University of Cyprus

About: University of Cyprus is a education organization based out in Nicosia, Cyprus. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Large Hadron Collider & Context (language use). The organization has 3624 authors who have published 15157 publications receiving 412135 citations.

Improving cancer immunotherapy using nanomedicines: progress, opportunities and challenges.

Abstract: Multiple nanotherapeutics have been approved for patients with cancer, but their effects on survival have been modest and, in some examples, less than those of other approved therapies. At the same time, the clinical successes achieved with immunotherapy have revolutionized the treatment of multiple advanced-stage malignancies. However, the majority of patients do not benefit from the currently available immunotherapies and many develop immune-related adverse events. By contrast, nanomedicines can reduce - but do not eliminate - the risk of certain life-threatening toxicities. Thus, the combination of these therapeutic classes is of intense research interest. The tumour microenvironment (TME) is a major cause of the failure of both nanomedicines and immunotherapies that not only limits delivery, but also can compromise efficacy, even when agents accumulate in the TME. Coincidentally, the same TME features that impair nanomedicine delivery can also cause immunosuppression. In this Perspective, we describe TME normalization strategies that have the potential to simultaneously promote the delivery of nanomedicines and reduce immunosuppression in the TME. Then, we discuss the potential of a combined nanomedicine-based TME normalization and immunotherapeutic strategy designed to overcome each step of the cancer-immunity cycle and propose a broadly applicable 'minimal combination' of therapies designed to increase the number of patients with cancer who are able to benefit from immunotherapy.

Backstepping-Based Flight Control with Adaptive Function Approximation

Abstract: A command filtered backstepping approach is presented that uses adaptive function approximation to control unmanned air vehicles. The controller is designed using three feedback loops. The command inputs to the airspeed and flight-path angle controller are x c , γ c , V c and the bounded first derivatives of these signals. That loop generates comand inputs μ c , α c for a wind-axis angle loop. The sideslip angle command β c is always zero. The wind-axis angle loop generates rate commands P c , Q c , R c for an inner loop that generates surface position commands. The control approach includes adaptive approximation of the aerodynamic force and moment coefficient functions. The approach maintains the stability (in the sense of Lyapunov) of the adaptive function approximation process in the presence of magnitude, rate, and bandwidth limitations on the intermediate states and the surfaces.

Spatial differences and temporal changes in illicit drug use in Europe quantified by wastewater analysis.

Abstract: Aims To perform wastewater analyses to assess spatial differences and temporal changes of illicit drug use in a large European population. Design Analyses of raw wastewater over a 1-week period in 2012 and 2013. Setting and Participants Catchment areas of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) across Europe, as follows: 2012: 25 WWTPs in 11 countries (23 cities, total population 11.50 million); 2013: 47 WWTPs in 21 countries (42 cities, total population 24.74 million). Measurements Excretion products of five illicit drugs (cocaine, amphetamine, ecstasy, methamphetamine, cannabis) were quantified in wastewater samples using methods based on liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Findings Spatial differences were assessed and confirmed to vary greatly across European metropolitan areas. In general, results were in agreement with traditional surveillance data, where available. While temporal changes were substantial in individual cities and years (P ranging from insignificant to <10(-3)), overall means were relatively stable. The overall mean of methamphetamine was an exception (apparent decline in 2012), as it was influenced mainly by four cities. Conclusions Wastewater analysis performed across Europe provides complementary evidence on illicit drug consumption and generally concurs with traditional surveillance data. Wastewater analysis can measure total illicit drug use more quickly and regularly than is the current norm for national surveys, and creates estimates where such data does not exist.

microRNAs: a newly described class of encoded molecules that play a role in health and disease.

Abstract: Micro RNAs are evolutionarily conserved, single stranded molecules of about 22 nucleotides in length and function post-transcriptionally by partial binding (partial complementarity) to the mRNA of genes. Binding of a specific miRNA to its target on an mRNA can inhibit its expression by a variety of mechanisms. Although the most common mechanism is translational repression as a result of miRNA binding to the 3’UTR of an mRNA, mechanisms involving mRNA degradation and destabilization have also been described. Micro RNAs are currently considered as “master regulators” of gene expression. Since a single miRNA can bind and consequently regulate the expression of more than 100 different transcripts it has been estimated that miRNAs may be able to regulate up to 30% of the protein-coding genes in the human genome. As a result, miRNAs receive widespread attention on their potential role in complicated biological processes and multifactorial diseases. In this review we are discussing the biogenesis of miRNAs, their mode of action as well as their role in human diseases through genetic variations on their target sites. Hippokratia 2010; 14 (4): 236-240

Evidence for a Mass Dependent Forward-Backward Asymmetry in Top Quark Pair Production

Abstract: We present a new measurement of the inclusive forward-backward t{bar t} production asymmetry and its rapidity and mass dependence. The measurements are performed with data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.3 fb{sup -1} of p{bar p} collisions at {radical}s = 1.96 TeV, recorded with the CDF II Detector at the Fermilab Tevatron. Significant inclusive asymmetries are observed in both the laboratory frame and the t{bar t} rest frame, and in both cases are found to be consistent with CP conservation under interchange of t and {bar t}. In the t{bar t} rest frame, the asymmetry is observed to increase with the t{bar t} rapidity difference, {Delta}y, and with the invariant mass M{sub t{bar t}} of the t{bar t} system. Fully corrected parton-level asymmetries are derived in two regions of each variable, and the asymmetry is found to be most significant at large {Delta}y and M{sub t{bar t}}. For M{sub t{bar t}} {ge} 450 GeV/c{sup 2}, the parton-level asymmetry in the t{bar t} rest frame is A{sup t{bar t}} = 0.475 {+-} 0.114 compared to a next-to-leading order QCD prediction of 0.088 {+-} 0.013.