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Patients with locally advanced rectal cancer are mainly treated with chemoradiotherapy (CRT) before surgery. Less than 20% of patients respond completely to neoadjuvant CRT. To avoid unnecessary treatment, biomarkers are being sought to identi fy pati ents with rectal cancer who do not respond to therapy. The HOX Transcript Anti sense Intergenic RNA (HOTAIR) is a long non-coding trans-acti ng RNA molecule that is frequently deregulated in cancers of the digestive tract and plays a role in chemoresistance. The aim of this study was to investigate HOTAIR as a potential biomarker for predicting treatment response in patients with rectal cancer.

Background & objectives: The NEAT1 (Nuclear Paraspeckle Assembly Transcript 1) gene encodes a long non-coding RNA that is deregulated in carcinomas of the gastrointestinal tract. Diagnostic and predictive potential of NEAT1 was investigated in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. Methods: The study group consisted of 19 patients with rectal cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT). RNA was isolated with TRIzol reagent from samples of rectal cancer and noncancerous tissue before and after nCRT. The relative expression level of NEAT1 normalised to GAPDH was determined by qRT-PCR method. Results: Expression of NEAT1 did not difer between rectal cancer and noncancerous tissue before nCRT (p=0.953) and cancer and noncancerous tissue after nCRT (p=0.210). There was no diference in NEAT1 expression between tumour tissue before and after nCRT (p=0.079). NEAT1 was signifcantly higher in noncancerous tissue before than after nCRT (p=0.005). Therapy responders (TRG1, TRG2) and nonresponders (TRG3, TRG4) did not difer in NEAT1 levels in tumour tissue before (p=0.790) and after nCRT (p=0.352). NEAT1 expression in rectal cancer tissue before nCRT cannot be used as a biomarker to distinguish responders from non-responders (AUC=0.559, 95%CI=0- 1, p=0.790). Demographic and clinicopathological characteristics were not associated with NEAT1 expression in rectal cancer tissue. Conclusion: The obtained results suggest that the long noncoding RNA NEAT1 cannot be considered as a biomarker with diagnostic potential or for predicting response to nCRT in patients with rectal cancer. Validation of the current results in a larger group of patients with locally advanced rectal cancer is warranted.

Considering the impact of SMAD7 deregulation in colorectal cancer (CRC) progression and the significance of single nucleotide variant (SNV)-mediated disruptions of microRNA (miRNA)-dependent regulation for cancer susceptibility, our study aimed to analyze genetic variation in the SMAD7 3′ untranslated region ( 3′UTR) in CRC, measure differences in allelic mRNA expression, and evaluate its interference with miRNAmediated post-transcriptional regulation. Patients and Methods: This study included 80 patients with different CRC stages and six human colon cancer cell lines of various histological origins. SMAD7 3′ UTR was analyzed by direct sequencing, followed by the relative quantification of differential allelic expression of detected variants by allele-specific qRT-PCR. In silico tools were employed for predictions of regulatory consequences of detected variants. Results: A total of four different SNVs in one cell line and nine patients were found, among which were a novel somatic point variant and three already known germline variants (rs16950113, rs1050799536, and rs1043778717). All evaluated SNVs exhibited variable extents of allelic imbalance in expression. In silico analysis predicted significant effects of SNVs on miRNA binding efficiency, with each SNV disrupting existing and creating new target sites for one or more miRNAs. Conclusion: Imbalance observed in the expression of SNV alleles altering miRNA binding suggests that all investigated SNVs are potential contributing factors impacting SMAD7 expression regulation in CRC that further studies should investigate.

There are many physical and chemical properties of soil that can be measured and mapped. Such maps can be very important decision-making tools in precision agriculture. However, unlike yield maps and crop scouting maps, all other maps show a lower degree of reliability in terms of decision utility. Soil compaction is the most representative feature of the production plot from the domain of physical and chemical soil properties. This paper first presents an experiment designed to measure soil compaction, and then a mapping of the results in a commercial software. The test field with an area of one hectare was reduced to a control limit of 60 meters in width and 120 meters in length to ensure the uniformity of speed and other parameters. The resolution of the draft force measurement as an indicator of soil compaction was 50 Hz. This resulted in the existence of missing data on the draft force map itself, because several draft force values were related to one spatial coordinate manifested as longitude and latitude. The paper further shows the procedure of data smoothing and generation of complete maps without missing spatial data.

In order to further investigate performance of Optomagnetic Imaging Spectroscopy in cervical cancer detection, deep learning algorithm has been used for classification of optomagnetic spectra of the samples. Optomagnetic spectra reflect cell properties and based on those properties it is possible to differ-entiate normal cells from cells showing different levels of dysplasia and cancer cells. In one of the previous research, Optomagnetic imaging spectroscopy has demonstrated high percentages of accuracy, sensitivity and specificity in cervical cancer detection, particularly in the case of binary classification. Somewhat lower accuracy percentages were obtained in the case of four class classification. Compared to the results obtained by conventional machine learning classification algorithms, proposed deep learning algorithm achieves similar accuracy results (80%), greater sensitivity (83.3%), and comparable specificity percentages (78%).

Purpose In the search for candidate predictive biomarkers to evaluate response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) in rectal cancer, only a few studies report proteomic profiles of tumor tissue before and after nCRT. The aim of our study was to determine differentially expressed proteins between responders and non-responders before and after the therapy in order to identify candidate molecules for prediction and follow-up of response to nCRT. Experimental Design The study has included tissue sections of rectal tumor and non-tumor mucosa from five responders and five non-responders taken before and after nCRT from patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. Extracted proteins were analyzed by LC-MS/MS analysis followed by a set of bioinformatics analyses. Result Proteomics analysis provided a mean of approximately 1050 protein identifications per sample. A comparison of proteomic profiles between responders and non-responders has identified 18 differentially expressed proteins. Pathway analysis demonstrated high metabolic activity in non-responders' tumors before nCRT, indicating the presence of intrinsic chemoradioresistance in these subjects. Two proteins associated with poor prognosis in colorectal cancer, ADAM10 and CAD, were identified as candidate predictive biomarkers as they were present in non-responders only. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance Shortlisted proteins from our study should be further validated as candidate biomarkers for response to routinely applied nCRT protocols.

Purpose: There are limited data on expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers in patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). The study aim was to evaluate the expression and prognostic significance of E-cadherin (CDH1), fibronectin (FN1) and vimentin (VIM) in patients with CRLM after curative-intent liver resection. Patients and Methods: Thirty patients with CRLM managed by curative-intent liver resection were included in this prospective pilot study. Blood samples, colorectal liver metastases and surrounding non-tumor liver tissue were collected. Expression of CDH1, FN1 and VIM was analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Expression in CRLM and non-tumor liver tissue was compared, while expression in serum was correlated with CRLM expression. One-year recurrence-free survival was compared between patients with low and high CDH1, FN1 and VIM expression. Results: The expression of CDH1 was similar in CRLM and non-tumor liver tissues, while FN1 and VIM expression was significantly lower in metastatic tissue (P=0.003 and pP lt 0.001, respectively). Serum expression of CDH1 and VIM was detected in 66.7% and 93.3% of patients, respectively, while FN1 was not detected in any of the patients. The correlation of CDH1 and VIM expression between CRLM and serum was not statistically significant. Decreased CDH1 expression in CRLM and decreased VIM expression in serum were associated with early recurrence after surgical treatment of CRLM. Conclusion: Lower expression of CDH1 in CRLM and lower serum expression of VIM were found to be associated with early recurrence after liver resection for CRLM.

Obećavajući koncept veštačke inteligencije koji beleži intenzivan razvoj u oblasti digitalne obrade slike je duboko učenje (Deep Learning - DL). Intenzivnije istraživanje u okviru ove oblasti beleži se poslednje dve decenije, a primenu poprima i u poljoprivrednoj industriji. U okviru ovog radu opisana je tehnologija DL koja predstavlja deo mašinskog učenja (Machine Learning - ML), bazirajući se na konvolucijske neuralne mreže (Convolution Neural Networks - CNN). Posebnu primenu zauzima u mašinskoj viziji gde omogućava mašinama da uče iz iskustva, prilagođavaju se novim tehnologijama i obavljaju ljudske zadatke. Ulazni podaci mogu biti iz raznovrsnih izvora: od klasičnih digitalnih snimaka kamere do satelitskih snimaka, kao i snimaka dobijenih pomoću hiperspektralnih, termalnih i infrared kamera. Sve je veća popularnost i upotreba dronova na poljoprivrednim površinama, a samom primenom ovih novih tehnologija dolazi se do ogromnog broja podataka koje je potrebno obraditi u realnom vremenu, stoga se i algoritmi DL sve više upotrebljavaju. U radu su prikazane dosadašnje primene CNN u primarnoj i preciznoj poljoprivredi kao i moguće primene DL u budućnosti., A promising concept of artificial intelligence that records intense developments in the field of digital imaging is Deep Learning (DL). More intensive research within this field has been recorded over the past two decades, and has been applied in the agricultural industry as well. This paper will describe the DL technology which represents a part of Machine Learning (ML), based on Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN). It takes a special application in a machine vision where it allows machines to learn from experience, adapt to new technologies, and perform human tasks. Input data can be from a variety of sources: from classic digital camera shots to satellite images, as well as from recordings obtained by means of hyperspectral, thermal and infrared cameras. The increasing popularity and use of trunks in agricultural fields is increasing, and the very application of these new technologies leads to the huge amount of data that needs to be processed in real time, therefore, DL algorithms are increasingly used. The paper will summarize the current and considered possible applications of CNN in primary and precise agriculture in the future.

Predmet istraţivanje doktorske disertacije su dve vrste nanofotonskih filtera - filtera dobijenih tehnikom depozicije filma fulerena u vakuumu iz gasne faze na supstrat od stakla i mekih kontaktnih sočiva na bazi hidrogela (pHEMA) i inkorporiranih nanomaterijala iz familije fulerena. Ovako dobijeni biomedicinski filteri pored zaštite oka i očnih struktura mogu imati i stimulativno fototerapijsko dejstvo, jer modulacijom svetlosti mogu uticati na suprahijazmatično jedro–generator cirkadijalnih ritmova u ljudskom organizmu. Iz tog razloga sprovedena je opseţna spektroskopska karakterizacija filtera na bazi tankih filmova fulerena, na osnovu koje su dobijene informacije o strukturi filma kao i opsezima filtrirane i atenuirane svetlosti. Rezultati o izmenjenoj vizuelnoj percepciji dobijenoj primenom filtera potvrĎeni su analizom digitalnih slika dobijenih montiranjem filtera ispred objektiva fotoaparata. Zatim je izvršena procena fototerapijskog potencijala ovakvih filtera preko analize sekundardnih podataka postojeće EEG studije, a na osnovu najnovijih naučnih saznanja u oblasti generisanja delta moţdanih talasa. Istraţivanje nanofotonskih mekih kontaktnih sočiva bilo je usmereno na ispitivanje biokompatibilnosti sočiva različitim spektroskopskim metodama, a u najvećoj meri na do sada zanemaren aspekt stanja vode u hidrogelovima koji je od ključnog značaja za funkcionalnost sočiva sa stanovišta permeabilnosti za kiseonik. U istarţivanjima je pored digitalne slike, UV-VIS spektra, FTIR i Optomagnetne imaging spektroskopije (OMIS) primenjena i nova metoda Akvafotomika u svrhu karakterizacije hidriranih sočiva, jer je omogućila otkrivanje različitih frakcija vode u hidrogelu. Pored toga Akvafotomikom došlo se do saznanja kako tip inkorporiranog nanomaterijala utiče na balans vodenih frakcija. Dobijeni rezultati imaju naučni i praktičan značaj za razvoj nanofotonskih filtera, kao i unapreĎenje metoda karakterizacije optičkih materijala sa aspekta biokompatibilnosti., Research topics of this doctoral thesis are two types of nanophotonic filters – filters made using fulleren thin film deposition techniqe in vacuum from gaseous phase on the glass substrat and soft hydrogel based (pHEMA) contact lenses with incorporated nanomaterials from fulleren family. These biomedical nanophotonic filters could offer not just protection of the eye and occular structures but could also provide phototerapeutic stimulative effects on the suprachiazmatic nucleus – generator of all circadial rhythms in the human organism by modulating light stimuli. For this reason, extensive spectroscopic characterization of filters based on thin films of fullerenes was conducted and significant information on the structure of the film as well as the filtered and attenuated light bands was obtained. The results of the altered visual perception were confirmed using analysis of digital images obtained by fitting the filter in front of the camera lens. Then an assessment of phototherapeutic potential of such filters was made based on the analysis of secondary data from an existing EEG studies and the latest scientific knowledge in the field of generating delta brain waves. The results of psychological testing on a set of randomly chosen group of subjects confirmed that the impact of the nanophotonic filter is not the result of conscious information processing and the natural preference of certain colors. Research of nanophotonics soft contact lens was focused on examining biocompatibility using various spectroscopic methods, mostly in the so far neglected aspect of the state of water in hydrogels which is essential to the functionality of the lens from the standpoint of permeability to oxygen. A new method Aquaphotomics has been proposed and tested for the purpose of the characterization of hydrated lenses, which enabled detection of the various fractions of water in the hydrogel, and gave insight into how different incorporated nanomaterials affect the balance between

Predmet istraživanje doktorske disertacije su dve vrste nanofotonskih filtera - filtera dobijenih tehnikom depozicije filma fulerena u vakuumu iz gasne faze na supstrat od stakla i mekih kontaktnih sočiva na bazi hidrogela (pHEMA) i inkorporiranih nanomaterijala iz familije fulerena. Ovako dobijeni biomedicinski filteri pored zaštite oka i očnih struktura mogu imati i stimulativno fototerapijsko dejstvo, jer modulacijom svetlosti mogu uticati na suprahijazmatično jedro–generator cirkadijalnih ritmova u ljudskom organizmu. Iz tog razloga sprovedena je opsežna spektroskopska karakterizacija filtera na bazi tankih filmova fulerena, na osnovu koje su dobijene informacije o strukturi filma kao i opsezima filtrirane i atenuirane svetlosti. Rezultati o izmenjenoj vizuelnoj percepciji dobijenoj primenom filtera potvrđeni su analizom digitalnih slika dobijenih montiranjem filtera ispred objektiva fotoaparata. Zatim je izvršena procena fototerapijskog potencijala ovakvih filtera preko analize sekundardnih podataka postojeće EEG studije, a na osnovu najnovijih naučnih saznanja u oblasti generisanja delta moždanih talasa. Istraživanje nanofotonskih mekih kontaktnih sočiva bilo je usmereno na ispitivanje biokompatibilnosti sočiva različitim spektroskopskim metodama, a u najvećoj meri na do sada zanemaren aspekt stanja vode u hidrogelovima koji je od ključnog značaja za funkcionalnost sočiva sa stanovišta permeabilnosti za kiseonik. U istarživanjima je pored digitalne slike, UV-VIS spektra, FTIR i Optomagnetne imaging spektroskopije (OMIS) primenjena i nova metoda Akvafotomika u svrhu karakterizacije hidriranih sočiva, jer je omogućila otkrivanje različitih frakcija vode u hidrogelu. Pored toga Akvafotomikom došlo se do saznanja kako tip inkorporiranog nanomaterijala utiče na balans vodenih frakcija. Dobijeni rezultati imaju naučni i praktičan značaj za razvoj nanofotonskih filtera, kao i unapređenje metoda karakterizacije optičkih materijala sa aspekta biokompatibilnosti., Research topics of this doctoral thesis are two types of nanophotonic filters –filters made using fulleren thin film deposition techniqe in vacuum from gaseous phase on the glass substrat and soft hydrogel based (pHEMA) contact lenses with incorporated nanomaterials from fulleren family. These biomedical nanophotonic filters could offer not just protection of the eye and occular structures but could also provide phototerapeutic stimulative effects on the suprachiazmatic nucleus – generator of all circadial rhythms in the human organism by modulating light stimuli. For this reason, extensive spectroscopic characterization of filters based on thin films of fullerenes was conducted and significant information on the structure of the film as well as the filtered and attenuated light bands was obtained. The results of the altered visual perception were confirmed using analysis of digital images obtained by fitting the filter in front of the camera lens. Then an assessment of phototherapeutic potential of such filters was made based on the analysis of secondary data from an existing EEG studies and the latest scientific knowledge in the field of generating delta brain waves. The results of psychological testing on a set of randomly chosen group of subjects confirmed that the impact of the nanophotonic filter is not the result of conscious information processing and the natural preference of certain colors. Research of nanophotonics soft contact lens was focused on examining biocompatibility using various spectroscopic methods, mostly in the so far neglected aspect of the state of water in hydrogels which is essential to the functionality of the lens from the standpoint of permeability to oxygen. A new method Aquaphotomics has been proposed and tested for the purpose of the characterization of hydrated lenses, which enabled detection of the various fractions of water in the hydrogel, and gave insight into how different incorporated nanomaterials affect the balance between

U ovom istraživanju je za procenu svežine mesa razvijena tehnika koja koristi nedestruktivnu metodu na bazi optičke slike i kompjuterski potpomognutu analizu. Tehnika podrazumeva kombinovanje Opto-magnetne imidžing spektro- skopije i algoritama mašinskog učenja kako bi se utvrdila svežina mesa, odnosno vreme skladištenja. Akvizicija Opto-magnetnih spektara uzoraka mesa, čuvanih u frižideru za vreme trajanja eksperimenta, rađena je nakon 0h, 12h i 24h skladištenja i to specijalno razvijenim imidžing sistemom, podržanim odgovarajućim kompjuterskim algoritmom za obradu slike. Dobijeni spektri korelisani su sa vremenom skladištenja uzoraka i na takvom setu podataka testirano je nekoliko klasifikacionih algoritama mašinskog učenja. Najbolji rezultati predikcije, za pileće i juneće meso, dobijeni su korišćenjem 'lenjog' (eng. lazzy) IB1 klasifikatora sa tačnošću 97.47% za piletinu i 98,23% za junetinu. Kako je metod baziran na detekciji promena stanja vode u tkivima, period svežine mesa određen je na osnovu promena u hidrataciji i aktivnosti vode u mesu., In this study a technique was developed to predict the meat freshness decay by employing a nondestructive visible imaging method and a computer assisted analysis. The technique uses Opto-magnetic imaging spectroscopy and machine learning algorithms for detecting of freshness during storage. The opto-magnetic spectra of meat samples were acquired at 0, 12 and 24 hours of refrigerated storage using specially developed imaging system and computer image processing algorithm. The obtained spectra were related to the storage time of the samples, and several machine learning classification algorithms were tested. The best prediction results of freshness for chicken and beef was achieved using lazy IB1 classifier with the accuracy of 97.47% for chicken, and 98.23% for beef. Since the method is concerned with detecting changes in the state of water in tissues, the freshness decay period was estimated based on changes in meat hydration properties.

The aim of this study was to determine if it is possible to distinguish between the groups of spoiled and unspoiled soft contact lenses using near-infrared spectroscopy and new analytical approach - Aquaphotomics. Using the principal component analysis, it was established that the absorbance spectra of worn and new contact lenses are differed at water absorption band related to hydration of proteins. Detection of proteins thus was performed indirectly by using vibrations of water molecules. This exploratory study showed that near-infrared spectroscopy and Aquaphotomics have potential for non-invasive, chemical-free detection of protein deposits on hydrated soft contact lenses.

The functionality of soft contact lenses depends strongly on the water content and their water-transport ability. This study was conducted in order to examine the state of water in two sets of soft contact lenses: VSO38, pHEMAFilcon I 1, and VSO50, copolymer of HEMA and VP Filcon II 1 (HEMA = 2-hydroxy-ethylmethacrylate; VP = vinyl pyrrolidone). Hydrogel lenses were studied using near-infrared spectroscopy and the novel Aquaphotomics approach in order to determine the state of water in materials based on their near-infrared spectra. Aquaphotomics approach investigates absorption at specific vibrational bands of water's covalent and hydrogen bonds which can provide information on how the water structure changes with the structural change of the polymer network. Principal component analysis and specific star-chart "aquagram" were used to analyse water spectral pattern in hydrogel materials. The findings show that material VSO38 has water predominantly organized in bound state, while material with higher water content, VSO50, has more free and weakly hydrogen bonded water. Our findings define in detail exact water species existing and interacting with the polymer network. The results show qualitative and quantitative possibilities of Aquaphotomics for better modelling and understanding water behaviour in hydrogel materials.

The paper analyzes the impact of sensor readings of dry grain mass yield of triticale on combine speed during harvesting. On the basis of mean values for group ranks and using Kruskal-Wallis H test, the highest combine speed on triticale plot has been found in the low-yield-level group. There fore, subsequent analysis of differences was conducted between the groups using Mann Whitney U test. In the case of comparing recorded in groups of small and middle-yield triticale in the analyzed plot effect size value is 0.13. It would be considered a very small impact according to Cohen's criteria. In the case of comparing recorded in groups with middle and high yield effect size is just over that 0.286, and it is considered a medium influence on Cohen's criteria. When comparing the speed of a group of small and large, Z statistic is equal to -26.110 to 4931 treated cases, the effect size is 0.37 and still be considered a medium influence.

UV/VIS ispitivanje stakala za naočare je deo standardne procedure. Razlog za to jeste da se osigura UV zaštita oka, kao i karakterizacija transparentnosti materijala. Međutim, mi smo proširiti ovo istraživanje u IR domenu iz razloga što kvalitet stakala ne zavisi samo od UV zaštite i njihove transparentnosti, već takođe i od komplementarnosti i kompatibilnosti oka sa optičkim pomagalom. Izvršena je karakterizacija osnovnog materijala za naočare pomoću UV/VIS/NIR i nove metode opto-magnetne imidžing spektroskopije. Nakon toga osnovni materijal dopiran je fulerenom, i izvršena je karakterizacija primenom istih metoda. Rezultati su predstavljeni i diskutovani., UV/VIS spectroscopic characterization of glasses is a part of the standard procedure. The reasons to do it is to ensure UV eye protection and characterization of material transparency. However, we extend this research to IR domain because the quality of glasses depend not only on UV protection and their transparency but on complementarities and compatibility of eye vision with optical device, also. We characterized basic material of glasses by UV/VIS/NIR and novel method Opto-magnetic Imaging Spectroscopy (OMIS). Then we doped basic material with fullerenes, and characterized them using the same procedure. Results are presented and discussed.

Goal of this research is focusing on early detection of high glucose level in blood via eye, using contact lenses, because we have come to conclusion that skin is not the most suitable place for measuring glucose level, considering invasive and expensive techniques. These specific contact lenses, made of biocompatible nano-structured materials, present biosensors for continuous, noninvasive glucose monitoring and other bioanalits which can be found in tears. In this paper we present the comparative studies of the influence of nanomaterial-based contact lenses on five solutions with different glucose concentrations. The nanophotonic contact lens and contact lens made from base material were dipped in solutions over a specific period of time, in order to determine their influence on the glucose solutions. The base material of contact lens was made from PMMA and the nanophotonic contact lenses were made of fullerene doped PMMA. Fullerenes were used because of their good transitive characteristics in ultraviolet, visible and near infrared light spectrums. Measurements were done at room temperature. Results of all solutions are presented and compared.