Social Responsibility Appeal and Cross-Lagged Effects of Perceived Norms on Mask-Wearing Behavior During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

This study extends the Theory of Normative Social Behavior by examining the cross-lagged effects of perceived norms on mask-wearing intention and behavior during an evolving COVID-19 pandemic. We also investigate the normative mechanisms of how social responsibility appeals improve compliance with mask-wearing behavior. A two-wave panel survey ( = 767) was conducted in Singapore in March and April 2020.

Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication and Emotional Appeals in COVID-19 Public Health Messaging: Quantitative Content Analysis.

Background: Although COVID-19 is no longer a global health emergency, it remains pervasive in Singapore, a city-state situated in Southeast Asia, with periodic waves of infection. In addition to disease management, strong communication strategies are critical in the government's response to the pandemic to keep the public updated and equip them in protecting themselves.

Objective: Grounded in the crisis and emergency risk communication (CERC) framework and emotional appeals, this study aimed to analyze public health communication strategies in Singapore during the COVID-19 pandemic.

N121T and N121S substitutions on the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein impact on serum neutralization.

The N121 site on the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 is associated with heme and its metabolite, biliverdin, which can affect antibody binding. Both N121T and N121S substitutions have been observed in natural conditions and in a hamster model of dual infection with SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza A virus. Serum pseudotype neutralization assays against HIV-1 particles carrying wild-type, N121T, and N121S spikes with immune mouse and human sera revealed that N121T and N121S mutations had a greater impact on serum neutralization than biliverdin treatment.

Unhoused and Injured: Injury Characteristics and Outcomes in Unhoused Trauma Patients.

Introduction: The unhoused population is known to be at high risk for traumatic injury. However, there are scarce data regarding injury patterns and outcomes for this patient group. This study aims to investigate any differences in injury characteristics and hospital outcomes between unhoused and housed patients presenting with traumatic injuries.

Risk Factors for Suboptimal Colon Cancer Diagnosis and Management at a Safety-Net Hospital System.

Introduction: Colon cancer (CC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Quality measures have been introduced by the American Gastroenterological Association and Commission on Cancer for optimal management of CC. In this study, we sought to identify factors that may hinder the timely diagnosis and treatment of CC at a safety-net hospital system.

Hepatoprotective effects of paeonol by suppressing hepatic stellate cell activation via inhibition of SMAD2/3 and STAT3 pathways.

Unlabelled: Hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation is a key event in extracellular matrix accumulation, causing hepatic fibrosis. Therefore, identifying chemicals that inhibit HSC activation is an important therapeutic strategy for hepatic fibrosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effects of paeonol on HSC activation.

Spatio-temporal dynamics of the human small intestinal microbiome and its response to a synbiotic.

Although fecal microbiota composition is considered to preserve relevant and representative information for distal colonic content, it is evident that it does not represent microbial communities inhabiting the small intestine. Nevertheless, studies investigating the human small intestinal microbiome and its response to dietary intervention are still scarce. The current study investigated the spatio-temporal dynamics of the small intestinal microbiome within a day and over 20 days, as well as its responses to a 14-day synbiotic or placebo control supplementation in 20 healthy subjects.

Back on the Streets: Examining Emergency Department Return Rates for Unhoused Patients Discharged After Trauma.

Background: The unhoused population is at high risk for traumatic injuries and faces unique challenges in accessing follow-up care. However, there is scarce data regarding differences in Emergency Department (ED) return rates and reasons for return between unhoused and housed patients.

Methods: We conducted a 3-year retrospective cohort study at a level-1 trauma center in a large metropolitan area.

Avoiding real news, believing in fake news? Investigating pathways from information overload to misbelief.

This study sought to examine the potential role of news avoidance in belief in COVID-19 misinformation. Using two-wave panel survey data in Singapore, we found that information overload is associated with news fatigue as well as with difficulty in analyzing information. News fatigue and analysis paralysis also subsequently led to news avoidance, which increased belief in COVID-19 misinformation.

Nudging Public Health Behaviors to Prevent COVID-19: A Systematic Review.

Many countries have implemented strict preventive measures and mandatory policies to curb virus transmission during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some have adopted softer approaches, such as nudge-based intervention, to influence public health behavior. This systematic review, conducted following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines, aims to determine if the nudge-based intervention can effectively influence people's preventive behavior during the early period of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Schisandrin C: an active compound from the fruit of Schisandra chinensis in anti-inflammation and anti-oxidation.

Inflammatory responses are involved in various diseases, such as insulin resistance, atherosclerosis, and hypogonadism. This study investigates the effects of SCE on anti-inflammation and molecular mechanisms in LPS-induced macrophages. RAW 264.

Protective effect of gomisin N on benzyl butyl phthalate-induced dysfunction of testosterone production in TM3 Leydig cells.

Background: Exposure to benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) may induce disorders in the male reproductive system. However, the molecular mechanisms remain unknown. Here we investigated the effect of BBP on testosterone production and its molecular mechanisms.

Extending the Knowledge Gap Hypothesis to Narrative Persuasion: Parents' Information-Seeking Intention and Learning About Adolescent Children's Covid-19 Vaccination.

The gap in knowledge and information-seeking between high and low socioeconomic status (SES) has been well documented. This study extends this knowledge gap hypothesis to narrative persuasion in the context of parents' knowledge and information-seeking intention concerning adolescents' COVID-19 vaccination. It specifically tests if the gap is moderated by a message type (narrative vs.

Innate antiviral responses against Shaan virus infection in HEK293, A549 and MARC-145 cells and limited role of viperin against Shaan virus replication.

The Shaan virus is a new paramyxovirus species recently isolated from an insectivorous bat. Therefore, its replication characteristics remain unclear. We used transcriptome analysis and molecular experiments to examine host cell responses in human A549, HEK293, and monkey MARC-145 cell lines infected with the Shaan virus (ShaV/B16-40).

Cultural tightness-looseness and normative social influence in eight Asian countries: Associations of individual and collective norms with vaccination intentions.

Rationale: Countries worldwide faced the same public health crisis that required promoting the same health behavior-vaccinations-during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, scholars have a unique opportunity to test behavioral change theories across countries with different cultural backgrounds.

Objective: Employing the extended theory of social normative behavior, this study examines the influence of individual and collective norms on COVID-19 vaccination intention across eight Asian countries.

3'sialyllactose and 6'sialyllactose enhance performance in endurance-type exercise through metabolic adaptation.

Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) belong to a group of multifunctional glycans that are abundantly present in human breast milk. While health effects of neutral oligosaccharides have been investigated extensively, a lot remains unknown regarding health effects of acidic oligosaccharides, such as the two sialyllactoses (SLs), 3'sialyllactose (3'SL), and 6'sialyllactose (6'SL). We utilized () to investigate the effects of SLs on exercise performance.

Evidence for the circulation of genotype 4 Eurasian avian-like lineage swine H1N1 influenza A viruses on Korean swine farms, obtained using a newly developed one-step multiplex RT-qPCR assay.

Genotype 4 (G4) Eurasian avian-like lineage swine H1N1 influenza A viruses, which are reassortants containing sequences from the pandemic 2009 H1N1 virus lineage, triple-reassortant-lineage internal genes, and EA-lineage external genes, have been reported in China since 2013. These have been predominant in pig populations since 2016 and have exhibited pandemic potential. In this study, we developed a one-step multiplex RT-qPCR assay targeting the M, HA1, and PB2 genes to detect G4 and related EA H1N1 viruses, with detection limits of 1.

A Whole-Genome Analysis of the African Swine Fever Virus That Circulated during the First Outbreak in Vietnam in 2019 and Subsequently in 2022.

Since its initial report in Vietnam in early 2019, the African swine fever (ASF), a highly lethal and severe viral swine disease worldwide, continues to cause outbreaks in other Southeast Asian countries. This study analyzed and compared the genomic sequences of ASF viruses (ASFVs) during the first outbreak in Hung Yen (VN/HY/2019-ASFV1) and Quynh Phu provinces (VN/QP/2019-ASFV1) in Vietnam in 2019, and the subsequent outbreak in Hung Yen (VN/HY/2022-ASFV2) in 2022, to those of other ASFV strains. VN/HY/2019-ASFV1, VN/QP/2019-ASFV1, and VN/HY/2022-ASFV2 genomes were 189,113, 189,081, and 189,607 bp in length, encoding 196, 196, and 203 open reading frames (ORFs), respectively.

Combined Treatment of and Mori Cortex Radicis Ameliorate Obesity in Mice via UCP-1 in Brown Adipocytes.

Mori Folium ( leaf, MF) and Mori Cortex Radicis ( root cortex, MR) have been studied for their anti-obesity effects by enhancing the browning process and inhibiting adipogenesis. However, important aspects of their protective mechanisms have not been thoroughly investigated, which could aid in developing functional food. Thus, this study aims to determine the synergistic effects of MF and MR against obesity and its associated mechanisms.

Combination of and Leaf Inhibits White Adipocyte Differentiation and Browning Process through AMP-Activated Protein Kinase (AMPK) Activation In Vitro and In Vivo.

Activating brown adipose tissue (BAT) and stimulating white adipose tissue (WAT) browning is a prospective obesity treatment method. Dietary components derived from plants are the most effective approach to activate BAT and promote WAT browning in rodents. This study investigated the synergistic effects of (PG) and leaf (DKL) extract on adipocyte differentiation and browning, as well as the molecular mechanism underlying their beneficial effects.

Profile identification and characterization of risk perceptions and preventive behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic: A latent profile analysis.

In a public health crisis, communication plays a vital role in making sure policies and recommendations from the government level get disseminated accurately to its people and is only considered as effective when the public accepts, supports, complies to, and engages in policies or behaves as per governments' recommendations. Adopting the multivariate audience segmentation strategy for health communication, this study uses a data-driven analytical method to (1) identify audience segments of public health crisis communication in Singapore based on knowledge, risk perception, emotional responses, and preventive behaviors; and (2) characterize each audience segment according to demographic factors, personality traits, information processing styles, and health information preferences. Results ( = 2033) from a web-based questionnaire executed in August 2021 have identified three audience segments: the ( = 650), the ( = 142), and the ( = 1,241).