Showing papers by "University of Cyprus published in 2019"
Charité1, University of Groningen2, Cardiff University3, University of Rennes4, University of Milan5, National University of Singapore6, University of Liège7, Brigham and Women's Hospital8, Boston University9, Utrecht University10, University of Zurich11, University of Amsterdam12, University of Belgrade13, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens14, University of Cyprus15
TL;DR: A new stepwise diagnostic process, the 'HFA-PEFF diagnostic algorithm', is recommended, which requires comprehensive echocardiography and requires comprehensive natriuretic peptide levels and is typically performed by a cardiologist.
Abstract: Making a firm diagnosis of chronic heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) remains a challenge. We recommend a new stepwise diagnostic process, the 'HFA-PEFF diagnostic algorithm'. Step 1 (P=Pre-test assessment) is typically performed in the ambulatory setting and includes assessment for heart failure symptoms and signs, typical clinical demographics (obesity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, elderly, atrial fibrillation), and diagnostic laboratory tests, electrocardiogram, and echocardiography. In the absence of overt non-cardiac causes of breathlessness, HFpEF can be suspected if there is a normal left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction, no significant heart valve disease or cardiac ischaemia, and at least one typical risk factor. Elevated natriuretic peptides support, but normal levels do not exclude a diagnosis of HFpEF. The second step (E: Echocardiography and Natriuretic Peptide Score) requires comprehensive echocardiography and is typically performed by a cardiologist. Measures include mitral annular early diastolic velocity (e'), LV filling pressure estimated using E/e', left atrial volume index, LV mass index, LV relative wall thickness, tricuspid regurgitation velocity, LV global longitudinal systolic strain, and serum natriuretic peptide levels. Major (2 points) and Minor (1 point) criteria were defined from these measures. A score ≥5 points implies definite HFpEF; ≤1 point makes HFpEF unlikely. An intermediate score (2-4 points) implies diagnostic uncertainty, in which case Step 3 (F1 : Functional testing) is recommended with echocardiographic or invasive haemodynamic exercise stress tests. Step 4 (F2 : Final aetiology) is recommended to establish a possible specific cause of HFpEF or alternative explanations. Further research is needed for a better classification of HFpEF.
825 citations
Dresden University of Technology1, Brigham and Women's Hospital2, University of California, San Francisco3, University of Düsseldorf4, University of Pisa5, Northwestern University6, Medical University of Vienna7, University of Cyprus8, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens9, Medical University of South Carolina10, University of Cambridge11, University of Barcelona12, University Health Network13, The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research14, Toronto Western Hospital15, University of California, Los Angeles16, Humboldt University of Berlin17, Copenhagen University Hospital18, University of Michigan19, Harvard University20, University of the Basque Country21, University of Crete22, University of Kiel23, University Hospital Centre Zagreb24, University of Paris-Sud25, University of Hong Kong26, University of Calgary27, Hospital for Special Surgery28, University of Pécs29, University of Padua30, Medical University of Graz31, National Institutes of Health32, New York University33, Université Paris-Saclay34, University Hospital Complex Of Vigo35, University of Occupational and Environmental Health Japan36, University of Porto37, University of Leeds38, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust39, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center40, Istanbul Bilim University41, McMaster University42, University of Paris43, University of Toronto44
TL;DR: These new classification criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus have excellent sensitivity and specificity, and were developed using rigorous methodology with multidisciplinary and international input.
Abstract: Objective To develop new classification criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) jointly supported by the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) and the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). Methods This international initiative had four phases. (1) Evaluation of antinuclear antibody (ANA) as an entry criterion through systematic review and meta-regression of the literature and criteria generation through an international Delphi exercise, an early patient cohort and a patient survey. (2) Criteria reduction by Delphi and nominal group technique exercises. (3) Criteria definition and weighting based on criterion performance and on results of a multi-criteria decision analysis. (4) Refinement of weights and threshold scores in a new derivation cohort of 1001 subjects and validation compared with previous criteria in a new validation cohort of 1270 subjects. Results The 2019 EULAR/ACR classification criteria for SLE include positive ANA at least once as obligatory entry criterion; followed by additive weighted criteria grouped in seven clinical (constitutional, haematological, neuropsychiatric, mucocutaneous, serosal, musculoskeletal, renal) and three immunological (antiphospholipid antibodies, complement proteins, SLE-specific antibodies) domains, and weighted from 2 to 10. Patients accumulating ≥10 points are classified. In the validation cohort, the new criteria had a sensitivity of 96.1% and specificity of 93.4%, compared with 82.8% sensitivity and 93.4% specificity of the ACR 1997 and 96.7% sensitivity and 83.7% specificity of the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics 2012 criteria. Conclusion These new classification criteria were developed using rigorous methodology with multidisciplinary and international input, and have excellent sensitivity and specificity. Use of ANA entry criterion, hierarchically clustered and weighted criteria reflect current thinking about SLE and provide an improved foundation for SLE research.
606 citations
University of Hasselt1, University Medical Center Groningen2, University of Helsinki3, University of Paris4, Maastricht University5, Yale University6, Cleveland Clinic7, University of Florence8, University of Lorraine9, University of Brescia10, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens11, University of Cyprus12, University of Belgrade13, University of Zurich14
TL;DR: The manuscript addresses frequently encountered challenges, such as evaluation of congestion and clinical euvolaemia, assessment of diuretic response/resistance in the treatment of acute heart failure, and an approach towards stepped pharmacologic diUREtic strategies, based upon diuretics response.
Abstract: The vast majority of acute heart failure episodes are characterized by increasing symptoms and signs of congestion with volume overload. The goal of therapy in those patients is the relief of congestion through achieving a state of euvolaemia, mainly through the use of diuretic therapy. The appropriate use of diuretics however remains challenging, especially when worsening renal function, diuretic resistance and electrolyte disturbances occur. This position paper focuses on the use of diuretics in heart failure with congestion. The manuscript addresses frequently encountered challenges, such as (i) evaluation of congestion and clinical euvolaemia, (ii) assessment of diuretic response/resistance in the treatment of acute heart failure, (iii) an approach towards stepped pharmacologic diuretic strategies, based upon diuretic response, and (iv) management of common electrolyte disturbances. Recommendations are made in line with available guidelines, evidence and expert opinion.
498 citations
Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts1, Wrocław Medical University2, Charité3, Hannover Medical School4, Robertson Centre for Biostatistics5, National Institutes of Health6, University Medical Center Groningen7, Rabin Medical Center8, Tel Aviv University9, Queen's University Belfast10, University of Ljubljana11, Technion – Israel Institute of Technology12, University of Cambridge13, University of Brescia14, University of Zagreb15, University of London16, University of Cyprus17, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens18
TL;DR: This expert consensus report is neither a guideline update nor a position statement, but rather a summary and consensus view in the form of consensus recommendations.
Abstract: The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) has published a series of guidelines on heart failure (HF) over the last 25 years, most recently in 2016. Given the amount of new information that has become available since then, the Heart Failure Association (HFA) of the ESC recognized the need to review and summarise recent developments in a consensus document. Here we report from the HFA workshop that was held in January 2019 in Frankfurt, Germany. This expert consensus report is neither a guideline update nor a position statement, but rather a summary and consensus view in the form of consensus recommendations. The report describes how these guidance statements are supported by evidence, it makes some practical comments, and it highlights new research areas and how progress might change the clinical management of HF. We have avoided re-interpretation of information already considered in the 2016 ESC/HFA guidelines. Specific new recommendations have been made based on the evidence from major trials published since 2016, including sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors in type 2 diabetes mellitus, MitraClip for functional mitral regurgitation, atrial fibrillation ablation in HF, tafamidis in cardiac transthyretin amyloidosis, rivaroxaban in HF, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators in non-ischaemic HF, and telemedicine for HF. In addition, new trial evidence from smaller trials and updated meta-analyses have given us the chance to provide refined recommendations in selected other areas. Further, new trial evidence is due in many of these areas and others over the next 2 years, in time for the planned 2021 ESC guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic heart failure.
467 citations
TL;DR: Combined measurements of the production and decay rates of the Higgs boson, as well as its couplings to vector bosons and fermions, are presented and constraints are placed on various two Higgs doublet models.
Abstract: Combined measurements of the production and decay rates of the Higgs boson, as well as its couplings to vector bosons and fermions, are presented. The analysis uses the LHC proton–proton collision data set recorded with the CMS detector in 2016 at $\sqrt{s}=13\,\text {Te}\text {V} $ , corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 ${\,\text {fb}^{-1}} $ . The combination is based on analyses targeting the five main Higgs boson production mechanisms (gluon fusion, vector boson fusion, and associated production with a $\mathrm {W}$ or $\mathrm {Z}$ boson, or a top quark-antiquark pair) and the following decay modes: $\mathrm {H} \rightarrow \gamma \gamma $ , $\mathrm {Z}\mathrm {Z}$ , $\mathrm {W}\mathrm {W}$ , $\mathrm {\tau }\mathrm {\tau }$ , $\mathrm {b} \mathrm {b} $ , and $\mathrm {\mu }\mathrm {\mu }$ . Searches for invisible Higgs boson decays are also considered. The best-fit ratio of the signal yield to the standard model expectation is measured to be $\mu =1.17\pm 0.10$ , assuming a Higgs boson mass of $125.09\,\text {Ge}\text {V} $ . Additional results are given for various assumptions on the scaling behavior of the production and decay modes, including generic parametrizations based on ratios of cross sections and branching fractions or couplings. The results are compatible with the standard model predictions in all parametrizations considered. In addition, constraints are placed on various two Higgs doublet models.
451 citations
TL;DR: This work critically reviews the papers available in scientific literature on consolidated (ozonation, AC and membranes) and new advanced treatment methods (mainly AOPs) to analyse their efficiency in the removal of CECs from wastewater.
448 citations
University Hospital of Basel1, University Medical Center Groningen2, University of California, San Diego3, University of Glasgow4, Monash University5, University of Warwick6, University of Brescia7, University of Paris8, University of Zurich9, University of Ljubljana10, University of Cyprus11, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens12, University of Belgrade13, Autonomous University of Barcelona14, National University of Singapore15, University of Otago16, Harvard University17
TL;DR: Screening with NPs for the early detection of relevant cardiac disease including left ventricular systolic dysfunction in patients with cardiovascular risk factors may help to identify patients at increased risk, therefore allowing targeted preventive measures to prevent HF.
Abstract: Natriuretic peptide [NP; B-type NP (BNP), N-terminal proBNP (NT-proBNP), and midregional proANP (MR-proANP)] concentrations are quantitative plasma biomarkers for the presence and severity of haemodynamic cardiac stress and heart failure (HF). End-diastolic wall stress, intracardiac filling pressures, and intracardiac volumes seem to be the dominant triggers. This paper details the most important indications for NPs and highlights 11 key principles underlying their clinical use shown below. NPs should always be used in conjunction with all other clinical information. NPs are reasonable surrogates for intracardiac volumes and filling pressures. NPs should be measured in all patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of HF such as dyspnoea and/or fatigue, as their use facilitates the early diagnosis and risk stratification of HF. NPs have very high diagnostic accuracy in discriminating HF from other causes of dyspnoea: the higher the NP, the higher the likelihood that dyspnoea is caused by HF. Optimal NP cut-off concentrations for the diagnosis of acute HF (very high filling pressures) in patients presenting to the emergency department with acute dyspnoea are higher compared with those used in the diagnosis of chronic HF in patients with dyspnoea on exertion (mild increase in filling pressures at rest). Obese patients have lower NP concentrations, mandating the use of lower cut-off concentrations (about 50% lower). In stable HF patients, but also in patients with other cardiac disorders such as myocardial infarction, valvular heart disease, atrial fibrillation or pulmonary embolism, NP concentrations have high prognostic accuracy for death and HF hospitalization. Screening with NPs for the early detection of relevant cardiac disease including left ventricular systolic dysfunction in patients with cardiovascular risk factors may help to identify patients at increased risk, therefore allowing targeted preventive measures to prevent HF. BNP, NT-proBNP and MR-proANP have comparable diagnostic and prognostic accuracy. In patients with shock, NPs cannot be used to identify cause (e.g. cardiogenic vs. septic shock), but remain prognostic. NPs cannot identify the underlying cause of HF and, therefore, if elevated, must always be used in conjunction with cardiac imaging.
379 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a search for invisible decays of a Higgs boson via vector boson fusion is performed using proton-proton collision data collected with the CMS detector at the LHC in 2016 at a center-of-mass energy root s = 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9fb(-1).
347 citations
TL;DR: In an umbrella review of meta-analyses of observational studies examining environmental factors and risk of inflammatory bowel diseases, varying levels of evidence for associations of different environmental factors with risk of IBD is found.
319 citations
TL;DR: Technological solutions including conventional activated sludge, membrane bioreactors, moving bed biofilm reactors, and nature-based solutions such as constructed wetlands are compared for the achievable removal efficiencies of the selected CEC and their potential of acting as reservoirs of ARB&ARGs.
312 citations
University of Helsinki1, Catholic University of Portugal2, Dresden University of Technology3, Maynooth University4, University of Cyprus5, University of Aveiro6, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology7, Spanish National Research Council8, Norwegian University of Life Sciences9, Catalan Institute for Water Research10, Michigan State University11, Chinese Academy of Sciences12
TL;DR: This first trans-Europe surveillance showed that UWTP AR profiles mirror the AR gradient observed in clinics, and the need to implement regular surveillance and control measures, which may need to be appropriate for the geographic regions, is highlighted.
Abstract: Integrated antibiotic resistance (AR) surveillance is one of the objectives of the World Health Organization global action plan on antimicrobial resistance. Urban wastewater treatment plants (UWTPs) are among the most important receptors and sources of environmental AR. On the basis of the consistent observation of an increasing north-to-south clinical AR prevalence in Europe, this study compared the influent and final effluent of 12 UWTPs located in seven countries (Portugal, Spain, Ireland, Cyprus, Germany, Finland, and Norway). Using highly parallel quantitative polymerase chain reaction, we analyzed 229 resistance genes and 25 mobile genetic elements. This first trans-Europe surveillance showed that UWTP AR profiles mirror the AR gradient observed in clinics. Antibiotic use, environmental temperature, and UWTP size were important factors related with resistance persistence and spread in the environment. These results highlight the need to implement regular surveillance and control measures, which may need to be appropriate for the geographic regions.
TL;DR: Organizing principles are presented to frame research examining multi-level heterogeneity in autism, and it will become increasingly important to complement such work with unsupervised data-driven discoveries that leverage unknown and multivariate distinctions within big data.
Abstract: Autism is a diagnostic label based on behavior. While the diagnostic criteria attempt to maximize clinical consensus, it also masks a wide degree of heterogeneity between and within individuals at multiple levels of analysis. Understanding this multi-level heterogeneity is of high clinical and translational importance. Here we present organizing principles to frame research examining multi-level heterogeneity in autism. Theoretical concepts such as ‘spectrum’ or ‘autisms’ reflect non-mutually exclusive explanations regarding continuous/dimensional or categorical/qualitative variation between and within individuals. However, common practices of small sample size studies and case–control models are suboptimal for tackling heterogeneity. Big data are an important ingredient for furthering our understanding of heterogeneity in autism. In addition to being ‘feature-rich’, big data should be both ‘broad’ (i.e., large sample size) and ‘deep’ (i.e., multiple levels of data collected on the same individuals). These characteristics increase the likelihood that the study results are more generalizable and facilitate evaluation of the utility of different models of heterogeneity. A model’s utility can be measured by its ability to explain clinically or mechanistically important phenomena, and also by explaining how variability manifests across different levels of analysis. The directionality for explaining variability across levels can be bottom-up or top-down, and should include the importance of development for characterizing changes within individuals. While progress can be made with ‘supervised’ models built upon a priori or theoretically predicted distinctions or dimensions of importance, it will become increasingly important to complement such work with unsupervised data-driven discoveries that leverage unknown and multivariate distinctions within big data. A better understanding of how to model heterogeneity between autistic people will facilitate progress towards precision medicine for symptoms that cause suffering, and person-centered support.
TL;DR: A comprehensive review of DL as well as its implications upon the healthcare is presented in this review, which had analysed 150 articles of DL in healthcare domain from PubMed, Google Scholar, and IEEE EXPLORE focused in medical imagery only.
TL;DR: The authors found that direct exposure to refugee arrivals induces sizable and lasting increases in natives' hostility toward refugees, immigrants, and Muslim minorities; support for restrictive asylum and immigration policies; and political engagement to effect such exclusionary policies.
Abstract: Although Europe has experienced unprecedented numbers of refugee arrivals in recent years, there exists almost no causal evidence regarding the impact of the refugee crisis on natives’ attitudes, policy preferences, and political engagement. We exploit a natural experiment in the Aegean Sea, where Greek islands close to the Turkish coast experienced a sudden and massive increase in refugee arrivals, while similar islands slightly farther away did not. Leveraging a targeted survey of 2,070 island residents and distance to Turkey as an instrument, we find that direct exposure to refugee arrivals induces sizable and lasting increases in natives’ hostility toward refugees, immigrants, and Muslim minorities; support for restrictive asylum and immigration policies; and political engagement to effect such exclusionary policies. Since refugees only passed through these islands, our findings challenge both standard economic and cultural explanations of anti-immigrant sentiment and show that mere exposure suffices in generating lasting increases in hostility.
TL;DR: This article provides a comprehensive review of the early and late phase trials that led to the regulatory approval of all five PD1‐ PDL‐1 inhibitors in the corresponding cancer types and presents available data on the combinations of PD1 • PDL •1 inhibitors with other therapies, the toxicity profile of the PD1• PDL•1 inhibitors and ongoing trials testing the efficacy of these agents in cancer types beyond those that have been addressed already.
TL;DR: It was clearly demonstrated in this study that higher ozone doses were required in order to confer permanent damage and/or death and prevent potential post-treatment re-growth of both total bacteria and ARB, and to reduce the abundance of ARGs below the LOQ.
TL;DR: The first such study is reviewed, which confirms the multistage fetal nature of ASD and provides the first in vitro fetal-stage explanation for in vivo early brain overgrowth.
Abstract: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has captured the attention of scientists, clinicians and the lay public because of its uncertain origins and striking and unexplained clinical heterogeneity. Here we review genetic, genomic, cellular, postmortem, animal model, and cell model evidence that shows ASD begins in the womb. This evidence leads to a new theory that ASD is a multistage, progressive disorder of brain development, spanning nearly all of prenatal life. ASD can begin as early as the 1st and 2nd trimester with disruption of cell proliferation and differentiation. It continues with disruption of neural migration, laminar disorganization, altered neuron maturation and neurite outgrowth, disruption of synaptogenesis and reduced neural network functioning. Among the most commonly reported high-confidence ASD (hcASD) genes, 94% express during prenatal life and affect these fetal processes in neocortex, amygdala, hippocampus, striatum and cerebellum. A majority of hcASD genes are pleiotropic, and affect proliferation/differentiation and/or synapse development. Proliferation and subsequent fetal stages can also be disrupted by maternal immune activation in the 1st trimester. Commonly implicated pathways, PI3K/AKT and RAS/ERK, are also pleiotropic and affect multiple fetal processes from proliferation through synapse and neural functional development. In different ASD individuals, variation in how and when these pleiotropic pathways are dysregulated, will lead to different, even opposing effects, producing prenatal as well as later neural and clinical heterogeneity. Thus, the pathogenesis of ASD is not set at one point in time and does not reside in one process, but rather is a cascade of prenatal pathogenic processes in the vast majority of ASD toddlers. Despite this new knowledge and theory that ASD biology begins in the womb, current research methods have not provided individualized information: What are the fetal processes and early-age molecular and cellular differences that underlie ASD in each individual child? Without such individualized knowledge, rapid advances in biological-based diagnostic, prognostic, and precision medicine treatments cannot occur. Missing, therefore, is what we call ASD Living Biology. This is a conceptual and paradigm shift towards a focus on the abnormal prenatal processes underlying ASD within each living individual. The concept emphasizes the specific need for foundational knowledge of a living child’s development from abnormal prenatal beginnings to early clinical stages. The ASD Living Biology paradigm seeks this knowledge by linking genetic and in vitro prenatal molecular, cellular and neural measurements with in vivo post-natal molecular, neural and clinical presentation and progression in each ASD child. We review the first such study, which confirms the multistage fetal nature of ASD and provides the first in vitro fetal-stage explanation for in vivo early brain overgrowth. Within-child ASD Living Biology is a novel research concept we coin here that advocates the integration of in vitro prenatal and in vivo early post-natal information to generate individualized and group-level explanations, clinically useful prognoses, and precision medicine approaches that are truly beneficial for the individual infant and toddler with ASD.
Dresden University of Technology1, University of Cyprus2, Catholic University of Portugal3, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center4, Vienna University of Technology5, University of Salerno6, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology7, University of Lorraine8, Middlesex University9, Utrecht University10, Norwegian Institute for Water Research11, Namik Kemal University12
TL;DR: The results demonstrate that European WWTP contribute to the enrichment of the resistome in the receiving water bodies with the particular impact being dependent on the effluent load and local hydrological conditions.
TL;DR: In this article, the performance of missing transverse momentum (Tmiss) reconstruction algorithms for the CMS experiment is presented, using proton-proton collisions at a center of mass energy of 13 TeV, collected at the CERN LHC in 2016.
Abstract: The performance of missing transverse momentum (Tmiss) reconstruction algorithms for the CMS experiment is presented, using proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, collected at the CERN LHC in 2016. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb-1. The results include measurements of the scale and resolution of Tmiss, and detailed studies of events identified with anomalous Tmiss. The performance is presented of a Tmiss reconstruction algorithm that mitigates the effects of multiple proton-proton interactions, using the "pileup per particle identification" method. The performance is shown of an algorithm used to estimate the compatibility of the reconstructed Tmiss with the hypothesis that it originates from resolution effects.
TL;DR: A review of the problems associated with tandem repeat sequences that originate from different stages during the sequencing-assembly-annotation-deposition workflow, and that may proliferate in public database repositories affecting all downstream analyses, to raise the awareness level within the community of database users and alert scientists working in the underlying workflow of database creation.
Abstract: The widespread occurrence of repetitive stretches of DNA in genomes of organisms across the tree of life imposes fundamental challenges for sequencing, genome assembly, and automated annotation of genes and proteins. This multi-level problem can lead to errors in genome and protein databases that are often not recognized or acknowledged. As a consequence, end users working with sequences with repetitive regions are faced with 'ready-to-use' deposited data whose trustworthiness is difficult to determine, let alone to quantify. Here, we provide a review of the problems associated with tandem repeat sequences that originate from different stages during the sequencing-assembly-annotation-deposition workflow, and that may proliferate in public database repositories affecting all downstream analyses. As a case study, we provide examples of the Atlantic cod genome, whose sequencing and assembly were hindered by a particularly high prevalence of tandem repeats. We complement this case study with examples from other species, where mis-annotations and sequencing errors have propagated into protein databases. With this review, we aim to raise the awareness level within the community of database users, and alert scientists working in the underlying workflow of database creation that the data they omit or improperly assemble may well contain important biological information valuable to others.
TL;DR: This article showed that exposure to the refugee crisis fuel support for extreme-right parties in Greece, where some Aegean islands close to the Turkish border experienced sudden and drastic increases in the number of Syrian refugees while other islands slightly farther away - but with otherwise similar institutional and socioeconomic characteristics - did not.
Abstract: Does exposure to the refugee crisis fuel support for extreme-right parties? Despite heated debates about the political repercussions of the refugee crisis in Europe, there exists very little - and sometimes conflicting - evidence with which to assess the impact of a large influx of refugees on natives' political attitudes and behavior. We provide causal evidence from a natural experiment in Greece, where some Aegean islands close to the Turkish border experienced sudden and drastic increases in the number of Syrian refugees while other islands slightly farther away - but with otherwise similar institutional and socioeconomic characteristics - did not. Placebo tests suggest that precrisis trends in vote shares for exposed and nonexposed islands were virtually identical. This allows us to obtain unbiased estimates of the electoral consequences of the refugee crisis. Our study shows that among islands that faced a massive but transient inflow of refugees passing through just before the September 2015 election, vote shares for Golden Dawn, the most extreme-right party in Europe, moderately increased by 2 percentage points (a 44 percent increase at the average). The finding that mere exposure to the refugee crisis is sufficient to fuel support for extreme-right parties has important implications for our theoretical understanding of the drivers of antirefugee backlash.
TL;DR: A search for Higgs boson pair production using the combined results from four final states: bbγγ, bbττ, bbbb, and bbVV, where V represents a W or Z boson, is performed using data collected in 2016 by the CMS experiment from LHC proton-proton collisions.
Abstract: This Letter describes a search for Higgs boson pair production using the combined results from four final states: bbγγ, bbττ, bbbb, and bbVV, where V represents a W or Z boson. The search is performed using data collected in 2016 by the CMS experiment from LHC proton-proton collisions at s=13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb-1. Limits are set on the Higgs boson pair production cross section. A 95% confidence level observed (expected) upper limit on the nonresonant production cross section is set at 22.2 (12.8) times the standard model value. A search for narrow resonances decaying to Higgs boson pairs is also performed in the mass range 250–3000 GeV. No evidence for a signal is observed, and upper limits are set on the resonance production cross section.
TL;DR: It is reported that targeting angiotensin signaling with losartan can reduce extracellular matrix in ovarian tumors and the associated physical barriers that normally hinder drug delivery and efficacy, leading to better anticancer therapeutic effect.
Abstract: In ovarian cancer patients, tumor fibrosis and angiotensin-driven fibrogenic signaling have been shown to inversely correlate with survival. We sought to enhance drug delivery and therapeutic efficacy by remodeling the dense extracellular matrix in two orthotopic human ovarian carcinoma xenograft models. We hypothesized that targeting the angiotensin signaling axis with losartan, an approved angiotensin system inhibitor, could reduce extracellular matrix content and the associated "solid stress," leading to better anticancer therapeutic effect. We report here four translatable findings: (i) losartan treatment enhances the efficacy of paclitaxel-a drug used for ovarian cancer treatment-via normalizing the tumor microenvironment, resulting in improved vessel perfusion and drug delivery; (ii) losartan depletes matrix via inducing antifibrotic miRNAs that should be tested as candidate biomarkers of response or resistance to chemotherapy; (iii) although losartan therapy alone does not reduce tumor burden, it reduces both the incidence and the amount of ascites formed; and (iv) our retrospective analysis revealed that patients receiving angiotensin system inhibitors concurrently with standard treatment for ovarian cancer exhibited 30 mo longer overall survival compared with patients on other antihypertensives. Our findings provide the rationale and supporting data for a clinical trial on combined losartan and chemotherapy in ovarian cancer patients.
University of Padua1, Eötvös Loránd University2, National University of Quilmes3, Science for Life Laboratory4, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales5, Institute of Cancer Research6, University of Belgrade7, Indiana University8, Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics9, Vrije Universiteit Brussel10, Flanders Institute for Biotechnology11, Hungarian Academy of Sciences12, Autonomous University of Barcelona13, University of Montpellier14, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular15, Fundación Instituto Leloir16, University of Copenhagen17, University of Cyprus18
TL;DR: Recent developments with DisProt (version 8), including the doubling of protein entries, a new disorder ontology, improvements of the annotation format and a completely new website are reported.
Abstract: The Database of Protein Disorder (DisProt, URL: https://disprot.org) provides manually curated annotations of intrinsically disordered proteins from the literature. Here we report recent developments with DisProt (version 8), including the doubling of protein entries, a new disorder ontology, improvements of the annotation format and a completely new website. The website includes a redesigned graphical interface, a better search engine, a clearer API for programmatic access and a new annotation interface that integrates text mining technologies. The new entry format provides a greater flexibility, simplifies maintenance and allows the capture of more information from the literature. The new disorder ontology has been formalized and made interoperable by adopting the OWL format, as well as its structure and term definitions have been improved. The new annotation interface has made the curation process faster and more effective. We recently showed that new DisProt annotations can be effectively used to train and validate disorder predictors. We believe the growth of DisProt will accelerate, contributing to the improvement of function and disorder predictors and therefore to illuminate the 'dark' proteome.
TL;DR: Although less data is published about anxiety and pain, the relationship is consistent across studies as increased anxiety leads to increased severity of pain perceived and decreased pain tolerance.
Abstract: Pain is a subjective experience that is influenced by genetics, gender, social, cultural and personal parameters. Opposed to chronic pain, which by definition has to last for at least 3 months, acu...
University of Ferrara1, San Francisco VA Medical Center2, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill3, University of Cyprus4, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens5, Indiana University6, University of Groningen7, Charité8, University of São Paulo9, National Institute for Health Research10, University of Paris11, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy12, Hebrew University of Jerusalem13, Cardiovascular Institute of the South14, Sofia Medical University15, University of Copenhagen16, Wayne State University17, University College Dublin18, University of the Witwatersrand19, Semmelweis University20, University Hospital of Basel21
TL;DR: Serelaxin is a recombinant form of human relaxin-2, a vasodilator hormone that contributes to cardiovascular and renal adaptations during pregnancy as discussed by the authors, but it is not suitable for pregnant women.
Abstract: Background Serelaxin is a recombinant form of human relaxin-2, a vasodilator hormone that contributes to cardiovascular and renal adaptations during pregnancy. Previous studies have sugges...
TL;DR: In this paper, a search for supersymmetric particles in the final state with multiple jets and large missing transverse momentum was performed using a sample of proton-proton collisions collected with the CMS detector.
Abstract: Results are reported from a search for supersymmetric particles in the final state with multiple jets and large missing transverse momentum. The search uses a sample of proton-proton collisions at $ \sqrt{s} $ = 13 TeV collected with the CMS detector in 2016–2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 137 fb$^{−1}$, representing essentially the full LHC Run 2 data sample. The analysis is performed in a four-dimensional search region defined in terms of the number of jets, the number of tagged bottom quark jets, the scalar sum of jet transverse momenta, and the magnitude of the vector sum of jet transverse momenta. No significant excess in the event yield is observed relative to the expected background contributions from standard model processes. Limits on the pair production of gluinos and squarks are obtained in the framework of simplified models for supersymmetric particle production and decay processes. Assuming the lightest supersymmetric particle to be a neutralino, lower limits on the gluino mass as large as 2000 to 2310 GeV are obtained at 95% confidence level, while lower limits on the squark mass as large as 1190 to 1630 GeV are obtained, depending on the production scenario.
TL;DR: In this review, the latest approaches that are applying deep learning for facilitating and accelerating sleep scoring are thoroughly analyzed and compared with the state of the art methods.
Albert M. Sirunyan1, Robin Erbacher2, C. A. Carrillo Montoya3, Wagner Carvalho4 +2322 more•Institutions (159)
TL;DR: In this article, the light-by-light scattering process in ultra-peripheral PbPb collisions at a centre-of-mass energy per nucleon pair of 5.02 TeV is reported.
TL;DR: A detailed survey of various types of DL systems available today and a detailed analysis of complexities involved in this shift and possible benefits accrued by the users and developers are provided.
Abstract: Deep learning (DL) is affecting each and every sphere of public and private lives and becoming a tool for daily use. The power of DL lies in the fact that it tries to imitate the activities of neurons in the neocortex of human brain where the thought process takes place. Therefore, like the brain, it tries to learn and recognize patterns in the form of digital images. This power is built on the depth of many layers of computing neurons backed by high power processors and graphics processing units (GPUs) easily available today. In the current scenario, we have provided detailed survey of various types of DL systems available today, and specifically, we have concentrated our efforts on current applications of DL in medical imaging. We have also focused our efforts on explaining the readers the rapid transition of technology from machine learning to DL and have tried our best in reasoning this paradigm shift. Further, a detailed analysis of complexities involved in this shift and possible benefits accrued by the users and developers.