Transgenic tomato strategies targeting whitefly eggs from apoplastic or ovary-directed proteins.

Background: Transgenic plants expressing proteins that target the eggs of the ubiquitous plant pest Bemisia tabaci (whitefly) could be an effective insecticide strategy. Two approaches for protein delivery are assessed using the mCherry reporter gene in transgenic tomato plants, while accommodating autofluorescence in both the plant, phloem-feeding whitefly and pedicle-attached eggs.

Results: Both transgenic strategies were segregated to homozygous genotype using digital PCR.

Enabling biocontained plant virus transmission studies through establishment of an axenic whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) colony on plant tissue culture.

Whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci) and the diseases they transmit are a major detriment to crop yields and a significant contributor to world hunger. The highly evolved interactions of host plant, phloem-feeding insect vector with endosymbionts and persistently transmitted virus represent a tremendous challenge for interdisciplinary study. Presented here is the establishment of a colony of axenic whiteflies on tissue-cultured plants.

Bivalent target-binding bioPROTACs induce potent degradation of oncogenic SHP2.

Targeted protein degradation is an emergent and rapidly evolving therapeutic strategy. In particular, biologics-based targeted degradation modalities (bioPROTACs) are relatively under explored compared to small molecules. Here, we investigate how target affinity, cellular localization, and valency of bioPROTACs impact efficacy of targeted degradation of the oncogenic phosphatase src-homology 2 containing protein tyrosine phosphatase-2 (SHP2).

Molecular Docking Improved with Human Spatial Perception Using Virtual Reality.

Adaptive steered molecular dynamics (ASMD) is a computational biophysics method in which an external force is applied to a selected set of atoms or a specific reaction coordinate to induce a particular molecular motion. Virtual reality (VR) based methods for protein-ligand docking are beneficial for visualizing on-the-fly interactive molecular dynamics and performing promising docking trajectories. In this paper, we propose a novel method to guide ASMD with optimal trajectories collected from human experiences using interactive molecular dynamics in virtual reality (iMD-VR).

Characterizing Recurrence Following Hybrid Ablation in Patients With Persistent Atrial Fibrillation.

Purpose: It is widely accepted that atrial fibrillation (AF) accounts for half of arrhythmia recurrences following endocardial catheter ablation of AF. An epicardial-endocardial approach (hybrid) has emerged as an alternative to endocardial ablation alone for the treatment of AF, yet recurrence after a hybrid procedure has not been well characterized. This retrospective study is aimed at characterizing recurrence following hybrid ablation for patients with persistent AF.

Embodiment Is Related to Better Performance on a Brain-Computer Interface in Immersive Virtual Reality: A Pilot Study.

Electroencephalography (EEG)-based brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) for motor rehabilitation aim to "close the loop" between attempted motor commands and sensory feedback by providing supplemental information when individuals successfully achieve specific brain patterns. Existing EEG-based BCIs use various displays to provide feedback, ranging from displays considered more immersive (e.g.

Orientation Perception in Real and Virtual Environments.

Spatial perception in virtual environments has been a topic of intense research. Arguably, the majority of this work has focused on distance perception. However, orientation perception is also an important factor.

Identifying the third dimension in 2D fluoroscopy to create 3D cardiac maps.

Three-dimensional cardiac mapping is important for optimal visualization of the heart during cardiac ablation for the treatment of certain arrhythmias. However, many hospitals and clinics worldwide cannot afford the high cost of the current mapping systems. We set out to determine if, using predefined algorithms, comparable 3D cardiac maps could be created by a new device that relies on data generated from single-plane fluoroscopy and patient recording and monitoring systems, without the need for costly equipment, infrastructure changes, or specialized catheters.

Modeling strategic use of human computer interfaces with novel hidden Markov models.

Immersive software tools are virtual environments designed to give their users an augmented view of real-world data and ways of manipulating that data. As virtual environments, every action users make while interacting with these tools can be carefully logged, as can the state of the software and the information it presents to the user, giving these actions context. This data provides a high-resolution lens through which dynamic cognitive and behavioral processes can be viewed.

Bachmann's bundle and coronary sinus ostial pacing accentuate left atrial electrical dyssynchrony in an acute canine model.

Introduction: In patients with intraatrial conduction delay and sinus node (SN) dysfunction, pacing Bachmann's bundle (BBR) and coronary sinus ostium (CSO) has been suggested to achieve atrial resynchronization with potential beneficial impact on atrial fibrillation and diastolic heart failure. Clinical studies have not shown superiority of one approach.

Methods And Results: We studied electrical activation sequence in an open-chest acute canine model of normal atrial function in 8 mongrel dogs under general anesthesia.

Left Atrial Anatomy in Patients Undergoing Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation.

Left atrial anatomy is highly variable, asymmetric, irregular and three-dimensionally unique. This variability can affect the outcome of atrial ablation. A catalog of anatomic varieties may aid patient selection and ablation approach and provide better tools for left atrial ablation.

Impossible spaces: maximizing natural walking in virtual environments with self-overlapping architecture.

Walking is only possible within immersive virtual environments that fit inside the boundaries of the user's physical workspace. To reduce the severity of the restrictions imposed by limited physical area, we introduce "impossible spaces," a new design mechanic for virtual environments that wish to maximize the size of the virtual environment that can be explored with natural locomotion. Such environments make use of self-overlapping architectural layouts, effectively compressing comparatively large interior environments into smaller physical areas.

A randomized, prospective trial evaluating surgeon preference in selection of absorbable suture material.

This study is the first double-blinded, randomized comparison of two absorbable sutures. To better understand product characteristics and surgeon preference, we conducted a study of two similar-appearing FDA-approved sutures, glyconate and poliglecaprone 25. Four dermatologic surgeons were enlisted.

Cardiac Image Registration: Rotational Error Correction and Gated Stabilization for Cardiac Motion.

Dynamic motion of the heart due to cardiac and respiratory cycles, and rotation from varying patient positions between imaging modalities, can cause errors during cardiac image registration. This study used phantom, patient and animal models to assess and correct these errors. Rotational errors were identified and corrected using different phantom orientations.

Pacing lead implantation without live fluoroscopy: feasibility of acute success in the live canine model.

Introduction: Fluoroscopic visualization for transvenous pacing lead placement necessitates lead shielding to minimize radiation exposure. An electromagnetic (EM) navigation system that integrates real-time intracardiac tracking within an anatomic navigation environment may provide an effective alternative for lead delivery that obviates live fluoroscopy. We assessed feasibility of pacing lead implantation with electromagnetic tracking guided solely by radiographic virtual navigation and compared this to fluoroscopy-guided implants in a canine model.

Effects of video placement and spatial context presentation on path reconstruction tasks with contextualized videos.

Many interesting and promising prototypes for visualizing video data have been proposed, including those that combine videos with their spatial context (contextualized videos). However, relatively little work has investigated the fundamental design factors behind these prototypes in order to provide general design guidance. Focusing on real-time video data visualization, we evaluated two important design factors--video placement method and spatial context presentation method--through a user study.

Contextualized videos: combining videos with environment models to support situational understanding.

Multiple spatially-related videos are increasingly used in security, communication, and other applications. Since it can be difficult to understand the spatial relationships between multiple videos in complex environments (e.g.

Pulmonary vein isolation and linear lesions in atrial fibrillation ablation.

Background: Various strategies have been used for atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. It is unclear whether adding linear lesions to pulmonary vein (PV) isolation has significant advantages.

Objectives: We assessed the clinical benefit of adding linear lesions in patients undergoing PV isolation for AF.

Computed tomography-fluoroscopy image integration-guided catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation.

Introduction: This study examines the feasibility of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation using registered three-dimensional computed tomography (CT) images of the left atrium with fluoroscopy.

Methods And Results: A total of 50 consecutive patients with symptomatic AF refractory to medical therapy (32 paroxysmal, 18 persistent, age 55 +/- 10 years) were randomized to undergo a catheter-based AF ablation procedure with or without the CT-fluoroscopy guidance system. All patients underwent preprocedural contrast-enhanced CT imaging and segmentation of the left atrium.

Registration of 3D computed tomographic images with interventional systems: implications for catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation.

Despite the great promise catheter ablation offers in the treatment of complex arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation (AF), long procedure times and somewhat suboptimal results hinder the widespread use of this technique. As fluoroscopy does not provide contrast differentiation between the area of interest and the surrounding structures, there is a lack of proper intra procedure image guidance. Segmentation of anatomical structures such as the left atrium (LA) can be performed using images obtained with modalities such as computed tomography (CT).

Posterior left atrial-esophageal relationship throughout the cardiac cycle.

Background: Radiofrequency energy delivered throughout the cardiac cycle has the potential to cause thermal injury to the esophagus if the anatomical relationship between the posterior left atrium and the esophagus changes during cardiac motion.

Objective: To assess the posterior left atrial-esophageal relationship throughout the cardiac cycle.

Methods: In this study, the anatomical relationship between the posterior left atrium and the esophagus was assessed throughout the cardiac cycle in 10 consecutive patients.