Revising U.S. Privacy Laws: New Laws are Required to Fill in the Gaps of Current and Proposed Legislation to Account for New Technologies and Future Emergencies

With the ongoing expansion of internet services and increase in cyberattacks, Congress has long recognized the need for comprehensive federal privacy legislation, but no federal legislation has been passed. Currently, the scatter-shot of sector and state-specific privacy laws have proven to be ineffective. The authority of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has also been weak. The unexpected occurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic further exposed the dire need for comprehensive federal privacy legislation. Data-collection methods such as facial recognition, immunity passports, and contact tracing leave users’ health and location data vulnerable in the hands of the government and private companies. Technologies such as Zoom have also revealed privacy concerns. Amongst the many state-based privacy laws, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) is the most comprehensive state law to date. It governs every company that does business with a California company, has California resident customers, or collects any personal data of a California resident. However, this Note will suggest that the CCPA and other state and sector-based regulations still leave loopholes. While there are comprehensive federal privacy bills being proposed, none have been passed due to the inability of the political parties to agree on the issues of preemption and private right of action. This Note will suggest a new approach to federal privacy regulation – a revised private right of action component, a sunset provision for preemption, and a minimization of disparate impact and increased scope of governance in COVID-19-responsive legislation

Community-Based Health and Exposure Study around Urban Oil Developments in South Los Angeles.

Oilfield-adjacent communities often report symptoms such as headaches and/or asthma. Yet, little data exists on health experiences and exposures in urban environments with oil and gas development. In partnership with Promotoras de Salud (community health workers), we gathered household surveys nearby two oil production sites in Los Angeles. We tested the capacity of low-cost sensors for localized exposure estimates. Bilingual surveys of 205 randomly sampled residences were collected within two 1500 ft. buffer areas (West Adams and University Park) surrounding oil development sites. We used a one-sample proportion test, comparing overall rates from the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) of Service Planning Area 6 (SPA6) and Los Angeles County for variables of interest such as asthma. Field calibrated low-cost sensors recorded methane emissions. Physician diagnosed asthma rates were reported to be higher within both buffers than in SPA6 or LA County. Asthma prevalence in West Adams but not University Park was significantly higher than in Los Angeles County. Respondents with diagnosed asthma reported rates of emergency room visits in the previous 12 months similar to SPA6. 45% of respondents were unaware of oil development; 63% of residents would not know how to contact local regulatory authorities. Residents often seek information about their health and site-related activities. Low-cost sensors may be useful in highlighting differences between sites or recording larger emission events and can provide localized data alongside resident-reported symptoms. Regulatory officials should help clarify information to the community on methods for reporting health symptoms. Our community-based participatory research (CBPR) partnership supports efforts to answer community questions as residents seek a safety buffer between sensitive land uses and active oil development

Subclavian line infiltration causing neck compartment syndrome and bradycardic arrest: A case report.

Unrecognized central venous catheter (CVC) infiltration is an uncommon but potentially life-threatening complication. For instance, a malpositioned subclavian line can infuse into the mediastinum, pleural cavity, or interstitial space of the neck. We present the case of a 30-year-old male with gunshot wounds to the right chest, resuscitated with an initially functional left subclavian CVC, which later infiltrated into the neck causing compression of the carotid sinus and consequent bradycardic arrest. Return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) was achieved following intravenous epinephrine, cardiac massage, and emergency neck exploration and cervical fasciotomy. Our case highlights the importance of frequent reassessment of lines, especially those placed during fast-paced, high-intensity clinical situations. We recommend being mindful when using rapid transfusion devices as an interstitial catheter may not mount enough back pressure to trigger the systems alarm before significant tissue damage or compartment syndrome occurs

High plasma leptin levels confer increased risk of atherosclerosis in women with systemic lupus erythematosus, and are associated with inflammatory oxidised lipids.

BackgroundPatients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are at increased risk of atherosclerosis, even after accounting for traditional risk factors. High levels of leptin and low levels of adiponectin are associated with both atherosclerosis and immunomodulatory functions in the general population.ObjectiveTo examine the association between these adipokines and subclinical atherosclerosis in SLE, and also with other known inflammatory biomarkers of atherosclerosis.MethodsCarotid ultrasonography was performed in 250 women with SLE and 122 controls. Plasma leptin and adiponectin levels were measured. Lipoprotein a (Lp(a)), oxidised phospholipids on apoB100 (OxPL/apoB100), paraoxonase, apoA-1 and inflammatory high-density lipoprotein (HDL) function were also assessed.ResultsLeptin levels were significantly higher in patients with SLE than in controls (23.7±28.0 vs 13.3±12.9 ng/ml, p<0.001). Leptin was also higher in the 43 patients with SLE with plaque than without plaque (36.4±32.3 vs 20.9±26.4 ng/ml, p=0.002). After multivariate analysis, the only significant factors associated with plaque in SLE were leptin levels in the highest quartile (≥29.5 ng/ml) (OR=2.8, p=0.03), proinflammatory HDL (piHDL) (OR=12.8, p<0.001), age (OR=1.1, p<0.001), tobacco use (OR=7.7, p=0.03) and hypertension (OR=3.0, p=0.01). Adiponectin levels were not significantly associated with plaque in our cohort. A significant correlation between leptin and piHDL function (p<0.001), Lp(a) (p=0.01) and OxPL/apoB100 (p=0.02) was also present.ConclusionsHigh leptin levels greatly increase the risk of subclinical atherosclerosis in SLE, and are also associated with an increase in inflammatory biomarkers of atherosclerosis such as piHDL, Lp(a) and OxPL/apoB100. High leptin levels may help to identify patients with SLE at risk of atherosclerosis

The Draft Genome and Transcriptome of Panagrellus redivivus Are Shaped by the Harsh Demands of a Free-Living Lifestyle

Nematodes compose an abundant and diverse invertebrate phylum with members inhabiting nearly every ecological niche. Panagrellus redivivus (the “microworm”) is a free-living nematode frequently used to understand the evolution of developmental and behavioral processes given its phylogenetic distance to Caenorhabditis elegans. Here we report the de novo sequencing of the genome, transcriptome, and small RNAs of P. redivivus. Using a combination of automated gene finders and RNA-seq data, we predict 24,249 genes and 32,676 transcripts. Small RNA analysis revealed 248 microRNA (miRNA) hairpins, of which 63 had orthologs in other species. Fourteen miRNA clusters containing 42 miRNA precursors were found. The RNA interference, dauer development, and programmed cell death pathways are largely conserved. Analysis of protein family domain abundance revealed that P. redivivus has experienced a striking expansion of BTB domain-containing proteins and an unprecedented expansion of the cullin scaffold family of proteins involved in multi-subunit ubiquitin ligases, suggesting proteolytic plasticity and/or tighter regulation of protein turnover. The eukaryotic release factor protein family has also been dramatically expanded and suggests an ongoing evolutionary arms race with viruses and transposons. The P. redivivus genome provides a resource to advance our understanding of nematode evolution and biology and to further elucidate the genomic architecture leading to free-living lineages, taking advantage of the many fascinating features of this worm revealed by comparative studies

First records of the introduced sailfin catfish Pterygoplichthys in the United Kingdom

Sailfin catfish, Pterygoplichthys, is a genus of fish common in the ornamental aquarium trade. Originally from South America, they are now invasive in numerous locations around the globe. We report the first records of Pterygoplichthys in the United Kingdom. We captured one Pterygoplichthys joselimaianus and one Pterygoplichthys pardalis in an artificial side channel of the River Kelvin in Glasgow, Scotland on 30 August 2021 and 6 September 2021, respectively. Further monitoring and public education will be important as river temperatures increase to prevent establishment of these species, which have become invasive in other parts of the world

Proceedings of the 2023 Hawk Talks

This volume contains the proceedings of the 2023 Hawk Talk Conference held on April 28th at the University of Kansas Edwards Campus in Overland Park, Kansas.The 2023 Hawk Talks Conference features work from students representing a diverse range of programs, including Applied Biological Sciences, American Sign Language and Deaf Studies, Psychology, and Biotechnology. Hawk Talks Conference are opportunities for students to present year-end capstone, honors, and independent research projects. The agenda of talks and poster presentations, abstracts, and short biographies appear for all presenters. Hawk Talks provides a platform for student researchers to come together and share their latest findings and discoveries. This convention serves as a means to stay up-to-date with the latest research taking place on the University of Kansas’ Edwards Campus

Tobacco use and asking prices of used cars: prevalence, costs, and new opportunities for changing smoking behavior

Secondhand smoke (SHS) causes premature death and disease in children and adults, and the scientific evidence indicates that there is no risk-free level of exposure to SHS. Smoking tobacco in a car can pollute the microenvironment of the car with residual SHS, leaving telltale signs to potential buyers (e.g., odor, used ash tray). This study examined (a) the proportion of used cars sold in the private party market that may be polluted with tobacco smoke and (b) whether asking prices of smoker and nonsmoker cars differed for cars of otherwise equivalent value. A random sample of 1,642 private party sellers were interviewed by telephone, and content analyses of print advertisements were conducted. Findings indicate that 22% of used cars were advertised by smokers or had been smoked in during the previous year. Among nonsmokers, 94% did not allow smoking in their car during the past year. Only 33% of smokers had the same restrictions. The smoking status of the seller and tobacco use in the car were significantly (p < .01) associated with the asking price independent of a car's Kelley Blue Book value (KBB). Used nonsmoker cars were offered at a considerable premium above their KBB value (>11%) and above comparable smoker cars (7–9%). These findings suggest that community preferences are affecting the value of smoke-free cars. New directions for research, tobacco control policies, and health education are discussed to further reduce smoking behavior, to help consumers make informed purchasing decisions, and to protect nonsmokers from SHS exposure

Isoform-specific roles for AKT in affective behavior, spatial memory, and extinction related to psychiatric disorders

AKT is implicated in neurological disorders. AKT has three isoforms, AKT1/AKT2/AKT3, with brain cell type-specific expression that may differentially influence behavior. Therefore, we examined single Akt isoform, conditional brain-specific Akt1, and double Akt1/3 mutant mice in behaviors relevant to neuropsychiatric disorders. Because sex is a determinant of these disorders but poorly understood, sex was an experimental variable in our design. Our studies revealed AKT isoform- and sex-specific effects on anxiety, spatial and contextual memory, and fear extinction. In Akt1 mutant males, viral-mediated AKT1 restoration in the prefrontal cortex rescued extinction phenotypes. We identified a novel role for AKT2 and overlapping roles for AKT1 and AKT3 in long-term memory. Finally, we found that sex-specific behavior effects were not mediated by AKT expression or activation differences between sexes. These results highlight sex as a biological variable and isoform- or cell type-specific AKT signaling as potential targets for improving treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders. </div