Effect of COVID-19 Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions and the Implications for Human Rights.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many governments swiftly decided to order nationwide lockdowns based on limited evidence that such extreme measures were effective in containing the epidemic. A growing concern is that governments were given little time to adopt effective and proportional interventions protecting citizens' lives while observing their freedom and rights. This paper examines the effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) in containing COVID-19, by conducting a linear regression over 108 countries, and the implication for human rights.

IgG and IgM responses to human papillomavirus L1 virus-like particle as a function of dosing schedule and vaccine formulation.

Most commercialized virus-like particle (VLP) vaccines use aluminum salt as adjuvant, even though VLPs provoke adequate antibody responses without adjuvant. We do not have detailed knowledge of how adjuvant affects the profile of anti-VLP antibodies. Meanwhile, there is evidence that differences between vaccination protocols influence the glycosylation of antibodies, which may alter their effector functions.

Comparison of the size distributions and immunogenicity of human papillomavirus type 16 L1 virus-like particles produced in insect and yeast cells.

Insect and yeast cells are considered the expression systems of choice for producing virus-like particles (VLPs), and numerous types of VLPs have been produced in these systems. However, previous studies were restricted to identifying the characteristics of individual VLP preparations. No direct comparison of the structures and immunogenic properties of insect and yeast-derived VLPs has so far been made.

Kuwanon V inhibits proliferation, promotes cell survival and increases neurogenesis of neural stem cells.

Neural stem cells (NSCs) have the ability to proliferate and differentiate into neurons and glia. Regulation of NSC fate by small molecules is important for the generation of a certain type of cell. The identification of small molecules that can induce new neurons from NSCs could facilitate regenerative medicine and drug development for neurodegenerative diseases.

Aminopropyl carbazole analogues as potent enhancers of neurogenesis.

Neural stem cells are multipotent and self-renewing cells that can differentiate into new neurons and hold great promise for treating various neurological disorders including multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease. Small molecules that can trigger neurogenesis and neuroprotection are particularly useful not only because of their therapeutic implications but also because they can provide an invaluable tool to study the mechanisms of neurogenesis. In this report, we have developed and screened 25 aminopropyl carbazole derivatives that can enhance neurogenesis of cultured neural stem cells.

Comparison of ectopic gene expression methods in rat neural stem cells.

Neural stem cells (NSCs) have the ability to proliferate and differentiate into various types of cells that compose the nervous system. To study functions of genes in stem cell biology, genes or siRNAs need to be transfected. However, it is difficult to transfect ectopic genes into NSCs.

Modified DCM-type materials for red fluorescent organic light-emitting diodes.

A series of red emitters 1-3 based on modified DCM were synthesized and their electroluminescent properties were investigated. A device employing red emitter 2 as a dopant exhibited efficient red emission with maximum luminous efficiency of 1.87 cd/A, maximum power efficiency of 0.

Spectroscopic and chromatographic characterization of wastewater organic matter from a biological treatment plant.

Spectroscopic and chromatographic changes in dissolved organic matter (DOM) characteristics of influent and treated sewage were investigated for a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) with a biological advanced process. Refractory DOM (R-DOM) was defined as the dissolved organic carbon concentrations of the samples after 28-day incubation for this study. Specific UV absorbance (SUVA), hydrophobicity, synchronous fluorescence spectra and molecular weight (MW) distributions were selected as DOM characteristics.

Microbial transformation of dissolved leaf litter organic matter and its effects on selected organic matter operational descriptors.

Changes in selected spectroscopic and chromatographic characteristics of water-soluble organic matter (WSOM) extracted from leaf litter and its ability to bind pyrene were monitored throughout 14 day microbial incubation experiments. To provide additional insight into the microbial transformation of the WSOM, incubation experiments were similarly conducted with controlled-composition mixtures of glucose and dissolved humic substances (HS) that were base extracted from the same leaf litter source. Microbial transformation increased the specific ultraviolet absorbance and number-average molecular weight of residual WSOM while polydispersity values decreased.

Molecular basis for the local conformational rearrangement of human phosphoserine phosphatase.

Human phosphoserine phosphatase (HPSP) regulates the levels of glycine and d-serine, the putative co-agonists for the glycine site of the NMDA receptor in the brain. Here, we describe the first crystal structures of the HPSP in complexes with the competitive inhibitor 2-amino-3-phosphonopropionic acid (AP3) at 2.5 A, and the phosphate ion (Pi) and the product uncompetitive inhibitor l-serine (HPSP.