Cavendish banana was transformed using Agrobacterium tumefaciens to express a protein engineered rice cystatin (OcIdeltaD86) of value for control of plant parasitic nematodes. Expression for each line was under control of a constitutive promoter from the maize ubiquitin gene (UBI-1), a constitutive, chimeric promoter from the octopine and mannopine synthase genes of A. tumefaciens or a promoter from a root-preferentially expressed tubulin gene Arabidopsis (TUB-1). Lines were selected as of potential interest after 8 weeks challenge in containment if their mean R. similis/25 g roots for three sibling plants were more than 1 standard normal variate below the grand mean for all plants in c7-15 lines challenged concurrently. A total of 16 lines were selected on this basis as putative positives. Western blots confirmed that eight of these lines expressed cystatin with a mean of 0.08 +/- 0.04% tsp. All but two of 19 negatively selected lines from bioassays did not express cystatin. The mean resistance level of the confirmed positive lines was 69 +/- 17%. ELISA established the positive lines under control of UBI provided significantly higher expression levels of OcIdeltaD86 than recorded for the other two promoters. Lines of interest were confirmed as producing a transcript for OcIdeltaD86 by RT-PCR. Eight plants of one UBI promoter line expressing only 0.1 +/- 0.004% tsp as cystatin were re-challenged with R. similis and achieved a resistance of 70 +/- 10%. Subsequent repeat western blotting confirmed that this line still produced the cystatin after the trial. This is the first report of transgenic resistance against a major pest or disease of banana.

PurposeThis paper proposes a biopsychosocial (BPS) analysis of COVID-19 experiences which enhances understanding of complex and interrelated factors and leads to the proposition of a BPS recovery framework.Design/methodology/approachOnline narrative research was used to explore people's experiences of COVID-19 and was conducted over a four-month period. The call was distributed via a short open-ended qualitative online survey advertised on social media platforms and 305 responses came from across England.FindingsThe findings illustrate people with a narrow range of BPS characteristics experienced over a wide range of BPS impacts which are nuanced, complex and dynamic. Left unaddressed these may create future adverse BPS characteristics. An integrated BPS framework for recovery is proposed to avoid such further negative outcomes from the pandemic.Research limitations/implicationsThe sample contained a bias in age, gender and living arrangements.Practical implicationsThe paper offers a clear framework to enable integrated holistic recovery/regrowth planning.Social implicationsUsing the framework would reduce social and health inequities which have been recently deepened by COVID-19 in the long-term.Originality/valueThe paper is original in its use of a BPS analytical framework.

Objectives The COVID‐19 pandemic has imposed a significant psychological burden on many across society especially students studying medical sciences. This study intended to investigate the one‐year changes in the prevalence and correlates of depressive symptoms during the COVID‐19 pandemic among medical science students. Methods A cross‐sectional study in Shahroud, Iran administering a convenience sampling method (January to February 2021). Online self‐reported questionnaires included Rosenberg Self‐Esteem Scale, Paloutzian‐Ellison Spiritual Well‐Being Questionnaire, Diener's Satisfaction with Life Scale and the University Student Depression Inventory. Data analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (Independent t‐test and Multiple Regression Analysis). Results A total of 306 medical science students were investigated in this study. The mean scores 1 year after the outbreak of COVID‐19 were for depression (81.25 ± 26.04), spiritual well‐being (80.98 ± 18.06), self‐esteem (26.89 ± 2.20), and life satisfaction (19.68 ± 6.81). The results indicated that depression mean score was significantly higher in post outbreak assessment (71.92 ± 22.94 vs 81.25 ± 26.04) (P < .001). Fifty percentage of changes in depression can be predicted by studied variables. A high score of depression was directly associated with a higher level of self‐esteem. Moreover, increased interest in the field, scores of spiritual well‐being, and life satisfaction were inversely and significantly associated with depression. Conclusions Iran's education system has been significantly affected, with the addition to the COVID‐19 pandemic imposing a psychological burden such as depression, exacerbating this within medical science students compared to a year ago. Spiritual well‐being and life satisfaction as positive psychology constructs were recognized as protective factors against depression during the pandemic. Spiritual and social support should be integrated in psychological interventions within university settings for medical science students.

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Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted the health of individuals physically, mentally, and socially. This study aims to gain a deeper understanding of this impact across the pandemic from a biopsychosocial stance. Methods: A survey created by the research team was employed between November 2020 and February 2021 across social media, relevant organizations, and networks. The survey incorporated 5-time points across the different stages of the pandemic, covering biological, psychological, and social. There were 5 items for each survey (Very Positive affect to Very Negative affect), and analysis was undertaken using SPSS version 16. Descriptive statistics and non-parametric Friedman and Wilcoxon Tests, as well as correlations between the three domains, were implemented. Results: This study included 164 participants (77.0% female and 35.0% male) across 24 out of 38 counties in the UK. The impact of COVID-19 on biological domain was significant across the five data points χ2(4) = 63.99, p < 0.001, psychological χ2(4) = 118.939, p <0.001 and socially χ2(4) = 186.43, p <0.001. Between the 5 data points, 4 out of 5 had a negative impact, however between the first stage of lockdown and the easing of restrictions, findings for biological (Z=-2.35, p <0.05), psychological (Z=-6.61, p < 0.001), and socially (Z = -8.61, p <0.001) were positive. Negative correlations between the three domains across the pandemic are apparent, but in later stages, the biological domain had a positive correlation r = 0.52, p < 0.001. Conclusion: The data shows a negative impact from the self-reported perception of wellbeing from a biopsychosocial stance over time, as well as perceiving the three domains to interact negatively. To address these biopsychosocial issues, the research implies a place-based integrated recovery effort is needed, addressing biological, psychological, and social issues simultaneously. Further research should investigate biopsychosocial health among a more generalizable population.

Background and Aims Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) has profoundly affected millions worldwide, including family caregivers of COVID‐19 patients, in terms of caregiver burden and psychological distress. The present study aimed to evaluate the care burden and psychological distress among family caregivers, caring for a family member with COVID‐19. Methods The present study was performed with a cross‐sectional design in the Shahroud community, northeast Iran using the convenience sampling method. A total of 297 family caregivers of COVID‐19 patients were assessed using self‐report scales including the depression, anxiety, and stress scale‐21 and the Zarit burden interview to assess the symptoms of psychological distress (depression, anxiety, and stress) and caregiver burden. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (multivariate regression analysis). Results Factors such as self‐reported symptoms of depression (β = 0.920, p < 0.001) and anxiety (β = 0.712, p < 0.02) were significantly predicted care burden. Variables such as lower levels of education of the family member and caregivers and also the relationship between the caregiver and family member were additional predictive factors that aggravated the care burden. Conclusion Caregivers of a family member with COVID‐19 suffer significant levels of care burden that also results from psychological distress such as depression and anxiety. Therefore, appropriate psychoeducational interventions are highly recommended.

Viral marketing is a hot topic in the business world. Having a message transmitted from person to person similar to how a virus is transmitted from host to host at no additional cost to the originator is a very attractive idea to marketers. The coming of age of Internet technologies and social networking sites has created ideal conditions for the uptake of this phenomenon. It has been suggested that viral marketing is merely an Internet-age buzzword, an electronic version of word of mouth advertising. While word of mouth communication is well researched, research on viral marketing specifically is limited. Thus, this study addresses a literature gap by conducting an examination of viral marketing users and providing a profile of these individuals.In defining viral marketing, Mills (2001) describes it as any marketing strategy that within its design promotes that everyone who encounters the message is encouraged to pass the message on to others. Put simply: viral marketing is a self replicating object that is passed from person to person, similar to how a virus spreads. A viral marketing message originates from a sponsor with an interest in ensuring the virus survives and this is what differentiates viral marketing from true word of mouth (Assael, Pope, Brennan, & Voges, 2007). Modzelewski (2000) expands on this point by describing how viral marketing differs from electronic word of mouth in that the value of the virus to the original individual is directly related to the number of others that it attracts. That is, the originator of each branch of the virus has a unique and vested interest in recruiting people to the network to keep the virus alive. It is not merely an online version of word of mouth.However, the motivations for traditional word of mouth were found to be relevant to electronic word of mouth according to Hennig-Thurau, et al., (2004). Using an interpersonal communication scale it was discovered that the primary motives for emailing were found to be pleasure and affection (Phelps, et al., 2004). In a strictly viral marketing context, it has been suggested that an emotional connection to the message encourages individuals to pass along viral messages with surprise being a necessity for a successful viral campaign (Dobele, Lindgreen, Beverland, Vanhamme, & Wijk, 2007). Very little research has been conducted to examine the motivations, attitudes and behavior as well as the personality variables of people who become involved with viral marketing campaigns specifically.A questionnaire containing general demographic questions, viral marketing specific questions and a number of personality scales was developed. Scales measuring Market Mavenship, New Brand Trial, Information-Seeking, Consumer Innovation, Opinion Leadership, Price Sensitivity, and Motivations for Communication were used. Data was collected through an online questionnaire. Participants were recruited through an appeal to take part in the study via popular online forums. A total of 1132 completed questionnaires were returned during th...

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