Attention-Based Joint Training of Noise Suppression and Sound Event Detection for Noise-Robust Classification.

Sound event detection (SED) recognizes the corresponding sound event of an incoming signal and estimates its temporal boundary. Although SED has been recently developed and used in various fields, achieving noise-robust SED in a real environment is typically challenging owing to the performance degradation due to ambient noise. In this paper, we propose combining a pretrained time-domain speech-separation-based noise suppression network (NS) and a pretrained classification network to improve the SED performance in real noisy environments. We use group communication with a context codec method (GC3)-equipped temporal convolutional network (TCN) for the noise suppression model and a convolutional recurrent neural network for the SED model. The former significantly reduce the model complexity while maintaining the same TCN module and performance as a fully convolutional time-domain audio separation network (Conv-TasNet). We also do not update the weights of some layers (i.e., freeze) in the joint fine-tuning process and add an attention module in the SED model to further improve the performance and prevent overfitting. We evaluate our proposed method using both simulation and real recorded datasets. The experimental results show that our method improves the classification performance in a noisy environment under various signal-to-noise-ratio conditions.

Electrochemical lithiation performance and characterization of silicon-graphite composites with lithium, sodium, potassium, and ammonium polyacrylate binders.

Poly(acrylic acid) (PAH), which is a water soluble polycarboxylic acid, is neutralized by adding different amounts of LiOH, NaOH, KOH, and ammonia (NH4OH) aqueous solutions to fix neutralization degrees. The differently neutralized polyacid, alkali and ammonium polyacrylates are examined as polymeric binders for the preparation of Si-graphite composite electrodes as negative electrodes for Li-ion batteries. The electrode performance of the Si-graphite composite depends on the alkali chemicals and neutralization degree. It is found that 80% NaOH-neutralized polyacrylate binder (a pH value of the resultant aqueous solution is ca. 6.7) is the most efficient binder to enhance the electrochemical lithiation and de-lithiation performance of the Si-graphite composite electrode compared to that of conventional PVdF and the other binders used in this study. The optimum polyacrylate binder highly improves the dispersion of active material in the composite electrode. The binder also provides the strong adhesion, suitable porosity, and hardness for the composite electrode with 10% (m/m) binder content, resulting in better electrochemical reversibility. From these results, the factors of alkali-neutralized polyacrylate binders affecting the electrode performance of Si-graphite composite electrodes are discussed.

[Imaging Evaluation of Early and Long-Term Complications Associated with the Postoperative Spine]. / 척추 ìˆ˜ìˆ í›„ 영상 평가: 초기 및 중장기 합병증.

As the number of spinal surgeries being performed expands, the number of medical imaging procedures such as radiography, CT, and MRI is also increasing, and the importance of their interpretation is becoming more significant. Herein, we present the radiological findings of a variety of complications that can occur after spinal surgery and discuss how effectively and accurately they can be diagnosed through imaging. In particular, this study details the characteristic imaging findings specific to the early and long-term postoperative periods. Early complications of spinal surgery include improper placement of surgical instruments (instrument malpositioning), seromas, hematomas, pseudomeningoceles, and infections in the region surrounding the surgical site. Conversely, long-term complications may include osteolysis around surgical instruments, failure of fusion, adjacent segment disease, and the formation of epidural fibrosis or scar tissue. A precise understanding of the imaging assessments related to complications arising after spinal surgery is crucial to ensure timely and accurate diagnosis, which is necessary to achieve effective treatment.

Daldipyrenones A-C: Caged [6,6,6,6,6] Polyketides Derived from an Endolichenic Fungus Daldinia pyrenaica 047188.

Daldipyrenones A-C (1-3), three unprecedented caged xanthone [6,6,6,6,6] polyketides featuring a spiro-azaphilone unit, were discovered from an endolichenic fungus, Daldinia pyrenaica 047188. The structures of 1-3 were determined by using spectroscopic analysis and chemical derivatization. Daldipyrenones are likely derived by combining a chromane biosynthesis intermediate, 1-(2,6-dihydroxyphenyl)but-2-en-2-one, and a spiro-azaphilone, pestafolide A, via radical coupling or Michael addition to form a bicyclo[2.2.2]octane ring. Genome sequencing of the strain revealed two separate biosynthetic gene clusters responsible for forming two biosynthetic intermediates, suggesting a proposed biosynthetic pathway. Daldipyrenone A (1) exhibited significant antimelanogenic activity with lower EC50's than positive controls and moderate adiponectin-secretion promoting activity.

Acute High-Altitude Cerebral Edema Presenting as Extensive Microbleeds along the Corpus Callosum without T2 Hyperintensity: A Case Report and Literature Review.

High-altitude cerebral edema (HACE) is a potentially fatal neurological syndrome that develops in persons traveling to a high altitude. We report the case of a 49-year-old male who had traveled to a high altitude, and lost consciousness for a few hours. Susceptibility-weighted images revealed multiple, fine black pepper like microbleeds along the corpus callosum with several microbleeds in the left frontal and parietal subcortical white matter. The T2-weighted images did not show any abnormal signal intensities along the corpus callosum. The diffusion-weighted images revealed small nodular high signal intensities in the basal ganglia. This report describes the atypical radiologic findings of HACE showing multiple microbleeds along the corpus callosum, without abnormal high-signal intensity on T2-weighted images.

Immunoglobulin G4-Related Disease Involving the Pterygopalatine Fossa, Mimicking Invasive Aspergillosis: A Case Report and Literature Review.

We report a case of Immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) related disease involving the pterygoplataine fossa. A 83-year-old male presented with left ocular pain and visual disturbance. CT showed an isodense soft tissue lesion in the left pterygopalatine fossa with bony sclerotic changes and erosion. MRI revealed an infiltrative soft tissue mass in the left pterygopalatine fossa as a T2 slightly low signal intensity and heterogeneous enhancement. The patient underwent left ethmoidectomy, and biopsy of the mass was conducted. The histopathological diagnosis was IgG4-related disease. In this case, it was difficult to differentiate invasive aspergillosis, which is common in immunocompromised patients, considering the patient's clinical history of diabetes mellitus. This report describes the imaging findings of IgG4-related disease mimicking invasive sinusitis such as invasive aspergillosis.

Myelophil, a mixture of Astragali Radix and Salviae Radix extract, moderates toxic side effects of fluorouracil in mice.

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of Myelophil, an extract containing Astragali Radix and Salviae Radix, for reducing complications induced by 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in a gastrointestinal cancer model. METHODS: We injected 5-FU into mice and then administered Myelophil to examine the ability of the drug to treat the side effects of 5-FU in mice. Peripheral blood counts, histological examinations, and colony-forming assays of bone marrow were conducted, followed by swimming tests and assessment of survival times. RESULTS: Myelophil restored red and white blood cells and platelets in blood, and recovered cell density in bone marrow to levels comparable to those observed within the control group. In addition, Myelophil significantly increased colony-forming unit granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM) and CFU-erythroid (CFU-E) compared to the control group. We confirmed that interleukin-3 gene expression was upregulated by Myelophil in spleen cells. Myelophil administration also doubled the survival rate of mice that were severely myelosuppressed as a result of 5-FU injection at a lethal dose of 70%. Finally, the swimming performance of mice significantly improved as a result of Myelophil treatment. CONCLUSION: These results provide experimental evidence in support of clinical applications of Myelophil to minimize 5-FU-induced myelosuppression and improve general post-chemotherapy health.

Trichosanthes kirilowii tuber extract induces G2/M phase arrest via inhibition of tubulin polymerization in HepG2 cells.

UNLABELLED: Trichosanthes kirilowii tuber is one of most popular herbal plant of East Asia, which has been prescribed for patients with diabetes, rigorous coughing, breast abscesses, and cancer-related symptoms. AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigated the anticancer properties of the methanol extract of Trichosanthes kirilowii tuber (TKE), focusing on cell cycle arrest and microtubule instability in HepG2 cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cell growth and death were checked using a CCK-8 assay and a LDH release assay respectively. Cell cycle was analyzed by FACS after PI staining. Immunofluorescence, Western blot, real-time PCR for tubulin were performed. RESULTS: TKE treatment inhibited cell growth at around 25 microg/mL of IC50 in a CCK-8 assay and a LDH release assay, but did not result in cell death. We found that TKE induced cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase in a time-dependent manner. However, an immunofluorescence assessment of beta-tubulin revealed a dramatically reduced amount of polymerized tubulin after TKE treatment. Furthermore, TKE treatment radically decreased the polymerized portion of soluble tubulin in a dose-dependent manner, as did colchicine; the effects, however, were opposite to those of paclitaxel in comparative analysis of polymerized to soluble tubulin. We also found that TKE treatment moderately affected alpha-tubulin protein production, but not that of beta-tubulin and its gene expression using a Western assay and real-time PCR. CONCLUSIONS: Anticancer mechanisms of TKE linked to the inhibition of tubulin polymerization, through which it exerts cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase in the HepG2 cell line.

Antioxidative and hepatoprotective effect of CGX, an herbal medicine, against toxic acute injury in mice.

AIM: CGX, a modified traditional Chinese herbal drug whose name means "liver cleaning," is used to treat various liver disorders. This study investigated the protective effects of CGX and its mechanisms. MATERIAL AND METHODS: After pretreating ICR mice twice daily with CGX (po, 50 or 100mg/kg) or distilled water for three consecutive days, acute liver injury was induced by a single injection of CCl(4) (ip, 10mL/kg of 0.2% in olive oil) (n=8 per group). RESULTS: Pretreatment with CGX significantly attenuated the elevation in biochemical parameters, such as alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in serum, and the malondialdehyde concentrations in liver tissue. Pretreatment with CGX significantly restored the reduction of catalase activity and glutathione (GSH) content, but not superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and it inhibited the CCl(4)-induced high expression of iNOS and TNF-alpha in hepatic tissue. CONCLUSION: This study showed that CGX has hepatoprotective effects against free radical-induced acute injury via primarily antioxidative properties.

Armillariella mellea induces maturation of human dendritic cells without induction of cytokine expression.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Armillariella mellea, an edible and medicinal mushroom possessing immuno-modulating potential, has been frequently used for the treatment of infectious diseases or cancers. AIM OF THE STUDY: In order to elucidate immune-regulatory mechanisms of Armillariella mellea, we investigated the effect of water-soluble components from Armillariella mellea (AME) on the regulation of human dendritic cell (DC) maturation and activation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Immature DCs (iDCs) were prepared by differentiating human peripheral blood CD14-positive cells with GM-CSF and IL-4. Then, iDCs were treated with AME at 2-20 microg/ml for 48 h and subjected to flow cytometry to analyze the expression of DC markers. Dextran-FITC uptake assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were performed to examine the endocytic capacity of AME-stimulated DC and their production of cytokines, respectively. RESULTS: iDCs stimulated with AME showed representative features during DC maturation such as up-regulated expression of CD80, CD83, CD86, both MHC class I and II molecules, and CD205, with a simultaneous decrease in the expression of CD206 and the endocytic capacity. Interestingly, AME was not able to induce the production of TNF-alpha, IL-12p40, or IL-10, whereas lipopolysaccharides induced a substantial increase of all of the cytokines. CONCLUSION: Armillariella mellea induces maturation of human DCs through a unique mechanism without inducing cytokine expression.

An herbal formula, CGX, exerts hepatotherapeutic effects on dimethylnitrosamine-induced chronic liver injury model in rats.

AIM: To evaluate the therapeutic effect of Chunggan extract (CGX), a modified traditional Chinese hepatotherapeutic herbal, on the dimethylnitrosamine (DMN)-induced chronic liver injury model in rats. METHODS: Liver injuries were induced in Wistar rats by injection of DMN (ip, 10 mg/mL per kg) for 3 consecutive days per week for 4 wk. The rats were administered with CGX (po, 100 or 200 mg/kg per day) or distilled water as a control daily for 4 wk starting from the 15(th) d of the DMN treatment. Biochemical parameters (serum albumin, bilirubin, ALP, AST and ALT), lipid peroxides, hydroxyproline, as well as histological changes in liver tissues were analyzed. In addition, gene expression of TNF-alpha, TGF-beta, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, PDGF-beta, and MMP-2, all of which are known to be associated with liver fibrosis, were analyzed using real-time PCR. RESULTS: CGX administration restored the spleen weight to normal after having been increased by DMN treatment. Biochemical analysis of the serum demonstrated that CGX significantly decreased the serum level of ALP (P < 0.05), ALT (P < 0.01), and AST (P < 0.01) that had been elevated by DMN treatment. CGX administration moderately lowered lipid peroxide production and markedly lowered hydroxyproline generation caused by DMN treatment in accordance with histopathological examination. DMN treatment induced a highly up-regulated expression of TNF-alpha, TGF-beta, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, PDGF-beta, and MMP-2. Of these, the gene expression encoding PDGF-beta and MMP-2 was still further enhanced 2 wk after secession of the 4-wk DMN treatment, and was remarkably ameliorated by CGX administration. CONCLUSION: CGX exhibits hepatotherapeutic proper-ties against chronic hepatocellular destruction and consequential liver fibrosis.

Toxicological study of the hepatotherapeutic herbal formula, chunggan extract, in beagle dogs.

AIM: To evaluate the pharmaceutical safety of a Chinese herbal formula, chunggan extract (CGX), traditionally prescribed as a hepatotherapeutic drug via systemic acute and subacute toxicological study. METHODS: Twenty male dogs and 20 female dogs were fed doses 50 times and 4 times greater than the clinically-recommended drug dosages in an acute and a subacute toxicological study, respectively. Adverse effects were examined by comparing the differences between normal and drug-administered groups using clinical signs, necropsies, histopathologic findings, haematology, urinalysis, and biochemical analysis. RESULTS: In the acute study no change in the body weight, diarrhoea, apetite, mortality rate and histopathology of major organs was observed in male or female dogs with a single administration of CGX at 5 g/kg. No drug-induced abnormalities at analysis of histopathology, haematology, urinalysis, and biochemistry were found with any dose of this drug. CONCLUSION: CGX is supposed to be very safe when used in a clinical application with a wide therapeutic index.

Crop-derived polysaccharides as binders for high-capacity silicon/graphite-based electrodes in lithium-ion batteries.

Rice to power: Amylopectin is a major component of agricultural products such as corn, potato, and rice. Silicon-graphite electrodes are prepared by using slurries of these polysaccharides as binders. Compared to the conventionally used binder PVdF, they exhibit drastically improved electrode performance in Li cells. The improved performance is coupled to the degree of branching.

Quality control of a herbal medicinal preparation using high-performance liquid chromatographic and capillary electrophoretic methods.

Two methods based on high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and capillary electrophoresis (CE) were developed for the quality control of "samgiumgagambang" (SGMX), a new herbal medicinal preparation containing 14 herbs. Nine components from SGMX were selected as markers: 5-hydroxymethylfuraldehyde, geniposidic acid, chlorogenic acid, paeoniflorin, 20-hydroxyecdysone, coptisine, berberine, luteolin, and glycyrrhizic acid. The markers were identified and analyzed using HPLC coupled with a UV-diode-array detector and monitored at 250nm with a gradient elution of acetonitrile and water containing formic acid on a C(18) analytical column or using CE with a 70mM borate buffer (pH 9.5) containing 10% methanol on a 60-cm fused silica capillary monitored at 230nm. The marker components in SGMX were well separated using both methods and were readily determined within 60min using HPLC or 13min using CE with good precision and accuracy.

Chemotherapy-induced myelotoxicity and incidence of lung metastasis in an animal model.

We examined how chemotherapy-induced myelotoxicity and the associated leukopaenia affect cancer metastasis in an animal model. Myelotoxicity was induced by a single injection of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) or Cisplatin, administered to 7-week-old BALB/c mice. CT-26 murine colon carcinoma cells were injected into the lateral tail vein on days 0, 1, 3, 5, and 7 after anticancer drug injection. On day 14 after cancer cell injection, the number of pulmonary colonies was measured in a double-blind setting. Compared with Cisplatin, 5-FU induced severe leukopaenia and bone marrow suppression, while on day 5, both drugs induced severe myelotoxicity. The number of pulmonary colonies did not correlate with the severity of leukopaenia, regardless of the type or time of drug injection, except in the group pretreated with Cisplatin (3 days prior to cancer cell injection). Our results suggest that chemotherapy-induced myelotoxicity does not increase the incidence of cancer metastasis in this animal model.

High-dose ionizing radiation-induced hematotoxicity and metastasis in mice model.

Radiotherapy induces untargeted effects on normal tissues such as bone marrow. So alteration of microenvironment by ionizing irradiation is supposed to influence dynamic host-cancer ecosystem affecting cancer behavior including metastasis. Herein, the incidence of lung metastasis after high-dose irradiation has been investigated using mice model having real-time condition of leucopenia. C57BL/6 mice were pre-exposed to a X-irradiation dose of 6 Gy on previous days 2, 5, 7, 10. Complete hematological parameters including lymphocyte subpopulation in blood and lung tissues were analyzed. Additionally, a group of mice including a non-irradiated group were inoculated with B16F10 cells (3 × 10(5)/200 µl) via tail vein at the same day, and lung metastasized colonies were compared among groups at day 14 of post-inoculation. We observed that (i) total leucocytes and platelet were gradually depleted by day 10; (ii) lung tissue showed gradual infiltration of leucocytes including neutrophils and lymphocytes; (iii) pulmonary colonies were maximum and minimum on day 5 and 10 respectively; (iv) lymphocyte subpopulation analysis showed most number of natural killer (NK) cells in lung tissues on day 10; (v) gene expression of platelet/endothelial cell adhesion molecule (PECAM) in lung tissues peaked on day 5. To sum-up the study, severity of leucopenia did not influence the incidence of metastasis but blood platelets and microenvironment alteration of targeting tissue may be responsible factors for lung metastasis in our experimental model.

Antifibrotic effects of CGX, a traditional herbal formula, and its mechanisms in rats.

AIM: CGX is a modification of a traditional herbal medicine for "liver cleaning," which is used to treat various chronic liver disorders in oriental clinics. This study investigated the antifibrotic effects and associated mechanisms of CGX. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Liver fibrosis was induced in rats by dimethylnitrosamine (DMN; 10 mg kg(-1), ip) injection on 3 consecutive days per week for 4 weeks. CGX (100 or 200 mg kg(-1), po) was administrated once a day for 4 weeks. Three cell lines (HepG2, RAW 264.7, and HSC-T6) were used to examine its mechanisms. RESULTS: CGX treatment dramatically ameliorated the change in liver and spleen weight and serum albumin (p<0.01), aspartate transaminase (p<0.01), alanine transaminase (p<0.01), alkaline phosphatase (p<0.01), and total bilirubin (p<0.01) levels. Histopathologically, CGX administration decreased necrosis, inflammatory cell infiltration, and collagen accumulation. The antifibrotic effects of CGX were confirmed from hydroxyproline determination and the reduction in the numbers of activated hepatic stellate cells. In addition, antioxidant proteins, glutathione content, and glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase activities were maintained in the CGX-treated groups compared with the DMN group. CGX downregulated fibrosis-related genes (inducible nitric oxide synthase, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, transforming growth factor-beta, connective tissue growth factor, and platelet-derived growth factor-beta) and decreased the protein levels of profibrotic cytokines (transforming growth factor-beta and platelet-derived growth factor-beta) in liver tissues. In the cell line-based studies, CGX showed supportive effects, such as the protection of hepatocytes from CCl(4)-toxicity, inhibition of NO production in RAW 264.7 cells, and inactivation of hepatic stellate cells. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrated the antifibrotic effects of CGX and the corresponding mechanisms associated with sustaining the antioxidative system and inhibiting hepatic stellate cell activation via the downregulation of fibrogenic cytokines.

Soluble components of Hericium erinaceum induce NK cell activation via production of interleukin-12 in mice splenocytes.

AIM: To investigate the immunoregulatory functions of water extracts of Hericium erinaceum (WEHE) focusing on natural killer (NK) cell-based anticancer activities. METHODS: Mouse splenocytes or purely isolated NK cells were stimulated with 1-100 mg/L WEHE for 24 h followed by co-culture with (51)Cr-labeled Yac-1 cells for 4 h, then NK cell-derived cytolytic activity was measured using a radio-release assay. Neutralizing antibodies against mouse interleukin-12 (IL-12) were added into the WEHE-stimulated splenocytes, thereafter, cytotoxicity was measured to examine the involvement of IL-12. RT-PCR and ELISA analyses were performed to confirm the induction of transcription and the translation of IL-12 and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in the WEHE-treated splenocytes. RESULTS: WEHE enhanced the cytolytic activity of total splenocytes towards Yac-1 cells in a dose-dependent manner. However, this activation was not observed when the NK cells isolated from the splenocytes were treated with WEHE. Furthermore, the treatment with antibodies against IL-12 abolished the effect of WEHE on splenocyte-derived cytolytic activity. RT-PCR and ELISA analyses showed the induction of IL-12 and IFN-gamma in the WEHE-treated splenocytes. CONCLUSION: WEHE indirectly activates the cytolytic ability of NK cells via the induction of IL-12 in total splenocytes, and possibly via other immuno-mediators or cellular components.

Polymorphism of nine X chromosomal STR loci in Koreans.

This study describes the polymorphism of the nine STR loci on the X chromosome, DXS6803, DXS8378, GATA164A09, DXS7132, DXS7133, DXS9895, DXS9898, DXS6789, and DXS6795 in Koreans. In each locus, 4-10 alleles were noted and the allelic distribution patterns were the same for males and females. Heterozygosity in females ranged from 0.42 to 0.84. Among the 303 father-daughter or mother-child pairs examined 29 cases of mutation were found, 13 at the DXS6803 locus, 2 at DXS8378, 4 at DXS164A09, 3 at DXS7132, 1 at DXS7133, 2 at DXS9895, 2 at DXS9898, 1 at DXS6789 and 1 at DXS6795. In 208 families including 180 fathers and 177 mothers, 530 different haplotypes were found. Unlike the STR loci on the Y chromosome, cases showing recombination were frequent, and in combination with mutation this made it difficult to discriminate the exclusion cases from those with mutation or recombination based on the haplotype. Details of X chromosomal STRs in Koreans which would be useful for a future large scale database are described.