Search

Global health initiatives are multistakeholder partnerships that mobilize and disburse resources to address global health challenges, often by supporting implementation of health programmes in low-and middle-income countries. (1) These initiatives [...]

Reducing the amount of plastic packaging being produced and disposed of is an urgent and significant challenge for regulators and for society more broadly. In recent years, the circular economy has emerged as a key paradigm for conceptualising solutions to plastic and other kinds of waste. While waste management is focused on dealing with materials once they are wasted, the circular economy paradigm calls for changes to the whole supply chain including how plastics are made and used. Australia, along with other nations, has incorporated the concept into waste laws and policies. This article addresses the challenge of using the reconceptualisation of waste offered by the circular economy paradigm in regulatory responses to plastic packaging. By developing principles that draw on the literature relating to the circular economy and regulatory studies, this article illustrates how to design regulatory interventions that support the creation of a circular economy for plastic packaging. Using these principles, the article evaluates Australia's regulatory framework for plastic packaging. Despite the political and media attention on reducing plastic packaging pollution, this article finds fundamental flaws and gaps in the regulation of plastic packaging and identifies options for improving the current approach consistent with the proposed regulatory design principles., I Introduction Plastic use and pollution is a pressing environmental and public health challenge linked to climate change and catastrophic biodiversity loss. (1) Plastic packaging is a particularly prominent form [...]

IntroductionThe heightened risk of COVID-19 infection and mortality in prisons is well documented, but COVID-19's impact on all-cause mortality in incarcerated populations has not yet been studied. This study analyzed mortality records from the Florida State Department of Corrections prison system population to evaluate the impact COVID-19 had on all-cause mortality and compare mortality rates and life expectancy with that of the overall state of Florida population.MethodsPopulation age and sex data for Florida State Department of Corrections were ascertained from the Florida State Department of Corrections Offender Based Information System. Death data by age, sex, and cause of death were acquired from medical records and Florida State Department of Corrections offender reports. The state of Florida demographic and death data were collected from the Census Bureau, Florida Department of Health, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Age- and sex-standardized life table measures were calculated, and COVID-19 contributions to changes in life expectancy were assessed using Arriaga's decomposition.ResultsThe standardized mortality rate in the Florida State Department of Corrections population increased by 45% between 2019 and 2020, causing an overall 4.0-year decline in life expectancy. Over the same period, the state of Florida population's standardized mortality increased by 19%, resulting in an overall 2.7-year decline. Within the Florida State Department of Corrections population, life expectancy decline could be attributed exclusively to COVID-19 mortality.ConclusionsThe state of Florida prison population saw a substantial increase in mortality driven solely by COVID-19 mortality, leading to an overall 4-year decline in life expectancy. Given the findings and continued threat of COVID-19 outbreaks, Florida State Department of Corrections and other prison systems should strive to increase vaccination uptake, decrease prison populations, and commit to COVID-19 data transparency.

Our current knowledge of host-virus interactions in biofilms is limited to computational predictions based on laboratory experiments with a small number of cultured bacteria. However, natural biofilms are diverse and chiefly composed of uncultured bacteria and archaea with no viral infection patterns and lifestyle predictions described to date. Herein, we predict the first DNA sequence-based host-virus interactions in a natural biofilm. Using single-cell genomics and metagenomics applied to a hot spring mat of the Cone Pool in Mono County, California, we provide insights into virus-host range, lifestyle and distribution across different mat layers. Thirty-four out of 130 single cells contained at least one viral contig (26%), which, together with the metagenome-assembled genomes, resulted in detection of 59 viruses linked to 34 host species. Analysis of single-cell amplification kinetics revealed a lack of active viral replication on the single-cell level. These findings were further supported by mapping metagenomic reads from different mat layers to the obtained host-virus pairs, which indicated a low copy number of viral genomes compared to their hosts. Lastly, the metagenomic data revealed high layer specificity of viruses, suggesting limited diffusion to other mat layers. Taken together, these observations indicate that in low mobility environments with high microbial abundance, lysogeny is the predominant viral lifestyle, in line with the previously proposed "Piggyback-the-Winner" theory.

Microbial mats are found in a variety of modern environments, with evidence for their presence as old as the Archean. There is much debate about the rates and conditions of processes that eventually lithify and preserve mats as microbialites. Here, we apply novel tracer experiments to quantify both mat biomass addition and the formation of CaCO3. Microbial mats from Little Hot Creek (LHC), California, contain calcium carbonate that formed within multiple mat layers, and thus constitute a good test case to investigate the relationship between the rate of microbial mat growth and carbonate precipitation. The laminated LHC mats were divided into four layers via color and fabric, and waters within and above the mat were collected to determine their carbonate saturation states. Samples of the microbial mat were also collected for 16S rRNA analysis of microbial communities in each layer. Rates of carbonate precipitation and carbon fixation were measured in the laboratory by incubating homogenized samples from each mat layer with δ13C-labeled HCO3- for 24 h. Comparing these rates with those from experimental controls, poisoned with NaN3 and HgCl2, allowed for differences in biogenic and abiogenic precipitation to be determined. Carbon fixation rates were highest in the top layer of the mat (0.17% new organic carbon/day), which also contained the most phototrophs. Isotope-labeled carbonate was precipitated in all four layers of living and poisoned mat samples. In the top layer, the precipitation rate in living mat samples was negligible although abiotic precipitation occurred. In contrast, the bottom three layers exhibited biologically enhanced carbonate precipitation. The lack of correlation between rates of carbon fixation and biogenic carbonate precipitation suggests that processes other than autotrophy may play more significant roles in the preservation of mats as microbialites.

In 2019, the prime ministers of the United Kingdom and Australia both declared their intent to ban indirect, or secondary, boycotts. In the United Kingdom, the ban was directed against public bodies engaging in the "boycott, divest, and sanction" (BDS) campaign against Israel. In Australia, the proposed ban was directed against environmental action groups. Research on market-based activism to date has focused primarily on conceptualizing the use of the market by nonstate actors to achieve social change, with less attention paid to the role of the state in these dynamics. State efforts to curtail social movements' repertoires of contention require careful scrutiny to understand the state's role in legitimizing or delegitimizing political activism and to reveal the complex power dynamics between corporations, social movements, and the state. This article analyzes two key instances of the state declaring an intent to prevent activists from protesting through the market. By investigating how indirect boycotts were problematized by state actors, we aim to reveal the rationale behind the state's intervention in marketplace politics. Our findings indicate that opposition to the political cause behind the boycott, rather than a problematization of the strategy itself, drives state intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The crystal structures of BB2672 and SPO0826 were determined to resolutions of 1.7 and 2.1 Å by single-wavelength anomalous dispersion and multiple-wavelength anomalous dispersion, respectively, using the semi-automated high-throughput pipeline of the Joint Center for Structural Genomics (JCSG) as part of the NIGMS Protein Structure Initiative (PSI). These proteins are the first structural representatives of the PF06684 (DUF1185) Pfam family. Structural analysis revealed that both structures adopt a variant of the Bacillus chorismate mutase fold (BCM). The biological unit of both proteins is a hexamer and analysis of homologs indicates that the oligomer interface residues are highly conserved. The conformation of the critical regions for oligomerization appears to be dependent on pH or salt concentration, suggesting that this protein might be subject to environmental regulation. Structural similarities to BCM and genome-context analysis suggest a function in amino-acid synthesis.

The crystal structure of a putative NTPase, YP_001813558.1 from Exiguobacterium sibiricum 255-15 (PF09934, DUF2166) was determined to 1.78 Å resolution. YP_001813558.1 and its homologs (dimeric dUTPases, MazG proteins and HisE-encoded phosphoribosyl ATP pyrophosphohydrolases) form a superfamily of all-α-helical NTP pyrophosphatases. In dimeric dUTPase-like proteins, a central four-helix bundle forms the active site. However, in YP_001813558.1, an unexpected intertwined swapping of two of the helices that compose the conserved helix bundle results in a `linked dimer' that has not previously been observed for this family. Interestingly, despite this novel mode of dimerization, the metal-binding site for divalent cations, such as magnesium, that are essential for NTPase activity is still conserved. Furthermore, the active-site residues that are involved in sugar binding of the NTPs are also conserved when compared with other α-helical NTPases, but those that recognize the nucleotide bases are not conserved, suggesting a different substrate specificity.

KPN03535 (gi|152972051) is a putative lipoprotein of unknown function that is secreted by Klebsiella pneumoniae MGH 78578. The crystal structure reveals that despite a lack of any detectable sequence similarity to known structures, it is a novel variant of the OB-fold and structurally similar to the bacterial Cpx-pathway protein NlpE, single-stranded DNA-binding (SSB) proteins and toxins. K. pneumoniae MGH 78578 forms part of the normal human skin, mouth and gut flora and is an opportunistic pathogen that is linked to about 8% of all hospital-acquired infections in the USA. This structure provides the foundation for further investigations into this divergent member of the OB-fold family.

Proteins with the DUF2063 domain constitute a new Pfam family, PF09836. The crystal structure of a member of this family, NGO1945 from Neisseria gonorrhoeae, has been determined and reveals that the N-terminal DUF2063 domain is likely to be a DNA-binding domain. In conjunction with the rest of the protein, NGO1945 is likely to be involved in transcriptional regulation, which is consistent with genomic neighborhood analysis. Of the 216 currently known proteins that contain a DUF2063 domain, the most significant sequence homologs of NGO1945 (∼40-99% sequence identity) are from various Neisseria and Haemophilus species. As these are important human pathogens, NGO1945 represents an interesting candidate for further exploration via biochemical studies and possible therapeutic intervention.

The crystal structures of SPO0140 and Sbal_2486 were determined using the semiautomated high-throughput pipeline of the Joint Center for Structural Genomics (JCSG) as part of the NIGMS Protein Structure Initiative (PSI). The structures revealed a conserved core with domain duplication and a superficial similarity of the C-terminal domain to pleckstrin homology-like folds. The conservation of the domain interface indicates a potential binding site that is likely to involve a nucleotide-based ligand, with genome-context and gene-fusion analyses additionally supporting a role for this family in signal transduction, possibly during oxidative stress.

Objective To estimate the economic impact likely to be achieved by efforts to vaccinate against 10 vaccine-preventable diseases between 2001 and 2020 in 73 low- and middle-income countries largely supported by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. Methods We used health impact models to estimate the economic impact of achieving forecasted coverages for vaccination against Haemophilus influenzae type b, hepatitis B, human papillomavirus, Japanese encephalitis, measles, Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A, rotavirus, rubella, Streptococcus pneumoniae and yellow fever. In comparison with no vaccination, we modelled the costs --expressed in 2010 United States dollars (US$)--of averted treatment, transportation costs, productivity losses of caregivers and productivity losses due to disability and death. We used the value-of-a-life-year method to estimate the broader economic and social value of living longer, in better health, as a result of immunization. Findings We estimated that, in the 73 countries, vaccinations given between 2001 and 2020 will avert over 20 million deaths and save US$ 350 billion in cost of illness. The deaths and disability prevented by vaccinations given during the two decades will result in estimated lifelong productivity gains totalling US$330 billion and US$9 billion, respectively. Over the lifetimes of the vaccinated cohorts, the same vaccinations will save an estimated US$ 5 billion in treatment costs. The broader economic and social value of these vaccinations is estimated at US$820 billion. Conclusion By preventing significant costs and potentially increasing economic productivity among some of the world's poorest countries, the impact of immunization goes well beyond health. Objectif Estimer l'impact economique qui pourrait decouler des efforts de vaccination contre 10 maladies a prevention vaccinale deployes entre 2001 et 2020 dans 73 pays a revenu faible et intermediaire, et largement soutenus par Gavi, I'Alliance du Vaccin. Methodes Nous avons utilise des modeles devaluation de l'impact sur la sante pour estimer l'impact economique qui decoulerait, si le taux de couverture prevu est atteint, des vaccinations contre Haemophilus influenzae type B, l'hepatite B, le papillomavirus humaln, l'encephalite japonaise, la rougeole, Neisseria meningitidis serogroupe A, le rotavirus, la rubeole, Streptococcus pneumoniae et la fievre jaune. Pour etablir une comparaison avec l'absence de vaccination, nous avons modelise les couts--exprimes en dollars des Etats-Unis 2010 (USD)--des traitements evites, les couts de transport, les pertes de productivite des soignants non professionnels et les pertes de productivite pour cause d'invalidite ou de deces. Nous avons utilise une methode permettant d'evaluer la valeur d'une annee de vie pour estimer la valeur economique et sociale au sens large d'une vie plus longue et en meilleure sante grace a la vaccination. Resultats D'apres nos estimations, les vaccinations pratiquees entre 2001 et 2020 dans les 73 pays permettront d'eviter plus de 20 millions de deces et d'economiser 350 milliards de dollars des Etats-Unis en couts sanitaires. Les cas de deces et d'invalidite evites grace a la vaccination pratiquee au cours de ees deux decennies entraineront des gains de productivite permanents respectivement estimes a 330 milliards de dollars des Etats-Unis et 9 milliards de dollars des Etats-Unis. On estime qu'au cours de la vie des cohortes vaccinees, les memes vaccinations permettront d'economiser 5 milliards de dollars des Etats-Unis en couts de traitement. La valeur economique et sociale au sens large de ees vaccinations est estimee a 820 milliards de dollars des Etats-Unis. Conclusion L'impact de la vaccination depasse le domaine de la sante, car il permet d'eviter d'importants couts et une augmentation potentielle de la productivite economique de certains des pays les plus pauvres du monde. Objetivo Estimarei impacto economico que probablemente se logaria con los esfuerzos de vacunar frente a 10 enfermedades evitables mediante la vacunacion entre 2001 y 2020 en 73 paises con ingresos bajos y medios ampliamente respaldados por la Gavi, la Vaccine Alliance. Metodos Se utilizaron modelos de impacto sanitario para estimar el impacto economico de lograr las coberturas previstas de vacunacion frente a Haemophilus influenzae tipo b, hepatitis B, virus del papiloma humano, encefalitis japonesa, sarampion, Neisseria meningitidis serogrupo A, rotavirus, rubeola, Streptococcus pneumoniae y fiebre amarilla. En comparacion con la no vacunacion, se modelaron los costes (expresados en dolares estadounidenses, USD, de 2010) de los tratamientos evitados, los costes de transporte, las perdidas de productividad de los proveedores de salud y las perdidas de productividad debido a la discapacidad y la muerte. Se utilizo el metodo de valor de vida anual para estimar de forma mas amplia el valor economico y social del hecho de vivir mas, con una mejor salud, como resultado de la inmunizacion. Resultados Se estimo que, en los 73 paises, las vacunas suministradas entre 2001 y 2020 evitaran mas de 20 millones de muertes y ahorraran 350 000 millones de USD en costes de enfermedades. Las muertes y las discapacidades evitadas gracias a las vacunas suministradas durante las dos decadas tendran como resultado unas ganancias permanentes estimadas en la productividad de un total de 330 000 millones de USD y 9 000 millones de USD, respectivamente. Durante la vida de las cohortes vacunadas, se estima que las mismas vacunaciones ahorraran 5 000 millones de USD en costes de tratamientos. El valor economico y social mas amplio de estas vacunas se estima en 820 000 millones de USD. Conclusion El impacto de las vacunas es positivo mas alla de la salud, ya que se evitan costes significativos y se aumenta potencialmente la productividad economica entre algunos de los paises mas pobres., Introduction While vaccination is generally regarded to be one of the most cost-effective interventions in public health, the introduction and sustained use of any new vaccine needs to be supported [...]

In many low- and middle-income countries, civil registration and vital statistics systems rely on passive reporting, with families expected to attend local registry offices to register vital events, such as [...]

Objective To investigate disparities in full immunization coverage across and within 86 low- and middle-income countries. Methods In May 2015, using data from the most recent Demographic and Health Surveys [...]