Methyl halide transferase-based gas reporters for quantification of filamentous bacteria in microdroplet emulsions.

The application of microfluidic techniques in experimental and environmental studies is a rapidly emerging field. Water-in-oil microdroplets can serve readily as controllable micro-vessels for studies that require spatial structure. In many applications, it is useful to monitor cell growth without breaking or disrupting the microdroplets.

Indirect enrichment of desirable, but less fit phenotypes, from a synthetic microbial community using microdroplet confinement.

Spatial structure within microbial communities can provide nearly limitless opportunities for social interactions and are an important driver for evolution. As metabolites are often molecular signals, metabolite diffusion within microbial communities can affect the composition and dynamics of the community in a manner that can be challenging to deconstruct. We used encapsulation of a synthetic microbial community within microdroplets to investigate the effects of spatial structure and metabolite diffusion on population dynamics and to examine the effects of cheating by one member of the community.

Microfluidic platform for spatially segregated experimental evolution studies with .

Microdroplet emulsions allow investigators to build controllable microenvironments for applications in experimental evolution and synthetic ecology. We designed a microfluidic platform that uses highly homogenous microdroplets to enable these experiments. We also present a step-by-step protocol for the rapid production of highly homogeneous microdroplets suitable for experimental evolution.

Serious Illness Care Programme-contextual factors and implementation strategies: a qualitative study.

Objectives: The Serious Illness Care Programme (SICP) is a multicomponent evidence-based intervention that improves communication about patients' values and goals in serious illness. We aim to characterise implementation strategies for programme delivery and the contextual factors that influence implementation in three 'real-world' health system SICP initiatives.

Methods: We employed a qualitative thematic framework analysis of field notes collected during the first 1.

Identification of Evolutionary Trajectories Associated with Antimicrobial Resistance Using Microfluidics.

experimental evolution of pathogens to antibiotics is commonly used for the identification of clinical biomarkers associated with antibiotic resistance. Microdroplet emulsions allow exquisite control of spatial structure, species complexity, and selection microenvironments for such studies. We investigated the use of monodisperse microdroplets in experimental evolution.

Training Clinicians in Serious Illness Communication Using a Structured Guide: Evaluation of a Training Program in Three Health Systems.

Failure to initiate discussions about patients' values and goals in serious illness remains a common problem. Many clinicians are inadequately trained for these discussions. Evaluate whether a novel train-the-trainer model results in high-quality training that improves clinicians' self-reported competencies in serious illness communication.