Dilated FCN: Listening Longer to Hear Better

Deep neural network solutions have emerged as a new and powerful paradigm for speech enhancement (SE). The capabilities to capture long context and extract multi-scale patterns are crucial to design effective SE networks. Such capabilities, however, are often in conflict with the goal of maintaining compact networks to ensure good system generalization. In this paper, we explore dilation operations and apply them to fully convolutional networks (FCNs) to address this issue. Dilations equip the networks with greatly expanded receptive fields, without increasing the number of parameters. Different strategies to fuse multi-scale dilations, as well as to install the dilation modules are explored in this work. Using Noisy VCTK and AzBio sentences datasets, we demonstrate that the proposed dilation models significantly improve over the baseline FCN and outperform the state-of-the-art SE solutions.Comment: 5 pages; will appear in WASPAA conferenc

An emergency control strategy for undervoltage load shedding of power system: A graph deep reinforcement learning method

Abstract Undervoltage load shedding (UVLS) is the last line of defense to ensure the safe and stable operation of the power system. The existing UVLS technique has difficulty adapting and generalizing to new topology variation scenarios of the power network, which greatly affects the reliability of the control strategy. This paper proposes a UVLS emergency control scheme based on a graph deep reinforcement learning method named GraphSAGE‐D3QN (graph sample and aggregate‐double dueling deep q network). During offline training, a GraphSAGE‐based feature extraction mechanism of the power grid with topology variation is designed that can better capture the changes in system state characteristics. A novel reinforcement learning framework based on D3QN is developed for UVLS modeling, which reduces overestimations of control action and leads to a better control effect. Then, online emergency decision‐making is achieved. The simulation results on the modified IEEE 39‐bus system and IEEE 300‐bus power system show that the proposed UVLS scheme can always provide more economical and reliable control strategies for power networks with topology variations and achieves better benefits in both adaptability and generalization performances for previously unseen topology variation scenarios

Calcium sensing receptor modulates extracellular calcium entry and proliferation via TRPC3/6 channels in cultured human mesangial cells.

Calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) has been demonstrated to be present in several tissues and cells unrelated to systemic calcium homeostasis, where it regulates a series of diverse cellular functions. A previous study indicated that CaSR is expressed in mouse glomerular mesangial cells (MCs), and stimulation of CaSR induces cell proliferation. However, the signaling cascades initiated by CaSR activation in MCs are currently unknown. In this study, our data demonstrate that CaSR mRNA and protein are expressed in a human mesangial cell line. Activating CaSR with high extracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]o) or spermine induces a phospholipase C (PLC)-dependent increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i). Interestingly, the CaSR activation-induced increase in [Ca2+]i results not only from intracellular Ca2+ release from internal stores but also from canonical transient receptor potential (TRPC)-dependent Ca2+ influx. This increase in Ca2+ was attenuated by treatment with a nonselective TRPC channel blocker but not by treatment with a voltage-gated calcium blocker or Na+/Ca2+ exchanger inhibitor. Furthermore, stimulation of CaSR by high [Ca2+]o enhanced the expression of TRPC3 and TRPC6 but not TRPC1 and TRPC4, and siRNA targeting TRPC3 and TRPC6 attenuated the CaSR activation-induced [Ca2+]i increase. Further experiments indicate that 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol (OAG), a known activator of receptor-operated calcium channels, significantly enhances the CaSR activation-induced [Ca2+]i increase. Moreover, under conditions in which intracellular stores were already depleted with thapsigargin (TG), CaSR agonists also induced an increase in [Ca2+]i, suggesting that calcium influx stimulated by CaSR agonists does not require the release of calcium stores. Finally, our data indicate that pharmacological inhibition and knock down of TRPC3 and TRPC6 attenuates the CaSR activation-induced cell proliferation in human MCs. With these data, we conclude that CaSR activation mediates Ca2+ influx and cell proliferation via TRPC3 and TRPC6 in human MCs

D Sex-specific responses of tree-ring growth to climate in the dioecious tree Populus cathayana

Aims Radial growth in response to climate has been reported in many trees, but the sex-specific responses of tree-ring growth associated with altitude in dioecious trees are still poorly known. This study aims to examine whether (i) there are sex-related responses of treering growth to climate in dioecious trees; (ii) these responses could be changed with altitude elevation. Methods The tree-ring width and basal area increment (BAI) were measured over the past 30 years (1982-2011), and the sexual differences in relationship between BAI and time span and correlations between ring width and climatic factors were investigated in Populus cathayana trees at two altitude sites (1,450 m and 1,750 m a.s.l.) in Xiaowutai Mountain, Hebei, north China. Important Findings The BAI was increased over the past 30 years. Trees at high-altitude sites had significantly lower mean ring width and mean BAI than those trees at low-altitude sites (P < 0.001). In addition, sexual differences in tree-ring growth and its response to climate were more pronounced by altitude elevation. Male trees had a significantly larger mean ring width and mean BAI than did females at high-altitude sites, whereas no significant sexual differences in these traits were detected at low-altitude sites. Female trees were sensitive to previous October-November temperatures at high altitude but to current February and April precipitation at low altitude (P < 0.05), whereas male trees were sensitive to current June temperature at high altitude but to January precipitation at low altitude (P < 0.05). Our results indicated that the responses of tree-ring growth to climate are sex dependent and can be changed with altitude elevation

Genome-Wide Identification of MIKCc-Type MADS-Box Family Gene and Floral Organ Transcriptome Characterization in Ma Bamboo (<i>Dendrocalamus latiflorus</i> Munro)

Most bamboos die after flowering, and the molecular mechanisms responsible for flowering is poorly understood. The MIKCc-type MADS-box family gene is involved in the flowering process. To explore the mechanism of the MIKCc-type MADS-box gene and phytohormone regulation in the flowering of Dendrocalamus latiflorus Munro (D. latiflorus), characterized by extremely rapid growth and widely cultivated woody bamboo, we initially did a genome-wide analysis of the MIKCc-type MADS-box gene in D. latiflorus. In the meantime, transcriptome analysis was performed using the floral organs. A total of 170 MIKCc-Type MADS-Box genes were identified and divided into 15 categories. The cis-acting element analysis in promoters regions revealed that MIKC-type MADS-box family genes were associated with hormones, including auxin, abscisic acid (ABA), gibberellin (GA) and jasmonic acid (JA), which was found at 79, 476, 96, 486 sites and cover 61, 103, 73, 128 genes. Genome synteny analysis showed subgenome AA and BB were better than CC and obtained 49, 40, 39 synteny genes compared with Oryza sativa (O. sativa). In transcriptome analysis of floral organs, the enriched pathway from DEGs included circadian, vernalization and gibberellin pathways associated with the flowering process. We found that the jasmonic acid synthesis gene is highly expressed in the pistil, which may be the cause of Ma bamboo pollen abortion. The expression profile showed that most MIKC-type MADS-box genes exhibited high expression in flower organs. The consequences of this study will provide insight into the irregular flowering and low pollen counts of Ma bamboo

Diagnosis Value of the Detection of CYFRA21-1 in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Background and objective Cytokeratin-19 fragment (CYFRA21-1) is a soluble protein in serum, and may be a useful circulating tumor marker. The aim of this study is to investigate the diagnostic value of the peripheral blood CYFRA21-1 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods The levels of peripheral blood CYFRA21-1 were detected in 107 patients with NSCLC and 51 patients with benign pulmonary diseases by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, and ROC curve was used to analyse the results. Results Singificant difference of peripheral blood CYFRA21-1 levels was detected between the NSCLC group and benign pulmonary disease group (χ2=47.343, P &lt; 0.001). At the threshold of 3.3 ng/mL, sensitivity and specificity of CYFRA21-1 as a serologic marker were 74.77% and 76.47%, respectively for any cancer. ROC curve showed that the under-curve area (AUC) of CYFRA21-1 was 0.813 9. There was no significant difference of CYFRA21-1 between subtypes of NSCLC (χ2=0.450, P=0.799). The peripheral blood CYFRA21-1 level was elevated significantly in the patients with extensive disease (IIIb, IV) compared with patients with limited disase (I, II, IIIb) (χ2=7.057, P=0.008). Conclusion As a tumor marker CYFRA21-1 has relative high sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of NSCLC. Elevated peripheral blood CYFRA 21-1 levels were usually indicated extensive disease of NSCLC

A meta-analysis of the Timing of Chest Radiotherapy in Patients with Limited-stage Small Cell Lung Cancer

Background and objective Although evidence for a significant survival benefit of chest radiotherapy has been proven, no conclusion could be drawn regarding the optimal timing of chest radiation. The aim of this study is to explore whether the timing of chest radiation may influence the survival of the patients with limited-stage small-cell lung cancer (LSSCLC) by performing a literature-based meta-analysis. Methods By searching Medline, CENTRAL (the Cochrane central register of controlled trials), CBM, and CNKI, et al, we collected both domestic and overseas published documents about randomized trials comparing different timing chest radiotherapy in patients with LS-SCLC. Early chest radiation was regarded as beginning within 30 days after the start of chemotherapy. Random or fixed effect models were applied to conduct meta-analysis on the trials. The combined odds ratio (OR) and the 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated to estimate the mortality in 2 or 3 years and toxicity of the two treatments. The statistical heterogeneity was determined by cochran’s Chi-square test (Q test). The Begg’ test was used to determine the publication bias. Results Six trials that included a total of 1 189 patients were analyzed in the meta-analysis 587 patients were in the early radiation group and 602 patients were in the late radiation group. Considering all 6 eligible trials, the overall survival at 2/3 years was not significantly different between early and late chest radiation (OR=0.78, 95%CI: 0.55-1.05, Z=1.68, P=0.093). For the toxicity, no obvious difference was observed for early chest radiotherapy compared with late irradiation in pneumonitis (OR=1.93, 95%CI: 0.97-3.86, P=0.797), esophagitis (OR=1.43, 95%CI: 0.95-2.13, P=0.572) and thrombocytopenia (OR=1.23, 95%CI: 0.88-1.77, P=0.746), respectively. Conclusion No statistical difference was observed in 2/3 years survival and toxicity, including pneumonitis, esophagitis and thrombocytopenia, between early radiation and late radiotherapy in LS-SCLC

Molecular Cloning and Expression Analysis of Endogenous Cellulase EsGH9-1 from Eriocheir sinensis and Its Response to Different Diets

Cellulases are a class of modular enzymes with a catalytic glycoside hydrolase (GH) module that hydrolyzes the β-1, 4-glucosidic bond of the cellulose chain. Cellulases had been broadly divided into three types: endo-β-1, 4-glucanases, exo-β-1, 4-glucanases and β-glucosidases, which of synergistic effect lead to the complete degradation of cellulose to glucose. The endo-β-1, 4-glucanase is one of the key cellulases in cellulose digestion, which are likely to be the product of a glycosyl hydrolase family 9 (GHF9) gene. In this study, an endogenous cellulase gene, EsGH9-1, was identified from the transcriptome database of the Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis, and the sequence of EsGH9-1 was cloned by PCR. The expression levels of EsGH9-1 in different tissues and different developmental stages were studied. In addition, EsGH9-1 mRNA expression and corresponding enzyme activity under different diet conditions were analysed. The result showed that EsGH9-1 genomic DNA (11 679 bp) consists of 15 exons interrupted by 14 introns; EsGH9-1 cDNA (2044 bp) contains an open reading frame of 1740 bp, corresponding to a polypeptide of 580 amino acid residues, with a typical catalytic domain of the glycosyl hydrolase family 9 (GHF9). EsGH9-1 was expressed in various tissues of E. sinensis, particularly high in the hepatopancreas. A significant increase in expression of EsGH9-1 was also observed in megalopa and early-stage larvae. Under different dietary conditions, the relative expression of EsGH9-1 in the plant diet group was significantly up-regulated, which was consistent with the trend of β-1, 4-endoglucanase activity. The finding of the endogenous cellulase gene (EsGH9-1) in E. sinensis implies that EsGH9-1 may be involved in the decomposition of plant diet. Furthermore, this work is a fundamental step toward understanding the role of endogenous cellulase in the digestion mechanism of aquatic crustaceans