Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker initiation on organ support-free days in patients hospitalized with COVID-19

IMPORTANCE Overactivation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) may contribute to poor clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Objective To determine whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) initiation improves outcomes in patients hospitalized for COVID-19. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In an ongoing, adaptive platform randomized clinical trial, 721 critically ill and 58 non–critically ill hospitalized adults were randomized to receive an RAS inhibitor or control between March 16, 2021, and February 25, 2022, at 69 sites in 7 countries (final follow-up on June 1, 2022). INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomized to receive open-label initiation of an ACE inhibitor (n = 257), ARB (n = 248), ARB in combination with DMX-200 (a chemokine receptor-2 inhibitor; n = 10), or no RAS inhibitor (control; n = 264) for up to 10 days. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was organ support–free days, a composite of hospital survival and days alive without cardiovascular or respiratory organ support through 21 days. The primary analysis was a bayesian cumulative logistic model. Odds ratios (ORs) greater than 1 represent improved outcomes. RESULTS On February 25, 2022, enrollment was discontinued due to safety concerns. Among 679 critically ill patients with available primary outcome data, the median age was 56 years and 239 participants (35.2%) were women. Median (IQR) organ support–free days among critically ill patients was 10 (–1 to 16) in the ACE inhibitor group (n = 231), 8 (–1 to 17) in the ARB group (n = 217), and 12 (0 to 17) in the control group (n = 231) (median adjusted odds ratios of 0.77 [95% bayesian credible interval, 0.58-1.06] for improvement for ACE inhibitor and 0.76 [95% credible interval, 0.56-1.05] for ARB compared with control). The posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitors and ARBs worsened organ support–free days compared with control were 94.9% and 95.4%, respectively. Hospital survival occurred in 166 of 231 critically ill participants (71.9%) in the ACE inhibitor group, 152 of 217 (70.0%) in the ARB group, and 182 of 231 (78.8%) in the control group (posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitor and ARB worsened hospital survival compared with control were 95.3% and 98.1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this trial, among critically ill adults with COVID-19, initiation of an ACE inhibitor or ARB did not improve, and likely worsened, clinical outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0273570

Regulatory and Security Standard Compliance Throughout the Software Development Lifecycle

Our systematic literature review aims to survey research on regulatory and security standard requirements as addressed throughout the Software Development Lifecycle. Also, to characterize current research concerns and identify specific remaining challenges to address regulatory and security standard requirements throughout the SDLC. To this end, we conducted a systematic literature review (SLR) of conference proceedings and academic journals motivated by five areas of concern: 1. SDLC & Regulatory Requirement 2. Risk Assessment and Compliance requirements 3. Technical Debt 4. Decision Making Process throughout the SDLC 5. Metric and Measurements of found Software Vulnerability. The initial search produced 100 papers, and our review process narrowed this total to 20 articles to address our three research questions. Our findings suggest that academic software engineering research directly connecting regulatory and security standard requirements to later stages of the SDLC is rare despite the importance of compliance for ensuring societally acceptable engineering

ACTION RESEARCH AS A MECHANISM FOR CLIENT-DRIVEN DEVELOPMENT

The New Zealand dairy industry is viewed, and views itself, as having a progressive approach to scientific research and the acquisition and adoption of technology. It is also generally accepted that, in order to remain competitive in international markets, technological improvement is a continual necessity. In each component of the industry/system - producer (farms), processor (co-operatives, manufacturing), researchers, extensionists/consultants and marketers (NZ Dairy Board, statutory authority) - practitioners deal regularly with issues requiring solution. However each has a different W (world view) and successful outcomes for one are not necessarily so for the others. For producer practitioners the management issue may be one of seeking solutions to problematic situations by adapting known technology to their own production circumstances. The dairy industry model for this process is the research-consultant/extensionist-producer system. The industry view is that this process has been effective in “transferring” only some of the technologies which are viewed as important for the survival and development of the industry. The paper builds on a project in which a group of dairy-farming women worked with two researchers on a particular technical problem. Using action research (AR) as a framework the group devised a problem-solving process that was structured around three elements; consultancy advice, research findings and self-directed learning in a structurally coupled action researching system. The paper describes the model that was developed, where AR provided a framework for client-centred research and consulting. The authors suggest that this model may contribute to the growth of the dairy system in a way that builds on the respective strengths of consultants, researchers and producers

The plant information center

The Plant Information Center is a partnership of the North Carolina Botanical Garden, Unviersity of North Carolina (UNC) Herbarium, UNC School of Information and Library Science, McDougle Middle School, and Orange County Public Library. The intent of the Project is to connect the research community and the general public (including school children) to make greater use of primary research material and to nurture the public interest and enthusiasm in the study of trees, plants, and natural history. Four specific objectives include: 1) successful cooperation between the various institutions; 2) the development of an interactive Plant Information Center with a Web-based portal; 3) the development of lesson plans using primary research materials from the herbarium for 6th grade students; and, 4) a test of the usefulness of digital images of herbarium specimens for plant identification and for inspiring the public with the aims and methods of botanical science

Factors that influence the non-technical skills performance of scrub nurses: a prospective study

Aim: To identify and describe the factors that impact on the performance of scrub nurses\u27 non‐technical skills performance during the intra‐operative phase of surgery. Background: Non‐technical skills have been identified as important precursors to errors in the operating room. However, few studies have investigated factors influencing non‐technical skills of scrub nurses. Design: Prospective observational study. Methods: Structured observations were performed on a sample of 182 surgical procedures across eight specialities by two trained observers from August 2012–April 2013 at two hospital sites. Participants were purposively selected scrub nurses. Bivariate correlations and a multiple linear regression model were used to identify associations among length of surgery, patients\u27 acuity using the American Society of Anesthesiologists classification system, team familiarity, number of occasions scout nurses leave the operating room, change of scout nurse and the outcome, the non‐technical skills performance of scrub nurses. Results: Patient acuity and team familiarity were the strongest predictors of scrub nurses\u27 non‐technical skills performance at hospital site A. There were no correlations between the predictors and the performance of scrub nurses at hospital site B. Conclusion: A dedicated surgical team and patient acuity potentially influence the performance of scrub nurses\u27 non‐technical skills. Familiarity with team members foster advanced planning, thus minimizing distractions and interruptions that impact on scrub nurses\u27 performance. Development of interventions aimed at improving non‐technical skills has the potential to make a substantial difference and enhance patient care

Emotional Impact of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Training on High School Students

BackgroundThe American Heart Association (AHA) has implemented several programs to educate the public about cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). A common issue in bystander CPR is the fear of hurting the victim. As a result, the victim may not receive CPR in time. The purpose of this study was to measure the emotional impact of CPR training on high school students using two approved AHA courses.MethodsA total of 60 students participated in this study. These students had a mean age of 15.4 ± 1.2 years old and were selected from a high school in Southern California. Subjects were divided into two groups, Basic Life Support (BLS) (n1 = 31) and Hands-Only™ CPR (n2 = 29). Emotional impacts were assessed by having each subject answer a questionnaire based on given scenarios before and after their training session.ResultsThere was a significant difference in both groups when comparing positive-emotion scores before and after the training (BLS: 30.3 ± 6.0 vs. 34.5 ± 6.7, p < 0.001; Hands-Only 27.9 ± 5.0 vs. 32.1 ± 6.5, p < 0.001). In addition, both groups showed significant reductions in negative-emotion scores (BLS: 29.2 ± 6.7 vs. 23.7 ± 6.5, p < 0.001 and Hands-Only: 26.8 ± 6.1vs. 24.8 ± 7.7, p = 0.05).ConclusionOur results indicate that the AHA programs have positive effects on students’ emotional response. We recommend that future studies include an in-depth study design that probes the complexity of students’ emotions after completing an AHA session