Entry Gate Research Articles

A qualitative study on perspectives of pregnant and postnatal mothers on accessing Tetanus Toxoid vaccine in Hai District Kilimanjaro region Tanzania

Background: Antenatal care for pregnant and postnatal mothers is the main entry gate for maternal Tetanus Toxoid (TT) vaccination. In developing countries including Tanzania, pregnant and postnatal mothers especially in rural communities have been experiencing barriers to maternal vaccination. The study aimed to explore perspectives of pregnant and postnatal mothers on accessing TT vaccine in Hai District Kilimanjaro Region Tanzania. Methods: A descriptive qualitative study was conducted during baseline assessment from October 2020 to May 2021, in 10 remote villages. Pregnant and postnatal mothers attending antenatal and postnatal services were selected purposively based on their availability and convenience, A semi-structured interview guide relevant to the study objectives was used to guide the interviews. Focus Group Discussion (FGD) and In-depth interviews (IDIs) were conducted; and thematic analysis was used to obtain themes and subthemes. Results: A total of 15 mothers aged 18 to 40 years participated in the study. Most of the mothers were Christians, married with 1 to 5 children. Majority had completed primary level education engaged in small-scale farming. Main themes were extracted namely: Unreliable vaccine information, Healthcare workers attitude, Overworked with household activities, adherence of appointment dates for vaccination after delivery and role of Traditional medicine during pregnancy. Conclusion: The role of healthcare providers are critical component for the appropriate transfer of vaccine information to the mothers and their spouses during clinic visits, to eliminate vaccine misconceptions hence improving overall tetanus vaccine uptake. Quality of information from reliable sources could be an important factor to upgrade the awareness of pregnant mothers on maternal vaccination.

Cryo-EM analysis provides new mechanistic insight into ATP binding to Ca2+ -ATPase SERCA2b.

Sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ -ATPase (SERCA) 2b is a ubiquitous SERCA family member that conducts Ca2+ uptake from the cytosol to the ER. Herein, we present a 3.3Å resolution cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of human SERCA2b in the E1·2Ca2+ state, revealing a new conformation for Ca2+ -bound SERCA2b with a much closer arrangement of cytosolic domains than in the previously reported crystal structure of Ca2+ -bound SERCA1a. Multiple conformations generated by 3D classification of cryo-EM maps reflect the intrinsically dynamic nature of the cytosolic domains in this state. Notably, ATP binding residues of SERCA2b in the E1·2Ca2+ state are located at similar positions to those in the E1·2Ca2+ -ATP state; hence, the cryo-EM structure likely represents a preformed state immediately prior to ATP binding. Consistently, a SERCA2b mutant with an interdomain disulfide bridge that locks the closed cytosolic domain arrangement displayed significant autophosphorylation activity in the presence of Ca2+ . We propose a novel mechanism of ATP binding to SERCA2b.

Development of smart parking management system

As the usage of vehicles is increasing day by day, it became difficult to identify a proper parking space for every vehicle. Smart Parking System deals with development of mobile application, that is useful for user to access detailed information about parking space and managing it efficiently in parking lot. Smart Parking System uses Image Processing technique to identify registration plate of a vehicle and also provides autonomous door opening and closing operation whenever it detects a vehicle at entrance of a parking lot. The mobile application provides information about available parking spaces, security and safety features of parking lot like fire and gas leakages alert. Raspberry Pi is the control unit which controls and processes the whole operation of the system. Liquid crystal display (LCD) display is located at entry point of the parking lot to display current parking space availability. Infrared (IR) proximity sensors are employed to identify the existence of vehicle at the entry gate of parking lot. From the captured image, characters from vehicle registration plate can be identified, and then Raspberry Pi sends a signal to servo motor to open the gate for a specified interval of time. The user will then park the vehicle in the available parking slot. When the user wants to leave the space and moved the vehicle, the date and time information will be captured which will be further used for processing the bill.

Global kinome profiling reveals DYRK1A as critical activator of the human mitochondrial import machinery

The translocase of the outer mitochondrial membrane TOM constitutes the organellar entry gate for nearly all precursor proteins synthesized on cytosolic ribosomes. Thus, TOM presents the ideal target to adjust the mitochondrial proteome upon changing cellular demands. Here, we identify that the import receptor TOM70 is targeted by the kinase DYRK1A and that this modification plays a critical role in the activation of the carrier import pathway. Phosphorylation of TOM70Ser91 by DYRK1A stimulates interaction of TOM70 with the core TOM translocase. This enables transfer of receptor-bound precursors to the translocation pore and initiates their import. Consequently, loss of TOM70Ser91 phosphorylation results in a strong decrease in import capacity of metabolite carriers. Inhibition of DYRK1A impairs mitochondrial structure and function and elicits a protective transcriptional response to maintain a functional import machinery. The DYRK1A-TOM70 axis will enable insights into disease mechanisms caused by dysfunctional DYRK1A, including autism spectrum disorder, microcephaly and Down syndrome.

A NOVEL CROWD MANAGEMENT SYSTEM TO MAINTAIN PHYSICAL DISTANCING IN PUBLIC TRANSPORT TO STOP THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 VIRUS

With the rising cases of COVID-19 worldwide, transportation sector has been one of the primary victims of Covid-19. Our country is going through the unlocking phase and public transport is being available again. But in order to stay safe from Covid-19, the physical distancing norms must be maintained. In public transport, it is rather impossible to maintain a proper physical distance. So we have created an automatic system, where the number of people riding in the vehicle is always fixed so as to maintain proper physical distancing. This system has a fixed number of passengers who can ride at the same time. It detects the no. of passengers going inside the vehicle and stops the entry of other passengers when it reaches it’s permissible range. And until the passenger count is lessened, the entry gate won’t open. The Novel prototype model is tested using web-based simulation tool Tinker Cad Circuits and the outcomes are remarkable and can be Implemented in Real life Cases for crowd management systems.

Zoom-ing in on White Supremacy

Zoom-ing in on White Supremacy

Genomic Analysis and Lineage Identification of SARS-CoV-2 Strains in Migrants Accessing Europe Through the Libyan Route.

Many African countries, representing the origin of the majority of refugees, asylum-seekers, and other migrants, toward regions bordering on the Mediterranean area, are experiencing sustained local transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Sicily is one of the main entry gates of migrants crossing into Europe. We conducted a pilot study, based on the full-genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 strains isolated from migrants coming to Sicily by crossing the Mediterranean Sea, with the aim to investigate the viral genome polymorphism and to describe their genetic variations and the phylogenetic relationships. On June 21, a nongovernmental organization vessel rescued 210 migrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea from Libya to Sicily. Of them, 13.4% tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Eighteen whole genome sequences were obtained to explore viral genetic variability. All but one of the sequences clustered with other viral African strains within the lineage A, whereas only one intermixed among B.1 lineage genomes. Our findings documented that most of the investigated migrants acquired SARS-CoV-2 infection before landing in Sicily. However, SARS-CoV-2 transmission during travel or in overcrowded Libyan immigrant camps and/or illegal transport boats could not be ruled out. SARS-CoV-2 molecular surveillance on migrants arriving in Europe through the Sicilian gate may improve the knowledge of global SARS-CoV-2 transmission dynamic also in light of the emergence of new variants.

Do We Need a Bar Exam... for Experienced Lawyers?

The fierce determination to require a bar exam during the COVID-19 pandemic left quite an impression on new lawyers entering the profession. State bars and state supreme courts made their position clear: the bar exam provides a screening function necessary to safeguard the public. Many disagreed.Even a cursory look at attorney discipline reveals that the lawyers who get into disciplinary trouble are not mostly new lawyers. The lawyers who get into trouble tend to be more experienced lawyers, who have not had any formal or objective tests of their ability to function since their original bar exam pass. The only check on their performance is discipline after harm has been done.Regulators deem the bar exam and character and fitness as necessary tests at the entry gate to the profession. As I contend in this Article, however, evidence supports regular administration of these tests throughout lawyer careers, not just at the beginning. I challenge the profession to consider whether the entirety of the current regime for assuring lawyer competency and quality can be improved to serve the public.

SAP domain forms a flexible part of DNA aperture in Ku70/80.

Nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) is a DNA repair mechanism that religates double‐strand DNA breaks to maintain genomic integrity during the entire cell cycle. The Ku70/80 complex recognizes DNA breaks and serves as an essential hub for recruitment of NHEJ components. Here, we describe intramolecular interactions of the Ku70 C‐terminal domain, known as the SAP domain. Using single‐particle cryo‐electron microscopy, mass spectrometric analysis of intermolecular cross‐linking and molecular modelling simulations, we captured variable positions of the SAP domain depending on DNA binding. The first position was localized at the DNA aperture in the Ku70/80 apo form but was not observed in the DNA‐bound state. The second position, which was observed in both apo and DNA‐bound states, was found below the DNA aperture, close to the helical arm of Ku70. The localization of the SAP domain in the DNA aperture suggests a function as a flexible entry gate for broken DNA.DatabasesEM maps have been deposited in EMDB (EMD‐11933). Coordinates have been deposited in Protein Data Bank (PDB 7AXZ). Other data are available from corresponding authors upon a request.

DNA methylation as a regulator of intestinal gene expression.

The intestinal tract is the entry gate for nutrients and symbiotic organisms, being in constant contact with external environment. DNA methylation is one of the keys to how environmental conditions, diet and nutritional status included, shape functionality in the gut and systemically. This review aims to summarise findings on the importance of methylation to gut development, differentiation and function. Evidence to date on how external factors such as diet, dietary supplements, nutritional status and microbiota modifications modulate intestinal function through DNA methylation is also presented.

When the guardian locks the gate

There are many examples of the regulatory guardian standing at the entry gate of professional life. None have infiltrated so expansively into the education and entry of a profession as the Office of the Migration Agent Registration Authority (OMARA). Since 2006 the OMARA has dictated the course content requirements for the prescribed qualification of migration agents, determined and regulated the exams to be taken by students within each university, and consistently imposed a competency-based education framework that stifles the education and preparation agents need for practice. Australian migration agents fall into a unique space within legal work. They are not lawyers, nor are they clerks; instead, section 276 of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) gives them the authority to provide immigration assistance to prospective migrants, migrants moving to permanency and citizenship, migrants who have compliance concerns, and asylum seekers, refugees, and those with no legal status. The Migration Act draws a line between migration agents’ work and that of lawyers who provide legal assistance regarding immigration. Both lawyers and graduates with the prescribed qualification can register as migration agents. In 2017 the prescribed qualification for migration agents was changed to a Graduate Diploma to be undertaken at specific universities that had been awarded a government tender to provide the course. In addition, the OMARA designated a stand-alone pre-registration exam to be taken by graduates within a year of the completion of their Graduate Certificate. This exam is currently delivered by one university that is prevented by the OMARA from discussing the course work or exam with the university providers. The exam has been held three times since the change to the qualification was made in 2017. One hundred and thirty-one graduates have sat the exam during that time, and 13 have passed. The extraordinary fail rate of 87% has called into question both the exam and the efficacy of the universities’ teaching. Graduates have considered taking class actions against the provider of the exam, and universities have sought government intervention to assist their students. This article examines the role the OMARA, as the regulator, has played in the education and regulation of migration agents and considers the impact politicisation has had on the development of the education regime.

Применение интерферона альфа-2b для профилактики новой коронавирусной инфекции у медицинских работников

Novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2 has some specific clinical and immunopathogenic properties. SARS-CoV-2 is a single-stranded RNA virus that belongs to the Coronaviridae family, the Betacoronavirus genus. COVID-19 can be asymptomatic, the most common clinical manifestation of this disease is viral pneumonia. The development of acute respiratory distress syndrome is noted in less than 5% of cases. The entry gates of this virus are the epithelium of the upper respiratory tract and epithelial cells (epitheliocytes) of the gastrointestinal tract. When the virus enters the human respiratory tract, mucociliary clearance is inhibited and epithelial cells die, allowing the virus to enter the peripheral blood with subsequent damage to target organs (lungs, digestive tract, heart, kidneys). An important pathogenic characteristic of SARS-CoV-2 infection, especially with severe disease, is an excessive immune system response with massive release of cytokines, which causes acute respiratory distress syndrome. Clinical and experimental studies have shown that SARS-CoV-2 can be significantly more sensitive to type I interferons (IFN-I), than other coronaviruses. IFN-I deficiency is thought to play a key role in the pathogenesis of COVID-19, and several studies have shown that delayed IFN-I signaling is associated with sustained viral replication and serious complications. The use of interferon-based medicines (IFN-I) for the treatment and prevention of COVID-19 appears to be quite important to study attentively. This paper presents an original regimen of recombinant interferon alpha-2b-based medicine (Grippferon®, nasal drops and spray) for the medication-assisted post-exposure prevention of COVID-19 in healthcare specialists, working in the pediatric infectious disease hospital. The effectiveness and safety of this medication regimen for the COVID-19 prevention was shown. Key words: medication-assisted prevention, COVID-19, post-exposure protection of healthcare workers, recombinant interferon alpha-2b, Grippferon

Coal Refinery Process Absorbability Index Assessment against Foot Print of Air Pollution by Usage of Robust Optimization Algorithms: A Novel Green Environment Initiative

Coals are employed as fiery substance, and every day, millions of ton coal are consumed by coal users around the world. It is investigated that the millions of coal’s transportation/logistic till the coal user plants via road route and also inside the coal user plants (known as twice factors) not only enhance the air pollution but also cause the global warming. It is earlier known that coals emit the toxic pollutants and offensive gases such as sulfur dioxide, SO2; nitrogen oxides, NOX; hydrogen chloride arsenic; carbon monoxide, CO; methane; CH4; and CO2 on reacting with environmental O2 due to said twice factors, i.e., during the transportation from coal refinery spot to entry gate of coal user plants (another spot) and in process logistic/movement inside the coal user plants (loading to conveyor to coal fire tubes “attached with coal crushers”). Therefore, the coal refinery technique/process is found as the best practice to control air pollution under concerns of twice factors. The reliable and trustworthy coal refining technology improves the quality of coal by eradicating or eliminating the coating or layers of toxic particles from coal’s surface, which speedily crumble or decompose in reacting with environmental O2 under twice factors. As results, coal refining technology adds the green supply chain value into proposed twice factors and also save the world from breeding of ills and viruses. It is understood that the best coal refinery technique/process helps to overcome and reduce air pollution by responding discussed twice factors (accepted as research challenge and motivation of research). In the presented research work, the authors developed and proposed a dynamic multidimension Coal Refinery Process Absorbability Index (CRPAI) structure (consisted of coal refinery core dimension and subdimensions correspond to CRPA alternative techniques/processes) appended with Robust Optimization Algorithm (ROA) to be explored for opting the best CRP from available options. But due to inherent ambiguity, vagueness, and inconsistency involve in both dimensions of proposed structure, the assessment of expert’s panel is gathered in the terms of linguistic variable “appropriateness ratings” against the subdimensions of CRPAI structure corresponding to preferred CRP options. Next, assigned appropriateness ratings against the subdimensions are substituted by GIVFN. To arrive to core dimensions from subdimensions of CRPAI structure, a GITFN-OWGO (Ordered Weighted Geometric Operator) is investigated and modified as a Ordered Weighted Geometric Average Operator (OWGAO) to be applied for estimating the weights of subdimensions (core novelty of work). Finally, a ROA (consisted of MULTI-MOORA with dominance theory) is applied on the output of OWGAO for opting the viable and best CRP option. The positive effect of the dynamic multidimension CRPAI structure is that it helps the coal refinery companies to assess measure and evaluate the best and feasible coal refinery process under concern of twice factors using expert information. The research can be used to control the air pollution by responding aforesaid twice factors by single practice (the best coal refinery process/technique assessment and evaluation).

Structural snapshot of the mitochondrial protein import gate.

The translocase of the outer mitochondrial membrane (TOM) complex is the main entry gate for most mitochondrial proteins. The TOM complex is a multisubunit membrane protein complex consisting of a β-barrel protein Tom40 and six α-helical transmembrane (TM) proteins, receptor subunits Tom20, Tom22, and Tom70, and regulatory subunits Tom5, Tom6, and Tom7. Although nearly 30years have passed since the main components of the TOM complex were identified and characterized, the structural details of the TOM complex remained poorly understood until recently. Thanks to the rapid development of the cryoelectron microscopy (EM) technology, high-resolution structures of the yeast TOM complex have become available. The identified structures showed a symmetric dimer containing five different subunits including Tom22. Biochemical and mutational analyses based on the TOM complex structure revealed the presence of different translocation paths within the Tom40 import channel for different classes of translocating precursor proteins. Previous studies including our cross-linking analyses indicated that the TOM complex in intact mitochondria is present as a mixture of the trimeric complex containing Tom22. Furthermore, the dimeric complex lacking Tom22, and the trimer and dimer may handle different sets of mitochondrial precursor proteins for translocation across the outer membrane. In this Structural Snapshot, we will discuss possible rearrangement of the subunit interactions upon dynamic conversion of the TOM complex between the different subunit assembly states, the Tom22-containing core dimer and trimer.

COVID-19. SARS-Cov-2 pandemic, transmission pathways, distribution features, and individual susceptibility

In December 2019, an outbreak of pneumonia of unknown etiology was registered in Wuhan, Hubei province of the people's Republic of China. The virus was soon isolated and its genome sequenced. It is called the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus‑2 (SARS-Cov-2, English SARS-Cov-2), and the disease caused by it is coronavirus infection – 19 (English COVID-19). Who recognized the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic on March 11. The entire world is currently affected by the pandemic. The first focus of coronavirus infection in Russia was detected on February 27, brought from Europe. The infection reached the most remote corners of Siberia by mid-April. The aim of this study is to analyze the characteristics of SARS-Cov-2, its pathways into the body and individual susceptibility to the virus. Methods and materials. The review of scientific articles on the research topic was based on the analysis of scientific articles on COVID-19. Articles were searched in the Web of Sciences, Scopus, PubMed, and eLIBRARY databases, as well as by article links. Results. The SARS-Cov-2 virus is a single-stranded positive-chain RNA virus from the Coronavirus family (Coronaviridae). According to most researchers, the SARS-Cov-2 virus evolved from bat coronaviruses, with the approximate time of divergence from the nearest bat virus species RaTG13 occurring in 1963. It uses ACE-2 receptors, which are widely present throughout the body, to enter host cells. High virus contagiousness is provided by the acquisition of an additional furin site for cleavage of the spike protein in the form of the amino acid sequence Arg-Arg-Ala-Arg (682RRAR685). This site of the S1 domain of the spike protein can be cleaved by: transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2), furin, but also many cellular and extracellular proteases, as well as plasmin(ogen) s. Many ways of cleavage of the spike protein significantly increase the ability of the virus to enter the cell and its contagiousness. The main routes of transmission of SARS-Cov-2 are respiratory drops and close contact. The main entrance gate of the virus is the respiratory tract, may be conjunctiva, likely fecal-oral pathway. The article discusses the skin as an entrance gate. Some skin manifestations of the disease can be caused by this way. The incubation period of COVID-19 lasts on average 5-6 days, while the live infectious virus begins to be released 2-3 days before the first symptoms appear and stops on the 8th day after the symptoms appear, but only in severe patients the virus release can last up to 15 days. Asymptomatic patients may account for 40% of cases. Features of individual susceptibility to COVID-19 and the severity of clinical manifestations may be caused by: 1) the property of allelic variants of the virus and their virulence; 2) the infectious dose of the virus; 3) the use of protective equipment; 4) individual characteristics of the human body; 5) pathogenic mechanisms of infection development. The hypothesis of the protective role of the mumps vaccine explains the phenomenon of extremely low morbidity, asymptomatic or mild infection in children more convincingly. Mass vaccination against mumps in our country began in 1981 (39 years ago), which is probably why children and people under 40 rarely get a severe form of infection in our country. Conclusion. SARS-Cov-2 has pandemic potential and is estimated to be more severe than pandemic influenza viruses. Active isolation of the virus before the onset of symptoms, including by asymptomatic patients (including children), causes the rapid spread of infection and reduces the effectiveness of anti-epidemic measures. The presence of a significant segment of the population with cross-immunity to SARS-Cov-2, including and as a result of vaccination, it is the most likely cause of a high percentage of asymptomatic and mild forms of the disease among children and young people. Effective protection against coronavirus infection in 2019 can only be achieved by taking comprehensive measures to prevent the virus from entering the body through the respiratory tract, per os, conjunctiva and skin, although the latter pathway is not taken into account anywhere in the world. It should be noted that COVID-19 cannot be classified as a particularly dangerous infection, but its high contagiousness, the likelihood of multiple entry gates of the virus into the human body, multi-organ lesions and a high mortality rate of risk groups make it a special infection that requires significant efforts of humanity to eliminate it.

Activities, Access Control, and Crime: a Quasi-Experimental Study regarding Entry Gates at Train Stations in the Netherlands

This article discusses a unique “natural experiment,” the introduction of entry gates at Dutch train stations and the potential effects of this on crime in the areas around these stations. A quasi-experimental study was carried out to show that introducing entry gates correlated with a drop in crime in these areas. After entry gates had been introduced, potential offenders could only enter train stations with a valid ticket, which meant that they would be less likely to enter or leave these stations and more likely to choose other places to hang around in or for entering and leaving trains. A dataset was created in which the crime rates around train stations were registered for each month in the years 2013 through 2018. The changing numbers of travelers at each station were also taken into account, as this variable probably correlates with the amount of crime. A two-way fixed-effects model was run on data for about 260 train stations, with and without entry gates, using the relative crime rate per thousand travelers as the dependent variable. Based on this relative crime rate, the use of entry gates was found to coincide with a decrease of 9% in crime, compared to a situation without entry gates. This study can inform policymakers about the potential effects of entry gates in particular and about situational crime prevention in general. Moreover, it illustrates how implementing measures at various locations at different moments enables the effectiveness of such measures to be tested more precisely and with more confidence.

MANIFESTATIONS OF DIGESTIVE SYSTEM IN ACUTE PERIOD OF CORONAVIRUS DISEASE

Introduction.Nowadays, coronavirus disease is reported a systemic disease, which impairs immune function, lung and gastrointestinal damage. The latter, along with the respiratory system, can serve as the entry gate to infection. Chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are considered as risk factors for more severe course of the disease. Objective: to study the frequency of gastrointestinal symptoms and liver functioning in patients with coronavirus disease. Materials and methods: 55 medical records of inpatients with coronavirus disease and pneumonia (20 women and 35 men), who were treated at the infectious department of the Central Municipal Clinical Hospital, Ivano-Frankivsk. The mean age of female patients was 57.1 ± 2.62 years and 59.2 ± 2.59 years for male patients. All patients underwent polymerase chain reaction testing and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (IgM SARS COV 2), general clinical examinations (general blood test, biochemical analysis of live damage markers, glycemia level), chest CT. We determined inflammatory biomarkers as well. Results and discussion. The patients with coronaviral disease and pneumonia were found to have various comorbidities, including hypertension, obesity, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease, chronic viral hepatitis B and others. The most common gastrointestinal symptoms included anorexia detected in 50 patients (90.9%), nausea in 11 (20%) patients, diarrhoea in 6 (10.9%) patients, vomiting in 2 (363%) patients, abdominal pain in 4 (7.27%) patients, and constipation in 1 (1.8%) case. Diarrhea usually did not pose a serious threat, and was reversible in the course of pneumonia therapy. Thrombocytopenia occurred in 10.9% of patients. The level of C-reactive protein was high in 90.9% of patients. A third of the patients demonstrated as increase in the activity of aspartate aminotransferase by 30.9% and alanine aminotransferase by 32.7%. Conclusion. Coronavirus can induce inflammation and change the permeability of mucous membranes, possibly receptor-mediated penetration into the cells of the body; we can suggest the virus affects the composition of the intestinal microbiota, disrupts the interaction between organs "intestinal-lung" that may contribute to the progression of respiratory symptoms.

Atomic structure of human TOM core complex

The translocase of the outer mitochondrial membrane (TOM) complex is the main entry gate for mitochondrial precursor proteins synthesized on cytosolic ribosomes. Here we report the single-particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of the dimeric human TOM core complex (TOM-CC). Two Tom40 β-barrel proteins, connected by two Tom22 receptor subunits and one phospholipid, form the protein-conducting channels. The small Tom proteins Tom5, Tom6, and Tom7 surround the channel and have notable configurations. The distinct electrostatic features of the complex, including the pronounced negative interior and the positive regions at the periphery and center of the dimer on the intermembrane space (IMS) side, provide insight into the preprotein translocation mechanism. Further, two dimeric TOM complexes may associate to form tetramer in the shape of a parallelogram, offering a potential explanation into the unusual structural features of Tom subunits and a new perspective of viewing the import of mitochondrial proteins.

The role of the renin-angiotensin system, immunological and genetic factors in children with COVID-19

It is a common fact that children are less susceptible to COVID-19 than adults, and they usually have milder forms often without symptoms, due to the age-related characteristics of their immune response and the features of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). The recent studies have shown that the RAS elements are widely represented in the lungs, and they actively participate in the inflammation process in addition to their main vasoregulatory function. The cascade of RAS reactions is one of the key links in the pathogenesis of COVID-19, and it is analyzed from two positions: expression of ACE2 receptors and polymorphisms of certain genes of this system. The studies have demonstrated that the ACE2 transmembrane protein is both the “entry gate” for the virus, and it also plays a regulatory role, turning the pro-inflammatory vasoconstrictor angiotensin II into anti-inflammatory angiotensin (1—7) with vasodilating properties. A higher content of ACE2 in children as compared to that in adults maintains the RAS system balance and prevents the development of complications. It has been also found that certain genetic polymorphisms (AGTR1, AGTR2, ACE2, ACE) can cause the imbalance of RAS components, leading to more pronounced reactions of alveolocytes, vascular endothelium and smooth muscle fibers in response to SARS-CoV-2 infection due to a shift of the vasoconstrictor, proliferative and profibrotic mechanisms. The patients with certain genetic polymorphisms of NOS genes regulating vascular tone, cell growth and proliferation may have a genetic predisposition to the development of severe forms of COVID-19.

Artificial Intelligence Based Face Mask Detection System

With the advent of COVID-19 pandemic, use of mask is mandatory as per WHO/ ICMR guidelines to avert spread of CORONA virus. The post lockdown period has seen increase in cases day by day as people have now stepped out of their home to resume their work and recreational activities. Wearing mask all the time has still not found an enduring place in our day to day routine practices. It is a natural human tendency to be complacent and to remove mask while talking, working or after prolong use just use to relax and breathe properly. Thus not only risking own life but also of others who might have come in contact with the person during the period when he/she was not wearing mask. Presently the inspection of people with/ without mask is being done manually and visually by sentries/ guards present at entry/ exit points. Guards/ Sentries cannot be stationed at every place to keep a check on such people who remove their mask and roam around without restraint once they have been scrutinized at the entry gate. In the proposed system, efforts have been made in inspecting people with/ without mask automatically with the help of Computer vision and Artificial Intelligence. This module detects the face of the individual, identifies whether he/she is wearing mask or not and raises an alarm if the person is detected without wearing mask.