The reverse zoonotic potential of SARS-CoV-2.

There has been considerable emphasis recently on the zoonotic origins of emerging infectious diseases in humans, including the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic; however, reverse zoonoses (infections transmitted from humans to other animals) have received less attention despite their potential importance. The effects can be devastating for the infected species and can also result in transmission of the pathogen back to human populations or other animals either in the original form or as a variant. Humans have transmitted SARS-CoV-2 to other animals, and the virus is able to circulate and evolve in those species.

Application of multi-criteria decision analysis techniques and decision support framework for informing plant select agent designation and decision making.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Division of Agricultural Select Agents and Toxins (DASAT) established a list of biological agents (Select Agents List) that threaten crops of economic importance to the United States and regulates the procedures governing containment, incident response, and the security of entities working with them. Every 2 years the USDA DASAT reviews their select agent list, utilizing assessments by subject matter experts (SMEs) to rank the agents. We explored the applicability of multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) techniques and a decision support framework (DSF) to support the USDA DASAT biennial review process.

Neurolaw: Challenges and limits.

This chapter canvasses the current relevance of behavioral neuroscience to the law, especially to issues of criminal responsibility and competence. It begins with an explanation of the legal doctrines at stake. I then explore the source of the often-inflated claims for the legal relevance of neuroscience.

Special Issue: Gram-Positive Bacterial Toxins.

The Gram stain classifies most bacteria into one of two groups, Gram-negative or Gram-positive, based on the composition of their cell walls [...

draft genome sequences: 15 historical (1998-2004) and 30 contemporary (2015-2016) clinical isolates from Pakistan.

The continued emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance among pathogenic bacteria are ever-growing threats to health and economy. Here, we report the draft genomes for 45 clinical isolates, including historical and contemporary drug-resistant organisms, obtained in Pakistan between 1998 and 2016: 5 , 3 , 3 , and 34 .

Investigation of multidrug-resistant plasmids from carbapenemase-producing clinical isolates from Pakistan.

Objectives: The study aim was to investigate multidrug-resistant (MDR) plasmids from a collection of 10 carbapenemase-producing clinical isolates identified within the same healthcare institution in Pakistan. Full characterization of the MDR plasmids including structure, typing characteristics, and AMR content as well as determination of their plasmid-based antimicrobial susceptibility profiles were carried out.

Methods: Plasmids were isolated from 10 clinical isolates of , and from a corresponding set of transconjugants, then sequenced using Nanopore/Illumina technology to generate plasmid hybrid assemblies.

Application of multi-criteria decision analysis techniques and decision support framework for informing select agent designation for agricultural animal pathogens.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Division of Agricultural Select Agents and Toxins (DASAT) established a list of biological agents and toxins (Select Agent List) that potentially threaten agricultural health and safety, the procedures governing the transfer of those agents, and training requirements for entities working with them. Every 2 years the USDA DASAT reviews the Select Agent List, using subject matter experts (SMEs) to perform an assessment and rank the agents. To assist the USDA DASAT biennial review process, we explored the applicability of multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) techniques and a Decision Support Framework (DSF) in a logic tree format to identify pathogens for consideration as select agents, applying the approach broadly to include non-select agents to evaluate its robustness and generality.

HIV Care Engagement Is Not Associated with COVID-19 Vaccination Hesitancy during the Initial Peak of the COVID-19 Pandemic among Black Cisgender Sexual Minority Men and Transgender Women in the N2 COVID Study.

Background: Although there is limited literature on medication adherence (including HIV care engagement) and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in general populations (i.e., non-sexual or gender minority populations), even less is known about whether HIV care engagement correlates with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among sexual and gender minorities, especially those from intersectional backgrounds.

The impact of COVID-19 on dental care in New York State and Georgia.

Introduction During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an unprecedented and forced closure of dental offices worldwide. As American state recommendations differed considerably during this period, this research strives to better define the effects of this pause on dental care.Materials and methods A 16-question Qualtrics survey was sent to the membership of the New York State Dental Association (NYSDA) and Georgia Dental Association (GDA).

The development and use of decision support framework for informing selection of select agent toxins with modelling studies to inform permissible toxin amounts.

Many countries have worked diligently to establish and implement policies and processes to regulate high consequence pathogens and toxins that could have a significant public health impact if misused. In the United States, the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 (), as amended by the Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 () requires that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) [through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)] establish a list of bacteria, viruses, and toxins that have the potential to pose a severe threat to public health and safety. Currently, this list is reviewed and updated on a biennial basis using input from subject matter experts (SMEs).

Application of Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis Techniques for Informing Select Agent Designation and Decision Making.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Select Agent Program establishes a list of biological agents and toxins that potentially threaten public health and safety, the procedures governing the possession, utilization, and transfer of those agents, and training requirements for entities working with them. Every 2 years the Program reviews the select agent list, utilizing subject matter expert (SME) assessments to rank the agents. In this study, we explore the applicability of multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) techniques and logic tree analysis to support the CDC Select Agent Program biennial review process, applying the approach broadly to include non-select agents to evaluate its generality.

Rapid Presumptive Identification of and Clinical Isolates Using a Highly Specific Lateral Flow Assay.

We conducted a comprehensive, multiphase laboratory evaluation of the InBios Active Melioidosis Detect (AMD) rapid test, a lateral flow immunoassay designed to detect capsular polysaccharides produced by or , used in conjunction with the Omni Array Reader for the rapid identification of culture isolates of or to support clinical diagnosis for response and triage during a mass casualty event, such as a biological attack. The study was conducted at 2 sites to assess the performance of the AMD test. The sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility of the assay was determined using 5 replicates of 35 inclusivity strains and 64 clinical background strains.

Validation of a Lateral Flow Test for the Presumptive Identification of the Presence of or in Environmental Samples.

We conducted a comprehensive, multiphase laboratory evaluation of InBios Active Melioidosis Detect (AMD) rapid test, a lateral flow immunoassay designed to detect capsular polysaccharides produced by or , used in conjunction with the Omni Array Reader (OAR) for the rapid detection of or in environmental (nonclinical) samples at 2 sites. The limit of detection, using reference strains strain ATCC 23344 and strain ATCC 11668, was determined to be 10 to 10 CFU/mL. In different phases of the evaluation, inclusivity strains that included geographically diverse strains of (N = 13) and (N = 22), geographically diverse phylogenetic near neighbor strains (N = 66), environmental background strains (N = 64), white powder samples (N = 26), and environmental filter extracts (N = 1 pooled sample from 10 filter extracts) were also tested.

Delays in Diagnosis and Treatment of Bacterial Meningitis in NYC: Retrospective Cohort Analysis.

Community-acquired bacterial meningitis (CABM) morbidity and mortality remains high in those infected. Rapid diagnosis and treatment is paramount to reducing mortality and improving outcome. This retrospective cohort study aims to assess the time from presentation to diagnosis and treatment of vaccine preventable CABM as well as identify possible factors associated with delays in diagnosis and antibiotic administration.

Remodelling criminal insanity: Exploring philosophical, legal, and medical premises of the medical model used in Norwegian law.

This paper clarifies the conceptual space of discussion of legal insanity by considering the virtues of the 'medical model' model that has been used in Norway for almost a century. The medical model identifies insanity exclusively with mental disorder, and especially with psychosis, without any requirement that the disorder causally influenced the commission of the crime. We explore the medical model from a transdisciplinary perspective and show how it can be utilised to systematise and reconsider the central philosophical, legal and medical premises involved in the insanity debate.

The impact of COVID-19 on business perspectives of sustainable development and corporate social responsibility in China.

The new coronavirus (COVID-19) has generated an unprecedented degree of social and economic impact on the planet, but few researchers have explored the repercussion of COVID-19 for sustainable development (SD) and corporate social responsibility (CSR), especially from the perspective of Chinese businesses. This paper is the first to outline the priority changes of both SD and CSR over the period of COVID-19 incidence in China. An online questionnaire survey of 1161 owners and managers of Chinese companies was conducted, and respondents were asked to score the priorities of their company over the pre, during and post COVID-19 periods.

Evaluation of an Electrochemiluminescence Assay for the Rapid Detection of Abrin Toxin.

In this article, we detail a comprehensive laboratory evaluation of an immunoassay for the rapid detection of abrin using the Meso Scale Diagnostics Sector PR2 Model 1800. For the assay evaluation, we used inclusivity and exclusivity panels comprised of extracts of 11 cultivars and 35 near-neighbor plants, 65 lectins, 26 white powders, 11 closely related toxins and proteins, and a pool of 30 BioWatch filter extracts. The results show that the Meso Scale Diagnostics abrin detection assay exhibits good sensitivity and specificity with a limit of detection of 4 ng/mL.

The Structure, Function, and Future of Mental Health Law.

This essay considers the foundational rationale for why the law treats at least some mentally disordered people specially in a wide array of civil and criminal contexts. It suggests that non-responsible incapacity for rational behavior in specific contexts is the primary principle that warrants special legal treatment. It also considers the major distractions and confusions about why such special treatment is sometimes justifiable.

Waste Separation Behaviour of College Students under a Mandatory Policy in China: A Case Study of Zhengzhou City.

The need for effective solid waste management (SWM) is an important environmental and public health issue. As a key way of minimizing municipal solid waste (MSW), source separation has in recent years become the centre of discussion in China. Following the example of Shanghai, the city of Zhengzhou introduced its mandatory waste separation measures on 1 December 2019.