Cross-Language Speech Emotion Recognition Using Multimodal Dual Attention Transformers

Despite the recent progress in speech emotion recognition (SER), state-of-the-art systems are unable to achieve improved performance in cross-language settings. In this paper, we propose a Multimodal Dual Attention Transformer (MDAT) model to improve cross-language SER. Our model utilises pre-trained models for multimodal feature extraction and is equipped with a dual attention mechanism including graph attention and co-attention to capture complex dependencies across different modalities and achieve improved cross-language SER results using minimal target language data. In addition, our model also exploits a transformer encoder layer for high-level feature representation to improve emotion classification accuracy. In this way, MDAT performs refinement of feature representation at various stages and provides emotional salient features to the classification layer. This novel approach also ensures the preservation of modality-specific emotional information while enhancing cross-modality and cross-language interactions. We assess our model's performance on four publicly available SER datasets and establish its superior effectiveness compared to recent approaches and baseline models.Comment: Under Review IEEE TM

Multimodal framework based on audio‐visual features for summarisation of cricket videos

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/166171/1/ipr2bf02094.pd

Remitting seronegative symmetrical synovitis with pitting oedema following administration of the ChAdOx1-S/nCoV-19 Coronavirus vaccine

Introduction: We describe a case of remitting seronegative symmetrical synovitis with pitting oedema (RS3PE) syndrome following administration of the ChAdOx1-S/nCoV-19 [recombinant] vaccine, suggesting a possible causal link. Case Description: A 72-year-old man presented to his general practitioner with swollen, oedematous hands and legs 2 weeks after receiving a coronavirus vaccine. He had raised inflammatory markers but remained systemically well. He was initially presumed to have cellulitis, but his symptoms persisted despite several courses of antibiotics. Deep vein thromboses, cardiac failure, renal failure and hypoalbuminaemia were ruled out. Upon Rheumatology review, he was diagnosed as having RS3PE syndrome with the Covid vaccine suspected of being an immunogenic trigger. Following initiation of steroid therapy, his symptoms improved dramatically, as is characteristic of RS3PE syndrome. Discussion: The pathophysiology of RS3PE is unclear. It is known to have various triggers and associations including infections, certain vaccines and malignancy. This case highlights that a coronavirus vaccine (ChAdOx1-S/nCoV-19 [recombinant] vaccine) is also a possible trigger. Factors that make the diagnosis likely include an acute onset of symptoms including pitting oedema in a typical distribution, age above 50, and unremarkable autoimmune serology. Other learning points from this case include the importance of antibiotic stewardship and the need to explore non-infectious causes of illness when antibiotics do not improve symptoms. Conclusion: The ChAdOx1-S/nCoV-19 [recombinant] vaccine is a possible trigger of RS3PE. However, the benefits of vaccines against coronavirus outweigh the risks in the majority of patients

MicroRNA Expression Profiling of Human Respiratory Epithelium Affected by Invasive Candida Infection

Invasive candidiasis is potentially life-threatening systemic fungal infection caused by Candida albicans (C. albicans). Candida enters the blood stream and disseminate throughout the body and it is often observed in hospitalized patients, immunocompromised individuals or those with chronic diseases. This infection is opportunistic and risk starts with the colonization of C. albicans on mucocutaneous surfaces and respiratory epithelium. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs which are involved in the regulation of virtually every cellular process. They regulate and control the levels of mRNA stability and post-transcriptional gene expression. Aberrant expression of miRNAs has been associated in many disease states, and miRNA-based therapies are in progress. In this study, we investigated possible variations of miRNA expression profiles of respiratory epithelial cells infected by invasive Candida species. For this purpose, respiratory epithelial tissues of infected individuals from hospital laboratory were accessed before their treatment. Invasive Candida infection was confirmed by isolation of Candia albicans from the blood cultures of the same infected individuals. The purity of epithelial tissues was assessed by flow cytometry (FACSCalibur cytometer; BD Biosciences, Heidelberg, Germany) using statin antibody (S-44). TaqMan quantitative real-time PCR (in a TaqMan Low Density Array format) was used for miRNA expression profiling. MiRNAs investigated, the levels of expression of 55 miRNA were significantly altered in infected tissues. Some miRNAs showed dramatic increase (miR-16-1) or decrease of expression (miR-17-3p) as compared to control. Gene ontology enrichment analysis of these miRNA-targeted genes suggests that Candidal infection affect many important biological pathways. In summary, disturbance in miRNA expression levels indicated the change in cascade of pathological processes and the regulation of respiratory epithelial functions following invasive Candidal infection. These findings contribute to our understanding of host cell response to Candidal systemic infections

Cellular Signaling Pathways in Insulin Resistance-Systems Biology Analyses of Microarray Dataset Reveals New Drug Target Gene Signatures of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Purpose: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic and metabolic disorder affecting large set of population of the world. To widen the scope of understanding of genetic causes of this disease, we performed interactive and toxicogenomic based systems biology study to find potential T2DM related genes after cDNA differential analysis. Methods: From the list of 50-differential expressed genes (p < 0.05), we found 9-T2DM related genes using extensive data mapping. In our constructed gene-network, T2DM-related differentially expressed seeder genes (9-genes) are found to interact with functionally related gene signatures (31-genes). The genetic interaction network of both T2DM-associated seeder as well as signature genes generally relates well with the disease condition based on toxicogenomic and data curation. Results: These networks showed significant enrichment of insulin signaling, insulin secretion and other T2DM-related pathways including JAK-STAT, MAPK, TGF, Toll-like receptor, p53 and mTOR, adipocytokine, FOXO, PPAR, P13-AKT, and triglyceride metabolic pathways. We found some enriched pathways that are common in different conditions. We recognized 11-signaling pathways as a connecting link between gene signatures in insulin resistance and T2DM. Notably, in the drug-gene network, the interacting genes showed significant overlap with 13-FDA approved and few non-approved drugs. This study demonstrates the value of systems genetics for identifying 18 potential genes associated with T2DM that are probable drug targets. Conclusions: This integrative and network based approaches for finding variants in genomic data expect to accelerate identification of new drug target molecules for different diseases and can speed up drug discovery outcomes

Computational drug designing of fungal pigments as potential aromatase inhibitors

The existing aromatase inhibitors produced unwelcome effects impose the discovery of novel drugs with privileged selectivity, a reduced amount of toxicity and humanizing potency. In this study, we illuminate the binding mode of polyketide azaphilanoid pigments monascin, ankaflavin, monascorubrin and monascorubramine isolated from Monascus fungus to the aromatase by molecular docking. The 3-dimensional structure of aromatase enzyme (PDB: 4KQ8) was obtained from the Protein Data Bank. PatchDock docking software was used to analyze structural complexes of the aromatase with monascus pigments. Comparatively, the AutoGrid model presented the most briskly constructive binding mode of monascin to aromatase. Docked energies in kcal/mol are: monascin;-13.2; monascorubramine:-12.8, monascorubrin:-12.3; ankaflavin: -10.5. These outcomes exposed these ligands could be potential drugs to treat hormone dependent breast cancer

Use of platelet-rich plasma in treating low back pain: A review of the current literature

Low back pain (LBP) is a common problem encountered by physicians. It is a considerable cause of morbidity and socioeconomic loss and is one of the most expensive musculoskeletal disorders. Conventional treatments include bed rest, analgesics, therapeutic exercises, lumbar or caudal epidural corticosteroids, and surgery. Several new biological therapies are being investigated for use in LBP and one of these is platelet-rich plasma (PRP). In this article, we summarize the current literature published on PRP concerning its composition, classification, and application in LBP. We believe our review will prove useful to clinicians and academics alike, interested in new developing therapies for LBP

Cytotoxic Evaluation and Molecular Docking Studies of Aminopyridine Derivatives as Potential Anticancer Agents

Background: The development of resistance to available anticancer drugs is increasingly becoming a major challenge and new chemical entities could be unveiled to compensate for this therapeutic failure. Objectives: The current study demonstrated whether N-protected and deprotected amino acid derivatives of 2aminopyridine could attenuate tumor development using colorectal cancer cell lines. Methods: Biological assays were performed to investigate the anticancer potential of synthesized compounds. The in silico ADME profiling and docking studies were also performed by docking the designed compounds against the active binding site of beta-catenin (CTNNB1) to analyze the binding mode of these compounds. Four derivatives 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d were selected for investigation of in vitro anticancer potential using colorectal cancer cell line HCT 116. The anti-tumor activities of synthesized compounds were further validated by evaluating the inhibitory effects of these compounds on the target protein beta-catenin through in vitro enzyme inhibitory assay. Results: The docking analysis revealed favorable binding energies and interactions with the target proteins. The in vitro MTT assay on colorectal cancer cell line HCT 116 and HT29 revealed potential anti-tumor activities with an IC50 range of 3.7-8.1µM and 3.27-7.7 µM, respectively. The inhibitory properties of these compounds on the concentration of beta-catenin by ELISA revealed significant percent inhibition of target protein at 100 µg/ml. Conclusion: In conclusion, the synthesized compounds showed significant anti-tumor activities both in silico and in vitro, having potential for further investigating its role in colorectal cancer

Production and characterization of a new antibacterial peptide obtained from Aeribacillus pallidus SAT4

A novel thermophilic bacterial strain of the genus Aeribacillus was isolated from Thar Dessert Pakistan. This strain showed significant antibacterial activity against Micrococcus luteus, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The strain coded as ‘SAT4’ resembled with Aeribacillus pallidus in the morphological, biochemical and molecular tests. The production of antibacterial metabolites by SAT4 was optimized. These active metabolites were precipitated by 50% ammonium sulphate and purified through sephadex G-75 gel permeation chromatography and reverse phase HPLC. The molecular weight of 37 kDa was examined by SDS-PAGE. The structural elucidation of the purified product was studied by FTIR, 1H and 13C NMR. The X-ray diffractions study showed that the crystals belonged to the primitive orthorhombic lattice (a = 12.137, b = 13.421, c = 14.097 Å) and 3D structure (proposed name: Aeritracin) was determined. This new peptide antibacterial molecule can get a position in pharmaceutical and biotechnological industrial research

Architecture of WiFi Based Broadcast Network for Rural Community

Digital divide is a reality in developing nations. Most of the technological advancements are available only in urban areas and rural community is still deprived of communication technology even in 21 st century. To ensure the availability of Internet, TV (Television) and other high data-rate services to the rural community; use of high power ISM (Industrial, Scientific and Medical) band broadcast should be of interest. The aim of this research work is to design a WiFi based broadcast network that provides broadband access to remote areas and to study the propagation characteristics of this network in a typical rural community in the plains of Pakistan. This paper uses extensive measurements in indoor and outdoor environments of village ?Lower Kot Ratta? to develop a WiFi broadband broadcast propagation model for rural areas of Pakistan. The proposed model is simple, flexible and more suitable for rural areas as compared to existing model