The Surprising Complexity of Virus-Host Cell Interaction Revealed by the Powerful Systems Biology Approaches of Genomics and Proteomics

Understanding interaction between viruses and host cells during infection process is the first step in discovering appropriate drugs and vaccines against viral diseases. Advance technologies based on genomics and proteomics approaches provide great tools to disclose the complexity of virus-host interaction. In this essay, the application of RNAi screens method and proteomics-based approaches on influenza virus will be elucidated as an example. Using those methods, the primary factors controlling viral replication pathway were discovered. These findings are useful for the development of potential strategies to overcome viral diseases

How narcissism relates to perceived conflict and cooperation in social situations

The underlying antagonistic traits shared by both vulnerable and grandiose narcissism suggests that narcissistic individuals in general are more likely to view interdependent social situations as having a higher degree of conflict, and may also cause them to cooperate less. My thesis examines how manipulating expectations of one’s partner’s cooperation in a Prisoner’s Dilemma (Studies 1 & 2), and within an objectively low-conflict academic setting (Study 3) can provide a better understanding of the role of narcissism in perceptions of conflict and cooperation. Results from Studies 1 and 2 shows that on their own, both grandiose narcissism and antagonism were related to increased perceptions of conflict and decreased cooperation. In both Studies 1 and 2, assurance of partner cooperation during the Prisoner’s Dilemma was shown to decrease perceptions of conflict overall; however, the assurance of partner cooperation was also found to strengthen the relationship between some expressions of narcissism and perceptions of conflict—specifically people higher in grandiose narcissism and antagonism. Study 3 found that vulnerable narcissism and antagonism were correlated with greater perceptions of academic conflict and decreased academic cooperation, and also found that grandiose narcissism was correlated with decreased academic cooperation. Combined, the pattern of results seen across these three studies provide evidence to support the idea that it is the underlying antagonistic core of narcissism that drives the overall increased perceptions of conflict and decreased cooperation among people high in narcissism

Validity of heart rate variability measured with Apple Watch compared to laboratory measures

Background: We assessed the test validity of the Apple Watch’s measure of HRV by comparing it with HRV measured via Biopac 3 lead ECG.Methods: We recruited 58 young adults (aged 20- 51 years) from San Diego, CA, US. HRV was measured under the four following conditions during the visit: 1) at rest in a supine position, 2) sitting while talking, 3) sitting while watching a movie clip, and 4) sitting before and after walking. To guarantee the Apple Watch and Biopac 3 lead ECG recordings aligned, a synchronized countdown was conducted for each condition, with event markers electronically placed on the Biopac 3 lead ECG recording when the Apple Watch Breathe app began and ended. Test validity was assessed using the Bland-Altman method, and the combination of both precision and accuracy were estimated using Lin’s correlation coefficient. Results: The highest level of agreement and concordance between devices occurred during rest. Near perfect agreement was observed for measures of the R-R interval and BPM, with mean absolute percentage errors of 1.03% and 4.50 %, respectively. Moderate levels of agreement and concordance for N-N intervals, PNN50, and %PNN50 were only achieved at rest. Conclusion: The Apple Watch provides a high level of validity for measuring R-R intervals and BPM in healthy adults. More refined measures of HRV, such as N-N intervals, were only moderately acceptable when taken at rest. Further research is needed to determine if the Apple Watch’s HRV measures offer a significant opportunity for the surveillance of CVD risk

Future MEDIC: Student-led Health Care Exploration for Underserved Youths

The Future Medical Education and Development Introductory Course (MEDIC) is a medical student-led program designed to inspire primary school students in underserved communities by sharing a passion for medicine through hands-on activities and interprofessional guest speakers. A five-point Likert scale pre- and postsurvey assessed the impact of Future MEDIC. Results were analyzed with Mann Whitney’s U Test. Students were engaged in interactive activities, although this did not correlate with an interest in joining the health care field. Students expressed that they had resources to pursue a medical career, and we hope that continuing Future MEDIC will strengthen students’ perception of achieving their career goals

Neighborhood Characteristics Associated with Loss to Follow-up in a Community-based Free Health Center

This study identified demographic/neighborhood factors associated with loss to follow-up (LTF) at Neighborhood Resilience Project’s Free Health Center. English-speaking African Americans residing in neighborhoods with moderate disadvantage are at lowest risk of LTF. These findings inform strategies to retain free clinic patients who may be more vulnerable to LTF

Robust, high-productivity phototrophic carbon capture at high pH and alkalinity using natural microbial communities

Abstract Background Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) has come to be seen as one of the most viable technologies to provide the negative carbon dioxide emissions needed to constrain global temperatures. In practice, algal biotechnology is the only form of BECCS that could be realized at scale without compromising food production. Current axenic algae cultivation systems lack robustness, are expensive and generally have marginal energy returns. Results Here it is shown that microbial communities sampled from alkaline soda lakes, grown as biofilms at high pH (up to 10) and high alkalinity (up to 0.5 kmol m−3 NaHCO3 and NaCO3) display excellent (>1.0 kg m−3 day−1) and robust (>80 days) biomass productivity, at low projected overall costs. The most productive biofilms contained >100 different species and were dominated by a cyanobacterium closely related to Phormidium kuetzingianum (>60%). Conclusion Frequent harvesting and red light were the key factors that governed the assembly of a stable and productive microbial community

Robust, high-productivity phototrophic carbon capture at high pH and alkalinity using natural microbial communities

Abstract Background Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) has come to be seen as one of the most viable technologies to provide the negative carbon dioxide emissions needed to constrain global temperatures. In practice, algal biotechnology is the only form of BECCS that could be realized at scale without compromising food production. Current axenic algae cultivation systems lack robustness, are expensive and generally have marginal energy returns. Results Here it is shown that microbial communities sampled from alkaline soda lakes, grown as biofilms at high pH (up to 10) and high alkalinity (up to 0.5 kmol m−3 NaHCO3 and NaCO3) display excellent (>1.0 kg m−3 day−1) and robust (>80 days) biomass productivity, at low projected overall costs. The most productive biofilms contained >100 different species and were dominated by a cyanobacterium closely related to Phormidium kuetzingianum (>60%). Conclusion Frequent harvesting and red light were the key factors that governed the assembly of a stable and productive microbial community

COVID-19 monoclonal antibody treatment impact on symptoms and post-COVID conditions among high-risk patients at a Federally Qualified Health Center.

BackgroundMonoclonal antibody (mAb) treatment for COVID-19 is associated with improved clinical outcomes. However, there is limited information regarding the impact of treatment on symptoms and the prevalence of post-COVID Conditions (PCC). Understanding of the association between time to mAb infusion and the development of PCC is also limited.MethodsThis longitudinal study was conducted among patients with COVID-19 who received mAb infusions at a Federally Qualified Health Center in San Diego, CA. A series of telephone interviews were conducted at baseline and follow-up (14 days and 28+ days). A comprehensive symptom inventory was completed and physical and mental health status were measured using PROMIS-29 and PHQ-2. Pearson's Chi-squared tests and independent two-sample t-tests were performed to test for association between time to mAb infusion and outcomes at follow-up. A Poisson regression model was used to analyze whether time to mAb infusion predicts risk of developing PCC.ResultsParticipants (N = 411) were 53% female, ranged in age from 16 to 92 years (mean 50), and a majority (56%) were Latino/Hispanic. Cross-sectional findings revealed a high symptom burden at baseline (70% of patients had cough, 50% had fever, and 44% had headache). The prevalence of many symptoms decreased substantially by the final follow-up survey (29% of patients had cough, 3% had fever, and 28% had headache). Longitudinal findings indicated that 10 symptoms decreased in prevalence from baseline to final follow-up, 2 remained the same, and 14 increased. The severity of symptoms and most patient-reported physical and mental health measure scores decreased over time. The prevalence of PCC was 69% when PCC was defined as ≥ 1 symptom at final follow-up. Time to mAb infusion was not significantly associated with any outcome at follow-up. Time to infusion was not associated with PCC status at final follow-up in the crude or adjusted Poisson regression models.ConclusionsThe prevalence of PCC was high among this patient population following COVID-19 mAb treatment. Time to mAb infusion did not predict the development of PCC. Further research in these areas is essential to answer urgent clinical questions about effective treatments of COVID-19

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Objectively Measured Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior Among Overweight Young Adults: Yearlong Longitudinal Analysis

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has impacted multiple aspects of daily living, including behaviors associated with occupation, transportation, and health. It is unclear how these changes to daily living have impacted physical activity and sedentary behavior. ObjectiveIn this study, we add to the growing body of research on the health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic by examining longitudinal changes in objectively measured daily physical activity and sedentary behavior among overweight or obese young adults participating in an ongoing weight loss trial in San Diego, California. MethodsData were collected from 315 overweight or obese (BMI: range 25.0-39.9 kg/m2) participants aged from 18 to 35 years between November 1, 2019, and October 30, 2020, by using the Fitbit Charge 3 (Fitbit LLC). After conducting strict filtering to find valid data on consistent wear (>10 hours per day for ≥250 days), data from 97 participants were analyzed to detect multiple structural changes in time series of physical activity and sedentary behavior. An algorithm was designed to detect multiple structural changes. This allowed for the automatic identification and dating of these changes in linear regression models with CIs. The number of breakpoints in regression models was estimated by using the Bayesian information criterion and residual sum of squares; the optimal segmentation corresponded to the lowest Bayesian information criterion and residual sum of squares. To quantify the changes in each outcome during the periods identified, linear mixed effects analyses were conducted. In terms of key demographic characteristics, the 97 participants included in our analyses did not differ from the 210 participants who were excluded. ResultsAfter the initiation of the shelter-in-place order in California on March 19, 2021, there were significant decreases in step counts (−2872 steps per day; 95% CI −2734 to −3010), light physical activity times (−41.9 minutes; 95% CI −39.5 to −44.3), and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity times (−12.2 minutes; 95% CI −10.6 to −13.8), as well as significant increases in sedentary behavior times (+52.8 minutes; 95% CI 47.0-58.5). The decreases were greater than the expected declines observed during winter holidays, and as of October 30, 2020, they have not returned to the levels observed prior to the initiation of shelter-in-place orders. ConclusionsAmong overweight or obese young adults, physical activity times decreased and sedentary behavior times increased concurrently with the implementation of COVID-19 mitigation strategies. The health conditions associated with a sedentary lifestyle may be additional, unintended results of the COVID-19 pandemic