Abstract In health emergencies, such as in the COVID-19 pandemic, the need to expand or introduce the Paid sick leave(PSL) and Sickness benefits(SB) increases. They are key components of the universal health coverage(UHC) and active labor market policies(ALMPs) that enable workers to take care of their health and guarantee return-to-work after recovery. This study examines effects those policies in achieving economic stability and job security of covered workers through a scoping review. Studies were selected using the search terms ‘paid sick leave', ‘sickness benefits', ‘paid sick day', and ‘earned sick leave’ in PubMed and Web of Science. Our search conducted on 6th April 2021 yielded 1,030 articles, of which 22 articles were included in the review. All articles were analyzed by the 4 sub-groups(employees, families, employers, and government) and we investigated indicators of socio-economic impacts on their lives. Articles are largely PSL(90.9%)-focused. PSL guarantees not only workers’ job security by securing employment agreement, but also their income security by promising part of wages enough to afford healthcare and living expenses during the medical treatment and recovery. Additionally, PSL attenuates employers’ financial risk, as it reduces presenteeism while increasing the return-to-work rate. Moreover, PSL and SB reduce the total healthcare and social security expenditures of the government. To sum up, PSL and SB guarantee health and labor rights by ensuring income and job security to employees while assuring financial stability to both employers, and the government. However, as the previous studies paid less attention on the equity of these impacts at the system levels, future research should more focus on the dimension. Key messages • PSL and SB guarantee health and labour rights by ensuring income and job security for employees, while assuring financial stability for both employers and the government. • The previous studies that examined the effects of PSL and SB paid less attention on the equity of ensuring income and employment security, therefore future studies should focus more on this dimension.
African swine fever (ASF) is a highly fatal viral disease affecting pigs. It is caused by the ASF virus (ASFV), and causes serious economic losses to the swine industry worldwide, including in Korea. Commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits for detecting anti-ASFV antibodies are used for the diagnosis and surveillance of ASF. In this study, an ELISA was developed to detect anti-ASFV antibodies using two recombinant proteins, p22 and p30, from genotype II ASFV. Recombinant transmembrane domain-deleted p22 (p22∆TM) and p30 were expressed in E.coli vector system pET32a and mixed for use as antigens in indirect ELISA. The p22∆TM/p30-based indirect ELISA was validated using 31 sera from genotype I ASFV-infected pigs and 1,133 sera from uninfected pigs. Area under the curve of this test was 0.999 [95% concentration interval 0.992 to 1.000], and sensitivity and specificity were 93.5% and 99.8%, respectively. The between run coefficient of variation for internal quality control serum was 6.61%. In the seroconversion analysis, the p22∆TM/p30-based indirect ELISA showed equal or better ability to detect antibodies in pigs experimentally challenged with ASFV p72 genotypes I and II (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the p22∆TM/p30-based indirect ELISA is a reliable diagnostic method for detecting anti-ASFV antibodies.
The microbial community composition and dominant denitrifying populations in high-nitrate-removing (CR-I) and low-nitrate-removing (CR-II) activated sludge from continuous bioreactors were investigated with most probable number (MPN) enumeration, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and 16S rDNA characterization. MPNs of nitrate-reducing bacteria of sludge CR-I and sludge CR-II were 2.82×107 and 2.69×104 colony-forming units ml−1, respectively. Eight denitrifying bacteria and two nitrate-reducing bacteria were isolated from sludge CR-I, and four denitrifying bacteria and three nitrate-reducing bacteria from sludge CR-II. Small subunit rDNA characterization of the isolates showed that the majority belonged to the genus Pseudomonas. By using FISH up to 76% (CR-I) and 52% (CR-II) of total 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole cell counts hybridized to the bacterial probe EUB338. Members of β-Proteobacteria were the most abundant proteobacterial group in both sludges, accounting for up to 41.6% and 37.1% of those detected by EUB338, respectively, whereas a higher number of Cytophaga–Flexibacter cluster members were observed in CR-I sludge compared to CR-II sludge. In contrast with culture-based results, the numbers of rRNA group I Pseudomonads accounted for less than 0.01% of those detected by EUB338 in both sludges. Ribosomal DNA clone library analysis showed that the β-Proteobacteria were also dominant in both sludges. In CR-I sludge, they were related to Zooglorea ramigera, Alcaligenes defragrans, denitrifying Fe-oxidizing bacteria and Dechlorimonas sp., whereas in CR-II sludge, they were related to Nitrosomonas sp. and Dechlorimonas agitatus. When this reactor was operated under anaerobic and anoxic conditions, nitrifying bacteria could adapt to the anoxic environment. We inferred that anaerobic ammonium oxidation and nitrite oxidation may occur in low-nitrate-removing sludge CR-II and inhibit denitrification.
In this study, we have investigated a 2-dimensional gas detector based on plasma display technology as a candidate for the flat-panel radiation detector. Using the Geant4 and Garfield codes, that simulate the passage of particles through matter, we examined the dependence of X-ray absorption and multiplication factors on the Xe-He gas mixture. Prototype detectors, with four different gas mixtures, were designed and fabricated based on the results from the simulations. The performance of four detectors was evaluated by measuring the collected charge density, dark current density and sensitivity. The maximum collected charge occurred when the Xe 80%-He 20% gas mixture was 1.216 μC/cm2 at -1800 V. The dark current of this detector varied between 0.124 and 0.321 nA/cm2 in the bias range of -300 to -1800 V, which is approximately one-third of the dark current density of an a-Se based detector, in this range. The sensitivity of Xe 80%-He 20% detector was 0.246 nC/mRcm2 at 0.61 V/μm. It is about a tenth lower than that of an a-Se based detector at 10 V/μm.
By periodically injecting a quantified amount of flux in a ''slightly'' resistive magnet, a digital flux injector (DFI) enables the magnet to effectively operate in persistent mode. This paper presents the operation and performance results of DFI coupled to a 50-MHz HTS insert coil for an NMR magnet.
Purpose: We have evaluated the response of the Gafchromic EBT3 film in low dose for 6 MV x‐ray beams with two scanning modes, the reflection scanning mode and the transmission scanning mode. Methods: We irradiated the Gafcromic EBT3 film using a 60 degree enhanced dynamic wedge (EDW) with 6 MV x‐ray beams from Clinac iX Linear accelerator (Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, CA). The irradiated Gafchromic EBT3 film was scanned with different scanning modes, the reflection scanning mode and the transmission scanning mode. The scanned Gafchromic EBT3 film was analyzed with MATLAB. Results: When 7.2 cGy was irradiated to the Gafchromic EBT3 film, the uncertainty was 0.54 cGy with reflection scanning mode and was 0.88 cGy with transmission scanning mode. When 24 cGy was irradiated to the Gafchromic EBT3 film, the uncertainty was similar to the case of 7.2 cGy irradiation showing 0.51 cGy of uncertainty with reflection scanning mode and 0.87 cGy of uncertainty with transmission scanning mode. The result suggests that the reflection mode should be used in Gafchromic EBT3 film for low irradiation. Conclusion: The result suggests that the reflection mode should be used in Gafchromic EBT3 film for low irradiation.
Probiotics are currently considered as one of tools to modulate immune responses under specific clinical conditions. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether oral administration of three different probiotics (Lactiplantibacillus plantarum CJLP243, CJW55-10, and CJLP475) could evoke a cell-mediated immunity in immunodeficient mice. Before conducting in vivo experiments, we examined the in vitro potency of these probiotics for macrophage activation. After co-culture with these probiotics, bone marrow derived macrophages (BMDMs) produced significant amounts of proinflammatory cytokines including interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-12, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (inos) and co-stimulatory molecules (CD80 and CD86) were also upregulated in BMDMs after treatment with some of these probiotics. To establish an immunocompromised animal model, we intraperitoneally injected mice with cyclophosphamide on day 0 and again on day 2. Starting day 3, we orally administered probiotics every day for the last 15 d. After sacrificing experimental mice on day 18, splenocytes were isolated and co-cultured with these probiotics for 3 d to measure levels of several cytokines and immune cell proliferation. Results clearly indicated that the consumption of all three probiotic strains promoted secretion of interferon-γ (IFN-γ), IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12, and TNF-α. NK cell cytotoxicity and proliferation of immune cells were also increased. Taken together, our data strongly suggest that consumption of some probiotics might induce cell-mediated immune responses in immunocompromised mice.
Abstract Background The countries with paid sick leave (PSL) and sickness benefits (SB) mostly provide the benefit coverage to specific categories of workers, which results in health inequalities among employees in COVID-19. The PSL and SB are key factors to achieve universal health coverage (UHC) in that they protect access to healthcare and improve population health. This study attempted to investigate whether the policies helped achieve the UHC when they were expanded. Methods This review followed the scoping review protocol of PRISMA-ScR. On April 6, 2021, we extracted the literature using the keywords ‘paid sick leave', ‘sickness benefits', ‘paid sick day', and ‘earned sick leave’ from PubMed and Web of Science and added two studies through hand-search. All articles were written in English. We did not limit the publication date. Results Forty-four selected studies were based in four single countries and the European Union. Most of the studies were published after 2010 (84.1%) and were conducted as cross-sectional (72.7%) studies. Not only workers who use PSL and SB but also children whose parents use PSL and SB increased their use of healthcare services and getting flu shots. Also, using PSL and SB decreased their unmet healthcare needs and emergency use. The various health status factors, such as infectious disease incidence, mortality, and presenteeism, also decreased. Conclusions The provisions of PSL and SB offer individual and public health benefits by allowing employees and their families to use healthcare services. Group of employees, we can expect similar public health impacts on newly covered groups, thus contributing to achieving the UHC. Since more than 90% of articles are published from the United States, future studies need to evaluate the outcomes of health effects in various European or Asian countries. Key messages • The provision of PSL and SB positively affects employees and their families by allowing them to use healthcare services. • The expansion of PSL and SB contributes to the UHC by guaranteeing indirect medical costs that enable universal access to essential healthcare services.
African swine fever (ASF) is a highly fatal viral disease affecting pigs. It is caused by the ASF virus (ASFV), and causes serious economic losses to the swine industry worldwide, including in Korea. Commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits for detecting anti-ASFV antibodies are used for the diagnosis and surveillance of ASF. In this study, an ELISA was developed to detect anti-ASFV antibodies using two recombinant proteins, p22 and p30, from genotype II ASFV. Recombinant transmembrane domain-deleted p22 (p22∆TM) and p30 were expressed in E.coli vector system pET32a and mixed for use as antigens in indirect ELISA. The p22∆TM/p30-based indirect ELISA was validated using 31 sera from genotype I ASFV-infected pigs and 1133 sera from uninfected pigs. Area under the curve of this test was 0.999 [95 % concentration interval 0.992–1.000], and sensitivity and specificity were 93.5 % and 99.8 %, respectively. The between run coefficient of variation for internal quality control serum was 6.61 %. In the seroconversion analysis, the p22∆TM/p30-based indirect ELISA showed equal or better ability to detect antibodies in pigs experimentally challenged with ASFV p72 genotypes I and II (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the p22∆TM/p30-based indirect ELISA is a reliable diagnostic method for detecting anti-ASFV antibodies.
'%3e%3cg id='b'%3e%3cpath id='a' stroke='%23000' stroke-width='2' d='M-6-25H6m-12 3H6m-12 3H6'/%3e%3cuse xlink:href='%23a' y='44'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cpath stroke='%23fff' d='M0 17v10'/%3e%3ccircle r='12' fill='%23cd2e3a'/%3e%3cpath fill='%230047a0' d='M0-12A6 6 0 0 0 0 0a6 6 0 0 1 0 12 12 12 0 0 1 0-24z'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cg transform='rotate(-123.69)'%3e%3cuse xlink:href='%23b'/%3e%3cpath stroke='%23fff' d='M0-23.5v3M0 17v3.5m0 3v3'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/svg%3e)