Efficient Tracing of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variants in Santa Barbara County Using a Rapid Quantitative Reverse Transcription PCR Assay.

The emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in 2021 is associated with a global surge of cases in late 2021 and early 2022. Identifying the introduction of novel SARS-CoV-2 variants to a population is imperative to inform decisions by clinicians and public health officials. Here, we describe a quantitative reverse transcription PCR-based assay (RT-qPCR) targeting unique mutations in the Omicron BA.1/BA1.1 and BA.2 viral genomes. This assay accurately and precisely detect the presence of these Omicron variants in patient samples in less than four hours. Using this assay, we tested 270 clinical samples and detected the introduction of Omicron BA.1/BA1.1 and BA.2 in the Santa Barbara County (SBC) population in December 2021 and February 2022, respectively. Identifying Omicron variants using this RT-qPCR assay showed complete concordance with whole viral genome sequencing; both assays indicated that Omicron was the dominant variant in SB County. Our data substantiate that RT-qPCR-based virus detection assays offer a fast and inexpensive alternative to NGS for virus variant-specific detection approach, which allows streamlining the detection of Omicron variants in patient samples.

Effects of physical attractiveness on political beliefs.

Physical attractiveness is an important social factor in our daily interactions. Scholars in social psychology provide evidence that attractiveness stereotypes and the "halo effect" are prominent in affecting the traits we attribute to others. However, the interest in attractiveness has not directly filtered down to questions of political behavior beyond candidates and elites. Utilizing measures of attractiveness across multiple surveys, we examine the relationship between attractiveness and political beliefs. Controlling for socioeconomic status, we find that more attractive individuals are more likely to report higher levels of political efficacy, identify as conservative, and identify as Republican. These findings suggest an additional mechanism for political socialization that has further implications for understanding how the body intertwines with the social nature of politics.

Development of a simplified, cost effective GC-ECD methodology for the sensitive detection of bromoform in the troposphere.

Wherever measurements have been made bromoform was found to be ubiquitous in the surface ocean in pmolar-nmolar concentrations. These measurements show concentrations in coastal regions orders of magnitude higher than in the pelagic oceans. Its atmospheric presence is primarily due to its release from algae and rapid transport to the marine boundary troposphere where it is known to participate in ozone chemistry via photochemical and catalytic pathways. Until quite recently, a limited number of studies existed (compared to other marine volatile organic compounds (VOCs)), mainly due to the analytical challenge(s) presented by the low environmental mixing ratios. In this work we detail the development of a simplified, cost effective method to detect and quantify bromoform in environmental air samples. Air samples (1.5 L) were preconcentrated onto a precooled adsorbent (Carbopack X/Carboxen 1016) trap. These samples were injected by means of rapid thermal desorption for separation and detection by GC-ECD. The system was calibrated by means of a custom-built permeation oven. A linear system response was achieved, having a detection limit of 0.73 ± 0.09 ppt. A range of environmental samples was analysed to demonstrate the ability of the technique to separate and identify bromoform from air samples. The results showed that bromoform concentrations typically averaged 24.7 ± 17.3 ppt in marine air samples, 68.5 ± 26.3 ppt in Cape Town urban air samples and 33.9 ± 40.5 ppt in simulated biomass burning plumes (SBBP).

Assessment of a safety enhancement to the hospital medication reconciliation process for elderly patients.

BACKGROUND: Medication history taking is important because clinicians rely on the information that is collected; however, medication histories are often inaccurate and incomplete. The use of a medication at home without a corresponding disease or condition in the patient's records (ie, "unspecified" medication) warrants investigation of the need for that medication. The process of reconciling medications with current diseases or conditions on hospital admission has not been officially advocated by The Joint Commission, but it could help clinicians better assess the continued need for home medications and possibly decrease the use of polypharmacy. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to expand on a previous study conducted at our institution by estimating the prevalence of discrepancies between medication histories and reported diseases or conditions in a larger and more diverse patient population, and to determine whether a pharmacist could clarify the reasons for the unspecified medications, thereby enhancing the medication reconciliation process. METHODS: Patients >or=50 years of age who were taking >or=4 home medications were randomly selected within 24 hours of hospital admission. Medical chart information and home medication lists, obtained shortly after admission, were reviewed retrospectively for the selected patients. Patients were excluded if they were admitted directly to an intensive care unit. Only home medications that the patient continued to take after admission were included in the analysis. Therapeutic hospital formulary substitutes (eg, atorvastatin given instead of pravastatin) were considered to be the same medication. Nonprescription medications, "as needed" medications, and vitamins/supplements taken at home were excluded from analysis. If an unspecified medication was found, a pharmacist proceeded through an algorithm designed to clarify the reason for the unspecified medication. In the event of a common off-label (unapproved) use of a drug, the drug was not considered unspecified. RESULTS: Home medication lists were available for 300 patients (154 women, 146 men; mean [SD] age, 69 [10.6] years; >98% white) admitted to a 541-bed university hospital between December 2007 and June 2008; a total of 114 patients (38%) had >or=1 unspecified medication. Of the 200 unspecified medications reported in patient charts, the 2 most frequently reported drug classes were proton pump inhibitors and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, used by 21% and 11% of patients, respectively. Patients with unspecified medications received a higher mean number of home medications (9.7 vs 7.6 per patient; odds ratio = 1.18; 95% CI, 1.11-1.28; P < 0.001). Rates of discordance were independent of age, sex, and pathway to admission to the emergency department. Ultimately, the study pharmacist was able to clarify 96% of the unspecified medications by applying the study algorithm. Answers were provided by patients (80%), old clinic or hospital chart notes (12%), or physicians (4%); 4% could not be clarified. CONCLUSIONS: Many of the unspecified medications that were identified in this study have been associated with polypharmacy in the literature. The results of this study suggest that matching home medications with indications for those medications on admission to the hospital enhanced the medication reconciliation process. Direct patient questioning by the pharmacist clarified medication use and contributed to more accurate and complete medication history taking.

Iodide accumulation provides kelp with an inorganic antioxidant impacting atmospheric chemistry.

Brown algae of the Laminariales (kelps) are the strongest accumulators of iodine among living organisms. They represent a major pump in the global biogeochemical cycle of iodine and, in particular, the major source of iodocarbons in the coastal atmosphere. Nevertheless, the chemical state and biological significance of accumulated iodine have remained unknown to this date. Using x-ray absorption spectroscopy, we show that the accumulated form is iodide, which readily scavenges a variety of reactive oxygen species (ROS). We propose here that its biological role is that of an inorganic antioxidant, the first to be described in a living system. Upon oxidative stress, iodide is effluxed. On the thallus surface and in the apoplast, iodide detoxifies both aqueous oxidants and ozone, the latter resulting in the release of high levels of molecular iodine and the consequent formation of hygroscopic iodine oxides leading to particles, which are precursors to cloud condensation nuclei. In a complementary set of experiments using a heterologous system, iodide was found to effectively scavenge ROS in human blood cells.

Evaluating the potential for conservation development: biophysical, economic, and institutional perspectives.

The widespread conversion of rural land to low-density residential development poses an immediate threat to biodiversity and to the provision of ecosystem services. Given that development will continue and environmental stakes are high, analyzing alternative growth strategies is critical. Conservation development is one such strategy that has the potential to benefit ecosystems and diverse stakeholders including developers, homebuyers, governments, and society as a whole. Conservation development clusters homes on one part of a property to manage the most ecologically important land for the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services. We draw on lessons learned from landscape ecology, open-space development, and regional planning to weigh the biophysical, economic, and institutional evidence for and against conservation development. Conservation development offers many potential environmental and economic advantages: relatively high home values and appreciation rates, lower development costs, and social and ecological benefits to society including landscape connectivity, protection and active stewardship of important ecological assets, and the maintenance of ecosystem services. But this approach also has shortcomings: it may require enlightened institutional regulations and regional planning (and/or ecologically aware developers), it is not always more profitable than conventional development and thus may require subsidies or incentives, and additional research is required to fully understand its benefits and drawbacks. With more information on the effects of clustering, the development of flexible zoning laws, and effective regional planning, conservation development could be a viable strategy for sustaining biodiversity and ecosystem services in changing landscapes.

Cesium desorption from illite as affected by exudates from rhizosphere bacteria.

Biogeochemical processes in the rhizosphere can significantly alter interactions between contaminants and soil minerals. In this study, several strains of bacteria that exude aluminum (Al)-chelating compounds were isolated from the rhizosphere of crested wheatgrass (Agropyron desertorum) collected from the Idaho National Laboratory (INL). We examined the effects of exudates from bacteria in the genera Bacillus, Ralstonia, and Enterobacter on cesium (Cs) desorption from illite. Exudates from these strains of bacteria significantly enhanced Cs desorption from illite. In addition, Cs desorption increased with increasing Bacillus exudate concentrations. Cesium desorption from illite as a function of both exudate type and concentration was positively correlated with Al dissolution, suggesting that the Al-complexing ability of the exudates played an important role in enhancing Cs desorption. The density of frayed edge sites (FES) on illite increased as a result of treatment with bacterial exudates, while the Cs/K selectivity of FES decreased. These results suggestthat exudates from bacteria isolated from the rhizosphere can enhance Cs desorption from frayed edges of illite and, therefore, can alter Cs availability in micaceous soils.