A Multi Expert Decision Support Tool for the Evaluation of Advanced Wastewater Treatment Trains: A Novel Approach to Improve Urban Sustainability

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Elsevier via the DOI in this record.Wastewater Treatment (WWT) for water reuse applications has been accepted as a strategic solution in improving water supplies across the globe; however, there are still various challenges that should be overcome. Selection of practical solutions is then required whilst considering technical, environmental, socio-cultural, and financial factors. In this study, a multi expert decision support tool that considers a variety of evaluation criteria is proposed to provide a ranking system for competing advanced WWT technologies in terms of their performance. Two scenarios of water reuse in the contexts of Brazil and Greece are defined, and evaluation is undertaken based on opinions of water reuse experts. The results prove that the tool would successfully facilitate rigorous and methodical analysis in evaluation of WWT technologies for water reuse applications with potential for use under various sets of evaluation criteria, WWT technologies and contexts

Coupling changes in cell shape to chromosome segregation

Animal cells undergo dramatic changes in shape, mechanics and polarity as they progress through the different stages of cell division. These changes begin at mitotic entry, with cell–substrate adhesion remodelling, assembly of a cortical actomyosin network and osmotic swelling, which together enable cells to adopt a near spherical form even when growing in a crowded tissue environment. These shape changes, which probably aid spindle assembly and positioning, are then reversed at mitotic exit to restore the interphase cell morphology. Here, we discuss the dynamics, regulation and function of these processes, and how cell shape changes and sister chromatid segregation are coupled to ensure that the daughter cells generated through division receive their fair inheritance

Combined radiation and PD-L1 blockade improved tumor control in mouse head and neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC)

Purpose/Objective(s): Expression of the negative immune regulatory molecule, programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) by tumor cells is associated with T cell dysfunction, attenuated antitumor immune responses, and poor clinical outcomes. Blocking the interaction between PD-L1 and its receptor, programmed death-1 (PD-1), expressed on activated CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) enhances antitumor activity. Radiation induces cell death and is known to result in the release of tumor-associated antigens capable of triggering antitumor responses as well as enhancing antigen presentation. Radiation therapy (RT) is a commonly used treatment for locally advanced or recurrent HNSCC. In the current study, we examined the effect of radiation on major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) and PD-L1 expression on HNSCC cell lines, and whether the combination of RT and PD-L1 blockade will improve tumor control

Operational Ontology for Oncology (O3) – A Professional Society Based, Multi-Stakeholder, Consensus Driven Informatics Standard Supporting Clinical and Research use of “Real -World” Data from Patients Treated for Cancer Operational Ontology for Radiation Oncology

PurposeThe ongoing lack of data standardization severely undermines the potential for automated learning from the vast amount of information routinely archived in electronic health records (EHRs), Radiation Oncology Information Systems (ROIS), treatment planning systems (TPSs), and other cancer care and outcomes databases. The effort sought to create a standardized ontology for clinical data, social determinants of health (SDOH), and other radiation oncology concepts and interrelationships.Methods and materialsThe American Association of Physicists in Medicine's (AAPM's) Big Data Science Committee (BDSC) was initiated July of 2019 to explore common ground from the stakeholders' collective experience of issues that typically compromise the formation of large inter- and intra- institutional databases from EHRs. The BDSC adopted an iterative, cyclical approach to engaging stakeholders beyond its membership to optimize the integration of diverse perspectives from the community.ResultsWe developed the Operational Ontology for Oncology (O3) which identified 42 key elements, 359 attributes, 144 value sets, and 155 relationships ranked in relative importance of clinical significance, likelihood of availability in EHRs, or the ability to modify routine clinical processes to permit aggregation. Recommendations are provided for best use and development of the O3 to four constituencies: device manufacturers, centers of clinical care, researchers, and professional societies.ConclusionsO3 is designed to extend and interoperate with existing global infrastructure and data science standards. The implementation of these recommendations will lower the barriers for aggregation of information that could be used creating large, representative, findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable (FAIR) datasets supporting the scientific objectives of grant programs. The construction of comprehensive "real world" datasets and application of advanced analytic techniques, including artificial intelligence (AI), holds the potential to revolutionize patient management and improve outcomes by leveraging increased access to information derived from larger, more representative datasets