Advances in machine learning for tumour classification in cancer of unknown primary: A mini-review

Cancers of unknown primary (CUP) are a heterogeneous group of aggressive metastatic cancers where standardised diagnostic techniques fail to identify the organ where it originated, resulting in a poor prognosis and resistance to treatment. Recent advances in large-scale sequencing techniques have enabled the identification of mutational signatures specific to particular tumour subtypes, even from liquid biopsy samples such as blood. This breakthrough paves the way for the development of new cost-effective diagnostic strategies. This mini-review explores recent advancements in Machine Learning (ML) and its application to tumour classification methods for CUP patients, identifying its weaknesses and strengths when classifying the tumour type. In the era of multi-omics, integrating several sources of information (e.g., imaging, molecular biomarkers, and family history) requires important theoretical advancements: increasing the dimensionality of the problem can result in lowering the predictive accuracy and robustness when data is scarce. Here, we review and discuss different architectures and strategies for incorporating cutting-edge machine learning into CUP diagnosis, aiming to bridge the gap between theory and clinical practice

Enterococcus isolated from poultry intestine for potential probiotic use

Background and Aim: To develop species-specific probiotics for poultry, it is ideal to obtain these probiotic microorganisms directly from the intestinal tract of broiler and egg-laying chicks in production environments to ensure adaptation to actual conditions. This study aimed to isolate lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from the intestinal tract of broiler and egg-laying chicks to determine their probiotic potential. Materials and Methods: Twenty-five Ross-308 broilers and 25 Isa Brown egg-laying chicks were raised until days 42 and 120, respectively; they were housed in an individual poultry building. Lactic acid bacteria were isolated and identified from the small intestine mucus of broiler and layer chicks and then evaluated based on resistance to acidic pH levels, bile salt concentration, and antagonistic activity against wild strains of Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. selected strains with probiotic potential were identified by polymerase chain reaction and confirmed by rDNA sequencing. Results: One hundred and fifty Gram-positive isolates were obtained; 28% (42) were catalase and oxidase negative and biochemical identification was made by crystal system: 76.2% (32) Enterococcus spp., 16.6% (7) Lactococcus spp., and 7.2% (3) Streptococcus spp.; and evaluated for hemolysin production; tolerance to low pH and bile salts, and antagonistic potential were carried out. Molecular characterization yielded 56% (24) Enterococcus faecium, and 44% (18) Enterococcus faecalis. About 81% (34) of strains were without vancomycin resistance genes criterion. Conclusion: This study isolated and characterized 36 strains of LAB with probiotic qualities, from the intestines of broiler and egg-laying chicks, selecting E. faecium, Enterococcus avium, and Enterococcus casseliflavus, Lactococcus garviae as promising strains for further in vitro and in vivo research

Fundamental cracking performance of asphalt-filler mastics with hydrated lime

This study evaluates the impact of hydrated lime (HL) on the cracking performance at intermediate temperature of asphalt-filler mastics, specifically as a partial replacement for limestone filler (LF). HL, is an active filler known for its multiple benefits in asphalt applications. The Double Edge Notched Tension (DENT) test was used to assess fracture properties, including specific total work of fracture, plastic work of failure, essential work of fracture, and average critical tip opening displacement. The results revealed several key findings: a notable loss of ductility and toughness with increasing HL dosages, a stiffening effect evidenced by increased peak loads and reduced failure deformation, and a decrease in the specific total work of fracture, indicating a loss of fracture energy. However, an enhancement in fracture resistance to plastic deformation is observed with HL addition, although identifying trends at high dosages remains challenging due to complex interactions between HL and LF. Furthermore, using low volumetric concentrations of HL minimizes the adverse impact on fracture performance while leveraging its other beneficial active filler properties. These findings suggest that while HL can improve certain fracture properties, optimal dosages are crucial to avoid adverse effects. Overall, this paper provides an updated and comprehensive study of the fracture of mastics at intermediate temperatures, which adds up to the understanding of asphalt-filler interactions, which can potentially lead to further investigations, such as how the partial replacement of LF with HL affects asphalt mixtures’ performance-related characteristics, particularly the fatigue cracking resistance