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Infants’ motivation to engage with the social world depends on the interplay between individual brain’s characteristics and previous exposure to social cues such as the parent’s smile or eye contact. Different hypotheses about why specific combinations of emotional expressions and gaze direction engage children have been tested with group-level approaches rather than focusing on individual differences in the social brain development. Here, a novel Artificial Intelligence-enhanced brain-imaging approach, Neuroadaptive Bayesian Optimisation (NBO), was applied to infant electro-encephalography (EEG) to understand how selected neural signals encode social cues in individual infants. EEG data from 42 6- to 9-month-old infants looking at images of their parent’s face were analysed in real-time and used by a Bayesian Optimisation algorithm to identify which combination of the parent’s gaze/head direction and emotional expression produces the strongest brain activation in the child. This individualised approach supported the theory that the infant’s brain is maximally engaged by communicative cues with a negative valence (angry faces with direct gaze). Infants attending preferentially to faces with direct gaze had increased positive affectivity and decreased negative affectivity. This work confirmed that infants’ attentional preferences for social cues are heterogeneous and shows the NBO's potential to study diversity in neurodevelopmental trajectories.

IntroductionThe use of robotic systems in the surgical domain has become groundbreaking for patients and surgeons in the last decades. While the annual number of robotic surgical procedures continues to increase rapidly, it is essential to provide the surgeon with innovative training courses along with the standard specialization path. To this end, simulators play a fundamental role. Currently, the high cost of the leading VR simulators limits their accessibility to educational institutions. The challenge lies in balancing high-fidelity simulation with cost-effectiveness; however, few cost-effective options exist for robotic surgery training.MethodsThis paper proposes the design, development and user-centered usability study of an affordable user interface to control a surgical robot simulator. It consists of a cart equipped with two haptic interfaces, a VR visor and two pedals. The simulations were created using Unity, which offers versatility for expanding the simulator to more complex scenes. An intuitive teleoperation control of the simulated robotic instruments is achieved through a high-level control strategy.Results and DiscussionIts affordability and resemblance to real surgeon consoles make it ideal for implementing robotic surgery training programs in medical schools, enhancing accessibility to a broader audience. This is demonstrated by the results of an usability study involving expert surgeons who use surgical robots regularly, expert surgeons without robotic surgery experience, and a control group. The results of the study, which was based on a traditional Peg-board exercise and Camera Control task, demonstrate the simulator’s high usability and intuitive control across diverse user groups, including those with limited experience. This offers evidence that this affordable system is a promising solution for expanding robotic surgery training.

Abstract Background Relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma (R/R HL) is a challenging disease with limited treatment options beyond brentuximab vedotin and checkpoint inhibitors. Herein we present the time‐trend analysis of R/R HL patients who received allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo‐HCT) at our center from 2001–2017. Methods The patients were divided into two distinct treatment cohorts: era1 (2001–2010), and era2 (2011–2017). The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). Secondary endpoints included progression‐free survival (PFS), non‐relapse mortality (NRM), and cumulative incidence of acute and chronic graft versus host disease (GVHD). Results Among the 51 patients included in the study, 29 were in era1, and 22 were in era2. There was decreased use of myeloablative conditioning in era2 (18% vs. 31%) compared to era1 and 95% of patients in era2 previously received brentuximab Vedotin (BV). Haploidentical donors were seen exclusively in era2 (0% vs. 14%) and more patients received alternative donor transplants (7% vs. 32%) in era2. The 4‐year OS (34% vs. 83%, p

Mengovirus is an oncolytic picornavirus whose broad host range allows for testing in immunocompetent cancer models. Two pathogenicity-ablating approaches, polycytidine (polyC) tract truncation and microRNA (miRNA) targets insertion, eliminated the risk of encephalomyocarditis. To investigate whether a polyC truncated, miRNA-detargeted oncolytic Mengovirus might be boosted, we partially or fully rebuilt the polyC tract into the 5′ noncoding region (NCR) of polyC-deleted (MC0) oncolytic constructs (NC) carrying miRNA target (miRT) insertions to eliminate cardiac/muscular (miR-133b and miR-208a) and neuronal (miR-124) tropisms. PolyC-reconstituted viruses (MC24-NC and MC37-NC) replicated in vitro and showed the expected tropism restrictions, but reduced cytotoxicity and miRT deletions were frequently observed. In the MPC-11 immune competent mouse plasmacytoma model, both intratumoral and systemic administration of MC0-NC led to faster tumor responses than MC24-NC or MC37-NC, with combined durable complete response rates of 75%, 0.5%, and 30%, respectively. Secondary viremia was higher following MC0-NC versus MC24-NC or MC37-NC therapy. Sequence analysis of virus progeny from treated mice revealed a high prevalence of miRT sequences loss among MC24- and MC37- viral genomes, but not in MC0-NC. Overall, MC0-NC was capable of stably retaining miRT sites and provided a more effective treatment and is therefore our lead Mengovirus candidate for clinical translation.

Obesity and metabolic syndrome are linked to steatotic liver disease (SLD), the most common form of chronic liver disease. Lifestyle modifications and dieting are strategies that can prevent metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). The very low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD) is a helpful treatment for MASLD and has been recommended for people affected by obesity; we evaluated the effect of gender on steatosis and fibrosis in a cohort of 112 overweight or obese patients undergoing an eight-week treatment with a VLCKD. Differences between the genders in terms of anthropometric measures, body composition, and metabolic indicators were examined before, during, and after the nutritional intervention. At baseline, there were significant differences between men and women in terms of anthropometric parameters, blood pressure, Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), fasting insulin, hepatic markers, and lipid profile. Men had considerably higher levels of liver steatosis (measured by CAP) and liver stiffness (measured by E) under basal conditions than women. After the VLCKD, there were reductions in both genders of controlled attenuation parameter (CAP), body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, insulin resistance, fat mass (FM), free fat mass (FFM), and fasting blood glucose, insulin, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, alanine transaminase (ALT), gamma-glutamyl transferase (γGT), and uric acid levels. Only in men, liver stiffness, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatinine, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels significantly decreased. Moreover, men had significantly greater levels of liver steatosis: the male gender featured an increase of 23.96 points of the Fibroscan CAP. Men exhibited higher levels of steatosis and fibrosis than women, and these differences persist despite VLCKD. These gender-specific variations in steatosis and fibrosis levels could be caused by hormonal and metabolic factors, suggesting that different therapeutic strategies might be required depending on the gender.

The development of efficient sensors able to detect alcoholic compounds has great relevance in many fields including medicine, pharmaceuticals, food and beverages, safety, and security. In addition, the measurements of alcohols in air are significant for environmental protection because volatile alcohols can have harmful effects on human health not only through ingestion, but also through inhalation or skin absorption. The analysis of alcohols in breath is a further expanding area, being employed for disease diagnoses. The analyses performed by using chromatography, mass-spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, or Raman spectroscopy often require complex sampling and procedures. As a consequence, many research groups have focused their efforts on the development of efficient portable sensors to replace conventional methods and bulky equipment. The ability to operate at room temperature is a key factor in designing portable light devices suitable for in situ real-time monitoring. In the present review, we provide a survey of the recent literature on the most efficient chemiresistive materials for alcohol sensing at room temperature. Remarkable gas-sensing performances have mainly been obtained by using metal oxides semiconductors (MOSs), metal organic frameworks (MOFs), 2D materials, and polymers. Among 2D materials, we mainly consider graphene-based materials, graphitic carbon nitride, transition metal chalcogenides, and MXenes. We discuss scientific advances and innovations published in the span of the last five years, focusing on sensing mechanisms.

BackgroundAllogeneic stem cell transplant (allo-SCT) plays a key role in the treatment of patients with both acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic (MDS). Outcomes of allo-SCT have improved with optimization of transplant practices. We sought to evaluate trends in survival in AML and MDS patients undergoing allo-SCT at our institution from 1984 to 2018.MethodsA retrospective analysis of 900 consecutive AML and MDS patients undergoing allo-SCT was performed. Patients were divided by year of transplant for analysis. Primary endpoints were progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Secondary endpoints included non-relapse mortality (NRM), graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), GVHD-free relapse free survival (GRFS), and transplant complications.ResultsWe found a significant improvement in survival from 1984 to 2018 with 5-year PFS and OS improving from 17% to 49% and 17% to 53%, respectively (statistically significant difference since 2004; p

Solar irradiance variations across various timescales, from minutes to centuries, represent a potential natural driver of past regional and global climate cold phases. To accurately assess the Sun’s effect on climate, particularly during periods of exceptionally low solar activity, known as grand minima, an accurate reconstruction of solar forcing is essential. While direct measurements of the total solar irradiance (TSI) only began in the late 1970s, with the advent of space radiometers, indirect evidence from various historical proxies suggests that the Sun’s magnetic activity has undergone possible significant fluctuations over much longer timescales. Employing diverse and independent methods for TSI reconstruction is essential to gaining a comprehensive understanding of this issue. This study employs a semi-empirical model to reconstruct TSI over the past millennium. Our approach uses an estimated open solar magnetic field ( F _o ), derived from cosmogenic isotope data, as a proxy for solar activity. We reconstruct the cyclic variations of TSI, due to the solar surface magnetic features, by correlating F _o with the parameter of active region functional form. We obtain the long-term TSI trend by applying the empirical mode decomposition algorithm to the reconstructed F _o to filter out the 11 yr and 22 yr solar variability. We prepare a reconstructed TSI record, spanning 971 to 2020 CE. The estimated departure from modern TSI values occurred during the Spörer minimum (around 1400 CE), with a decrease of approximately 2.3 Wm ^−2 . A slightly smaller decline of 2.2 Wm ^−2 is reported during the Maunder minimum, between 1645 and 1715 CE.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency held an international two-day workshop in June 2018 to deliberate possible performance targets for non-regulatory fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and ozone (O3) air sensors. The need for a workshop arose from the lack of any market-wide manufacturer requirement for Ozone documented sensor performance evaluations, the lack of any independent third party or government-based sensor performance certification program, and uncertainty among all users as to the general usability of air sensor data. A multi-sector subject matter expert panel was assembled to facilitate an open discussion on these issues with multiple stakeholders. This summary provides an overview of the workshop purpose, key findings from the deliberations, and considerations for future actions specific to sensors. Important findings concerning PM2.5 and O3 sensors included the lack of consistent performance indicators and statistical metrics as well as highly variable data quality requirements depending on the intended use. While the workshop did not attempt to yield consensus on any topic, a key message was that a number of possible future actions would be beneficial to all stakeholders regarding sensor technologies. These included documentation of best practices, sharing quality assurance results along with sensor data, and the development of a common performance target lexicon, performance targets, and test protocols.

Chronic graft-versus-host-disease (cGVHD) is one of the primary causes of morbidity and mortality for patients who undergo allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HCT). In recent years, advancements in allo-HCT have allowed a broader range of patients to receive transplant, particularly older patients. We sought to assess the impact of cGVHD on outcomes in patients undergoing allo-HCT, for older patients as compared to their counterparts. We performed a retrospective analysis of all patients who underwent allo-HCT 1999–2018. Our results showed that those patients who developed cGVHD by D + 180 had an increased risk and incidence of NRM as compared to those patients without cGVHD. There was no significant difference in outcomes for those patients with cGVHD by age (≥60 years old [yo] and <60 yo). These findings suggest the significant morbidity of cGVHD, regardless of age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban industrial areas are often a matter of concern due to the emission of air pollutants that may affect the air quality of adjacent cities. Aerosol pollutants are monitored by governmental agencies that employ regulatory monitoring stations which are very accurate, but also very expensive, bulky, and demanding in terms of maintenance. For this reason, it often happens that the monitoring of the air quality in large areas is covered by few stations. This situation can lead to the building of air pollutant maps with low spatio-temporal resolution. An appealing way to address this issue is represented by low-cost miniaturized gas sensors (LCSs) employed in low-cost air quality monitors (LCMs). Despite the various and unquestionable points of strength characterizing these devices, the scientific community has raised several warnings about the accuracy of their measurements and issued many caveats regarding their use. In this study, a new LCM model designed and implemented in our laboratories was used to measure the NO2 and PM concentrations in the industrial area of Brindisi (Italy). Data gathered by the LCM were compared with reference instrumentations for a rigorous analysis of the performance achievable through these low-cost technologies in this particular case.

Air pollution is a current problem for the environment and public health. Its impact needs to be monitored in urban agglomerates and critical hot spots such as airports. Green aviation with low air emissions is a sustainable goal for the future. The air pollutants are monitored by governmental agencies that employ regulatory monitoring stations, which are very accurate but also very expensive, bulky, and maintenance demands. On the contrary, low-cost sensor systems can offer a proper solution to cover large areas at high spatial-temporal resolution. However, the low-cost air quality sensors are less accurate than reference analyzers operating in the regulatory stations. To enhance the sensor accuracy, field calibration, and data correction with reference instrumentation is a valid strategy to improve sensor data quality. In this study, a sensor system with a selected set of air quality gas sensors (NO2, O3) and particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5) has been developed and deployed in a near-city space-airport at Grottaglie (Southern Italy) to perform measurements in a period of 4 months, from October 2021 to February 2022. The sensor units installed in the Airbox system used for this measurements campaign are the GS+4NO2 (DD Scientific) for NO2 measurements, the O3-3E1F (City Technology, Sensoric) for O3 measurements, and the NextPM (Tera Sensor) for PM10 and PM2.5 measurements. Data gathered by the low-cost air quality sensors have been compared to reference instrumentations both co-located (ca. 1 m distance) together with low-cost sensors (PM10, R2 > 0.87; PM2.5, R2 > 0.50) and a distributed regulatory network of 14 environmental stations operating in the local area around space-airport at a distance ranging from 3 to 26 km.

A flexible humidity sensor operating at room temperature was produced by direct drop casting of a graphene oxide (GO) water solution on a substrate of bimatted polyester, previously coated with inkjet-printed interdigitated electrodes in silver. The GO was synthesized by using a modified Hummers’ method, followed by an alkaline treatment with a water solution of KOH. Changes in the device resistance were measured for varying levels of relative humidity in the range from 15% to 70% in a sealed stainless cell. The device showed high sensitivity, good repeatability, and fast recovery time. Being flexible and robust, the proposed sensors could be easily integrated into wearable equipment.

The air quality in modern cities and urban areas is strongly affected by chemical pollutants such as toxic gases, volatile organic compounds, and particulate matter. They are monitored by governmental agencies using regulatory monitoring stations, which are highly accurate, but also very expensive, bulky, and maintenance demanding. There is a compulsory need to monitor air quality at high spatial–temporal resolution in smart cities for public health protection and environmental sustainability. Properly calibrated low-cost and low-accuracy sensors are usually deployed in stationary and mobile nodes for urban air quality monitoring. A simple indicator of the current status of urban air pollution is the Air Quality Index (AQI) used to communicate the pollution level under the time-changing trend of a specific pollutant. In this study, continuous measurements have been performed in the city of Bari (southern Italy) by electrochemical gas sensors (NO2, O3, CO), optical particle counters (OPC) for particulate matter (PM10), and NDIR infrared sensors (CO2), including microsensors for temperature and relative humidity. The sensors have been installed in stationary nodes located in urban sites and in a mobile node mounted on a public bus moving on urban routes. AQI data gathered by the low-cost sensors have been compared with reference instrumentations as a case study of citizen science.

Hombre de 34 años, fumador, que consulta por cuadro de dolor en flanco derecho de 24 horas de evolución, sin síntomas acompañantes ni fiebre. Al examen se destaca un abdomen blando, depresible, con dolor a la palpación superficial y profunda del flanco derecho. Los exámenes de laboratorio sin alteraciones. La ecografía abdominal descartó elementos patológicos.

Andrew Schaefer,1 Ying Huang,2 Adam Kittai,2 Joseph E Maakaron,3 Caner Saygin,4 Jonathan Brammer,2 Sam Penza,2 Ayman Saad,2 Samantha M Jaglowski,2 Basem M William5 1Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA; 2Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA; 3Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA; 4Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA; 5OhioHealth Blood and Marrow Transplant Program, Columbus, OH, USACorrespondence: Basem M WilliamOhioHealth Blood and Marrow Transplant Program, 500 Thomas Lane, Columbus, OH, 43214, USAEmail basemmwilliam@gmail.comIntroduction: Patients with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) have poor outcomes. Treatment with CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR-T) cells, tisagenlecleucel and axicabtagene ciloleucel, has been associated with improved outcomes. Cytopenias were observed in clinical trials with both products; however, little is known regarding the patterns and outcomes of these cytopenias.Subjects and Methods: We reviewed DLBCL patients (n=32) receiving either product between January and September 2018 at our institution.Results: Median duration of leukopenia, neutropenia, lymphopenia, anemia, and thrombocytopenia was 49, 9, 117.5, 125, and 95.5 days after CAR-T infusion, respectively. Filgrastim was used in 63% of patients, and 50% of patients received red cell or platelet transfusions. With the exception of neutropenia, increase in the duration of cytopenia of any lineage was associated with improvement in progression-free survival, and in overall survival in case of anemia. There was no association between the duration of cytopenias with either cytokine release syndrome or neurotoxicity.Discussion: Our data suggest a correlation between cytopenias and survival outcomes after CD19 CAR-T therapy. If validated, cytopenia may be proven useful as a biomarker of response and survival after CAR-T therapy.Keywords: diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, transformed follicular lymphomas, chimeric antigen receptor T-cells, immunotherapy, cytopenias