The characteristics of CTCF binding sequences contribute to enhancer blocking activity.

While the elements encoding enhancers and promoters have been relatively well studied, the full spectrum of insulator elements which bind the CCCTC binding factor (CTCF), is relatively poorly characterized. This is partly due to the genomic context of CTCF sites greatly influencing their roles and activity. Here we have developed an experimental system to determine the ability of minimal, consistently sized, individual CTCF elements to interpose between enhancers and promoters and thereby reduce gene expression during differentiation.

Rapid, high-throughput, cost-effective whole-genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 using a condensed library preparation of the Illumina DNA Prep kit.

Unlabelled: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic necessitates cost-effective, high-throughput, and timely whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) viruses for outbreak investigations, identifying variants of concern (VoC), characterizing vaccine breakthrough infections, and public health surveillance. In addition, the enormous demand for WGS on supply chains and the resulting shortages of laboratory supplies necessitated the use of low-reagent and low-consumable methods. Here, we report an optimized library preparation method (the BCCDC cutdown method) that can be used in a high-throughput scenario, where one technologist can perform 576 library preparations (6 plates of 96 samples) over the course of one 8-hour shift.

A job task analysis of the authorised firearms officer - counter terrorism (AFO-CT) national role profile.

Background: The Ministry of Defence Police recognised the requirement to develop a Physical Employment Standard (PES) for the Authorised Firearms Officer -Counter Terrorism (AFO-CT) role profile.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to conduct a job task analysis to identify the most critical and physically demanding tasks performed by AFO-CT personnel.

Methods: A focus group and online survey were undertaken to identify a list of job tasks.

Prospective, clinical comparison of self-collected throat-bilateral nares swabs and saline gargle compared to health care provider collected nasopharyngeal swabs among symptomatic outpatients with potential SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Background: In British Columbia (BC), self-collected saline gargle (SG) is the only alternative to health care provider (HCP)-collected nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs to detect SARS-CoV-2 in an outpatient setting by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). However, some individuals cannot perform a SG. Our study aimed to assess combined throat-bilateral nares (TN) swabbing as a swab-based alternative.