Deep learning techniques applied to skin lesion classification: a review

Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. The most dangerous type of skin cancer is melanoma, which can be lethal if not treated early. However, diagnosing skin lesions can be a difficult task. Therefore, deep learning techniques applied to the diagnosis of skin lesions have been explored by researchers, given their effectiveness in extracting features and classifying input data. In this work, we present a review of latest approaches that apply deep learning techniques to skin lesion classification task. In addition, some datasets used for training and validating the models are introduced, informing their characteristics and specificities, as well as popular pre-processing steps and skin lesion segmentation approaches. Finally, we comment the effectiveness of the proposed models.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

AgroDB - integration of database management systems with crop models.

IEMS

The crystal structure of Staufen1 in complex with a physiological RNA sheds light on substrate selectivity

This is the final version. Available from Life Science Alliance via the DOI in this recordDuring mRNA localization, RNA-binding proteins interact with specific structured mRNA localization motifs. Although several such motifs have been identified, we have limited structural information on how these interact with RNA-binding proteins. Staufen proteins bind structured mRNA motifs through dsRNA-binding domains (dsRBD) and are involved in mRNA localization in Drosophila and mammals. We solved the structure of two dsRBDs of human Staufen1 in complex with a physiological dsRNA sequence. We identified interactions between the dsRBDs and the RNA sugar–phosphate backbone and direct contacts of conserved Staufen residues to RNA bases. Mutating residues mediating nonspecific backbone interactions only affected Staufen function in Drosophila when in vitro binding was severely reduced. Conversely, residues involved in base-directed interactions were required in vivo even when they minimally affected in vitro binding. Our work revealed that Staufen can read sequence features in the minor groove of dsRNA and suggests that these influence target selection in vivo.This project received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013), ERC grant agreement no. 310957, and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (FOR2333, BO3588/2-1 to F Bono)

The bicoid mRNA localization factor Exuperantia is an RNA-binding pseudonuclease.

This is the author accepted manuscript.Final version available from Nature Research via the DOI in this record.Anterior patterning in Drosophila is mediated by the localization of bicoid (bcd) mRNA at the anterior pole of the oocyte. Exuperantia (Exu) is a putative exonuclease (EXO) associated with bcd and required for its localization. We present the crystal structure of Exu, which reveals a dimeric assembly with each monomer consisting of a 3'-5' EXO-like domain and a sterile alpha motif (SAM)-like domain. The catalytic site is degenerate and inactive. Instead, the EXO-like domain mediates dimerization and RNA binding. We show that Exu binds RNA directly in vitro, that the SAM-like domain is required for RNA binding activity and that Exu binds a structured element present in the bcd 3' untranslated region with high affinity. Through structure-guided mutagenesis, we show that Exu dimerization is essential for bcd localization. Our data demonstrate that Exu is a noncanonical RNA-binding protein with EXO-SAM-like domain architecture that interacts with its target RNA as a homodimer.This project received funding from the Max Planck Gesellschaft, the European Research Council under the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013), ERC grant agreement no. 310957 and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (SFB860 to K.K. and H.U., and BO3588/2-1 to F.B.)

Identification of key receptor residues discriminating human chorionic gonadotropin (Hcg)-and luteinizing hormone (lh)-specific signaling

(1) The human luteinizing hormone (LH)/chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) receptor (LHCGR) discriminates its two hormone ligands and differs from the murine receptor (Lhr) in amino acid residues potentially involved in qualitative discerning of LH and hCG. The latter gon-adotropin is absent in rodents. The aim of the study is to identify LHCGR residues involved in hCG/LH discrimination. (2) Eight LHCGR cDNAs were developed, carrying “murinizing” mutations on aminoacidic residues assumed to interact specifically with LH, hCG, or both. HEK293 cells expressing a mutant or the wild type receptor were treated with LH or hCG and the kinetics of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated ki-nases 1/2 (pERK1/2) activation was analyzed by bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET). (3) Mutations falling within the receptor leucine reach repeat 9 and 10 (LRR9 and LRR10; K225S +T226I and R247T), of the large extracellular binding domain, are linked to loss of hormone-specific induced cAMP increase, as well as hCG-specific pERK1/2 activation, leading to a Lhr-like modulation of the LHCGR-mediated intracellular signaling pattern. These results support the hypothesis that LHCGR LRR domain is the interaction site of the hormone β-L2 loop, which differs between LH and hCG, and might be fundamental for inducing gonadotropin-specific signals. (4) Taken to-gether, these data identify LHCGR key residues likely evolved in the human to discriminate LH/hCG specific binding

The “hitchhiker’s guide to the galaxy” of endothelial dysfunction markers in human fertility

Endothelial dysfunction is an early event in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and represents the first step in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. The evaluation of endothelial health is fundamental in clinical practice and several direct and indirect markers have been suggested so far to identify any alterations in endothelial homeostasis. Alongside the known endothelial role on vascular health, several pieces of evidence have demonstrated that proper endothelial functioning plays a key role in human fertility and reproduction. Therefore, this stateof‐the‐art review updates the endothelial health markers discriminating between those available for clinical practice or for research purposes and their application in human fertility. Moreover, new molecules potentially helpful to clarify the link between endothelial and reproductive health are evaluated herein

Valores de digestibilidade e composição química e bromatológica de alguns alimentos para suínos.

bitstream/item/58794/1/CUsersPiazzonDocuments152.pd

Polygenic Susceptibility to Papillary Thyroid Cancer in Italian Subjects.

olygenic Susceptibility to Papillary Thyroid Cancer in Italian Subjects INTRODUCTION AND AIM. Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine neoplasia, with an estimated age- standardized incidence rate of 6.7 per 100000 worldwide in 2018 [1]. This rate is rapidly increasing and papillary thy- roid carcinoma (PTC) is the main histotype. PTC suscepti- bility is the result of genetic predisposition, environmental factors and lifestyle. We studied the genetic combination that characterizes PTC affected subjects, differentiating them from healthy controls. METHODS AND RESULTS. We considered the genetic variants (SNPs) significantly associated with PTC on the PubMed database. 184 informative SNPs were selected, considering linkage disequilibrium. Then, SNPs data were extracted from the online 1000 Genomes database,comprising genome of 2504 unselected individuals col- lected worldwide. The combination of 184 SNPs associ- ated with PTC was used to group individuals in different risk-clusters according to their genetic structure, calcu- lated by Bayesian statistics, as previously performed for polycystic ovary syndrome [2]. Individuals were distrib- uted among 7 groups worldwide, indicating different de- gree of genetic predisposition to PTC. We then considered genetic data from about 1200 individuals (697 PTC versus 497 healthy controls) of Central/South Italian origin reg- istered in a GWAS, specific for PTC [3]. This first analysis was refined using the 33 SNPs reasonably most causa- tive of genetic clustering (26 with p<0.05 at trend test in GWAS and 7 with p<0.05 in the model of recessive inher- itance). At multivariate logistic regression analysis, PTC and healthy controls resulted genetically different (ODDS RATIO 188.6, 95%CI 64.35-552.8), revealing diverse pre- disposition to develop cancer. Afterwards, these results have been confirmed in an independent cohort of Italian subjects (234 PTC and 100 controls). Then, the genetic structure of each subject was indicated as a percentage of affinity to each risk-cluster and re-analyzed together with other risk factors: sex, body-mass index, area of origin and familiarity (quantified in a growing score as the degree of kinship increases). These data were analyzed together by principal component analysis and clustering of the two groups was even more pronounced. The most contributive factors to the diversity between PTC and healthy controls were genetics and familiarity. CONCLUSION. We demonstrated that PTC affected subjects are genetically different from healthy controls, and that the difference is identifiable in a peculiar combi- nation of genetic variants