| 1. |
- Dima, Danai, et al.
(author)
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Subcortical volumes across the lifespan : Data from 18,605 healthy individuals aged 3-90 years.
- 2022
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In: Human Brain Mapping. - : Wiley. - 1065-9471 .- 1097-0193. ; 43:1, s. 452-469
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Age has a major effect on brain volume. However, the normative studies available are constrained by small sample sizes, restricted age coverage and significant methodological variability. These limitations introduce inconsistencies and may obscure or distort the lifespan trajectories of brain morphometry. In response, we capitalized on the resources of the Enhancing Neuroimaging Genetics through Meta-Analysis (ENIGMA) Consortium to examine age-related trajectories inferred from cross-sectional measures of the ventricles, the basal ganglia (caudate, putamen, pallidum, and nucleus accumbens), the thalamus, hippocampus and amygdala using magnetic resonance imaging data obtained from 18,605 individuals aged 3-90 years. All subcortical structure volumes were at their maximum value early in life. The volume of the basal ganglia showed a monotonic negative association with age thereafter; there was no significant association between age and the volumes of the thalamus, amygdala and the hippocampus (with some degree of decline in thalamus) until the sixth decade of life after which they also showed a steep negative association with age. The lateral ventricles showed continuous enlargement throughout the lifespan. Age was positively associated with inter-individual variability in the hippocampus and amygdala and the lateral ventricles. These results were robust to potential confounders and could be used to examine the functional significance of deviations from typical age-related morphometric patterns.
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| 2. |
- Frangou, Sophia, et al.
(author)
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Cortical thickness across the lifespan : Data from 17,075 healthy individuals aged 3-90 years
- 2022
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In: Human Brain Mapping. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 1065-9471 .- 1097-0193. ; 43:1, s. 431-451
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Delineating the association of age and cortical thickness in healthy individuals is critical given the association of cortical thickness with cognition and behavior. Previous research has shown that robust estimates of the association between age and brain morphometry require large-scale studies. In response, we used cross-sectional data from 17,075 individuals aged 3-90 years from the Enhancing Neuroimaging Genetics through Meta-Analysis (ENIGMA) Consortium to infer age-related changes in cortical thickness. We used fractional polynomial (FP) regression to quantify the association between age and cortical thickness, and we computed normalized growth centiles using the parametric Lambda, Mu, and Sigma method. Interindividual variability was estimated using meta-analysis and one-way analysis of variance. For most regions, their highest cortical thickness value was observed in childhood. Age and cortical thickness showed a negative association; the slope was steeper up to the third decade of life and more gradual thereafter; notable exceptions to this general pattern were entorhinal, temporopolar, and anterior cingulate cortices. Interindividual variability was largest in temporal and frontal regions across the lifespan. Age and its FP combinations explained up to 59% variance in cortical thickness. These results may form the basis of further investigation on normative deviation in cortical thickness and its significance for behavioral and cognitive outcomes.
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| 3. |
- Amici, Julia, et al.
(author)
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A Roadmap for Transforming Research to Invent the Batteries of the Future Designed within the European Large Scale Research Initiative BATTERY 2030
- 2022
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In: Advanced Energy Materials. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 1614-6832 .- 1614-6840. ; 12:17
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This roadmap presents the transformational research ideas proposed by "BATTERY 2030+," the European large-scale research initiative for future battery chemistries. A "chemistry-neutral" roadmap to advance battery research, particularly at low technology readiness levels, is outlined, with a time horizon of more than ten years. The roadmap is centered around six themes: 1) accelerated materials discovery platform, 2) battery interface genome, with the integration of smart functionalities such as 3) sensing and 4) self-healing processes. Beyond chemistry related aspects also include crosscutting research regarding 5) manufacturability and 6) recyclability. This roadmap should be seen as an enabling complement to the global battery roadmaps which focus on expected ultrahigh battery performance, especially for the future of transport. Batteries are used in many applications and are considered to be one technology necessary to reach the climate goals. Currently the market is dominated by lithium-ion batteries, which perform well, but despite new generations coming in the near future, they will soon approach their performance limits. Without major breakthroughs, battery performance and production requirements will not be sufficient to enable the building of a climate-neutral society. Through this "chemistry neutral" approach a generic toolbox transforming the way batteries are developed, designed and manufactured, will be created.
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| 4. |
- Breznau, Nate, et al.
(author)
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Observing many researchers using the same data and hypothesis reveals a hidden universe of uncertainty
- 2022
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In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. - : National Academy of Sciences. - 0027-8424 .- 1091-6490. ; 119:44
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This study explores how researchers analytical choices affect the reliability of scientific findings. Most discussions of reliability problems in science focus on systematic biases. We broaden the lens to emphasize the idiosyncrasy of conscious and unconscious decisions that researchers make during data analysis. We coordinated 161 researchers in 73 research teams and observed their research decisions as they used the same data to independently test the same prominent social science hypothesis: that greater immigration reduces support for social policies among the public. In this typical case of social science research, research teams reported both widely diverging numerical findings and substantive conclusions despite identical start conditions. Researchers expertise, prior beliefs, and expectations barely predict the wide variation in research outcomes. More than 95% of the total variance in numerical results remains unexplained even after qualitative coding of all identifiable decisions in each teams workflow. This reveals a universe of uncertainty that remains hidden when considering a single study in isolation. The idiosyncratic nature of how researchers results and conclusions varied is a previously underappreciated explanation for why many scientific hypotheses remain contested. These results call for greater epistemic humility and clarity in reporting scientific findings.
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| 5. |
- Delooz, Quentin, 1995-, et al.
(author)
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Analysis and Evaluation of Information Redundancy Mitigation for V2X Collective Perception
- 2022
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In: IEEE Access. - Piscataway, N.J. : IEEE. - 2169-3536. ; 10, s. 47076-47093
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Sensor data sharing enables vehicles to exchange locally perceived sensor data among each other and with the roadside infrastructure to increase their environmental awareness. It is commonly regarded as a next-generation vehicular communication service beyond the exchange of highly aggregated messages in the first generation. The approach is being considered in the European standardization process, where it relies on the exchange of locally detected objects representing anything safety-relevant, such as other vehicles or pedestrians, in periodically broadcasted messages to vehicles in direct communication range. Objects filtering methods for inclusion in a message are necessary to avoid overloading a channel and provoking unnecessary data processing. Initial studies provided in a pre-standardization report about sensor data sharing elaborated a first set of rules to filter objects based on their characteristics, such as their dynamics or type. However, these rules still lack the consideration of information received by other stations to operate. Specifically, to address the problem of information redundancy, several rules have been proposed, but their performance has not been evaluated yet comprehensively. In the present work, the rules are further analyzed, assessed, and compared. Functional and operational requirements are investigated. A performance evaluation is realized by discrete-event simulations in a scenario for a representative city with realistic vehicle densities and mobility patterns. A score and other redundancy-level metrics are elaborated to ease the evaluation and comparison of the filtering rules. Finally, improvements and future works to the filtering methods are proposed. Author
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| 6. |
- Gerbitz, Armin, et al.
(author)
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Prevention of CMV/EBV reactivation by double-specific T cells in patients after allogeneic stem cell transplantation : results from the randomized phase I/IIa MULTIVIR-01 study
- 2023
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In: Frontiers in Immunology. - : Frontiers Media S.A.. - 1664-3224. ; 14
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- IntroductionAllogeneic stem cell transplantation is used to cure hematologic malignancies or deficiencies of the hematopoietic system. It is associated with severe immunodeficiency of the host early after transplant and therefore early reactivation of latent herpesviruses such as CMV and EBV within the first 100 days are frequent. Small studies and case series indicated that application of herpes virus specific T cells can control and prevent disease in this patient population.MethodsWe report the results of a randomized controlled multi centre phase I/IIa study (MULTIVIR-01) using a newly developed T cell product with specificity for CMV and EBV derived from the allogeneic stem cell grafts used for transplantation. The study aimed at prevention and preemptive treatment of both viruses in patients after allogeneic stem cell transplantation targeting first infusion on day +30. Primary endpoints were acute transfusion reaction and acute-graft versus-host-disease after infusion of activated T cells.ResultsThirty-three patients were screened and 9 patients were treated with a total of 25 doses of the T cell product. We show that central manufacturing can be achieved successfully under study conditions and the product can be applied without major side effects. Overall survival, transplant related mortality, cumulative incidence of graft versus host disease and number of severe adverse events were not different between treatment and control groups. Expansion of CMV/EBV specific T cells was observed in a fraction of patients, but overall there was no difference in virus reactivation.DiscussionOur study results indicate peptide stimulated epitope specific T cells derived from stem cell grafts can be administered safely for prevention and preemptive treatment of reactivation without evidence for induction of acute graft versus host disease.Clinical trial registrationhttps://clinicaltrials.gov, identifier NCT02227641.
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| 7. |
- Guenkova-Luy, Teodora, et al.
(author)
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Advanced Multimedia Management Control Model and Content Adaptation
- 2006
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The delivery and adaptation of multimedia content in distributed and heterogeneous environments requires flexible control and management mechanisms in terminals and in control entities inside the network. In the near future, it is important to reach interoperability between the IETF approaches on multimedia session establishment and control and the MPEG-21 efforts for multimedia streaming and adaptation to bring advanced multimedia service provisioning and adaptation services towards the customer. MPEG-21 Digital Item Adaptation (DIA) provides normative descriptions for supporting adaptation of multimedia content, but does not define interactions with transport and control mechanisms. On the other hand, the IETF standardization efforts on multimedia session control provide the necessary transport (e.g. RTP) and control mechanisms (SDP/SDPng). We thus bridge the gap between those approaches by creating a converged XML model that enables the integration of session management and negotiation protocols (e.g. SIP or Megaco) inspired by the XML formats of MPEG-21 DIA and SDPng. We also present preliminary implementation results of the converged model along with concepts and implementation of network-based content adaptation mechanisms through media gateways that enable flexible multimedia management for heterogeneous consumer terminals
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| 8. |
- Hibar, Derrek P., et al.
(author)
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Novel genetic loci associated with hippocampal volume
- 2017
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In: Nature Communications. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2041-1723. ; 8
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The hippocampal formation is a brain structure integrally involved in episodic memory, spatial navigation, cognition and stress responsiveness. Structural abnormalities in hippocampal volume and shape are found in several common neuropsychiatric disorders. To identify the genetic underpinnings of hippocampal structure here we perform a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of 33,536 individuals and discover six independent loci significantly associated with hippocampal volume, four of them novel. Of the novel loci, three lie within genes (ASTN2, DPP4 and MAST4) and one is found 200 kb upstream of SHH. A hippocampal subfield analysis shows that a locus within the MSRB3 gene shows evidence of a localized effect along the dentate gyrus, subiculum, CA1 and fissure. Further, we show that genetic variants associated with decreased hippocampal volume are also associated with increased risk for Alzheimer's disease (r(g) = -0.155). Our findings suggest novel biological pathways through which human genetic variation influences hippocampal volume and risk for neuropsychiatric illness.
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| 9. |
- Kassler, Andreas, et al.
(author)
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Network-Based Content Adaptation of Streaming Media Using MPEG-21 DIA and SDPng
- 2006
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The dynamic adaptation of multimedia content in distributed heterogeneous environments is a key enabler for next generation ubiquitous and pervasive services. Systems implementing the Universal Multimedia Access (UMA) approaches are predominantly combinations of MPEG-centric and/or proprie-tary solutions. However, it is important to reach interoperability between the IETF approach for multimedia-session establish-ment and control and the MPEG-21 efforts for metadata-driven adaptation, in order to enable personalized multimedia delivery for ubiquitous users, where media is delivered and adapted on the fly taking into account context and environment. In this pa-per, we present a format-independent model that enables con-verging IETF and MPEG-21 descriptions for streaming media. We introduce the architecture of a multimedia stream-adaptation service to enable communication between terminals having het-erogeneous capabilities and communicating over heterogeneous networks. We demonstrate how the service utilizes the converged session description model and how it can be deployed inside special adaptation nodes within any part of the network to enable dynamic content adaptation both at the terminal and within the network
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| 10. |
- Koch, Raphael, et al.
(author)
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Zoledronic Acid Add-on Therapy for Standard-Risk Ewing Sarcoma Patients in the Ewing 2008R1 Trial
- 2023
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In: Clinical cancer research : an official journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. - 1078-0432. ; 29:24, s. 5057-5068
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- PURPOSE: The phase III, open-label, prospective, multicenter, randomized Ewing 2008R1 trial (EudraCT2008-003658-13) was conducted in 12 countries to evaluate the effect of zoledronic acid (ZOL) maintenance therapy compared with no add-on regarding event-free survival (EFS, primary endpoint) and overall survival (OS) in standard-risk Ewing sarcoma (EWS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eligible patients had localized EWS with either good histologic response to induction chemotherapy and/or small tumors (<200 mL). Patients received six cycles of VIDE induction and eight cycles of VAI (male) or eight cycles of VAC (female) consolidation. ZOL treatment started parallel to the sixth consolidation cycle. Randomization was stratified by tumor site (pelvis/other). The two-sided adaptive inverse-normal four-stage design (planned sample size 448 patients, significance level 5%, power 80%) was changed after the first interim analysis using the Müller-Schäfer method. RESULTS: Between April 2010 and November 2018, 284 patients were randomized (142 ZOL/142 no add-on). With a median follow-up of 3.9 years, EFS was not significantly different between ZOL and no add-on group in the adaptive design (HR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.43-1.28, P = 0.27, intention-to-treat). Three-year EFS rates were 84.0% (95% CI, 77.7%-90.8%) for ZOL vs. 81.7% (95% CI, 75.2%-88.8%) for no add-on. Results were similar in the per-protocol collective. OS was not different between groups. The 3-year OS was 92.8% (95% CI, 88.4%-97.5%) for ZOL and 94.6% (95% CI, 90.9%-98.6%) for no add-on. Noticeable more renal, neurologic, and gastrointestinal toxicities were observed for ZOL (P < 0.05). Severe renal toxicities occurred more often in the ZOL arm (P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with standard-risk localized EWS, there is no additional benefit from maintenance treatment with ZOL.
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