Air-stable, aluminium oxide encapsulated graphene phototransistors.

Graphene has garnered significant interest in optoelectronics due to its unique properties, including broad wavelength absorption and high mobility. However, its weak stability in ambient conditions requires encapsulation for practical applications. In this study, we investigate graphene CVD-grown field-effect transistors fabricated on Si/SiOwafers, encapsulated with aluminum oxide (AlO) of different thicknesses.

Strong doping reduction on wafer-scale CVD graphene devices via AlOALD encapsulation.

We present the electrical characterization of wafer-scale graphene devices fabricated with an industrially-relevant, contact-first integration scheme combined with AlOencapsulation via atomic layer deposition. All the devices show a statistically significant reduction in the Dirac point position,Vcnp, from around +47 V to between -5 and 5 V (on 285 nm SiO), while maintaining the mobility values. The data and methods presented are relevant for further integration of graphene devices, specifically sensors, at the back-end-of-line of a standard CMOS flow.

Growth, Electronic and Electrical Characterization of Ge-Rich Ge-Sb-Te Alloy.

In this study, we deposit a Ge-rich Ge-Sb-Te alloy by physical vapor deposition (PVD) in the amorphous phase on silicon substrates. We study in-situ, by X-ray and ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopies (XPS and UPS), the electronic properties and carefully ascertain the alloy composition to be GST 29 20 28. Subsequently, Raman spectroscopy is employed to corroborate the results from the photoemission study.

Assessment of New Coronary Features on Quantitative Coronary Angiographic Images With Innovative Unsupervised Artificial Adaptive Systems: A Proof-of-Concept Study.

The Active Connection Matrixes (ACMs) are unsupervised artificial adaptive systems able to extract from digital images features of interest (edges, tissue differentiation, etc.) unnoticeable with conventional systems. In this proof-of-concept study, we assessed the potentiality of ACMs to increase measurement precision of morphological structures (e.

Analysis of COVID-19 pandemic in USA, using Topological Weighted Centroid.

The first case of COVID-19 in USA was reported on January 20, 2020. The number of COVID-19 confirmed cases and death has increased since the first reported case and the outbreak has appeared in all states. This paper analyzes disease outbreak using Topological Weighted Centroid (TWC), which is a data driven intelligent geographical dynamical system that models disease spread in space and time.

Detection of an Autism EEG Signature From Only Two EEG Channels Through Features Extraction and Advanced Machine Learning Analysis.

Background And Objective: In 2 previous studies, we have shown the ability of special machine learning systems applied to standard EEG data in distinguishing children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) from non-ASD children with an overall accuracy rate of 100% and 98.4%, respectively. Since the equipment routinely available in neonatology units employ few derivations, we were curious to check if just 2 derivations were enough to allow good performance in the same cases of the above-mentioned studies.

Development of machine learning models to predict RT-PCR results for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in patients with influenza-like symptoms using only basic clinical data.

Background: Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) diagnosis currently requires quite a long time span. A quicker and more efficient diagnostic tool in emergency departments could improve management during this global crisis. Our main goal was assessing the accuracy of artificial intelligence in predicting the results of RT-PCR for SARS-COV-2, using basic information at hand in all emergency departments.

Spatially resolved small-angle X-ray scattering for characterizing mechanoresponsive liposomes using microfluidics.

Atherosclerosis gives rise to blood vessel occlusion associated with blood flow alteration and substantial increase of average wall shear stress. This modification was proved acting as a purely physical trigger for targeted vasodilator release from a particular type of liposomes composed of 1,3-diaminophospholipids (Pad-PC-Pad). The flow-induced structural changes of these faceted liposomes, however, are completely unknown.

Geographical identification of Chianti red wine based on ICP-MS element composition.

Chianti is a precious red wine and enjoys a high reputation for its high quality in the world wine market. Despite this, the production region is small and product needs efficient tools to protect its brands and prevent adulterations. In this sense, ICP-MS combined with chemometrics has demonstrated its usefulness in food authentication.

A machine learning approach for differentiating malignant from benign enhancing foci on breast MRI.

Background: Differentiate malignant from benign enhancing foci on breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) through radiomic signature.

Methods: Forty-five enhancing foci in 45 patients were included in this retrospective study, with needle biopsy or imaging follow-up serving as a reference standard. There were 12 malignant and 33 benign lesions.

Combined use of sonographic and elastosonographic parameters can improve the diagnostic accuracy in thyroid nodules at risk of malignancy at cytological examination.

Background: Thyroid nodules diagnosed as Thy3B at fine-needle aspiration biopsy have a relevant risk of malignancy (15-30%) and are usually addressed to surgery. However surgery will result unnecessary in most cases. The present study aims at evaluating the possible increase of diagnostic accuracy for predicting malignancy using novel sonographic and elastographic parameters.

Ex vivo evaluation of an atherosclerotic human coronary artery via histology and high-resolution hard X-ray tomography.

Atherosclerotic arteries exhibit characteristic constrictions and substantial deviations from cylindrical shape. Therefore, determining the artery's cross-section along the centerline is challenging, although high-resolution isotropic three-dimensional data are available. Herein, we apply high-resolution computed tomography in absorption and phase to a plaque-containing human artery post-mortem, through the course of the preparation stages for histology.

The "MS-ROM/IFAST" Model, a Novel Parallel Nonlinear EEG Analysis Technique, Distinguishes ASD Subjects From Children Affected With Other Neuropsychiatric Disorders With High Degree of Accuracy.

. In a previous study, we showed a new EEG processing methodology called Multi-Scale Ranked Organizing Map/Implicit Function As Squashing Time (MS-ROM/IFAST) performing an almost perfect distinction between computerized EEG of Italian children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and typically developing children. In this study, we assessed this system in distinguishing ASD subjects from children affected with other neuropsychiatric disorders (NPD).

Directional Relationship Between Vitamin D Status and Prediabetes: A New Approach from Artificial Neural Network in a Cohort of Workers with Overweight-Obesity.

Despite the increasing literature on the association of diabetes with inflammation, cardiovascular risk, and vitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations, strong evidence on the direction of causality among these factors is still lacking. This gap could be addressed by means of artificial neural networks (ANN) analysis. Retrospective observational study was carried out by means of an innovative data mining analysis-known as auto-contractive map (AutoCM)-and semantic mapping followed by Activation and Competition System on data of workers referring to an occupational-health outpatient clinic.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Implication for Drug Metabolism on Assisted Reproductive Techniques-A Literature Review.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects 6-10% of women and could be considered one of the most common endocrine alterations in women of reproductive age. The syndrome is characterized by several hormonal and metabolic alterations, including insulin resistance and hyperandrogenism, which play a severe detrimental role in the patient's fertility. We aimed to offer an overview about drug metabolism in the PCOS population.

Determinants of metabolic syndrome in obese workers: gender differences in perceived job-related stress and in psychological characteristics identified using artificial neural networks.

Objective: The metabolic syndrome (MS) is a multifactorial disorder associated with a higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. However, its pathophysiology and risk factors are still poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the associations among gender, psychosocial variables, job-related stress and the presence of MS in a cohort of obese Caucasian workers.

Digging deeper on "deep" learning: A computational ecology approach.

We propose an alternative approach to "deep" learning that is based on computational ecologies of structurally diverse artificial neural networks, and on dynamic associative memory responses to stimuli. Rather than focusing on massive computation of many different examples of a single situation, we opt for model-based learning and adaptive flexibility. Cross-fertilization of learning processes across multiple domains is the fundamental feature of human intelligence that must inform "new" artificial intelligence.

Immunological response to nitroglycerin-loaded shear-responsive liposomes in vitro and in vivo.

Liposomes formulated from the 1,3-diamidophospholipid Pad-PC-Pad are shear-responsive and thus promising nano-containers to specifically release a vasodilator at stenotic arteries. The recommended preclinical safety tests for therapeutic liposomes of nanometer size include the in vitro assessment of complement activation and the evaluation of the associated risk of complement activation-related pseudo-allergy (CARPA) in vivo. For this reason, we measured complement activation by Pad-PC-Pad formulations in human and porcine sera, along with the nanopharmaceutical-mediated cardiopulmonary responses in pigs.

Prediction of high on-treatment platelet reactivity in clopidogrel-treated patients with acute coronary syndromes.

Background: About 40% of clopidogrel-treated patients display high platelet reactivity (HPR). Alternative treatments of HPR patients, identified by platelet function tests, failed to improve their clinical outcomes in large randomized clinical trials. A more appealing alternative would be to identify HPR patients a priori, based on the presence/absence of demographic, clinical and genetic factors that affect PR.

Diagnosis of autism through EEG processed by advanced computational algorithms: A pilot study.

Background: Multi-Scale Ranked Organizing Map coupled with Implicit Function as Squashing Time algorithm(MS-ROM/I-FAST) is a new, complex system based on Artificial Neural networks (ANNs) able to extract features of interest in computerized EEG through the analysis of few minutes of their EEG without any preliminary pre-processing. A proof of concept study previously published showed accuracy values ranging from 94%-98% in discerning subjects with Mild Cognitive Impairment and/or Alzheimer's Disease from healthy elderly people. The presence of deviant patterns in simple resting state EEG recordings in autism, consistent with the atypical organization of the cerebral cortex present, prompted us in applying this potent analytical systems in search of a EEG signature of the disease.

Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Modulation during Metabolic Diseases and Cancers: Master and Minions.

The prevalence of obesity and metabolic diseases (such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, dyslipidaemia, and cardiovascular diseases) has increased in the last decade, in both industrialized and developing countries. This also coincided with our observation of a similar increase in the prevalence of cancers. The aetiology of these diseases is very complex and involves genetic, nutritional, and environmental factors.

Vitamin B12 among Vegetarians: Status, Assessment and Supplementation.

Cobalamin is an essential molecule for humans. It acts as a cofactor in one-carbon transfers through methylation and molecular rearrangement. These functions take place in fatty acid, amino acid and nucleic acid metabolic pathways.

Endometrial preparation with Dienogest before hysteroscopic surgery: a systematic review.

Purpose: Hysteroscopic surgery is considered the gold standard for the minimal invasive treatment of many endouterine diseases such as endometrial polyps or submucous myomas. Recently, many studies have evaluated the effect of preoperative administration of a number of drugs to reduce endometrial thickness and achieve important intraoperative advantages. The purpose of this systematic review is to summarize the available evidence about the use of Dienogest, an orally administrable progestin, for endometrial preparation before hysteroscopic surgery.

How to Achieve High-Quality Oocytes? The Key Role of Myo-Inositol and Melatonin.

Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) have experienced growing interest from infertile patients seeking to become pregnant. The quality of oocytes plays a pivotal role in determining ART outcomes. Although many authors have studied how supplementation therapy may affect this important parameter for both in vivo and in vitro models, data are not yet robust enough to support firm conclusions.