cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
'YOU CAN RUN, BUT YOU CANNOT HIDE': TRACKING OBJECTS THAT LEAVE THE FIELD-OF-VIEW

In the past, there has been significant research on tracking objects based on features that characterize objects. However, once the features to detect the object are not available from the position of a tracker, it is not clear how to track the object. Our goal in this paper is to track an object even though the object leaves the field-of-view. In this paper, we first describe the problems related to this type of tracking. We then explain our approach that has two phases: Real object tracking and virtual object tracking. We mostly focus on virtual object tracking that requires reorientation, distance estimation, traveling the computed distance, estimating the direction for turn, and turning into the direction. We show our results by building a robot that achieves these.
Isoflavones in soy flour diet have different effects on whole-genome expression patterns than purified isoflavone mix in human MCF-7 breast tumors in ovariectomized athymic nude mice

cope Soy flour diet (MS) prevented isoflavones from stimulating MCF-7 tumor growth in athymic nude mice, indicating that other bioactive compounds in soy can negate the estrogenic properties of isoflavones. The underlying signal transduction pathways to explain the protective effects of soy flour consumption were studied here. Methods and results Ovariectomized athymic nude mice inoculated with MCF-7 human breast cancer cells were fed either Soy flour diet (MS) or purified isoflavone mix diet (MI), both with equivalent amounts of genistein. Positive controls received estradiol pellets and negative controls received sham pellets. GeneChip Human Genome U133 Plus 2.0 Array platform was used to evaluate gene expressions, and results were analyzed using bioinformatics approaches. Tumors in MS-fed mice exhibited higher expression of tumor growth suppressing genes ATP2A3 and BLNK and lower expression of oncogene MYC. Tumors in MI-fed mice expressed a higher level of oncogene MYB and a lower level of MHC-I and MHC-II, allowing tumor cells to escape immunosurveillance. MS-induced gene expression alterations were predictive of prolonged survival among estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer patients, whilst MI-induced gene changes were predictive of shortened survival. Conclusion Our findings suggest that dietary soy flour affects gene expression differently than purified isoflavones, which may explain why soy foods prevent isoflavones-induced stimulation of MCF-7 tumor growth in athymic nude mice.
Optimal linear estimation fusion-part VII: dynamic systems

In this papel; we first present a general data model for discretized asynchronous multisensor systems and show that errors in the data model are correlated across sensors and with the state. This coupling renders most existing "optimal" linear fusion rules suboptimal. While our fusion rules of Part I are valid and optimal for this general model, we propose a general, exact technique to decouple the two types of correlation of the errors so that other existing rules can be applied after decoupling. Then, we discuss several theoretically important issues unique to fusion for dynamic systems. The first is the role of prior information in the static case versus that of prediction in the dynamic case. We present two general, best linear unbi- ased estimation fusers with and without prior information respectively. Other issues discussed include optimality of existing linear fusion rules as well as two commonly used fusion schemes, and the effect of feedback.
Comments on The Lagrangian Relaxation Method for Solving Integer Programming Problems

C to Wally Hopp and our society for conceiving this idea. What a wonderful way to take stock of what we have accomplished in the last 50 years and to hopefully distill from those accomplishments lessons for the future. I was of course pleased that the membership of INFORMS judged my paper “The Lagrangian Relaxation Method for Solving Integer Programming Problems” to have been influential, but I must hasten to add that this is surely an endorsement of the impact of the concept of Lagranigan relaxation as much as of one paper, and that many people contributed to that concept. There isn’t space here to name all of them, but I’d like to reiterate a few individuals mentioned at the start of the 1981 article who played especially pivotal roles in the early formation of Lagrangian relaxation: Michael Held and Richard Karp, whose novel algorithm for the traveling salesman problem (Held and Karp 1970) marked the birth of Lagrangian relaxation; Arthur Geoffrion, who coined the term Lagrangian Relaxation in an early exposition of the concept (Geoffrion 1974); and three people with whom I had the pleasure of working—Jeremy Shapiro, on general concepts (Fisher and Shapiro 1974), and Gerard Corneujols and George Nemhauser, on an early application (Cornuejols, Fisher, and Nemhauser 1977). In this note, I’ll offer comments on events during three time periods: (1) prior to publication of the paper in 1981, (2) 1981 to the present, and (3) the future.
Kaiser Permanente Creatinine Safety Program: A Mechanism to Ensure Widespread Detection and Care for Chronic Kidney Disease.

Abstract Background Chronic kidney disease is highly prevalent but is challenging to diagnose because of the need to establish chronicity. Within the current healthcare environment, a single abnormal creatinine measurement often can go without a follow-up, which can lead to missed diagnoses or diagnostic errors. The Kaiser Permanente Southern California creatinine safety program (the Creatinine SureNet) was created to help ensure that all single abnormal creatinine results had a follow-up evaluation. Methods In the period February 1, 2010, to March 1, 2014, the electronic health records were used to capture individuals with single abnormal creatinine results that went >90 days without a repeat measurement. A coordinated effort among a centralized regional nurse and providers was used to communicate with patients and order a repeat creatinine measurement. Results A total of 12,396 individuals were identified (84% ambulatory care encounters). A total of 6981 individuals (52%) followed up with a repeat measurement. Female patients, non-Hispanic whites, and older individuals were more likely to obtain a repeat measurement. Subsequently, 3668 individuals had chronic kidney disease confirmed. Within 6 months, 1550 patients had chart documentation of their chronic kidney disease and 336 patients had a nephrology consultation. Conclusions The ambulatory care environment, given its high volume and various prioritizations, is an under-recognized area where diagnostic errors are not uncommon and failure to follow up on abnormal test results can occur routinely. The Kaiser Permanente Southern California Creatinine SureNet program leverages the electronic health records and its multidisciplinary resources in an effort to ensure that patients with potential chronic kidney disease are identified and managed properly.
Pragmatic teaching of advanced optical networks: connecting physics, optical technology and networks

Advancements in communications technology and communications services have triggered a global appetite for bandwidth. This appetite contributes to an increasing bandwidth demand that can only be met with a new optical technology known as dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM). This technology has appealed to graduate students manifested by an enrollment increase in telecommunications. What makes DWDM possible is photonic technology that is based on principles of solid state physics, optics, and photonics. Although such courses are taught in a physics curriculum, currently they are not considered core courses in electrical and computer engineering. For the first time, physics, photonic technology and communications networks need to be aligned and sequenced to a comprehensive optical communications curriculum. In this paper, we describe the teaching philosophy of optical networking for the TCOM graduate program of the University of Oklahoma at Tulsa.
A comparison of variability in spatiotemporal gait parameters between treadmill and overground walking conditions.

Motorized treadmills are commonly used in biomechanical and clinical studies of human walking. Whether treadmill walking induces identical motor responses to overground walking, however, is equivocal. The purpose of this study was to examine differences in the spatiotemporal gait parameters of the lower extremities and trunk during treadmill and overground walking using comparison of mean and variability values. Twenty healthy participants (age 23.8±1.2 years) walked for 6min on a treadmill and overground while wearing APDM 6 Opal inertial monitors. Stride length, stride time, stride velocity, cadence, stance phase percentage, and peak sagittal and frontal plane trunk velocities were measured. Mean values were calculated for each parameter as well as estimates of short- (SD1) and long-term variability (SD2) using Poincare analyses. The mean, SD1, and SD2 values were compared between overground and treadmill walking conditions with paired t-tests (α=0.05) and with effect size estimates using Cohen's d statistic. Mean values for each of the gait parameters were statistically equivalent between treadmill and overground walking (p>0.05). The SD1 and SD2 values representing short- and long-term variability were considerably reduced (p<0.05) on the treadmill as compared to overground walking. This demonstrates the importance of consideration of gait variability when using treadmills for research or clinical purposes. Treadmill training may induce invariant gait patterns, posing difficulty in translating locomotor skills gained on a treadmill to overground walking conditions.
Use of TOPEX/Poseidon Sea Level Data for Ocean Analyses and ENSO Prediction: Some Early Results

Abstract In this study, two sets of Pacific Ocean analyses for 1993–96 were analyzed. Both analyses were produced with the assimilation of subsurface temperature data from expendable bathythermographs and tropical atmosphere–ocean moorings. In addition one analysis also assimilated sea level data from TOPEX/Poseidon. Sea level variability in the two analyses agreed well with each other, and both agree with tide gauge and altimetry data for 1993–95. However, beginning in late 1995 through 1996, large sea level differences of 5–8 cm were found in the tropical western Pacific between the two analyses. Furthermore, large sea level discrepancies were also found between dynamic height estimated from TAO temperatures and tide gauge–altimetry observations in the same region during 1996. These discrepancies are consistent with the sea level differences between the two model based analyses. Historical conductivity–temperature–depth data along 165°E near the equator were also analyzed and it was found that salinity ...
Dynamic free energy surfaces for sodium diffusion in type II silicon clathrates

Earth abundant semiconducting type II Si clathrates have attracted attention as photovoltaic materials due to their wide band gaps. To realize the semiconducting properties of these materials, guest species that arise during the synthesis process must be completely evacuated from the host cage structure post synthesis. A common guest species utilized in the synthesis of Si clathrates is Na (metal), which templates the clathrate cage formation. Previous experimental investigations have identified that it is possible to evacuate Na from type II clathrates to an occupancy of less than 1 Na per unit cell. This work investigates the energetics, kinetics, and resulting mechanism of Na diffusion through type II Si clathrates by means of biased molecular dynamics and kinetic Monte Carlo simulations. Well-tempered metadynamics has been used to determine the potential of mean force for Na moving between clathrate cages, from which the thermodynamic preferences and transition barrier heights have been obtained. Kinetic Monte Carlo simulations based on the metadynamics results have identified the mechanism of Na diffusion in type II Si clathrates. The overall mechanism consists of a coupled diffusive process linked via electrostatic guest-guest interactions. The large occupied hexakaidechedral cages initially empty their Na guests to adjacent empty large cages, thereby changing the local electrostatic environment around the occupied small pentagonal dodecahedral cages and increasing the probability of Na guests to leave the small cages. This coupled process continues through the cross-over point that is identified as the point where large and small cages are equally occupied by Na guests. Further Na removal results in the majority of guests residing in the large cages as opposed to the small cages, in agreement with experiments, and ultimately a Na free structure.
Pulmonary transcriptional response to ozone in healthy and cardiovascular compromised rat models

The genetic cardiovascular disease (CVD) and associated metabolic impairments can influence the lung injury from inhaled pollutants. We hypothesized that comparative assessment of global pulmonary expression profile of healthy and CVD-prone rat models will provide mechanistic insights into susceptibility differences to ozone. The lung expression profiles of healthy Wistar Kyoto (WKY) and CVD-compromised spontaneously hypertensive (SH), stroke-prone SH (SHSP), obese SH heart failure (SHHF) and obese, atherosclerosis-prone JCR rats were analyzed using Affymetrix platform immediately after 4-h air or 1 ppm ozone exposure. At baseline, the JCR exhibited the largest difference in the number of genes among all strains when compared with WKY. Interestingly, the number of genes affected by ozone was inversely correlated with genes different at baseline relative to WKY. A cluster of NFkB target genes involved in cell-adhesion, antioxidant response, inflammation and apoptosis was induced in all strains, albeit at different levels (JCR < WKY < SHHF < SH < SHSP). The lung metabolic syndrome gene cluster indicated expressions in opposite directions for SHHF and JCR suggesting different mechanisms for common disease phenotype and perhaps obesity-independent contribution to exacerbated lung disease. The differences in expression of adrenergic receptors and ion-channel genes suggested distinct mechanisms by which ozone might induce protein leakage in CVD models, especially SHHF and JCR. Thus, the pulmonary response to ozone in CVD strains was likely linked to the defining gene expression profiles. Differential transcriptional patterns between healthy and CVD rat strains at baseline, and after ozone suggests that lung inflammation and injury might be influenced by multiple biological pathways affecting inflammation gene signatures.
Multimodal SHG-2PF Imaging of Microdomain Ca2+-Contraction Coupling in Live Cardiac Myocytes

Rationale: Cardiac myocyte contraction is caused by Ca2+ binding to troponin C, which triggers the cross-bridge power stroke and myofilament sliding in sarcomeres. Synchronized Ca2+ release causes whole cell contraction and is readily observable with current microscopy techniques. However, it is unknown whether localized Ca2+ release, such as Ca2+ sparks and waves, can cause local sarcomere contraction. Contemporary imaging methods fall short of measuring microdomain Ca2+-contraction coupling in live cardiac myocytes. Objective: To develop a method for imaging sarcomere level Ca2+-contraction coupling in healthy and disease model cardiac myocytes. Methods and Results: Freshly isolated cardiac myocytes were loaded with the Ca2+-indicator fluo-4. A confocal microscope equipped with a femtosecond-pulsed near-infrared laser was used to simultaneously excite second harmonic generation from A-bands of myofibrils and 2-photon fluorescence from fluo-4. Ca2+ signals and sarcomere strain correlated in space and time with short delays. Furthermore, Ca2+ sparks and waves caused contractions in subcellular microdomains, revealing a previously underappreciated role for these events in generating subcellular strain during diastole. Ca2+ activity and sarcomere strain were also imaged in paced cardiac myocytes under mechanical load, revealing spontaneous Ca2+ waves and correlated local contraction in pressure-overload–induced cardiomyopathy. Conclusions: Multimodal second harmonic generation 2-photon fluorescence microscopy enables the simultaneous observation of Ca2+ release and mechanical strain at the subsarcomere level in living cardiac myocytes. The method benefits from the label-free nature of second harmonic generation, which allows A-bands to be imaged independently of T-tubule morphology and simultaneously with Ca2+ indicators. Second harmonic generation 2-photon fluorescence imaging is widely applicable to the study of Ca2+-contraction coupling and mechanochemotransduction in both health and disease. # Novelty and Significance {#article-title-55}
A Multiplexed Amplicon Approach for Detecting Gene Fusions by Next-Generation Sequencing.

Chromosomal rearrangements that result in oncogenic gene fusions are clinically important drivers of many cancer types. Rapid and sensitive methods are therefore needed to detect a broad range of gene fusions in clinical specimens that are often of limited quantity and quality. We describe a next-generation sequencing approach that uses a multiplex PCR-based amplicon panel to interrogate fusion transcripts that involve 19 driver genes and 94 partners implicated in solid tumors. The panel also includes control assays that evaluate the 3′/5′ expression ratios of 12 oncogenic kinases, which might be used to infer gene fusion events when the partner is unknown or not included on the panel. There was good concordance between the solid tumor fusion gene panel and other methods, including fluorescence in situ hybridization, real-time PCR, Sanger sequencing, and other next-generation sequencing panels, because 40 specimens known to harbor gene fusions were correctly identified. No specific fusion reads were observed in 59 fusion-negative specimens. The 3′/5′ expression ratio was informative for fusions that involved ALK, RET, and NTRK1 but not for BRAF or ROS1 fusions. However, among 37 ALK or RET fusion-negative specimens, four exhibited elevated 3′/5′ expression ratios, indicating that fusions predicted solely by 3′/5′ read ratios require confirmatory testing.
What the Kell

A 66-year-old male is scheduled for an elective hip replacement surgery. A preadmission test sample (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, EDTA anticoagulant) is submitted to the blood bank for type and crossmatch of two red blood cell (RBC) units. No transfusion history is given.
Picture-Word Consistency and the Elaborative Processing of Advertisements:

Many advertisers believe the pictorial and verbal components of an ad should convey the same meaning. Based on theoretical and empirical evidence from a variety of areas, three experiments were con...
Identifying Common Platform Shape for a Family of Components

To survive in today’s volatile and changing markets, companies are now faced with the problem of providing more customization, greater quality, faster response, more innovative designs and lower prices. New models need to be introduced in the market more frequently, which has given momentum to design product platforms. Use of common components can reduce the design and manufacturing time significantly. Determining commonality among different components is a key to reducing the new product design cycle time. CAD files can be used as a means to measure commonality for a set of similar components. This paper presents a tree-based approach to compare a set of similar 3D CAD models, measure shape commonality and identify the common platform shape. First a mapping of the solid models using the IGES format to IPG (IGES Parametric Graph) has been developed. The IPG, a Labeled Attribute Tree, is used to capture the three dimensional shape and design attributes along with the function of the component. The IPGs are then used to obtain a commonality index and establish a common platform for a set of similar products. The applicability of the method is demonstrated using CAD models of a family of casing. This research can also be applied to identify existing components that can be reused in new products.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Virus-induced chromosome pulverization in human diploid cells.

SummaryHuman diploid cells (peripheral leukocytes and fibroblasts) infected with measles, Sendai, h. zoster, and h. simplex type 2 viruses showed chromosome pulverization, usually in polyploid cells. Autoradiography indicated that the pulverized chromatin replicated later than the normal chromosomes, and that susceptible nuclei may be in the S, G2 (or G1) phase of cell replication. It is hypothesized that pulverization may result from premature chromosome condensation induced by a diffusible substance.
Behavioral responses of the horn fly (Diptera: Muscidae) to selected insecticides in contact and noncontact environments

Pyrethroid resistant and susceptible populations of horn flies were exposed to several insecticides including 3 pyrethroids, 2 organophosphates, 1 carbamate, DDT, and 3 synergist combinations. Horn flies were exposed to log-dose concentrations ranging from 5 X 10 -6 to 5 X 10° mg/cm 2 in both contact (irritancy) and noncontact (repellency) environments. This is the 1st clarification of the mechanisms of stimulus-dependent behavioral resistance in horn flies ; the data demonstrate the existence of both irritancy and repellency. Significant differences in flight responses were observed between populations, indicating hypersensitivity of resistant flies in both contact and noncontact environments for several compounds. Resistant horn flies had lower sensitivity thresholds for permethrin, fenvalerate, pirimiphos-methyl, DDT, and fenvalerate with piperonyl butoxide (PBO) when compared with susceptible flies in the contact environment. Lower sensitivity thresholds for resistant horn flies were also observed for permethrin, diazinon, and diazinon-PBO in the noncontact environment. In addition, the flight response curve for the pyrethroid resistant population increased for all compounds in the contact environment and most compounds in the noncontact environment, whereas the response curve remained constant or decreased in the pyrethroid susceptible population. The increased irritability and repellency seen with the addition of the synergist in a resistant population exhibiting knockdown (physiological) resistance suggests that nongeneralized intoxication may be the sensory mechanism by which behavioral resistance occurs.
Investigation on a tuberculosis outbreak in college students

Objective To investigate and analyze a tuberculosis( TB) outbreak in college students. Methods Epidemiological investigations,tuberculin skin test,chest X- ray examination and pathologic examination were performed on 140 close contacts of TB students. Results Additional 3 cases of TB students were screened in the class and the bedroom of the first case, making the total cases of 6,and the morbidity of this class was 17. 1%( 6 /35). In 140 close contacts,78 cases were strong positive PPD( the average diameter of induration ≥15 mm,or with blisters,ulceration),accounting for 55. 7%( 78 /140). Conclusion The TB epidemic is due to the infectious source long- term exposure to the assembled crowd resulting from untimely diagnosis and no isolation of TB students by a general hospital. In addition,the student dormitory with poor ventilation, hard- work without a good rest and other comprehensive factors may involved in this TB outbreak too.
Comprehensive Utilization of Various Teaching Methods ——Discussing the reform of basic physics teaching

In this paper, I probe into the methods of basic physics teaching, present the view that it is helpful to apply nimbly Infiltration,Contrast and other various ways to physics teaching.
Relationship of Multidecadal Global Temperatures to Multidecadal Oceanic Oscillations

Publisher Summary The sun and ocean undergo regular changes on regular and predictable time frames. Temperatures likewise have exhibited changes that are cyclical. Sir Gilbert Walker was generally recognized as the first to find large-scale oscillations in atmospheric variables. Global temperatures, ocean-based teleconnections, and solar variances interrelate with each other. A team of mathematicians, led by Dr. Anastasios Tsonis, developed a model suggesting that known cycles of the Earth's oceans—the Pacific Decadal Oscillation, the North Atlantic Oscillation, El Nino (Southern Oscillation), and the North Pacific Oscillation—all tend to synchronize with each other. The theory is based on a branch of mathematics known as Synchronized Chaos. The model predicts the degree of coupling to increase over time, causing the solution to “bifurcate,” or split. Then, the synchronization vanishes. The result is a climate shift. Eventually the cycles begin to synchronize again, causing a repeating pattern of warming and cooling, with sudden changes in the frequency and strength of El Nino events. They show how this has explained the major shifts that have occurred including 1913, 1942, and 1978. These may be in the process of synchronizing once again with its likely impact on climate very different from what has been observed over the last several decades.
Abstract 2740: Mechanistic basis of Palbociclib combinatorial activity in ER+ breast cancer and non-breast indications

Phosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein (Rb) by cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6 (CDK4/6) is a critical checkpoint for G1/S cell cycle progression and commitment to cellular proliferation. Human malignancies often subvert these control mechanisms through a range of genetic and biochemical adaptations. Accordingly, tumors that depend on CDK4/6 activity for proliferation and survival are particularly sensitive to inhibition of this pathway by palbociclib (IbranceTM), a highly selective inhibitor of CDK4/6 kinase activities. Treatment regimen of palbociclib with letrozole significantly improved progression-free survival in a randomized phase 2 study of women with advanced estrogen receptor-positive (ER+), HER2-negative breast cancer. Likewise, in ER+ breast cancer models palbociclib and estrogen antagonists combine for greater anti-proliferative activity, increased hallmarks of cellular senescence and prolonged durability of response following drug removal. Dual inhibition of CDK4/6 and ER signaling demonstrated robust anti-tumor activity in xenograft studies. The addition of Palbociclib to other targeted therapeutics elicits improved activity in pre-clinical models of several non-breast indications and these effects also manifest through modulation of cellular proliferation, senescence and growth arrest. Data will be presented on the molecular basis of combination benefit with Palbociclib in ER+ breast and other oncology indications. Citation Format: Stephen Dann, Jing Yuan, John Chionis, Chaoting Liu, Tao Xie, Nathan V. Lee, Enhong Chen, Ping Wei, Paul A. Rejto, David J. Shields, Todd VanArsdale. Mechanistic basis of Palbociclib combinatorial activity in ER+ breast cancer and non-breast indications. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 2740.
Latent and Persistent Virus

Perhaps one of the most interesting features of the herpes simplex and pseudorabies viruses is that following the initial infection, the virus disappears and enters into a quiescent, latent state. Infection recurs only as a reaction to certain stimuli. External factors such as irradiation or skin irradiation, as well as internal factors, such as certain pyrogenic-inducing diseases, will cause the development of facial herpes. The disease has also been produced by artificially induced fever (Carpenter et al., 1940). Menstruation (Scott, 1957), injury to nerves (Carton and Kilbourne, 1952), as well as emotional factors (Blank and Brody, 1950; Schneck, 1947), also play a role in the recurrence of the disease. Sometimes treatment of patients with anti-inflammatory steroids may induce the recurrence of corneal infections from healed herpetic keratitis (Leopold and Sery, 1963).
A Geographic Analysis of Drug Trafficking Patterns on the TOR Network

As globalization processes continue to impact patterns in drug-trafficking operations worldwide, a cyber-based dimension of the drug trade has recently emerged via the Tor Network. This study employed geovisualization and exploratory spatial data analysis to examine drug distributions of heroin, cocaine, new psychoactive substances, and prescription drugs advertised on Agora, the largest international marketplace on the Tor Network at the time of data collection. Data were collected using webcrawling software and mapped to determine the presence of statistical outliers internationally or hotspots within Europe. Global Moran's I testing revealed that drugs sourced from Europe were randomly distributed. Box maps confirmed the visual analysis that six countries (including Canada and the United States) dominated world listings across the four drug types. Globally, heroin and cocaine markets were found to be almost exclusively retail based, while new psychoactive substances and prescription drugs were sold from countries with established pharmaceutical and chemical industries. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Abstract 22: OSBPL6 is a Novel miR-33 Target Gene Involved in Cellular Cholesterol Efflux

Cellular lipid homeostasis is fundamental to human health. Recent studies indicate that microRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in the post-transcriptional regulation of lipid metabolism genes. This is illustrated by the discovery, by our group and others, of miR-33 as a central regulator of multiple aspects of lipid metabolism, including cholesterol efflux, fatty acid oxidation, and plasma levels of HDL cholesterol and VLDL triglycerides. In a study of miR-33 antagonism in non-human primates, we identified the most highly de-repressed miR-33 target gene as OSBPL6 (oxysterol binding protein like 6). A member of the OSBP family of cytosolic proteins that bind cholesterol/oxysterols, OSBPL6 contains an ER-targeting FFAT motif as well as a predicted plasma membrane-targeting pleckstrin homology domain, suggesting a putative role for OSBPL6 in vesicular traffic between these compartments. Notably, the OSBPL6 gene resides in a chromosome 2 locus associated with a predisposition to CAD in two major human heart disease studies (Family Heart Study, Framingham Heart Study). We therefore sought to further understand the regulation and function of OSBPL6 in cellular lipid homeostasis. Results We show that OSBPL6 is induced in macrophages and hepatocytes in response to cholesterol loading in vitro, as well as in the livers of LDLR-/- mice and non-human primates fed a high fat diet. Overexpression of miR-33 reduces OSBPL6-3’UTR activity by 40%, and this repression is relieved by mutation of the putative miR-33 binding site in the 3’UTR, confirming that OSBPL6 is a direct target of miR-33. Accordingly, transfection of HEPG2 cells with miR-33 mimic decreases mRNA expression of Osbpl6, but not the related family member Osbpl1. Notably, siRNA-mediated knockdown of OSBPL6 in cholesterol-loaded HEPG2 cells or THP-1 macrophages impairs cholesterol efflux to both apoA-I and HDL, and conversely, OSBPL6 overexpression enhances cholesterol efflux to these acceptors. Conclusion These data identify OSBPL6 as a novel miR-33 target gene in mice and humans that regulates cellular cholesterol trafficking and efflux via the ABC transporters, further highlighting the coordinated regulation by miR-33 of pathways that promote cellular cholesterol clearance.
Free will, grace, and anti-Pelagianism

Critics of synergism often complain that the view entails Pelagianism (or at least semi-Pelagianism), and so, critics think, monergism looks like the only live (orthodox) option. Critics of monergism often claim that the view entails that the blame for human sin ultimately traces to God. Recently, several philosophers (including Richard Cross, Eleonore Stump, and Kevin Timpe) have attempted to chart a middle path by offering soteriological accounts which are monergistic (and thus avoid Pelagianism) but maintain the resistibility of God’s grace (with the aim of blocking the tracing of sin to God). In this paper, we present a challenge to such accounts of the resistibility of grace, namely that they imply that human beings are praiseworthy for omitting to resist God’s grace. Even if such views escape Pelagianism as it is typically defined, they fail to avoid the worry at the heart of prominent criticisms of Pelagianism concerning the praise for a human being’s salvation. At the end of the paper, we suggest three possible solutions to this problem.
Extracting Entanglement Geometry from Quantum States.

Tensor networks impose a notion of geometry on the entanglement of a quantum system. In some cases, this geometry is found to reproduce key properties of holographic dualities, and subsequently much work has focused on using tensor networks as tractable models for holographic dualities. Conventionally, the structure of the network---and hence the geometry---is largely fixed a priori by the choice of the tensor network ansatz. Here, we evade this restriction and describe an unbiased approach that allows us to extract the appropriate geometry from a given quantum state. We develop an algorithm that iteratively finds a unitary circuit that transforms a given quantum state into an unentangled product state. We then analyze the structure of the resulting unitary circuits. In the case of noninteracting, critical systems in one dimension, we recover signatures of scale invariance in the unitary network, and we show that appropriately defined geodesic paths between physical degrees of freedom exhibit known properties of a hyperbolic geometry.
Overexpression of ROM-1 in the cone-dominant retina.

ROM-1 (rod outer segment membrane protein-1) is a tetraspanin protein present in the outer segment (OS) rims of rod and cone photoreceptors. It shares many common features with other tetraspanins, including a large intradiscal loop which contains several cysteines. This loop enables ROM-1 to associate with its homologue retinal degeneration slow (RDS) to form hetero-tetramers and hetero-octamers. Although large RDS homo-oligomers are required for building and maintaining the rim region of rod discs and cone lamellae, the function of ROM-1 is less clear. ROM-1 is not necessary for disc morphogenesis but is required for fine tuning OS disc size and structure. Furthermore, the role of ROM-1 has not been well studied in cone photoreceptors. To help alleviate this knowledge gap, we overexpressed ROM-1 via transgenesis in the cone-dominant nrl −/− mouse retina. We show that ∼20% overexpression of ROM-1 results in vacuoles in the cone OSs and significant reductions in photopic electroretinogram responses. These results indicate that overexpression of ROM-1 is harmful to cone OSs. We hypothesize that overexpression of ROM-1 alters the normal balance between RDS homo-oligomers and RDS/ROM-1 heteromeric complexes, resulting in insufficient or abnormal higher-order RDS homo-oligomers for the maintenance of proper OS structure and function.
Scattering by a Metric1

Publisher Summary The inverse scattering problem for the case of a metric perturbation is whether one can determine the metric g from the scattering amplitude a g , which depends nonlinearly on g . This is not possible since there is a large class of metrics giving the same remote observations. Every change of variables of Euclidean space, which is the identity outside the ball of radius R , gives rise to the same information. The chapter presents a problem of determining a Riemannian metric on a bounded domain Ω in R n from the given geodesic distance function. This function is also called the hodograph or the boundary distance function. More recently, it has been realized, by measuring the travel times of seismic waves, that the inner core of the Earth might exhibit anisotropic behavior. This explanation is given for the different time residuals of rays turning in the inner core. This leads to the general question of whether given a compact Riemannian manifold with boundary one can determine the Riemannian metric in the interior, knowing the lengths of geodesics joining points on the boundary.
Species reordering, not changes in richness, drives long‐term dynamics in grassland communities

Determining how ecological communities will respond to global environmental change remains a challenging research problem. Recent meta-analyses concluded that most communities are undergoing compositional change despite no net change in local species richness. We explored how species richness and composition of co-occurring plant, grasshopper, breeding bird and small mammal communities in arid and mesic grasslands changed in response to increasing aridity and fire frequency. In the arid system, grassland and shrubland plant and breeding bird communities were undergoing directional change, whereas grasshopper and small mammal communities were stable. In the mesic system, all communities were undergoing directional change regardless of fire frequency. Despite directional change in composition in some communities, species richness of all communities did not change because compositional change resulted more from reordering of species abundances than turnover in species composition. Thus, species reordering, not changes in richness, explains long-term dynamics in these grass and shrub dominated communities.
Addressing the Antinomy between Health Education and Health Literacy in Advancing Personal Health and Public Health Outcomes.

Background Health literacy evolved from a standard of English language proficiency designed to promote patient compliance into an inferential for promoting positive health decision-making and health outcomes. In turn, the United States relegated health literacy as a national strategy to improve personal health and health care outcomes as well as reduce national health care expenditures. Methods We reviewed the literature to assess the empirical research about health literacy and health behavior and health status outcomes. Results There is a paucity of empirical research supporting health literacy's capacity to improve personal health behavior or health outcomes. We submit that the process of acquiring scientifically valid health knowledge partnered with the skills for informed health decision-making as well as motivation to foster positive health behaviors and health outcomes is that of health education, and not that inferred by health literacy competency. Conclusions We recommend that comprehensive school health education serve as the standard for advancing personal health and health outcomes. We recommend that elementary, secondary, and higher education institutions be charged with the objective to provide comprehensive school health education intervention to advance personal health, community health, and concomitantly moderate national health care expenditures.
An Index of Skills for Research and Development Personnel

(1963). An Index of Skills for Research and Development Personnel. Research Management: Vol. 6, No. 3, pp. 209-221.
Novel sulforaphane-enabled self-microemulsifying delivery systems (SFN-SMEDDS) of taxanes: Formulation development and in vitro cytotoxicity against breast cancer cells.

Abstract Paclitaxel (PTX) and docetaxel (DTX) are highly effective chemotherapeutic agents against breast cancer cells. Existing PTX and DTX formulations, however, contain excipients that result in a multitude of side-effects. The objective of the present study was to develop novel self-microemulsifying formulations of PTX and DTX with significantly lower excipient content by utilizing the high solubility of taxanes in sulforaphane (SFN). SFN-enabled microemulsions were developed by a screening process in which optical microscopy and absorbance data were used to monitor the physical stability of the dispersions. Optimized formulations contained vitamin E TPGS and transcutol to aid in taxane dissolution in water and the formation of transparent microemulsions (
Financial strain indirectly influences smoking cessation through withdrawal symptom severity.

Abstract Background Financial strain has an adverse impact on smoking cessation. However, the mechanisms through which financial strain influences cessation remain unclear. The purpose of the current study was to determine whether financial strain indirectly influenced smoking cessation through withdrawal symptom severity. Methods Participants (N = 139) were primarily Black (63.3%) and female (57.6%) adults enrolled in a smoking cessation program at a safety-net hospital. A self-report financial strain questionnaire was completed one week prior to the scheduled quit date, and the Wisconsin Smoking Withdrawal Scale (WSWS) was completed on the day after the scheduled quit date. Biochemically-verified 7-day point prevalence abstinence was assessed four weeks after the scheduled quit date. Adjusted mediation analyses were conducted using the PROCESS macro for SPSS to evaluate the indirect effects of financial strain on smoking cessation via post-quit withdrawal symptom severity. Results Analyses indicated a significant indirect effect of financial strain on smoking cessation through total withdrawal symptom severity, B = 0.027; 95% CI (0.003, 0.066); and specifically anger, B = 0.035; 95% CI (0.008, 0.074), anxiety, B = 0.021; 95% CI (0.001, 0.051), and sleep symptoms, B = 0.015; 95% CI (0.005, 0.043). Greater pre-quit financial strain was associated with greater post-quit withdrawal symptom severity, which increased the likelihood of non-abstinence 4 weeks after the scheduled quit attempt. The direct effect of financial strain on smoking cessation was not significant in any of the mediation models. Conclusions Findings: suggest that withdrawal severity is an underlying mechanism through which financial strain influences smoking cessation.
Genetic Considerations in Infants with Congenital Anomalies

Congenital anomalies or birth defects account for one of the leading causes of death in infants. When one anomaly is present, there is a 50% risk that other anomalies are present. Healthcare providers taking care of newborns should have a low threshold to look for additional anomalies in the presence of one. These anomalies may not always be identified in the hospital but may require evaluation after discharge. Close attention to the type and pattern of anomalies also provides clues to the underlying diagnosis. Genetic consultation is critical to help identify patterns and guide appropriate testing, especially in this time of ever-changing and complex diagnostic options.
A neural model for biological movement recognition: a neurophysiologically plausible theory

Complex biological movements, like actions, body movements, or facial expressions, are frequently occurring important visual stimuli. Psychophysical experiments show that humans can process them with amazing robustness and accuracy and individual neurons and cortical areas involved in the processing of such motion stimuli have been identified in electrophysiological and fMRI experiments. However, the understanding of the underlying neural mechanisms is still lacking. A neural model is presented that accounts for a number of key experimental results by exploiting simple physiologically plausible mechanisms. The model is based on the central assumption that biological movements are encoded by learning. Learned movement patterns can be encoded by neurons in the ventral and the dorsal pathway that are selective for sequences of body configurations and complex optic flow patterns. From the model several predictions can be derived that motivate new experiments.
MicroRNAs: Genomics, Biogenesis, Mechanism, and Function

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous ∼22 nt RNAs that can play important regulatory roles in animals and plants by targeting mRNAs for cleavage or translational repression. Although they escaped notice until relatively recently, miRNAs comprise one of the more abundant classes of gene regulatory molecules in multicellular organisms and likely influence the output of many protein-coding genes.
Histone, Nucleosome, and Chromatin Structure

In organisms ranging from yeast to humans, DNA is packaged inside the nucleus of cells in a polymeric complex called chromatin. The fundamental unit of chromatin is the nucleosome, consisting of a nucleosome core, a linker histone, and a segment of linker DNA. The nucleosome core is constructed from 145 to 147 base pairs of DNA wrapped around an octamer containing two copies of each of the core histone proteins (H2A, H2B, H3, and H4). While its composition has long since been established, more recent X-ray crystallographic investigations of the nucleosome core have painted a high-resolution picture of the histone octamer and its interactions with DNA. The nucleosome core and linker DNA connecting it to an adjacent nucleosome interact with the linker histone (H1/H5). This unit repeats throughout the genome every 160–240 bp, forming long arrays of nucleosomes that progressively condense into higher-order chromatin structures. This chapter details the structure and dynamics of the nucleosome core particle and discusses our current understanding of nucleosome recognition, the linker histone, and the first level of higher-order chromatin structure, the 30nm fiber.
Promoting pirate prisons: exploring the intersections of narratives, media, and criminal justice reform in East Africa

In March of 2011, several news media outlets published articles announcing the opening of a “pirate prison” in the northwest region of Somalia. Over the next five years, news articles about East African prisons holding piracy prisoners en masse were among the few ways in which the public came to know pirate prisons—what they look like, who they punish, and how they punish. Our analysis of the text and imagery in news articles about these prisons reveals that pirate prison narratives reflects the unique political, social, and economic issues of each location. The geographically-specific narratives are created, promoted, and in some cases silenced by different actors and entities to shape public perception of pirate prisons and motivate funding decisions. This case study aims to theorize what these pirate prison narratives tells us more broadly about the complexities underlying the promotion of criminal justice reforms in the media and the political economy of punishment in East Africa. We contend that the production and maintenance of particular pirate prison narratives helps various actors and agencies maximize benefits tied to a broader penal market where piracy prisoners are detained and transferred in exchange for development aid.