Strong Defense Research Articles

Eutrophication-Driven Changes in Plankton Trophic Interactions: Insights from Trade-Offs in Functional Traits.

Understanding how plankton trophic interactions, particularly phytoplankton nutrient uptake and zooplankton grazing, respond to eutrophication is important for maintaining aquatic ecosystem functions and developing effective mitigation strategies. Phytoplankton exhibit trade-offs in functional traits between growth rate and antipredation defense, thereby regulating these trophic interactions. However, the combined effects of eutrophication and such trait-based regulation on plankton communities and interactions remain poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated these effects by integrating trait-based mechanistic modeling and field observations in China's eutrophic Pearl River Estuary. Our model predicted that the species with the weakest defensive capacities dominated under nutrient-poor conditions. As eutrophication increased, a concave growth-defense trade-off favored species with high growth rates and strong defense capacities, whereas a convex trade-off curve favored species that were either the least or the most well-defended. High grazing pressure accelerated these shifts. In the estuary, similar patterns emerged in the relative abundance of different phytoplankton species along a gradient of the nitrogen to phosphorus ratio (N:P), indicating changes from high nutrient uptake and low grazing under oligotrophic conditions to eutrophic conditions, in which some phytoplankton face considerable grazing pressure despite high nutrient uptake, whereas others grow slowly with less grazing pressure. These results enhance our understanding of trait-based plankton interactions in eutrophic bodies of water and provide support for more effective conservation and management strategies.

Intermediary Decentralized Computing and Private Blockchain Mechanisms for Privacy Preservation in the Internet of Medical Things

Protecting patient data in the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) is one of the major challenges facing healthcare organizations because of increasing threats to privacy and security. Although there are many existing protocols and solutions, such as Rivest–Shamir–Adleman (RSA) and El-Gamal cryptographies or centralized methods, that aim to protect data, they suffer from weaknesses such as slow performance or inability to handle large volumes of data. The issue of security in medical records has become an urgent need, and the use of centralized methods can expose them to single-point failure. In this paper, we present the efficient approach to securing patient information (EASPI), which depends on blockchain and integrates innovative techniques such as the advanced encryption algorithm (AES), reverse word frequency analysis (TF-IDF), Lemplel-Ziv-Welch (LZW), decision tree model (DTM), and naive Bayes classifier (NBC). EASPI seeks to improve the security of medical data by storing it encrypted and securely via blockchain technology, providing a high level of privacy and reliability. The experimental results indicate that the EASPI reduces the encryption execution time to 0.2 ms and the decryption execution time to 0.3 ms while improving the accuracy of medical diagnosis. The potential of the suggested methods for healthcare systems is further demonstrated by the fact that the TF-IDF algorithm attained an execution time of 0.004 ms, while the blockchain's greatest execution time was 0.014 ms. Additionally, using the formal verification Scyther tool, the security of the suggested system is examined both theoretically and practically. The suggested solution is an appropriate option for healthcare institutions since it offers a strong defense against a range of cyber threats, including targeted and espionage assaults.

Identification of CAP genes in finger lime (Citrus australasica) and their role in plant responses to abiotic and biotic stress

The study focuses on the in silico analysis of cysteine-rich secretory proteins and PR1-like (CAP) genes in finger lime (Citrus australasica), a citrus species known for its tolerance to Huanglongbing (HLB). We identified several PR1-like genes, all belonging to the CRISP family within the CAP superfamily. Of them, CaCAP2 transcript levels increased by over 300-fold in the finger lime compared to ‘Valencia' sweet orange upon infection with ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus' (CaLas). Localization studies using an EGFP fusion showed that the CAP2 protein is predominantly located in the nucleus, extracellular and plasma membrane. The study also examined CAP2 transcript levels in response to cold, drought stress, and salicylic acid application. Despite environmental stress causing apparent damage, CAP genes seem to play a significant role in managing both biotic and abiotic stresses. Analysis of CAP2 gene promoters from finger lime and sweet orange revealed 95.33% sequence identity, with variations in transcription factor-binding sites and cis-acting elements such as Stress Response Element (STRE: AGGGG), which might influence the differential expression of CAP2 between the two species. Additionally, expressing the finger lime-derived CaCAP2 gene in transgenic Nicotiana tabacum induced a strong defense response against Pseudomonas syringae pv. Tabaci., underscoring the CAP gene's crucial role in plant defense mechanisms against bacterial pathogens.

Indo-japanese Relations:from "Spiritual to Special Strategic and Global Partnership "

This article analyses the multifaceted dimensions of New Delhi-Tokyo bilateral relationship in the 21st Century, encompassing the political & diplomatic, economic, defense & security and cultural cooperation. With the signing of a ‘peace treaty’ between India & Japan in 1952, the diplomatic relations between the two nations have been established. Both nations have close economic ties since 1991. They have strong defense and security cooperation since 2008. In the recent years the defense exchanges between the two nations have gained strength because of the issues of peace, security and stability in the Indo-Pacific Region. They have also very rich cultural linkages based on Buddhism since 4th Century A.D. Significantly, the recent meeting of the Indian Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi with his newly appointed Japanese Counterpart Mr. Shigeru Ishiba on the sidelines of the 21st ASEAN-India Summit and the 19th East Asia Summit held at Vientiane, Lao PDR from 10th-11th October 2024 has further strengthened the bilateral cooperation between the two the trusted and strategic partners India and Japan.

Outcome of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection depends on genetic background in female mice

Antigenically distinct SARS-CoV-2 variants increase the reinfection risk for vaccinated and previously exposed population due to antibody neutralization escape. COVID-19 severity depends on many variables, including host immune responses, which differ depending on genetic predisposition. To address this, we perform immune profiling of female mice with different genetic backgrounds –transgenic K18-hACE2 and wild-type 129S1– infected with the severe B.1.351, 30 days after exposure to the milder BA.1 or severe H1N1. Prior BA.1 infection protects against B.1.351-induced morbidity in K18-hACE2 but aggravates disease in 129S1. H1N1 protects against B.1.351-induced morbidity only in 129S1. Enhanced severity in B.1.351 re-infected 129S1 is characterized by an increase of IL-10, IL-1β, IL-18 and IFN-γ, while in K18-hACE2 the cytokine profile resembles naïve mice undergoing their first viral infection. Enhanced pathology during 129S1 reinfection cannot be attributed to weaker adaptive immune responses to BA.1. Infection with BA.1 causes long-term differential remodeling and transcriptional changes in the bronchioalveolar CD11c+ compartment. K18-hACE2 CD11c+ cells show a strong antiviral defense expression profile whereas 129S1 CD11c+ cells present a more pro-inflammatory response upon restimulation. In conclusion, BA.1 induces cross-reactive adaptive immune responses in K18-hACE2 and 129S1, but reinfection outcome correlates with differential CD11c+ cells responses in the alveolar space.

Smart Security : A Comprehensive Exploration of AI and IoT in Cybersecurity

This paper investigates the transformative roles of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) in cybersecurity, especially as the complexity and connectivity of digital networks intensify. The rapid adoption of IoT devices in industries and homes alike has significantly broadened the cyber threat landscape, introducing countless points of vulnerability. Cybercriminals now target the vast and often unsecured data generated by IoT devices, exploiting weak access controls, outdated software, and inadequate encryption. In response, AI has become a critical tool in modern cybersecurity strategies, offering enhanced methods for threat detection, predictive analytics, and automated responses. AI-driven systems can proactively analyze patterns in network activity, detect anomalies, and anticipate future threats, all in real-time, providing a strong defence against increasingly sophisticated attacks. Additionally, AI facilitates automation in incident response, enabling immediate isolation or neutralization of threats before significant damage occurs. However, integrating IoT and AI in cybersecurity introduces new challenges, particularly concerning device interoperability, resource limitations in IoT devices, and privacy concerns due to the extensive data generated and processed. This paper explores these technologies in depth, examining their current applications, limitations, and the potential they hold for building smarter, more resilient cybersecurity frameworks in the future.

Deterrence strategies for a small state: Analysis and survey

Abstract Classical deterrence theory has its origins in the era of the Cold War and the nuclear arms race between the USA and the Soviet Union. Therefore, deterrence is mainly studied from the perspective of the superpowers. This study approaches deterrence from the less explored perspective of a small country by analysing academic deterrence literature and further deepening this perspective by means of a survey. As a result, the study produced a new view of how a small state can be positioned in modern deterrence theories, by introducing national and international enabling and preventive factors. The main findings of the research suggest that national enabling factors, such as a strong national defence and the resilience of the society, are important for a small state in terms of compensating for the deficit in influence in relation to superpowers. Limited options for building deterrence can be augmented by means of international enabling factors, such as military and political alliances. Deficits in terms of available military resources and international status could translate into national preventive factors, such as weakness in the eyes of the aggressor. The aggressor’s political intentions and history could appear as international preventive factors if they influence decision-making in an undesirable manner.

Phytotoxicity of Prussian blue nanoparticles to rice and the related defence mechanisms: In vivo observations and physiological and biochemical analysis

While the nanotoxic effects on plants have been extensively studied, the underlying mechanisms of plant defense responses and resistance to nanostress remain insufficiently understood. Particularly, Prussian blue nanoparticles (PB NPs) have been extensively used in pigments, pharmaceuticals, electrocatalysis, biosensors and energy storage. However, the impact of PB NPs on plants’ health and growth are largely unknown. Herein, the phytotoxicity of PB NPs to rice and trace the uptake, accumulation and biotransformation of PB NPs was explored, along with the underlying defence mechanisms. The results showed that PB NPs (≥ 50 mg L–1) significantly inhibited the growth of rice seedling up to 16.16%, 27.80%, and 29.37% in plant height, shoot biomass and root biomass, respectively. The X-ray spectroscopic studies and in vivo elemental and particle-imaging demonstrated that PB NPs were transported through the cortex via xylem from root to shoot. However, most of the PB NPs and their transformation products were retained in the root, where they were blocked owing to root cell wall (RCW) remodelling, and 81.4%-83.4% of Fe accumulated in the RCW compared to 66.6% in the control. Specifically, PB NPs stimulated pectin methylesterase activity by promoting hydrogen peroxide production to participate in RCW remodeling. More interestingly, Si was specifically regulated to covalently bind to hemicellulose to form the Si-hemicellulose complex that strongly bound with PB NPs during RCW remodeling, resulting in the strong defense against PB NPs. These findings provide new insights into the phytotoxicity of artificial NPs and the defense mechanisms of plants.

Microbe-Friendly Plants Enable Beneficial Interactions with Soil Rhizosphere Bacteria by Lowering Their Defense Responses.

The use of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria presents a promising addition to conventional mineral fertilizer use and an alternative strategy for sustainable agricultural crop production. However, genotypic variations in the plant host may result in variability of the beneficial effects from these plant-microbe interactions. This study examined growth promotion effects of commercial vegetable crop cultivars of tomato, cucumber and broccoli following application with five rhizosphere bacteria. Biochemical assays revealed that the bacterial strains used possess several nutrient acquisition traits that benefit plants, including nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, biofilm formation, and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production. However, different host cultivars displayed genotype-specific responses from the inoculations, resulting in significant (p < 0.05) plant growth promotion in some cultivars but insignificant (p > 0.05) or no growth promotion in others. Gene expression profiling in tomato cultivars revealed that these cultivar-specific phenotypes are reflected in differential expressions of defense and nutrient acquisition genes, suggesting that plants can be categorized into "microbe-friendly" cultivars (with little or no defense responses against beneficial microbes) and "microbe-hostile" cultivars (with strong defense responses). These results validate the notion that "microbe-friendly" (positive interaction with rhizosphere microbes) should be considered an important trait in breeding programs when developing new cultivars which could result in improved crop yields.

Fight the Flu: Protect Yourself and Others

As flu season approaches, it's crucial to take steps to protect yourself and those around you. The flu, a contagious respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus, can lead to severe complications, especially in young children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems. The best defense against the flu is vaccination. Flu vaccines are updated yearly to match circulating strains, reducing your chances of getting sick. Even if you catch the flu, the vaccine can lessen the severity of symptoms and prevent hospitalization. Different types of vaccines, such as standard-dose, high-dose, and adjuvanted vaccines, are tailored for various age groups, including children, adults, and seniors. In addition to vaccination, practicing good hygiene, like frequent handwashing, covering coughs, and staying home if sick, plays a crucial role in flu prevention. Together, these strategies form a strong defense against the flu, safeguarding communities during flu season.

Genetic Adaptations of Soybean to Cold Stress Reveal Key Insights Through Transcriptomic Analysis.

Low temperatures greatly restrict the development, growth, and productivity of soybeans, with their effects differing across various cultivars. The present work investigated the transcriptome and physiological reactions of two soybean cultivars, namely "KD52" exhibiting cold tolerance and "DS17" displaying cold sensitivity, to cold stress across a precisely defined period. The soybean plants were subjected to cold treatment at 6 °C for durations of 0, 2, 4, and 8 h. A comparative physiological marker study revealed distinct reactions to cold stress in the two cultivars. The findings showed that increased malondialdehyde levels provided evidence of DS17's heightened vulnerability to lipid peroxidation and membrane degradation. In contrast, the KD52 cultivar exhibited increased activities of antioxidant enzymes, including peroxidase and superoxide dismutase, in response to cold exposure, suggesting a strong antioxidant defense system against oxidative stress. The transcriptomic analysis revealed dynamic responses, mapping 54,532 genes. Within this group, a total of 234 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were found to be consistently changed at several time intervals, showing unique expression patterns across the two cultivars. Analysis of the association between these important DEGs and the physiological indicators revealed candidate genes that may be involved in controlling oxidative damage and antioxidant defenses. Some key genes showed a progressive rise in expression over time in both cultivars, with a more significant acceleration in KD52, and are probably involved in promoting adaptation processes during extended periods of cold exposure. The identification of improved defense mechanisms in KD52, together with the identification of crucial genes, offers great prospects for enhancing the cold stress resilience of soybean.

Oxidative Processes and Xenobiotic Metabolism in Plants: Mechanisms of Defense and Potential Therapeutic Implications.

Plants are continuously exposed to environmental challenges, including pollutants, pesticides, and heavy metals, collectively termed xenobiotics. These substances induce oxidative stress by generating reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can damage cellular components such as lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. To counteract this, plants have evolved complex metabolic pathways to detoxify and process these harmful compounds. Oxidative stress in plants primarily arises from the overproduction of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), superoxide anions (O2•-), singlet oxygen (1O2), and hydroxyl radicals (•OH), by-products of metabolic activities such as photosynthesis and respiration. The presence of xenobiotics leads to a notable increase in ROS, which can result in cellular damage and metabolic disruption. To combat this, plants have developed a strong antioxidant defense mechanism that includes enzymatic antioxidants that work together to eliminate ROS, thereby reducing their harmful effects. In addition to enzymatic defenses, plants also synthesize various non-enzymatic antioxidants, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, and vitamins. These compounds effectively neutralize ROS and help regenerate other antioxidants, offering extensive protection against oxidative stress. The metabolism of xenobiotic substances in plants occurs in three stages: the first involves modification, which refers to the chemical alteration of xenobiotics to make them less harmful. The second involves conjugation, where the modified xenobiotics are combined with other substances to increase their solubility, facilitating their elimination from the plant. The third stage involves compartmentalization, which is the storage or isolation of conjugated xenobiotics in specific parts of the plant, helping to prevent damage to vital cellular functions. Secondary metabolites found in plants, such as alkaloids, terpenoids, and flavonoids, play a vital role in detoxification and the defense against oxidative stress. Gaining a deeper understanding of the oxidative mechanisms and the pathways of xenobiotic metabolism in plants is essential, as this knowledge can lead to the formulation of plant-derived strategies aimed at alleviating the effects of environmental pollution and enhancing human health by improving detoxification and antioxidant capabilities, as discussed in this review.

Thalassokratie, ein Leitprinzip byzantinischer Machtpolitik (6.–11. Jahrhundert)

Abstract For centuries the Byzantine empire was confronted not only with terrestrial attacks, but had to defend its territories also against enemies advancing from the sea. A central fleet with the dromon as standard type was created, based at Constantinople with its strong defences and excellent harbours, supported later by smaller provincial units. The present study depicts the development during the half millenium, when Byzantium ruled the seas (thalassocracy) and/or tried to defend its supremacy, especially against the Arabs. Due to the lack of further hostile challenge the whole system crumbled during the eleventh century and the imperial navy later on never regained its maritime strength. Especially Venice, a former outpost of Byzantium, filled the gap, successfully combining economic interests with naval strength.

Various plasmid strategies limit the effect of bacterial restriction-modification systems against conjugation.

In bacteria, genes conferring antibiotic resistance are mostly carried on conjugative plasmids, mobile genetic elements that spread horizontally between bacterial hosts. Bacteria carry defence systems that defend them against genetic parasites, but how effective these are against plasmid conjugation is poorly understood. Here, we study to what extent restriction-modification (RM) systems-by far the most prevalent bacterial defence systems-act as a barrier against plasmids. Using 10 different RM systems and 13 natural plasmids conferring antibiotic resistance in Escherichia coli, we uncovered variation in defence efficiency ranging from none to 105-fold protection. Further analysis revealed genetic features of plasmids that explain the observed variation in defence levels. First, the number of RM recognition sites present on the plasmids generally correlates with defence levels, with higher numbers of sites being associated with stronger defence. Second, some plasmids encode methylases that protect against restriction activity. Finally, we show that a high number of plasmids in our collection encode anti-restriction genes that provide protection against several types of RM systems. Overall, our results show that it is common for plasmids to encode anti-RM strategies, and that, as a consequence, RM systems form only a weak barrier for plasmid transfer by conjugation.

Applied Ethical and Explainable AI in Adversarial Deepfake Detection: From Theory to Real-World Systems

Deepfake technology is advancing by the minute. This gives rise to increased privacy, trust and security risks. Such technology can be used for malicious activities like manipulating public opinion and spreading misinformation using social media. Adversarial machine learning techniques seem to be a strong defense in detecting and flagging deepfake content. But the challenge with practical use of many deepfake detection models is that they operate as black-boxes with little transparency or accountability in their decisions. This paper proposes a framework and guidelines to integrate ethical AI and explainable AI (XAI) - specifically techniques like SHAP and LIME, to make deepfake detection systems more transparent and trustworthy. We will propose guidelines to incorporate techniques which will make deepfake detection systems more accountable and explainable such that they make deepfake detection systems seamlessly deployable in the real world.

Extensive Genomic Rearrangement of Catalase-Less Cyanobloom-Forming Microcystis aeruginosa in Freshwater Ecosystems.

Many of the world's freshwater ecosystems suffer from cyanobacteria-mediated blooms and their toxins. However, a mechanistic understanding of why and how Microcystis aeruginosa dominates over other freshwater cyanobacteria during warmer summers is lacking. This paper utilizes comparative genomics with other cyanobacteria and literature reviews to predict the gene functions and genomic architectures of M. aeruginosa based on complete genomes. The primary aim is to understand this species' survival and competitive strategies in warmer freshwater environments. M. aeruginosa strains exhibiting a high proportion of insertion sequences (~ 11%) possess genomic structures with low synteny across different strains. This indicates the occurrence of extensive genomic rearrangements and the presence of many possible diverse genotypes that result in greater population heterogeneities than those in other cyanobacteria in order to increase survivability during rapidly changing and threatening environmental challenges. Catalase-less M. aeruginosa strains are even vulnerable to low light intensity in freshwater environments with strong ultraviolet radiation. However, they can continuously grow with the help of various defense genes (e.g., egtBD, cruA, and mysABCD) and associated bacteria. The strong defense strategies against biological threats (e.g., antagonistic bacteria, protozoa, and cyanophages) are attributed to dense exopolysaccharide (EPS)-mediated aggregate formation with efficient buoyancy and the secondary metabolites of M. aeruginosa cells. Our review with extensive genome analysis suggests that the ecological vulnerability of M. aeruginosa cells can be overcome by diverse genotypes, secondary defense metabolites, reinforced EPS, and associated bacteria.

Optimization of the Deproteinization Process via Response Surface Methodology, Preliminary Characterization, and the Determination of the Antioxidant Activities of Polysaccharides from Vitis vinifera L. SuoSuo.

In this study, the response surface method (RSM) was used to optimize the deproteinization process of polysaccharides from Vitis vinifera L. SuoSuo (VTP). The antioxidant capacities of polysaccharides before and after deproteinization were evaluated. The structure of deproteinized VTP (DVTP), which has relatively strong antioxidant activity, was characterized, and the protective effect of DVTP on H2O2-induced HT22 cell damage was evaluated. The results of the RSM experiment revealed that the ideal parameters for deproteinization included a chloroform/n-butanol ratio (v/v) of 4.6:1, a polysaccharide/Sevage reagent (v/v) ratio of 2:1, a shaking time of 25 min, and five rounds of deproteinization. Preliminary characterization revealed that the DVTP was an acidic heteropolysaccharide composed of seven monosaccharides, among which the molar ratio of galacturonic acid was 40.65. FT-IR and the determination of uronic acid content revealed that DVTP contained abundant uronic acid and that the content was greater than that of VTP. In vitro, the antioxidant activity assay revealed that the hydroxyl radical scavenging capacity and total antioxidant capacity of DVTP were greater than those of VTP. In the range of 0.6~0.8 mg/mL, the DPPH scavenging capacities of VTP and DVTP were greater than that of vitamin C. In addition, cell viability was measured via a CCK-8 assay, which revealed that DVTP had a strong defense effect on H2O2-induced damage to HT22 cells. These findings suggest that DVTP has high antioxidant activity and could be used as a natural antioxidant in functional foods and medicines.

A Survey of AI Methods for Detection of DDoS Attacks on Networks

This survey explores various artificial intelligence (AI) methods for detecting Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks on networks. It classifies these approaches into machine learning, deep learning, and other AI-based techniques, providing a comprehensive overview of current advancements in the field. Numerous research studies in the field of machine learning have evaluated DDoS attack detection performance using various datasets and techniques. Some noteworthy results are the supremacy of the J48 algorithm in SDN networks and the efficacy of the AdaBoost and Gradient Boost classifiers. In other investigations, Random Forest, Support Vector Machine, and Naive Bayes also showed excellent accuracy rates, up to 99.7%. To improve DDoS detection, deep learning techniques introduced autoencoders, hybrid models, and recurrent neural networks. These models achieved accuracy rates as high as 99.99%, frequently outperforming more conventional machine learning techniques. Enhanced detection rates were achieved by the utilization of a varied dataset in conjunction with deep-stacked autoencoders. Artificial intelligence methods such as Fuzzy Logic, Artificial Bee Colony, Ant Colony Optimization, and Whale Optimization Algorithm were used to identify DDoS assaults. These methods demonstrated high accuracy rates, efficient detection of various attack types, and improvements in reducing false positives; the integration of these techniques into intrusion detection systems offers a strong defense against dynamic DDoS threats. The overall survey highlights the effectiveness of AI techniques in DDoS attack detection across various methodologies.

A novel RAV transcription factor from pear interacts with viral RNA-silencing suppressors to inhibit viral infection.

In plants, RNA silencing constitutes a strong defense against viral infection, which viruses counteract with RNA-silencing suppressors (RSSs). Understanding the interactions between viral RSSs and host factors is crucial for elucidating the molecular arms race between viruses and host plants. We report that the helicase motif (Hel) of the replicase encoded by apple stem grooving virus (ASGV)-the main virus affecting pear trees in China-is an RSS that can inhibit both local and systemic RNA silencing, possibly by binding double-stranded (ds) siRNA. The transcription factor related to ABSCISIC ACID INSENSITIVE3/VIVIPAROUS1 from pear (PbRAV1) enters the cytoplasm and binds Hel through its C terminus, thereby attenuating its RSS activity by reducing its binding affinity to 21- and 24-nt ds siRNA, and suppressing ASGV infection. PbRAV1 can also target p24, an RSS encoded by grapevine leafroll-associated virus 2 (GLRaV-2), with similar negative effects on p24's suppressive function and inhibition of GLRaV-2 infection. Moreover, like the positive role of the PbRAV1 homolog from grapevine (VvRAV1) in p24's previously reported RSS activity, ASGV Hel can also hijack VvRAV1 and employ the protein to sequester 21-nt ds siRNA, thereby enhancing its own RSS activity and promoting ASGV infection. Furthermore, PbRAV1 neither interacts with CP, an RSS encoded by grapevine inner necrosis virus, nor has any obvious effect on CP's RSS activity. Our results identify an RSS encoded by ASGV and demonstrate that PbRAV1, representing a novel type of RAV transcription factor, plays a defensive role against viral infection by targeting viral RSSs.

Mitigating GHG Emissions from Military Supply Chain by Use of Aerial Cable Way

The transportation sector being one of the significant contributors to greenhouse gas (GHG) emission, there is growing concerns about environmental sustainability, and reducing GHG emissions which has prompted re-evaluation of transportation systems. The 1.5 million strong Indian defence forces have huge transport fleet and this study delves into the potential of Aerial Cableway (ACW) as a promising alternative mode of transport that can significantly reduce emissions of military supply chain in mountainous terrain. The study takes a case of Himalayan terrain to investigate how ACWs offer a low-impact, energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly solution compared to conventional ground-based transportation. It takes a case of Pharkian Pass in North Kashmir where defence forces has presence and this pass is often exposed to frequent landslides, snowfall and avalanches. Every year, on an average, approximately 12,000 trucks cross Pharkian pass in a year for purpose of logistics and sustenance. Without touching sensitive issues and by using a multi-criteria-based cost-benefit analysis, the study establishes that even if 75 % of road transport trips are shifted to ACWs, the reduction of GHG emissions is by 57.7 % in addition to significant benefits of the social cost of carbon, environmental costs, economic savings and ensuring strategic advantage like all-weather connectivity.