Dissimilarity functions for rank-invariant hierarchical clustering of continuous variables

A theoretical framework is presented for a (copula-based) notion of dissimilarity between continuous random vectors and its main properties are studied. The proposed dissimilarity assigns the smallest value to a pair of random vectors that are comonotonic. Various properties of this dissimilarity are studied, with special attention to those that are prone to the hierarchical agglomerative methods, such as reducibility. Some insights are provided for the use of such a measure in clustering algorithms and a simulation study is presented. Real case studies illustrate the main features of the whole methodology.Comment: 38 pages, 10 figures, 7 table

Performance Evaluation of a THz Pulsed Imaging System: Point Spread Function, Broadband THz Beam Visualization and Image Reconstruction

Terahertz (THz) technology is a promising research field for various applications in basic science and technology. In particular, THz imaging is a new field in imaging science, where theories, mathematical models and techniques for describing and assessing THz images have not completely matured yet. In this work, we investigate the performances of a broadband pulsed THz imaging system (0.2–2.5 THz). We characterize our broadband THz beam, emitted from a photoconductive antenna (PCA), and estimate its point spread function (PSF) and the corresponding spatial resolution. We provide the first, to our knowledge, 3D beam profile of THz radiation emitted from a PCA, along its propagation axis, without the using of THz cameras or profilers, showing the beam spatial intensity distribution. Finally, we evaluate the THz image formation on a test-sample composed by a regular linen natural pattern

Robot-assisted excision of urachal cyst: case report in a child

Abstract Background The urachus is an embryological structure of the urogenital sinus and allantoid that connects the allantois to the early bladder in fetal life and then remains as the median umbilical ligament connecting the umbilicus to the dome of the bladder. An early laparoscopic procedure could trigger a quiescent urachal remnant to become symptomatic, causing a lesion or infection either during carbon oxide contamination or insufflation or a periumbilical or suprapubic port placement. Case presentation A 15-year-old girl complaining of supra-pubic abdominal pain. About 2 months previously, she had undergone laparoscopic appendectomy for acute appendicitis, and early postoperative period was uneventful. She underwent a robotic-assisted excision of a urachal cyst. Conclusions It has been suggested that early laparoscopic procedures could trigger previously asymptomatic urachal remnants to become symptomatic. Robot-assisted excision of a urachal cyst is a safe, effective alternative to open surgery in children

Autophagy and rheumatoid arthritis: Current knowledges and future perspectives

Autophagy is a degradation mechanism by which cells recycle cytoplasmic components to generate energy. By influencing lymphocyte development, survival, and proliferation, autophagy regulates the immune responses against self and non-self antigens. Deregulation of autophagic pathway has recently been implicated in the pathogenesis of several autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Indeed, autophagy seems to be involved in the generation of citrullinated peptides, and also in apoptosis resistance in RA. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on the role of autophagy in RA and discuss the possibility of a clinical application of autophagy modulation in this disease

DNA Damage Triggers a New Phase in Neurodegeneration.

Subcellular compartmentalization contributes to the organization of a plethora of molecular events occurring within cells. This can be achieved in membraneless organelles generated through liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), a demixing process that separates and concentrates cellular reactions. RNA is often a critical factor in mediating LLPS. Recent evidence indicates that DNA damage response foci are membraneless structures formed via LLPS and modulated by noncoding transcripts synthesized at DNA damage sites. Neurodegeneration is often associated with DNA damage, and dysfunctional LLPS events can lead to the formation of toxic aggregates. In this review, we discuss those gene products involved in neurodegeneration that undergo LLPS and their involvement in the DNA damage response

DAVID The First 6U Cubesat Mission of the Italian Space Agency Programme Iperdrone as Demonstration of New On Orbit Services Performed by Space Drones

The Italian Space Agency is promoting a roadmap for the design, manufacturing and operation of a new space reentry drone. The Iperdrone program will qualify a new type of operative mission, through an incremental phased approach. The program includes, as first step, the demonstration of inspection services for the International Space Station, optimizing the EVA activities and increasing the in space experimentation opportunities. The paper will present the status of development of the first mission, which will demonstrate the system\u27s capabilities such as proximity operations, inspection and interaction with a target, including a close rendez-vous demonstration. The first mission, DAVID to be launched within 2023, is based on a 6U cubesat architecture

Prevalence, sensitivity and specificity of antibodies against carbamylated proteins in a monocentric cohort of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune rheumatic diseases

Antibodies against carbamylated proteins (anti-CarP) have been recently identified in the sera of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The objective of the study was to evaluate the prevalence, sensitivity and specificity of anti-CarP compared to anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies (ACPA) and rheumatoid factor (RF), replicating the existing data in a large cohort of Italian patients with RA and extending the evaluation to other autoimmune rheumatic diseases (AIRDs)

Touch Imprinting Cytology may be useful in the intraoperative evaluation of the sentinel lymph node in melanoma

The aim of the study was to assess whether the reliability of Touch Imprinting Cytology (TIC) of Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in skin melanoma patients allows intraoperative decisions regarding simultaneous radical lymphadenectomy to be made. Previous experiences have shown that the limit of TIC in extemporaneous diagnosis was represented by the minimal deposits of the tumor. Many current data seem to show that in this situation radical lymphadenectomy is no longer necessary, so we wondered if TIC could regain importance in the intraoperative management of these patients

Secondary Structures of MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2 Spike Proteins Revealed by Infrared Vibrational Spectroscopy

All coronaviruses are characterized by spike glycoproteins whose S1 subunits contain the receptor binding domain (RBD). The RBD anchors the virus to the host cellular membrane to regulate the virus transmissibility and infectious process. Although the protein/receptor interaction mainly depends on the spike’s conformation, particularly on its S1 unit, their secondary structures are poorly known. In this paper, the S1 conformation was investigated for MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2 at serological pH by measuring their Amide I infrared absorption bands. The SARS-CoV-2 S1 secondary structure revealed a strong difference compared to those of MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV, with a significant presence of extended β-sheets. Furthermore, the conformation of the SARS-CoV-2 S1 showed a significant change by moving from serological pH to mild acidic and alkaline pH conditions. Both results suggest the capability of infrared spectroscopy to follow the secondary structure adaptation of the SARS-CoV-2 S1 to different environments

Designer drugs on the Internet : a phenomenon out-of-control? : The emergence of hallucinogenic drug Bromo-Dragonfly

Copyright Bentham Science PublishersBased on the material available in both the scientific literature and on the web, the present paper provides an updated pharmacological, chemical, toxicological and behavioural overview of Bromo-Dragonfly (1-(8-bromobenzo[1,2- b;4,5-b']difuran-4-yl)-2-aminopropane; 'B-fly'). B-Fly is a powerful, long lasting, LSD-like, hallucinogenic drug, which has been associated with a number of acute intoxications and fatalities in a number of countries. A critical discussion of the potential of misuse of B-fly but also of the methodological limitations, which are intrinsically associated with the analysis of online, non-peer reviewed, material, is presented. It is concluded that the availability of online information on novel psychoactive drugs, such as B-fly, may constitute a public health challenge. Better international collaboration levels may be needed to tackle this novel and fast growing phenomenonPeer reviewe