966 research outputs found
International Health Regulations
On Tuesday, April 6, 2010, the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services (GW SPHHS) hosted the annual Southby Distinguished Lectureship in Comparative Health Policy on the International Health Regulations. This lectureship gave an overview of the U.S. Government\u27s approach to addressing the challenges, policies, and opportunities related to both domestic and international implementation of the IHR (2005).
Introductory remarks were given by GW School of Public Health faculty, including Josef Reum, Interim Dean; Professor Sara Rosenbaum, Chair of the Department of Health Policy & Hirsh Professor of Health Law and Policy; Richard Southby, Executive Dean Emeritus; and Rebecca Katz, Assistant Professor, Department of Health Policy.
The plenary speakers were Mr. Andrew Weber, Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Defense Programs at the Department of Defense; Dr. Nicole Lurie, Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response at the Department of Health and Human Services; and Dr. Scott Dowell, Director of the Global Disease Detection Program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The discussants were: Dr. Julie Fischer, Stimson Center; Ms. Jennifer Kates, Kaiser Family Foundation; and Dr. Stephen Morrison, Center for Strategic and International Studies
A Smaller Radius for the Transiting Exoplanet WASP-10b
We present photometry of WASP-10 during the transit of its short-period
Jovian planet. We employed the novel PSF-shaping capabilities the OPTIC camera
mounted on the UH 2.2m telescope to achieve a photometric precision of 4.7e-4
per 1.3 min sample. With this new light curve, in conjunction with stellar
evolutionary models, we improve on existing measurements of the planetary,
stellar and orbital parameters. We find a stellar radius Rstar = 0.698 +/-
0.012 Rsun and a planetary radius Rp = 1.080 +/- 0.020 Rjup. The quoted errors
do not include any possible systematic errors in the stellar evolutionary
models. Our measurement improves the precision of the planet's radius by a
factor of 4, and revises the previous estimate downward by 16% (2.5sigma, where
sigma is the quadrature sum of the respective confidence limits). Our measured
radius of WASP-10b is consistent with previously published theoretical radii
for irradiated Jovian planets.Comment: 4 pages, 2 tables, 2 figures, table 1 available upon reques
insights for ecological applications from the German Biodiversity Exploratories
Biodiversity, a multidimensional property of natural systems, is difficult to
quantify partly because of the multitude of indices proposed for this purpose.
Indices aim to describe general properties of communities that allow us to
compare different regions, taxa, and trophic levels. Therefore, they are of
fundamental importance for environmental monitoring and conservation, although
there is no consensus about which indices are more appropriate and
informative. We tested several common diversity indices in a range of simple
to complex statistical analyses in order to determine whether some were better
suited for certain analyses than others. We used data collected around the
focal plant Plantago lanceolata on 60 temperate grassland plots embedded in an
agricultural landscape to explore relationships between the common diversity
indices of species richness (S), Shannon's diversity (H'), Simpson's diversity
(D1), Simpson's dominance (D2), Simpson's evenness (E), and BergerâParker
dominance (BP). We calculated each of these indices for herbaceous plants,
arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, aboveground arthropods, belowground insect
larvae, and P. lanceolata molecular and chemical diversity. Including these
trait-based measures of diversity allowed us to test whether or not they
behaved similarly to the better studied species diversity. We used path
analysis to determine whether compound indices detected more relationships
between diversities of different organisms and traits than more basic indices.
In the path models, more paths were significant when using H', even though all
models except that with E were equally reliable. This demonstrates that while
common diversity indices may appear interchangeable in simple analyses, when
considering complex interactions, the choice of index can profoundly alter the
interpretation of results. Data mining in order to identify the index
producing the most significant results should be avoided, but simultaneously
considering analyses using multiple indices can provide greater insight into
the interactions in a system
Novel polyomaviruses in mammals from multiple orders and reassessment of polyomavirus evolution and taxonomy
As the phylogenetic organization of mammalian polyomaviruses is complex and currently incompletely resolved, we aimed at a deeper insight into their evolution by identifying polyomaviruses in host orders and families that have either rarely or not been studied. Sixteen unknown and two known polyomaviruses were identified in animals that belong to 5 orders, 16 genera, and 16 species. From 11 novel polyomaviruses, full genomes could be determined. Splice sites were predicted for large and small T antigen (LTAg, STAg) coding sequences (CDS) and examined experimentally in transfected cell culture. In addition, splice sites of seven published polyomaviruses were analyzed. Based on these data, LTAg and STAg annotations were corrected for 10/86 and 74/86 published polyomaviruses, respectively. For 25 polyomaviruses, a spliced middle T CDS was observed or predicted. Splice sites that likely indicate expression of additional, alternative T antigens, were experimentally detected for six polyomaviruses. In contrast to all other mammalian polyomaviruses, three closely related cetartiodactyl polyomaviruses display two introns within their LTAg CDS. In addition, the VP2 of Glis glis (edible dormouse) polyomavirus 1 was observed to be encoded by a spliced transcript, a unique experimental finding within the Polyomaviridae family. Co-phylogenetic analyses based on LTAg CDS revealed a measurable signal of codivergence when considering all mammalian polyomaviruses, most likely driven by relatively recent codivergence events. Lineage duplication was the only other process whose influence on polyomavirus evolution was unambiguous. Finally, our analyses suggest that an update of the taxonomy of the family is required, including the creation of novel genera of mammalian and non-mammalian polyomaviruses.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Science and Technology Issues in the 115th Congress
Science and technology (S&T) have a pervasive influence over a wide range of issues confronting the nation. Public and private research and development spur scientific and technological advancement. Such advances can drive economic growth, help address national priorities, and improve health and quality of life. The constantly changing nature and ubiquity of science and technology frequently create public policy issues of congressional interest.
The federal government supports scientific and technological advancement directly by funding and performing research and development and indirectly by creating and maintaining policies that encourage private sector efforts. Additionally, the federal government establishes and enforces regulatory frameworks governing many aspects of S&T activities.
This report briefly outlines an array of science and technology policy issues that may come before the 115th Congress. Given the rapid pace of S&T advancement and its importance in many diverse public policy issues, S&T-related issues not discussed in this report may come before the 115th Congress. The selected issues are grouped into 9 categories:
- Overarching S&T Policy Issues,
- Agriculture,
- Biomedical Research and Development,
- Defense,
- Energy,
- Environment and Natural Resources,
- Homeland Security,
- Information Technology,
- Physical and Material Sciences, and
- Space.
Each of these categories includes concise analysis of multiple policy issues. The material presented in this report should be viewed as illustrative rather than comprehensive. Each section identifies CRS reports, when available, and the appropriate CRS experts to contact for further information and analysis
Replication, Gene Expression and Particle Production by a Consensus Merkel Cell Polyomavirus (MCPyV) Genome
Merkel Cell Polyomavirus (MCPyV) genomes are clonally integrated in tumor tissues of approximately 85% of all Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) cases, a highly aggressive tumor of the skin which predominantly afflicts elderly and immunosuppressed patients. All integrated viral genomes recovered from MCC tissue or MCC cell lines harbor signature mutations in the early gene transcript encoding for the large T-Antigen (LT-Ag). These mutations selectively abrogate the ability of LT-Ag to support viral replication while still maintaining its Rb-binding activity, suggesting a continuous requirement for LT-Ag mediated cell cycle deregulation during MCC pathogenesis. To gain a better understanding of MCPyV biology, in vitro MCPyV replication systems are required. We have generated a synthetic MCPyV genomic clone (MCVSyn) based on the consensus sequence of MCC-derived sequences deposited in the NCBI database. Here, we demonstrate that transfection of recircularized MCVSyn DNA into some human cell lines recapitulates efficient replication of the viral genome, early and late gene expression together with virus particle formation. However, serial transmission of infectious virus was not observed. This in vitro culturing system allows the study of viral replication and will facilitate the molecular dissection of important aspects of the MCPyV lifecycle
Long-term ecological research on Colorado Shortgrass Steppe
The SGS-LTER research site was established in 1980 by researchers at Colorado State University as part of a network of long-term research sites within the US LTER Network, supported by the National Science Foundation. Scientists within the Natural Resource Ecology Lab, Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, and Biology Department at CSU, California State Fullerton, USDA Agricultural Research Service, University of Northern Colorado, and the University of Wyoming, among others, have contributed to our understanding of the structure and functions of the shortgrass steppe and other diverse ecosystems across the network while maintaining a common mission and sharing expertise, data and infrastructure.Poster presented at the LTER All Scientists Meeting held in Estes Park, CO on September 10-13, 2012
Multicenter benchmarking of short and long read wet lab protocols for clinical viral metagenomics
Metagenomics is gradually being implemented for diagnosing infectious diseases. However, in-depth protocol comparisons for viral detection have been limited to individual sets of experimental workflows and laboratories. In this study, we present a benchmark of metagenomics protocols used in clinical diagnostic laboratories initiated by the European Society for Clinical Virology (ESCV) Network on NGS (ENNGS). A mock viral reference panel was designed to mimic low biomass clinical specimens. The panel was used to assess the performance of twelve metagenomic wet lab protocols currently in use in the diagnostic laboratories of participating ENNGS member institutions. Both Illumina and Nanopore, shotgun and targeted capture probe protocols were included. Performance metrics sensitivity, specificity, and quantitative potential were assessed using a central bioinformatics pipeline. Overall, viral pathogens with loads down to 104 copies/ml (corresponding to CT values of 31 in our PCR assays) were detected by all the evaluated metagenomic wet lab protocols. In contrast, lower abundant mixed viruses of CT values of 35 and higher were detected only by a minority of the protocols. Considering the reference panel as the gold standard, optimal thresholds to define a positive result were determined per protocol, based on the horizontal genome coverage. Implementing these thresholds, sensitivity and specificity of the protocols ranged from 67 to 100 % and 87 to 100 %, respectively. A variety of metagenomic protocols are currently in use in clinical diagnostic laboratories. Detection of low abundant viral pathogens and mixed infections remains a challenge, implying the need for standardization of metagenomic analysis for use in clinical settings.</p
New genetic loci implicated in fasting glucose homeostasis and their impact on type 2 diabetes risk.
Levels of circulating glucose are tightly regulated. To identify new loci influencing glycemic traits, we performed meta-analyses of 21 genome-wide association studies informative for fasting glucose, fasting insulin and indices of beta-cell function (HOMA-B) and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in up to 46,186 nondiabetic participants. Follow-up of 25 loci in up to 76,558 additional subjects identified 16 loci associated with fasting glucose and HOMA-B and two loci associated with fasting insulin and HOMA-IR. These include nine loci newly associated with fasting glucose (in or near ADCY5, MADD, ADRA2A, CRY2, FADS1, GLIS3, SLC2A2, PROX1 and C2CD4B) and one influencing fasting insulin and HOMA-IR (near IGF1). We also demonstrated association of ADCY5, PROX1, GCK, GCKR and DGKB-TMEM195 with type 2 diabetes. Within these loci, likely biological candidate genes influence signal transduction, cell proliferation, development, glucose-sensing and circadian regulation. Our results demonstrate that genetic studies of glycemic traits can identify type 2 diabetes risk loci, as well as loci containing gene variants that are associated with a modest elevation in glucose levels but are not associated with overt diabetes
Increased Breadth and Depth of Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes Responses against HIV-1-B Nef by Inclusion of Epitope Variant Sequences
Different vaccine approaches cope with HIV-1
diversity, ranging from
centralized1â4 to
variability-encompassing5â7
antigens. For all these strategies, a concern
remains: how does HIV-1 diversity impact epitope
recognition by the immune system? We studied the
relationship between HIV-1 diversity and
CD8+ T Lymphocytes (CTL) targeting
of HIV-1 subtype B Nef using 944 peptides (10-mers
overlapping by nine amino acids (AA)) that
corresponded to consensus peptides and their most
common variants in the HIV-1-B virus population.
IFN-Îł ELISpot assays were performed using
freshly isolated PBMC from 26 HIV-1-infected
persons. Three hundred and fifty peptides elicited
a response in at least one individual. Individuals
targeted a median of 7 discrete regions. Overall,
33% of responses were directed against
viral variants but not elicited against
consensus-based test peptides. However, there was
no significant relationship between the frequency
of a 10-mer in the viral population and either its
frequency of recognition (Spearman's
correlation coefficient
Ïâ=â0.24) or the
magnitude of the responses
(Ïâ=â0.16). We found that
peptides with a single mutation compared to the
consensus were likely to be recognized (especially
if the change was conservative) and to elicit
responses of similar magnitude as the consensus
peptide. Our results indicate that
cross-reactivity between rare and frequent
variants is likely to play a role in the expansion
of CTL responses, and that maximizing antigenic
diversity in a vaccine may increase the breadth
and depth of CTL responses. However, since there
are few obvious preferred pathways to virologic
escape, the diversity that may be required to
block all potential escape pathways may be too
large for a realistic vaccine to accommodate.
Furthermore, since peptides were not recognized
based on their frequency in the population, it
remains unclear by which mechanisms
variability-inclusive antigens (i.e., constructs
enriched with frequent variants) expand CTL
recognition
- âŠ