Detecting protagonists and antagonists in the voice quality of American cartoon characters: a quantitative LTAS-based analysis

The voices of heroes and villains in cartoons contribute to their uniqueness and helps shape how we perceive them. However, not much research has looked at the acoustic properties of character voices and the possible contributions these have to cartoon character archetypes. We present a quantitative examination of how voice quality distinguishes between characters based on their alignment as either protagonists or antagonists, performing Principal Component Analysis (PCA) on the Long-term Average Spectra (LTAS) of concatenated passages of the speech of various characters obtained from four different animated cartoons. We then assessed if the categories of “protagonists” and “antagonists” (determined via an a priori classification) could be distinguished using a classification algorithm, and if so, what acoustic characteristics could help distinguish the two categories. The overall results support the idea that protagonists and antagonists can be distinguished by their voice qualities. Support Vector Machine (SVM) analysis yielded an average classification accuracy of 96% across the cartoons. Visualisation of the spectral traits constituting the difference did not yield consistent results but reveals a low-versus-high frequency energy dominance pattern segregating antagonists and protagonists. Future studies can look into how other variables might be confounded with voice quality in distinguishing between these categories.

Meta Cognition Thinking and Its Relationship to Patterns of Brain Dominance among Jordanian University Students According to Gender and Specialization Variables

The study aimed to identify the level of Meta Cognition thinking and its relationship to dominant patterns of brain dominance among Jordanian university students, and to identify if there were differences in the level of Meta Cognition thinking and brain dominance patterns attributed to variables of gender and college. The study sample consisted male and female students at the academic year 2020/2021, and this sample was taken in a simple random way. Two measures were applied: Meta Cognition thinking, and brain dominance patterns, after confirming their psychometric properties. The results showed that the level of Meta Cognition thinking among Jordanian university students is (high), and that the dominant brain pattern among the study sample is the right pattern, followed by the left and then the integrated, and also there is no statistically significant relationship between the brain dominance patterns and the variables of gender and college, and there is statistically significant differences in Meta Cognition thinking among students with the (left) brain dominance pattern compared to those with the (integrated) brain control pattern and in favor of those with the left brain dominance type.

Pulmonary arteriovenous malformation with unexplained cyanosis as the first presentation of hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia, case report, and literature review

Background Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) are rare pulmonary vascular anomalies. They can result in right-to-left shunt and, if significant, low systemic saturation, cyanosis, polycythaemia, and paradoxical systemic embolization. Case summary Eighteen months old female child was referred to our centre due to unexplained central and peripheral cyanosis. Based on the agitated saline contrast echocardiography study, computed tomography scan confirmed the presence of abnormal vasculature at the left lower lobe. Percutaneous closure of the PAVM was performed using Amplatzer Duct Occluder type 1 device. The genetic study revealed a pathogenic mutation in the endoglin gene, which is a known cause of hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) inhered in an autosomal dominance pattern. Discussion PAVM could be the first manifestation of HHT. Closing the malformation percutaneously is feasible, which can eliminate the right to left shunt and improves the saturation. Genetic study is warranted in these cases, as well as long-term follow-up.

Integrated Analysis of mRNA and miRNA Changes in Two Haliotis diversicolor Genotypes and Their Hybrid

Heterosis is a widely distributed phenomenon in mollusks. It is vital in aquaculture by bringing beneficial traits into hybrids. People have utilized the heterosis theory in aquaculture for years. However, the molecular basis of heterosis remains elusive. Evident growth and survival heterosis were shown in the hybrid (“Dongyou-1”) of two Haliotis diversicolor geographic genotypes (Japan and Taiwan). To explore the molecular basis underlying the hybrid abalone’s heterosis, we conducted comparative mRNA and miRNA transcriptional analysis in the hybrid and parental genotypes. Differentially expression analysis identified 5,562 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 102 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) between the three genotypes. 1,789 DEGs and 71 DEMs were found to be non-additively expressed in the hybrid. Meanwhile, both the expression level dominance pattern (ELD) and expression level overdominance pattern (ELOD) were found in the DEGs and DEMs, showing the existence of dominance and overdominance models in the hybrid’s transcriptome and post-transcriptional regulation. Functional analysis showed the non-additively expressed genes, ELD genes, and ELOD genes were significantly enriched in growth, immunity, and stress response related pathways, while some of the pathways were regulated by the mRNA-miRNA interactions. The expression levels of FGF, C1Q, HC, CAT, SEGPX, and MGST were significantly up-regulated in the hybrid compared to the middle parent value. In conclusion, we identified the existence of non-additivity, dominance, and overdominance models in the transcriptome and miRNAome of the H. diversicolor hybrid; these models facilitate the advantageous parental alleles’ integration into the hybrid, contributing to the hybrid’s growth and survival heterosis.

Two-Channel System Dynamics of the Outer Weser Estuary—A Modeling Study

In this paper, we unravel the mechanisms responsible for the development of the two-channel system in the Outer Weser Estuary. A process-based morphodynamic model is built based on a flat-bed approach using simplified boundary conditions and accelerated morphological development. The results are analyzed in two steps: first, by checking for morphodynamic equilibrium in the simulations and second, by applying a newly developed method that interprets simulations based on categorization of the two-channel system and cross-sectional correlation analysis. All simulations reach a morphodynamic equilibrium and develop two channels that vary considerably over time and between the simulations. Variations can be found in the location and depth of the two channels, the development of the dominant channel over time and the alteration in the dominance pattern. The conclusions are that the development of the two-channel system is mainly caused by the tides and the basin geometry. Furthermore, it is shown that the alternation pattern and period are dependent on the dominance of the tides compared to the influence of river discharge.

Potential role of Mercury pollutants in the success of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus USA300 in Latin America

Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) lineage known as USA300-North American (NA) has become highly prevalent in North America whilst a USA300 variant known as USA300-LV, harboring a mercury resistance element (COMER), has become dominant in South America. We investigated whether mercury pollution, which is common in South America notably because of artisanal gold mining, may explain the local dominance pattern of USA300-LV. Density-based estimation of epidemic success in 250 genomes of the ST8 lineage revealed that the acquisition of COMER in USA300 progenitors increased success in South American countries but decreased success elsewhere. The fitness of USA300-LV was impaired in vitro compared with USA300-NA, but the addition of sub-inhibitory concentration of mercury provided a strong fitness advantage to USA300-LV and triggered an overexpression of major virulence factors. The success of USA300-LV in South America may result from low-level mercury exposure selecting resistant and virulent strains.

Coronary dominance pattern in Myocardial bridged hearts

Posterior interventricular artery (PIA) present in the posterior interventricular groove over the inferior surface of the heart. Human hearts consist of either Right coronary predominance or Left coronary predominance. Left coronary predominant people are more prone to get ischemic heart diseases. In left coronary predominance entire left ventricle except a part of the right ventricle adjoining anterior interventricular groove supplied by the left main coronary artery. Left coronary dominance has a poor prognosis in acute coronary syndrome when compared with the right coronary predominance. Myocardial bridging may be benign or malignant. So myocardial bridging with left coronary dominance may be a risk factor to the ischemic heart disease. The aim of the present study is to find out the coronary dominance pattern in myocardial bridged hearts in cadavers. Ninety cadaveric hearts were procured from the Department of Anatomy, IMS & SUM Hospital Bhubaneswar. After a simple dissecting procedure, myocardial bridges and coronary dominance patterns were observed. Myocardial bridging was present over the left anterior interventricular artery in 51(56.7%) hearts. Out of 51 myocardial bridged hearts, right coronary predominance is present in 45 (88.24%) hearts and left coronary predominance present in 6(11.76%) hearts. Along with the left dominance, if myocardial bridge present over the left epicardial coronary artery, there may be an increased frequency of myocardial ischemia.

Comparative cytogenetics of the ground frogs Eupsophus emiliopugini Formas, 1989 and E. vertebralis Grandison, 1961 (Alsodidae) with comments on their inter- and intraspecific chromosome differentiation

South American frogs of the genus Eupsophus Fitzinger, 1843 comprise 10 species. Two of them, Eupsophus vertebralis Grandison, 1961 and E. emiliopugini Formas, 1989 belong to the Eupsophus vertebralis group, exhibiting 2n = 28. Fundamental number differences between these species have been described using conventional chromosome staining of few specimens from only two localities. Here, classical techniques (Giemsa, C-banding, CMA3/DAPI banding, and Ag-NOR staining), and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH, with telomeric and 28S ribosomal probes), were applied on individuals of both species collected from 15 localities. We corroborate differences in fundamental numbers (FN) between E. vertebralis and E. emiliopugini through Giemsa staining and C-banding (FN = 54 and 56, respectively). No interstitial fluorescent signals, but clearly stained telomeric regions were detected by FISH using telomeric probe over spreads from both species. FISH with 28S rDNA probes and Ag-NOR staining confirmed the active nucleolus organizer regions signal on pair 5 for both species. Nevertheless, one E. emiliopugini individual from the Puyehue locality exhibited 28S ribosomal signals on pairs 4 and 5. Interestingly, only one chromosome of each pair showed Ag-NOR positive signals, showing a nucleolar dominance pattern. Chromosomal rearrangements, rRNA gene dosage control, mobile NORs elements, and/or species hybridization process could be involved in this interpopulation chromosomal variation.

A Novel Device for Simultaneous Measurement of Nostril Air Flow Pressure and Temperature using Fiber Bragg Grating Sensor

This paper presents the design, development, calibration and demonstration of non-invasive, Nostril Pressure and Temperature Measurement Device (NPTD) employing Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensors for the simultaneous, accurate and real-time measurement of nostril air flow pressure and temperature which can aid in clinical diagnosis of nasal dysfunction and associated nose disorders. The unique design of NPTD enables the comfortable measurement of randomly varying air flow pressure and temperature of both the nostrils simultaneously. To calibrate the pressure and temperature readouts of NPTD, suitable and in-house calibration techniques have been devised and adopted. The NPTD developed can provide certain critical features such as breathing pattern, rate of respiratory, individual nostril temperature/pressure, nostrils dominance pattern, body core temperature etc., which can aid clinicians in early diagnosis of breathing problems associated with heart, brain and lung malfunctioning. The developed NPTD is simple in design, practically implementable robust, EMI proof and non-electric, which are obligatory features for any clinical diagnostic tool used in a hospital environment.