Journals
2026 EN
Samaras Agorastos-Dimitrios · Moustakidis Serafeim · Apostolopoulos Ioannis D.
+4 more
This study addresses the diagnostic challenges associated with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC), the most prevalent form of lung cancer often diagnosed at advanced stages. It aims to develop a computer-aided classification model exclusively utilizing medical images from Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Computed Tomography (CT) scans. The model identifies benign/malignant Solitary Pulmonary Nodules (SPN) related to NSCLC. A dataset comprising of 456 patients, in total, was curated, featuring 48.68 % benign cases. To achieve its objective, four well-established Deep Learning (DL) algorithms were employed. The dataset was split into three different groups of images, each used for a particular task; training, testing and validation of the model. Notably, the study extends beyond predictive accuracy by delving into the prediction process of the best-performing model, thereby enhancing the explainability of the typically opaque Artificial Intelligence (AI) models. This explainability aspect aims to foster trust and confidence in the model’s outcomes, allowing users to comprehend the decision-making process. The results indicate that the YOLOv8 algorithm emerged as the most accurate classification model, achieving a maximum accuracy of 91.3 % and a maximum True Positive Rate (TPR) of 93.62 %. This study’s importance lies in underscoring the potential of DL approaches in improving NSCLC diagnosis while providing a transparent and understandable classification mechanism. It offers a novel way of explaining classification results from YOLOv8 model and it demonstrates both the effectiveness of DL-assisted predictions in characterizing SPNs and the added value of interpretability, thereby offering a holistic perspective on the model’s capabilities.
Journals
2026 EN
Sleeman Ruby · Makri Maria-Margarita · Anagnostopoulou Elena
+4 more
Computational linguistic phylogenetics has so far relied heavily on cognate data. In contrast, the potential of morphosyntactic characters as a valuable source for phylogenetic analysis has been largely overlooked. We argue that morphosyntactic characters may conflate historical signal with the results of homoplasies, horizontal transfer, and universal tendencies, and must be scrutinized in terms of their propensity to change and borrowing, analogously to the curation of lexical data which produced the Swadesh lists. In this paper we make a start by evaluating a set of morphosyntactic characters based on the World Atlas of Language Structures using three methods: we (1) calculated Pearson correlation coefficients for each character against different language groupings, reflecting either shared ancestry (genera) or contact (geographical proximity); (2) counted the minimum number of mutations needed for the distribution of a character’s states on a cognate-based reference tree (parsimony score), testing whether they correctly reflect language change known from historical linguistics; and (3) ran a classic hill-climbing algorithm to determine which random subsets of characters produced a phylogeny closest to a reference tree. We conclude that these are useful tools, but expect that making the definitions of the characters more theoretically informed will produce a stronger historical signal.
Journals
2026 EN
Koureas Dimitris · Beja Pedro · Blaxter Mark L.
+66 more
The Biodiversity Genomics Europe (BGE) Project has the overarching aim of accelerating the use of genomic science to enhance understanding of biodiversity, monitor biodiversity change, and guide interventions to address its decline. The BGE Project comprises activities focused on DNA Barcoding (Barcoding Stream) and Reference Genome Generation (Genomes Stream) for eukaryotic species across Europe, bringing together two European networks: the International Barcode of Life in Europe (iBOL Europe) and the European Reference Genome Atlas (ERGA). This publication is an abridged version of the successful grant proposal developed jointly by iBOL Europe and ERGA in response to the Horizon Europe call HORIZON-CL6-2021-BIODIV-01-01. Two key strands of genomic science form the basis of this proposal: DNA barcoding - sequencing short, standardised genomic regions to tell the world’s species apart, transforming the speed of completion of the inventory of life on Earth and providing the foundations of a global bio-surveillance system for biodiversity; and genome sequencing - generating high-quality complete reference genomes for all species on Earth, transforming understanding of biodiversity at the genetic level, and delivering fundamental knowledge of how biological systems function and how species respond and adapt to environmental change. The BGE Project objectives are focused on (i) Capacity: To establish functioning biodiversity genomics networks at the European level to connect and grow community capacity to use genomic tools to tackle the biodiversity crisis; (ii) Production: To establish and implement large-scale biodiversity genomic data generation pipelines for Europe to accelerate the production and accessibility of genomic data for biodiversity characterisation, conservation, and biomonitoring; and (iii) Application: To apply genomic tools to enhance understanding of pan-European biodiversity and biodiversity declines to improve the efficacy of management interventions and biomonitoring programmes.
Journals
2025 EN
Anderson Alexa R. · Caston Eleanor L. P. · Riley Lindsay
+4 more
Abstract In tissues where the vasculature is either lacking or abnormal, biomaterials can be designed to promote vessel formation and enhance tissue repair. In this work, the microstructure and bioactivity of microporous annealed particle (MAP) scaffolds are independently tuned to guide cell growth in 3D and promote de novo assembly of endothelial progenitor‐like cells into vessels. Both in silico characterization and in vitro experimentation are implemented to elucidate an optimal scaffold formulation for vasculogenesis. It is determined that MAP scaffolds with pore volumes on the same order of magnitude as cells facilitate cell growth and vacuole formation. Spatial control over cell spreading is achieved by incorporating adhesive microgels in well‐mixed, heterogeneous MAP scaffolds. While it is demonstrated that integrin engagement is the primary driver of network formation in these materials, introducing adhesive microgels loaded with heparin nanoparticles leads to the formation of vascular tubes after 3 days in culture. It is then shown in vivo that this unique scaffold formulation enhances vessel maturation in a wound‐healing model and instructs differential vascular development in the tumor microenvironment. Taken together, this work determines the optimal microstructure and ligand presentation within MAP scaffolds that leads to vascular constructs in vitro and facilitates vessel formation in vivo.
Journals
2025 EN
Ntekoumes Dimitris · Song Jiyeon · Liu Haohao
+3 more
Abstract Hypoxia elicits a multitude of tissue responses depending on the severity and duration of the exposure. While chronic hypoxia is shown to impact development, regeneration, and cancer, the understanding of the threats of acute (i.e., short‐term) hypoxia is limited mainly due to its transient nature. Here, a novel gelatin‐dextran (Gel‐Dex) hydrogel is established that decouples hydrogel formation and oxygen consumption and thus facilitates 3D sprouting from endothelial spheroids and, subsequently, induces hypoxia “on‐demand.” The Gel‐Dex platform rapidly achieves acute moderate hypoxic conditions without compromising its mechanical properties. Acute exposure to hypoxia leads to increased endothelial cell migration and proliferation, promoting the total length and number of vascular sprouts. This work finds that the enhanced angiogenic response is mediated by reactive oxygen species, independently of hypoxia‐inducible factors. Reactive oxygen species‐dependent matrix metalloproteinases activity mediated angiogenic sprouting is observed following acute hypoxia. Overall, the Gel‐Dex hydrogel offers a novel platform to study how “on‐demand” acute moderate hypoxia impacts angiogenesis, with broad applicability to the development of novel sensing technologies.
Journals
2025 EN
Loukelis Konstantinos · Kontogianni GeorgiaIoanna · Vlassopoulos Dimitris
+1 more
Abstract 3D bioprinting is a versatile technology using bioinks comprising living cells mixed with biomaterials and biomolecules to biofabricate structures with precise spatial hierarchy. Based on this principle, novel 3D bioprinted constructs are designed, comprising the natural anionic polysaccharide gellan gum (GG), the synthetic polymer poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), and pre‐osteoblastic cells. Moreover, nano‐hydroxyapatite (nHA) is included to the GG/PVA blend as an osteoinductive biomaterial. The integration of nHA led to significantly improved printing accuracy, while the rheological evaluation showed that all bioinks exhibited shear‐thinning properties and viscosity recovery capability close to 90%. Biodegradation studies revealed reduced mass loss rates of up to 16% in the presence of nHA, compared to those of the GG/PVA control at 27%, after 3 weeks. Biocompatibility data correlate to the material stiffness, with lower GG concentration bioinks retaining cell viability higher than 85% after 7 days, while higher GG concentration counterparts showed values close to 50%. The osteogenic capacity of lower GG concentration bioinks are monitored through alkaline phosphatase, calcium, and collagen production, and osteogenic gene expression analysis, showing a significant upregulation in nHA‐containing bioinks. The results demonstrate that the nHA bioinks display viscoelastic properties and biological response suitable for bone tissue engineering applications.
Journals
2025 EN
Boufidis Dimitris · Krizman Elizabeth N. · Smith Cybelle M.
+5 more
Abstract Astrocytes, the most abundant cell type in the brain, are increasingly recognized as active regulators of neuronal function and potential therapeutic targets. Two‐dimensional MXenes, such as titanium carbide (Ti 3 C 2 T x ), hold promise for neural interfaces and bioelectronic applications owing to their favorable electrochemical properties, but their compatibility with glial cells has yet to be investigated. Here, the first systematic evaluation of astrocyte–MXene interactions is reported by exposing cortical rat astrocytes to varying concentrations of Ti 3 C 2 T x in aqueous dispersions. Phase contrast and scanning electron microscopy showed individual flakes and larger aggregates on astrocyte membranes with no detectable damage. Cytotoxicity assays demonstrated robust astrocyte viability, morphological analysis indicated no significant changes in cell structure, and calcium imaging revealed no changes in spontaneous Ca 2 ⁺ activity between control and Ti 3 C 2 T x ‐treated cultures. These findings establish a foundation for the integration of Ti 3 C 2 T x into next‐generation neural interfaces while underscoring the need for further exploration of MXene‐based tools for astrocyte‐targeted neuromodulation.
Journals
2025 EN
Boufidis Dimitris · Krizman Elizabeth N. · Smith Cybelle M.
+5 more
Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene on Astrocytes This image shows Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene flakes on the astrocyte membrane. Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene is a two‐dimensional nanomaterial with promising properties for application in bioelectronics. In this first systematic evaluation of astrocyte–MXene interactions, scanning electron microscopy reveals Ti 3 C 2 T x adhering to astrocytes without causing any evident alteration of the membrane. Alongside viability, morphology, and calcium imaging assays, these findings establish for the first time the biocompatibility of Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene with astrocytes. More details can be found in the Research Article by Flavia Vitale, D. Kacy Cullen, and co‐workers (DOI: 10.1002/admi.202500261).
Journals
2025 EN
Kalemai Gion · Verykios Apostolos · Chatzigiannakis Georgios
+15 more
Abstract Halide organic–inorganic perovskites (HOIPs) are a promising class of materials for neuromorphic computing and processing systems demonstrating a variety of resistive switching (RS) mechanisms. HOIPs have been used as active layers in two‐ and three‐terminal synaptic devices reporting high performance in metrics of speed and energy consumption. Nevertheless, halide perovskites suffer from poor ambient stability and reproducibility. In this work, a highly robust double memristor based on two active layers forming a stacking heterojunction is demonstrated. In particular, the functional layer consists of a molybdenum oxide‐molybdenum sulfide compound (MoO 3 ‐MoS 2 ) and a quadruple cation perovskite (RbCsMAFA) deposited on top showing favorable band alignment for the specific application. The double memristor based on the MoO 3 ‐MoS 2 /RbCsMAFA heterojunction exhibits impressive and stable resistive switching behavior with endurance of 100 cycles, high retention of 2 × 10 4 s, high environmental stability maintaining its memristive behavior for 1 month, and excellent artificial synaptic functions. The robust device also exhibits good thermal stability maintaining the memristive characteristics at 85 °C, as well as good photonic memristive behavior with an improved ON/OFF ratio under constant illumination. Here it is proven that the proposed double memristor is a promising candidate for artificial synapses and neuromorphic computing systems.
Journals
2025 EN
Ascoli Alon · Demirkol Ahmet Samil · Messaris Ioannis
+10 more
Abstract The Hodgkin‐Huxley model is an accurate yet convoluted mathematical description of the complex nonlinear dynamics of a biological neuronal axon. Employing four degrees of freedom, three of which embodied by the sodium and potassium memristive ion channels, it is capable to capture the cascade of three fundamental bifurcations, specifically a Hopf supercritical, a Hopf subcritical, and a saddle‐node limit cycle bifurcation, marking the life cycle from birth to extinction via All‐to‐None effect of an electrical spike, also referred to as Action Potential in the literature, across biological axon membranes under monotonic change in the net synaptic current. This paper recurs to powerful concepts from the Local Activity and Edge of Chaos Principle and to methods from Circuit Theory and Nonlinear Dynamics to design the first and simplest ever‐reported electrical circuit, which, leveraging the peculiar Negative Differential Resistance effects in a volatile NbOx threshold switch from NaMLab, and including additionally just one capacitor and one DC current source in its minimal topology, undergoes the three‐bifurcation cascade, emerging across the fourth‐order Hodgkin‐Huxley neuron model under monotonic current sweep, while requiring half the number of degrees of freedom, which reveals the promising potential of Memristors on “Edge of Chaos” for energy‐efficient bio‐inspired electronics.