%0 Book %A Institute of Medicine %A National Research Council %E Hook-Barnard, India %E Norris, Sheena M. Posey %E Alper, Joe %T Technologies to Enable Autonomous Detection for BioWatch: Ensuring Timely and Accurate Information for Public Health Officials: Workshop Summary %@ 978-0-309-29251-1 %D 2014 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/18495/technologies-to-enable-autonomous-detection-for-biowatch-ensuring-timely-and %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/18495/technologies-to-enable-autonomous-detection-for-biowatch-ensuring-timely-and %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Health and Medicine %K Conflict and Security Issues %P 260 %X The BioWatch program, funded and overseen by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has three main elements—sampling, analysis, and response—each coordinated by different agencies. The Environmental Protection Agency maintains the sampling component, the sensors that collect airborne particles. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention coordinates analysis and laboratory testing of the samples, though testing is actually carried out in state and local public health laboratories. Local jurisdictions are responsible for the public health response to positive findings. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is designated as the lead agency for the law enforcement response if a bioterrorism event is detected. In 2003 DHS deployed the first generation of BioWatch air samplers. The current version of this technology, referred to as Generation 2.0, requires daily manual collection and testing of air filters from each monitor. DHS has also considered newer automated technologies (Generation 2.5 and Generation 3.0) which have the potential to produce results more quickly, at a lower cost, and for a greater number of threat agents. Technologies to Enable Autonomous Detection for BioWatch is the summary of a workshop hosted jointly by the Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council in June 2013 to explore alternative cost-effective systems that would meet the requirements for a BioWatch Generation 3.0 autonomous detection system, or autonomous detector, for aerosolized agents . The workshop discussions and presentations focused on examination of the use of four classes of technologies—nucleic acid signatures, protein signatures, genomic sequencing, and mass spectrometry—that could reach Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6-plus in which the technology has been validated and is ready to be tested in a relevant environment over three different tiers of temporal timeframes: those technologies that could be TRL 6-plus ready as part of an integrated system by 2016, those that are likely to be ready in the period 2016 to 2020, and those are not likely to be ready until after 2020. Technologies to Enable Autonomous Detection for BioWatch discusses the history of the BioWatch program, the role of public health officials and laboratorians in the interpretation of BioWatch data and the information that is needed from a system for effective decision making, and the current state of the art of four families of technology for the BioWatch program. This report explores how the technologies discussed might be strategically combined or deployed to optimize their contributions to an effective environmental detection capability. %0 Book %A Institute of Medicine %A National Research Council %T BioWatch PCR Assays: Building Confidence, Ensuring Reliability: Abbreviated Version %@ 978-0-309-36722-6 %D 2015 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/21658/biowatch-pcr-assays-building-confidence-ensuring-reliability-abbreviated-version %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/21658/biowatch-pcr-assays-building-confidence-ensuring-reliability-abbreviated-version %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Environment and Environmental Studies %P 200 %X BioWatch is an air monitoring system deployed in jurisdictions around the country with the goal of detecting the presence of certain high risk pathogenic microorganisms. It relies on a network of federal and nonfederal collaborative relationships to be successful, and is one part of a larger array of disease surveillance, intelligence-gathering, and biomonitoring activities in support of public safety and health. The assays used in the BioWatch system to detect the presence of pathogens in collected samples rely on the technique of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to sensitively and specifically amplify target nucleic acid sequences. BioWatch PCR Assays evaluates and provides guidance on appropriate standards for the validation and verification of PCR tests and assays in order to ensure that adequate performance data are available to public health and other key decision makers with a sufficient confidence level to facilitate the public health response to a BioWatch Actionable Response. This report discusses principles of performance standards, reviews information from several existing guidance documents and standards that might be applicable to BioWatch, and discusses assay testing efforts that have occurred or are ongoing. BioWatch PCR Assays provides recommendations on general principles and approaches for a performance standard and validation framework to meet BioWatch's mission. The report also considers how developments in technology, particularly in multiplex PCR and next-generation sequencing, can contribute to the ability of the BioWatch program to meet current and future challenges. This report has been determined to contain information exempt from disclosure under 5 U.S.C. 552(b). Section 15 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act provides that the National Academies shall make its final report available to the public unless the National Academies determines that the report would disclose matters described in one or more of the exemption provisions under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). In such case, the National Academies "shall make public an abbreviated version of the report that does not disclose those matters." This unrestricted, abbreviated version of the report represents, in so far as possible, the committee's findings, recommendations, and other substantive material without disclosing materials described in 5 U.S.C. 552(b). %0 Book %A National Research Council %T Sensor Systems for Biological Agent Attacks: Protecting Buildings and Military Bases %@ 978-0-309-09576-1 %D 2005 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/11207/sensor-systems-for-biological-agent-attacks-protecting-buildings-and-military %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/11207/sensor-systems-for-biological-agent-attacks-protecting-buildings-and-military %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Conflict and Security Issues %K Health and Medicine %P 208 %X Over the last ten years, there has been growing concern about potential biological attacks on the nation’s population and its military facilities. It is now possible to detect such attacks quickly enough to permit treatment of potential victims prior to the onset of symptoms. The capability to “detect to warn”, that is in time to take action to minimize human exposure, however, is still lacking. To help achieve such a capability, the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) asked the National Research Council (NRC) to assess the development path for “detect to warn” sensors systems. This report presents the results of this assessment including analysis of scenarios for protecting facilities, sensor requirements, and detection technologies and systems. Findings and recommendations are provided for the most probable path to achieve a detect-to-warn capability and potential technological breakthroughs that could accelerate its attainment. %0 Book %A National Research Council %T Basic Mechanisms in Radiobiology: III. Biochemical Aspects %D 1954 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/18879/basic-mechanisms-in-radiobiology-iii-biochemical-aspects %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/18879/basic-mechanisms-in-radiobiology-iii-biochemical-aspects %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K %K Biology and Life Sciences %P 163 %0 Book %T Electron Spin Resonance and the Effects of Radiation on Biological Systems %D 1966 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/21434/electron-spin-resonance-and-the-effects-of-radiation-on-biological-systems %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/21434/electron-spin-resonance-and-the-effects-of-radiation-on-biological-systems %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K %K Environment and Environmental Studies %P 207 %0 Book %T Comparative Effects of Radiation %D 1960 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/21291/comparative-effects-of-radiation %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/21291/comparative-effects-of-radiation %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K %K Math, Chemistry, and Physics %P 451 %0 Book %A National Research Council %T Computer Assisted Modeling: Contributions of Computational Approaches to Elucidating Macromolecular Structure and Function %@ 978-0-309-06228-2 %D 1987 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/1136/computer-assisted-modeling-contributions-of-computational-approaches-to-elucidating-macromolecular %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/1136/computer-assisted-modeling-contributions-of-computational-approaches-to-elucidating-macromolecular %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Computers and Information Technology %P 186 %X %0 Book %T Replication and Recombination of Genetic Material %D 1968 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/20772/replication-and-recombination-of-genetic-material %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/20772/replication-and-recombination-of-genetic-material %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K %K Biology and Life Sciences %P 285 %0 Book %A National Research Council %E Tang, Evonne P. Y. %T Path to Effective Recovering of DNA from Formalin-Fixed Biological Samples in Natural History Collections: Workshop Summary %@ 978-0-309-10293-3 %D 2006 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/11712/path-to-effective-recovering-of-dna-from-formalin-fixed-biological-samples-in-natural-history-collections %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/11712/path-to-effective-recovering-of-dna-from-formalin-fixed-biological-samples-in-natural-history-collections %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Biology and Life Sciences %P 64 %X Museums catalogue our knowledge of the Earth's biodiversity, and their collections represent many decades of work by experts. Access to DNA sequence information in archival specimens would greatly extend knowledge of the genetic relationships within our biosphere. However, molecular genetic analysis of museum specimens has been slowed by the usual practice of fixation and storage of samples in formalin. Formalin is an environmental toxin and induces genetic and chromosomal alterations to the samples. Few of the many attempts to obtain and sequence DNA from formalin-fixed specimens stored in aqueous formalin or ethanol have been successful. All of the protocols are slow, difficult, and often expensive, and few produce DNA fragments longer than 500 base pairs. Path to Effective Recovering of DNA from Formalin-Fixed Biological Samples in Natural History Collections examines past attempts on DNA recovery from formalin-preserved biological specimens and discusses the research needed to advance the development of similar but more efficient and cost-effective protocols. %0 Book %T Research Briefings 1986 %@ 978-0-309-03689-4 %D 1986 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/911/research-briefings-1986 %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/911/research-briefings-1986 %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Policy for Science and Technology %P 62 %X Prepared for the Office of Science and Technology Policy and the National Science Foundation, these briefings examine areas important to the progress of U.S. science and technology: the science of interfaces and thin films, decision making and problem solving, protein structure and biological function, and the prevention and treatment of viral diseases. %0 Book %T Harvesting the Fruits of Inquiry: How Materials Discoveries Improve Our Lives %D 2014 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/18734/harvesting-the-fruits-of-inquiry-how-materials-discoveries-improve-our %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/18734/harvesting-the-fruits-of-inquiry-how-materials-discoveries-improve-our %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Engineering and Technology %P 32 %X The field of condensed matter and materials research has played a key role in meeting our nation's needs in a number of areas, including energy, health, and climate change. Harvesting the Fruits of Inquiry highlights a few of the societal benefits that have flowed from research in this field. This report communicates the role that condensed matter and materials research plays in addressing societal needs. The report uses examples to illustrate how research in this area has contributed directly to efforts to address the nation's needs in providing sustainable energy, meeting health needs, and addressing climate change issues. Written in an accessible style, this report will be of interest to academia, government agencies, and Congress. %0 Book %A National Research Council %T Field Testing Genetically Modified Organisms: Framework for Decisions %@ 978-0-309-04076-1 %D 1989 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/1431/field-testing-genetically-modified-organisms-framework-for-decisions %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/1431/field-testing-genetically-modified-organisms-framework-for-decisions %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Biology and Life Sciences %P 184 %X Potential benefits from the use of genetically modified organisms—such as bacteria that biodegrade environmental pollutants—are enormous. To minimize the risks of releasing such organisms into the environment, regulators are working to develop rational safeguards. This volume provides a comprehensive examination of the issues surrounding testing these organisms in the laboratory or the field and a practical framework for making decisions about organism release. Beginning with a discussion of classical versus molecular techniques for genetic alteration, the volume is divided into major sections for plants and microorganisms and covers the characteristics of altered organisms, past experience with releases, and such specific issues as whether plant introductions could promote weediness. The executive summary presents major conclusions and outlines the recommended decision-making framework. %0 Book %A National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine %T Rapid Expert Consultation on Critical Issues in Diagnostic Testing for the COVID-19 Pandemic (November 9, 2020) %D 2020 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/25984/rapid-expert-consultation-on-critical-issues-in-diagnostic-testing-for-the-covid-19-pandemic-november-9-2020 %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/25984/rapid-expert-consultation-on-critical-issues-in-diagnostic-testing-for-the-covid-19-pandemic-november-9-2020 %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Health and Medicine %P 21 %X Since the start of the pandemic, diagnostic testing has been critical to the medical care of those infected with COVID-19, the protection of health care and other essential workers, and the efforts to contain the spread of the disease. This rapid expert consultation draws attention to four critical areas in developing diagnostic testing and strategies to reduce the number of COVID-19 infections and deaths: (1) advantages and limitations of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing for viral RNA; (2) the status of POC testing; (3) testing strategies, namely, considerations in the deployment of types and sequences of tests; and (4) next-generation testing that offers the prospect of highthroughput, rapid, and less expensive testing. This rapid expert consultation was convened under the auspices of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine's Standing Committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases and 21st Century Health Threats. %0 Book %A National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine %T Charting a Future for Sequencing RNA and Its Modifications: A New Era for Biology and Medicine %@ 978-0-309-71763-2 %D 2024 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/27165/charting-a-future-for-sequencing-rna-and-its-modifications-a %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/27165/charting-a-future-for-sequencing-rna-and-its-modifications-a %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Biology and Life Sciences %K Health and Medicine %P 260 %X Concerted efforts to deepen understanding of RNA modifications and their role in living systems hold the potential to advance human health, improve crop yields, and address other pressing societal challenges. RNA, which carries the information encoded by DNA to the places where it is needed, is amazingly diverse and dynamic. RNA is processed and modified through natural biological pathways, giving rise to hundreds, in some cases thousands, of distinct RNA molecules for each gene, thereby diversifying genetic information. RNA modifications are known to be pivotal players in nearly all biological processes, and their dysregulation has been implicated in a wide range of human diseases and disorders. Yet, our knowledge of RNA modifications remains incomplete, hindered by current technological limitations. Existing methods cannot discover all RNA modifications, let alone comprehensively sequence them on every RNA molecule. Nonetheless, what is known about RNA modifications has already been leveraged in the development of vaccines that helped saved millions of lives worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic. RNA modifications also have applications beyond health, for example, enhancing agricultural productivity. Charting a Future for Sequencing RNA and Its Modifications: A New Era for Biology and Medicine calls for a focused, large-scale effort to accelerate technological innovation to harness the full potential of RNA modifications to address pressing societal challenges in health, agriculture, and beyond. This report assesses the scientific and technological breakthroughs, workforce, and infrastructure needs to sequence RNA and its modifications, and ultimately understand the roles RNA modifications play in biological processes and disease. It proposes a roadmap of innovation that will make it possible for any RNA from any biological system to be sequenced end-to-end with all of its modifications - a capability that could lead to more personalized and targeted treatments and instigate transformative changes across various sectors beyond health and medicine. %0 Book %A National Research Council %T Signs of Life: A Report Based on the April 2000 Workshop on Life Detection Techniques %@ 978-0-309-08306-5 %D 2002 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/10265/signs-of-life-a-report-based-on-the-april-2000 %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/10265/signs-of-life-a-report-based-on-the-april-2000 %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Space and Aeronautics %P 226 %X A workshop to assess the science and technology of life detection techniques was organized by the Committee on the Origins and Evolution of Life (COEL) of the Board on Life Sciences (BLS) and the Space Studies Board (SSB). Topics discussed in the workshop included the search for extraterrestrial life in situ and in the laboratory, extant life and the signature of extinct life, and determination of the point of origin (terrestrial or not) of detected organisms. %0 Book %A National Research Council %T Identifying Future Drinking Water Contaminants %@ 978-0-309-06432-3 %D 1999 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/9595/identifying-future-drinking-water-contaminants %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/9595/identifying-future-drinking-water-contaminants %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Environment and Environmental Studies %P 276 %X With an increasing population, use of new and diverse chemicals that can enter the water supply, and emergence of new microbial pathogens, the U.S. federal government is faced with a regulatory dilemma: Where should it focus its attention and limited resources to ensure safe drinking water supplies for the future? Identifying Future Drinking Water Contaminants is based on a 1998 workshop on emerging drinking water contaminants. It includes a dozen papers that were presented on new and emerging microbiological and chemical drinking water contaminants, associated analytical and water treatment methods for their detection and removal, and existing and proposed environmental databases to assist in their proactive identification and regulation. The papers are preceded by a conceptual approach and related recommendations to EPA for the periodic creation of future Drinking Water Contaminant Candidate Lists (CCLs—produced every five years—include currently unregulated chemical and microbiological substances that are known or anticipated to occur in public water systems and that may pose health risks). %0 Book %A National Research Council %T Report of the Committee on Proposal Evaluation for Allocation of Supercomputing Time for the Study of Molecular Dynamics: Fifth Round %@ 978-0-309-31304-9 %D 2014 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/18961/report-of-the-committee-on-proposal-evaluation-for-allocation-of-supercomputing-time-for-the-study-of-molecular-dynamics %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/18961/report-of-the-committee-on-proposal-evaluation-for-allocation-of-supercomputing-time-for-the-study-of-molecular-dynamics %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Biology and Life Sciences %K Computers and Information Technology %P 29 %X This report describes the work of the Committee on Proposal Evaluation for Allocation of Supercomputing Time for the Study of Molecular Dynamics, Third Round. The committee evaluated submissions received in response to a request for proposals for biomolecular simulation time on Anton, a supercomputer specially designed and built by D.E. Shaw Research (DESRES) that allows for dramatically increased molecular dynamics simulations compared to other currently available resources. These special capabilities allow multi-microsecond to millisecond simulation timescales, which previously had been unobtainable. Over the past two years (October 1, 2010 – September 30, 2012), DESRES has made available to the noncommercial research community node-hours on an Anton system housed at the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center, based on the advice of previous National Research Council committees convened in the fall of 2010 and 2011. The success of the program has led DESRES to make the Anton machine available for an additional 3,700,000 node-hours over the 9 months following October 2012, and DESRES asked the National Research Council to once again facilitate the allocation of time to the noncommercial research community. Report of the Committee on Proposal Evaluation for Allocation of Supercomputing Time for the Study of Molecular Dynamics, Third Round is the report of the committee's evaluation of proposals for time allocations in order to continue to facilitate breakthrough research in the study of biomolecular systems. The committee sought to continue to support research that addresses important and high impact questions demonstrating a clear need for Anton's special capabilities. The committee evaluated proposals based on scientific merit, justification for requested time allocation, and investigator qualifications and past accomplishments. This report identifies the proposals that best met the selection criteria. %0 Book %A National Research Council %T The Limits of Organic Life in Planetary Systems %@ 978-0-309-10484-5 %D 2007 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/11919/the-limits-of-organic-life-in-planetary-systems %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/11919/the-limits-of-organic-life-in-planetary-systems %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Space and Aeronautics %P 116 %X The search for life in the solar system and beyond has to date been governed by a model based on what we know about life on Earth (terran life). Most of NASA's mission planning is focused on locations where liquid water is possible and emphasizes searches for structures that resemble cells in terran organisms. It is possible, however, that life exists that is based on chemical reactions that do not involve carbon compounds, that occurs in solvents other than water, or that involves oxidation-reduction reactions without oxygen gas. To assist NASA incorporate this possibility in its efforts to search for life, the NRC was asked to carry out a study to evaluate whether nonstandard biochemistry might support life in solar system and conceivable extrasolar environments, and to define areas to guide research in this area. This book presents an exploration of a limited set of hypothetical chemistries of life, a review of current knowledge concerning key questions or hypotheses about nonterran life, and suggestions for future research. %0 Book %A National Research Council %T Indicators for Waterborne Pathogens %@ 978-0-309-09122-0 %D 2004 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/11010/indicators-for-waterborne-pathogens %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/11010/indicators-for-waterborne-pathogens %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Environment and Environmental Studies %K Earth Sciences %P 328 %X Recent and forecasted advances in microbiology, molecular biology, and analytical chemistry have made it timely to reassess the current paradigm of relying predominantly or exclusively on traditional bacterial indicators for all types of waterborne pathogens.  Nonetheless, indicator approaches will still be required for the foreseeable future because it is not practical or feasible to monitor for the complete spectrum of microorganisms that may occur in water, and many known pathogens are difficult to detect directly and reliably in water samples.  This comprehensive report recommends the development and use of a “tool box” approach by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency and others for assessing microbial water quality in which available indicator organisms (and/or pathogens in some cases) and detection method(s) are matched to the requirements of a particular application.  The report further recommends the use of a phased, three-level monitoring framework to support the selection of indicators and indicator approaches.  %0 Book %A National Research Council %T Size Limits of Very Small Microorganisms: Proceedings of a Workshop %@ 978-0-309-06634-1 %D 1999 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/9638/size-limits-of-very-small-microorganisms-proceedings-of-a-workshop %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/9638/size-limits-of-very-small-microorganisms-proceedings-of-a-workshop %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Biology and Life Sciences %P 164 %X How small can a free-living organism be? On the surface, this question is straightforward-in principle, the smallest cells can be identified and measured. But understanding what factors determine this lower limit, and addressing the host of other questions that follow on from this knowledge, require a fundamental understanding of the chemistry and ecology of cellular life. The recent report of evidence for life in a martian meteorite and the prospect of searching for biological signatures in intelligently chosen samples from Mars and elsewhere bring a new immediacy to such questions. How do we recognize the morphological or chemical remnants of life in rocks deposited 4 billion years ago on another planet? Are the empirical limits on cell size identified by observation on Earth applicable to life wherever it may occur, or is minimum size a function of the particular chemistry of an individual planetary surface? These questions formed the focus of a workshop on the size limits of very small organisms, organized by the Steering .Group for the Workshop on Size Limits of Very Small Microorganisms and held on October 22 and 23, 1998. Eighteen invited panelists, representing fields ranging from cell biology and molecular genetics to paleontology and mineralogy, joined with an almost equal number of other participants in a wide-ranging exploration of minimum cell size and the challenge of interpreting micro- and nano-scale features of sedimentary rocks found on Earth or elsewhere in the solar system. This document contains the proceedings of that workshop. It includes position papers presented by the individual panelists, arranged by panel, along with a summary, for each of the four sessions, of extensive roundtable discussions that involved the panelists as well as other workshop participants.