Modulating the Perceived Softness of Real Objects Through Wearable Feel-Through Haptics

In vision, Augmented Reality (AR) allows the superposition of digital content on real-world visual information, relying on the well-established See-through paradigm. In the haptic domain, a putative Feel-through wearable device should allow to modify the tactile sensation without masking the actual cutaneous perception of the physical objects. To the best of our knowledge, a similar technology is still far to be effectively implemented. In this work, we present an approach that allows, for the first time, to modulate the perceived softness of real objects using a Feel-through wearable that uses a thin fabric as interaction surface. During the interaction with real objects, the device can modulate the growth of the contact area over the fingerpad without affecting the force experienced by the user, thus modulating the perceived softness. To this aim, the lifting mechanism of our system warps the fabric around the fingerpad in a way proportional to the force exerted on the specimen under exploration. At the same time, the stretching state of the fabric is controlled to keep a loose contact with the fingerpad. We demonstrated that different softness perceptions for the same specimens can be elicited, by suitably controlling the lifting mechanism of the system

MISSEL: a method to identify a large number of small species-specific genomic subsequences and its application to viruses classification

Continuous improvements in next generation sequencing technologies led to ever-increasing collections of genomic sequences, which have not been easily characterized by biologists, and whose analysis requires huge computational effort. The classification of species emerged as one of the main applications of DNA analysis and has been addressed with several approaches, e.g., multiple alignments-, phylogenetic trees-, statistical- and character-based methods

Detection of Merkel Cell Polyomavirus (MCPyV) DNA and Transcripts in Merkel Cell Carcinoma (MCC)

Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) is the etiological agent of the majority of Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC): a rare skin tumor. To improve our understanding of the role of MCPyV in MCCs, the detection and analysis of MCPyV DNA and transcripts were performed on primary tumors and regional lymph nodes from two MCC patients: one metastatic and one non-metastatic. MCPyV-DNA was searched by a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), followed by the amplification of a Large T Antigen (LTAg), Viral Protein 1 (VP1) and Non-Coding Control Region (NCCR). LTAg and VP1 transcripts were investigated by reverse-transcription PCR (RT-PCR). Viral integration was also studied, and full-length LTAg sequencing was performed. qPCR revealed that the primary tumor of both patients and the lymph node of one patient was positive for the small t-antigen, with an average value of 7.0 × 102 copies/µg. The same samples harbored LTAg, NCCR and VP1 DNA. Sequencing results showed truncated LTAg with the conserved retinoblastoma (Rb) protein binding motif and VP1 and NCCR sequences identical to the MCC350 strain. RT-PCR detected LTAg but not VP1 transcripts. The MCPyV genome was integrated into the primary tumor of both patients. The results confirmed the connection between MCPyV and MCC, assuming integration, LTAg truncation and Rb sequestration as key players in MCPyV-mediated oncogenesis

Detection Analysis and Study of Genomic Region Variability of JCPyV, BKPyV, MCPyV, HPyV6, HPyV7 and QPyV in the Urine and Plasma of HIV-1-Infected Patients

Since it was clearly established that HIV/AIDS predisposes to the infection, persistence or reactivation of latent viruses, the prevalence of human polyomaviruses (HPyVs) among HIV-1-infected patients and a possible correlation between HPyVs and HIV sero-status were investigated. PCR was performed to detect and quantify JCPyV, BKPyV, MCPyV, HPyV6, HPyV7 and QPyV DNA in the urine and plasma samples of 103 HIV-1-infected patients. Subsequently, NCCR, VP1 and MCPyV LT sequences were examined. In addition, for MCPyV, the expression of transcripts for the LT gene was investigated. JCPyV, BKPyV and MCPyV’s presence was reported, whereas HPyV6, HPyV7 and QPyV were not detected in any sample. Co-infection patterns of JCPyV, BKPyV and MCPyV were found. Archetype-like NCCRs were observed with some point mutations in plasma samples positive for JCPyV and BKPyV. The VP1 region was found to be highly conserved among these subjects. LT did not show mutations causing stop codons, and LT transcripts were expressed in MCPyV positive samples. A significant correlation between HPyVs’ detection and a low level of CD4+ was reported. In conclusion, HPyV6, HPyV7 and QPyV seem to not have a clinical relevance in HIV-1 patients, whereas further studies are warranted to define the clinical importance of JCPyV, BKPyV and MCPyV DNA detection in these subjects

Deep HST imaging surveys and the formation of spheroidal galaxies

We have extended our previous analysis of morphologically selected elliptical and S0 galaxies in the Hubble Deep Field (HDF) North to include HST data in the HDF South and the HDFS-NICMOS areas. Our final sample amounts to 69 E/S0 galaxies with $K<20.15$ over an area of 11 square arcmins. Although a moderately small number over a modest sky area, this sample benefits of the best imaging and photometric data available on high-redshift galaxies. Multi-waveband photometry allows us to estimate with good accuracy the redshifts for the majority of these galaxies which lack a spectroscopic measure. We confirm our previous findings that massive E/S0s tend to disappear from flux-limited samples at $z>1.4$. This adds to the evidence that the rest-frame colours and SEDs of the numerous objects found at $0.8<z<1.2$ are inconsistent with a very high redshift of formation for the bulk of stars, while they are better consistent with protracted (either continuous or episodic) star-formation down to $z \le 1$. These results based on high-quality imaging on a small field can be complemented with data from colour-selected EROs on much larger sky areas: our claimed demise of E/S0s going from $z=1$ to $z=1.5$ is paralleled by a similarly fast decrease in the areal density of EROs when the colour limit is changed from $(R-K)=5$ to $(R-K)=6$ (corresponding to $z\simeq 1$ and $z\simeq 1.3$ respectively). Altogether, the redshift interval from 1 to 2 seems to correspond to a very active phase for the assembly of massive E/S0 galaxies in the field, and also probably one where a substantial fraction of their stars are formed.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures -- Version accepted by MNRA

CPX-351 and allogeneic stem cell transplant for a therapy-related acute myeloid leukemia that developed after treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia: a case report and review of the literature

Therapy-related myeloid neoplasms (t-MNs), which develop after cytotoxic, radiation, or immunosuppressive therapy for an unrelated disease, account for 7%–8% of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Worse outcomes and consequently shortened survival are associated with t-MNs as compared with de novo AML. Therapy-related MNs are being reported with increasing frequency in successfully treated acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), in particular, before the introduction of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) plus arsenic trioxide (ATO). Considering the high curability of APL, t-MNs represent one of the prognosis-limiting factors in this setting of leukemia. We report our experience with a patient who developed t-AML 15 years after treatment for APL. Treatment included three cycles of chemotherapy with CPX-351 (Vyxeos, Jazz Pharmaceuticals) followed, as in remission, by an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant. A review of available literature was also included

The baseline comorbidity burden affects survival in elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia receiving hypomethylating agents: Results from a multicentric clinical study

Background: In older patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the definition of fitness, prognosis, and risk of death represents an open question. Methods: In the present study, we tested the impact on survival of disease- and patient-related parameters in a large cohort of elderly AML patients homogeneously assigned to treatment with hypomethylating agents (HMAs). Results: In 131 patients with a median age of 76 years, we confirmed that early response (&lt;0.001) and biology-based risk classification (p&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.003) can select patients with better-predicted survival. However, a full disease-oriented model had limitations in stratifying our patients, prompting us to investigate the impact of baseline comorbidities on overall survival basing on a comorbidity score. The albumin level (p&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.001) and the presence of lung disease (p&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.013) had a single-variable impact on prognosis. The baseline comorbidity burden was a powerful predictor of patients' frailty, correlating with increased incidence of adverse events, especially infections, and predicted overall survival (p &lt; 0.001). Conclusion: The comorbidity burden may contribute to impact prognosis in addition to disease biology. While the therapeutic armamentarium of elderly AML is improving, a comprehensive approach that combines AML biology with tailored interventions to patients' frailty is likely to fully exploit the anti-leukemia potential of novel drugs

Psychological treatments and psychotherapies in the neurorehabilitation of pain. Evidences and recommendations from the italian consensus conference on pain in neurorehabilitation

BACKGROUND: It is increasingly recognized that treating pain is crucial for effective care within neurological rehabilitation in the setting of the neurological rehabilitation. The Italian Consensus Conference on Pain in Neurorehabilitation was constituted with the purpose identifying best practices for us in this context. Along with drug therapies and physical interventions, psychological treatments have been proven to be some of the most valuable tools that can be used within a multidisciplinary approach for fostering a reduction in pain intensity. However, there is a need to elucidate what forms of psychotherapy could be effectively matched with the specific pathologies that are typically addressed by neurorehabilitation teams. OBJECTIVES: To extensively assess the available evidence which supports the use of psychological therapies for pain reduction in neurological diseases. METHODS: A systematic review of the studies evaluating the effect of psychotherapies on pain intensity in neurological disorders was performed through an electronic search using PUBMED, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Based on the level of evidence of the included studies, recommendations were outlined separately for the different conditions. RESULTS: The literature search yielded 2352 results and the final database included 400 articles. The overall strength of the recommendations was medium/low. The different forms of psychological interventions, including Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, cognitive or behavioral techniques, Mindfulness, hypnosis, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Brief Interpersonal Therapy, virtual reality interventions, various forms of biofeedback and mirror therapy were found to be effective for pain reduction in pathologies such as musculoskeletal pain, fibromyalgia, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, Central Post-Stroke pain, Phantom Limb Pain, pain secondary to Spinal Cord Injury, multiple sclerosis and other debilitating syndromes, diabetic neuropathy, Medically Unexplained Symptoms, migraine and headache. CONCLUSIONS: Psychological interventions and psychotherapies are safe and effective treatments that can be used within an integrated approach for patients undergoing neurological rehabilitation for pain. The different interventions can be specifically selected depending on the disease being treated. A table of evidence and recommendations from the Italian Consensus Conference on Pain in Neurorehabilitation is also provided in the final part of the pape