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At least 19 records

Diagnostic Testing for COVID-19 Bridging Study for CDC EUA assays vs CDC Multiplex N1 FAM, N2 SUN, RNAse P ATTO 647 Assays

This report describes testing performed by LANL’s Biological Agent Testing Laboratory (BATL) to validate modifications to the CDC EUA 2019-Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Real-Time RT-PCR Diagnostic Panel (EUA-CDC-nCoV-IFU). BATL intends to implement the modification to increase thoughput for daily testing. BATL validated the original component, CDC designed primers and probes purchased from IDT (Cat # 10006770) and the new component, CDC assays designed with new Reporter dyes allowing the assays to be multiplexed, IDT (Cat # 10006830, 10006831, 10006823, 10006833, 10006834, 10007050, 10006836, 10006837, 10007062)

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Publication and Impact of Preprints Included in the First 100 Editions of the CDC COVID-19 Science Update: Content Analysis

Preprints are publicly available manuscripts posted to various servers that have not been peer reviewed. Although preprints have existed since 1961, they have gained increased popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic due to the need for immediate, relevant information. The aim of this study is to evaluate the publication rate and impact of preprints included in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 Science Update and assess the performance of the COVID-19 Science Update team in selecting impactful preprints. All preprints in the first 100 editions (April 1, 2020, to July 30, 2021) of the Science Update were included in the study. Preprints that were not published were categorized as “unpublished preprints.” Preprints that were subsequently published exist in 2 versions (in a peer-reviewed journal and on the original preprint server), which were analyzed separately and referred to as “peer-reviewed preprint” and “original preprint,” respectively. Time to publish was the time interval between the date on which a preprint was first posted and the date on which it was first available as a peer-reviewed article. Impact was quantified by Altmetric Attention Score and citation count for all available manuscripts on August 6, 2021. Preprints were analyzed by publication status, publication rate, preprint server, and time to publication. Of the 275 preprints included in the CDC COVID-19 Science Update during the study period, most came from three servers: medRxiv (n=201, 73.1%), bioRxiv (n=41, 14.9%), and SSRN (n=25, 9.1%), with 8 (2.9%) coming from other sources. Additionally, 152 (55.3%) were eventually published. The median time to publish was 2.3 (IQR 1.4-3.7). When preprints posted in the last 2.3 months were excluded (to account for the time to publish), the publication rate was 67.8%. Moreover, 76 journals published at least one preprint from the CDC COVID-19 Science Update, and 18 journals published at least three. The median Altmetric Attention Score for unpublished preprints (n=123, 44.7%) was 146 (IQR 22-552) with a median citation count of 2 (IQR 0-8); for original preprints (n=152, 55.2%), these values were 212 (IQR 22-1164) and 14 (IQR 2-40), respectively; for peer-review preprints, these values were 265 (IQR 29-1896) and 19 (IQR 3-101), respectively. Prior studies of COVID-19 preprints found publication rates between 5.4% and 21.1%. Preprints included in the CDC COVID-19 Science Update were published at a higher rate than overall COVID-19 preprints, and those that were ultimately published were published within months and received higher attention scores than unpublished preprints. These findings indicate that the Science Update process for selecting preprints had a high fidelity in terms of their likelihood to be published and their impact. The incorporation of high-quality preprints into the CDC COVID-19 Science Update improves this activity’s capacity to inform meaningful public health decision-making.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Radiation Hazard Scale (Expanded Data Product Feedback Report)

During radiation emergencies, it is important to communicate clearly as radiation risks are often unfamiliar to many members of the general public and emergency responders, including public health workers. To partially address this issue, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) developed the Radiation Hazard Scale to communicate radiation risk to the general public, community leaders, and decision makers. The simple numeric scale does not require a background in radiation physics or health effects and can be used to assist people in understanding their risk and motivate protective action compliance. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory has assisted the US Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration and the CDC in the development of Radiation Hazard Scale data products. This report documents the feedback received from Federal response officials on an expanded data product set. This expanded set accounts for the effects of building protection on radiation exposure and allows for the comparison between different response actions, including sheltering in place, based on the LLNL developed Regional Shelter Analysis methodology.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Materials Data on CdC by Materials Project

CdC is Zincblende, Sphalerite structured and crystallizes in the cubic F-43m space group. The structure is three-dimensional. Cd2+ is bonded to four equivalent C2- atoms to form corner-sharing CdC4 tetrahedra. All Cd–C bond lengths are 2.25 Å. C2- is bonded to four equivalent Cd2+ atoms to form corner-sharing CCd4 tetrahedra.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Materials Data on CdC by Materials Project

CdC is Halite, Rock Salt structured and crystallizes in the cubic Fm-3m space group. The structure is three-dimensional. Cd2+ is bonded to six equivalent C2- atoms to form a mixture of edge and corner-sharing CdC6 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedral tilt angles are 0°. All Cd–C bond lengths are 2.43 Å. C2- is bonded to six equivalent Cd2+ atoms to form a mixture of edge and corner-sharing CCd6 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedral tilt angles are 0°.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Materials Data on CdC by Materials Project

CdC crystallizes in the hexagonal P6_3/mmc space group. The structure is three-dimensional. Cd2+ is bonded to five equivalent C2- atoms to form a mixture of corner and edge-sharing CdC5 trigonal bipyramids. There are three shorter (2.34 Å) and two longer (2.36 Å) Cd–C bond lengths. C2- is bonded to five equivalent Cd2+ atoms to form a mixture of corner and edge-sharing CCd5 trigonal bipyramids.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Predicting CO 2 Plume Migration in Heterogeneous Formations Using Conditional Deep Convolutional Generative Adversarial Network

Numerical simulation of flow and transport in heterogeneous formations has long been studied, especially for uncertainty quantification and risk assessment. The high computational cost associated with running large-scale numerical simulations in a Monte Carlo sense has motivated the development of surrogate models, which aim to capture the important input-output relations of physics-based models but require only a fraction of the cost of full model runs. In this work, we formulate a conditional deep convolutional generative adversarial network (cDC-GAN) surrogate model to learn the dynamic functional mappings in multiphase models. The cDC-GAN belongs to a class of semisupervised learning methods that can be used to learn the data generation processes. Like the original GAN, a main strength of the cDC-GAN is that it includes a self-training scheme for improving the quality of generative modeling in a game theoretic framework, without requiring extensive statistical knowledge and assumptions on input data distributions. In particular, our cDC-GAN model is designed to learn cross-domain mappings between high-dimensional input (e.g., permeability) and output (e.g., phase saturations) pairs, with the ability to incorporate conditioning information (e.g., prediction time). As a use case, we demonstrate the performance of cDC-GAN for predicting the migration of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) plume in heterogeneous carbon storage reservoirs, which has both numerical and practical significance because of the safe storage requirements now mandated in many countries. Results show that cDC-GAN achieves high accuracy in predicting the spatial and temporal evolution patterns of the injected CO 2 plume, as compared to the original results obtained using a compositional reservoir simulator. The performance of cDC-GAN models, trained using the same number of training samples, stays relatively robust when the level of spatial heterogeneity is increased. Our cDC-GAN is pattern based and is not limited by the underlying physics. Thus, it provides a general framework for developing surrogate models, and for conducting uncertainty analyses for a wide range of physics-based models used in both groundwater and subsurface energy exploration applications.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Mapping the combustion modes of a dual-fuel compression ignition engine

Compression-ignition (CI) engines can produce higher thermal efficiency (TE) and thus lower carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions than spark-ignition (SI) engines. Unfortunately, the overall fuel economy of CI engine vehicles is limited by their emissions of nitrogen oxides (NO x ) and soot, which must be mitigated with costly, resource- and energy-intensive aftertreatment. NO x and soot could also be mitigated by adding premixed gasoline to complement the conventional, non-premixed direct injection (DI) of diesel fuel in CI engines. Several such “dual-fuel” combustion modes have been introduced in recent years, but these modes are usually studied individually at discrete conditions. This paper introduces a mapping system for dual-fuel CI modes that links together several previously studied modes across a continuous two-dimensional diagram. This system includes the conventional diesel combustion (CDC) and conventional dual-fuel (CDF) modes; the well-explored advanced combustion modes of HCCI, RCCI, PCCI, and PPCI; and a previously discovered but relatively unexplored combustion mode that is herein titled “Piston-split Dual-Fuel Combustion” or PDFC. Tests show that dual-fuel CI engines can simultaneously increase TE and lower NO x and/or soot emissions at high loads through the use of Partial HCCI (PHCCI). At low loads, PHCCI is not possible, but either PDFC or RCCI can be used to further improve NO x and/or soot emissions, albeit at slightly lower TE. These results lead to a “partial dual-fuel” multi-mode strategy of PHCCI at high loads and CDC at low loads, linked together by PDFC. Drive cycle simulations show that this strategy, when tuned to balance NO x and soot reductions, can reduce engine-out CO 2 emissions by about 1% while reducing NO x and soot by about 20% each with respect to CDC. This increases emissions of unburnt hydrocarbons (UHC), still in a treatable range (2.0 g/kWh) but five times as high as CDC, requiring changes in aftertreatment strategy.

Engineering↗

Integration of Complete Plasmids Containing Bont Genes into Chromosomes of Clostridium parabotulinum , Clostridium sporogenes , and Clostridium argentinense

At least 40 toxin subtypes of botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs), a heterogenous group of bacterial proteins, are produced by seven different clostridial species. A key factor that drives the diversity of neurotoxigenic clostridia is the association of bont gene clusters with various genomic locations including plasmids, phages and the chromosome. Analysis of Clostridium sporogenes BoNT/B1 strain CDC 1632, C. argentinense BoNT/G strain CDC 2741, and Clostridium parabotulinum BoNT/B1 strain DFPST0006 genomes revealed bont gene clusters within plasmid-like sequences within the chromosome or nested in large contigs, with no evidence of extrachromosomal elements. A nucleotide sequence (255,474 bp) identified in CDC 1632 shared 99.5% identity (88% coverage) with bont/B1-containing plasmid pNPD7 of C. sporogenes CDC 67071; CDC 2741 contig AYSO01000020 (1.1 MB) contained a ~140 kb region which shared 99.99% identity (100% coverage) with plasmid pRSJ17_1 of C. argentinense BoNT/G strain 89G; and DFPST0006 contig JACBDK0100002 (573 kb) contained a region that shared 100% identity (99%) coverage with the bont/B1-containing plasmid pCLD of C. parabotulinum Okra. This is the first report of full-length plasmid DNA-carrying complete neurotoxin gene clusters integrated in three distinct neurotoxigenic species: C. parabotulinum, C. sporogenes and C. argentinense.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Ducted Fuel Injection vs. Conventional Diesel Combustion: Extending the Load Range in an Optical Engine with a Four-Orifice Fuel Injector

Ducted fuel injection (DFI) is a technique to attenuate soot formation in compression ignition engines relative to conventional diesel combustion (CDC). The concept is to inject fuel through a small tube inside the combustion chamber to reduce equivalence ratios in the autoignition zone relative to CDC. DFI has been studied at loads as high as 8.5 bar gross indicated mean effective pressure (IMEP g ) and as low as 2.5 bar IMEP g using a four-orifice fuel injector. Across previous studies, DFI has been shown to attenuate soot emissions, increase NO x emissions (at constant charge dilution), and slightly decrease fuel conversion efficiencies for most tested points. This study expands on the previous work by testing 1.1 bar IMEPg (low-load/idle) conditions and 10 bar IMEPg (higher-load) conditions with the same four-orifice fuel injector, as well as examining potential causes of the degradations in NO x emissions and fuel conversion efficiencies. DFI and CDC are directly compared at each operating point in the study. At the low-load condition, the intake charge dilution was swept to elucidate the soot and NO x performance of DFI. The low-load range is important because it is the target of impending, more-stringent emissions regulations, and DFI is shown to be a potentially effective approach for helping to meet these regulations. The results also indicate that DFI likely has slightly decreased fuel conversion efficiencies relative to CDC. We find that the increase in NO x emissions with DFI is likely due to longer charge gas residence times at higher temperatures, which arise from shorter combustion durations and advanced combustion phasing relative to CDC.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Comparison of effectiveness and energy use of airborne pathogen mitigation measures to meet clean air targets in a prototypical office building

Organizations such as ASHRAE and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have proposed guidelines for controlling infectious aerosols in buildings, which can be met through measures such as modified operation of the heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system or incorporating air-cleaning technologies. However, more research is needed to understand the trade-offs between health, energy, and comfort aspects when designing measures for these guidelines. To address this gap, this paper presents an analysis using new models for air-cleaning technologies, including in-duct and in-room germicidal ultraviolet (GUV) systems and portable air cleaners (PACs). These models are incorporated into an existing prototypical office building model and six measures are designed to meet ASHRAE Standard 241 and CDC clean air targets: MERV 13 HVAC filtration, maximum outdoor air supplied to the building, PACs, and in-duct, upper-room, and whole-room GUV. The measures are simulated for an office building in a cool and humid climate compared against a baseline simulation using MERV 8 filtration. The results show that all measures, except for the maximum outdoor air case, can meet the ASHRAE 241 standard without significant impacts on energy or comfort. The HVAC system measures were not able to meet the CDC target with the default system sizing and lead to significant energy increases, while the in-room measures were able to meet the CDC target with small impacts on energy consumption. Finally, this paper consolidates the simulation findings and provides practical guidance for building operators to meet clean air targets while limiting energy and comfort impacts.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

Life-cycle cost-benefit analysis of a novel self-heating pavement made from coal-derived solid carbon

Winter weather events challenge the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of roadway networks, particularly road bridges vulnerable to climate impacts. Although effective, conventional de-icing methods incur high expenses and cause significant environmental contamination. To address these longstanding issues, a low-cost novel coal-derived carbon enabled smart pavement (CDC-SP) de-icing system was developed, aiming to alleviate traffic delays, severe corrosion, compromised safety, and environmental pollution. However, the economic performance of CDC-SP has not been quantified to guide decision-making. To this end, this paper presents a Life-Cycle Cost-Benefit Analysis (LCCBA) to assess the economic feasibility of the CDC-SP de-icing system for road bridges in five representative urban and rural areas across cool humid and cold humid climate zones. Given the variations and uncertainties of several factors that determine the costs and benefits, a sensitivity analysis was conducted to determine the system’s economic reliability. Additionally, a Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) was performed to quantify the impacts of important factors and identify the most beneficial scenarios. Furthermore, the CDC-SP de-icing systems have demonstrated substantial economic benefits and short payback periods, showing great applicability for rural and urban road bridges with different service levels across multiple climate zones as compared to conventional de-icing methods.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

On alert for Ebola: public health risk assessment of travellers from Uganda to the USA during the 2022 outbreak

Abstract Background On 20 September 2022, the Ugandan Ministry of Health declared an outbreak of Ebola disease caused by Sudan ebolavirus. Methods From 6 October 2022 to 10 January 2023, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) staff conducted public health assessments at five US ports of entry for travellers identified as having been in Uganda in the past 21 days. CDC also recommended that state, local and territorial health departments (‘health departments’) conduct post-arrival monitoring of these travellers. CDC provided traveller contact information, daily to 58 health departments, and collected health department data regarding monitoring outcomes. Results Among 11 583 travellers screened, 132 (1%) required additional assessment due to potential exposures or symptoms of concern. Fifty-three (91%) health departments reported receiving traveller data from CDC for 10 114 (87%) travellers, of whom 8499 (84%) were contacted for monitoring, 1547 (15%) could not be contacted and 68 (1%) had no reported outcomes. No travellers with high-risk exposures or Ebola disease were identified. Conclusion Entry risk assessment and post-arrival monitoring of travellers are resource-intensive activities that had low demonstrated yield during this and previous outbreaks. The efficiency of future responses could be improved by incorporating an assessment of risk of importation of disease, accounting for individual travellers’ potential for exposure, and expanded use of methods that reduce burden to federal agencies, health departments, and travellers.

General & Internal Medicine↗

A Computational Investigation of Engine Heat Transfer with Ducted Fuel Injection

Ducted fuel injection (DFI) is an innovative method that curtails or prevents soot formation in direct-injection compression-ignition engines. DFI uses a simple duct, positioned outside each injector hole, facilitating the fuel/charge gas mixing before ignition. This reduces the equivalence ratio below two, in the autoignition zone, which in turn decreases soot formation. But this method also reduces fuel-conversion efficiency. This study investigates the effects of DFI on in-cylinder heat transfer. Experiments with conventional diesel combustion (CDC) and DFI were performed at four different dilution levels. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were carried out at conditions matching those of the experiments, and the simulations were validated by the experimental data. The CFD simulations enabled to examine of in-cylinder heat release and temperature distributions. The heat transfer to the piston, head, and cylinder was investigated. The results show that DFI increased the heat transfer to the walls compared to CDC under the same conditions. This could help explain why DFI has been observed to reduce fuel-conversion efficiency by approximately 1% (absolute) relative to CDC under certain conditions. The efficiency loss typically decreases with dilution, such that DFI can improve fuel-conversion efficiencies relative to CDC at higher dilution levels.

Şener, Ramazan↗