Search

In 2019, the European Union banned Triton X-100, a detergent widely used in laboratory diagnostics, including the Viral PCR Sample Solution (VPSS), and urged manufacturers to find environmentally sustainable alternatives. Tergitol 15-S-9 (VPSS2) has been proposed as an alternative surfactant. This multicenter study evaluated the effectiveness of VPSS2, a Tergitol-based viral solution, as a replacement for VPSS. Our results show the equivalent performance of VPSS2 to VPSS for nucleic acid extraction and viral stability over time at different temperatures. The new VPSS formulation was also tested against external quality assurance panels and clinical samples. The results of this work support adopting this modified viral PCR sample solution to replace Triton X-100-containing viral transport solutions.

Summary: Climate change has prompted many communities to set targets for carbon-free power supplies, but they often lack data-driven strategies to achieve them. We present a comprehensive analysis of an entirely renewable electric power system that can maintain operating reliability and resource adequacy using detailed models of the city of Los Angeles power grid. In consultation with the operating utility, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), and the local community, we develop four supply scenarios across three demand projections to analyze which types of infrastructure and operational changes would achieve reliable electricity at least cost. We find that a reliable, 100%-renewable power system yielding more than $1 billion annually in health and climate co-benefits is achievable. Solar can supply most future energy needs, while combustion turbines that use renewable, storable carbon-neutral fuels are key to maintaining reliability. This study provides a replicable methodology that other jurisdictions globally can follow. Science for society: Communities and businesses nationwide have set ambitious goals to combat climate change by generating 100% of their electricity from carbon-free or renewable energy sources. Until now, there has been no comprehensive analysis of the possible pathways to achieve these goals on the scale needed to power the largest US cities. Here, we present findings from the Los Angeles 100% Renewable Energy Study (LA100), a thorough and wide-reaching assessment of the factors needed to make a fully renewable utility system operate reliably and deliver adequate electricity to more than 4 million residents. Our analysis uses detailed models of the city’s power grid to examine not just renewable resource options and technical solutions related to generation, transmission, and distribution systems but also the balance of supply and demand, variability and reliability, and affordability and viability—all through the lens of changing demographics and climate conditions.

Good educational game design is about providing an engaging experience for learners. Experiential training games have been used in fields such as medicine, business, outdoor adventures and military operations for decades. Research from these fields demonstrates the importance of including debriefing activities to help the learners consider what was learned and how that learning can be connected to previous learning and experiences in their lives. Most educational games do not include debriefing activities. The purpose of this paper is to explore some of these models of debriefing and to present a variety of methods that educational software creators can use to include debriefing in their experiential educational games.

The goal of the technology brief is to familiarize library decision-makers with the opportunities and challenges of participatory networks. In order to accomplish this goal the brief is divided into four sections (excluding an overview and a detailed statement of goal): • a conceptual framework for understanding and evaluating participatory networks; • a discussion of key concepts and technologies in participatory networks drawn primarily from Web 2.0 and Library 2.0; • a merging of the conceptual framework with the technological discussion to present a roadmap for library systems development; and • a set of recommendations to foster greater discussion and action on the topic of participatory networks and, more broadly, participatory librarianship. This summary will highlight the discussions in each of these four topics. For consistency, the section numbers and titles from the full brief are used.

This series of questions and answers is designed to help you take the first steps toward the successful production of a scholarly article in librarianship. You may find yourself in a library position that requires writing or you may have just decided that you are ready to share your findings, experiences, and knowledge with the current and future generations of librarians. While following the guidelines listed here will not guarantee that you will be successful, these steps will take you closer to discovering the thrill of seeing your name in print and making a difference in the field.

The human gastrointestinal tract harbours a complex microbial community which exist in planktonic and sessile form. The degree to which composition and function of faecal and mucosal microbiota differ remains unclear. We describe the development and characterisation of an in vitro human gut model, which can be used to facilitate the formation and longitudinal analysis of mature mixed species biofilms. This enables the investigation of the role of biofilms in Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). A well established and validated human gut model of simulated CDI was adapted to incorporate glass rods that create a solid-gaseous-liquid interface for biofilm formation. The continuous chemostat model was inoculated with a pooled human faecal emulsion and controlled to mimic colonic conditions in vivo. Planktonic and sessile bacterial populations were enumerated for up to 46 days. Biofilm consistently formed macroscopic structures on all glass rods over extended periods of time, providing a framework to sample and analyse biofilm structures independently. Whilst variation in biofilm biomass is evident between rods, populations of sessile bacterial groups (log10 cfu/g of biofilm) remain relatively consistent between rods at each sampling point. All bacterial groups enumerated within the planktonic communities were also present within biofilm structures. The planktonic mode of growth of C. difficile and gut microbiota closely reflected observations within the original gut model. However, distinct differences were observed in the behaviour of sessile and planktonic C. difficile populations, with C. difficile spores preferentially persisting within biofilm structures. The redesigned biofilm chemostat model has been validated for reproducible and consistent formation of mixed species intestinal biofilms. This model can be utilised for the analysis of sessile mixed species communities longitudinally, potentially providing information of the role of biofilms in CDI.

Apresenta uma metodologia operacional integrada, utilizando técnicas de repositórios de dados (data warehousing) e mineração de dados (data mining), e combinando ferramentas estatísticas com reconhecimento de padrões. Tendo em vista a utilização de recursos, o objetivo principal é chegar a um entendimento melhor do comportamento de comunidades de usuários. O anonimato dos usuários fica inteiramente assegurado na aplicação do modelo, pelo qual são processados os dados oriundos de arquivos transacionais da biblioteca. O próprio processo da bibliomineração consiste basicamente em coletar, depurar e anonimizar os dados, visando, precipuamente, a descoberta de padrões subjacentes. Os resultados podem ser combinados com diferentes variáveis, antes de sua utilização na tomada de decisão pela Administração da biblioteca.