Context. Accurate photometric redshifts for large samples of galaxies are among the main products of modern multiband digital surveys. Over the last decade, the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) has become a sort of benchmark against which to test the various methods.Aims. We present an application of a new method to the estimation of photometric redshifts for the galaxies in the SDSS Data Release 9 (SDSS-DR9). Photometric redshifts for more than 143 million galaxies were produced. Methods. The Multi Layer Perceptron with Quasi Newton Algorithm (MLPQNA) model, provided within the framework of the DAta Mining and Exploration Web Application REsource (DAMEWARE), is an interpolative method derived from machine learning models. Results. The obtained redshifts have an overall uncertainty of σ = 0.023 with a very small average bias of ∼3 × 10 −5 , and a fraction of catastrophic outliers (|Δz| > 2σ) of ∼5%. This result is slightly better than what was already available in the literature in terms of the smaller fraction of catastrophic outliers as well.

Photometric redshifts (photo-z) are crucial to the scientific exploitation of modern panchromatic digital surveys. In this paper we present PhotoRApToR (Photometric Research Application To Redshift): a Java/C++ based desktop application capable to solve non-linear regression and multi-variate classification problems, in particular specialized for photo-z estimation. It embeds a machine learning algorithm, namely a multi-layer neural network trained by the Quasi Newton learning rule, and special tools dedicated to pre- and post-processing data. PhotoRApToR has been successfully tested on several scientific cases. The application is available for free download from the DAME Program web sit

Background: To compare predictive value of MCM5 to urinary cytology (UC) for the primary diagnosis of bladder cancer (BCa). Methods: We prospectively enrolled 91 patients who presented macroscopic hematuria or persistent lower urinary tract symptoms at our institution. Single voided midstream urine specimens were collected for UC and MCM5 (ADXBLADDER; Arquer Diagnostics Ltd, Sunderland, United Kingdom) assessment. Cystoscopy was used as confirmatory test, and positive cases underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumor with histopathological evaluation. Results: Forty cases (43.9%) showed a positive cystoscopy for BCa. Histology was obtained in 37 cases: 16 (43.2%) high-grade (HG) and 21 (56.8%) low-grade (LG) transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). UC had a sensitivity of 62.5%, specificity of 86.3%, PPV of 78.1% and NPV of 74.6%. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of MCM5 were 60.0%, 88.2%, 80.0% and 73.8%, respectively. According to tumor grade, MCM5 and UC showed a sensitivity of 47.6% and 52.4% in LG, and 87.5% and 75.0%, respectively, in HG TCC. False-positive rates were 11.8% and 13.7% of negative cases for BCa with MCM5 and UC test, whereas false-negative results were found in 40.0% and 37.5% of BCa cases, respectively. The combination of the two tests showed a sensitivity of 71.4% in LG, and 93.8% in HG TCC. Conclusion: In the present analysis, MCM5 showed lower sensitivity than UC in predicting BCa primary diagnosis. According to tumor grade, MCM5 showed a higher sensitivity in the detection of HG BCa compared to UC, although values were not significantly different.

We aimed to systematically review complications, and recurrence rate of varicocele treatment by comparing the surgical ligature versus sclero-embolization techniques in children, adolescents and adults. The secondary outcomes were the evaluation of semen parameters and spontaneous pregnancy rate in adults. The review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses framework. Continuous variables were pooled using the inverse variance of the mean difference (MD) with a fixed effect, and 95% confidence interval (CI). The incidences of complications were pooled using the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel Method with the random effect model and reported as Odds Ratio (OR), and 95% CI. Statistical significance was set two-tail p-value < 0.05. Twenty studies were included. Incidence of postoperative hydrocele was significantly higher in the surgical ligation group (OR 3.06 95% CI 1.06-8.88, p = 0.04). Incidence of postoperative orchiepidydimitys was significantly higher in sclero-embolization group (OR 0.26 95% CI 0.08-0.85, p = 0.02). Presence of normal spermatozoa was significantly higher sclero-embolization group compared with the surgical ligature group (MD 2.54% 95% CI 0.43-4.65, p = 0.02). No difference was found in overall complications, wound infection, testis pain, surgical site hematoma, total sperm count, sperm motility, pregnancy and recurrence rate. This review confirms that current data does still not support the superiority of one type of treatment over other ones.

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