ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the health status of workers exposed to noise in a brewery in Beijing and to analyze the relationship between hearing loss and blood pressure. Methods A total of 949 noise-exposed workers in a brewery who participated in occupational health examination were selected as the investigation subjects. A survey was conducted to investigate the pure tone hearing threshold and abnormal blood pressure of the workers with different characteristics, and to analyze the relationship between the two. Results Among the noise-exposed workers, the detection rates of hearing abnormality, hypertension, and increased systolic and diastolic blood pressure were 73.55%, 52.37%, 43.84% and 46.47%, respectively. The detection rates of hearing abnormality, indicators of hypertension, high frequency hearing threshold abnormality and increased binaural high frequency hearing threshold on average in males were higher than those in females (P 0.05), the detection rates of other hearing abnormality, indicators of hypertension, speech frequency hearing threshold abnormality, high frequency hearing threshold abnormality，increased binaural high frequency hearing threshold on average and the weighted value of the better ear's hearing threshold all increased or had an increasing trend with the increase of age or working years (P< 0.05). The detection rates of hypertension in the groups with high frequency hearing threshold abnormality and increased binaural high frequency hearing threshold on average were higher than those in the normal group (P＜0.05). Conclusion The noise-exposed workers in the brewery have hearing impairment, which is related to the occurrence of hypertension. It is recommended to strengthen the publicity and education on noise protection and take protective measures to reduce the occurrence of occupational noise injury.
ABSTRACT
The highly transmissible severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has infected more than 217 million people, claiming ~ 4.5 million lives to date. Although mandatory quarantines, lockdowns, and vaccinations help curb viral transmission, safe and effective preventative measures remain urgently needed. Here, we present a generic strategy for containing SARS-CoV-2 by cellulose materials. Specifically, we developed a bifunctional fusion protein consisting of a cellulose-binding domain and a nanobody (Nb) targeting the receptor-binding domain of SARS-CoV-2. The immobilization of the fusion proteins on cellulose substrates enhanced the capture efficiency of Nbs against SARS-CoV-2 pseudoviruses of the wildtype and the D614G variant, the latter of which has been shown to confer higher infectivity. Furthermore, the fusion protein was integrated into a customizable chromatography with highly porous cellulose for neutralizing virus from contaminated fluids in a continuous and cost-effective fashion. Taken together, our work leverages low-cost cellulose materials and recently developed Nbs to provide a complementary approach to addressing the pandemic. IMPORTANCEThe ongoing efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic center around the development of point-of-care diagnostics, preventative measures, and therapeutic strategies against COVID-19. In contrast to existing work, we have provided a complementary approach to target and contain SARS-CoV-2 from contaminated fluids and surfaces. Specifically, we present a generic strategy for the capture and containing of SARS-CoV-2 by cellulose-based substrates. This was archived by developing a bifunctional fusion protein consisting of both a cellulose-binding domain and a nanobody specific for the receptor-binding domain of SARS-CoV-2. As a proof-of-concept, our fusion protein-coated cellulose substrates exhibited enhanced capture efficiency against SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus of both wildtype and the D614G mutant variants, the latter of which has been shown to confer higher infectivity. Furthermore, the fusion protein was integrated into a customizable chromatography with highly porous cellulose for neutralizing the virus from contaminated fluids in a highly continuous and cost-effective fashion.
ABSTRACT
The improvement of the yield and quality of oil palm via precise genome editing has been indispensable goal for oil palm breeders. Genome editing via the CRISPR/Cas9 (CRISPR-associated protein 9) system, ZFN (zinc finger nucleases) and TALEN (transcription activator-like effector nucleases) has flourished as an efficient technology for precise target modifications in the genomes of various crops. Among the genome editing technologies, base editing approach has emerged as novel technology that could generate single base changes i.e. irreversible conversion of one target base in to other in a programmable manner. A base editor (adenine or cytosine) is a fusion of catalytically inactive CRISPR-Cas9 domain (Cas9 variants) and cytosine or adenosine deaminase domain that introduces desired point mutations. However, till date no such genetic modifications have ever been developed in oil palm via base editing technology. Precise genome editing via base editing approach can be a challenging task in oil palm due to its complex genome as well as difficulties in tissue culture and genetic transformation methods. However, availability of whole genome sequencing data in oil palm provides a platform for developing the base editing technology. Here, we briefly review the potential application and future implications of base editing technology for the genetic improvement of oil palm.
ABSTRACT
Objective@#To evaluate the pathogenicity of Acinetobacter venetum（Av），which is expected to be used as an environmental remediation agent，using Caenorhabditis elegans（C.elegans）. @*Methods@#The C.elegans were cultured on the media loaded with E.coli OP50 and Av，respectively. The pathogenicity of Av was evaluated by observing the effects of Av on the growth，movement，digestive function，lifespan and reproduction of C.elegans，compared with that of another evaluation system according to NY 1109-2017 General Biosafety Standard for Microbial Fertilizers.@*Results@#By C. elegans system，it was found that the body length，width，head thrash frequency，body bending frequency and average lifespan [（13.5±0.4）d vs.（13.7±0.4）d] of adult nematodes in the Av group were not significantly different from those in the OP50 group（all P>0.05）；while the average time of defecation cycle in the Av group shortened，the total number of progenies in the Av group increased by 18.7%（all P<0.05）. According to NY1109-2017 General Biosafety Standard for Microbial Fertilizers，it was found that the oral LD50 values for both male and female mice were more than 10 g/kgbw，which was practically non-toxic；the pathogenicity test of acute intraperitoneal injection showed that the animals did not have signs of poisoning，deaths or any abnormalities in gross anatomy；Av had no irritation to damaged skin and eyes of rabbits；the hemolysis test was negative；Av was sensitive to seven antibiotics and was medium to one antibiotic. @*Conclusion@#Av is not pathogenic. C. elegans can be used in early screening for the pathogenicity of environmental remediation agents.
