On the Hybridization of Geometric Semantic GP with Gradient-based Optimizers

Pietropolli, G., Manzoni, L., Paoletti, A., & Castelli, M. (2023). On the Hybridization of Geometric Semantic GP with Gradient-based Optimizers. Genetic Programming And Evolvable Machines, 24(2 Special Issue on Highlights of Genetic Programming 2022 Events), 1-20. [16]. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-2229748/v1, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10710-023-09463-1---Open access funding provided by Università degli Studi di Trieste within the CRUI-CARE Agreement. This work was supported by national funds through FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia), under the Project—UIDB/04152/2020—Centro de Investigação em Gestão de Informação (MagIC)/NOVA IMSGeometric semantic genetic programming (GSGP) is a popular form of GP where the effect of crossover and mutation can be expressed as geometric operations on a semantic space. A recent study showed that GSGP can be hybridized with a standard gradient-based optimized, Adam, commonly used in training artificial neural networks.We expand upon that work by considering more gradient-based optimizers, a deeper investigation of their parameters, how the hybridization is performed, and a more comprehensive set of benchmark problems. With the correct choice of hyperparameters, this hybridization improves the performances of GSGP and allows it to reach the same fitness values with fewer fitness evaluations.publishersversionepub_ahead_of_prin

A Modified Intraoral Resin Mouthguard to Prevent Self-Mutilations in Lesch-Nyhan Patients

Lesch-Nyhan syndrome, described in 1964 by Lesch and Nyhan, is a X-linked recessive disorder, occurring in 1 : 100000 to 1 : 380000 live births. LNS is characterized by a decrease in activity of hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyl transferase, an enzyme involved in purine metabolism, resulting in overproduction of uric acid. Hyperuricemia and neurological features including choreoathetoid spasticity, self-mutilation, and mental retardation clinically characterize this syndrome. In LNS patients the typical feature is loss of tissue from biting themselves with partial or complete amputation of fingers, lips, and tongue. The self-mutilation compares with the eruption of the deciduous teeth. Several drugs trials have been administered to improve self-destructive behavior and invasive treatment approaches, such as extractions of teeth and orthognathic surgery, have been suggested with variable effectiveness. Nowadays prevention is, therefore, the standard of care. The role of dentistry is essential in the management of the self-mutilating behavior, because the teeth represent the main self-injury instrument. This report presents a revision of various therapeutic approaches to manage self-destruction, highlighting the effectiveness of a preventive treatment. It describes a new technique: a resin mouthguard, realized at Gaslini Hospital, to obtain immediate healing of the oral lesions, confirmed in the follow-up period

Psychological, emotional and social impairments are associated with adherence and healthcare spending in type 2 diabetic patients: an observational study

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to assess the association among anxiety, depression, stress, social support and emotional abilities with adherence and healthcare spending in type 2 diabetic patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty-four patients were enrolled and completed: Interpersonal Processes of Care (IPC), 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), Rapid Stress Assessment Scale (RSAS), Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-4), International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)-Short Form and a socio-anamnestic questionnaire regarding also the healthcare spending. RESULTS: Mathematical linear regressions models were performed showing the predictive effects of: anxiety and social support scores (RSAS) on adherence levels (respectively p =. 019; p =. 016); adherence levels on anxiolytic use (p =.04); aggressiveness scores (RSAS) on the number of general check-ups (p =.031); TAS-20 and physician-patient communication (IPC) on the number of hospitalization days (respectively p=.001; p=.008); physician patient decision making (IPC) scores on physical activity (IPAQ) levels (p=.025); physical activity (IPAQ) on the number of medical examinations (p=.039). CONCLUSIONS: An association among psychosocial impairment, adherence and health- care spending was found. Future studies should investigate the effect of a brief psychological intervention in increasing adherence levels and reducing the healthcare spending in this clinical population

Towards an automated approach to map flooded areas from Sentinel-2 MSI data and soft integration of water spectral features

Abstract In this work we propose an approach for mapping flooded areas from Sentinel-2 MSI (Multispectral Instrument) data based on soft fuzzy integration of evidence scores derived from both band combinations (i.e. Spectral Indices - SIs) and components of the Hue, Saturation and Value (HSV) colour transformation. Evidence scores are integrated with Ordered Weighted Averaging (OWA) operators, which model user's decision attitude varying smoothly between optimistic and pessimistic approach. Output is a map of global evidence degree showing the plausibility of being flooded for each pixel of the input Sentinel-2 (S2) image. Algorithm set up and validation were carried out with data over three sites in Italy where water surfaces are extracted from stable water bodies (lakes and rivers), natural hazard flooding, and irrigated paddy rice fields. Validation showed more than satisfactory accuracy for the OR-like OWA operators (F-score > 0.90) with performance slightly decreased (F-scor

Malignant Versus Benign Tumors of the Sinonasal Cavity: A Case-Control Study on Occupational Etiology

Case-control studies on malignant sinonasal tumors and occupational risk factors are generally weakened by non-occupational confounders and the selection of suitable controls. This study aimed to confirm the association between sinonasal malignant tumors and patients' occupations with consideration for sinonasal inverted papillomas (SNIPs) as a control group. Thirty-two patients affected by adenocarcinoma (ADC) and 21 non-adenocarcinoma epithelial tumors (NAETs) were compared to 65 patients diagnosed with SNIPs. All patients were recruited in the same clinical setting between 2004 and 2016. A questionnaire was used to collect information on non-occupational factors (age, sex, smoking, allergies, and chronic sinusitis) and occupations (wood- and leather-related occupations, textile industry, metal working). Odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) associated with selected occupations were obtained by a multinomial and exact logistic regression. Between the three groups of patients, SNIP patients were significantly younger than ADC patients (p = 0.026). The risk of NAET increased in woodworkers (OR = 9.42; CI = 1.94\u207b45.6) and metal workers (OR = 5.65; CI = 1.12\u207b28.6). The risk of ADC increased in wood (OR = 86.3; CI = 15.2\u207b488) and leather workers (OR = 119.4; CI = 11.3\u207b1258). On the exact logistic regression, the OR associated to the textile industry was 9.32 (95%CI = 1.10\u207bInf) for ADC, and 7.21 (95%CI = 0.55\u207bInf) for NAET. Comparing sinonasal malignant tumors with controls recruited from the same clinical setting allowed demonstrating an increased risk associated with multiple occupations. Well-matched samples of cases and controls reduced the confounding bias and increased the strength of the association

A Topical Desiccant Agent in Association with Manual Debridement in the Initial Treatment of Peri-Implant Mucositis: A Clinical and Microbiological Pilot Study

In patients presenting mucositis, effective sub-gingival debridement is crucial to prevent peri-implantitis. The aim of this randomized study was to assess the three-month (T1) effects of a locally delivered liquid desiccant agent with molecular hygroscopic properties, in association with manual debridement, at sites with peri-implant mucositis. Twenty-three patients presenting at least one implant with no radiographically detectable bone loss, a pocket probing depth (PPD) 65 4 mm, and bleeding on probing (BOP), were included. At baseline (T0), patients were randomly assigned to receive the aforementioned desiccant agent before debridement (Test-Group), or a Chlorhexidine 1% disinfectant gel after debridement (Control-Group). Treatments were repeated after seven and 14 days. Peri-implant soft tissue assessment [PPD, BOP, Modified Bleeding Index (mBI), Visible Plaque Index (VPI), and Modified Plaque Index (mPLI)] and microbial sampling were performed at T0 and T1. At T1 the Test-Group presented significantly greater reductions for BOP, mBI, VPI, and mPLI. Concerning the deepest sites of the treated implants, both groups showed statistically significant reductions for BOP and mBI between T0 and T1. Furthermore, the Test-Group exhibited a significant decrease in anaerobic bacteria. Despite these valid outcomes, a complete resolution of the inflammatory conditions was not achieved by any of the groups

Antioxidant and Ex Vivo Immune System Regulatory Properties of Boswellia serrata Extracts

Boswellia serrata (BS) is an important traditional medicinal plant that currently represents an interesting topic for pharmaceutical research since it possesses several pharmacological properties (e.g., anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antitumour). The safety and versatility of this dietary supplement should allow for its use in numerous pathological conditions; however the quality of the extracts needs to be standardized to increase the clinical success rate resulting from its use. In the present study, different commercially available B. serrata extracts were employed to compare their AKBA content and in vitro antioxidant power. Furthermore, their ability to modulate the immune system regulatory properties was investigated. Our results showed that the AKBA content varied from 3.83 ± 0.10 to 0.03 ± 0.004%, with one sample in which it was not detectable. The highest antioxidant power and phenolic content were shown by the same extract, which also exhibited the highest AKBA concentration. Finally, the BS extracts showed the ability to influence the regulatory and effector T-cell compartments. Our results suggest that frankincense should be further investigated for its promising potentiality to modulate not only inflammation/oxidative stress but also immune dysregulation, but attention should be paid to the composition of the commercial extracts

Maternal and Neonatal Behaviour in Italian Mediterranean Buffaloes

The aim of this study was to describe the neonatal and maternal behaviour of Italian Mediterranean buffaloes. Thirty primiparous buffaloes were moved into individual pens 12.5 (±2.5) days before calving. Maternal and neonatal behaviours were recorded for 48 h after calving and the analysis was performed in continuous sampling with the software BORIS. Calves’ clinical evaluations (temperature, weight, and heart and respiratory rates) were performed at different time intervals and correlated with behavioural data from the dam. Data were analysed with parametric and non-parametric methods after controlling their distribution. The maternal behavioural pattern found highlighted buffaloes’ priorities during the post-partum period: firstly, they stand and start grooming to ensure proper care for the calf; it is only after this that they dedicate time to maintenance behaviours (feeding and lying). The dams mainly groomed the calf during the first six hours after calving (average time in the 1–6-h interval: 7.7 ± 2.5 min., F = (2.5, 60.2) = 75.0; p < 0.001) to ensure the formation of the mother–infant bond; thereafter, the behaviour decreased over time. As reported in the literature, inexperienced mothers could sometimes delay the calf’s first suckling with aggressive or rejection behaviours. In this regard, 16 buffalo dams showed at least one maternal rejection behaviour, which was found to negatively correlate with calves’ daily weight gain (DWG) at 14 (rs = −0.5, p = 0.02) and 21 days (rs = −0.7, p < 0.001). The calves took on average 212.0 ± 110.0 min to suckle, and this behaviour was mainly shown during the first six hours. Overall, suckling behaviour was correlated with standing: (rs = 0.6, p < 0.001) and walking (rs = 0.9, p < 0.001). The calves’ live weight and DWG were consistently higher than the values reported in the literature. Our results present a detailed description of maternal and neonatal behaviour in the early post-partum period in Italian Mediterranean buffaloes. We also found that maternal rejection behaviours can negatively influence the calves’ growth. Finally, we think that such results can improve the management of buffaloes during the period around parturition

Immature ovarian teratoma in two heifers

A 15 months-old Simmental heifer (SH) and a 18 months-old Marchigiana heifer (MH) were referred to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Teramo (Italy). In the first heifer, clinical examination of the vulva, vestibulum, and vagina showed no signs of disease and no discharge was detected. Palpation per rectum revealed a mass in the left portion of the abdominal cavity, closely attached to the tip of the left uterine horn. The mass was mainly firm and fibrous and its surface was slightly lobulated. The second heifer had a history of a regular cycle from the 11thto the 14thmonth of age followed by an anoestrus state. Gynecological examination revealed the presence of a large and firm mass in the caudal left region of the abdomen, soon over the edge of the pelvis floor. In both cases, the histologica examination of the mass revealed an immature ovarian teratoma

The biological interplay between air pollutants and miRNAs regulation in cancer

Air pollution, especially fine particulate matter (PM2.5, with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 2.5 μm), represents a risk factor for human health. Many studies, regarding cancer onset and progression, correlated with the short and/or long exposition to PM2.5. This is mainly mediated by the ability of PM2.5 to reach the pulmonary alveoli by penetrating into the blood circulation. This review recapitulates the methodologies used to study PM2.5 in cellular models and the downstream effects on the main molecular pathways implicated in cancer. We report a set of data from the literature, that describe the involvement of miRNAs or long noncoding RNAs on the main biological processes involved in oxidative stress, inflammation, autophagy (PI3K), cell proliferation (NFkB, STAT3), and EMT (Notch, AKT, Wnt/β-catenin) pathways. microRNAs, as well as gene expression profile, responds to air pollution environment modulating some key genes involved in epigenetic modification or in key mediators of the biological processes described below. In this review, we provide some scientific evidences about the thigh correlation between miRNAs dysregulation, PM2.5 exposition, and gene pathways involved in cancer progression