Autoencoder-based multimodal prediction of non-small cell lung cancer survival

The ability to accurately predict non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patient survival is crucial for informing physician decision-making, and the increasing availability of multi-omics data offers the promise of enhancing prognosis predictions. We present a multimodal integration approach that leverages microRNA, mRNA, DNA methylation, long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) and clinical data to predict NSCLC survival and identify patient subtypes, utilizing denoising autoencoders for data compression and integration. Survival performance for patients with lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) was compared across modality combinations and data integration methods. Using The Cancer Genome Atlas data, our results demonstrate that survival prediction models combining multiple modalities outperform single modality models. The highest performance was achieved with a combination of only two modalities, lncRNA and clinical, at concordance indices (C-indices) of 0.69 ± 0.03 for LUAD and 0.62 ± 0.03 for LUSC. Models utilizing all five modalities achieved mean C-indices of 0.67 ± 0.04 and 0.63 ± 0.02 for LUAD and LUSC, respectively, while the best individual modality performance reached C-indices of 0.64 ± 0.03 for LUAD and 0.59 ± 0.03 for LUSC. Analysis of biological differences revealed two distinct survival subtypes with over 900 differentially expressed transcripts

VeSTIS: A Versatile Semi- Automatic Taxon Identification System from Digital Images

In this work we present a flexible Open Source software platform for training classifiers capable of identifying the taxonomy of a specimen from digital images. We demonstrate the performance of our system in a pilot study, building a feed-forward artificial neural network to effectively classify five different species of marine annelid worms of the class Polychaeta. We also discuss on the extensibility of the system, and its potential uses either as a research tool or in assisting routine taxon identification procedures

THE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF FESTIVAL CELEBRATIONS ON THE ISLAND OF RHODES, GREECE, DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

This research paper aims to study the function of the traditional festivals on the island of Rhodes during the period of the COVID-19 pandemic in order to explore community members and official institution representatives’ views on their psychological and socio-economic consequences. A structured interview was designed, which was given online to 168 subjects, of which 96 community members in the villages of the island of Rhodes and to 72 official institutions, representatives of cultural and local authorities, within the context of the beginning of the festivities with some restrictions, in August 2021, in the light of the pandemic. The results of the research show that the majority of community members and official institution representatives of the sample emphasize the communicative, cultural, recreational, and social dimensions of the festivals, however, some claim that there are no longer events that arise interest. Regarding their cancellation during the pandemic period, the majority of community members answer that the entertainment - communication sector was most affected, while the representatives of the institutions emphasize the economic consequences. In general, regarding the consequences of the pandemic on the behavior and psychology of individuals, introversion, isolation, antisociality, belligerence, tension and nervousness, are emphasized, while mistrust seems to prevail even in close family settings. Moreover, the majority of community members and representatives emphasize that social offer and solidarity are not exhibited to a satisfactory degree, while volunteering activities are limited. Regarding the pandemic, vaccination is suggested as the most effective means, mainly by the official institution representatives. Regarding the events of 2021 that shocked them most, the community members focus on economic, social and psychological - personal problems, while the official institution representatives focus on environmental and economic problems. Finally, most of them state that they do not want the transformation of festivals, however, they regard the emphasis on tradition as a sustainable perspective of local festivals.  Article visualizations

Enabling planetary science across light-years. Ariel Definition Study Report

Ariel, the Atmospheric Remote-sensing Infrared Exoplanet Large-survey, was adopted as the fourth medium-class mission in ESA's Cosmic Vision programme to be launched in 2029. During its 4-year mission, Ariel will study what exoplanets are made of, how they formed and how they evolve, by surveying a diverse sample of about 1000 extrasolar planets, simultaneously in visible and infrared wavelengths. It is the first mission dedicated to measuring the chemical composition and thermal structures of hundreds of transiting exoplanets, enabling planetary science far beyond the boundaries of the Solar System. The payload consists of an off-axis Cassegrain telescope (primary mirror 1100 mm x 730 mm ellipse) and two separate instruments (FGS and AIRS) covering simultaneously 0.5-7.8 micron spectral range. The satellite is best placed into an L2 orbit to maximise the thermal stability and the field of regard. The payload module is passively cooled via a series of V-Groove radiators; the detectors for the AIRS are the only items that require active cooling via an active Ne JT cooler. The Ariel payload is developed by a consortium of more than 50 institutes from 16 ESA countries, which include the UK, France, Italy, Belgium, Poland, Spain, Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Hungary, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Estonia, and a NASA contribution

A self-adaptive service provisioning framework for 3G+/4G mobile applications

In light of the increasing acceptance of the notion of next generation networks (NGN), which results from the convergence of the fixed and mobile telecommunications, Internet, and entertainment sectors, there is a need for the realization of next-generation service delivery platforms to allow seamless and adaptive provisioning of multimedia information and communication services to mobile users. This means that in such an NGN environment different end systems, access networks, and service platforms have to be integrated. For this highly heterogeneous communications and services environment, we propose a self-adaptive service provisioning middleware framework (ASPF), which, by interoperating with existing wireless and wireline service delivery platforms, aims to enable seamless omnipresent service provisioning to mobile users anywhere, anytime, and in any context. The ASPF is intended to "liberate" applications from space and time limitations, networks, platforms, and device dependences, minimize time-to-market constraints, and eliminate major hurdles that hinder the rapid deployment of new mobile services and applications. Key to this goal is interworking/integration with current SDPs, such as IN/CAMEL, OSA/Parlay, and the emerging IMS