Platinum Salts in Patients with Breast Cancer: A Focus on Predictive Factors

Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequent oncologic cause of death among women and the improvement of its treatments is compelling. Platinum salts (e.g., carboplatin, cisplatin, and oxaliplatin) are old drugs still used to treat BC, especially the triple-negative subgroup. However, only a subset of patients see a concrete benefit from these drugs, raising the question of how to select them properly. Therefore, predictive biomarkers for platinum salts in BC still represent an unmet clinical need. Here, we review clinical and preclinical works in order to summarize the current evidence about predictive or putative platinum salt biomarkers in BC. The association between BRCA1/2 gene mutations and platinum sensitivity has been largely described. However, beyond the mutations of these two genes, several other proteins belonging to the homologous recombination pathways have been linked to platinum response, defining the concept of BRCAness. Several works, here reviewed, have tried to capture BRCAness through different strategies, such as homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) score and genetic signatures. Moreover, p53 and its family members (p63 and p73) might also be used as predictors of platinum response. Finally, we describe the mounting preclinical evidence regarding base excision repair deficiency as a possible new platinum biomarker

Infrared illuminator prototype for active vision system

The illumination source, which constitutes the active part of a 2D or 3D vision system, will be specifically studied to be employed with the designed sensor. In this document are reported the main characteristics of different infrared illuminator studied, designed and fabricated by SOI. The devices are developed to work as in pulsed operation mode as in continuous modulated operation mode, giving high flexibility in terms of working principle and flooding illumination characteristics

Activity monitoring for elderly in home environment: advantages of 3D vision sensors

Activity monitoring, especially for the elderly, are important not only for the health aspects regarding the assisted people, but also for social advantages (prevention, protection, care‑giver institution services, etc.). Emerging sensing technologies allow sensible improvement in activity recognition and data processing, reducing false alarms and detection algorithms complexity. Advantages of 3D vision systems for indoor non-invasive activity monitoring are presented. The analysis are conducted considering the development of a robust and automatic fall detector, one of the major public health problems for the elderly, and could be extended to different AAL applications

A Multispectral Analog Photon-Counting Readout Circuit for X-ray Hybrid Pixel Detectors

In this paper, an all-analog pixel architecture for the readout of X-ray pixel detectors with multiple energy discrimination is proposed. The circuit comprises a self-triggered reset charge amplifier and three distinct channels devoted to the detection on a specific energy band. Each channel is composed of an autocalibrated comparator, an energy window identification logic, and an analog counter with an adjustable dynamic range. A test prototype has been implemented with a standard complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor 0.35 um technology. The pixel circuitry dissipates 15 uW at 3.3 V, has a noise equivalent charge of 82 e-rms at 200 fF, and allows, on each of the three channels, a dynamic range that exceeds 12 bits. The designed pixel is a square with a 109 um pitch

Netcarity: Ambient technology to support older people at home.

Netcarity is a European funded integrated project researching and testing technologies which will help older people to improve their wellbeing, independence, safety and health at home. It is developing and testing a new technology infrastructure for homes, with systems that enhance communication with friends, family and care givers; support everyday living and promote a sense of social inclusio

El gusto por lo exótico: la depredación de la cotorra de Kramer invasora por el búho chico en una zona urbana

[EN] Predation pressure by native species may limit the spread of alien invasive species, thus playing a pivotal role in the impact and implementation of management strategies. The ring–necked parakeet Psittacula krameri is one of the most widespread alien bird species in Europe, with nearly 70 established populations. Predators of this species include diurnal raptors, synanthropic corvids, and rodents. Here we report for the first time that long–eared owls Asio otus might have preyed upon parakeets in their night roosts. Analysis of 167 owl pellets showed that ring–necked parakeets made up over 10 % of the total volume of the diet of these owls in winter (32.93 % of absolute frequency), representing the most important prey species after murid rodents and passerine birds. Further studies are needed to investigate whether parakeet consumption by long–eared owls is only a local occurrence or whether it is widespread in European cities. If so, predation by long–eared owl may eventually lead to a form of parakeet control and may limit the impact of this introduced parakeet on native biodiversity.[ES] La presión predatoria que ejercen las especies nativas puede limitar la propagación de especies invasoras exóticas y, en consecuencia, tener un papel decisivo en los efectos y la aplicación de estrategias de gestión. La cotorra de Kramer, Psittacula krameri, es una de las especies de aves exóticas más extendida de Europa, donde tiene cerca de 70 po-blaciones establecidas. Entre los depredadores de esta especie se encuentran rapaces diurnas, córvidos sinantrópicos y roedores. En este estudio observamos por primera vez que el búho chico, Asio otus, puede cazar cotorras en sus dormideros. El análisis de 167 excrementos de búho chico mostró que las cotorras de Kramer constituyen el 10 % de volumen total de la dieta de estos búhos en invierno (32,93 % de frecuencia absoluta) y son la presa más importante después de los roedores múridos y las aves paseriformes. Es necesario seguir estudiando esta cuestión para analizar si el consumo de cotorras de Kramer por el búho chico es solo un fenómeno local o si se ha generalizado en las ciudades europeas. En ese caso, es posible que, la depredación por el búho chico termine suponiendo una forma de control de la cotorra y limite el impacto de esta especie introducida en la biodiversidad autóctona.We thank COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology Actions) ES1304 “ParrotNet” for their support in the development of this manuscript.Peer reviewe

A new 3D position detector for multi-sensor Ambient Assisted Living Applications

This work aims at the development of a new 3D position detector which allows the employment of cost effective solutions in an elderly home for prevention and protection purpose (fall detection, access control, intrusion, etc.). The system under development could be easily integrated in a more complex monitoring architecture and able to communicate with care holders and relatives of the assisted person through an ADSL based gateway. The research activity has been focused on the fall detection purpose, because such issue is one of the major causes of injury and fear for the elderly. The detection system is based on a custom designed 3D vision sensor specifically conceived to be produced with standard commercial CMOS processes, which is mandatory for sensor mass production and overall fabrication cost reduction

Current-Assisted Photonic Mixing Devices Fabricated on High Resistivity Silicon

Recently, the field of 3D vision has seen the development of Time-Of-Flight 3D image sensors with a resolution suitable for many application fields such as industrial control, surveillance and virtual reality. While the best performing systems employ photonic mixing devices based on gate voltage modulation, a photonic mixer based on substrate current modulation has recently been presented, which achieves excellent charge separation efficiency. The main disadvantage of this device is the high power consumption, due to the modulation current flowing into the substrate, which could be reduced by fabricating the device on a low-doped substrate. We have designed and fabricated a series of test devices on high resistivity silicon. Preliminary experimental results show charge separation efficiencies near to 100% and a intra-electrodes resistance of 5M. Provided a suitable technology is found, this device can be employed in pixels suitable for 3D image sensors

Liquid chromatography miniaturised system for agrofood applications

A liquid chromatography Si-based miniaturised system for agrofood applications, in particular for wine quality assessment, has been realized. The system is mainly based on two modules: i.) a Si-based open tubular separation column with inlet/outlet for fluidic connections and ii.) a Pt three-electrode voltammetric sensor. An ASIC integrated read-out electronics has been developed. A modular package of the two modules has been properly realized. Laboratory tests have been carried out