Bøger udgivet af National Academies Press

A respected resource for decades, the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals has been updated by a committee of experts, taking into consideration input from the scientific and laboratory animal communities and the public at large. The Guide incorporates new scientific information on common laboratory animals, including aquatic species, and includes extensive references. It is organized around major components of animal use: Key concepts of animal care and use. The Guide sets the framework for the humane care and use of laboratory animals. Animal care and use program. The Guide discusses the concept of a broad Program of Animal Care and Use, including roles and responsibilities of the Institutional Official, Attending Veterinarian and the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. Animal environment, husbandry, and management. A chapter on this topic is now divided into sections on terrestrial and aquatic animals and provides recommendations for housing and environment, husbandry, behavioral and population management, and more. Veterinary care. The Guide discusses veterinary care and the responsibilities of the Attending Veterinarian. It includes recommendations on animal procurement and transportation, preventive medicine (including animal biosecurity), and clinical care and management. The Guide addresses distress and pain recognition and relief, and issues surrounding euthanasia. Physical plant. The Guide identifies design issues, providing construction guidelines for functional areas; considerations such as drainage, vibration and noise control, and environmental monitoring; and specialized facilities for animal housing and research needs. The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals provides a framework for the judgments required in the management of animal facilities. This updated and expanded resource of proven value will be important to scientists and researchers, veterinarians, animal care personnel, facilities managers, institutional administrators, policy makers involved in research issues, and animal welfare advocates.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) requested that the Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources of the National Research Council (NRC) convene a panel of experts to examine whether publicly funded agricultural research has influenced the structure of U.S. agriculture and, if so, how. The Committee to Review the Role of Publicly Funded Agricultural Research on the Structure of U.S. Agriculture was asked to assess the role of public-sector agricultural research on changes in the size and numbers of farms, with particular emphasis on the evolution of very-large-scale operations.

Every aspect of immune function and host defense is dependent upon a proper supply and balance of nutrients. Severe malnutrition can cause significant alteration in immune response, but even subclinical deficits may be associated with an impaired immune response, and an increased risk of infection. Infectious diseases have accounted for more off-duty days during major wars than combat wounds or nonbattle injuries. Combined stressors may reduce the normal ability of soldiers to resist pathogens, increase their susceptibility to biological warfare agents, and reduce the effectiveness of vaccines intended to protect them. There is also a concern with the inappropriate use of dietary supplements.This book, one of a series, examines the impact of various types of stressors and the role of specific dietary nutrients in maintaining immune function of military personnel in the field. It reviews the impact of compromised nutrition status on immune function; the interaction of health, exercise, and stress (both physical and psychological) in immune function; and the role of nutritional supplements and newer biotechnology methods reported to enhance immune function.The first part of the book contains the committee's workshop summary and evaluation of ongoing research by Army scientists on immune status in special forces troops, responses to the Army's questions, conclusions, and recommendations. The rest of the book contains papers contributed by workshop speakers, grouped under such broad topics as an introduction to what is known about immune function, the assessment of immune function, the effect of nutrition, and the relation between the many and varied stresses encountered by military personnel and their effect on health.

Simulations are widely used in the military for training personnel, analyzing proposed equipment, and rehearsing missions, and these simulations need realistic models of human behavior. This book draws together a wide variety of theoretical and applied research in human behavior modeling that can be considered for use in those simulations. It covers behavior at the individual, unit, and command level. At the individual soldier level, the topics covered include attention, learning, memory, decisionmaking, perception, situation awareness, and planning. At the unit level, the focus is on command and control. The book provides short-, medium-, and long-term goals for research and development of more realistic models of human behavior.

The safety record of lightering (the transfer of petroleum cargo at sea from a large tanker to smaller ones) has been excellent in U.S. waters in recent years, as evidenced by the very low rate of spillage of oil both in absolute terms and compared with all other tanker-related accidental spills. The lightering safety record is likely to be maintained or even improved in the future as overall quality improvements in the shipping industry are implemented. Risks can be reduced even further through measures that enhance sound lightering standards and practices, support cooperative industry efforts to maintain safety, and increase the availability of essential information to shipping companies and mariners. Only continued vigilance and attention to safety initiatives can avert serious accidents involving tankers carrying large volumes of oil.

Hunter, detective, scientist - Nancy is all these, and a friend to people everywhere who are affected by a fatal, inherited sickness called Huntington's disease and other diseases of the brain. This book presents the story of this courageous and dedicated woman whose passion for science is both personally and intellectually satisfying.

Mimi Koehl is a biomechanist. She uses engineering and physics to study the designs of living things that fly, swim, drift, and crawl. She loves solving riddles about how creatures 'from feathered dinosaurs to flying frogs' live and move. This book presents her story.

Seafood--including marine and freshwater fish, mollusks, and crustaceans--is a healthy food choice, but it can also contain contaminants. It is currently unclear how much seafood children or pregnant and lactating women are consuming, and what impact seafood consumption is having on children's growth and development. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration tasked the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine with convening an expert committee to examine associations between seafood intake for children, adolescents, and pregnant and lactating women and child growth and development. The committee also evaluated when to conduct risk-benefit analyses (RBAs), while considering contextual factors such as equity, diversity, inclusion, and access to health care, and explored how these factors might impact RBAs.

A planning committee of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine convened a series of three hybrid workshops to examine the key issues highlighted in the National Academies 2022 consensus study report, Defense Research Capacity at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Other Minority Institutions: Transitioning from Good Intentions to Measurable Outcomes. As Department of Defense and other partners sought to implement the 2022 report recommendations, key questions remained to be explored, particularly related to how to seek ways of building research capacity at minority institutions (MIs) and develop true partnerships between MIs, other institutions of higher education, and federal agencies. The workshops featured commissioned research and literature reviews as well as case studies to illuminate problems, barriers, and approaches to increase research capacity at Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

The National Academies Roundtable on Obesity Solutions hosted a public workshop series in April and June 2023 that explored the current science on measures of body composition and body fat distribution. Discussions focused on the strengths and limitations, and clinical and anthropological perspectives of body mass index (BMI) as a measure of adiposity and health. Presentations also shed light on the connection between misinformation and bias and stigma, as well as challenged current communication strategies to improve messaging about obesity.

Concerted efforts to deepen understanding of RNA modifications and their role in living systems holds 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.

The use of immune modulator therapeutics, a type of immunotherapy enhancing the body immune system response to cancer, was perceived as the beginning of a new era in cancer care. While still important and frequently used, some of these therapeutics produce uneven response rates, disease resistance, and serious side effects. The National Academies National Cancer Policy Forum, in collaboration with the Forum on Drug Discovery, Development, and Translation, hosted a public workshop to discuss challenges related to immunotherapy treatment resistance, as well as potential policy opportunities to improve the development of immunotherapies for cancer treatment.

A scientific workforce with cutting-edge skills is critical for the ability of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to carry out its mission to protect human health by identifying environmental hazards, evaluating risks to public health and ecosystems, and formulating effective methods for pollution control and prevention. To aid in the selection and hiring of premier scientists and engineers, in 2006, EPA first sought the ability to directly recruit world-renowned scientists and engineers from academia, private industry, and other government agencies under Title 42, Section 209, of the U.S. Code. Title 42 authorizes federal agencies to appoint highly qualified scientists and engineers outside of standard civil service positions. Congress reauthorizes the EPA Title 42 authority in 5-year increments. To guide decisions about the future of the program, Congress asked the National Academies to review past and current EPA use of Title 42 hiring authority and how the program might be improved. The report finds that EPA has used its limited Title 42 authority effectively since 2006 and that Title 42 authority has enabled the hiring of effective scientific leadership and improved the scientific capability and capacity to support the Agency mission. Furthermore, the report finds that Title 42 can help the agency in addressing future environmental complexities. In continuing to enhance its scientific workforce and maintain a position at the forefront of evolving scientific knowledge, EPA would benefit from Congressional approval for permanent Title 42 authority.

Research supported by scientific ocean drilling has fundamentally transformed our understanding of the planet with key contributions to the discovery and theory of plate tectonics; the formation and destruction of ocean crust; the reconstruction of extreme greenhouse and icehouse climates; the identification of major extinctions; and the discovery of a diverse community of microbes living deep ocean seafloor. With the retirement in 2024 of the JOIDES Resolution-- the U.S. dedicated drilling vessel for deep sea research and the workhorse for the international scientific ocean drilling community-- the scientific ocean drilling landscape will change. At this critical juncture, the National Science Foundation (NSF) is looking to identify the most urgent research questions that can only be answered with scientific ocean drilling and what infrastructure is needed to progress those priorities. This interim report that is the first part of a broader study of decadal survey of ocean science provides a broad perspective of future research and associated infrastructure needs. The report concludes that the rapid pace of climate change, related extreme events, sea level rise, changes in ocean currents, chemistry threatening ocean ecosystems, and devastating natural hazards are among the greatest challenges facing society. By coring the past to inform the future, U.S. based scientific ocean drilling research continues to have unique and essential roles in addressing these vital and urgent challenges.

On March 14-15, 2023, the Board on Science, Technology, and Economic Policy of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine held a 2-day workshop in Washington, DC to explore the use of data, research, and experiments to improve the processes for and outcomes of federal funding of scientific research. The workshop brought together researchers in the science of science funding and practitioners from government and the private sector with experience supporting or carrying out experimentation and evaluation to discuss illustrative examples of the use of experimentation from the United States and abroad; consider methods of evaluation; and foster relationships for future experimentation.

Increasing the number of Black men and Black women who enter the fields of science, engineering, and medicine (SEM) will benefit the social and economic health of the nation. On May 2-3, 2022 the Roundtable on Black Men and Black Women in Science, Engineering, and Medicine of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine convened a workshop to highlight promising financial and supportive services and programs throughout various stages of career development. Sessions followed student progression through the major stages of education and career development, and identified policies and practices that aim to mitigate and alleviate long-standing barriers to the full participation of Black students in SEM at the K?12, undergraduate, and graduate and professional levels.

The Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine convened a virtual workshop series that gathered researchers, government officials, and other global leaders in nutrition research and policy. The event, sponsored by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), carefully considered meta-analysis methodologies that could in turn be used to advance nutrition research, develop policy, and inform regulatory decision-making.

Although much research has been conducted on community-level factors related to the risk of dementia in general, less is known about the factors that affect the ability of older adults with dementia to age in place successfully. Additional research could lead to a better understanding of the data and resources needed to support innovative approaches for adaptive housing, services, and supports so that people living with dementia can remain in their communities. To explore these needs and develop effective strategies for the future, the Committee on Population and Board on Behavioral, Cognitive, and Sensory Sciences of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine convened a virtual workshop on aging in place with dementia on September 13-15, 2023. Sponsored by the National Institute on Aging, this workshop highlighted the state of knowledge and identified research gaps to inform conceptual approaches to guide research on dementia-friendly communities in the U.S. context, building on existing approaches in the field.

In September 2023, the Committee on Population at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine held a workshop, Developing an Agenda for Population Aging and Social Research in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). The explicit goal of the workshop was to identify the most promising directions for behavioral and social research and data infrastructure investments for studying life-course health, aging, and Alzheimers disease and Alzheimers disease and related dementias in LMICs. This publication summarizes the presentation and discussion of the workshop.

The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Amy Research Laboratory (ARL) focuses on cutting-edge scientific discovery, technological innovation, and transition of knowledge products that offer great potential to strengthen the U.S. Army. The mission of the ARL is to operationalize science for transformational overmatch in support of persistent Army modernization. At the request of the DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory, this report provides an assessment of the scientific and technical quality of the ARL, with findings and recommendations related to the quality of ARL research, development, and analysis programs.

Artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and deep learning (DL) are promising tools that can be used to develop algorithms to better understand and predict interactions between food- and nutrition-related data and health outcomes. Understanding that additional research is needed to identify areas where AI/ML is likely to have an impact, the National Academies Food and Nutrition Board hosted a public workshop in October 2023 to explore the future benefits and limitations of integrating big data and AI/ML tools into nutrition research. Participants also discussed issues related to diversity, equity, inclusion, bias, and privacy and the appropriate use of evidence generated from these new methods.

The National Academies Roundtable on the Promotion of Health Equity hosted a virtual public workshop in July 2023 to discuss the premise, history, and development of race-based clinical algorithms and their contributions to health inequities. Examining ways to promote race-conscious medicine, participants explored the underlying assumptions of racial differences in physiology, and parameters for identifying instances when race and ethnicity as social constructs are legitimate considerations for improving health equity, such as when promoting outreach, screening, and community education and engagement.

The National Academies Forum on Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) hosted a hybrid public workshop in May 2023 to explore what is needed to better serve adult TBI patients who require follow-up care in support of their recovery at home. Speakers discussed when and how to follow up with less-severe TBI patients who have been discharged to their homes after a brief period of acute care, and the varied needs, issues, and considerations that relate to outpatient care and at-home symptom management during the approximately 6-month period following injury.This publication summarizes the presentation and discussion of the workshop.

The National Academies Roundtable on Population Health Improvement hosted a virtual public workshop in June 2022 to explore the current state of population health funding and the challenges and opportunities encountered by organizations engaged in the work of assembling and deploying funding for population health improvement efforts. The workshop revisits topics explored in a 2014 workshop Financing Population Health Improvement. Speakers discussed changes to systems and sources of population health financing, and also challenges and exemplary practices that integrate community voice and are accountable to communities.

Antarctica hosts some of the harshest and most remote environments on Earth - and it is a region of vital importance for scientific research. The environment and position of Antarctica on the globe mean that research conducted there can offer unique insights on important Earth processes, including rising sea level, the carbon cycle, ecosystem structure. As the climate warms, data gathered from Antarctic research will be essential to understanding how Earth processes are changing and the potential social, economic, and health impacts on both U.S. and global populations. This report identifies the highest priorities for research in the Southern Ocean and nearshore and coastal Antarctica, as well as gaps in current capabilities to support this research. Global sea level rise, heat and carbon budgets, and changing ecosystems are the three highest-priority science drivers for research in the region. To address those drivers and maintain a robust U.S. research presence in this vitally important region, investments are needed in the U.S. Antarctic program and its research platforms, including the development of new technologies and the replacement of aging icebreaking research vessels. Additionally, the U.S. should strengthen relationships with other nations? Antarctic programs that can help support these essential science drivers.

The National Academies Forum on Microbial Threats and Forum on Neuroscience and Nervous System Disorders hosted a hybrid public workshop in June 2023 to explore opportunities to advance research and treatment of infection-associated chronic illnesses. The illnesses discussed in this workshop, including COVID-19, myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), persistent or posttreatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS), and multiple sclerosis (MS), share overlapping mechanisms and symptoms and have been inadequately researched. Recognizing these commonalities, speakers identified the need to advance research more comprehensively, translating to improved diagnostic and treatment options for patients across multiple conditions.