Universal Protection Research Articles

Operationalizing strategies for expanding UHC for the vulnerable population in Nigeria

People living in vulnerable conditions have often been neglected or have a low coverage in health insurance which exacerbate poverty, vulnerability and social exclusion. This necessitates building and implementing insurance coverage that fully integrates social protection systems and community-based social care that prioritise the needs of the most vulnerable. To that end, we propose a decentralized system of sustainable financing and management of the vulnerable group fund that is performance driven with multi-stakeholder accountability systems premised on integrated data management. Integrating these elements will ensure that some of the existing gaps in the basic healthcare provision fund implementation in Nigeria are addressed with the following fundamental building blocks for the vulnerable group fund. These recommendations will help governments, resource partners and relevant stakeholders to consider in formulating strategies for operationalizing the vulnerable group funds and decreasing health inequalities among the population. In addition to implementation of this to accelerate universal health coverage and social protection, this will help to mitigate the currents challenges that exacerbate the inequality gaps, and build more resilient health and social protection systems, including the systems within humanitarian crises settings.

Extending coverage to migrant workers to advance universal social protection

AbstractMigration is a complex phenomenon that has significant implications for migrant workers’ access to social protection and for social security systems in both origin and destination countries. As the number of migrants continues to rise worldwide, policy makers face a multitude of challenges in adapting social protection programmes to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse population. This article explores the relationship between migration and social protection, highlighting key issues and trends that have emerged in recent years. It examines the impact of migration on social security systems in both sending and receiving countries and reports on the ways in which migration patterns can create both opportunities and challenges for these systems. The article provides an overview of social protection measures and gaps in selected countries and considers the need for policy makers to take account of the unique needs and circumstances of migrant populations. The article also explores the role of international cooperation in addressing the social protection challenges and opportunities posed by migration. It considers some of the emerging trends and innovations to support the governance of social protection schemes that may help to address some of the legal and practical challenges faced by migrant workers and social security institutions. The article highlights the importance of understanding the complex relationship between migration and social protection to develop policies and programmes that are responsive to the needs of all members of society, regardless of their country of origin or immigration status. It also underlines the importance of quality administration and good governance for the effective implementation of social protection measures. In support of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals agenda, a call is made for continued dialogue and collaboration among policy makers and stakeholders to ensure that social security systems are equitable, effective, inclusive, and sustainable in an increasingly globalized world.

Towards the dream of universal social protection: lessons from Pakistan's Ehsaas

Towards the dream of universal social protection: lessons from Pakistan's Ehsaas

Global Legal Contexts for the Protection of Human Rights: A Comparative Analysis

Objective: Human rights protection in today's globalized world necessitates familiarity with a wide range of legal systems. Human rights protection laws all throughout the world are compared and contrasted in this research. While human rights apply to every nation, they are complicated and are often codified in diverse ways. The research presented here emphasizes the need for a comprehensive understanding of these distinctions to ensure the survival of human rights and nature rights, human dignity, and justice. There are several obstacles to overcome when negotiating these legal terrains. Challenges arise from factors including divergent meanings, incomplete plans, cultural differences, and the ever-changing digital landscape.
 
 Method: The present research proposes a Synthesized Cultural Legal Frameworks (SCLF) for Universal Human Rights Protection as a means to provide universal human rights protection. This method is an attempt to recognize cultural differences while still achieving a worldwide approach to protecting human rights through a harmonized interpretation of the law.
 
 Result: This research has implications for policymakers, diplomats, lawyers, and activist organizations. This in-depth examination aids in gaining a better understanding of the intricate worldwide legal framework underlying environment and human rights.
 
 Conclusion: The research makes projections about the future of international collaboration, the success of legal harmonization initiatives, and global human rights results by modelling hypothetical situations based on possible legal harmonization efforts. Strategic planning and well-considered decision-making benefit from this dynamic method. The simulation analysis is based on the societal and economic effects and the efforts to harmonize the law.

The social protection of children and youth in Colombia: interpretive review

Introduction: The rights of social protection policies for children and youth need to be discussed for their strengthening to guarantee universality or to create new forms of that policies. Method: Documentary review supported by content analysis techniques and interpretive analysis of four social protection systems for children and youth: integral social security, family subsidy, social assistance, and the national system of family welfare. For the analysis, theoretical-political references to universal social protection and the doctrine of the protection of the rights of children and young people were considered. Results: The social protection systems analyzed are described in terms of implementation mechanisms, participation of children and youth criteria, financing, and rectory. The life course approach and its universality, institutional appropriation, and participation of children and young people were discussed. Conclusion: The social protection systems analyzed show social protection strategies for children and young people within the framework of the Social Constitutional State, but they are implemented through welfare, compensatory and targeted policies that contrast the perspectives of needs with that of the protection of children’s rights, and provide insufficient support for the principles of equality, participation, and universality.

Radiological risk assessment method for the interim storage of radioactive materials

Safe storage of radioactive materials is based on three universal radiation protection principles. Justification, optimization and dose limits are applicable to the risk assessment, acknowledging the hazards in each procedure of delivery, usage, storage and disposal of radioactive materials. Failure Modes and Effects Analysis method (FMEA) is developed for the risk evaluation of common practices. In this work FMEA is exploited for the radiological risk assessment in practices using radioactive materials. In addition, the radiological hazard of fire is studied, in order to classify its severity for different examples of radioactive materials inventories. The severity of the hazard, the likelihood and the detectability of its occurrence are exploited for classifying the associated risk. Appropriate measures that should be taken for the emergency preparedness and response are taken into account in order to reduce the Risk Priority Number (RPN). Scenarios of external exposure, skin contamination and inhalation are investigated, in order to calculate the received doses, for workers and members of the public. The outcomes of the analysis indicate low or medium severity of the risks for most of the examined practices, especially under the implementation of the appropriate measures, like: controlled access of the facilities, records keeping for delivery, usage, storage and disposal of radioactive materials; presence of fire detectors and extinguishers; and removal of flammable materials from the vicinity of the radioactive materials.

Tribocatalytically-active nickel/cobalt phosphorous films for universal protection in a hydrocarbon-rich environment

High-contact stresses generated at the sliding interfaces during their relative movement provide a unique combination of local heating and shear- and load-induced compression conditions. These conditions, when involving the sliding of surfaces with certain material characteristics, may facilitate tribochemical reactions with the environment, leading to the formation of a protective, damage-suppressing tribofilm directly at the contact. Here, we employ the electrodeposition process to design a coating composed of a hard cobalt-phosphorous matrix with the inclusion of tribocatalytically-active nickel clusters. The coating is optimized in terms of its relative composition and mechanical characteristics. We demonstrate the excellent tribological performance of the coating in the presence of a hydrocarbon environment, both in the form of a liquid lubricant and as a hydrocarbon-saturated vapor. Characterization of the wear track indicates that the origin of such performance lies in the formation of a protective carbon-based tribofilm on the surface of the coating during sliding. These results contribute to the advancement of knowledge on material transformations in the contact, thus providing a robust and versatile approach to addressing tribological challenges in mechanical systems.

The Optional Protocol to the icescr, Homelessness and Moral Hazard: The Alternative Adequate Housing Requirement in the cescr’s Jurisprudence – an Incentive Not to Pay for Housing?

Abstract Over 75 per cent of the jurisprudence under the op-icescr deals with the right to housing as laid down in Article 11 of the icescr. States parties should provide adequate alternative housing after evictions. However, this far-reaching requirement may lead to moral hazard. The study presents a new understanding of the adverse effects of extensive protection, such as universal eviction protection, which may cause strategic defaults. The study suggests that a restrictive and reasonable interpretation of Article 11 icescr may reduce the incentive for defaults but may not prevent land-grabbing or squatting.

Informal Worker Access to Formal Social Protection in Sub-Saharan Africa: Evidence from Kenya and Tanzania

Based on a combination of detailed survey data and in-depth interviews with informal workers in the construction, micro-trade, and transport sectors in urban areas of Kenya and Tanzania, this article explores the extent to which informal worker associations facilitate member access to formal social insurance schemes. The article provides unique insight into what characterises informal workers, and the circumstances under which associations may ensure social protection for their members. The analysis shows that members of informal worker associations are significantly more likely to participate in formal insurance schemes compared with non-members, albeit with some variation across location, sector, and worker types. These divergences relate partly to sector-specific and institutional constellations, as well as the ways in which informal worker associations function. Moreover, the article shows that informal worker associations often play a dual role by providing both direct short-term social cushioning and enabling enrolment in formal social insurance schemes. Their part in ensuring the achievement of universal social protection must therefore not be underestimated.

Highly Cross-Reactive and Protective Influenza A Virus H3N2 Hemagglutinin- and Neuraminidase-Specific Human Monoclonal Antibodies.

Due to antigenic drift and shift of influenza A viruses (IAV) and the tendency to elicit predominantly strain-specific antibodies, humanity remains susceptible to new strains of seasonal IAV and is at risk from viruses with pandemic potential for which limited or no immunity may exist. The genetic drift of H3N2 IAV is specifically pronounced, resulting in two distinct clades since 2014. Here, we demonstrate that immunization with a seasonal inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) results in increased levels of H3N2 IAV-specific serum antibodies against hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). Detailed analysis of the H3N2 B cell response indicated expansion of H3N2-specific peripheral blood plasmablasts 7 days after IIV immunization which expressed monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) with broad and potent antiviral activity against many H3N2 IAV strains as well as prophylactic and therapeutic activity in mice. These H3N2-specific B cell clonal lineages persisted in CD138+ long-lived bone marrow plasma cells. These results demonstrate that IIV-induced H3N2 human MAbs can protect and treat influenza virus infection in vivo and suggest that IIV can induce a subset of IAV H3N2-specific B cells with broad protective potential, a feature that warrants further study for universal influenza vaccine development. IMPORTANCE Influenza A virus (IAV) infections continue to cause substantial morbidity and mortality despite the availability of seasonal vaccines. The extensive genetic variability in seasonal and potentially pandemic influenza strains necessitates new vaccine strategies that can induce universal protection by focusing the immune response on generating protective antibodies against conserved targets within the influenza virus hemagglutinin and neuraminidase proteins. We have demonstrated that seasonal immunization with inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) stimulates H3N2-specific monoclonal antibodies in humans that are broad and potent in their neutralization of virus in vitro. These antibodies also provide protection from H3N2 IAV in a mouse model of infection. Furthermore, they persist in the bone marrow, where they are expressed by long-lived antibody-producing plasma cells. This significantly demonstrates that seasonal IIV can induce a subset of H3N2-specific B cells with broad protective potential, a process that if further studied and enhanced could aid in the development of a universal influenza vaccine.

Effects of Conventional and Musician-Specific Hearing Protection Devices on Speech Intelligibility

(1) Background: To assess and compare speech intelligibility with conventional and universal musician-specific hearing protection devices (HPD); (2) Methods: The sample comprised 15 normal-hearing musicians of both sexes who had been professionals for more than 5 years. They underwent thorough audiological assessment and free-field audiometry to measure the attenuation levels of three HPD models (musician-specific, silicone, and foam devices). The sentence recognition thresholds in quiet (SRTQ) and noise (SRTN) were assessed with the Lists of Sentences in Portuguese. User satisfaction with musician HPD was assessed after 2 months; (3) Results: Conventional HPD had higher pure-tone mean attenuation levels than musician HPD. No statistically significant differences were found in SRTQ and SRTN between the three HPD types. However, the musician HPD had higher mean signal-to-noise ratios and percentages of correct words from sentences presented in noise than the other HPD. The answers also indicated a positive trend toward satisfaction with the musician-specific HPD; (4) Conclusions: Despite the lack of significant differences in speech intelligibility while wearing the three HPD models in either quiet or noise, the musician-specific HPD provided greater musical sound quality. This reinforces the possibility of an effective and adequate use of protection to preserve musicians’ hearing.

A vaccine delivery system promotes strong immune responses against SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Global coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19) pandemics highlight the need of developing vaccines with universal and durable protection against emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants. Here we developed an extended-release vaccine delivery system (GP-diABZI-RBD), consisting the original SARS-CoV-2 WA1 strain receptor-binding domain (RBD) as the antigen and diABZI stimulator of interferon genes(STING) agonist in conjunction with yeast β-glucan particles (GP-diABZI) as the platform. GP-diABZI-RBD could activate STING pathway and inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication. Compared to diABZI-RBD, intraperitoneal injection of GP-diABZI-RBD elicited robust cellular and humoral immune responses in mice. Using SARS-CoV-2 GFP/ΔN transcription and replication-competent virus-like particle system (trVLP), we demonstrated that GP-diABZI-RBD-prototype vaccine exhibited the strongest and durable humoral immune responses and antiviral protection; whereas GP-diABZI-RBD-Omicron displayed minimum neutralization responses against trVLP. By using pseudotype virus (PsVs) neutralization assay, we found that GP-diABZI-RBD-Prototype, GP-diABZI-RBD-Delta, and GP-diABZI-RBD-Gamma immunized mice sera could efficiently neutralize Delta and Gamma PsVs, but had weak protection against Omicron PsVs. In contrast, GP-diABZI-RBD-Omicron immunized mice sera displayed the strongest neutralization response to Omicron PsVs. Taken together, the results suggest that GP-diABZI can serve as a promising vaccine delivery system for enhancing durable humoral and cellular immunity against broad SARS-CoV-2 variants. Our study provides important scientific basis for developing SARS-CoV-2 VOC-specific vaccines.

Эпикутикулярный воск и его роль в защите растений семейства Brassicaceae от биотических и абиотических стрессов (обзор)

The article describes the role of epicuticular wax in terms of its morphology and physiology as one of the resistance mechanisms of plants of the Brassicaceae family to various biotic and abiotic stresses based on the analysis of foreign scientific literature. The review provides a detailed description of the cuticle structure and epicuticular waxes on its surface, which can be represented as very diverse composite microstructures. We analyzed their important role in the efficiency and stability of the transpiration barrier in accelerating water loss, and we found it to be universal protection for plants under moisture deficit. The wax compositions vary in their response to temperature. The amount of wax and the morphological structure of the crystalloids changes when exposed to high and low temperatures. Wax production tends to increase at lower temperatures (15 °C and below) and to decrease at temperatures above 15 °C. It has been observed that the amount of wax in the plant cuticle increased with increasing UV radiation. Wax formed on the leaves of plants of the Brassicaceae family is one of the factors affecting the damage pattern of insect pests (such as cruciferous fleas, bedbugs, etc.). It can affect insect feeding both through physical mechanisms and by affecting the digestive system. The percentage of damage decrease is 64 % depend-ing on the wax thickness on the surface of the plant. Epicuticular wax on the leaf surface is one of the mechanisms of plant protection of the Brassicaceae family against fungal and bacterial pathogens (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Alternaria brassicae, etc.). The morphology, placement, and thickness of the crystalloids, as well as the chemical characteristics, determine how effectively the plant can control various kinds of infections.

The Schumpeterian Consensus: The New Logic of Global Social Policy to Face Digital Transformation

AbstractDigitalisation emerged as a central problem in global social governance in the past decade. ‘Digital transformation’ was expected to bring new social risks, requiring a redesign of the welfare state. This study examines the social policy responses of international actors on the digitalisation agenda in the 2010s and early 2020s. Inspired by sociological institutionalism, it shows different trajectories followed by UN agencies, the OECD and the World Bank in terms of addressing the social implications of this transformation. Despite these divergent organisational agendas, the article reveals the emergence of a new transnational policy paradigm, the ‘Schumpeterian consensus’, overcoming the antagonism between ‘economic’ and ‘social’ institutions from previous decades. In this paradigm, the ‘Schumpeterian investment state’ is seen as a mediator between the creative and destructive potential of technological change. Its social model encourages governments to invest in skills, universal social protection and flexicurity for the digital era.

Tackling the 'Planned Lack of Care': Could a Right to Development Treaty Promote Universal Social Protection Systems?

The opportunity offered by the adoption of a Treaty on the Right to Development could relaunch aspirations of sovereignty, self-determination and cooperative solidarity, breaking with the structural inequalities among and within nations. The aim of this article is to mobilize political actors in favour of the Treaty as a stepping-stone to achieve universal social protection systems.

The influenza hemagglutinin stem antibody CR9114: Evidence for a narrow evolutionary path towards universal protection

Human monoclonal antibodies (hmAbs) that protect against all influenza A and B strains are considered the road to universal influenza vaccines. Based on publicly-available data, we analyze the mechanistic and structural basis of pan-influenza protection by CR9114, a hemagglutinin (HA) stem-reactive antibody that protects against influenza subtypes from groups A1, A2, and B. The mechanistic basis of CR9114’s universal protection is not limited to in vitro neutralization, as CR9114 also protects in vivo from strains that escape its neutralizing activity: some H2 strains and influenza B. Fusion inhibition, viral egress inhibition, and activation of Fc-mediated effector functions are key contributors to CR9114’s universal protection. A comparative analysis of paratopes – between CR9114 (pan-influenza protection) and structurally similar VH1-69 hmAb CR6261 (influenza A1 protection) – pinpoints the structural basis of pan-influenza protection. CR9114’s heterosubtypic binding is conferred by its ability to bind HA with multiple domains: three HCDR loops and FR3. In contrast to other VH1-69 hmAbs, CR9114 uses a long and polar side chain of tyrosine (Y) residues on its HCDR3 for crucial H-bonds with H3, H5, and B HA. The recognition of a highly conserved epitope by CR9114 results in a high genetic barrier for escape by influenza strains. The nested, hierarchical structure of the mutations between the germline ancestor and CR9114 demonstrates that it is the result of a narrow evolutionary pathway within the B cell population. This rare evolutionary pathway indicates an immuno-recessive epitope and limited opportunity for vaccines to induce a polyclonal CR9114-like response.

Exploring the Role of Antiviral Nasal Sprays in the Control of Emerging Respiratory Infections in the Community.

The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated that there is an unmet need for the development of novel prophylactic antiviral treatments to control the outbreak of emerging respiratory virus infections. Passive antibody-based immunisation approaches such as intranasal antibody prophylaxis have the potential to provide immediately accessible universal protection as they act directly at the most common route of viral entry, the upper respiratory tract. The need for such products is very apparent for SARS-CoV-2 at present, given the relatively low effectiveness of vaccines to prevent infection and block virus onward transmission. We explore the benefits and challenges ofthe use of antibody-based nasal sprays prior and post exposure to the virus. The classic susceptible-exposed-infectious-removed (SEIR) mathematical model was extended to describe the potential population-level impact of intranasal antibody prophylaxis on controlling the spread of an emerging respiratory infection in the community. Intranasal administration ofmonoclonal antibodies provides only a short-term protection to the mucosal surface. Consequently, sustained intranasal antibody prophylaxis of a substantial proportion of the population would be needed to contain infections. Post-exposure prophylaxis against the development of severe disease would be essential for the overallreduction in hospital admissions. Antibody-based nasal sprays could provide protection against infection to individuals that are likely to be exposed to the virus. Large-scale administration for a long period of time would be challenging. Intranasal antibody prophylaxis alone cannot prevent community-wide transmission of the virus. It could be used along with other protective measures, such as non-pharmaceutical interventions, to bridge the time required to develop and produce effective vaccines, and complement active immunisation strategies.

Basic Health Insurance Stewardship in Line with the Upstream Laws and Policies: Conflicts and Contradictions!!!

One of the serious challenges regarding interactions between Iran’s social security system and health system is basic health insurance stewardship. It has existed for a long time and has been given a special place concerning the related laws and policies in recent years. In this regard, it seems that approving of rules conflicting with upstream laws and policies has increased existing conflicts. This is done by creating ambiguity in the position of basic health insurance. But, it should not be forgotten that the main goal is universal health coverage and effective insurance protection against financial risks caused by illness. Therefore, any decision in these areas should be made with respect to the social, cultural, economic and political conditions of the country and according to the historical experiences and structural characteristics.

Forgery of artists’ signatures on paintings or print from the perspective of Polish law

The protection granted by law to art buyers ensures safe trade and confidence in the art market. It is also a crucial factor whenever a purchased piece turns out to be a forgery. Having a single legal act instead of various provisions spread across many of them is essential for the judiciary because it enables the correct legal qualification of the perpetrator’s action. Unfortunately, Polish legislation lacks a regulation that would directly penalize the forgery of an artist’s signature. This is a crucial issue because a signature is one of the elements verified during complex analyses that aim to establish the authenticity of an art piece. However, a signature is deemed to be separate from the art piece itself. Its authenticity does not mean that the whole artwork is authen­tic. There have been cases where authentic paintings or prints have been marked with fake signatures (placed, for instance, by the artist’s family member to confirm the authorship), and the affixing of an authentic signature on a forged painting or print is also within the realm of possibility. This proves the importance of considering a signature and an art piece to be two separate items. This paper aims to establish the most suitable regulation for signature forgery to provide a universal penalization. The methodology analysed legal acts that penalize forged trademarks, identification labels and logos. However, as established in the paper, the Industrial Property Law and Act on Fair Trading do not apply to contemporary artistic creativity. The reason is that a signature would have to be registered in the Patent Office of the Republic of Poland as a trademark. As such, in the author’s opin­ion, Article 306 of the Polish Criminal Code would be the most suitable option. It offers universal protection – if we deem a signature to be a standalone identification label. Nonetheless, this is merely a placeholder solution and the author proposes the implementation of a regulation that would directly penalize the forgery of an artist’s signature. The Dutch or French rules could be used as a model in this regard.

Building universal social protection systems for all: What role for targeting?

Building universal social protection systems for all: What role for targeting?