Continuous-Time Model Identification of the Subglottal System.

Mathematical models that accurately simulate the physiological systems of the human body serve as cornerstone instruments for advancing medical science and facilitating innovative clinical interventions. One application is the modeling of the subglottal tract and neck skin properties for its use in the ambulatory assessment of vocal function, by enabling non-invasive monitoring of glottal airflow via a neck surface accelerometer. For the technique to be effective, the development of an accurate building block model for the subglottal tract is required. Such a model is expected to utilize glottal volume velocity as the input parameter and yield neck skin acceleration as the corresponding output. In contrast to preceding efforts that employed frequency-domain methods, the present paper leverages system identification techniques to derive a parsimonious continuous-time model of the subglottal tract using time-domain data samples. Additionally, an examination of the model order is conducted through the application of various information criteria. Once a low-order model is successfully fitted, an inverse filter based on a Kalman smoother is utilized for the estimation of glottal volume velocity and related aerodynamic metrics, thereby constituting the most efficient execution of these estimates thus far. Anticipated reductions in computational time and complexity due to the lower order of the subglottal model hold particular relevance for real-time monitoring. Simultaneously, the methodology proves efficient in generating a spectrum of aerodynamic features essential for ambulatory vocal function assessment.

Complete mitochondrial genome of the introduced Indian walking stick Carausius morosus (Lonchodidae, Insecta) from California.

We present the complete mitochondrial genome of Carausius morosus from Salinas, CA. The mitochondrial genome of C. morosus is circular, AT rich (78.1%), and 16,671 bp in length. It consists of 13 protein-coding, 22 transfer RNA, and 2 ribosomal RNA genes and is identical in gene content to Carausius sp.

Glottal Airflow Estimation using Neck Surface Acceleration and Low-Order Kalman Smoothing.

The use of non-invasive skin accelerometers placed over the extrathoracic trachea has been proposed in the literature for measuring vocal function. Glottal airflow is estimated using inverse filtering or Bayesian techniques based on a subglottal impedance-based model when utilizing these sensors. However, deviations in glottal airflow estimates can arise due to sensor positioning and model mismatch, and addressing them requires a significant computational load. In this paper, we utilize system identification techniques to obtain a low order state-space representation of the subglottal impedance-based model. We then employ the resulting low order model in a Kalman smoother to estimate the glottal airflow. Our proposed approach reduces the model order by 94% and requires only 1.5% of the computing time compared to previous Bayesian methods in the literature, while achieving slightly better accuracy when correcting for glottal airflow deviations. Additionally, our Kalman smoother approach provides a measure of uncertainty in the airflow estimate, which is valuable when measurements are taken under different conditions. With its comparable accuracy in signal estimation and reduced computational load, the proposed approach has the potential for real-time estimation of glottal airflow and its associated uncertainty in wearable voice ambulatory monitors using neck-surface acceleration.

Arsenic concentration in topsoil of central Chile is associated with aberrant methylation of P53 gene in human blood cells: a cross-sectional study.

Gene expression can be modified in people who are chronically exposed to high concentrations of heavy metals. The soil surrounding the Ventanas Industrial Complex, located on the coastal zone of Puchuncaví and Quintero townships (Chile), contain heavy metal concentrations (As, Cu, Pb, Zn, among others) that far exceed international standards. The aim of this study was to determine the potential association of the heavy metals in soils, especially arsenic, with the status of methylation of four tumor suppressor genes in permanent residents in those townships. To study the methylation status in genes p53, p16, APC, and RASSF1A, we took blood samples from adults living in areas near the industrial complex for at least 5 years and compared it to blood samples from adults living in areas with normal heavy metal concentrations of soils. Results indicated that inhabitants of an area with high levels of heavy metals in soil have a significantly higher proportion of methylation in the promoter region of the p53 tumor suppressor gene compared with control areas (p-value: 0.0035). This is the first study to consider associations between heavy metal exposure in humans and aberrant DNA methylation in Chile. Our results suggest more research to support consistent decision-making on processes of environmental remediation or prevention of exposure.

Desensibilización y reprocesamiento por movimientos oculares (EMDR) para trastornos ansiosos y depresivos en niños y adolescentes: revisión de la evidencia disponible / Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) for anxiety and depressive disorders in children and adolescents: a review of the available literature

Resumen Introducción: la desensibilización y reprocesamiento por movimientos oculares (EMDR) tiene abundante evidencia de eficacia en desórdenes del espectro traumático. Su eficacia en trastornos ansiosos (TA) y depresivos (TD) en niños, niñas y adolescentes ha sido escasamente estudiada. Método: se realizó una revisión narrativa para describir la evidencia disponible sobre eficacia de EMDR en TA y TD en población infantojuvenil. Se buscaron artículos disponibles en PubMed/Medline, SciELO, PsycINFO y Cochrane Library. Se incluyeron todos los artículos primarios y secundarios que evaluaron el efecto de EMDR en TA y TD en población infantojuvenil. Se revisaron sus referencias como segundo método de inclusión. Resultados: se identificaron nueve estudios (cinco en TA y cuatro en TD); tres fueron observacionales y seis experimentales. Todos tuvieron tamaños muestrales reducidos. En TA, los estudios corroboraron la eficacia de EMDR sobre el temor fóbico en fobia a las arañas, pero no sobre la conducta evitativa, donde sería superior la exposición in vivo. Dos series de casos expusieron la utilidad de EMDR en fagogobia y en TA asociados a epilepsia. En TD, EMDR fue eficaz en la reducción de sintomatología depresiva en el contexto del trastorno depresivo mayor, trastorno de estrés agudo y trastornos conductuales. EMDR fue comparable a terapia cognitivo-conductual. Conclusiones: la evidencia corrobora la eficacia de EMDR en TA y TD en niños, niñas y adolescentes. Sin embargo, es muy escasa y cuenta con limitaciones metodológicas. Es necesario realizar estudios experimentales con protocolos estandarizados y especializados de EMDR para TA y TD en población infantojuvenil.

Introduction: Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) has abundant evidence of efficacy in traumatic spectrum disorders. Its efficacy in anxiety disorders (AD) and depressive disorders (DD) in children and adolescents has been scarcely studied. Methods: We conducted a narrative review to describe the available evidence on the efficacy of EMDR in AD and DD in children and adolescents. We searched for articles available in PubMed/Medline, SciELO, PsycInfo and the Cochrane Library. All primary and secondary studies evaluating the effect of EMDR on AD and DD in children and adolescents were included. Their references were reviewed as a second method of inclusion. Results: nine studies were identified (five in AD and four in DD); three were observational and six experimental. All had small sample sizes. In AD, studies corroborated the efficacy of EMDR on phobic fear in spider phobia, but not on avoidance behavior, where in vivo exposure would be superior. Two case series reported the efficacy of EMDR in choking phobia and AD associated with epilepsy. In DD, EMDR was effective in reducing depressive symptomatology in the context of major depressive disorder, acute stress disorder, and conduct disorders. EMDR was comparable to cognitive behavioral therapy. Conclusions: The evidence corroborates the efficacy of EMDR in AD and DD in children and adolescents. However, it is very scarce and has methodological limitations. It is necessary to carry out experimental studies with standardized and specialized EMDR protocols for AD and DD in the child and adolescent population.