Crazy last weeks

After my return from a 18-day Latin America trip on Nov 14, time had been passing me by quickly.

I had to play catch up with work, meeting up with friends to bid farewell, and tying loose ends before returning home on Dec 6.

On top of that, my junior just arrived, so I drove him and my new housemate around to buy stuffs.

Finally on Nov 24, I had the chance to sit down at lab without going anywhere or doing anything! A good gift for myself.

Reflecting on my past 5-year professional experience

In my five years at Johns Hopkins University, I had risen from a trainee, a post-doctoral fellow, an assistant lab-manager, and finally to a faculty position as a Research Associate with The Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences.

However, before I switched to a wet-laboratory from a bioinformatics background, I had set my goal of publishing at least two first authors during my stint here.

Writing has been a difficult process for me. It takes a lot of mental discipline and emotional detachment to churn out a good article.

My first research paper took slightly more than a year to get it published. My second review paper had a shorter period of seven months, from mentally accepting the invitation to write for the journal to publishing it. I am happy on fulfilling my goal.

All said and done, I am grateful to my boss, Professor Thomas August for believing in my conviction and fellow colleagues in getting the papers published!

Highly conserved influenza A sequences as T cell epitopes-based vaccine targets to address the viral variability

Paul ThiamJoo Tan, Asif M. Khan and J. Thomas August

Volume 7, Issue 4
April 2011

Vaccines are the only proven effective method for prevention of human infectious diseases. Almost all traditional vaccines require activating immunological memory B cells to secrete neutralizing antibodies against invading pathogens. The complication with influenza viruses is the high viral mutation rate that results in immune escape through modification of the B cell epitopes. Studies of T cell immunity to influenza infection provide an alternative vaccine strategy based on highly conserved T cell epitopes. In this review, we discuss the importance of T cell-mediated immunity in influenza infection and the need for a targeted vaccine approach focused on highly conserved T cell epitopes to mitigate immune escape. We propose 15 highly conserved pan-influenza sequences as possible T cell epitopes-based vaccine targets for broad protection and lasting immunity against variant influenza strains.

Shooting at Johns Hopkins Hospital

Yesterday, 16 Sep 2010, was a tense and sad day for us working at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Sometime after 11am, I received an email from Hopkins saying that someone had fired a shot inside the hospital building. Employees were advised to stay behind locked rooms.

From my laboratory, I could hear siren and saw a police helicopter hovering above the East Baltimore Campus.

Roads surrounding the hospital were closed. Vehicles used by SWAT teams, police and firefighters formed a blockage where the shooting happened. Media groups were swarming around the cordoned area.

The shooter, who became emotionally distraught after hearing his mother's condition, had shot the consulting physician. Eventually, he turned on his mother and himself. The wounded doctor survived.

Just a sad day!

Celebrating over 100,000 views

Today, my Webshots photo website crossed 100,000 views with 2,321 downloads since I joined as a member on 21 March, 2006.

Thank you for your viewership and downloads. Looking back on my 73 albums, my photography skill has improved in these four years. Initially, I had joined to upload my pictures onto a server as a backup. Never had I imagined that any of my pictures would be featured as Picture Of The Day (POTD) since I was an amateur photographer nor a premium Webshots member.

I still prefer to take landscape or still pictures. My next venture will likely be night scene. Taking people is not my forte but no harm trying out.

You can enjoy my work at Littlesaul.

Reflection

I had thought of closing my blog this year since I had been penning my thoughts for almost 5 years. But after reading my previous postings, they brought back good memories of the many adventures I had taken, places visited, and things accomplished and yet done.

Postings, henceforth, maybe few and far between, but will highlight crucial events.

After my last publication on influenza A, entitled "Conservation and Diversity of Influenza A H1N1 HLA-Restricted T Cell Epitope Candidates for Epitope-Based Vaccines", I was invited to write a peer review on T cell epitope-based vaccines which I believe is the next frontier in vaccine development.

I consulted with my boss, Prof. August and we agreed to go ahead. Reading through over 100 research articles was tough. I also under-estimated the huge amount of time needed to write.

The four-month period leading to submission in July was a trying period for me which explained the absence of postings. I felt liberated after my submission.

Today, a month later, I got the answer back from the reviewers. As usual, we had to revise or rebut the reviewers' comments. With something to work on, it will be easier than writing from scratch.

Sleepless poems

Yawning, grouchy mood
Each night, my sleep is interrupted.

Yawning, concentration is affected.
Mistakes are committed.

Dozing, tired man
Catching up with sleep.


The Elusive Sleep
Each night, I prepared for our meeting
Body and dental hygiene a must,
A clean set of PJ, nothing fanciful.

Our meeting agreement involved lying still,
muscles relaxing and natural breathing.
A blank mind I tried to maintain.

Anxiety, anger, depression, worries, etc.
Negative feelings are not
Appreciated by my guest.

Atlas, I grew impatient.
For she had stood me up again.
I lie awake,
Thinking of The Elusive Sleep.

Bad sleeping posture = Bad neck ache

One day I woke up with a sharp pain around my right scapular. At the end of the day, the pain had spread to my neck. Initially, I thought I had injured it through lifting weights at the gym. After resting for two months, the pain was still there and massaging with medicated oil did not help. Applying heat pad provided some relief but did not treat the cause. I was having backache too each morning.

I was worried that it could be more than a bad strain and visited my sports doctor. He diagnosed as a strain to my right trapezius muscle and advised me to go for physical therapy. Trapezius muscle is a huge muscle group, consisting of a broad, flat muscle on each side of the upper and back part of the neck, shoulders, and back. This muscle group is involve in raising, rotating, or drawing back the shoulders, and pulling the head backward or to one side.

Since I had never been to a physical therapy before, it would be interesting to determine how they would treat the pain. Prior to treatment, I need to fill up a survey to describe my pain level, types of pain (I did not know there were so many adjectives to describe pain, amazing) and usual health questions.

I was given an ultrasound and massage over the muscle. My therapist could feel the tightness of my muscle whereas I just felt pain. She also taught me to sleep correctly by adjusting the height of my pillows or rolling a towel to support my neck. The position to adopt is the natural curvature of the spine, not too high where you would be facing your toes nor too low, causing the neck to arch up. The shoulders should not be rested on the pillows. When I first came to USA, I had trouble adjusting to the soft pillows and the low height. So, I had five pillows to play with the height. She also printed out some neck exercises to stretch the muscles.

I just bought a contour memory foam pillow which has the neck support. The cover was soft and plush, really comfortable. If I maintain to sleep on my back, I am on the road to recovery.

Hot sauces

I, a fan of spicy food, was drawn to try out the hottest things available. While watching a program on Travel Channel, I got to know of two hot sauces. One is 911 from Cluck-U Chicken which according to the sauce meter (left picture) is 151 degree. (FYI, 911 is an emergency number in USA, synonymous to 999 in Singapore.) Before customers could taste or buy the 911 sauce, they had to agree and consent to a waiver release. I bought a 5 oz bottle at $10.60. It was spicy but leave a bitter aftertaste like when I apply cayenne pepper powder to my food.



The second was Atomic Wing Sauce, sold by Quaker Stake & Lube. As the nearest store is 4 hour drive away, I had not tried this sauce. It is available online, selling at $5.99 for 2 fl. oz. The Scoville Heat Rating is 150000. A waiver release is also required.

The one I like so far is Hotter Hot Sauce by Texas Pete which is available in the local supermarket. It is spicier than the Original Hot Sauce which is mild to me. Further, there is no bitter aftertaste. Some people may find this preposterous. I would apply a few drips on each potato chip before eating the chip.

There is a shop in Delaware for fans of hot sauces. It carries a wide variety of sauces from all over the world. If I remembered correctly, it is owned by a brother and sister. I am trying to locate it. I saw it on Travel Channel. Anyone know this?

A new way of sauteing

Recently, I discovered a less messy way of frying. Being brought up to use a wok for frying, stirring, etc. I was not aware of using a non-stick pot for the same cooking methods.

Nowadays, I add oil and saute onions with a lid covered to prevent oil splattering and frying odor from getting on my clothes in the closet. Plus, I could add broth to simmer meat. The less messy it is, the better for me. Yipee.

Another uniquely place

While walking in Fells Point, I chanced upon this sign hanging off a lamp post. This cracked me up as I saw the slogan, 'Uniquely Baltimore' which reminded me of another, 'Uniquely Singapore.'

Separated about 9,600 mi or 15,500 km apart, it was surprising that the two cities chose similar slogan.

Update to my knowledge of exercising

As the Arctic cold front surges, I stay more immobile on the couch and not going to gym. I have been feeling guilty for not exercising by using the excuse of temperatures below freezing.

A few weeks ago, I ordered a book called "The Men's Health Big Book of Exercises: Four Weeks to a Leaner, Stronger, More Muscular YOU!" I felt that my old routine of exercises was boring since it had not changed for 4 years and my muscle growth had plateaued. After reading Chapter 2 on FAQs on lifting, I realized my knowledge on sets and repetitions of workout was outdated. The 619 exercises, including warm-up exercises which I often neglect, will keep me occupied.

The weather forecast for the next 7 days should be above freezing, time to head out and burn calories.

New Mexico Dec 9-12

My first impression of New Mexico was from watching Rachael Ray hosting Santa Fe's rich cultural food on Food Channel last year. The food looked spicy with various peppers added and the architecture of buildings in the background looked different. These set my heart to visit Santa Fe.

Fast forward to 9 Dec 2009, I booked a Delta flight to Albuquerque Airport from Baltimore-Washington International (BWI) Airport as traveling over Christmas and New Year period cost more. On my first leg from BWI to Atlanta for my transit, I was upgraded to first class. This was the first time that I sat in this section. The perks of sitting in first class included checking in my winter coat and the flight attendant started to serve me drinks the moment I sat down. There was plenty of seat space for me to cross my legs if I wished. It was definitely a pampering experience. For my connecting flight to Albuquerque, I was back to economy class.

From the airplane, I could see desert blanketed with snow and snow-capped mountains. Upon entering Albuquerque Airport, the interior was decorated with native Indian arts and designs, a sight different from major US airports.

After picking up my rental car, I drove northeast towards Santa Fe which served as my base for visiting other vicinities. I was advised by the car rental staff to upgrade to a Toyota Camry from an economy car as New Mexico was hit by a snowstorm, resulting in icy roads and the highway speed limit was 75 mph. Usually it is 65 mph. An economy car would 'shake' and be hard to control at 75 mph. After upgrading and buying liability insurance and a full fuel tank, I had to pay $200+ on top of what I had paid for in my Travelocity package.

It took me about 1.5 hour to reach Santa Fe around 4pm. Sure enough, the road was icy and I did not regret spending the extra cash on safety. As I had not taken any meal since morning, I proceeded to Santa Fe Plaza where most restaurants were situated. My hotel, Sage Inn, provided free transport to the plaza where I headed to a Thai restaurant but it was closed. Then, I walked towards Burro Alley where I dined at Cafe Paris Restaurant and Bakery. Burro Alley used to be a nightlife district for the city and is named after the small donkeys which carried firewood to be sold here.

After fulfilling my hunger, I toured around the 400-year old Plaza, visiting St Francis Cathedral, Loretto Chapel and La Fonda Hotel. Most shops were closed around 5pm as this was off-peak season. The Loretto Chapel had an interesting history. The small Gothic Chapel was built in the 1870s without a staircase to the choir loft from the ground. Many builders were consulted to solve the predicament with the intention of building a staircase that would not take up too much space. Most suggested using a ladder or reconstructing the balcony. The Sisters of Loretto prayed a Novena to Saint Joseph and on the ninth day, a mysterious carpenter came forward and built a circular stairway to the loft. The stairway makes two 360-degree turns with no center nor side support and no nails. Just plain wooden pegs. Upon completing the stairway, the carpenter disappeared without asking payment for his work. This stairway has been attributed to Saint Joseph's work and is called the Miraculous Stairway.

The next day, I drove northeast to Taos where I visited Taos Pueblo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a National Historic Landmark. This place has been continuously inhabited by the Native American Indians for over 1000 years. The buildings are made of adobe which is earth mixed with water and the walls are really thick, at least 10 inches wide. To see the interior, you can visit the shops located within the community where the walls are usually painted white. There is no modern amenity, specifically electricity and water, in this community. Thus, there is a fireplace inside for cooking and keeping warm. The river running through the village serves as their source of drinking water. They have a majestic view of Taos Mountain where the natives considered it sacred and performed religious ceremonies there.

For the truly environmentally friendly people, there is a community not far from Taos who live in structures made out of earth and recycled materials such as glass bottles, aluminum cans, and car tires. The Earthship Biotecture Headquarter Visitor Center is a self-sufficient housing using solar energy and integrated water system, including its own garden. Precipitation is collected where water is used 4 times before releasing back into the environment. Visit Earthship Biotecture for more information.

In between Taos and The Earthship Community is the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge across the Rio Grande Gorge. The gorge is a mini version of Grand Canyon but looks great too since I had to cross it. On my way back to Santa Fe, I stopped at a wholesale shop which sold every Southwestern thing one could think of. Imagine a wreath made from red chili peppers. I wanted to buy a table runner but decided against it as I thought about getting it in Latin America when I visit in early half of 2010.

On my third day, I drove to Bandelier National Monument, home to Ancestral Pueblo dwellings. Along the way, I was glad to explore White Rock because the scenery from the outlook was fantastic. There was a partially frozen waterfall and a gorge. Usually, being a planner, I would have drove on towards my target. But I learned my lesson when I went to Cape May, New Jersey. Then, I saw a country rodeo along the way and I thought it would be there on my way back. Well, the place was deserted on my return trip.

After getting back to my actual route, I drove for many miles alone with no car in sight on New Mexico Route 4. According to my GPS, I should have reached the park entrance. I pressed on and finally saw the entrance. A self-guided tour is available at the Main Loop Trail with many Ancestral Pueblo dwellings, carved out from cliff walls. One could climb up ladders to the cavates. At 5' 10", it was difficult for me to stay in the carved units.

Another attraction at Bandelier National Monument was The Alcove House, formerly called Ceremonial Cave, which is 140 feet up a cliff wall. Getting there involves climbing 4 steep wooden ladders and stone stairs. Due to the snowstorm, the Alcove House was closed for safety reasons.

However, having hiked for half an hour through deep snow, I refused to see the Alcove House at the foot of the cliff. The first ladder was icy and the stairs were covered with snow. My heart pounded hard. At the back of my mind, I was thinking that I was acting foolishly as help was unavailable if I were to fall since no one would venture here. My adventurous side won over and I reached the Alcove House safely. I imagined life back then, children playing, women cooking and men hunting. There was a kiva where you had to descend into for religious rituals. Going down the ladders was harder as I had to maneuver from my back facing the ladder to facing opposite to it at the top steps. Further, my bulky digital Nikon D70S hindered my movement. I put my climbing knowledge to use by always having three contact points while descending down the ladders.

Since it was still daylight, I visited Los Alamos, home to creation of the atomic bomb. There were restricted areas with fences as I drove by. Upon reaching Los Alamos, there was a security post. This was the first time for me to drive past a security post to a US town. I visited the Bradbury Science Museum which had exhibits on nuclear bomb and watched a film on the Manhattan Project. The big yellow metal 'bomb' was a replica of the Fat Man which detonated over Nagasaki, Japan. Even though I dislike physics, I enjoyed visiting the museum. It is scary to think about the destructive power of a nuclear bomb.

With night falling, I headed back to Santa Fe and toured along Guadalupe Street, taking pictures of murals, and going into art galleries to escape from the cold. That night, I was fortunate to witness a local event where there was a procession starting from St Francis Cathedral to Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. I joined in the procession while photographing the entire event. There were devotees singing hymns, carrying the statue and picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and musicians playing instruments.

On my last day, I woke up early so that I had time to visit Petroglyph National Monument and old Albuquerque before my flight.

The Petroglyph National Monument encompasses extinct volcanoes where ancient drawings of the Native Americans were carved on black rocks. One had to be sharp and often had to climb up the rocky slopes of the canyon to spot images of animals, stick figures and symbols. One could only guess its meaning or significance. As I was on a tight schedule, I did not walked the entire Rinconada Canyon trial and it would be impossible to find every carving on the rocks. Vandalism had been reported where inconsiderate people had added their touches to the images or deface them. Urgh!

On my way to Old Albuquerque, I saw the exit sign for hot air balloon rides and decided to detour. I was in the nick of time to catch the balloons rising. The colorful balloons put a smile on my face as they floated into the sky. Their shapes reminded me of Vietnamese lanterns. One even had two ear-like protrusions at the top of the balloon and a painted winking cat face.

For my last stop, I had about 2 hours to tour Old Albuquerque. It seemed that all the towns in New Mexico had a centralized place called the plaza where people meet. The impression I got after visiting Santa Fe, Taos, and Old Albuquerque was that there were a lot of Native American artwork selling similar things and lots of art galleries. My whole being was saturated with arts every time I visited the plaza. I managed to take a brisk walk around the sculpture garden of the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History.

Life in the desert is tough. Soil conditions are not conducive for major agriculture. What I do observe is the numerous casinos dotting the highways. In fact, there is a rock outcrop which looked like a single hump camel and there is a casino nearby. It was called the Camel Rock Casino.

After returning the car, my itinerary was to fly to Salt Lake City and then to Baltimore. For the second leg, I was once again upgraded to first class and had a relaxing time. Dinner was chicken Parmesan, salad, and pumpkin pie. De-li-cious!

New Mexico photo album

2010

My first posting of this new decade! Wow, amazing. Wishing all a peaceful, joyous and healthy year ahead.

Keeping up with traditions, my new year resolutions are:

1. Go on a marvelous, scary and fulfilling journey: Self-discovery.
2. Find a job.
3. Watch less tv.

Three things are easy to accomplish or is it?