Impact of Different Active-Speech-Ratios on PESQ’s Predictions in Case of Independent and Dependent Losses (in Presence of Receiver-Side Comfort-Noise)

This paper deals with the investigation of PESQ’s behavior under independent and dependent loss conditions from an Active-Speech-Ratio perspective in presence of receiver-side comfort-noise. This reference signal characteristic is defined very broadly by ITU-T Recommendation P.862.3. That is the reason to investigate an impact of this characteristic on speech quality prediction more in-depth. We assess the variability of PESQ’s predictions with respect to Active-Speech-Ratios and loss conditions, as well as their accuracy, by comparing the predictions with subjective assessments. Our results show that an increase in amount of speech in the reference signal (expressed by the Active-Speech-Ratio characteristic) may result in an increase of the reference signal sensitivity to packet loss change. Interestingly, we have found two additional effects in this investigated case. The use of higher Active-Speech-Ratios may lead to negative shifting effect in MOS domain and also PESQ’s predictions accuracy declining. Predictions accuracy could be improved by higher packet losses

IFN-( and Cortisol Levels in CSF During Aseptic Meningoencephalitis Interferon-( and Cortisol Levels in Cerebrospinal Fluid and its Relationship to the Etiology of Aseptic Meningoencephalitis

Holub M.; Beran O.; Lacinová Z.; Cinek O.; Chalupa P. Abstract: The aim of the study was to analyze the concentrations of Th1/Th2 cytokines and cortisol in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from patients with aseptic meningoencephalitis (AM). The study enrolled 37 patients with AM and 11 control subjects. CSF concentrations of IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IFN-(, and TNF-a were analyzed using cytokine bead array and flow cytometry; CSF cortisol concentrations were measured by a RIA method. Cortisol was detected in 37 CSF samples (100%) from patients with AM, and it was significantly elevated in comparison to control subjects. IFN-( was detected in 32 CSF samples (86.5%) and IL-10 was detectable in 9 CSF samples (24.3%). The CSF cortisol levels correlated negatively with the duration of AM. The intrathecal concentration of IFN-( correlated positively with CSF numbers of leukocytes and lymphocytes, and negatively with the duration of AM. The etiology of AM influenced the CSF cortisol concentration, which was significantly higher in patients with tick-borne encephalitis when compared to persons with AM of unknown origin and control subjects. The results indicate that the prevailing intrathecal immune reaction during AM is shifted to a Th1-like response, whereas anti-inflammatory response in the brain is executed by the effect of cortisol

Proton affinities of amino group functionalizing 2D and 3D boron compounds

We report quantum-chemical computations of Proton Affinities (PA) of icosahedral amino boranes, carboranes and Co-containing metallacarboranes with arelative error of ~ 2% - when experimental data available- by means of the B3LYP and BP86 functionals. Use of larger basis sets for simple systems such as NH3, CH3NH2, and borazine (B3H6N3) reduces theerr or to ~ 0.5 % indicating the validity of these functionals for these computations and prediction of PA for unavailable experimental data on amino-derived (car)boranes and metalla(car)boranes. The computed PA show that, from an electronic structure point of view, when substituting an exo H atom by an NH2 group in B12H12(2-), CB11H12(-), (ortho, meta, para)-C2B10H12, and the metalla carborane [3-Co(1,2-C2B9H11)2](-)=COSAN the most similar system to be compared with is the anion NH2-BH3(-) – computed PA(B3LYP/cc-pVTZ) = 1505 kJ·mol-1 – rather than methylamine CH3NH2 or borazine, the two latter with experimental PA of 900 and 803 kJ·mol-1 respectively. The largest PA for a given isomer correspond, following this order, to: 1-NH2-B12H11(2-), (-)BH3NH2 , 12-NH2-CB11H11(-), cisoid8-NH2-COSAN, transoid 9-NH2-COSAN, 9-NH2-1,2-C2B10H11, 9-NH2-1,7-C2B10H11, and 2-NH2-1,12-C2B10H11. The rule for larger PA applies for isomers with the NH2 groups farthest aways from (non-metal) carborane C(cage) atoms. Pyramidalization energy computation shows an enhanced facility for planarization of the amino group in cisoid 8-NH2-COSAN as compared to cisoid 1-NH2-COSAN

Two Shared Icosahedral Metallacarboranes through Iron: A Joint Experimental and Theoretical Refinement of Mössbauer Spectrum in [Fe(1,2-C2B9H11)2]Cs

SUBJECTS:Anions,Conformation,Energy,Molecular structure,Quantum mechanicsMössbauer and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies (XPS) are complemented with high-level quantum-chemical computations in the study of the geometric and electronic structure of the paramagnetic salt of the metallacarborane sandwich complex [Fe(1,2-CBH)]Cs = FeSanCs. Experimental Fe isomer shifts and quadrupole splitting parameters are compared with the theoretical prediction, with good agreement. The appearance of two sets of Cs(3d) doublets in the XPS spectrum, separated by 2 eV, indicates that Cs has two different chemical environments due to ease of the Cs cation moving around the sandwich complex with low-energy barriers, as confirmed by quantum-chemical computations. Several minimum-energy geometries of the FeSanCs structure with the corresponding energies and Mössbauer parameters are discussed, in particular the atomic charges and spin population and the surroundings of the Fe atom in the complex. The Mössbauer spectra were taken at different temperatures showing the presence of a low-spin Fe atom with S = 1/2 and thus confirming a paramagnetic Fe species.We are grateful to Prof. Ibon Alkorta (IQM-CSIC) for providing the MEP of trans-FeSan anion conformer. J.F.M. and J.Z.D.-P. acknowledge financial support from grant RTI2018-095303-B-C51 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by “ERDF A way of making Europe” and from grant S2018-NMT-4321 funded by the Comunidad de Madrid and by “ERDF A way of making Europe”. M.F., J.E., and J.M.O.-E. are grateful to Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovacióny Universidades, for financial support with grant number PID2021-125207NB-C32. O.B.O. and D.R.A. acknowledge the financial support from the Universidad de Buenos Aires (grant no. 20020190100214BA), the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (grant nos PIP11220200100467CO, PIP 11220130100377CO, and PIP11220130100311CO), and the Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica, Argentina (grant no. PICT-201-0381).Peer reviewe

Genetic relationships within and among Iberian fescues (Festuca L.) based on PCR-amplified markers

The genus Festuca comprises approximately 450 species and is widely distributed around the world. The Iberian Penninsula, with more than 100 taxa colonizing very diverse habitats, is one of its main centers of diversification. This study was conducted to assess molecular genetic variation and genetic relatedness among 91 populations of 31 taxa of Iberian fescues, based on several molecular markers (random amplified polymorphic DNA, amplified fragment length polymorphisms, and trnL sequences). The analyses showed the paraphyletic origin of the broad-leaved (subgenus Festuca, sections Scariosae and Subbulbosae, and subgenus Schedonorus) and the fine-leaved fescues (subgenus Festuca, sections Aulaxyper, Eskia, and Festuca). Schedonorus showed a weak relationship with Lolium rigidum and appeared to be the most recent of the broad-leaved clade. Section Eskia was the most ancient and Festuca the most recent of the fine-leaved clade. Festuca and Aulaxyper were the most related sections, in concordance with their taxonomic affinities. All taxa grouped into their sections, except F. ampla and F. capillifolia (section Festuca), which appeared to be more closely related to Aulaxyper and to a new independent section, respectively. Most populations clustered at the species level, but some subspecies and varieties mixed their populations. This study demonstrated the value in combining different molecular markers to uncover hidden genetic relationships between populations of Festuca

A systematic review of tests for lymph node status in primary endometrial cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The lymph node status of a patient is a key determinate in staging, prognosis and adjuvant treatment of endometrial cancer. Despite this, the potential additional morbidity associated with lymphadenectomy makes its role controversial. This study systematically reviews the accuracy literature on sentinel node biopsy; ultra sound scanning, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computer tomography (CT) for determining lymph node status in endometrial cancer.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Relevant articles were identified form MEDLINE (1966–2006), EMBASE (1980–2006), MEDION, the Cochrane library, hand searching of reference lists from primary articles and reviews, conference abstracts and contact with experts in the field. The review included 18 relevant primary studies (693 women). Data was extracted for study characteristics and quality. Bivariate random-effect model meta-analysis was used to estimate diagnostic accuracy of the various index tests.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>MRI (pooled positive LR 26.7, 95% CI 10.6 – 67.6 and negative LR 0.29 95% CI 0.17 – 0.49) and successful sentinel node biopsy (pooled positive LR 18.9 95% CI 6.7 – 53.2 and negative LR 0.22, 95% CI 0.1 – 0.48) were the most accurate tests. CT was not as accurate a test (pooled positive LR 3.8, 95% CI 2.0 – 7.3 and negative LR of 0.62, 95% CI 0.45 – 0.86. There was only one study that reported the use of ultrasound scanning.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>MRI and sentinel node biopsy have shown similar diagnostic accuracy in confirming lymph node status among women with primary endometrial cancer than CT scanning, although the comparisons made are indirect and hence subject to bias. MRI should be used in preference, in light of the ASTEC trial, because of its non invasive nature.</p

Bulk properties of the system formed in Au+Au collisions at sNN =14.5 GeV at the BNL STAR detector

We report systematic measurements of bulk properties of the system created in Au+Au collisions at sNN=14.5 GeV recorded by the STAR detector at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). The transverse momentum spectra of π±, K±, and p(p) are studied at midrapidity (|y|&lt;0.1) for nine centrality intervals. The centrality, transverse momentum (pT), and pseudorapidity (η) dependence of inclusive charged particle elliptic flow (v2), and rapidity-odd charged particles directed flow (v1) results near midrapidity are also presented. These measurements are compared with the published results from Au+Au collisions at other energies, and from Pb+Pb collisions at sNN=2.76 TeV. The results at sNN=14.5 GeV show similar behavior as established at other energies and fit well in the energy dependence trend. These results are important as the 14.5-GeV energy fills the gap in μB, which is of the order of 100 MeV, between sNN=11.5 and 19.6 GeV. Comparisons of the data with UrQMD and AMPT models show poor agreement in general

Measurements of the transverse-momentum-dependent cross sections of J /ψ production at mid-rapidity in proton+proton collisions at s =510 and 500 GeV with the STAR detector

We present measurements of the differential cross sections of inclusive J/ψ meson production as a function of transverse momentum (pTJ/ψ) using the μ+μ- and e+e- decay channels in proton+proton collisions at center-of-mass energies of 510 and 500 GeV, respectively, recorded by the STAR detector at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. The measurement from the μ+μ- channel is for