In this paper, by considering the existence of unavailable state, external disturbance, and denial of service (DoS) attacks, an anti-disturbance trajectory tracking controller is proposed for the air-ground system composed of unmanned autonomous helicopter (UAH) and unmanned ground vehicle (UGV). Initially, by combining the advantages of conventional event-triggered scheme (ETS) and memory ETS, a switching-like event-triggered mechanism is put forward, which can cause less data transmissions without reducing control performance, and effectively restrain the DoS attacks. Secondly, by dividing the DoS attacks into active intervals and sleep ones, the concept of acknowledgement character technology (ACK) is presented to determine the suitable type of time intervals. Thirdly, the switching-like dynamic ETS is introduced for the sleep intervals of DoS attacks while the ETS with fixed triggered-threshold is exploited for the active intervals. Fourthly, based on the occurrence of the DoS attacks, a switching-like observer and a normal one are respectively proposed to estimate the UGV state, the UAH state, the reference input of the UGV, and the disturbance of the UAH, which are utilized to design the anti-disturbance tracking controller. Fifthly, an augmented closed-loop system consisting of observation errors and tracking error is established and its stability is analyzed by using Lyapunov stability theory. Then, a sufficient condition on co-designing the parameters of switching-like ETS, observers, and tracking controller is presented in terms of linear matrix inequalities (LMI). Finally, the validity and superiority of the proposed control scheme are verified by resorting to simulations and comparisons.

I comment on the article JN-2022-11-29991.R1 by quickly summarizing the findings and going further by putting it in the context of current knowledge and elaborate on open questions that this article raises

EFT is an empirically supported treatment of depression for individuals, and is also considered to be an integrative, transdiagnostic therapy approach focusing on emotions that are the cause of a client's emotional pain and suffering. The target of treatment is to facilitate emotional processing to change unhealthy emotion schemes that underlie current symptoms of depression. The therapist is highly attuned to the client's moment-by-moment process to promote in-session work on emotion, alongside experiential teaching. In-session work is consolidated and expanded by between-session homework, which is viewed as a natural extension of the in-session work. EFT views the therapist as an emotion coach who offers interventions within a client's developmental and experiential learning capabilities to move them to their end goals. A case example is discussed to illustrate how homework is used effectively in treating a depressed client in relation to treatment principles over the course of treatment.

Metabolomics provides an unprecedented window on diverse plant secondary metabolites that represent a potentially critical niche dimension in tropical forests underlying co-existence. Here, we used untargeted metabolomics to evaluate the chemical composition of 358 tree species and its relationship to phylogeny and variation in light environment, soil nutrients, and insect-herbivore leaf damage in a tropical rain forest plot. We found that tree species that co-occur locally are less chemically similar than random, and that local chemical dispersion and metabolite diversity reduce herbivory, especially that of specialist insect herbivores. Our results suggest that plant secondary metabolites have the potential to mediate plant-herbivore interactions in a manner consistent with diversity maintenance at the community scale.

Newborn with amniotic band sequenceAbstract: Amniotic band sequence (ABS) is an uncommon congenital disorder where strands of amniotic tissue cause entrapment of the limbs, body wall, and viscera leading to an array of congenital malformations. We report a case of a newborn with prenatally undiagnosed amniotic band sequence.Keywords: amniotic band sequence, amniotic band syndrome

A document by Joshua Levine. Click on the document to view its contents.

A study aimed at assessing the structure of rodent and shrew assemblages inhabiting a degradation gradient while considering rainfall patterns, was conducted in one of few remaining lowland tropical forests in Eastern Africa. We collected a unique dataset of rodents and shrews, representing 24 species (19 rodents, 5 shrews). The most abundant species alternated in dominance as species abundance significantly fluctuated across the study period following a degradation gradient (F2,33 = 5.68, p = 0.007). While only generalist species were observed near the degraded forest edge, habitat specialists such as Deomys ferrugineus, Malacomys longipes and Scutisorex congicus, were observed in the primary forest interior suggesting a significant (X2 = 1165.329, P<0.001) association between species and their associated habitats and habitat attributes. There was also an observed correlation between rainfall patterns and species abundance. Capturing more species in adjacent fallows and along the degraded forest edge suggests that many species are able to live in degraded habitats that offer a variety of food resources. The continued pressure on forest resources, however, may lead to changes in habitat structure. This, coupled with the dependence of forest ecological functions on rainfall, which is typically not the case, may ultimately cause the local extinction of highly specialized but less adaptable species.

To be a quantitative and testable tectonic model, plate tectonics requires spherical geometry and spherical kinematics in terms of finite rotations conveniently parametrized by their angle and axis and described by unit quaternions. In treatises on ’Plate Tectonics’ infinitesimal, instantaneous, and finite rotations, absolute and relative rotations are said to be applied to model the motion of tectonic plates. Even though these terms are strictly defined in mathematics, they are often casually used in geosciences. Here their definitions are recalled and clarified as well as the terms rotation, orientation, and location on the sphere. For instance, infinitesimal rotations refer to a mathematical limit, when the angle of rotation converges to zero. Their rules do not apply to finite rotations, no matter how small their finite angles of rotation are. Mathematical approaches applying appropriate and feasible assumptions to model spherical motion of tectonic plates over geological times of hundreds of millions of years are derived including (i) sequences of incremental finite rotations, (ii) sequences of accumulating successive concatenations of finite rotations, (iii) continuous rotations in terms of fully transient quaternions. The incremental and the accumulating approach provide complementary views. While the relative Euler pole appears to migrate in the latter, it appears fixed in the former. Path, mean and instantaneous velocity of the migrating Euler pole are derived as well as the angular and trajectoral velocity of the rotational motion about it. The approaches are illustrated by a geological example with actual data and a numerical yet geologically inspired example with artificial data. The former revisits the three plates scenario with stationary axes of two “absolute” rotations implying transient “relative” rotations about a migrating Euler pole and employs a proper plate circuit argument to determine them numerically without resuming to approximations. The latter applies an involved interplay of incremental and accumulating modeling inducing split-join cycles to approximate sinusoidal trajectories as reported to record plates’ motion during the Gondwana breakup.

1. Otoliths have been widely studied as natural recorders of the entire life cycle of aquatic teleosts. Trace elements and stable isotope rations in otoliths are well understood and used as proxies of migration histories, however few elements have shown the potential to reconstruct the migration history of oceanodromous fish. 2. This study reports the first use of radiocarbon in otolith to reconstruct the horizontal migration history of fish. We analyzed three different stocks of walleye pollock Gadus chalcogrammus around Hokkaido, Japan. 3. Radiocarbon concentration from the outermost edge of otoliths showed a general consistency with seawater radiocarbon concentration of the sampling region, validating the application of otolith radiocarbon concentration to fish migration studies. Pollocks of all three stocks generally inhabited the nearby sampling area throughout their life cycle, though some pollocks of the Okhotsk and Japan Sea stocks respectively showed a possibility of migration between different sea regions. 4. This study confirmed a novel method using radiocarbon concentrations to reconstruct the migration history of marine teleost. Using the high sensitivity of otolith radiocarbon concentration observed in this study, it may be possible to detect fish migration with higher spatial resolution than previous studies using conventional proxies.

Background: Studies have identified significant sex-based differences and disparities in the clinical presentation and treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). Studies have shown women are less likely to be referred for catheter ablation, are older at the time of ablation, and are more likely to have recurrence after ablation. However, in most studies investigating AF ablation outcomes, the female cohorts were relatively small. The impact of gender on the outcome and safety of ablation procedures is still unclear. Objective: To investigate sex-based differences in outcomes and complications after AF catheter ablation, with a significant size female cohort Method: In this retrospective study, patients undergoing AF ablation from January 1, 2014, to March 31, 2021, were included. We investigated clinical characteristics, duration and progression of AF, number of EP appointments from diagnosis to ablation, procedural data, and procedure complications. Results: Total 1346 patients underwent first catheter ablation for AF during this period, including 896 (66.5%) male and 450 (33.4%) female patients. Female patients were older at the time of ablation (66.2y vs 62.4y; p<0.001). Women had higher CHA 2DS 2-VASc scores (3 vs 2; p<0.001) than men, expectedly, as the female sex warrants an additional point. 25.3% female patients had PersAF at the time of diagnosis vs 35.3% male patients (p<0.001). At the time of ablation, 31.8% female patients had PersAF as compared to 43.1% male patients (p<0.001), indicating progression of PAF to PersAF in both genders. Women tried more AADs than men before ablation (1.13 vs 0.98; p=0.002). Male and female patients had no statistically significant difference in (a) arrhythmia recurrence at 1-y post ablation (27.7% vs 30%; p=0.38) or (b) procedural complication rate (1.8% vs 3.1%; p=0.56). Conclusion: Female patients were older and had higher CHA 2DS 2-VASc scores compared to males at the time of AF ablation. Women tried more AADs than men prior to ablation. 1-y arrhythmia recurrence rates and procedural complications were similar in both genders. No sex- based differences were observed in safety and efficacy of ablation.

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Late Small Bowel Perforation from a Migrated Double Plastic Biliary Stent: A Case Report and a Review of Literature of 85 Cases from 2000 to 2022

Post-stroke depression (PSD), a common complication after stroke, severely affects the recovery and quality of life of patients with stroke. Owing to its complex mechanisms, PSD treatment remains highly challenging. Hippocampal synaptic plasticity is one of the key factors leading to PSD; however, the precise molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Numerous studies have found that neurotrophic factors, protein kinases, and neurotransmitters influence depressive behavior by modulating hippocampal synaptic plasticity. This review further elaborates on the role of hippocampal synaptic plasticity in PSD by summarizing recent research and analyzing possible molecular mechanisms. Evidence for the correlation between hippocampal mechanisms and PSD helps to better understand the pathological process of PSD and improve its treatment.

Soil erosion control is critical to global food production and ecosystem health. The Mediterranean region is particularly concerned because it is prone to erosion and is expected to be strongly affected by climatic and anthropogenic changes. In this paper we explore how land use and management (LUM) can mitigate climate change impacts and increase agricultural attractiveness in pasture-dominated Mediterranean mountain environments. For that, soil erosion for different combinations of current and plausible future climate and LUM conditions were simulated on a small watershed located in eastern Sicily (Italy) using the LandSoil model. LUM scenarios were established as a modulation of environmental protection and agricultural production/diversification. The main management distinctions tested in this paper included intensive vs. extensive practices for pasture, and conventional vs. conservative practices for cereals and orchards. Simulations showed that the impact of climate change was very low and not significant in the studied watershed. Our results also emphasised that agricultural diversification coupled with adaptations in practices and management can improve the attractiveness of agriculture in pasture-dominated environments while maintaining soil protection at an acceptable level.

Esophageal fistula involving the thoracic aorta is a rare event. Mycotic aneurysm may complicate this condition: A case reportShokrollah Hafezeftekhari 1, Farzaneh Khoroushi 1, Hossein Bozorgi 11Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IranCorrespondence: Hossein Bozorgi, Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IranEmail: [email protected]: 09906136895Shokrollah Hafezeftekhari – MD – Radiology ResidentAffiliation: Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Email Address: [email protected] Khoroushi – MD – Assistant Professor of RadiologyAffiliation: Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Email Address: [email protected] Bozorgi – MD – Radiology ResidentAffiliation: Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Email Address: [email protected]

Background. Two-dimensional speckle tracking evaluation (2D-STE) is a useful tool to evaluate the complexity of atrial function by the analysis of the different phases of atrial deformation and by the combination with Doppler measurements of diastolic function. Aim of the study. To evaluate the role of the left atrial (LA) strain parameters to predict worsening chronic heart failure (CHF). Methods. We enrolled outpatients affected by CHF referred to our heart failure unit. Each patient underwent a medical visit, an electrocardiogram (ECG), and an echocardiographic examination. LA function was assessed by 2D-STE. The three phases of LA strain – i.e. the reservoir (LAr), the conduit (LAcd), and the contraction (LAct) – were evaluated. Moreover, the ratio between LAr and that of septal (LAr/Ees), lateral (LAr/Eel), and septal-lateral (LAr/Eem) E/e’ were evaluated. During follow-up, the worsening of heart failure was evaluated. Results. Two hundred twenty-eight patients were enrolled. During a mean follow-up of 14±7 months, 47 patients showed at least one event related to heart failure worsening (40 hospitalisations, 5 heart transplantations, and 19 cardiovascular deaths). During univariate Cox regression analysis, LAr, LAcd, LAct, LAr/Ees, LAr/Eel, and LAr/Eem were all associated with events related to heart failure worsening, but during multivariate regression analysis, only LAr (HR: 0.94; 95% CI: 0.91–0.98; p: 0.007), LAr/Ees (HR: 0.49; 95% CI: 0.30–0.78; p: 0.002), and LAr/Eem (HR: 0.65; 95% CI: 0.47–0.89; p: 0.008) remained significantly associated with the events. Finally, LASr/Ee’s showed accuracy in predicting outcomes greater than LASr (C-index 0.78 vs. 0.72, respectively). Conclusions. In CHF patients, the measure of the LA reservoir by 2D-STE is independently associated with heart failure worsening, but the accuracy in predicting the events is even greater when the reservoir is combined with the Doppler measures of diastolic function.

Monitoring the effect of ecosystem restoration can be difficult and time consuming. Autonomous sensors, such as acoustic recorders, can aid monitoring across long time scales. This project successfully developed, tested and implemented call recognisers for eight species of frog in the Murray-Darling Basin. Recognisers for all but one species performed well and substantially better than many species recognisers reported in the literature. We achieved this through a comprehensive development phase, which carefully considered and refined the representativeness of training data, as well as the construction (amplitude cut-off) and the similarity thresholds (score cut-offs) of each call template used. Recogniser performance was high for almost all species examined. Recognisers for C. signifera, L. fletcherii, L. dumerilii, L. peronii, and C. parinsignifera all performed well, with most templates having ROC values (the proportion of true positive and true negatives) over 0.7, and some much higher. Recognisers for L. peronii, L. fletcherii and L. dumerilii performed particularly well in the training dataset, which allowed for responses to environmental watering events, a restoration activity, to be clearly observed. While slightly more involved than building recognisers using commercial packages, the workflows ensure that a high quality recogniser can be built and the performance fine-tuned using multiple parameters. Using the same framework, recognisers can be improved in future iterations. We believe that multi-species recognisers are a highly effective and precise way to detect the effects of ecosystem restoration.

A document by Avril Harder. Click on the document to view its contents.