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Background Objectives Methods Results Discussion Conclusion During the coronavirus pandemic, misinformation was circulated through technology and social media on a large scale. Since people rely on media to keep connected and informed, misinformation can prevent them from staying safe.To examine the quality of information reaching Pakistanis, the effect of information/misinformation on people's perception, and its relationship with risky health behaviours in different demographical groups.A community sample of N= 103 Pakistanis was assessed using a mixed‐method cross‐sectional survey research design to investigate their sources of knowledge/information, perceptions of coronavirus‐related facts, and risky health behaviours.Content analysis of the material that participants read/watched indicated the possible effect of media on people's perception of COVID‐19. Specific demography (e.g., increasing age) and people's tendency to believe misinformation/information may indicate risky health behaviours pertaining to coronavirus infection.Findings showed how the models considered (social cognitive theory, biological warfare conspiracy theory, theory of planned behaviour, protection motivation theory, the health belief model, and biopsychosocial model) may be relevant to examination of the effects of misinformation on different demographic groups.The findings and models need to be verified on larger, more representative samples of Pakistanis using a large‐scale survey based on the insights obtained from this pilot study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews the elements and infection mechanisms of bioterrorism, assess North Korea's capability for biological warfare, and propose strategies for South Korea to counter potential bioterrorist threats from the North. The four critical elements of bioterrorism include the biological agent, the weaponization of the agent, the delivery system, and the impact of weather conditions on the attack. The infection routes for biological agents in bioterrorism include inhalation, ingestion, dermal exposure, and injection. The potential agents under development could include anthrax, smallpox, plague, and botulinum toxin, which might be deployed using missiles, artillery shells, or through covert operations. Proximity to North Korea significantly increases vulnerability to biological attacks. Possible methods include contaminating water supplies, food sources, or densely populated areas. Anthrax, smallpox, plague, and botulinum toxin could theoretically be delivered using packages attached to balloons. Minimizing the impact of a bioterrorism event requires strategy that includes four key actions: detection, decision-making, distribution, and dispensation. By integrating these steps, authorities can effectively manage and mitigate the effects of a bioterrorism event. Civilian doctors play a role in the early detection, diagnosis, treatment, and management of biological agents. Educating medical professionals is crucial for preparing against potential biological warfare or bioterrorism threats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction to articles published within the issue is presented including the financial impacts of service lines in rural hospitals, the role of artificial intelligence in medical care and the use of dynamic capabilities to improve performance improvement in hospitals.

Background and Aim: The importance and role of the pre-hospital emergency system as the frontline of treatment in reducing casualties and damage to patients, as well as the unknown nature of some biohazardous factors, should be considered. This study aims to investigate the prepared components of the pre-hospital emergency system in dealing with biological threats. Methods: This study is a two-stage qualitative research. The first stage used the critical review method, and the second used the guided qualitative content analysis method. The studied population at this stage consisted of 14 people who were experts in the field of biology. Data were collected and analyzed through semi-structured interviews. Results: After integrating the dimensions and components obtained from the literature review and interviews and based on the opinions of the supervisors and advisors and the summary of the research team, seven dimensions and 23 final components of pre-hospital preparedness in biothreat were extracted and finalized. The study's final findings include seven dimensions of disease warning and diagnosis, information and communication management, management, planning and evaluation, resources and equipment management, documenting and recording experiences, training and practice, and safety and security. Conclusion: The present study can be a reliable source for evaluating biological exercises and actual biological operations by identifying the components and dimensions required for biological exercise. Planning and implementing activities related to the role of the main elements of preparedness identified in this review can help improve the preparedness of emergency medical service systems in incidents. Also, the findings of this study provide valuable information to EMS educators, EMS managers, and researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present article analyzes the ineffectiveness of the United Nations' enforcement of biological warfare violations. After the Biological Warfare Convention (BWC) of 1972, little has been done to punish violations. This is in part to the failure of the BWC to implement an accountability system. Additionally, the sanctioning powers of the United Nations Security Council have been routinely stymied by the veto powers of the five permanent members (China, Russia, United States, United Kingdom, and France). To ensure countries abide by the BWC, a solution is needed regarding veto powers. This article proposes that the United States should pursue a United Nations amendment creating a narrow carve-out exception of the veto power in relation to biological warfare violations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genes are foundational to all organisms, yet their specific makeup is left to chance. Genome editing technologies, such as CRISPR, allow scientists to manipulate the gene and rid it of disease-causing mutations. Recent advancements have rendered current authority inefficacious in ensuring biosecurity. Nations could create "designer diseases" to infect others while protecting their own. The use and access to genome editing technologies must be controlled to restrict their use as biological weapons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chitinases, enzymes that degrade chitin, have long been studied for their role in various biological processes. They play crucial roles in the moulting process of invertebrates, the digestion of chitinous food, and defense against chitin-bearing pathogens. Additionally, chitinases are involved in physiological functions in crustaceans, such as chitinous food digestion, moulting, and stress response. Moreover, chitinases are universally distributed in organisms from viruses to mammals and have diverse functions including tissue degradation and remodeling, nutrition uptake, pathogen invasion, and immune response regulation. The discovery of these diverse functions expands our understanding of the biological significance and potential applications of chitinases. However, recent research has shown that chitinases possess several other functions beyond just chitin degradation. Their potential as biopesticides, therapeutic agents, and tools for bioremediation underscores their significance in addressing global challenges. More importantly, we noted that they may be applied as bioweapons if ethical regulations regarding production, engineering and application are overlooked. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: The ability of cockroaches to transmit pathogenic agents to food makes them a threat to the country's food security in terms of use in war and biological terror. In this research, the identification of cockroaches (Blattodea), their geographic distribution, and establishment potential in date warehouses of six important date-growing provinces of Iran, including Kerman, Fars, Khuzestan, Sistan and Baluchistan, Bushehr, and Hormozgan, were carried out to their risk predict. Methods: The statistical method of factor analysis was used to investigate the variance between several dependent variables based on their description in terms of a few latent variables (factors) effective on the type of population distribution. The cluster analysis was performed using a hierarchical method and its accuracy was evaluated using linear detection techniques and a generalization of Fisher's linear discriminator. Results: Three species of cockroaches, including the American cockroach Periplaneta americana, the eastern cockroach Blatta orientalis, and the German cockroach Blattella germanica, are active in Iran's date-producing areas. The highest distribution of these cockroaches was in (Kerman, Fars, and Bushehr), (Kerman and Sistan and Baluchistan), (Khuzestan and Sistan and Baluchistan), (Khuzestan and Sistan and Baluchistan), Bushehr and Fars, respectively. The highest relative establishment rate was found in the provinces of Sistan and Baluchistan, Hormozgan, and Khuzestan. The largest unexploited habitat niche was in Hormozgan province, related to the German cockroach. The unanticipated outbreak chance of cockroaches in the warehouses of that province increases with the index of the unexploited habitat niche in that province. Conclusion: Early detection to prevent the spread of the biological agent is a passive defense against the biological threat. The results of this research are essential in analyzing the risk of cockroaches and determining the hazards caused by them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hideo Fukumi (1914–1998) is renowned for his position as the director of Japan's National Institute of Health and his scientific contributions to the fields of bacteriology, virology and epidemiology. This article introduces Fukumi's career cultivated over decades in the Japanese national medical system and focuses on his research on Shigella, Salmonella and influenza. Yet any assessment of his career also has to take into account the considerable controversy and scandal it engendered. This necessary reassessment situates Fukumi's contribution within what has been revealed of Japan's biological weapons programme which reached its zenith during the Second World War. Very few scientists, including Fukumi, were prosecuted for their roles in this programme. Contrarily, they became core personnel in post-war medical research due to the patronage of the United States–Japan alliance in the context of the Cold War. Controversies that later surfaced over Fukumi's role in influenza immunisation campaigns reflect two currents of debate: A belated reckoning with Japan's use of biological weapons and the way this was 'normalised' and overlooked in the post-war period. The role of Japanese scholars and citizens' movements who have interrogated Japanese war crimes and the U.S. cover-ups and made a demand for greater ethical transparency in medical science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trauma and toxic substances are connected in several aspects. On the one hand, toxic substances can be the reason for traumatic injuries in the context of accidental or violent and criminal circumstances. Examples for the first scenario is the release of toxic gases, chemicals, and particles during house fires, and for the second scenario, the use of chemical or biological weapons in the context of terroristic activities. Toxic substances can cause or enhance severe, life-threatening trauma, as described in this review for various chemical warfare, by inducing a tissue trauma accompanied by break down of important barriers in the body, such as the blood-air or the blood-gut barriers. This in turn initiates a "vicious circle" as the contribution of inflammatory responses to the traumatic damage enhances the macro- and micro-barrier breakdown and often results in fatal outcome. The development of sophisticated methods for detection and identification of toxic substances as well as the special treatment of the intoxicated trauma patient is summarized in this review. Moreover, some highly toxic substances, such as the protein toxins from the pathogenic bacterium Clostridioides (C.) difficile, cause severe post-traumatic complications which significantly worsens the outcome of hospitalized patients, in particular in multiply injured trauma patients. Therefore, novel pharmacological options for the treatment of such patients are necessarily needed and one promising strategy might be the neutralization of the toxins that cause the disease. This review summarizes recent findings on the molecular and cellular mechanisms of toxic chemicals and bacterial toxins that contribute to barrier breakdown in the human body as wells pharmacological options for treatment, in particular in the context of intoxicated trauma patients. "trauma-toxicology" comprises concepts regrading basic research, development of novel pharmacological/therapeutic options and clinical aspects in the complex interplay and "vicious circle" of severe tissue trauma, barrier breakdown, pathogen and toxin exposure, tissue damage, and subsequent clinical complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States is actively reshaping parts of its national security enterprise. This article explores the underlying politics, with a specific interest in the context of biosecurity, biodefense, and bioterrorism strategy, programs, and response, as the United States responds to the most significant outbreak of an emerging infectious disease in over a century. How the implicit or tacit failure to recognize the political will and political decision-making connected to warfare and conflict for biological weapons programs in these trends is explored. Securitization of public health has been a focus of the literature over the past half century. This recent trend may represent something of an inverse: an attempt to treat national security interests as public health problems. A hypothesis is that the most significant underrecognized problem associated with COVID-19 is disinformation and the weakening of confidence in institutions, including governments, and how adversaries may exploit that blind spot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volume XV of the Journal of Biosecurity, Biosafety, and Biodefense Law has been published, featuring articles written by student staff editors from the Texas Tech University School of Law. The articles cover a range of topics related to biosecurity, biosafety, and biodefense law. They explore the potential benefits and risks of emerging technologies such as bionanotechnology, genome editing, behavior-modifying chemicals, biohacking, and artificial intelligence. The articles emphasize the need for comprehensive regulations to ensure the ethical and safe use of these technologies, as well as the protection of vulnerable communities. The journal expresses gratitude to Dr. Victoria Sutton, the founder and Faculty Advisor, for her invaluable contributions and mentorship. [Extracted from the article]

This paper analyzes the motivations of the British biochemist Joseph Needham for participating in ‘the International Scientific Commission for the Investigation of the Facts Concerning Bacterial Warfare in Korea and China (ISC)’ and his major roles within it during the Korean War. Needham stayed in China for four years starting in 1942 as a scientific counselor and director of the British Scientific Mission in China, which enabled him to interact with many Chinese scientists and politicians. Surprisingly, during this period (1944), Needham conducted an investigation into the Japanese military’s use of bacterial warfare. Through his personal records, Needham repeatedly stated that his experience with bacterial warfare research in 1944 was one of the most important reasons for his participation in ISC activities. In addition, Needham secretly but very actively sought to recruit other investigators within Britain. Needham repeatedly tried to persuade fellow professors at Cambridge University, William Thorpe and Vincent Wigglesworth, to be included in the investigation team. Although Needham had doubts about his own expertise in investigative activities, he actively expressed his desire to become a member of the investigative team through various channels. Primary documents show that he actively and voluntarily led the investigation activities after joining the team in professional discussions, document analysis, and witness interrogations. Needham’s passion and sincerity demonstrated in internal meeting minutes dispel some misunderstandings that the investigation team’s activities were limited to passively approving Chinese data.

Surface attached communities of microbes grow in a wide variety of environments. Often, the size of these microbial community is constrained by their physical surroundings. However, little is known about how size constraints of a colony impact the outcome of microbial competitions. Here, we use individual-based models to simulate contact killing between two bacterial strains with different killing rates in a wide range of community sizes. We found that community size has a substantial impact on outcomes; in fact, in some competitions the identity of the most fit strain differs in large and small environments. Specifically, when at a numerical disadvantage, the strain with the slow killing rate is more successful in smaller environments than in large environments. The improved performance in small spaces comes from finite size effects; stochastic fluctuations in the initial relative abundance of each strain in small environments lead to dramatically different outcomes. However, when the slow killing strain has a numerical advantage, it performs better in large spaces than in small spaces, where stochastic fluctuations now aid the fast killing strain in small communities. Finally, we experimentally validate these results by confining contact killing strains of Vibrio cholerae in transmission electron microscopy grids. The outcomes of these experiments are consistent with our simulations. When rare, the slow killing strain does better in small environments; when common, the slow killing strain does better in large environments. Together, this work demonstrates that finite size effects can substantially modify antagonistic competitions, suggesting that colony size may, at least in part, subvert the microbial arms race. Author summary: Bacterial colonies are often crowded with many bacteria in direct contact. As a result, the competition for space and resources often turns deadly. Bacteria have evolved many mechanisms with which to kill each other; this bacterial warfare is often studied in large communities on agar plates or in flow cells. However, in nature these colonies are often smaller, due to spatial constraints or shear forces. It is unclear how bacterial warfare proceeds in small systems. We performed individual based model simulations of bacterial warfare comprising two strains, each capable of killing the other on direct contact. We found that the community size played a substantial role in determining the outcome. When at a numerical disadvantage, the slow killing strain survived at much higher rates in small communities. In fact, there were many conditions in which the slow killing strain survives in small spaces but is completely eliminated in large ones. Conversely, when the slow killing strain is more common, it performs better in large spaces. Together, these observations demonstrate that finite size effects aid the strain that is at a disadvantage, and in some conditions, can even flip which strain increases its abundance. Finally, we experimentally tested the results of these simulations. Two mutual killing strains of V. cholerae were grown unconfined on agar plates (i.e., in large spaces), confined within square holes with sides 7.5μm long (i.e., in small spaces), and confined within large square holes with sides 60μ long to control for effects of the grids. In these experiments we found that the slow killing strain survived at significantly higher rates in small confinement, validating simulation results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay reflects on the history of napalm and the US anti-war movement to examine the university as both a site of research and development for chemical and biological warfare during the Cold War, as well as a site of abolitionist intervention and struggle. On one hand, napalm represented how war structured the fabric of everyday life in the United States, a condition of total war that overtook institutions of knowledge production within universities, corporations, and laboratories across the nation. On the other hand, napalm was viewed as exceptionally inhumane compared to other tactics of war, prompting movements for outlawing the chemical from military use. This dissonance between organizing against war itself as a perpetual structure of violence and against napalm as an individual technology of war invites consideration of the material stakes of anti-war organizing in an abolitionist vision. As the military–industrial complex only strengthens the entanglements between the university, corporate capitalism, and military expansion, this essay asks: how might we grapple with our place as abolitionist and anti-militarist scholars to interrogate our relationship to knowledge production and the university itself? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the ever-evolving realm of agriculture, the convoluted interaction between plants and microorganisms have assumed paramount significance. Fungal endophytes, once perceived as mere bystanders within plant tissues, have now emerged as dynamic defenders of plant health. This comprehensive review delves into the captivating world of fungal endophytes and their multifaceted biocontrol mechanisms. Exploring their unique ability to coexist with their plant hosts, fungal endophytes have unlocked a treasure trove of biological weaponry to fend off pathogens and enhance plant resilience. From the synthesis of bioactive secondary metabolites to intricate signaling pathways these silent allies are masters of biological warfare. The world of fungal endophytes is quite fascinating as they engage in a delicate dance with the plant immune system, orchestrating a symphony of defense that challenges traditional notions of plant-pathogen interactions. The journey through the various mechanisms employed by these enigmatic endophytes to combat diseases, will lead to revelational understanding of sustainable agriculture. The review delves into cutting-edge research and promising prospects, shedding light on how fungal endophytes hold the key to biocontrol and the reduction of chemical inputs in agriculture. Their ecological significance, potential for bioprospecting and avenues for future research are also explored. This exploration of the biocontrol mechanisms of fungal endophytes promise not only to enrich our comprehension of plant-microbe relationships but also, to shape the future of sustainable and ecofriendly agricultural practices. In this intricate web of life, fungal endophytes are indeed the unsung heroes, silently guarding our crops and illuminating a path towards a greener, healthier tomorrow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a book review titled "Science, Secrecy, and the Smithsonian: The Strange History of the Pacific Ocean Biological Survey Program" by Ed Regis. The book explores the collaboration between the US Army and the Smithsonian Institution to conduct a biological survey of the Pacific Ocean during the Cold War era. It highlights the significant role played by Kansas experts in the program and delves into the ethical dilemmas surrounding the project's connection to biological warfare. The book provides historical context and insights into the interactions between science, ornithology, and national institutions. [Extracted from the article]

The COVID-19 pandemic has ushered in an unprecedented adoption and integration of telehealth and artificial intelligence (AI) driven by telemedicine technologies into healthcare systems worldwide. These innovations promise to revolutionize healthcare delivery by offering greater accessibility, efficiency, and responsiveness to patient needs. However, the rapid deployment of these technologies in response to the crisis has illuminated the imperative need for systematic evaluation processes that comprehensively assess their operations and outcomes. This article underscores the critical importance of developing rigorous evaluation frameworks tailored to the evolving landscape of telehealth and AI-driven telemedicine technologies. The absence of standardized evaluation processes presents multifaceted challenges including uncertainties regarding long-term efficacy, patient safety, data security, and ethical considerations. Ensuring the responsible and effective integration of telehealth and AI into healthcare systems requires adaptable, multidimensional evaluation mechanisms that align with clinical objectives and regulatory standards. Through an examination of documents, procedures, policies, and best practices by regional hospitals, this article advocates for developing evaluation processes that enable stakeholders to optimize the deployment of telehealth and AI technologies fostering patient-centered care while addressing emerging challenges. In an era marked by healthcare transformation, establishing robust evaluation frameworks emerges as a paramount endeavor essential for realizing the full potential of telehealth and AI-driven telemedicine in the post-COVID-19 healthcare ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objectives The purpose of this study was to evaluate possible factors that might be accompanied by high level of human monkey pox (HMPX) knowledge and to explain the relationship between HMPX knowledge and Beliefs regarding emerging viral infections. Study design A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted for the implementation of this study. Methods Study was conducted at two general hospitals in Mansoura City (Old General Hospital and International Hospital) El Dakahlia Governorate among 620 healthcare workers (HCWs) using a self-managed questionnaire for 1 week (1 to 7 January 2023). The questionnaire has items adapted from the previously published literature to assess HMPX knowledge and Beliefs regarding emerging viral infections. Results The mean age of the study sample was 27.97 years and most of them were female (86.1%). Physicians and other HCWs (nurses, laboratory technicians, radiographer technicians, and pharmacists) had significantly different levels of knowledge of monkeypox for the majority of the questions. A higher belief was found among two items: viruses are biological weapons manufactured by the superpowers to take global control and the government is misleading the public about the cause of the virus. Conclusion This study discovered lower levels of knowledge of HMPX among HCWs in Egypt. Beliefs about emerging viral infections were widespread, and future research should look into their potential negative impact on health behavior.

After the 2003 Iraq War, the Iraq Survey Group confirmed that Iraq had no remaining weapons of mass destruction and validated UNSCOM's findings, but as Duelfer puts it, at the time, "UNSCOM did not know how good it was." The weapons that were in existence were to be destroyed, either under UNSCOM supervision or by UNSCOM itself, and then UNSCOM would undertake on-site inspections to verify the declarations and destruction activities. There are also suggestions, by Stephen Black ([1]), for instance, that UNSCOM triggered renewed global efforts to strengthen the Biological Weapons Convention, as it demonstrated that even in the most antagonistic circumstances, international inspections can reveal an illicit biological weapons program. Many people will remember Colin Powell's historic speech to the UN Security Council describing Iraq's mobile production facilities for making biological weapons. [Extracted from the article]

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate possible factors that might be accompanied by high level of human monkey pox (HMPX) knowledge and to explain the relationship between HMPX knowledge and Beliefs regarding emerging viral infections. Study design: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted for the implementation of this study. Methods: Study was conducted at two general hospitals in Mansoura City (Old General Hospital and International Hospital) El Dakahlia Governorate among 620 healthcare workers (HCWs) using a self-managed questionnaire for 1 week (1 to 7 January 2023). The questionnaire has items adapted from the previously published literature to assess HMPX knowledge and Beliefs regarding emerging viral infections. Results: The mean age of the study sample was 27.97 years and most of them were female (86.1%). Physicians and other HCWs (nurses, laboratory technicians, radiographer technicians, and pharmacists) had significantly different levels of knowledge of monkeypox for the majority of the questions. A higher belief was found among two items: viruses are biological weapons manufactured by the superpowers to take global control and the government is misleading the public about the cause of the virus. Conclusion: This study discovered lower levels of knowledge of HMPX among HCWs in Egypt. Beliefs about emerging viral infections were widespread, and future research should look into their potential negative impact on health behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of its war effort in Ukraine following its invasion in February 2022, the Russian military has had the lead on a psychological operations (PSYOP) campaign of disinformation focused on claims of an alleged U.S.-run biological warfare program in Ukraine. This study analyzes the mechanics and content of this effort in terms of objectives, target audiences, key communicators, themes, dissemination methods, and measures of effectiveness and assesses its results, concluding that while considerable assets have been invested in this PSYOP campaign in support of the overall Russian war effort, and despite some tactical impact, greater success has been elusive due to the campaign's flawed assumptions and structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes Israel's bacteriological warfare campaign during the first Arab-Israeli war of 1948. Over the decades following that war rumours circulated that Israel had used bacteria, alongside conventional weaponry, in its battle against Palestine's Arabs and the surrounding Arab states. The declassification of files in the Israeli military archives, our discovery of a crucial letter in private hands, and the publication of a handful of memoirs relating to 1948 have enabled us to bridge the divide between rumour and fact; to explain the campaign's origins; to reconstruct its stages, beginning in April 1948; to identify who was involved – including Israel's prime minister, David Ben-Gurion and the Israeli army's de facto chief of general staff, Yigael Yadin, as well as leading Israeli scientists – and who actively opposed it; and to delineate and assess what the campaign actually achieved or failed to achieve. In sum, this study helps to understand various aspects of the 1948 War. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gain of Function refers to genetic modification to enhance certain properties of a biological agent. "Dual use research" refers to experiments which have a primary goal of benefitting humanity, but which could produce harm if misapplied. So, for example, a virus which was being genetically modified (GM) for altruistic reasons might become more transmissible or resistant to vaccines or antimicrobial medications. Such a GM virus has bioterrorism potential. The UN Biological Weapons Convention has not been universally approved and 10 States are not signatories to the Convention. The control of such experiments is variously controlled in certain jurisdictions but in Australia these experiments are well regulated through the Gene Technology Act 2000 (Cth), the National Health Security Act 2007 (Cth) and the Crimes (Biological Weapons) Act 1976 (Cth). The controls on such experiments in Europe and the United States are less precise. There are examples in the United States and Europe where the security provisions to contain microorganisms undergoing research including genetic modification have been breached. This threatens the health and safety of laboratory workers and the wider community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on the use of nonhuman animals for biological weapons testing by military scientists at Porton Down Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, 1948-1955. After the end of the Second World War and the beginning of the Cold War, the British state and its allies invested in new military technologies which could ensure their superiority in times of conflict. My analysis reveals the partial workings of the Porton Down Laboratory through its historical use of nonhuman animals. I demonstrate that nonhuman animals were simultaneously effaced and made visible during biological warfare experiments. This effacement and visibility was dependent on anthropocentric notions of animal subjection whereby their use in experiments made them "seen" as resources for use, yet paradoxically elicited their nonexistence as subjects. I extend the notion of "strategic ignorance" to develop a novel concept of "strategic effacement" to demonstrate this contradictory relationship which both impacted scientific "objectivity" and contributed to the continued exploitation of animals in the laboratory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the secretary-general of the United Nations has questioned whether the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed a gap in global defenses against bioterrorism that a nefarious group may seek to exploit, the reality is that the pandemic has only underscored the folly of biological warfare, a strategy which relies on weapons – viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens – that would indiscriminately wreak havoc on the attacked and the attacker alike. Indeed, most countries in the world are part of the Biological Weapons Convention, the international treaty that – while lacking an enforcement mechanism – has successfully bolstered the near universal norms against the use of biological weapons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research in public health and medical sciences has always placed a high priority in managing disease outbreaks, effective treatment capacities, and overall human health and wellbeing. Despite the fact that advances in biology, biotechnology, and medical research have proven to have sufficient value in terms of lifesaving treatments, these have also presented major challenges in their effective utilization. Hence, potentially posing serious risks in the form of bioweapons, thereby, endangering governance frameworks that prioritize biosecurity and counter-biological warfare. In this review paper, a thorough literature review has been conducted to explore the critical aspects between advances in biology and their potential misuse, which could result in serious risks to public health and security. The history of biowarfare has been studied, and the results identify major criteria that have been used in deeming a biological agent fit for the use in mass destruction programs. Five historical biological warfare agents (Bacillus anthracis, smallpox, Yersinia pestis, Vibrio cholerae, and Francisella tularensis) have been studied critically to conclude that not all biological agents may act as bioweapons, but only those agents meeting these criteria may cause catastrophic damage. This paper examines key risks associated with bioweaponry posed by the convergence of biotechnology and artificial intelligence as evident in today's world of innovation. Based on the situational analysis of the COVID-19 pandemic, the author also discusses some of the major shortcomings of the international framework and the healthcare system in handling future biological attacks having the potential of mass destruction. Through this paper, associations between different stakeholders, scientific communities, and research groups are highly recommended along with identifying the problem at its roots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A key priority for Human Security in the 21st Century is the prevention of existential threats to human civilisation to ensure the well-being of our future generations. This article describes the significant and escalating nexus between human security and existential threats and outlines the main risks to humankind from existential threats, considered under the interrelated themes of Planet, People, Peace and Prosperity. Planetary threats range from cosmic events such as meteorites, mass-extinctions and biodiversity collapse to threats from our climate emergency. The indirect pressures from climate change and our environment including food and water insecurity are examined as a driver for migration, conflicts and wars. Now more than ever human civilisation is under threat from nuclear, chemical and biological warfare, with as yet undetermined hazards from Artificial Intelligence. COVID-19 has revealed how increasing international trade and travel, urbanisation and population pressure are introducing new and emerging infectious diseases that risk becoming pandemics at an increasing rate. This article proposes an integrated governance framework that highlights the importance of strengthening multi-lateral governance mechanisms to prevent and reduce risks. Furthermore, it emphasises addressing priorities that create positive tipping points to assist in planetary recovery, whilst protecting people and promoting peace, combined with a transformation to renewable energy sources to secure our future prosperity. Existing integrated policy responses that build upon the Welsh Well-Being for Future Generations Act will be described with recommendations made to strengthen our global human security architecture to prevent existential threats and ensure the future of humanity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In the first half of the twentieth century, the possibility of weaponizing bacteria and waging a biological war became a frequently discussed topic in Europe, America, and Asia. This article traces the discourse on bacteriological warfare (xijunzhan) before, during, and in the aftermath of the Second Sino-Japanese War and puts it in the historical context of the development of biomedical sciences, epidemic prevention, and governance in Republican China. The discussion of biowarfare might be understood as an expression of both the skepticism about the scientization as well as technologization of warfare and the fear of epidemics ravaging China at the time. Considering the prevalence of epidemics in China during the first half of the twentieth century, the horror scenario of biological warfare did not necessarily lead to the direct expansion of or change in actual anti-epidemic measures during the Republican era. However, the very possibility of bacteriological attacks increased the sensitivity and knowledge of decision makers, military personnel, and large parts of the population regarding the threat of infectious disease and epidemics. The dread of enemies dropping vessels filled with disease vectors helped to justify the promulgation and implementation of hygiene protocols, vaccine campaigns, and microbiological knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enjoying great commercial success among Thailand's postwar reading public, Por Intharapalit was a prolific Thai humorist, authoring over 1,000 episodes of his famous comic series Sam Glur (Three Chums). Here I discuss one lesser-known episode, aptly titled "Songkhram Chuerok" ("Germ Warfare") (1963) and set during the Cold War. It centers on an international intrigue in which Chinese/Communist infiltrators try to spread a deadly virus to debilitate Thailand, thus sketching an emotional landscape saturated with the fear of invasion by an ideological and ethnic Other. In this paper, I argue that Por Intharaparlit resourcefully calls on a number of Gothic motifs and conventions, some homegrown and others liberally gleaned from the West. Hand-in-glove, they all work toward the notions of paranoia and transgression, which together produce the narrative's horror affects. With national instability in place, transgression gathers force throughout the story; the cultural, territorial, and bodily boundaries become porous, crossed, and blurred. This sends the characters into panic and restless circulation, casting them as the "paranoiac subject" assaulted by unlocatable politicized, racialized threats. In writing this way, Por Intharapalit not only contributes to an ongoing discursive enterprise of creating the national Other through the affective language of the Gothic, but also allows the liberal logic of security to slip into place. Therefore, "Songkhram Chuerok" gestures toward a utilitarian model of the Gothic, one that offers a formal resolution and immunity for the nation's identity crisis during the Cold War. In the end, I briefly discuss how "Songkhram Chuerok" might complicate our understanding of the Gothic through its salient use of comicality as its mode of storytelling and through its situatedness at global and cultural junctures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Many types of research have been published on the history of biological warfare, the agents used, and the medical implications. However, no studies measure how people are aware of the magnitude of these health problems and international threats. The present study aimed to produce and make background about biological warfare information for health college students to be used as a basis for future studies or research and prepare the hospitals' bases for similar disasters. Methods: This observational, cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted among undergraduate students (N = 626) enrolled in health-related colleges at Jazan University, Saudi Arabia. A preliminary survey of 30 participants was then undertaken to improve the questionnaire's understanding and validity. The questionnaire encompassed three primary sections, including (1) sociodemographic characteristics, (2) knowledge, and (3) awareness. Sociodemographic characteristics consisted of age, gender, college type, academic level, and specialty. All data were gathered using an online self-reported questionnaire using Google Forms and participants were recruited using a random sampling strategy. Results: The total participants were 626 students; 514 were females, whereas 112 were males. Knowledge and attitude indices were 3.8650 ± 0.48 and 4.06 ± 0.51 (maximum is 5). The indices showed variable statistical differences among sociodemographic factors. With adjusted and crude odds ratios of 0.53 and 0.54, attitude score is the sole significant (P = 0.05) predictor of knowledge as analyzed using logistic regression. Conclusion: The results of the present study are the first of their kind in the region and can be used to shape public awareness among specialists and decision-makers, especially in light of the recent pandemic.

The rich land of Erythrae in the coast of Asia Minor attracted the attention of the Ionian king Codrus. An oracle demanded the presence of the murky deity Hecate for him to conquer the city. Priestess Chrysame was sent by Thessalians to set the strategy of the clash. The young sorceress poisoned a sacred bull who turned mad, later to be released toward the camp of Erythraeans. The beast was captured and sacrificed. In the feast that followed, all ate a piece of his flesh and went crazy, stimulated by the poison, an easy prey for the army of Codrus. The deleterium used by Chrysame is unknown, but her strategy shaped the origin of biowarfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The best defence against natural or intentional biological agents during armed conflict is usually immunisation, as with typhoid fever, but exceptional circumstances are informative. A large iatrogenic epidemic of hepatitis B occurred in 1942 due to contaminated lots of yellow fever (YF) vaccine used in the US military, even though there was no natural risk of infection. YF vaccine was intended to protect against Japanese Army's use of YF as a biowarfare agent, which did not eventuate. Salmonella typhi was used to infect German soldiers in a Paris café during Christmas 1941 in the knowledge that the café staff but not the soldiers were likely to be immunised against typhoid fever. German Army use of the Weil–Felix reaction to eliminate civilians likely to be typhus infected was subverted by Polish medical officers. They immunised civilians with locally produced Proteus antigens to create false‐positive Weil–Felix reactions in order to exempt men from forced labour schemes. Immunisation against biowarfare agents has a mixed record, indicating that vaccines rarely cover well for intelligence gaps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depression and anxiety were viewed for many years as undiagnosed emotional diseases. People eventually experience grief or anxiety due to new factors including biological warfare, political unrest, climate change, and nuclear war threats in addition to economic degradation and a fall in the number of plant species. Through the findings of studies and surveys conducted in the previous ten years, this essay seeks to shed light on the connection between anxiety, depression, and the new causes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the history of the development and the current state of the apparatus for the detection of interferents and biological warfare simulants in the air with the laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) method. The LIF method is the most sensitive spectroscopic method and also enables the measurement of single particles of biological aerosols and their concentration in the air. The overview covers both the on-site measuring instruments and remote methods. The spectral characteristics of the biological agents, steady-state spectra, excitation–emission matrices, and their fluorescence lifetimes are presented. In addition to the literature, we also present our own detection systems for military applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prosecution of the crimes of the Imperial Japanese Army's Unit 731 are often compared to the prosecution of the crimes of the Nazi doctors. These comparisons emphasize immunity for the Japanese, whereas the Nazis were prosecuted for their actions. However, this comparison is an inaccurate one. While both trials look similar on the surface, their composition, scope, and framework were different. Conscious of the fact they were establishing international criminal precedent, the United States' case against the Nazi doctors relied on military chain of command to prove strong legal responsibility for human experimentation crimes. In contrast, the United States avoided prosecuting Unit 731 because they could not replicate the same clear legal framework used to successfully prosecute the Nazis. The Soviet Union recognized the strategic implications of the United States' decision not to try Unit 731 and saw an opportunity to strike a moral blow, not only by convicting Japanese military members at the Khabarovsk Trial, but also by immediately publishing the court's proceedings internationally. Rather than focusing on the morality of who was punished by whom, understanding the military structures as identified through these different court proceedings could enable prevention of crimes against humanity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The past three years of COVID-19 have resurrected deep pain for the Native peoples of Turtle Island, including the Kichiwikwendong Anishinaabeg, my people. We were the recipients of smallpox blankets used as biological warfare in 1763 issued by Lord Jeffrey Amherst, the commanding general of British forces, as retribution for Odawa leader Pontiac's battles to protect our homelands from the British. According to our elders, intentional biological warfare was actually wielded against the Odawas on at least two occasions, which reduced our nation from thousands to hundreds, with few left to bury our dead. Rather, the bodies had to be burned in a place that is still held sacred by Odawas today. Until COVID-19, I had never heard these stories. The Odawas faced almost complete annihilation as a result of the insatiable greed of empire, but we have persevered only to now see our Mother Earth in critical planetary crisis. As a result of the destruction of ecosystems and habitat, humans are now experiencing similar sicknesses in the form of pandemics. This article is a discussion of the impact of settler colonialism on Native homelands in the Great Lakes, the role education has played, and the reparative justice work being done to restore the health of the land and Indigenous peoples in Mnisota Makoċe, my home today. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]