ABSTRACT
T-wave alternans (TWA) refers to a phenomenon appearing in the surface electrocardiograph (ECG) as a consistent fluctuation in morphology and amplitude of the T wave on an "every-other-beat" basis. Correlation method (CM) has a certain ability to detect the non-stationary TWA, but it is very sensitive to noise. In this paper we propose a modified correlation method to ensure a stable and accurate detection of non-stationary TWA. Compared to the CM, the method modifies the judge condition and uses the linear fitting to limit the noise to gain the ability of detecting of non-stationary TWA. Our simulation and clinical data assessment study demonstrates the improved performance of the proposed algorithm.
Subject(s)
Algorithms , Electrocardiography/methods , Wavelet Analysis , Artifacts , Computer Simulation , Humans , Signal Processing, Computer-AssistedABSTRACT
The PIWI-like protein 1 (PIWIL1) plays an important role in spermatogenesis and transposon control. In mammals, the absence of the PIWIL1 gene can lead to over-expression of retrotransposons, spermatogenetic arrest, and male infertility. To assess whether the PIWIL1 gene is associated with the male sterility of cattle-yaks, we examined PIWIL1 and LINE-1 (long interspersed element-1) retrotransposon mRNA expression and DNA methylation patterns in the testes of cattle, yaks, and cattle-yaks. Our results indicate that PIWIL1 mRNA expression in the testes of cattle-yaks is significantly lower than that of cattle or yaks. Correlating with decreased gene expression, we also found that the methylation levels of the PIWIL1 gene in cattle-yaks were significantly higher than in cattle or yaks. However, even though LINE-1 element expressed higher mRNA levels in the testes of cattle-yaks than in their parents, DNA methylation patterns were un-altered. Our results suggest that the higher methylation levels of the PIWIL1 gene in cattle-yaks coincides with decreased PIWIL1 mRNA expression, thereby affecting the transposon silencing mechanism and possibly contributing to cattle-yak male sterility.
Subject(s)
Argonaute Proteins/physiology , Cattle/physiology , Crosses, Genetic , Gene Expression Regulation/physiology , Infertility, Male/physiopathology , Animals , Argonaute Proteins/genetics , Cattle/genetics , Cloning, Molecular , Gene Dosage , Gene Expression Regulation/genetics , Infertility, Male/genetics , Male , Methylation , RNA/chemistry , RNA/genetics , Real-Time Polymerase Chain ReactionABSTRACT
The determinations of super-cooling ability and body' s water and fat contents of overwintering Hyphantria cunea pupae showed that during overwintering, the female and male H. cunea pupae had the similar change patterns in their cold-resistance ability, i.e., increased with decreasing air temperature, but their body's water and fat contents, super-cooling point (SCP), and freezing point (FP) differed at different overwintering stages. The SCP was significantly lower at pre- and mid-overwintering stages than at late-overwintering stage, while FP had less difference among the stages. The body's water content was significantly higher at mid-overwintering stage than at pre- and late-overwintering stages. Comparing with non-overwintering pupae, the overwintering pupae had significantly lower SCP and FP, but significantly higher body's water and total fat contents. Regression analysis showed that there was a negative relationship between the water content and the SCP of female and male pupae (P < 0.05).
