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Abstract Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) are highly effective in specific cancers where canonical markers of antitumor immunity are used for patient selection. Improved predictors of T cell-inflammation are needed to identify ICI-responsive tumor subsets in additional cancer types. We investigated associations of a 4-chemokine expression signature (c-Score: CCL4, CCL5, CXCL9, CXCL10) with metrics of antitumor immunity across tumor types. Across cancer entities from The Cancer Genome Atlas, subgroups of tumors displayed high expression of the c-Score (c-Scorehi) with increased expression of immune checkpoint (IC) genes and transcriptional hallmarks of the cancer-immunity cycle. There was an incomplete association of the c-Score with high tumor mutation burden (TMB), with only 15% of c-Scorehi tumors displaying ≥10 mutations per megabase. In a heterogeneous pan-cancer cohort of 82 patients, with advanced and previously treated solid cancers, c-Scorehi tumors had a longer median time to progression (103 versus 72 days, P = 0.012) and overall survival (382 versus 196 days, P = 0.038) following ICI therapy initiation, compared to patients with low c-Score expression. We also found c-Score stratification to outperform TMB assignment for overall survival prediction (HR = 0.42 [0.22–0.79], P = 0.008 versus HR = 0.60 [0.29-1.27], P = 0.18, respectively). Assessment of the c-Score using the TIDE and PredictIO databases, which include ICI treatment outcomes from 10 tumor types, provided further support for the c-Score as a predictive ICI therapeutic biomarker. In summary, the c-Score identifies patients with hallmarks of T cell-inflammation and potential response to ICI treatment across cancer types, which is missed by TMB assignment.

One of the essential layers in most Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) is the pooling layer, which is placed right after the convolution layer, effectively downsampling the input and reducing the computational power required. Different pooling methods have been proposed over the years, each with its own advantages and disadvantages, rendering them a better fit for different applications. We introduce a benchmark between many of these methods that highlights an optimal choice for different scenarios depending on each project’s individual needs, whether it is detail retention, performance, or overall computational speed requirements.

The paper presents a design and operation analysis of an Integrated Collector Storage (ICS) solar water heater, which consists of an asymmetric Compound Parabolic Concentrating (CPC) reflector trough, while the water tank comprises two concentric cylinders. The annulus between these vessels is partially depressurized and contains a small amount of water in the bottom of the outer vessel which dominantly contributes to the heat transfer from the outer to the inner cylinder. A multi-criteria optimization algorithm is applied to re-evaluate the design specifications of the parabolic surface, thus modifying the design of the entire ICS system and predict the necessary number of units for achieving the highest possible effectiveness with minimized fabrication costs and environmental impacts. The environmental footprint of the device is assessed through Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The produced thermal energy in conjunction with the environmental and economic results are evaluated as a function of different configuration parameters regarding the water storage conditions, the solar radiation and the total pressure inside the annulus. The ultimate aim of the evaluation process is to offer new perspectives on the design principles of environmentally friendly and cost-effective devices with improved thermal performance.

Background: Violence exacts staggering personal and financial costs – a burden disproportionally born by adolescents and young adults. This may be partially due to an increased sensitivity to social rejection during this critical phase of development. Irritability, a transdiagnostic symptom, is often elicited by social interactions. Yet, little is known about age differences in social rejection‐elicited aggression and irritability. Progress toward testing such relations has been hindered by a lack of ecologically‐valid tasks that enable the measurement of in‐the‐moment social rejection‐elicited aggression. Methods: In this paper, we describe an initial study of young adults (n = 55) that demonstrates the efficacy of a novel Virtual School and Aggression Paradigm (VS‐AP). Next, we replicate these results in a second study of adolescents and young adults (ages 11–25 years; n = 173) and examine relations between social rejection‐elicited aggression, irritability, and age. Results: We found that aggressive behavior in the VS‐AP differed for accepting, rejecting, and unpredictable peer types (Study 1: F(2, 108) = 20.57, p <.001, ε2 =.28; Study 2: F(2, 344) = 152.13, p <.001, ε2 =.47), demonstrating that the VS‐AP successfully models social rejection‐elicited aggression. In Study 2, age was negatively correlated with aggressive behavior (r = −.29, p <.001) and irritability (r = −.28, p <.001), while irritability was positively correlated with aggressive behavior (r =.28, p <.001). Age moderated the relation between social rejection‐elicited aggression and irritability. Specifically, irritability was more predictive of aggression in young adults than in adolescents (F(3, 167) = 7.07, p <.001). Conclusions: Data suggest mechanisms promoting rejection‐elicited aggression may differ across development and vary for those with and without high levels of irritability. The VS‐AP is a promising tool for probing neurocognitive, developmental, and clinically relevant mechanisms underlying social rejection‐elicited aggression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production cost of greenhouse cultivation depends mainly upon significant amounts of energy consumption in order to keep the optimum environmental condition for plant growth. Τhe expenditure on energy, either for heating or cooling, ranges between 30% to 60% of the total production costs, and any attempt to save energy will result in a positive effect on the potentiality of production accordingly, affecting the greenhouse product prices. Research has shown that CO2 enrichment in greenhouses significantly increases the yield of most indoor cultivation of plants of the C3 category. For these plants, when the CO2 concentration increases by three times above that of the atmosphere (380 ppm), the optimum plant growth temperature shifts higher by 5 °C to 10 °C reaching up to 30 °C to 32 °C. Therefore, huge amounts of solar energy can be captured inside the greenhouses, as the ventilation can be decreased. Alongside this, the use of a simple passive solar system consisting of plastic sleeves filled with water is considered to be an improved way to increase the energy inside greenhouses. In this work, three experimental trials were conducted to examine the benefit of the solar energy captured inside a greenhouse during CO2 enrichment at high temperatures. Finally, a modeling approach based on the heat loss equation was developed in order to establish the energy saving inside the greenhouses under the circumstances mentioned.

Background. HCV infection and transfusional iron overload in Thalassemic patients may result in liver disease. HCV treatment in Thalassemia has raised safety concerns.Aim. Estimate effectiveness and tolerability of interferon-based therapy in HCV-infected Thalassemic patients.Material and methods. Over a 12-year period, consecutive patients with β Thalassemia major (TM) and chronic hepatitis C received treatment. Liver biopsy, HCV-RNA and genotyping were performed beforehand. Sustained virological response (SVR) was defined as negative HCV-RNA 6 months post-treatment. Forty eight patients (26 M-22 F, mean age 39.8) were enrolled. Twenty nine patients were treated with conventional interferon alpha (IFNa) for 48 weeks (group A). Nineteen patients (10 naïve-9 previously IFNa experienced) received pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) (group B).Results. HCV-1 was found in 44%, HCV-2 in 14%, HCV-3 in 23% and HCV-4 in 19%. Group A: ten patients (38.5%) achieved SVR, 2 (7.5%) relapsed and 17 (54%) were non responders. Group B: five (28%) achieved SVR, 8 (44%) relapsed and 6 (28%) never responded. High HCV-RNA levels, genotype 1 and advanced liver fibrosis were independently associated with no response. Four patients (3 treated with IFNα, 1 with PEG-IFN) had to discontinue treatment due to complications.Conclusions. The response rate of IFN monotherapy in multi-transfused, HCV-infected Thalassemic patients is not inferior to that in non-multi-transfused patients. IFNa administration is well-tolerated and should be recommended as initial treatment schedule in this setting.

Introduction We evaluated the effect of Helicobacter pylori (HP) eradication on p53, cyclin D1 expression, and cell proliferation in gastric mucosa. Materials and Methods We assessed p53, cyclin D1, and ki67 immunoexpression in gastric mucosa from 31 HP chronic gastritis patients and 12 controls. Reassessment was performed 6 months after successful HP eradication. Results Successful eradication resulted in significant decrease of p53 (1.53 ± 0.16 vs 0.83 ± 0.19, P = 0.01) and ki67 (9.84 ± 0.96 vs 4.77 ± 0.27, P < 0.001) staining in the antrum. Similarly, p53 immunoreactivity significantly decreased in the corpus (1.27 ± 0.20 vs 0.46 ± 0.15, P = 0.02), while there was a trend for decreased corpus cyclin D1 and ki67 expression (0.17 ± 0.07 vs 0.0, P = 0.08 and 8.71 ± 1.24 vs 5.85 ± 0.54, P = 0.09, respectively). Importantly, after successful HP eradication, the immunoreactivity of the studied parameters was similar to that of controls. Conclusion Successful HP infection eradication restores p53, cyclin D1, and ki67 immunoreactivity in the gastric mucosa to the level of controls.

Background. Decoy-receptor 3 (DcR3) exerts antiapoptotic and immunomodulatory function and is overexpressed in neoplastic and inflammatory conditions. Serum DcR3 (sDcR3) levels during the chronic hepatitis/cirrhosis/hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) sequence have not been explored. Objective. To assess the levels and significance of sDcR3 protein in various stages of chronic liver disease. Methods. We compared sDcR3 levels between healthy controls and patients with chronic viral hepatitis (CVH), decompensated cirrhosis (DC), and HCC. Correlations between sDcR3 levels and various patient- and disease-related factors were analyzed. Results. sDcR3 levels were significantly higher in patients with CVH than in controls (P

INTRODUCTION: Data on small bowel abnormalities in patients with portal hypertension (PHT) are limited. Bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract and anemia are common complications in these patients. Capsule endoscopy (CE) was used to evaluate small bowel (SB) pathology in patients with PHT and anemia, and possible associations with various parameters were examined.

Objective: The COVID‐19 pandemic is one of the largest collective stressors in recent history. Consistent with prior research, this stress has led to impactful eating behavior change. While prior life traumas also impact eating behavior, it is unclear whether the current stress experienced during COVID‐19, and prior life traumas (overall, socially relevant, and nonsocially relevant), interact to influence eating behavior changes. Moreover, it is unclear whether current stress and prior traumas impact how eating behavior changes are perceived (i.e., in magnitude, valence, or both) by the individuals experiencing the changes. Therefore, this study sought to examine both the relationship between current stress and perception of eating behavior changes, as well as the moderating impact of prior life traumas on this relationship. Methods: Between March and April 2020, participants completed a subjective, self‐report online assessment of current stress, prior life traumas, pandemic‐related changes in eating behaviors, and the perceived impact of eating behavior changes. Results: Higher current stress was associated with larger, more negative perceptions of eating behavior changes. This relationship was moderated by prior life traumas. Specifically, the association between current stress and perceived negative impact of eating behavior change was potentiated among those with more prior socially relevant (but not nonsocially relevant) traumas. Discussion: These results suggest eating behavior changes occurred early in the pandemic and were uniquely impacted by the cumulative effect of present stress and socially relevant prior life traumas. Public Significance: Changes in eating behaviors and pathology have been prevalent during COVID‐19. We examined how stress and prior life traumas interacted during the first weeks of COVID‐19 to influence perceptions of eating behavior change. As altered perception of eating behaviors is a notable feature of eating pathology, these results will help inform development of intervention targets for those at risk for developing disordered eating during future‐ and post‐pandemic recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the essential layers in most Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) is the pooling layer, which is placed right after the convolution layer, effectively downsampling the input and reducing the computational power required. Different pooling methods have been proposed over the years, each with its own advantages and disadvantages, rendering them a better fit for different applications. We introduce a benchmark between many of these methods that highlights an optimal choice for different scenarios depending on each project's individual needs, whether it is detail retention, performance, or overall computational speed requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors discusses challenges and proposed solutions to caring for obese older adults in the U.S. that emerged from a roundtable discussion about equitable aging and obesity organized by the U.S. organization the National Council on Aging in October 2021. According to the article, the panel discussed racial and ethnic disparities concerning obesity, body mass index (BMI), and accessibility to health care services and treatment.