The Working Time (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 came into force on 26 March 2020. These amend the Working Time Regulations 1998 to create an exemption relating specifically to COVID-19 and holiday leave. Under the Working Time Regulation...

[DW] Kenya has demanded an investigation into a fatal crash of a humanitarian aircraft which killed all people on board.

Cathay Pacific is looking at “structural change” as it investigates how to downscale its business in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the Post has learned.Hong Kong’s flag carrier is mulling scenarios that could reduce staff headcount, routes served and planes flown, as well as the possible consolidation of its airline brands, in drastic steps that would mirror those taken by rivals in recent weeks.“We are currently working with colleagues from across the airline to model varying degrees…

Two Hong Kong men found carrying weapons at an unauthorised protest last year were jailed for eight months on Friday.Fanling Court sentenced sales consultant Yung Wai-shing, 26, and clerk Chu Tsz-wan, 24, to jail for possessing an extendable baton, a laser pointer, a catapult and a packet of metal pellets at a march in Yuen Long on the night of July 27.The court sentenced co-defendant Vincent Chu Chun-hoi, a 19-year-old cook, to correctional training for carrying an air pistol at the same event…

The head of China’s cabinet-level office that oversees Hong Kong affairs has urged the city’s leader to examine possible ways of enacting a national security law and to ensure that elections for the legislature this year are conducted in a fair manner.The meeting between Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO), and Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor was held in Shenzhen at the end of last month, according to sources.Hong Kong is facing mounting pressure…

Anil Kapoor played carrom with wife and the actor revealed that he was the winner of the game.

Governance can be a complex, broad topic but its basic underlying definition is deceptively simple.

The delivery of services – such as clean water, reliable public transport, schools and hospitals – through economic and social infrastructure is among the most important functions of government. Resources must be well spent to ensure quality.

With timely and well-targeted programs, policy makers can prevent the health crisis from deepening into a wider economic and financial crisis. This could sow the seeds of economic recovery.  

Title: Your Voice Carries Sexual Cues, Study Finds
Category: Health News
Created: 4/29/2013 6:36:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 4/30/2013 12:00:00 AM

Title: Nail Salons' Drying Lamps Carry Small Cancer Risk
Category: Health News
Created: 4/30/2014 7:36:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 5/1/2014 12:00:00 AM

Title: Drug for Yeast Infections May Raise Miscarriage Risk, FDA Warns
Category: Health News
Created: 4/26/2016 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/27/2016 12:00:00 AM

Title: Some Antibiotics Linked to Miscarriage Risk
Category: Health News
Created: 5/1/2017 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 5/1/2017 12:00:00 AM

Title: When Booze Labels Carry Health Warnings, Drinking Declines: Study
Category: Health News
Created: 5/4/2020 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 5/4/2020 12:00:00 AM

ABSTRACT

Host persistence of bacteria is facilitated by mutational and recombinatorial processes that counteract loss of genetic variation during transmission and selection from evolving host responses. Genetic variation was investigated during persistent asymptomatic carriage of Neisseria meningitidis. Interrogation of whole-genome sequences for paired isolates from 25 carriers showed that de novo mutations were infrequent, while horizontal gene transfer occurred in 16% of carriers. Examination of multiple isolates per time point enabled separation of sporadic and transient allelic variation from directional variation. A comprehensive comparative analysis of directional allelic variation with hypermutation of simple sequence repeats and hyperrecombination of class 1 type IV pilus genes detected an average of seven events per carrier and 2:1 bias for changes due to localized hypermutation. Directional genetic variation was focused on the outer membrane with 69% of events occurring in genes encoding enzymatic modifiers of surface structures or outer membrane proteins. Multiple carriers exhibited directional and opposed switching of allelic variants of the surface-located Opa proteins that enables continuous expression of these adhesins alongside antigenic variation. A trend for switching from PilC1 to PilC2 expression was detected, indicating selection for specific alterations in the activities of the type IV pilus, whereas phase variation of restriction modification (RM) systems, as well as associated phasevarions, was infrequent. We conclude that asymptomatic meningococcal carriage on mucosal surfaces is facilitated by frequent localized hypermutation and horizontal gene transfer affecting genes encoding surface modifiers such that optimization of adhesive functions occurs alongside escape of immune responses by antigenic variation.

IMPORTANCE Many bacterial pathogens coexist with host organisms, rarely causing disease while adapting to host responses. Neisseria meningitidis, a major cause of meningitis and septicemia, is a frequent persistent colonizer of asymptomatic teenagers/young adults. To assess how genetic variation contributes to host persistence, whole-genome sequencing and hypermutable sequence analyses were performed on multiple isolates obtained from students naturally colonized with meningococci. High frequencies of gene transfer were observed, occurring in 16% of carriers and affecting 51% of all nonhypermutable variable genes. Comparative analyses showed that hypermutable sequences were the major mechanism of variation, causing 2-fold more changes in gene function than other mechanisms. Genetic variation was focused on genes affecting the outer membrane, with directional changes in proteins responsible for bacterial adhesion to host surfaces. This comprehensive examination of genetic plasticity in individual hosts provides a significant new platform for rationale design of approaches to prevent the spread of this pathogen.

Antimicrobial peptides play an important role in host defense against Vibrio cholerae. Generally, the V. cholerae O1 classical biotype is polymyxin B (PB) sensitive and El Tor is relatively resistant. Detection of classical biotype traits like the production of classical cholera toxin and PB sensitivity in El Tor strains has been reported in recent years, including in the devastating Yemen cholera outbreak during 2016-2018. To investigate the factor(s) responsible for the shift in the trend of sensitivity to PB, we studied the two-component system encoded by carRS, regulating the lipid A modification of El Tor vibrios, and found that only carR contains a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in recently emerged PB-sensitive strains. We designated the two alleles present in PB-resistant and -sensitive strains carR^r and carR^s alleles, respectively, and replaced the carR^s allele of a sensitive strain with the carR^r allele, using an allelic-exchange approach. The sensitive strain then became resistant. The PB-resistant strain N16961 was made susceptible to PB in a similar fashion. Our in silico CarR protein models suggested that the D89N substitution in the more stable CarR^s protein brings the two structural domains of CarR closer, constricting the DNA binding cleft. This probably reduces the expression of the carR-regulated almEFG operon, inducing PB susceptibility. Expression of almEFG in PB-sensitive strains was found to be downregulated under natural culturing conditions. In addition, the expression of carR and almEG decreased in all strains with increased concentrations of extracellular Ca²⁺ but increased with a rise in pH. The downregulation of almEFG in CarR^s strains confirmed that the G265A mutation is responsible for the emergence of PB-sensitive El Tor strains.

Researchers have uncovered how bats can carry the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) coronavirus without getting sick -- research that could shed light on how coronaviruses make the jump to humans and other animals.

New Delhi, May 09 (ANI): An Air India flight carrying 129 passengers from Dhaka, Bangladesh has landed at Delhi airport. The stranded Indian nationals are being brought back to the country through government’s initiative, ‘Vande Bharat Mission’.

China on Tuesday successfully launched its largest carrier rocket, which was carrying a new-generation spacecraft, state broadcaster CCTV said.

The PM was moved out of intensive care on Thursday evening

NHS staff and Carrie Symonds are among those who have thanked "inspirational" war veteran Captain Tom Moore during the weekly clap for carers.

Carrie Symonds has signed a petition calling for a worldwide ban on live animal meat markets after coronavirus is thought to have emerged at a "wet market" in Wuhan, China.

Three people have been arrested after a staggering 190kg of cocaine worth about £19 million was found hidden in lorries carrying toys and paper at the Port of Dover.

Downing Street has acknowledged there is still a "great deal more to do" to close the gap between capacity and the actual number of Covid-19 tests carried out.

The pair announced they have welcomed a baby boy

Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds have welcomed the arrival of their first child together.

Labour leader Keir Starmer and Health Secretary Matt Hancock have led the messages of congratulations to Boris Johnson and Carrie Symond's for the birth of their first child.

From the frontline

Their first child together was born in a London hospital on Wednesday morning Follow our live updates as messages of congratulation flood in

The Queen has congratulated Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds on the birth of their son , Buckingham Palace has said.

Boris Johnson has been pictured beaming as he arrived back in Downing Street from hospital after the birth of his baby son .

Boris Johnson has thanked the NHS for saving his life and delivering his new son into the world just one day ago.

Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds have named their baby boy Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson.

Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds named their newborn son Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas after their grandfathers - and the NHS doctors who helped save the Prime Minister's life as he battled coronavirus.

A passenger plane has returned to the UK with ten million pairs of surgical gloves for NHS staff on the coronavirus frontline.

Just 50,000 commuters could board every 15 minutes if they had to keep two metres apart - when rush-hour usually sees 320,000 on board

The Government has cautioned the public against overexcitement at the prospect of the coronavirus lockdown being eased.

Airport’s boss says global standard for screening is crucial to restoring confidence

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Heathrow will start using thermal cameras to carry out temperature checks on passengers within the next fortnight, as it called for common health screening standards around the world for air travellers.

The UK’s busiest airport said it would trial thermal cameras capable of monitoring the temperature of people in the immigration halls, initially in Terminal 2.

Quinn Moreland

The post Carrie Fisher’s Inimitable Voice appeared first on The Nation.

Follow our live coronavirus updates HERE Fiancee Carrie Symonds said: "There were times last week that were very dark indeed"

The Speaker is presiding over his first virtual PMQs. Susannah Butter meets him (on FaceTime)

The pair announced the exciting news this morning

It seems like a lifetime ago that Boris Johnson announced that he and his partner were engaged and expecting a baby.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson led the sixth national applause for frontline workers as his fiancee Carrie Symonds tweeted she had "another wonderful reason to thank the NHS this week too".

Show's creators were told 'he will never play this role – please do not bring him up ever again'