Heteroskedastic Geospatial Tracking with Distributed Camera Networks

Visual object tracking has seen significant progress in recent years. However, the vast majority of this work focuses on tracking objects within the image plane of a single camera and ignores the uncertainty associated with predicted object locations. In this work, we focus on the geospatial object tracking problem using data from a distributed camera network. The goal is to predict an object's track in geospatial coordinates along with uncertainty over the object's location while respecting communication constraints that prohibit centralizing raw image data. We present a novel single-object geospatial tracking data set that includes high-accuracy ground truth object locations and video data from a network of four cameras. We present a modeling framework for addressing this task including a novel backbone model and explore how uncertainty calibration and fine-tuning through a differentiable tracker affect performance

Robotic Cane as a Soft SuperLimb for Elderly Sit-to-Stand Assistance

Many researchers have identified robotics as a potential solution to the aging population faced by many developed and developing countries. If so, how should we address the cognitive acceptance and ambient control of elderly assistive robots through design? In this paper, we proposed an explorative design of an ambient SuperLimb (Supernumerary Robotic Limb) system that involves a pneumatically-driven robotic cane for at-home motion assistance, an inflatable vest for compliant human-robot interaction, and a depth sensor for ambient intention detection. The proposed system aims at providing active assistance during the sit-to-stand transition for at-home usage by the elderly at the bedside, in the chair, and on the toilet. We proposed a modified biomechanical model with a linear cane robot for closed-loop control implementation. We validated the design feasibility of the proposed ambient SuperLimb system including the biomechanical model, our result showed the advantages in reducing lower limb efforts and elderly fall risks, yet the detection accuracy using depth sensing and adjustments on the model still require further research in the future. Nevertheless, we summarized empirical guidelines to support the ambient design of elderly-assistive SuperLimb systems for lower limb functional augmentation.Comment: 8 pages, 9 figures, accepted for IEEE RoboSoft 202

Discovery of a novel, liver-targeted thyroid hormone receptor-β agonist, CS271011, in the treatment of lipid metabolism disorders

IntroductionThyroid hormone receptor β (THR-β) plays a critical role in metabolism regulation and has become an attractive target for treating lipid metabolism disorders in recent years. Thus, in this study, we discovered CS271011, a novel THR-β agonist, and assessed the safety and efficiency of CS271011 compared to MGL-3196 in vitro and in vivo. MethodsWe conducted luciferase reporter gene assays to assess the activation of THR-β and α in vitro. C57BL/6J mice were fed a high-fat diet for 12 weeks, CS271011 was administered by gavage at the dose of 1 mg/kg and 3 mg/kg, and MGL-3196 was administered at the dose of 3 mg/kg for 10 weeks. Body weight, food intake, serum and hepatic parameters, histological analysis, pharmacokinetic studies, RNA sequencing of the liver and heart, and expression of hepatic lipid-metabolic genes were determined to evaluate the safety and efficiency of CS271011. ResultsCompared with MGL-3196, CS271011 showed higher THR-β activation in vitro. In the diet-induced obesity mice model, CS271011 demonstrated favourable pharmacokinetic properties in mice and was enriched in the liver. Finally, CS271011 improved dyslipidaemia and reduced liver steatosis in the diet-induced obesity murine model. Mechanistically, CS271011 and MGL-3196 showed potent regulation of lipid metabolism-related genes. ConclusionsCS271011 is a potent and liver-targeted THR-β agonist for treating lipid metabolism disorders

Comparative efficacy of face-to-face and internet-based cognitive behavior therapy for generalized anxiety disorder: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trial

ObjectiveThe study aimed to ascertain the comparative efficacy of these two forms on reducing anxiety scores of scales in patients with a generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) by examining the available evidence for face-to-face cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and internet-based cognitive behavior therapy (ICBT). Moreover, this study attempted to determine whether ICBT can obtain similar benefits as CBT for GAD patients during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) due to the quarantine policy and the requirement of social distance.MethodsThis meta-analysis was registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) according to the guidelines in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses statement (registration number CRD42021241938). Therefore, a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining CBT or ICBT was conducted in this study to treat GAD patients diagnosed with DMS-IV. The researchers searched PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews for relevant studies published from 2000 to July 5, 2022. Evidence from RCTs was synthesized by Review Manager 5.4 as mean difference (MD) for change in scores of scales through a random-effects meta-analysis.ResultsA total of 26 trials representing 1,687 participants were pooled. The results demonstrated that ICBT and CBT were very close in the effect size of treating GAD (MD = −2.35 vs. MD = −2.79). Moreover, they still exhibited a similar response (MD = −3.45 vs. MD = −2.91) after studies with active control were removed.ConclusionRegarding the treatment of GAD, ICBT can achieve a similar therapeutic effect as CBT and could be CBT's candidate substitute, especially in the COVID-19 pandemic era, since the internet plays a crucial role in handling social space constraints.Systematic Review Registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=241938, identifier CRD42021241938

HDAC3 maintains oocyte meiosis arrest by repressing amphiregulin expression before the LH surge.

It is known that granulosa cells (GCs) mediate gonadotropin-induced oocyte meiosis resumption by releasing EGF-like factors in mammals, however, the detailed molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate that luteinizing hormone (LH) surge-induced histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) downregulation in GCs is essential for oocyte maturation. Before the LH surge, HDAC3 is highly expressed in GCs. Transcription factors, such as FOXO1, mediate recruitment of HDAC3 to the amphiregulin (Areg) promoter, which suppresses AREG expression. With the LH surge, decreased HDAC3 in GCs enables histone H3K14 acetylation and binding of the SP1 transcription factor to the Areg promoter to initiate AREG transcription and oocyte maturation. Conditional knockout of Hdac3 in granulosa cells in vivo or inhibition of HDAC3 activity in vitro promotes the maturation of oocytes independent of LH. Taking together, HDAC3 in GCs within ovarian follicles acts as a negative regulator of EGF-like growth factor expression before the LH surge

Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density

Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals <1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data

CYP27A1 deficiency promoted osteoclast differentiation

Background The elevating osteoclast differentiation can lead to an imbalance in bone homeostasis, which was responsible for bone loss and bone diseases, such as osteoporosis. Multiple pathways and molecules have been involved in osteoclast formation, but the role of CYP27A1 in osteoclast differentiation has never been explored. Methods CYP27A1 deficient mice were constructed using CRISPR-Cas9 system. Osteoclast differentiation was detected by TRAP staining. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using RNA-seq analysis and were confirmed by qRT-PCR and Western blot. Results The results showed that CYP27A1 knockout (KO) promoted osteoclast differentiation and bone loss. The transcriptomic analysis revealed that CYP27A1 KO led to differential expression of multiple genes, including ELANE, LY6C2, S100A9, GM20708, BGN, SPARC, and COL1A2, which were confirmed by qRT-PCR and Western blot. Enrichment analysis indicated that these differential genes were significantly associated with osteogenesis-related pathways, such as PPAR signaling, IL-17 signaling, and PI3K/AKT signaling, which were confirmed by qRT-PCR and Western blot. Conclusions These results suggested that CYP27A1 was involved in osteoclast differentiation, providing a novel therapeutic target for osteoclast-related diseases

Generation of all magic squares of order 5 and interesting patterns finding

This paper presents an enumeration algorithm to generate all magic squares of order 5 based on the ideas of basic form (Schroeppel [7]) and generating vector which is extension of Frénicle Quads (Ollerenshaw and Bondi [6]). The results lead us to extend Frénicle-Amela patterns from the case of order 4 to the case of order 5, which we refer to Frénicle-Amela-Like patterns. We show that these interesting Frénicle-Amela-Like patterns appear simultaneously. The number of these patterns is also calculated

The Late Paleozoic relative gas fields of coal measure in China and their significances on the natural gas industry

The coal measure gas sources of coal-derived gas fields in the Late Paleozoic China are the Lower Carboniferous Dishuiquan Formation, the Upper Carboniferous Batamayineishan Formation and Benxi Formation, the Lower Permian Taiyuan Formation and Shanxi Formation, and the Upper Permian Longtan Formation. The coal-derived gas accumulates in Ordovician, Carboniferous, Permian, and Paleocene reservoirs and are distributed in Ordos Basin, Bohai Bay Basin, Junggar Basin, and Sichuan Basin. There are 16 gas fields and 12 of them are large gas fields such as the Sulige large gas field which is China's largest reserve with the highest annual output. According to component and alkane carbon isotope data of 99 gas samples, they are distinguished to be coal-derived gas from coal-derived gas with δ13C2 > −28.5‰ and δ13C1 -δ13C2 -δ13C3 identification chart. The Late Paleozoic relative gas fields of coal measure are significant for the Chinese natural gas industry: proven natural gas geological reserves and annual output of them account for 1/3 in China, and the gas source of three significant large gas fields is coal-derived, which of five significant large gas fields supporting China to be a great gas producing country. The average reserves of the gas fields and the large gas fields formed from the late Paleozoic coal measure are 5.3 and 1.7 times that of the gas fields and the large gas fields in China