ± 13.62. The mean ejection fraction was 37.53±17.95%, with the majority of patients having a left ventricular ejection fraction less than 40% (62.7% of study subjects). The average glomerular filtration rate of subjects in this study was 57.29 ± 27.25 mL/min. Pearson correlation test between pre- and post-loop diuretic urinary sodium showed trends of significant correlation (r = -0.238, P = 0.093) and (r = -0.308, P = 0.028), respectively. Patients with lower pre-loop diuretic urinary sodium were shown to have a shorter length of stay (8.57 ± 6.161 vs. 5.30 ± 4.01, P = 0.04), while patients with lower post-loop diuretic urinary sodium showed trends of longer length of stay (8.67 ± 4.14 vs. 6.03 ± 5.39, P = 0.126). In this study, we observe lower rehospitalization in patients with higher pre-loop diuretic urinary sodium levels. Post-loop diuretic urinary sodium level was shown to be inversely related to length of stay in acute decompensated heart failure patients.

A revisit of knowledge, attitude and practice of emergency contraception in Hong Kong

ObjectivesTo revisit women’s knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) regarding emergency contraception (EC) in Hong Kong. The research sought to provide insights for improving the accessibility and quality of EC services.Study...

Does the marital pay gap matter? Women’s family-work experiences by earning pattern and ethnic community

ABSTRACT This study explored variations in women’s experiences within the family-work system by different earning patterns: where men outearn women, both spouses earn equally, or women outearn men. This examination was conducted in three major ethnic communities in Israel: Jews in the general population, ultra-Orthodox Jews, and Arabs. The analysis focused on three dimensions of the family-work system: behavioral (perceived family and work time), cognitive (assessment of family-work conflict), and affective (marital satisfaction). In all three communities, women who outearned their spouses tended to dedicate more hours to paid work and less to family and household responsibilities. However, based on women’s perceptions, men allocated the same number of hours to family responsibilities, irrespective of their ethnicity or earning patterns. In the Arab community, women earning the same or more than their spouses experienced heightened work-family conflict compared to those with different earning patterns in their community. Finally, ultra-Orthodox women reported the highest levels of marital satisfaction, regardless of earning pattern. Based on these findings, organizations should be encouraged to implement family-friendly policies to support women, especially in traditional communities.

Industrial and Pharmaceutical Applications of Microbial Diversity of Hypersaline Ecology from Lonar Soda Crater.

The unidentified geochemical and physiochemical characteristics of Soda Lakes across the globe make it a novel reservoir and bring attention to scientific civic for its conceivable industrial and pharmaceutical applications. In India, in the Maharashtra state, Lonar Lake is a naturally created Soda Lake by a meteorite impact. Phylogenetic data from this lake explored a diverse array of microorganisms like haloalkaliphilic bacteria and Archaea. Previously reported studies postulated the major microbial communities present in this lake ecosystem are Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Cyanobacteria. Furthermore, it also contains Bacteroidetes, Nitrospirae, and Verrucomicrobia. This lake is also rich in phytoplankton, with the predominant presence of the Spirulina plantensis. Unique microbial strains from Lonar Lake ecosystems have fascinated consideration as a source of biological molecules with medicinal, industrial, and biotechnological potential. Recent literature revealed the isolation of antibioticproducing bacteria and alkaline proteases-producing alkaliphilic bacterium, as well as novel species of rare methylotrophs, other bacterial strains involved in producing vital enzymes, and unique actinomycetes are also reported. It indicates that the novel bacterial assemblage not reached hitherto may exist in this modified and unique ecology. This comprehensive review provides information about microbial diversity and its industrial and pharmaceutical interests that exist in Lonar Lake, which could be the future source of bioactive enzymes, biosurfactants, and biofuel and also useful in bioremediation. Furthermore, the novel species of microorganisms isolated from Lonar Lake have applications in the biosynthesis of medicines like antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, anti-inflammatory agents, and precursors for synthesising valuable products. Data consolidated in the present review will cater to the needs of emerging industrial sectors for their commercial and therapeutic applications.

Responses of Methane Emission and Bacterial Community to Fertilizer Reduction Plus Organic Materials over the Course of an 85-Day Leaching Experiment

Methane produced from paddy fields has a negative impact on global climate change. However, the role of soil bacterial community composition in mediating methane (CH4) emission from waterlogged paddy soil using the column experiment is poorly known. In the present study, various fertilization treatments were adopted to investigate the effects of fertilizer reduction combined with organic materials (CK: control; CF: conventional fertilization; RF: 20% fertilizer reduction; RFWS: RF plus wheat straw amendment; RFRS: RF plus rapeseed shell amendment; RFAS: RF plus astragalus smicus amendment) on CH4 emission and soil bacterial community during an 85-day leaching experiment. We hypothesized that the fertilizer reduction plus the organic materials could enrich the bacterial communities and increase CH4 emission. The average CH4 flux varied from 0.03 μg m−2 h−1 to 76.19 μg m−2 h−1 among all treatments in the nine sampling times, which may account for the experimental conditions such as air temperature, moisture, and anthropogenic factors. In addition, high-throughput sequencing was utilized to investigate the alteration of the soil bacterial community structure. It was revealed that the diversity and composition of the bacterial community in the topsoil amended with organic materials underwent significant shifts after the 85-day leaching experiment. Proteobacteria was identified as the dominant phylum of the soil bacteria, with an average proportion of 35.2%. For Firmicutes, the proportion of RFRS (11%) was higher than that in the CK (8%), RF (8%), RFWS (7%), RFAS (6%), and CF (5%) treatments. Additionally, Gammaproteobacteria and Alphaproteobateria were supposed to be the major class bacterial communities, with average proportions of 12.8% and 12.2%, respectively. For the RFWS treatment, the contribution of Alphaproteobateria was the highest among all the bacterial relative abundance. According to the correlation heatmap analysis, the top ten bacterial communities were positively related to soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and ammonia nitrogen (NH4+-N) (p < 0.01). The findings also indicated that the RFRS treatment was the favorable management to alleviate CH4 emission during an 85-day leaching experiment or possibly in paddy production. Collectively, these results predict that the impacts of different treatments on CH4 production are strongly driven by soil microbial communities and soil properties, with soil bacteria being more prone to the crop residue degradation stage and more sensitive to soil properties. The discoveries presented in this study will be useful for assessing the efficacy and mechanisms of organic material amendments on CH4 emissions in paddy soil.

Mapping plant communities of the Karoo National Park, South Africa, using Sentinel-2 and topo-morphological data

AimsThis study aimed at classifying, mapping and describing the plant communities of the Karoo National Park using floristic surveys in conjunction with Sentinel-2 and topo-morphological data. Study areaKaroo National Park, Western Cape, South Africa. MethodsThe vegetation of the Karoo National Park was delineated into homogenous physiognomic-physiographic units using Sentinel-2 images. A total of 128 survey plots (100 m2 each) were surveyed within the different homogeneous units during the period 2016 to 2020. Within each survey plot, all rooted species were identified and their cover abundance estimated. Each plot was photographed and its geolocation recorded. The floristic data were captured using the Braun Blanquet Personal Computer suite and exported to the JUICE Software programme. A modified TWINSPAN classification was done to derive a first tabled synopsis of the plant communities. The different plant communities were subsequently classified and described according to their diagnostic and dominant species gleaned from the synoptic table. Species richness was determined by counting the number of different species per plant community while the Shannon–Wiener Index and Rich-Gini–Simpson Index of diversity (D) were used to derive indices of species diversity per plant community. Results12 major communities and two sub-communities that are distinctly linked to various abiotic factors were identified, described and mapped. The higher-lying rocky steep midslopes as well as the valley bottomland areas had the highest diversity and species richness. ConclusionsThis study proves the efficacy of using Sentinel-2 and topo-morphological data in classification, description and mapping vegetation of extensive natural areas. The vegetation map and classification of plant communities provide a baseline to inform management decisions.Taxonomic reference: SA-Plant Checklist-2019–2020, South African National Biodiversity Institute, 2020, Botanical Database of Southern Africa (BODATSA) (http://posa.sanbi.org/) [accessed January 2022].

Perspectives of Thai Transgender Adults on Diagnostic Criteria for Transsexualism, Gender Incongruence, and Gender Dysphoria

Objectives Our study aimed to assess perspectives of the Thai transgender adults toward three diagnostic criteria: 1) transsexualism (the World Health Organisation’s International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, tenth revision; ICD-10), 2) gender incongruence (the International Classification of Diseases, eleventh revision; ICD-11), and 3) gender dysphoria (the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition; DSM-5). We also gathered comments and suggestions on these criteria for future refinement, especially specific to Thai sociocultural contexts. Methods During February to November 2023, we conducted a survey among transgender individuals from five major Thai transgender communities. Participants were requested to 1) indicate their agreement whether each criterion could describe their identity and be suitable for the Thai transgender community using ten-point Likert scales, 2) select three keywords from each criterion and one most appropriate criterion, and 3) provide additional suggestions. Results A total of 266 transgender individuals, participated in the study (62.4% and 25.2% transgender men and women, and 12.4% other identities). Both ICD-10 and DSM-5 criteria received the highest levels of agreement, averaging scores of 8.7 across most categories. Suggestions for refining criteria included a sufficiently long duration, using terms indicating inclusivity of all identities as a person, and noting positive outcomes of transitioning within the criteria. Conclusions The DSM-5 criteria garnered the highest levels of agreement in terms of identity description and suitability for the Thai sociocultural contexts. Nonetheless, further refinement can be improved, especially to ensure the inclusivity of transgender individuals with identities beyond the binary.

Climate change and C4 and C3 grasses in a midlatitude dryland steppe.

Climate change is projected to alter the structure of plant communities due to increasing temperatures and changes to precipitation patterns, particularly in midlatitude dryland ecosystems. Modifications to climatic suitability may lead to major community changes such as altered dominant plant functional types. Previous studies have indicated that climatic suitability is likely to increase for C4 grasses and decrease for C3 grasses in the Western United States. However, if no C4 grass species currently exist to serve as a propagule source, expansion into areas of increased suitability will be limited. We conducted a field and modeling study in the Upper Green River Basin (UGRB) of Western Wyoming to determine if (1) C4 grasses are present to provide a propagule source and (2) C4 grasses are likely to increase in importance relative to C3 grasses due to climatic changes. We searched 44 sites for C4 grasses to establish presence, and modeled suitability at 35 sites using 17 Global Climate Models, two greenhouse gas Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs; 4.5 and 8.5), and two time periods (mid- and late century; 2030-2060 and 2070-2099, respectively). We found C4 grasses at 10 of the 44 sites, indicating that there is a present propagule source. Our model projected increases in suitability for both C3 and C4 grasses across sites for all RCPs and time periods. In the mid-century RCP 4.5 scenario, the C3 functional type increased in projected biomass in 29 of 35 sites, and the C4 type increased in 31 sites. In this scenario, C3 grasses increased in projected biomass by a median 4 g m-2 (5% change), and C4 grass biomass increased by a median 8 g m-2 (21% change). Our study suggests that climate change will increase climatic suitability for grasses across the UGRB, and that all requirements are in place for C4 grasses to increase in abundance.

예비교사를 대상으로 한 서비스러닝의 전공 융합 및 실천공동체적 특징 분석

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the significance of the characteristics of major convergence and community of practice on pre-service teachers' service-learning activities. Methods: To identify the characteristics of major convergence and community of practice in pre-service teachers' service-learning experiences, the interview data of six pre-service teachers who participated in a local problem-solving project at University A were analyzed using a topic modeling analysis technique. Results: The team that grew into a community of practice showed a reciprocal relationship in terms of smooth communication, willingness to take on insufficient roles, co-leadership, positive perspectives on major convergence, and attempts to converge majors in a transdisciplinary manner. It was also confirmed that pre-service teachers experienced problem-solving approaches from different academic backgrounds through the convergence of their majors and deepened their professionalism in community management through collaboration within the community of practice. Conclusion: Service learning for pre-service teachers needs to be incorporated into teacher education curricula so that pre-service teachers can contribute to real-world community problems and systematically learn how to solve educational problems through interdisciplinary collaboration.

Socio-ecological predictors of dengue in high incidence area of Delhi, India

Despite the amplified vector-control measures, sporadic-epidemic outbreaks of dengue incidence occurred in Delhi, intermittently. This study aimed to identify the major individual, household, and community level predictors of dengue cases in the hot-spots of Delhi. Primary survey data was collected from the selected sample of 347 households, at the South- West district of Delhi. This survey has interviewed the head of the household to collect the information of dengue incidences within last one year and household information related to socio-economic, demographic, environmental factors, such as housing pattern, density, water storage containers, drainage and garbage collection site and method, mosquito protection measures and awareness. Among 347 households, 54 households had reported dengue cases, and 69 individuals had reported dengue cases in last one year. Garbage and water collection site and methods, drainage and household type, household monthly income, indoor bamboo plants, construction site (within 500 m), presence of tertiary care hospital, were the significant predictors of dengue incidences in Delhi. In conclusion, strategic control measures and intense social interventions such as household and community awareness, promotion of healthy practices should be promoted to control the dengue incidences.

Community perception and experience of health services in the midst of an earthquake and COVID-19 pandemic: A phenomenological study

Indonesia is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire with various disasters occurring frequently and causing tremendous impacts. Recently, Mamuju Regency in West Sulawesi was hit by an earthquake during the COVID-19 pandemic, making primary health care (PHC) a major community health care provider facing several issues. This study aims to explore the challenges and supporting factors of the recovery of PHC after the earthquake during the COVID-19 pandemic using a descriptive phenomenology grounded in Edmund Husserl's philosophy. The Bamboo PHC (Puskesmas Bambu) was selected as the only PHC in Mamuju which was most affected by the earthquake. A focus group discussion method was conducted by involving 15 participants selected using purposive sampling and divided into three groups (health workers, health cadres, and community members). As a result, the community members acknowledged that the Bamboo PHC services programs in general were favorable before the pandemic, there were several basic and superior health service programs that the community felt were valuable. Yet, the COVID-19 pandemic worsened the situation and the use of healthcare facilities decreased. Coupled with the occurrence of natural disasters in vulnerable areas, it is increasingly causing fatalities. Therefore, disaster preparedness and community empowerment are the key to successful disaster management.

Antagonistic effects of actin-specific toxins on Salmonella Typhimurium invasion into mammalian cells.

Competition between bacterial species is a major factor shaping microbial communities. In this work, we explored the hypothesis that competition between bacterial pathogens can be mediated through antagonistic effects of bacterial effector proteins on host systems, particularly the actin cytoskeleton. Using Salmonella Typhimurium invasion into cells as a model, we demonstrate that invasion is inhibited if the host actin cytoskeleton is disturbed by any of the four tested actin-specific toxins: Vibrio cholerae MARTX actin crosslinking and Rho GTPase inactivation domains (ACD and RID, respectively), TccC3 from Photorhabdus luminescens, and Salmonella's own SpvB. We noticed that ACD, being an effective inhibitor of tandem G-actin binding assembly factors, is likely to inhibit the activity of another Vibrio effector, VopF. In reconstituted actin polymerization assays confirmed by live-cell microscopy, we confirmed that ACD potently halted the actin nucleation and pointed-end elongation activities of VopF, revealing competition between these two V. cholerae effectors. Together, the results suggest bacterial effectors from different species that target the same host machinery or proteins may represent an effective but largely overlooked mechanism of indirect bacterial competition in host-associated microbial communities. Whether the proposed inhibition mechanism involves the actin cytoskeleton or other host cell compartments, such inhibition deserves investigation and may contribute to a documented scarcity of human enteric co-infections by different pathogenic bacteria.