Environmental variables and machine learning models to predict cetacean abundance in the Central-eastern Mediterranean Sea.

Although the Mediterranean Sea is a crucial hotspot in marine biodiversity, it has been threatened by numerous anthropogenic pressures. As flagship species, Cetaceans are exposed to those anthropogenic impacts and global changes. Assessing their conservation status becomes strategic to set effective management plans.

An intelligent non-invasive system for automated diagnosis of anemia exploiting a novel dataset.

Anemia is a condition in which the oxygen-carrying capacity of red blood cells is insufficient to meet the body's physiological needs. It affects billions of people worldwide. An early diagnosis of this disease could prevent the advancement of other disorders.

Detection of iron deficiency anemia by medical images: a comparative study of machine learning algorithms.

Background: Anemia is one of the global public health problems that affect children and pregnant women. Anemia occurs when the level of red blood cells within the body decreases or when the structure of the red blood cells is destroyed or when the Hb level in the red blood cell is below the normal threshold, which results from one or more increased red cell destructions, blood loss, defective cell production or a depleted sum of Red Blood Cells.

Methods: The method used in this study is divided into three phases: the datasets were gathered, which is the palm, pre-processed the image, which comprised; Extracted images, and augmented images, segmented the Region of Interest of the images and acquired their various components of the CIE L*a*b* colour space (also referred to as the CIELAB), and finally developed the proposed models for the detection of anemia using the various algorithms, which include CNN, k-NN, Nave Bayes, SVM, and Decision Tree.

A systematic mapping study on machine learning techniques for the prediction of CRISPR/Cas9 sgRNA target cleavage.

CRISPR/Cas9 technology has greatly accelerated genome engineering research. The CRISPR/Cas9 complex, a bacterial immune response system, is widely adopted for RNA-driven targeted genome editing. The systematic mapping study presented in this paper examines the literature on machine learning (ML) techniques employed in the prediction of CRISPR/Cas9 sgRNA on/off-target cleavage, focusing on improving support in sgRNA design activities and identifying areas currently being researched.

Dolphins and sea turtles may host zoonotic parasites and pathogenic bacteria as indicators of anthropic pressure in the Gulf of Taranto (Northern Ionian Sea, Central-Eastern Mediterranean Sea).

The occurrence of protozoan parasites Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. such as the pathogenic bacteria Salmonella spp. and Escherichia coli was molecularly investigated in the following free ranging species of striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba), Risso's dolphins (Grampus griseus) as well as loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and green (Chelonia mydas) sea turtles living in the Gulf of Taranto (Mediterranean Sea).

Managing multiple pressures for cetaceans' conservation with an Ecosystem-Based Marine Spatial Planning approach.

Despite the recognized important ecological role that cetaceans play in the marine environment, their protection is still scarcely enforced in the Mediterranean Sea even though this area is strongly threatened by local human pressures and climate change. The piecemeal of knowledge related to cetaceans' ecology and distribution in the basin undermines the capacity of addressing cetaceans' protection and identifying effective conservation strategies. In this study, an Ecosystem-Based Marine Spatial Planning (EB-MSP) approach is applied to assess human pressures on cetaceans and guide the designation of a conservation area in the Gulf of Taranto, Northern Ionian Sea (Central-eastern Mediterranean Sea).

DolFin: an innovative digital platform for studying Risso's dolphins in the Northern Ionian Sea (North-eastern Central Mediterranean).

The Risso's dolphin is a widely distributed species, found in deep temperate and tropical waters. Estimates of its abundance are available in a few regions, details of its distribution are lacking, and its status in the Mediterranean Sea is ranked as Data Deficient by the IUCN Red List. In this paper, a synergy between bio-ecological analysis and innovative strategies has been applied to construct a digital platform, DolFin.

The Immune Landscapes of Polypoid and Nonpolypoid Precancerous Colorectal Lesions.

Little is known about the immunoediting process in precancerous lesions. We explored this aspect of benign colorectal adenomas with a descriptive analysis of the immune pathways and immune cells whose regulation is linked to the morphology and size of these lesions. Two series of polypoid and nonpolypoid colorectal adenomas were used in this study: 1) 84 samples (42 lesions, each with matched samples of normal mucosa) whose gene expression data were used to quantify the tumor morphology- and size-related dysregulation of immune pathways collected in the Molecular Signature Database, using Gene Set Enrichment Analysis; 2) 40 other lesions examined with immunohistochemistry to quantify the presence of immune cells in the stromal compartment.

Automated hippocampal segmentation in 3D MRI using random undersampling with boosting algorithm.

The automated identification of brain structure in Magnetic Resonance Imaging is very important both in neuroscience research and as a possible clinical diagnostic tool. In this study, a novel strategy for fully automated hippocampal segmentation in MRI is presented. It is based on a supervised algorithm, called RUSBoost, which combines data random undersampling with a boosting algorithm.

Multiple RF classifier for the hippocampus segmentation: Method and validation on EADC-ADNI Harmonized Hippocampal Protocol.

The hippocampus has a key role in a number of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's Disease. Here we present a novel method for the automated segmentation of the hippocampus from structural magnetic resonance images (MRI), based on a combination of multiple classifiers. The method is validated on a cohort of 50 T1 MRI scans, comprehending healthy control, mild cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer's Disease subjects.

Systematic analysis of circadian genes using genome-wide cDNA microarrays in the inflammatory bowel disease transcriptome.

Simultaneous analysis of the transcripts of thousands of genes by cDNA microarrays allows the identification of genetic regulatory mechanisms involved in disease pathophysiology. The circadian clock circuitry controls essential cell processes and the functioning of organ systems, which are characterized by rhythmic variations with 24-hour periodicity. The derangement of these processes is involved in the basic mechanisms of inflammatory, metabolic, degenerative and neoplastic diseases.

Feature Selection Based on Machine Learning in MRIs for Hippocampal Segmentation.

Neurodegenerative diseases are frequently associated with structural changes in the brain. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans can show these variations and therefore can be used as a supportive feature for a number of neurodegenerative diseases. The hippocampus has been known to be a biomarker for Alzheimer disease and other neurological and psychiatric diseases.

Genome-wide Pathway Analysis Using Gene Expression Data of Colonic Mucosa in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) share some pathogenetic features. To provide new steps on the role of altered gene expression, and the involvement of gene networks, in the pathogenesis of these diseases, we performed a genome-wide analysis in 15 patients with CD and 14 patients with UC by comparing the RNA from inflamed and noninflamed colonic mucosa.

Methods: Two hundred ninety-eight differentially expressed genes in CD and 520 genes in UC were identified.

Automated voxel-by-voxel tissue classification for hippocampal segmentation: methods and validation.

The hippocampus is an important structural biomarker for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and has a primary role in the pathogenesis of other neurological and psychiatric diseases. This study presents a fully automated pattern recognition system for an accurate and reproducible segmentation of the hippocampus in structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). The method was validated on a mixed cohort of 56 T1-weighted structural brain images, and consists of three processing levels: (a) Linear registration: all brain images were registered to a standard template and an automated method was applied to capture the global shape of the hippocampus.

[Extension of organised cervical cancer screening programmes in Italy and their process indicators, 2010 activity].

Italian national guidelines recommend to regions the implementation of organised screening programmes for cervical cancer. As in previous years since 1998 we collected aggregated tables of data from Italian organised cervical screening programmes in order to centrally compute process indicators. Data on women invited during 2010 and screened up to April 2011 were considered.

Molecular pathways undergoing dramatic transcriptomic changes during tumor development in the human colon.

Background: The malignant transformation of precancerous colorectal lesions involves progressive alterations at both the molecular and morphologic levels, the latter consisting of increases in size and in the degree of cellular atypia. Analyzing preinvasive tumors of different sizes can therefore shed light on the sequence of these alterations.

Methods: We used a molecular pathway-based approach to analyze transcriptomic profiles of 59 colorectal tumors representing early and late preinvasive stages and the invasive stage of tumorigenesis.

Sudden death as presenting symptom caused by cardiac primary multicentric left ventricle rhabdomyoma, in an 11-month-old baby. An immunohistochemical study.

This case report describes a sudden cardiac death in an apparent healthy 11-month-old infant caused by a multifocal cardiac rhabdomyoma. Parents reported that a few days before the child had fallen to the ground getting a little superficial injury to the scalp. The authors hypothesize that it may have been a transient loss of consciousness episode caused by the cardiac tumour.

The expression of leucine-rich repeat gene family members in colorectal cancer.

This study was conducted to evaluate the association of the leucine-rich repeat (LRR) gene family with colorectal cancer (CRC). The expression of members of the LRR gene family were analyzed in 17 CRC specimens and in 59 healthy colorectal tissues by using Human Exon1.0ST microarray, and in 25 CRC specimens and 32 healthy colorectal tissues by U133Plus2.

Extension of organised cervical cancer screening programmes in Italy and their process indicators, 2009 activity.

Italian national guidelines recommend to regions the implementation of organised screening programmes for cervical cancer. As in previous years since 1998, we collected from Italian organised cervical screening programmes aggregated tables of data in order to centrally compute process indicators. Data on women invited during 2009 and screened up to April 2010 were considered.

Discovering genetic variants in Crohn's disease by exploring genomic regions enriched of weak association signals.

Background: A meta-analysis has re-analysed previous genome-wide association scanning definitively confirming eleven genes and further identifying 21 new loci. However, the identified genes/loci still explain only the minority of genetic predisposition of Crohn's disease.

Aims: To identify genes weakly involved in disease predisposition by analysing chromosomal regions enriched of single nucleotide polymorphisms with modest statistical association.

Extension of organised cervical cancer screening programmes in Italy and their process indicators: 2008 activity.

Italian national guidelines recommend to Regions the implementation of organised screening programmes for cervical cancer. As in previous years since 1998, we collected from Italian organised cervical screening programmes aggregated tables of data in order to centrally compute process indicators. Data on women invited during 2008 and screened up to April 2009 were considered.

Extension of organised cervical cancer screening programmes in Italy and their process indicators: 2007 activity.

Italian national guidelines recommend to Regions the implementation of organised screening programmes for cervical cancer. As in previous years since 1998, we collected from Italian organised cervical screening programmes aggregated tables of data in order to centrally compute process indicators. Data on women invited during 2007 and screened up to April 2008 were considered.

On the reproducibility of results of pathway analysis in genome-wide expression studies of colorectal cancers.

One of the major problems in genomics and medicine is the identification of gene networks and pathways deregulated in complex and polygenic diseases, like cancer. In this paper, we address the problem of assessing the variability of results of pathways analysis identified in different and independent genome wide expression studies, in which the same phenotypic conditions are assayed. To this end, we assessed the deregulation of 1891 curated gene sets in four independent gene expression data sets of subjects affected by colorectal cancer (CRC).

Comparative study of gene set enrichment methods.

Background: The analysis of high-throughput gene expression data with respect to sets of genes rather than individual genes has many advantages. A variety of methods have been developed for assessing the enrichment of sets of genes with respect to differential expression. In this paper we provide a comparative study of four of these methods: Fisher's exact test, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA), Random-Sets (RS), and Gene List Analysis with Prediction Accuracy (GLAPA).