Obstacles Existed in the Labor Union’s Endeavors to Protect the Employees’ Rights and Some Wayouts

With deepened economy reformation in China, labor relation becomes more and more complicated, and labor relation conflicts are sharpened increasingly. The interior employees’ rights are encroached frequently and the number of labor conflicts climbs dramatically. However, the impacts of the labor union, with protecting employees’ rights as its basic function, are far from meeting the employees’ satisfaction. This article analyses the labor union’s functions and its right-protection measures. The existing problems are discussed and some countermeasures are put forward. Key Words: Labor Union, Function, Obstacle, Countermeasure Résumé A cause de la contradiction de la relation de travail de plus en plus intense, les droits et les intérêts légals des ouvriers et employés tenant le bas du pavé sont à maintes reprises violés et les litiges de travail montent en flèche. Cependant, le rôle réel que joue le syndicat dont la fonction fondamentale consiste à sauvegarder les droits et les intérêrs des ouvriers et employés est loin de répondre à leurs demandes. L’auteur analyse dans cet article les fonctions et les moyens de sauvegarde des droits du syndicat, examine les problèmes existants dans ce domaine et propose des contre‐mesures. Mots-clés: le syndicat ,la fonction, les obstacles, les contre‐mesures 摘 要 由於勞動關係矛盾日益尖銳，處於弱者地位的職工合法權益屢遭侵犯，勞動爭議急劇上升。但以維護職工合法權益爲其基本職責的工會所發揮的實際作用卻遠不能滿足職工的要求。本文分析了工會的職能和維權手段，探討了工會在維權方面所存在的問題，提出了相應的對策。關鍵詞： 工會；職能；障礙；對

Sno/scaRNAbase: a curated database for small nucleolar RNAs and cajal body-specific RNAs

Small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) and Cajal body-specific RNAs (scaRNAs) are named for their subcellular localization within nucleoli and Cajal bodies (conserved subnuclear organelles present in the nucleoplasm), respectively. They have been found to play important roles in rRNA, tRNA, snRNAs, and even mRNA modification and processing. All snoRNAs fall in two categories, box C/D snoRNAs and box H/ACA snoRNAs, according to their distinct sequence and secondary structure features. Box C/D snoRNAs and box H/ACA snoRNAs mainly function in guiding 2′-O-ribose methylation and pseudouridilation, respectively. ScaRNAs possess both box C/D snoRNA and box H/ACA snoRNA sequence motif features, but guide snRNA modifications that are transcribed by RNA polymerase II. Here we present a Web-based sno/scaRNA database, called sno/scaRNAbase, to facilitate the sno/scaRNA research in terms of providing a more comprehensive knowledge base. Covering 1979 records derived from 85 organisms for the first time, sno/scaRNAbase is not only dedicated to filling gaps between existing organism-specific sno/scaRNA databases that are focused on different sno/scaRNA aspects, but also provides sno/scaRNA scientists with an opportunity to adopt a unified nomenclature for sno/scaRNAs. Derived from a systematic literature curation and annotation effort, the sno/scaRNAbase provides an easy-to-use gateway to important sno/scaRNA features such as sequence motifs, possible functions, homologues, secondary structures, genomics organization, sno/scaRNA gene's chromosome location, and more. Approximate searches, in addition to accurate and straightforward searches, make the database search more flexible. A BLAST search engine is implemented to enable blast of query sequences against all sno/scaRNAbase sequences. Thus our sno/scaRNAbase serves as a more uniform and friendly platform for sno/scaRNA research. The database is free available at

Estimating the crop leaf area index using hyperspectral remote sensing

AbstractThe leaf area index (LAI) is an important vegetation parameter, which is used widely in many applications. Remote sensing techniques are known to be effective but inexpensive methods for estimating the LAI of crop canopies. During the last two decades, hyperspectral remote sensing has been employed increasingly for crop LAI estimation, which requires unique technical procedures compared with conventional multispectral data, such as denoising and dimension reduction. Thus, we provide a comprehensive and intensive overview of crop LAI estimation based on hyperspectral remote sensing techniques. First, we compare hyperspectral data and multispectral data by highlighting their potential and limitations in LAI estimation. Second, we categorize the approaches used for crop LAI estimation based on hyperspectral data into three types: approaches based on statistical models, physical models (i.e., canopy reflectance models), and hybrid inversions. We summarize and evaluate the theoretical basis and different methods employed by these approaches (e.g., the characteristic parameters of LAI, regression methods for constructing statistical predictive models, commonly applied physical models, and inversion strategies for physical models). Thus, numerous models and inversion strategies are organized in a clear conceptual framework. Moreover, we highlight the technical difficulties that may hinder crop LAI estimation, such as the “curse of dimensionality” and the ill-posed problem. Finally, we discuss the prospects for future research based on the previous studies described in this review

4-Bromo-2,6-dimethyl­anilinium bromide monohydrate

In the title compound, C8H11BrN+·Br−·H2O, a network of N—H⋯O, N—H⋯Br and O—H⋯Br hydrogen bonds helps to consolidate the crystal packing

Genome evolution driven by host adaptations results in a more virulent and antimicrobial-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 14

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Streptococcus pneumoniae </it>serotype 14 is one of the most common pneumococcal serotypes that cause invasive pneumococcal diseases worldwide. Serotype 14 often expresses resistance to a variety of antimicrobial agents, resulting in difficulties in treatment. To gain insight into the evolution of virulence and antimicrobial resistance traits in <it>S. pneumoniae </it>from the genome level, we sequenced the entire genome of a serotype 14 isolate (CGSP14), and carried out comprehensive comparison with other pneumococcal genomes. Multiple serotype 14 clinical isolates were also genotyped by multilocus sequence typing (MLST).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Comparative genomic analysis revealed that the CGSP14 acquired a number of new genes by horizontal gene transfer (HGT), most of which were associated with virulence and antimicrobial resistance and clustered in mobile genetic elements. The most remarkable feature is the acquisition of two conjugative transposons and one resistance island encoding eight resistance genes. Results of MLST suggested that the major driving force for the genome evolution is the environmental drug pressure.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The genome sequence of <it>S. pneumoniae </it>serotype 14 shows a bacterium with rapid adaptations to its lifecycle in human community. These include a versatile genome content, with a wide range of mobile elements, and chromosomal rearrangement; the latter re-balanced the genome after events of HGT.</p

The prevalence of canine Leishmania infantum infection in western China detected by PCR and serological tests

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Canine leishmaniasis (CanL) is endemic in western China, resulting in important public health problem. It is essential to evaluate the prevalence of canine <it>Leishmania infantum </it>infection for designing control policy. In the present study we report for the first time prevalence of <it>Leishmania </it>infection in dogs living in Jiuzhaigou County (Sichuan Provence, China), which is not only an important endemic area of CanL but also a tourism scenic spot, detected by PCR, ELISA and dipstick test. The results could provide key information for designing control programs against canine and human leishmaniasis. In addition, the complete sequence of the <it>Leishmania </it>isolate from Sichuan Province has not been reported to date and we present the sequences of 116 base-pair (bp) fragment of the conserved region in the minicircle kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) and the results of phylogenetic analyses based on the sequence of the amplified fragment.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The proportion of dogs infected with <it>Leishmania </it>in Jiuzhaigou County was 36.79%, 9.43%, and 51.88% detected by ELISA, dipstick test, and PCR, respectively. The ELISA and PCR tests were more sensitive than dipstick test. The PCR method is the most sensitive way to detect dogs infected with <it>Leishmania </it>parasites. The total positive rate for infected dogs in the area was 59.43% by the three methods. The PCR products of 116-bp fragment amplified from the kDNA conserved region of dog blood samples and laboratory maintained <it>L. infantum </it>were DNA sequenced and the variation of the sequences was observed. The phylogenetic tree based on the sequences of 116-bp fragment reveals that <it>L. infantum </it>is more genetically related to visceralizing species <it>L. donovani </it>than to the <it>Leishmania </it>species associated with cutaneous disease.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>More than half of dogs living in the endemic Jiuzhaigou County were infected by <it>L. infantum</it>. Control measures, such as treatment or eradication of infected dogs, or prohibition of maintaining dogs, must be taken against these infected dogs due to their role in the transmission of the infection to vectors. The phylogenetic tree based on the sequences of conserved region in kDNA of <it>Leishmania </it>can effectively distinguish species of <it>Leishmania</it>.</p