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XIST noncoding RNA promotes the initiation of X chromosome silencing by recruiting the protein SPEN to one X chromosome in female mammals. The SPEN protein is also called SHARP (SMRT and HDAC-associated repressor protein) and MINT (Msx-2 interacting nuclear target) in humans. SPEN recruits N-CoR2 and HDAC3 to initiate histone deacetylation on the X chromosome, leading to the formation of repressive chromatin marks and silencing gene expression. We dissected the contributions of different RNA and protein regions to the formation of a human XIST-SPEN complex in vitro and identified novel sequence and structure determinants that may contribute to X chromosome silencing initiation. Binding of SPEN to XIST RNA requires RRM 4 of the protein, in contrast to the requirement of RRM 3 and RRM 4 for specific binding to SRA RNA. Measurements of SPEN binding to full-length, dimeric, trimeric, or other truncated versions of the A-repeat region revealed that high-affinity binding of XIST to SPEN in vitro requires a minimum of four A-repeat segments. SPEN binding to XIST A-repeat RNA changes the accessibility of the RNA at specific nucleotide sequences, as indicated by changes in RNA reactivity through chemical structure probing. Based on computational modeling, we found that inter-repeat duplexes formed by multiple A-repeats can present an unpaired adenosine in the context of a double-stranded region of RNA. The presence of this specific combination of sequence and structural motifs correlates with high-affinity SPEN binding in vitro. These data provide new information on the molecular basis of the XIST and SPEN interaction.

In distributed deep learning training, collective communication is the main communication method. In the research of collective communication optimization, there are software-level optimization and hardware-level optimization. SHARP is a collective communication network offload protocol proposed by Mellanox. It is optimized for collective communication in hardware. It offloads collective operations to switches in the network, thereby shortening the collective communication time. We integrated SHARP technology on the basis of Gloo, and designed and implemented a collective communication library-Gloo+ that can accelerate distributed deep learning training by using in-network computing. Our experimental evaluation of Gloo+ shows that in the benchmark test, when the message size is small, the acceleration ratio of Gloo+ relative to Gloo can reach up to 100 or more. While compared to MPI in Ethernet mode, the acceleration ratio can also reach up to 50 or more. While compared to MPI in IB mode, the acceleration ratio is within 10. In the practical application of distributed deep learning training, the acceleration ratio of Gloo+ can reach a maximum of 1.1 compared to Gloo, 1.3 compared to MPI in Ethernet mode, and 0.5 compared to MPI in IB mode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Esophageal foreign body impaction is one of the common reasons of referral to Ear Nose Throat clinic. It is a medical emergency requiring urgent evaluation and treatment. Esophageal foreign body in a very young child can be a diagnostic challenge. Case presentation In this case, we report an unusual sharp foreign body in the upper aerodigestive tract of a 20-month-old female child. It was neglected and misdiagnosed in the initial phase and was treated as a case of upper respiratory tract infection. Chest X-ray done was suggestive of a radiopaque irregular sharp foreign body at the level of the 6th cervical vertebra. The patient underwent rigid esophagoscopy on an urgent basis, and the foreign body was removed without any complication. Conclusion Esophageal foreign body in a very young child can mimic upper respiratory tract infection due to atypical symptoms. Strong witness history along with X-rays of the neck, chest, and abdomen help in making the immediate diagnosis. Clinicians should always advise parents for supervision of their children during play.

A complex character χ of a finite group G is called sharp if | G | = ∏ a ∈ L χ (χ (1) − a) where L χ : = { χ (g) | 1 ≠ g ∈ G } . In this paper we give a characterization of finite groups all non-linear irreducible characters of which are sharp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the ongoing NIDDK-funded multicenter randomized clinical trial, Sphincterotomy for Acute Recurrent Pancreatitis (SHARP) as an example, this article discusses the rationale and key aspects of study design that need to be considered when conducting a clinical trial of endoscopic therapy in acute pancreatitis. SHARP, the first trial using a sham ERCP in the placebo group, is designed to address a decades long controversy in clinical pancreatology, i.e. whether minor papilla sphincterotomy benefits patients with idiopathic acute recurrent pancreatitis who also have pancreas divisum. Although the trial has already enrolled and randomized over 5 times the number of subjects enrolled in the only randomized trial in this area published in 1992 (107 vs. 19), recruitment has been challenging and we are at ∼46% of target recruitment. The review discusses the challenges in the execution of the trial and strategies the SHARP team has used to address these, which investigators planning or considering treatment trials in pancreatitis may find helpful. It will also inform the general gastroenterologists the importance of discussing and referring potentially eligible subjects to centers participating in clinical trials. Developing evidence-based treatment will provide a solid scientific basis for physicians to recommend evidence-based treatments for pancreatitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sharp High-NA Actinic Reticle review Project (SHARP) is a synchrotron-based, extreme ultraviolet (EUV) microscope dedicated to photomask research. A potential upgrade to the SHARP microscope is presented. The upgrade includes changing the light path in the instrument from its current off-Axis configuration to an on-Axis configuration. This change allows for an increased working distance of 2.5 mm or more. A central obscuration, added to the zoneplate aperture, blocks stray light from reaching the central part of the image, thus improving the image contrast. The imaging performance of the two configurations is evaluated by means of ray tracing.

The Sharp High-NA Actinic Reticle review Project (SHARP) is a synchrotron-based, extreme ultraviolet (EUV) microscope dedicated to photomask research. A potential upgrade to the SHARP microscope is presented. The upgrade includes changing the light path in the instrument from its current off-Axis configuration to an on-Axis configuration. This change allows for an increased working distance of 2.5 mm or more. A central obscuration, added to the zoneplate aperture, blocks stray light from reaching the central part of the image, thus improving the image contrast. The imaging performance of the two configurations is evaluated by means of ray tracing.

Over the past few years, Philosophy for Children has witnessed the adoption of its practices by indigenous communities around the world. This includes examples like the practices in Madrid or Ezcurdia inspired by Mexican philosophy, the African practices of Odierna, and the Asian practices of Elicor. Many experts have highlighted the positive impact of these practices on fostering critical thinking skills. They argue that critical thinking can empower indigenous peoples by helping them break free from the conditions of oppression and colonialism they have historically faced. However, there is a valid concern that the methodologies of critical thinking, based on discursive or logical-argumentative criteria, might inadvertently perpetuate a form of neo-colonialism by imposing Western ways of thinking. Additionally, the topics and materials used in philosophical sessions often originate from the perspectives and horizons of the United States or Europe. This raises the risk of imposing foreign discourses and potentially turning the concept of emancipation through critical thinking into a new form of oppression. This paper aims to analyze these risks and proposes a cooperative model to prevent Philosophy for Children from becoming neocolonial. This cooperative approach encourages the incorporation of indigenous philosophies by actively listening to the viewpoints of these indigenous communities. The goal is to expand, adjust, and enhance the foundations of Philosophy for Children by incorporating indigenous perspectives. This proposal takes a different approach compared to the philosophical work conducted with indigenous communities mentioned earlier. It reflects on the progress made by indigenous philosophies in challenging Western presuppositions within the field of philosophy. Ultimately, it strives to create a collaborative philosophy that emerges from indigenous Mayan-Tojolabal children themselves rather than one created solely for them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foreign body (FB) ingestion is a common health problem that affects children more than adults. According to gastroenterologists’ guidelines, the management of FB ingestion differs slightly between adult and children. This review aimed to compile adult and children guidelines and establish an understandable association to reveal the requirements and timing of the endoscopic procedure, which is the most effective and least complicated technique for gastrointestinal FBs. Coins, pins, and chicken and fish bones have been the most commonly ingested FBs. However, with their increasing use in recent years, large batteries with lithium)ion conversion, stronger magnets composed of rare earth metals, such as neodymium, and superabsorbent objects have become the most morbid and mortal, necessitating new management strategies. Although the approach to gastrointestinal FBs is controversial, with different treatment options available in different disciplines, many studies have demonstrated the efficacy and safety of endoscopic procedures. Many factors influence the timing of endoscopy, including the nature, size, and location of the ingested object and the patient’s clinical condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pickaxe injuries have never been thoroughly investigated in forensic science. This case, involving the fatal wounding of a 28-year-old individual by pickaxe blows to the head, abdomen, and hand, highlights the unique injury patterns associated with such an instrument. The injuries observed in the frontal skull exhibited characteristics akin to typical chop wounds, while those on the parietal skull bore similarities to blunt force trauma. The pickaxe penetrated the hands and the abdomen, with the depth of penetration directly correlating to the force applied. Consequently, pickaxe injuries can be considered a hybrid of different injury mechanisms, a fact that should be carefully considered in forensic analysis. • In the context of chop wounds, pickaxe lesions have never been described. • In this case several injuries were caused to the head, abdomen and hand with pickaxe blows. • The injuries show overlapping characteristics between different mechanisms. • The injuries are to be regarded as a kind of 'mix' of blunt, hacking and sharp force wounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We show that the \Sigma ^1_1- and \Sigma ^1_2-boundedness theorems extend to the category of continuous dilators. We then apply these results to conclude the corresponding theorems for the category of sharps of real numbers, thus establishing another connection between Proof Theory and Set Theory, and extending work of Girard-Normann [J. Symbolic Logic 57 (1992), pp. 659–676] and Kechris-Woodin [Ann. Pure Appl. Logic 52 (1991), pp. 93–97]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To evaluate the utility of a transseptal needle for balloon-assisted sharp recanalization of chronically occluded central venous structures. Background Chronically occluded central veins are not an uncommon problem, which may arise due to a plethora of reasons. Traditionally, wire and catheter techniques are often used first in an attempt to reestablish flow. When these methods fail, more aggressive techniques are employed, such as sharp recanalization using the back end of wires, Teflon-coated wires, or Rosch–Uchida or Colapinto needles. However, utilization of transseptal needles, traditionally reserved for cardiac procedures, has rarely been described. Methods Transseptal needle was utilized for balloon-assisted sharp recanalization after traditional wire and catheter techniques failed in revascularization of chronically occluded iliac veins. Results Transseptal needle was utilized successfully in two cases in revascularization of chronically occluded central veins. Conclusion Transseptal needle is a viable tool to add to the interventional radiologists’ armamentarium in reestablishing flow in chronically occluded central veins.

Lotfi A. Zadeh, whose 100th anniversary is celebrated all over the world in 2021, is a genius bestowed by the Azerbaijani people to the scientific world of thought. Lotfi A. Zadeh the only phenomenon was chosen as a lifetime professor for great services in the field of artificial intelligence from the AI Institute. This commentary describes the life and rich scientific activity of the world-renowned Azerbaijani scientist Lotfi A. Zadeh. It is impossible to understand and imagine the methodology of artificial intelligence, which is currently relevant all over the world, without the philosophy of these sciences, including the theories of Lotfi A. Zade. According to Google Scholar, as of February 2021, Lotfi A. Zadeh's work has been cited about 270,000 times in scholarly works, with the 1965 Fuzzy sets paper receiving more than 115,000 citations .The author also sought to evaluate the methodological and practical relationship of Lotfi A. Zadeh's idea and scientific navigation in an interdisciplinary direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wireless communications offer significant benefits over wired communications, which has increased their popularity in industrial applications. Nevertheless, the existing wireless standard technologies do not satisfy the requirements demanded by the most critical industrial applications and thus, wired communications cannot be directly replaced by wireless solutions. Moreover, the inclusion of movable nodes in the network brings new challenges, such as the handover mechanism. In this paper, a hybrid wired/wireless architecture designed for industrial control applications is proposed. To control the wired network, a time-sensitive network (TSN) is used and to control the wireless network a medium access control (MAC) protocol is designed. In order to communicate both networks, a bridge that acts as a deterministic access point (AP) with real-time features is also proposed. One of the fundamental parts of the proposed architecture is that it can be used in applications with mobility requirements. Hence, a soft-handover algorithm is designed which guarantees uninterrupted communication during its execution without the need for a second radio interface and with reduced growth in network overhead. The proposed architecture is evaluated in order to assess its performance. This paper extends our previous work, including both a theoretical analysis to determine the delay bounds of the proposed architecture and a comparison between the performances of the proposed handover algorithm with other algorithms proposed in the literature. The evaluation has been carried out through OMNeT++ simulations. The results demonstrate the superiority of the proposed handover algorithm compared with other state-of-the-art solutions.

Abstract Background The Notch signaling pathway governs the specification of different cell types in flies, nematodes and vertebrates alike. Principal components of the pathway that activate Notch target genes are highly conserved throughout the animal kingdom. Despite the impact on development and disease, repression mechanisms are less well studied. Repressors are known from arthropods and vertebrates that differ strikingly by mode of action: whereas Drosophila Hairless assembles repressor complexes with CSL transcription factors, competition between activator and repressors occurs in vertebrates (for example SHARP/MINT and KyoT2). This divergence raises questions on the evolution: Are there common ancestors throughout the animal kingdom? Results Available genome databases representing all animal clades were searched for homologues of Hairless, SHARP and KyoT2. The most distant species with convincing Hairless orthologs belong to Myriapoda, indicating its emergence after the Mandibulata-Chelicarata radiation about 500 million years ago. SHARP shares motifs with SPEN and SPENITO proteins, present throughout the animal kingdom. The CSL interacting domain of SHARP, however, is specific to vertebrates separated by roughly 600 million years of evolution. KyoT2 bears a C-terminal CSL interaction domain (CID), present only in placental mammals but highly diverged already in marsupials, suggesting introduction roughly 100 million years ago. Based on the LIM-domains that characterize KyoT2, homologues can be found in Drosophila melanogaster (Limpet) and Hydra vulgaris (Prickle 3 like). These lack the CID of KyoT2, however, contain a PET and additional LIM domains. Conservation of intron/exon boundaries underscores the phylogenetic relationship between KyoT2, Limpet and Prickle. Most strikingly, Limpet and Prickle proteins carry a tetra-peptide motif resembling that of several CSL interactors. Overall, KyoT2 may have evolved from prickle and Limpet to a Notch repressor in mammals. Conclusions Notch repressors appear to be specific to either chordates or arthropods. Orthologues of experimentally validated repressors were not found outside the phylogenetic group they have been originally identified. However, the data provide a hypothesis on the evolution of mammalian KyoT2 from Prickle like ancestors. The finding of a potential CSL interacting domain in Prickle homologues points to a novel, very ancestral CSL interactor present in the entire animal kingdom.

The impetus for this essay is the discovery of three new facts about 'Miss Cotterell', one of the passengers who in 1820 sailed to Italy on the Maria Crowther alongside John Keats and Joseph Severn. There is a summary of the research that culminated in finding Miss Cotterell's christening, death record and first name, before sketching her traditional place in Keats' biography. We also give a short account of her brother, Charles Cotterell, who lived and worked in Naples. The essay also describes the project that sparked this research in the first place: an attempt to narrate Keats' 'Final Voyage' from London to Rome and his final months at 26 Piazza di Spagna on the online platform Google Earth. Having reviewed the challenges these purgatorial months have posed scholars and biographers over the last 200 years, the essay ends by asking two main questions. What impact (if any) do these facts have on our understanding of Miss Cotterell and also this last act in Keats' life? And what does it mean to be preserved for two centuries years as a bit-part player in the posthumous life of an artist like John Keats? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Medial canthus injection as well as subtenon anaesthesia has been used in anterior segment surgery. In this research, we compared the effectiveness and safety of small volume (3 ml) for either technique. Patients and methods Forty eyes of 40 patients undergoing phacoemulsification surgery at the Research Institute of Ophthalmology, Giza, Egypt, were divided into two groups: group A (20 eyes) included eyes of patients who received subtenon injection with blunt-tipped curved needle and group B (20 eyes) included eyes of patients who received single injection at medial canthus with sharp needle. Following either injection, the akinesia score and surgeon and patient satisfaction scores were reported as well as any related complications. The studied data were subjected to statistical analysis and results emphasized. Results In our study, the akinesia score had a mean value of 6±2.43 for subtenon group and 3.25±2.61 for the single injection medial canthus group, with a highly significant difference (P0.05). Conclusion For phacoemulsification, subtenon anaesthesia using small volume of 3 ml was more effective regarding better akinesia score compared with a similar volume of medial canthus injection, with lower rate of supplemental injection as well as better patient and comparable surgeon satisfaction. The main disadvantage was a higher rate of pain to injection as well as more need for facial supplementation.

Foreign body (FB) aspirations are a frequent cause for distress, particularly among young children. The type of FB may determine the symptoms as well as treatment modality. Flexible bronchoscopy armed with a variety of accessories is the cornerstone of treatment involving removal of aspirated FBs. Removal of sharps particularly pins and needles is challenging because of the high chances of airway mucosa injury while in the process of removal. We present two similar cases of removal of sharp pins by using flexible bronchoscopy.

Introduction: Death and injuries by sharp weapons needs proper attention as regards to their pattern and manner of infliction. This study was thus undertaken to obtain statistical data of the injuries caused by sharp force in fatal and non-fatal medico-legal cases at SMS Hospital, Jaipur to evaluate their pattern and medicolegal profile for of intentional injuries inflicted by others. Material and method: This study consisted of all the Medico-legal cases of sharp force trauma inflicted by others during assault, including fatal and non-fatal cases comes in department of Forensic Medicine of S.M.S. Medical college Jaipur during the period extending from April, 2015 to March, 2016. A total no. of 93 cases of sharp weapon injuries were studied. Observations: Males predominated in the present study with 86.02% of cases. Injury inflicted by others was more common in urban population (90.32%). In this study majority of cases of injuries inflicted by others were incised with 62 cases (60.78%) In 24 cases single edged weapon was used to inflict stab wound. Out of all the cases only 5 succumbed to death and was most commonly resulted from by hemorrhagic shock (4 cases). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Rice systems are of particular significance to building climate resilience in the Philippines. This research brief summarizes a case study that comparatively measures differences in climate resilience between organic and conventional rice systems in four neighboring villages in Negros Occidental Province, as well as explores features of smallholder rice systems that are significant to building resilience. Data were collected through surveys, interviews, focus groups, and participant observation. A participatory approach was applied to account for socioecological context and to identify targeted interventions for enhancing climate resilience based on local conditions and farmer experiences. The results indicate that (a) of the participating rice systems, organic systems exhibit greater resilience than their conventional counterparts; (b) the current institutional arrangement prevents smallholders from transitioning to organic; and (c) a polycentric food sovereignty development approach helps Philippine smallholders overcome these institutional barriers, as well as builds smallholder capacities for resilience by supporting place-based knowledge and resource generation. More effort is needed to explore, analyze, and strengthen such polycentric food sovereignty interventions for climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orifices are largely used in pipeline systems. The most common application is to measure the discharge of the water flowing through. However, orifices may be used to adapt hydroelectric power plants submitted to moderate increase of installed generation capacity. For this application, the orifice is firstly characterized by a pair of head loss coefficients evaluated by a numerical simulations. Two different orifice shapes, chamfered and rounded orifices, were systematically studied in conduits with laboratory experiments. The main goal of the study is to evaluate the effects of orifice geometrical parameters on the head loss coefficients. A global empirical relationship has been found and can predict the head loss coefficients in both flow directions of a given orifice contrary to previous studies, which focused on sharp approach flow. These head loss coefficients depend on the inner diameter, thickness, inner thickness, chamfer angle and/or shape of orifices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of two pre-tuning vocalization behaviors (humming and singing) on the tuning accuracy of woodwind and brass instrumentalists. Undergraduate collegiate musicians (N = 72) performed a sustained stimulus pitch (concert B-flat) while engaging in one of the two conditions or the control condition (silence). We also explored the relationships between participants' tuning accuracy and their tuning confidence, examined the reasons instrumentalists provided for their pre-tuning vocalization preferences, and compared their most accurate performance condition with the condition they perceived to result in their most accurate tuning. Although participants performed with better tuning accuracy in the singing condition than the humming and silence conditions, these differences were not significant. Correlation analyses examining relationships between participants' tuning accuracy and their tuning confidence in each condition yielded mostly weak and nonsignificant results. Participants reported internalization of pitch, physical response, and focus of attention issues most frequently when asked why they preferred a particular tuning condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subgradient methods converge linearly on a convex function that grows sharply away from its solution set. In this work, we show that the same is true for sharp functions that are only weakly convex, provided that the subgradient methods are initialized within a fixed tube around the solution set. A variety of statistical and signal processing tasks come equipped with good initialization and provably lead to formulations that are both weakly convex and sharp. Therefore, in such settings, subgradient methods can serve as inexpensive local search procedures. We illustrate the proposed techniques on phase retrieval and covariance estimation problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]