Sufficient Protection Research Articles

Ultrasound and single-port laparoscopic-guided microwave ablation of abdominal wall endometriosis lesions: Asingle-center observational study.

Raising the temperature of abdominal wall endometriosis lesions contributes to an effective ablation; however, providing sufficient protection to the surrounding tissues remains a challenge. In this study, we aimed to combine ultrasound and single-port laparoscopic images to not only achieve complete ablation of abdominal wall endometriosis lesions but also protect surrounding tissues from damage. The adverse events and complications were Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events grade 1 or Society of Interventional Radiology classification grade A. This historical study included 30 patients with abdominal wall endometriosis who underwent ultrasound and single-port laparoscopic-guided microwave ablation at the Ultrasonography and Gynecology Department of the Wuhan Central Hospital between October 2017 and February 2022. Ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging were used to evaluate the number, size, and depth of the lesions. Pain levels were assessed using a visual analog scale. Subsequently, ultrasound and single-port laparoscopic-guided microwave ablation of the lesions was performed, and patients were followed up to monitor the lesion volume and pain. One patient experienced an intra-abdominal wall burn that was detected by single-port laparoscopy, and ablation was stopped immediately. No other complications were recorded. Following surgery, the lesion volume decreased and was lower than the preoperative lesion volume at 1 year postoperatively (1.6 ± 1.3 vs. 4.0 ± 3.6 cm3; p < 0.05). Visual analog scale scores revealed that, compared with preoperative levels, pain was reduced significantly at all postoperative time points (p < 0.01). The recurrence rate was 16.7% (5/30). The addition of single-port laparoscopy to ultrasound-guided microwave ablation may allow greater protection of the surrounding tissues, particularly in cases involving deep lesions, and may, therefore, represent a promising clinical treatment strategy.

Enhancing colour image encryption through parameters optimization of memristive hyperchaotic system with CPSO algorithm and LSAIM

ABSTRACT Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) is a simple and effective algorithm for optimization. However, it often converges too early and depends heavily on proper parameter settings for good results, especially in complex or high-dimensional search spaces. Therefore, this algorithm is inappropriate for parameter optimization of hyperchaotic systems and may not provide sufficient robustness and security of colour images. This study presents a new colour image encryption based on optimizing a four-dimensional Memristor-based hyperchaotic system, in which the fourteen parameters of the hyperchaotic system are optimized by the Chaotic Particle Swarm Optimization (CPSO) method, in combination with DNA code and a new logistic sine adjusted integrated map (LSAIM). Simulation results have shown that the algorithm achieved a key space of up to 21116, providing sufficient protection against brute-force attacks, with entropy values close to the ideal (7.9994), NPCR of 99.6178%, and UACI of 33.965%, indicating robust security.

Impact of mild hypothermic circulatory arrest on surgical outcomes in acute type a aortic dissection patients: a single-centre study

BackgroundAs hypothermic circulatory arrest (HCA) is being more frequently induced in patients undergoing aortic arch surgery, its safety at different degrees has become a crucial area of study. The aim of this study was to assess the surgical outcomes of mild hypothermic circulatory arrest (MI-HCA) during aortic arch surgery.MethodsAcute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) patients who underwent total arch replacement (TAR) and frozen elephant trunk (FET) surgery between January 2014 and December 2023 were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided into two groups according to the minimum nasopharyngeal temperature: the moderate hypothermic circulatory arrest (MHCA) group (20–28 °C) and the MI-HCA group (> 28 °C). The inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was used to balance differences in the baseline characteristics. Perioperative variables were analysed via pairwise comparisons, multivariable logistic regression, and subgroup forest plots to assess the impact of MI-HCA on surgical outcomes.ResultsA total of 447 patients were included in this study, and the mean minimum nasopharyngeal temperature was 24.80 (23.98, 27.30) °C in the MHCA group and 30.10 (29.80, 30.70) °C in the MI-HCA group. The incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) in the MI-HCA group was lower than that in the MHCA group (52% vs. 78%, p < 0.01). In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, MI-HCA was identified as an independent protective factor for AKI (OR = 0.354, 95% CI 0.177–0.689; p = 0.003). Additionally, compared with MHCA, MI-HCA was not associated with an increased incidence of stroke, spinal cord injury, or in-hospital mortality. After IPTW, the preoperative and intraoperative data of the patients were balanced, and the incidence of AKI in the MI-HCA group was still lower than that in the MHCA group (83.26% vs. 53.61%, p = 0.004). The subgroup forest plot also demonstrated that MI-HCA was a protective factor for postoperative AKI.ConclusionsThe surgical outcomes of MI-HCA in ATAAD patients were satisfactory. Compared with MHCA, MI-HCA provided sufficient protection for distal organs, the brain, and the spinal cord, with a significantly lower incidence of AKI. These results indicate that MI-HCA could be a better approach for ATAAD surgery.

Evaluation of UV-A and UV-B transmission through the windows of gas, hybrid, and electric vehicles

UV-A exposure is a major risk factor for melanoma, nonmelanoma skin cancer, photoaging, and exacerbation of photodermatoses. Since people spend considerable time in cars daily, inadequate UV-A attenuation by car windows can significantly contribute to the onset or exacerbation of these skin diseases. Given recent market trends in the automobile industry and known impact of car windows on cumulative lifelong UV damage to the skin, there is a need to comparatively evaluate UV transmission across windows in electric vehicles (EV), hybrid vehicles (HV), and gas vehicles (GV) as well as variability based on year of manufacture and mileage to inform car manufacturers and consumers of the potential for UV exposure to the skin based on vehicle. To compare UV-A and UV-B transmission through EV, HV, and GV windows to evaluate differences in UV protection offered by various vehicle types. Comparative observational study that took place between June 10, 2024 and August 2, 2024. Outdoor setting with natural light exposure at car dealerships in Philadelphia, PA and New York, NY. 34 vehicles—15 gas vehicles (GV), 9 hybrid vehicles (HV), 10 electric vehicles (EV)—ranging from 2015 to 2025. Window status, with UV transmission measurements recorded with windows open and closed. UV-A and UV-B transmission through car windows was measured using UV transmission meters. The percent reduction in transmission was calculated. The front windshield and driver side window have statistically significant differences in UV-A attenuation across all vehicles with an average of 99.25% and 88.78% (p < 0.001), respectively. GV, HV, and EV all demonstrated significant differences in UV-A attenuation in most other vehicle windows compared to the front windshield. For GV, the front windshield, rear side windows (p = .176, p = .578) and back windshield (p = .457) blocked more UV-A than the front side windows. EV offered greater UV-A attenuation at the front and back windshield (p = .09) but not for any side windows, and HVs showed consistent differences in UV-A protection between the front windshield and all other windows. Domestic GV, trucks and luxury vehicles had no significant differences in UV-A attenuation across windows indicating reduced UV-A exposure for driver and passengers, whereas non-luxury vehicles had a notable difference in UV-A protection between the front windshield and all other windows. Regression analysis found mileage, not year of manufacture, to be a significant predictor of driver’s side UV-A attenuation, with more UV-A attenuation as vehicle mileage increases. Most vehicles evaluated offer effective UV-A and UV-B protection from the front windshield but lack sufficient UV-A protection for drivers nor consistently to other passengers with notable exceptions seen with domestic GV, trucks, and luxury vehicles. Mileage and not year of manufacture also contributed to additional UV-A attenuation. This underscores the importance of patient education on this known source for cumulative lifetime UV exposure and need for continued sun safety measures even while driving given potential UV-A impact on the skin.

An insight from machine learning perspective for COVID-19 survival prediction in Malaysia based on demographic factor

Malaysia reported its first imported COVID-19 case on 23 January 2020, which marked the country’s first confirmed positive case. The first case in Malaysia was from eight close contacts in Johor. The global health landscape has been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with mortality or survival being critical outcomes of interest. This study aims to predict COVID-19 survival occurrences in Malaysia by utilizing machine learning approaches based on demographic factors. The dataset used in this study comprises demographic information of 2,151,315 COVID-19 patients, including nationality, regions, age groups, gender, medical history, vaccine brands, and the number of vaccine doses received between 2020 and 2022. Four machine learning algorithms, namely Logistic Regression, Naïve Bayes, Support Vector Machine, and Artificial Neural Network were employed to assess the relationship between demographic factors and COVID-19 survival. To evaluate the model performance, the datasets are categorized into imbalanced and balanced (down-sampling). The results indicate that the balanced dataset (down-sampling) outperforms the imbalanced dataset in terms of overall accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, precision, and Area Under the Curve (AUC). Based on the analysis, the Artificial Neural Network (ANN) classifier exhibited the highest performance with a specificity 95.2% on a balanced dataset. The model excels in accurately identifying survivors, thereby minimizing false mortality predictions and is selected as the best model for predicting COVID-19 survival. Its capacity to process larger sample sizes, combined with numerous interconnected nodes, enables it to identify complex patterns and extract meaningful insights from diverse datasets, such as demographic factors. Additionally, the optimization of parameters, including the number of layers, learning rate, and activation functions, significantly contributed to its superior accuracy. The study identifies that those of chronic diseases, male, and aged 45 and above as the notable factors associated with lower survival rates among COVID-19 patients. The findings underscore the importance of completing the vaccination series by obtaining at least the second dose, as the first dose alone may not offer sufficient protection. In conclusion, this study successfully achieves its objectives by identifying the optimal dataset configuration and predictive model for forecasting COVID-19 survival based on demographic factors. This network could serve as a benchmark model classifier, offering a valuable tool to predict and promote vaccinations, as well as optimize the general healthcare system during the pandemic outbreak. The study not only contributes to the theoretical understanding of effective COVID-19 prediction but also emphasizes the practical implications of integrating advanced machine learning techniques into pandemic management strategies. Future research can build upon these findings by exploring additional machine learning techniques and considering geographical and environmental factors to further enhance the accuracy of long-term predictions.

On Loopy Belief Propagation for SASCAs

Profiled power analysis is one of the most powerful forms of passive side-channel attacks. Over the last two decades, many works have analyzed their impact on cryptographic implementations as well as corresponding countermeasure techniques. To date, the most advanced variants of profiled power analysis are based on Soft-analytical Side-Channel Attacks (SASCA). After the initial profiling phase, a SASCA adversary creates a probabilistic graphical model, called a factor graph, of the target implementation and encodes the results of the previous step as prior information. Then, an inference algorithm such as loopy Belief Propagation (BP) can be used to recover the distribution of a target variable in the graph, i.e., sensitive data/keys. Designers of cryptographic implementations aim to reduce information leakage as much as possible and assess how much leakage can be allowed without compromising security requirements. Despite the existence of many works on profiled power analysis, it is still notoriously difficult to state under which conditions a cryptographic implementation provides sufficient protection against a profiling attacker with certain capabilities. In particular, it is unknown when a BP-based attack is optimal or whether tuning some heuristics in that algorithm may significant strengthen the attack. This knowledge gap led us to investigate the effectiveness of BP for SASCAs by studying the modes of failures of BP in the context of the SASCA, and systematically analyzing the behavior of BP on practically-relevant factor graphs. We use exact inference to gauge the quality of the approximation provided by BP. Through this assessment, we show that there exists a significant disparity between BP and exact inference in terms of guessing entropy when performing SASCAs on several classes of factor graphs. We further review and analyze various BP improvement heuristics from the literature.

Simultaneous Blockade of CD209 and CD209L by Monoclonal Antibody Does Not Provide Sufficient Protection Against Multiple Viral Infections InVivo.

Many virus species, including Ebola virus, Marburg virus, SARS-CoV-2, dengue virus (DENV) and Zika virus (ZIKV), exploit CD209 and CD209L as alternative or attachment receptors for viral cis- or trans-infection. Thus, CD209 and CD209L may be critical targets for the development of therapeutic monoclonal blocking antibody drugs to disrupt the infection process caused by multiple viruses. Here, we produced a human chimeric monoclonal blocking antibody that simultaneously blocks CD209 and CD209L, namely 7-H7-B1. We show that 7-H7-B1 effectively blocks multiple pseudotyped or live viral infections invitro, including SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, Ebola virus, Marburg virus, ZIKV and DENV infections. However, the 7-H7-B1 mAb does not provide favourable protection against Zaire Ebola virus or ZIKV infection in hCD209 knock-in mice invivo. Thus, our findings indicate that although CD209 and CD209L are critical for multiple viral infections invitro, they may play only a partial role in viral infections invivo.

Long-Lasting Protection and Dose Optimization of MPXV Polyvalent Mpox mRNA Vaccines Against Lethal Vaccinia Virus Challenge in Mice.

The outbreak of clade II monkeypox virus (MPXV) and the additional outbreak in Central Africa of clade I virus from 2023 have attracted worldwide attention. The development of a scalable and effective vaccine against the ongoing epidemic of mpox is urgently needed. We previously constructed two bivalent MPXV mRNA vaccines, LBA (B6R-A29L) and LAM (A35R-M1R), and a quadrivalent mRNA vaccine, LBAAM (B6R-A35R-A29L-M1R). These vaccines at a 20 µg dose could induce potential MPXV antigen-specific immune responses and provide protection against lethal VACV challenge. Compared with the individual bivalent mRNA vaccines, the two quadrivalent vaccines LBAAM and LBA& LAM displayed superior protective effects. To characterize these vaccines further, we monitored long-term immunity and protection as long as 28 weeks after initial immunization and optimized the immunization dosages to decrease the cost of production for future clinical use. Our results demonstrated that both the bivalent MPXV mRNA vaccine LAM (A35R-M1R) and the two tetravalent vaccines LBAAM and LBA& LAM could elicit long-lasting antigen-specific IgG antibodies as well as neutralizing antibodies against VACV and MPXV. They all provided complete protection against VACV challenge until 28 weeks post prime immunization. Moreover, the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of the two tetravalent vaccines (LBAAM and LBA& LAM) are dose dependent, and even the low-dose (1 µg) vaccine could provide sufficient protection against lethal VACV challenge. These results provide valuable clues for the further production of MPXV mRNA vaccines for use in humans.

In silico design of multi-epitope vaccine candidate based on structural proteins of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is one of the most common respiratory disease-causing viral agents. Swine infected with PRRSV exhibit severe respiratory symptoms and reproductive failure, leading to significant economic losses. To address this issue, inactivated and live-attenuated vaccines have been developed. However, the current commercially available PRRSV vaccines do not confer sufficient protection or have safety issues. The use of epitope-based subunit vaccines reduce safety risks by including only specific immunogenic portions of the antigens. To enhance immune protection, this study targeted multiple structural proteins of PRRSV, including GP2, GP3, GP4, GP5, membrane (M), envelope (E), GP5a, and nucleocapsid (N), to enable the discovery of novel epitopes. Thus, a reverse vaccinology approach was utilized to design a multi-epitope subunit vaccine construct against PRRSV. Using different tools, seven linear B cell, seven cytotoxic T cell, and three helper T cell epitopes were predicted to be safe, antigenic, and immunogenic. These epitopes were linked together, and a protein adjuvant, heparin-binding hemagglutinin, was added to increase the vaccine's immunogenicity. The construct was then docked to Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) to assess its ability to initiate the innate immune response. The final vaccine construct was determined to be antigenic, stable, non-allergenic, and soluble. Furthermore, the vaccine demonstrated stable binding to TLR4 based on coarse-grained and atomistic molecular dynamics simulations. Finally, the immune simulation of the vaccine construct showed a robust immune response against PRRSV. In this study, a candidate vaccine construct was successfully designed as a potential strategy against PRRSV.

Proposal to Reclassify SCCPs Under International Regulations on Ship Recycling to Enhance Environmental and Human Health Protection

Short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) are ubiquitous environmental pollutants that have been detected in various human tissues and organs. Based on the results of numerous studies indicating that exposure to environmentally relevant doses could induce harm to humans and animals, they have been listed in Annex A (Elimination) of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. They are also listed as hazardous materials likely to lead to significant adverse effects on human health or the environment by the International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (Hong Kong Convention) and the EU Ship Recycling Regulation (EU SRR). This paper analyzes recent literature on the environmental and human health impacts of SCCPs and the actual practice of shipbreaking to demonstrate that the current treatment of SCCPs under these two regulations does not provide sufficient protection for human health and the environment. Based on the presented data, it is proposed that SCCPs should be reclassified as materials whose installation or use is prohibited in shipyards, ship repair yards, and ships by the EU SRR and the Hong Kong Convention.

Impact of Convulsive Maternal Seizures on Fetus Dynamics.

The study findings demonstrate that the amniotic fluid plays an important role in protecting the fetus during convulsive maternal seizures. The amniotic fluid was found to be an effective buffer, significantly reducing the transfer of kinetic energy to the fetus during these events. This highlights the sufficient protection provided by the amniotic fluid in such circumstances. The research was conducted using a model that simulates the complex interactions between a pregnant woman's anatomy, the uterus, and the fetus immersed in amniotic fluid. Key parameters such as speed, acceleration, and Euler angles were captured using sensors and used as input for the computational model in the simulations. The results showed that during an oscillatory movement, which is characteristic of a maternal seizure, the fetus and placenta exhibit variable kinematics relative to the uterus. Despite these variations, the amniotic fluid was found to be a significant protective buffer. The discovery of the protective role of the amniotic fluid during maternal seizures provides valuable insights for obstetricians. It can help in managing patient care during such pregnancy complications, emphasizing the importance of the amniotic fluid in fetal protection.

A Review of MRI Acoustic Noise Outputs and Hearing Protection Device Performance.

The acoustic noise outputs of MR equipment typically require a hearing protection device (HPD) to minimize the likelihood of patient hearing loss. Several different ways to quantify HPD performance have been developed and adopted over many years in different countries across the world (eg, NRR, SNR, SLC80). These HPD evaluations are done in controlled laboratory conditions, following different standardized methodologies, producing different performance ratings for the same HPD, and consequently of a variable relationship with achieved real-world usage performance assessments. Conversely, the MR manufacturers follow one standard (NEMA MS-4) which strives to produce a worst-case peak and average acoustic noise output measurement. Measuring the acoustic output of MR equipment is a complex undertaking in the confined patient space, especially when considering the variability of what is in the patient imaging space. Given both the MR equipment acoustic output measurements and the HPD performance rating, it is theoretically possible to estimate the worst-case patient exposure level, subject to the uncertainty of how successfully the protection was applied and population variability. An assessment, shown here, suggests that the worst-case outputs from the loudest MR equipment requires the best passive HPD performance presently available in order to meet patient protection guidelines, but only when the HPD is properly deployed. However, when considering government agency derating recommendations that estimate protection achieved during practical application, the various metrics are not consistent in confirming that the best HPD provide sufficient protection. This paper reviews the challenges of determining and providing sufficient hearing protection. The correct deployment of HPD, and its verification, is thus a critical factor in ensuring adequate patient protection and the main concern of this review. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 5 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 5.

Democracia global y Estados no representativos

Abstract Can the current international system provide sufficient protection for individual freedom in a globalized world? This article aims to show that only a legitimate international system could offer such protection. However, the current international system lacks legitimacy because it is composed of a large number of non-representative states that dominate their people. Consequently, this paper analyzes the possibility of international interventions as a means to transform non-democratic states into democratic ones, based on the distinction between dominating and non-dominating interventions, according to whether the freedom as status is compromised, and in turn between interventions that strengthen and weaken global democracy.

Phylogenetic analysis reveals genetic characteristics of orf virus F1L and B2L genes in the Fujian province.

This study investigates the molecular epidemiology of orf virus (ORFV) in the Fujian province in 2024, with the goal of gaining insights that can enhance disease prevention and control strategies. This experimental study was conducted from January 2024 through March 2024. The samples, showing suspected orf lesions, tested positive for ORFV via PCR. The ORFV059 (F1L) and ORFV011 (B2L) genes from these samples were cloned and sequenced. Analysis identified 3 ORFV strains: FJ-2401, FJ-2402, and FJ-2403. For the F1L gene, nucleotide sequence identity ranged from 95.7% to 99.6%, and amino acid identity ranged from 95.0% to 99.7% compared to the reference strain. These strains were closely related to others from Fujian, Guangzhou, and India but differed from the NZ2 reference strain, the German D1701 weak strain, and Chinese vaccine strains, which were in separate branches. For the B2L gene, nucleotide identity ranged from 97.4% to 99.6%, and amino acid identity ranged from 97.1% to 100%. Evolutionary analysis indicated potential recombination events with strains from Fujian, Jilin, and India. The B2L gene showed distinct branching from the German D1701 weak strain, Fujian GO strain, and Chinese vaccine strains, suggesting that current vaccines might be inadequate. Viruses are constantly evolving, and currently available commercial vaccines may not provide sufficient protection against emerging ORFV strains. This underscores the urgent need for updated vaccines and improved management strategies. The study reveals significant genetic diversity and potential recombination in ORFV strains in Fujian, highlighting their divergence from known references.

Design of Mechanics-Guided Helmet Pad and Its Protection Performance Against the Blast Shock Waves.

The blast shock waves generated by the explosion are severe threat to soldiers on the battlefield, while the helmets currently equipped for the soldiers cannot offer sufficient blast protection. Some helmet pads have been developed to improve the protection performance of the combat helmets against shock waves. However, it remains unclear how to design the helmet pads to protect the head more effectively against blast shock waves. This study aims to design a new mechanics-guided helmet pad and evaluate its protection performance by numerical simulations. The design of the new helmet pad is guided by the oblique reflection theory (ORT), and the advanced combat helmet (ACH) pad is applied for comparison. The protection performance of the pads against blast waves from two directions (frontal and lateral) was investigated. The differences in the distributions of overpressure inside the helmet using two types of pads were analyzed, and the intracranial pressure (ICP) of head was compared. The ORT-guided pads can reduce the overpressure inside the helmet, minimizing the possibility of blast-induced traumatic brain injury. Furthermore, the underwash phenomenon can also be controlled when the new pads are applied. The results in this study provide an important theoretical basis and some guidelines on the design of helmet pads for the protection of human brain from blast shock waves.

A Synthetic Oligosaccharide Resembling Francisella tularensis Strain 15 O-Antigen Capsular Polysaccharide as a Lead for Tularemia Diagnostics and Therapeutics.

Francisella tularensis, a category A bioterrorism agent, causes tularemia in many animal species. F. tularensis subspecies tularensis (type A) and holarctica (type B) are mainly responsible for human tularemia. The high mortality rate of 30-60 % caused by F. tularensis subspecies tularensis if left untreated and the aerosol dispersal renders this pathogen a dangerous bioagent. While a live attenuated vaccine strain (LVS) of F. tularensis type B does not provide sufficient protection against all forms of tularemia infections, a significant level of protection against F. tularensis has been observed for both passive and active immunization of mice with isolated O-antigen capsular polysaccharide. Well-defined, synthetic oligosaccharides offer an alternative approach towards the development of glycoconjugate vaccines. To identify diagnostics and therapeutics leads against tularemia, a collection of F. tularensis strain 15 O-antigen capsular polysaccharide epitopes were chemically synthesized. Glycan microarrays containing synthetic glycans were used to analyze the sera of tularemia-infected and non-infected animals and revealed the presence of IgG antibodies against the glycans. Two disaccharide (13 and 18), both bearing a unique formamido moiety, were identified as minimal glycan epitopes for antibody binding. These epitopes are the starting point for the development of diagnostics and therapeutics against tularemia.

Efektivitas Pemberian Jaminan Sosial kepada Pegawai

Social security plays an essential role in human resource (HR) management, particularly in improving employee welfare, as employees are key assets in any organization. This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of implementing the social security program at PT. Bank Sumut KCP Lahewa, North Nias Regency, and its impact on employees. A qualitative method was used, with interviews conducted to gain employees' views on the program's benefits. The results show that the program has been implemented effectively. Employees feel their well-being is supported through two health insurance options, Mandiri Inhealth and BPJS, which offer sufficient protection. This program enhances employees' sense of security and comfort, positively influencing their motivation and productivity. However, there are technical issues in the claims process that require further assessment. The study recommends that the company improve social security outreach, streamline the claims process, and consider additional relevant coverage options. Thus, social security is expected to further support employee welfare and foster a more productive work environment.

A Synthetic Oligosaccharide Resembling Francisella tularensis Strain 15 O‐Antigen Capsular Polysaccharide as a Lead for Tularemia Diagnostics and Therapeutics

AbstractFrancisella tularensis, a category A bioterrorism agent, causes tularemia in many animal species. F. tularensis subspecies tularensis (type A) and holarctica (type B) are mainly responsible for human tularemia. The high mortality rate of 30–60 % caused by F. tularensis subspecies tularensis if left untreated and the aerosol dispersal renders this pathogen a dangerous bioagent. While a live attenuated vaccine strain (LVS) of F. tularensis type B does not provide sufficient protection against all forms of tularemia infections, a significant level of protection against F. tularensis has been observed for both passive and active immunization of mice with isolated O‐antigen capsular polysaccharide. Well‐defined, synthetic oligosaccharides offer an alternative approach towards the development of glycoconjugate vaccines. To identify diagnostics and therapeutics leads against tularemia, a collection of F. tularensis strain 15 O‐antigen capsular polysaccharide epitopes were chemically synthesized. Glycan microarrays containing synthetic glycans were used to analyze the sera of tularemia‐infected and non‐infected animals and revealed the presence of IgG antibodies against the glycans. Two disaccharide (13 and 18), both bearing a unique formamido moiety, were identified as minimal glycan epitopes for antibody binding. These epitopes are the starting point for the development of diagnostics and therapeutics against tularemia.

Protection of Women’s Rights in Workplace Sexual Harassment

In contemporary society, the impact of workplace sexual harassment on women is increasingly drawing attention. This paper, focusing on the study of workplace sexual harassment issues in China, aims to explore the current state of legal protections for women and the corresponding measures. The study utilizes regulative analysis and case study methods to examine the drawbacks and limitations of the legal framework in practical application, revealing deficiencies in safeguarding women’s rights. The research finds that despite some legislation in China specifying the legal consequences of sexual harassment, the legislation lacks specificity and sufficient protection for women in its implementation. Therefore, this paper aims to provide theoretical support and policy recommendations to enhance the legal framework for preventing and addressing workplace sexual harassment, thereby promoting gender equality and a healthier workplace environment.

The Residual Activity of Fatty Acyl-CoA Reductase Underlies Thermo-Sensitive Genic Male Sterility in Rice.

Photoperiod/thermo-sensitive genic male sterility (P/TGMS) is critical for rice two-line hybrid system. Previous studies showed that slow development of pollen is a general mechanism for sterility-to-fertility conversion of TGMS in Arabidopsis. However, whether this mechanism still exists in rice is unknown. Here, we identified a novel rice TGMS line, ostms16, which exhibits abnormal pollen exine under high temperature and fertility restoration under low temperature. In mutant, a single base mutation of OsTMS16, a fatty acyl-CoA reductase (FAR), reduced its enzyme activity, leading to defective pollen wall. Under high temperature, the mOsTMS16M549I couldn't provide sufficient protection for the microspores. Under low temperature, the enzyme activity of mOsTMS16M549I is closer to that of OsTMS16, so that the imperfect exine could still protect microspore development. These results indicated whether the residual enzyme activity in mutant could meet the requirement in different temperature is a determinant factor for fertility conversion of P/TGMS lines. Additionally, we previously found that res2, the mutant of a polygalacturonase for tetrad pectin wall degradation, restored multiple TGMS lines in Arabidopsis. In this study, we proved that the osres2 in rice restored the fertility of ostms16, indicating the slow development is also suitable for the fertility restoration in rice.