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Bioaerosols, including bacteria and fungi, are ubiquitous and have been shown to impact various organisms as well as biogeochemical cycles and human health. However, sample collection poses a challenge for aeromicrobiologists and can determine the success of a study. Establishing a standard collection procedure for bioaerosol sampling could help advance the field. We tested the efficiency (number of organisms collected and DNA yield per unit time) of three sampling devices: a membrane filtration device, a liquid impinger, and a portable electrostatic precipitator bioaerosol collector. We compared the efficiency of these three devices for both culture-dependent studies, by enumerating colony forming units (CFUs), and culture-independent studies, by extracting and quantifying total DNA. Our results show that the electrostatic precipitator collected microorganisms significantly more efficiently than the membrane filtration and liquid impingement in both types of studies over the same time interval. This is due to the high flow rate of the device. This work is important and timely because aeromicrobiology is currently restricted by long sampling times and  risk of evaporation, desiccation, or freezing during sample, which increases with sampling times.  Fieldwork convenience and portability of instruments are an additional challenge for sampling. Using a sampler that can overcome these technical hurdles can accelerate the advancement of the field, and the use of a lightweight, battery-powered, inexpensive, and portable bioaerosol collection device could address these limitations.

Background: Institutional tuberculosis (TB) transmission is an important public health problem highlighted by the HIV/AIDS pandemic and the emergence of multidrug- and extensively drug-resistant TB. Effective TB infection control measures are urgently needed. We evaluated the efficacy of upper-room ultraviolet (UV) lights and negative air ionization for preventing airborne TB transmission using a guinea pig air-sampling model to measure the TB infectiousness of ward air. Methods and Findings: For 535 consecutive days, exhaust air from an HIV-TB ward in Lima, Perú, was passed through three guinea pig air-sampling enclosures each housing approximately 150 guinea pigs, using a 2-d cycle. On UV-off days, ward air passed in parallel through a control animal enclosure and a similar enclosure containing negative ionizers. On UV-on days, UV lights and mixing fans were turned on in the ward, and a third animal enclosure alone received ward air. TB infection in guinea pigs was defined by monthly tuberculin skin tests. All guinea pigs underwent autopsy to test for TB disease, defined by characteristic autopsy changes or by the culture of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from organs. 35% (106/304) of guinea pigs in the control group developed TB infection, and this was reduced to 14% (43/303) by ionizers, and to 9.5% (29/307) by UV lights (both p < 0.0001 compared with the control group). TB disease was confirmed in 8.6% (26/304) of control group animals, and this was reduced to 4.3% (13/303) by ionizers, and to 3.6% (11/307) by UV lights (both p < 0.03 compared with the control group). Time-to-event analysis demonstrated that TB infection was prevented by ionizers (log-rank 27; p < 0.0001) and by UV lights (log-rank 46; p < 0.0001). Time-to-event analysis also demonstrated that TB disease was prevented by ionizers (log-rank 3.7; p = 0.055) and by UV lights (log-rank 5.4; p = 0.02). An alternative analysis using an airborne infection model demonstrated that ionizers prevented 60% of TB infection and 51% of TB disease, and that UV lights prevented 70% of TB infection and 54% of TB disease. In all analysis strategies, UV lights tended to be more protective than ionizers. Conclusions: Upper-room UV lights and negative air ionization each prevented most airborne TB transmission detectable by guinea pig air sampling. Provided there is adequate mixing of room air, upper-room UV light is an effective, low-cost intervention for use in TB infection control in high-risk clinical settings.

In responding to Murakami and Siegel’s “Becoming Bermuda grass,” one is led to reflect on one’s own practice in what becomes an example of reflexivity. Following the authors’ lead of incorporating Deleuze and Guattari’s rhizomatic theory and the art form of decalcomania to reflect on practice, discoveries are made regarding the practice of a middle school science teacher. These reflective discoveries can be used to inform teaching practice in a manner that supports the development of identities of participation.

Background Duchenne muscular dystrophy (Duchenne) is caused by pathogenic variants in the DMD gene. Antisense oligonucleotides (AONs) are one emerging precision medicine treatment for Duchenne. DMD molecular genetic testing results guide precision‐therapy molecular eligibility, requiring healthcare providers to perform analyses currently uncommon in clinical laboratory and medical practices. Clear DMD variant notation and interpretation are key components of clinical care with the availability of precision medicine. Methods The DMD Open‐access Variant Explorer (DOVE) is a web‐based aid for DMD variant interpretation which additionally reports variant‐specific predicted molecular eligibility for therapy. DOVE was developed in Python and adapted to the Django Web framework, integrates existing open‐access tools, and does not rely on previous variant report/classification. Results DOVE [www.dmd.nl/DOVE] interprets colloquial and HGMD inputs of DMD variants to output HGMD variant nomenclature, theoretical molecular eligibility for therapy, and any predicted deleterious molecular consequences of therapy. DOVE relies on holistic in silico prediction of molecular eligibility for therapy in lieu of reference to an empirically defined, “variant‐eligible” list. Examples illustrate the advantage and necessity for holistic variant interpretation. Conclusion DOVE may prove useful for variant interpretation both at patient‐level and in large‐scale programs such as newborn screening and has broad application in concept to molecular genetic test result interpretation. DMD molecular genetic testing results guide precision‐therapy molecular eligibility, requiring healthcare providers to perform analyses currently uncommon in clinical laboratory and medical practices. The DMD Open‐access Variant Explorer (DOVE; www.dmd.nl/DOVE) is a web‐based aid for DMD variant interpretation which additionally reports variant‐specific predicted molecular eligibility for therapy.

The cover image based on Original Article DMD Open‐access Variant Explorer (DOVE): A scalable, open‐access, web‐based tool to aid in clinical interpretation of genetic variants in the DMD gene by Mitchell Bailey and Nicole Miller, DOI: 10.1002/mgg3.510.

Members of the leucine rich repeat (LRR) and PDZ domain (LAP) protein family are essential for animal development and histogenesis. Densin-180, encoded by LRRC7 , is the only LAP protein selectively expressed in neurons. Densin-180 is a postsynaptic scaffold at glutamatergic synapses, linking cytoskeletal elements with signalling proteins such as the α-subunit of Ca 2+ /calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II. We have previously observed an association between high impact variants in LRRC7 and Intellectual Disability; also three individual cases with variants in LRRC7 had been described. We identify here 33 individuals (one of them previously described) with a dominant neurodevelopmental disorder due to heterozygous missense or loss-of-function variants in LRRC7 . The clinical spectrum involves intellectual disability, autism, ADHD, aggression and, in several cases, hyperphagia-associated obesity. A PDZ domain variant interferes with synaptic targeting of Densin-180 in primary cultured neurons. Using in vitro systems (two hybrid, BioID, coimmunoprecipitation of tagged proteins from 293T cells) we identified new candidate interaction partners for the LRR domain, including protein phosphatase 1 (PP1), and observed that variants in the LRR reduced binding to these proteins. We conclude that LRRC7 encodes a major determinant of intellectual development and behaviour. Here the authors identify 33 individuals with a dominant neurodevelopmental disorder due to heterozygous missense or loss-of-function variants in the gene encoding Densin-180, a scaffold protein present at postsynaptic sites in neurons of the central nervous system.

Those who experience intimate partner violence (IPV) seek health care more frequently due to a multitude of health consequences. Healthcare providers are an essential entry point to identify victims. However, rates of routine universal screening among healthcare clinicians are low, and most do not respond effectively to positive reports. This project was a descriptive survey study. The primary aims were to identify the reported rate of IPV screening among advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) in the United States and to assess associations between readiness for screening (or adequate knowledge, positive perceptions, and other facilitators) and reported screening practices. Secondary aims were to find knowledge gaps and practice barriers. The survey tool was a modified version of the Physician Readiness to Manage Intimate Partner Violence (PREMIS instrument) by Short et al. (2006). Respondents were midwives, women’s health nurse practitioners, and family nurse practitioners. Reported screening rates among APRNs were similar to or higher than rates reported in past research in APRNs, physicians, and other healthcare workers. However, the major knowledge gap identified was how to appropriately respond to positive reports of IPV. While not correlated with knowledge of IPV, practice issue scores were significantly positively correlated with the opinion scales of preparation (r = .350, p < .01), legal requirements (r = .374, p < .001), workplace issues (r = .405, p < .01), and self-efficacy (r = .466, p < .001). Previous training was positively correlated with perceived preparation (r = .433, p < .001), perceived knowledge (r = .493, p < .001), actual knowledge (r = .368, p < .001), and practice issues (r = .229, p < .05). This project is one of few studies exploring readiness to screen for and manage IPV among APRNs. Findings of this survey suggest barriers to universal screening for IPV are mainly workplace-related, such as time constraints and lack of protocols. Training also affects APRNs’ ability to effectively screen and manage IPV. Recommendations based on findings include developing practice protocols to respond to positive reports of IPV, ensuring comprehensive training and education for APRNs, and removing barriers in the clinical practice environment.

Bacteriologic culturing of environmental samples taken from sources such as manure pits and egg belts has been the principal screening tool in programs for identifying commercial laying flocks that have been exposed to Salmonella enteritidis and are thus at risk to produce contaminated eggs. Because airborne dust and aerosols can carry bacteria, air sampling offers a potentially efficient and inexpensive alternative for detecting S. enteritidis in poultry house environments. In the present study, an electrostatic air sampling device was applied to detect S. enteritidis in a room containing experimentally infected, caged laying hens. After oral inoculation of hens with a phage type 13a S. enteritidis strain, air samples were collected onto agar plates with the electrostatic sampling device, an impaction air sampler, and by passive exposure to the settling of aerosols and dust. Even though the floor of the room was cleaned once per week (removing most manure, dust, and feathers), air samples were positive for S. enteritidis for up to 4 wk postinoculation. On the basis of both the number of S. enteritidis colonies observed on incubated agar plates and the frequency of positive results, the efficiency of the electrostatic device was significantly greater than that of the passive exposure plates (especially at short collection intervals) and was similar to that of the far more expensive impaction sampler. The electrostatic device, used for a 3-hr sampling interval, detected airborne S. enteritidis on 75% of agar plates over the 4 wk of the study.