bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
P-50 Plurihormonal cystic pituitary adenoma: Case report
Authors: Seremet Aristia , Vudu Lorina , Vudu Stela , Leahu Pavel , Dusa Ina Aga
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Pituitary adenomas account for 10-15% of all intracranial neoplasms. Around 1/3 of cases are cystic pituitary adenomas presented by non-staining tumors, usually being prolactinomas and rarely – somatotropinomas. Combined prolactin and growth hormone-secreting adenomas are uncommon and clinical diagnosis can be deferred due to symptoms specific for only one of the excess secreted hormones.

Clinical Case

A 47-years-old woman was referred to our clinic in November 2022, her only complaint being headaches in the occipital region that persisted for the last 7 years. The patient had a history of taking various SSRI/SNRI antidepressants and benzodiazepines continuously for the same period of time (7 years). She presented outpatient prolactin test results from August 2022 showing a level of 3180 µUI/ml [N 17-637 µUI/ml], 10 fold dilution - 2947 µUI/ml and a pituitary scan that revealed a 13.3×9.6×11.1 mm tumor with a cystic component, invading the suprasellar cistern and the left cavernous sinus. Anamnesis determined that she had two children, a regular menstrual cycle and no heredocolateral antecedents. Clinical examination revealed milky white breast discharge and mild changes in the face, hands, and feet structure that were suggestive of acromegaly. Before admission the patient was started on 0.5 mg cabergoline weekly.

On admission, prolactin levels were still elevated, and the cabergoline dose was increased. Of all the pituitary axes the only out-of-range value was IGF-1 – which was elevated to 53.1 nmol/l [N 10.3-28.57]. The patient refused surgery for the moment, and no pharmacological treatment options were available in the country.

The patient was lost to follow up and had returned in August 2023 with complaints of general fatigue and malaise. History revealed that in May 2023 she suffered from severe headaches and was admitted to the neurosurgery department of a local hospital, where she underwent transsphenoidal surgery for the pituitary adenoma. The histology showed chromophobe adenoma tissue, no follow-up immunohistology was done. After the surgery, cabergoline was stopped. During our exploration of the pituitary function – there were no deficits or excesses registered. Considering that co-secreting pituitary adenomas are common for MEN syndromes, she was tested for presence of thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal tumors, but no imagistic or laboratory findings were detected.

Conclusion

In the light of global increased use of antidepressant and anxiety relieving medication, this clinical case underlines the importance of a thorough assessment in these patients, before and during treatment. Additionally, prolactin and growth hormone co-secreting pituitary adenomas often have a silent clinical presentation and may be challenging in diagnosis. A multimodal management is necessary as plurihormonal adenomas require both control of hormone excess and tumor growth.
P-51 Association of Bardet-Biedl syndrome with differences of sex development and pituitary hypoplasia
Authors: Amine Amani Mohammed El , Benghani Mohammed Mahieddine , Ammar Soraya Benammar
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) is a rare autosomal recessive genetic disorder involving hypogonadism manifested by cryptorchidism, micropenis and/or delayed puberty

Clinical Case

We report the case of a 13-year-old child, who was consulted for obesity and whose physical examination showed major signs of SBB: global obesity, polydactyly, learning difficulties and visual disorders. Genital examination revealed a 1 cm genital tubercle with a single orifice and two genital swelling without palpable gonads. Biological investigations revealed hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, corticotropic insufficiency, low AMH with a non- stimulable HCG test and a 46XY male karyotype. Pelvic MRI did not show any gonads or internal genitalia but noted ectopy and malrotation of the right kidney. The diagnosis of a testicular regression syndrome is very likely in this case.

At the fundus photography: presence of bilateral retinal dystrophy with high myopia. At the hypothalamohypophyseal level: a strong pituitary hypoplasia was objectified.

Conclusion

BBS is a rare autosomal recessive multisystem ciliopathy. The incidence of BBS is 1 in 150,000–160,000 in Europe and North America. BBS is caused by a dysfunction of the gene coding for proteins that are implicated in the function of the primary cilia and in important signaling pathways. The core features of the syndrome include retinal degeneration, obesity, polydactyly, cognitive impairment, renal anomalies and urogenital malformations. To date, pathogenic variants in 26 genes have been shown to be involved in the molecular basis of this rare ciliopathy.

To our knowledge, only one study conducted on 11 children with BBS found among them 7 cases of pituitary abnormalities, 4 of which showed hypoplasia. While no association with a testicular regression syndrome has been described. This makes our patient the first described association of these 3 pathologies.
Age-specific Reference Intervals of Abbott Intact PTH—Potential Impacts on Clinical Care
Authors: Kalaria Tejas , Lawson Alexander J , Duffy Joanne , Agravatt Ashishkumar , Harris Steve , Ford Clare , Gama Rousseau , Webster Craig , Geberhiwot Tarekegn
Published: January 2024

Background

PTH assays are not standardized; therefore, method-specific PTH reference intervals are required for interpretation of results. PTH increases with age in adults but age-related reference intervals for the Abbott intact PTH (iPTH) assay are not available.

Methods

Deidentified serum PTH results from September 2015 to November 2022 were retrieved from the laboratory information system of a laboratory serving a cosmopolitan population in central-west England for individuals aged 18 years and older if the estimated glomerular filtration rate was ≥60 mL/min, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D was >50 nmol/L, and serum albumin-adjusted calcium and serum phosphate were within reference intervals. Age-specific reference intervals for Abbott iPTH were derived by an indirect method using the refineR algorithm.

Results

PTH increased with age and correlated with age when controlled for 25-hydroxyvitamin D, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and adjusted calcium (r = 0.093, P < .001). The iPTH age-specific reference intervals for 4 age partitions of 18 to 45 years, 46 to 60 years, 61 to 80 years, and 81 to 95 years were 1.6 to 8.6 pmol/L, 1.8 to 9.5 pmol/L, 2.0 to 11.3 pmol/L, and 2.3 to 12.3 pmol/L, respectively. PTH was higher in women compared with men (P < .001). Sex-specific age-related reference intervals could not be derived because of the limited sample size.

Conclusion

Age-specific Abbott iPTH reference intervals were derived. Application of age-specific reference intervals will impact the diagnosis and management of normocalcemic hyperparathyroidism, based on current definitions, and secondary hyperparathyroidism. Additional studies are required to clarify the effect of sex and ethnicity on PTH.
Το ελληνικό κοινωνιολογικό πεδίο
Authors: Καρατζά Αθηνά-Μαρία
Published: January 2024

Αντικείμενο της παρούσας διατριβής είναι το ελληνικό κοινωνιολογικό πεδίο. Ειδικότερα, θα διερευνηθούν οι όροι παραγωγής και αναπαραγωγής της άσκησης της κοινωνιολογίας στον εθνικό επιστημονικό μας χώρο μέσα από τη μελέτη των κοινωνικών δρώντων (δηλαδή, μέσα από τον αντικειμενικό ορισμό της θέσης τους στο επιστημονικό αυτό πεδίο έπειτα από τη μελέτη των ιδιαίτερων παραγόντων της δημιουργίας της επιστημονικής κι επαγγελματικής τους ταυτότητας) και των θεσμών (δηλαδή, μέσα από τη διερεύνηση της κοινωνικής ιστορίας των συναφών πανεπιστημιακών ιδρυμάτων, των ερευνητικών κέντρων, των εταιρειών, των συλλόγων κ.ο.κ.) που συγκροτούν τον κοινωνικό χώρο της κοινωνιολογίας. Έτσι, μέσα από την εξέταση των κοινωνικών θεμελίων της επιστημονικής πρακτικής της κοινωνιολογίας στην Ελλάδα, στόχος είναι να πραγματοποιηθεί μια ανάλυση των κοινωνιολόγων και της κοινωνιολογίας που αυτοί ασκούν στη βάση της παραδοχής του P. Bourdieu ότι «όλες οι προτάσεις, που διατυπώνει αυτή η επιστήμη, μπορούν και πρέπει να εφαρμόζονται στο υποκείμενο που ασκεί την επιστήμη», η οποία έχει ως στόχο να συμβάλει στην υπεράσπιση και την αύξηση του βαθμού αυτονομίας του πεδίου της κοινωνιολογίας στη χώρα μας.
The utility of salivary CRP and IL-6 as a non-invasive measurement evaluated in patients with COVID-19 with and without diabetes
Authors: Bachtiar Endang , Bachtiar Boy M , Kusumaningrum Ardiana , Sunarto Hari , Soeroso Yuniarti , Sulijaya Benso , Apriyanti Efa , Theodorea Citra Fragrantia , Putra Pratomo Irandi , Yudhistira Yudhistira , Efendi Defi , Lestari Widya
Published: January 2024

Background The available evidence suggests that inflammatory responses, in both systemic and oral tissue, contribute to the pathology of COVID-19 disease. Hence, studies of inflammation biomarkers in oral fluids, such as saliva, might be useful to better specify COVID-19 features. Methods In the current study, we performed quantitative real-time PCR to measure salivary levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in saliva obtained from patients diagnosed with mild COVID-19, in a diabetic group (DG; n = 10) and a non-diabetic group (NDG; n = 13). All participants were diagnosed with periodontitis, while six participants with periodontitis but not diagnosed with COVID-19 were included as controls. Results We found increases in salivary total protein levels in both the DG and NDG compared to control patients. In both groups, salivary CRP and IL-6 levels were comparable. Additionally, the levels of salivary CRP were significantly correlated with total proteins, in which a strong and moderate positive correlation was found between DG and NDG, respectively. A linear positive correlation was also noted in the relationship between salivary IL-6 level and total proteins, but the correlation was not significant. Interestingly, the association between salivary CRP and IL-6 levels was positive. However, a moderately significant correlation was only found in COVID-19 patients with diabetes, through which the association was validated by a receiver operating curve. Conclusions These finding suggest that salivary CRP and IL-6 are particularly relevant as potential non-invasive biomarker for predicting diabetes risk in mild cases of COVID-19 accompanied with periodontitis.
Underground hydrogen storage: The techno-economic perspective
Authors: Gianni Eleni , Tyrologou Pavlos , Couto Nazaré , Carneiro Júlio Ferreira , Scholtzová Eva , Koukouzas Nikolaos
Published: January 2024

The changes in the energy sector after the Paris agreement and the establishment of the Green Deal, pressed the governments to embrace new measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Among them, is the replacement of fossil fuels by renewable energy sources or carbon-neutral alternative means, such as green hydrogen. As the European Commission approved green hydrogen as a clean fuel, the interest in investments and dedicated action plans related to its production and storage has significantly increased. Hydrogen storage is feasible in aboveground infrastructures as well as in underground constructions. Proper geological environments for underground hydrogen storage are porous media and rock cavities. Porous media are separated in depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs and aquifers, while rock cavities are subdivided into hard rock caverns, salt caverns, and abandoned mines. Depending on the storage option, various technological requirements are mandatory, influencing the required capital cost. Although the selection of the optimum storage technology is site depending, the techno-economical appraisal of the available underground storage options featured the porous media as the most economically attractive option. Depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs were of high interest as site characterisation and cavern mining are omitted due to pre-existing infrastructure, followed by aquifers, where hydrogen storage requires a much simpler construction. Research on data analytics and machine learning tools will open avenues for consolidated knowledge of geological storage technologies.
The Lithuanianisation of Adam Mickiewicz
Authors: Šeina Viktorija
Published: January 2024

In this article, I analyse the cultural practices applied by Lithuanian interwar intellectuals seeking to Lithuanianise the great Polish romantic poet Adam Mickiewicz. Mickiewicz was born to a family of Polish-speaking nobles in a predominantly Belarusian part of the former Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Because his historically themed works had an impact on the Lithuanian national movement, Lithuanian intellectuals sought ways to attribute Mickiewicz to Lithuanian culture.

Mickiewicz, who wrote in Polish, was a stalwart Polish-Lithuanian patriot. As this was in conflict with ethnocultural Lithuanian nationalism, interwar defenders of Mickiewicz’s attribution to Lithuanian literature looked for additional arguments supporting the poet’s Lithuanianness. In this article, I explore two ways that Mickiewicz was Lithuanianised: through a myth surrounding his ethnic origins and by introducing distortions into Lithuanian translations of the poet’s works.

From the end of the nineteenth century, Lithuanians generally saw their local nobility as ‘Polonised Lithuanians’. This view applied to Mickiewicz as well. Without having any factual evidence to support it, the interwar Lithuanian philosopher Stasys Šalkauskis sought to convince readers that Mickiewicz was descended from the Rimvydas clan. Another means of Lithuanianising Mickiewicz was through ideologically motivated editing and distorting translations of his works into Lithuanian. The most striking example of this was a 1927 anthology of the poet’s works compiled by Lithuanian literary historian Mykolas Biržiška.
Discussing Nature, Ideology, Technology, Spirituality, Literature and Language at the Start of the 21st Century
Authors: Jinjin Lu
Published: January 2024

Jüri Talvet, Ten Letters to Montaigne: Self and Other. Translated by Jüri Talvet & H. L. Hix. Toronto: Guernica World Editions, 2019. 132 pp.
The Seasons by James Thomson and the Baltic German Poetry about the Seasons in the Era of Baltic Enlightenment
Authors: Kaur Kairit
Published: January 2024

Since 2016 one of my research topics has been the Baltic German reception of English poetry through the lens of cultural historical book collections in Estonia. One of my findings has been that James Thomson’s The Seasons belonged among the most often received works of English poetry by Baltic Germans in Estonia, after James Macpherson’s Poems of Ossian and John Milton’s Paradise Lost and followed by Edward Young’s Night-Thoughts. (Kaur 2018: 375) Except for Milton’s, these works are almost unknown to modern Estonian readers. Therefore a few words to introduce Thomson and his famous work should be said.

James Thomson (1700–1748) was an 18th century Scottish poet and playwright. Son of a Presbyterian minister, he studied at the College of Edinburgh to become a minister (1715–1719). However, very soon he found that preaching was not his calling and moved in 1725 to London to commit himself to literary work. There he created his poetic tetralogy in blank verse Winter (first published in 1726), Summer (1727), Spring (1728) and Autumn, which appeared together under the title The Seasons in 1730 (revised version in 1744). Enthusiastic, patriotic and full of love for flora, fauna, people, landscapes and everchanging weather conditions of his surroundings, but also of the wider world, it was received with great admiration by his British compatriots. But not only them: a new fresh interest in nature and especially in the phenomenon of the seasons as well the wish to describe and express them through poetry and other artistic means can be traced in Europe. Some years before Thomson the famous Italian composer Antonio Vivaldi had created his violin concerto The Four Seasons (1718) and a German poet and senator from the city of Hamburg, Barthold Hinrich Brockes, had started to publish his series Irdisches Vergnügen in Gott (Earthly Delight in God) (1721–1748) in which he meticulously described many objects from and views of nature as God’s creations, inspired by English and Dutch physical theology.
EVALUATION OF THE IMPACT OF CYTODEPH-100 AND GIBERELON PREPARATIONS USE ON THE PRODUCTIVITY OF CHICKPEA PLANTS IN THE CONDITIONS OF THE REPUBLIC OF TATARSTAN
Authors: Sabirova Razina , Vafin Il'shat , Akenshaeva Aykanysh , Bahtiyarov Ruslan
Published: January 2024

The studies were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the use of chemical regulators of plant growth and development (preparations Cytodef-100, Giberelon) on the features of the formation of the yield of chickpea plants. The experiments were carried out in 2021-2022 on the gray forest soil of Agrobiotechnopark of Kazan State Agrarian University. Experimental design: control (without the use of growth regulators); seed treatment with the growth regulator Cytodef-100 (60 g/t); seed treatment with Cytodef-100 (60 g/t) and two-fold spraying with Giberelon (70 g/ha) in the phases of 3-5 true leaves and full flowering. The object of the study was the chickpea variety Privo1. The soil is gray forest, heavy loamy. Humus content is 4.4% (according to Tyurin), mobile phosphorus 378 mg/kg and exchangeable potassium - 125 mg/kg (according to Kirsanov), pHsol - 5.2. The experiment was repeated four times, the plots were placed sequentially, the area of each plot was 25 m2. The system of primary and pre-sowing soil preparation included stubble cultivation, plowing, cultivation, pre-sowing and post-sowing harrowing, pre-sowing application of azophoska at a rate of 150 kg/ha. The weather conditions in the studied years were relatively favorable, but 2021 was extremely dry. The number of plants surviving for harvesting in the variant of complex treatment of seeds and plants with plant growth regulators increases by 10.0 pcs/m2, the number of beans by 14.0 and 4.45 pieces and the number of seeds by 16.0 and 8.7 pieces per plant, respectively, compared to the study years. In this variant, the damage to chickpea by root rot was 16% and 10% less, and the number of nodules was 2 and 5 pieces more per plant compared to the control variant. The use of the complex processing system led to an increase in chickpea yield to 2.02 and 1.7 t/ha and the profitability of crop production by 106.8 and 106.0%, the protein content in grain by 1.5% compared to the control variant.
Assessment of the influence of organomineral fertilizers on the formation of potato yield
Authors: Safin Radik , Vafin Il'shat
Published: January 2024

The results of field experiments on spring barley conducted in 2023 on the experimental fields of the Agrobiotechnopark of the Kazan State Agrarian University are presented. The purpose of the research was to assess the impact of the use of various compositions of organomineral fertilizers based on natural minerals (zeolite, diatomite, perlite), humates and food industry waste (buckwheat husk, beet molasses) developed at the Institute of Agrobiotechnologies and Land Management of Kazan State Agrarian University on the formation of the yield and grain quality of spring barley. The objectives of the research included studying the nature of changes in plant growth and development, yield and protein content in grain when using experimental organomineral fertilizers. The object of the study was spring barley of the Raushan variety. The control was the option without fertilizers; the standard was the application of 100 kg/ha of azofoska. Experimental fertilizers were applied at a rate of 120 kg/ha. All fertilizers in the experiment were applied before sowing. The studies were carried out on gray forest highly cultivated soil. The growing season conditions in 2023 were characterized by periodically severe drought phenomena, which affected the growth and development of spring barley plants. It was found that the application of experimental fertilizers contributed to the growth of the length of roots and above-ground parts of plants, and also reduced the damage to plants by root rot. Diatomite-based fertilizer had the greatest positive effect on reducing root rot damage. The largest increase in yield over the control (by 0.73 t/ha) and standard (by 0.22 t/ha) was obtained when using diatomite-based fertilizer. The use of all organomineral fertilizers (especially those based on zeolite) leads to an increase in the protein content in the grain.
Productivity of cows with different combinations of lines
Authors: Kharisova Chulpan , Shaydullin Radik , Ahmetov Tahir
Published: January 2024

The purpose of the study was to study the milk productivity of cows with different combinations of lines. The object of the study were first-calf cows of the black-and-white breed of the line Vis Back Aidiala 101341, Reflection Soveringa 198998, Montvik Chiefteina 95679. Cows obtained by intraline selection of the Aidial line have a high level of milk productivity, with milk yield of 5571 kg of milk, milk fat yield of 226 kg and protein yield of 171 kg, while significantly (P<0.05-0.01) superior to first-calf heifers, belonging to the Sovering line for 102 kg, 4 kg of fat and 4 kg of protein, and to the Chieftain line - for 259 kg of milk, 16 kg of fat and 11 kg of protein, respectively. When crossing the Ideal-Sovering lines, the highest milk yield is observed (5667 kg), with good milk fat content (4.01 %), high yield of milk fat (227 kg) and milk protein (172 kg). With the reverse cross Sovering-Idial, slightly lower milk productivity rates were obtained. When using bulls of the Aidial line on cows of the Governer line, high milk fat content (4.07 %) and milk fat yield (228 kg) were obtained, with average values of milk yield (5596 kg), protein mass fraction (3.01 %) and its yield (168 kg). Unsuccessful combinations of lines in both forward and reverse directions are crosses of the Idial and Chieftain lines. The descendants of such combinations have the lowest milk productivity. Thus, the use of line manufacturers R. Sovering and V.B. Idiala, both with intraline selection and interline combination, gives the best milk productivity indicators. Consequently, it is necessary to evaluate bulls according to the compatibility of lines; this has a great influence on the productivity of the offspring, since sires of the same line, when inseminating cows of the same lines, produce offspring of different productivity.
Discovering the Fourth Katyń Cemetery at Bykownia
Authors: Halikowski-Smith Stefan
Published: January 2024

No abstract is avaliable for this article.
Kilka aktualnych uwag o totalitaryzmie na kanwie rozważań Jasona Stanleya
Authors: Chrobaczyński Jacek
Published: January 2024

Brak abstarktu dla tego artykułu.
Idan Sherer, The Scramble for Italy. Continuity and Change in the Italian Wars 1494-1559
Authors: Kozłowski Paweł
Published: January 2024

Brak abstraktu dla tego artykułu.
Tea Gardens, A Potential Carbon-sink for Climate Change Mitigation
Authors: Chettri Vivek , Ghosh Chandra
Published: January 2024

The necessity to identify ecosystems with high carbon sink capacity as an alternative mitigation approach to terrestrial carbon sequestration has increased due to hazards such as global warming from emissions of Green House Gases mainly due to anthropogenic activities. Tea is an intensively managed perennial cash crop planted beneath a canopy of shade trees. They provide a prospect for the reduction of climate change while providing economic incentives so much so that some states and the country are dependent on the plantations and the revenue generated out of the tea gardens. Tea and shade trees together can store a significant quantity of atmospheric CO2 in the plants and the soil .The area of the gardens and the shade trees that grow in them makes it very necessary to estimate the amount of carbon sequestered in tea agroforestry systems and define their role as carbon sinks countering the climatic changes and the mitigation of the same.
Approaches towards Integrated Disease Management of Sheath Blight disease of Corn
Authors: Shastri Madhu , Singh Ashok , Dongre P. N. , Singh Rashmi
Published: January 2024

Maize occupies a prominent position in India as each part of the maize plant is of economical importance. Banded leaf and sheath blight disease caused by Rhizoctonia solani f. sp. sasakii is one of the important disease of maize. The causal organism of this disease has potential to inflict economic loss up to 100 %. Due to its soil borne nature and lack of resistant cultivers, it poses challenge to maize growers. Fungicides or crop rotation alone is not sufficient to control this disease. The present study is on integrated disease management through chemical, biological and botanicals means. The findings of this investigation should help better management and reduce crop loss due to banded leaf and sheath blight. Bavistin showed maximum percent of inhibition i.e. hundred percent (100%) at 10 ppm concentration. In order to replace chemical treatment present study was focused on use of integrated disease management (IDM). For this six treatment were given to maize seed with botanicals, bio-agent, chemical and combination of these out of which it was found that treatment number S6 and S7 which is combination of Bavistin + Neem oil and Trichoderma harzianum + Neem oil respectively showed maximum percent diseases index i.e. 2.9 and 4.6 respectively. In another treatment, along with seed treatment foliar spray was also done by using chemicals and botanicals. In this experiment it was found that when treatment was done with bio-agent T. harzianum maximum percent disease control was reported 90.9 and minimum 60.6 when foliar spray and seed treatment both were done only by Neem oil.
In Vitro Screening for Abiotic Stress Tolerance and Biocontrol Ability of Plant Growth Promoting Strains of Azotobacter and Azospirillum spp.
Authors: Sultana Uzma , Desai Suseelendra , Pinisetty Sravani
Published: January 2024

The selection and deployment of microorganisms in stressed ecosystems with biocontrol ability is a major challenge. In this investigation, we sought to isolate and identify strains of Azotobacter and Azospirillum spp., which could withstand abiotic stresses and possess the potential to serve as biological control against five phytopathogenic fungi. Stress tolerance was evidently less obvious in Azospirillum strains than in Azotobacter strains, when bacterial strains were screened for high temperature (50 °C), salt (7% NaCl), and drought (1.2 MPa). Strains Asp30 and Asp 32 of Azospirillum and Azb 19, Azb20 and Azb27 of Azotobacter were found tolerant to temperature, drought and salinity stresses. Five strains of Azotobacter viz. Azb2, Azb6, Azb10, Azb16 and Azb18 and six strains of Azospirillum viz. Asp2, Asp10, Asp22, Asp30, Asp32 and Asp39 inhibited all the five fungal phytopathogens studied. Therefore, in vitro screening provided the basis for identification and selection of strains with abiotic stress tolerance and biocontrol ability.
Crop Selection and Yield Prediction using Machine Learning Approach
Authors: Patil Pritesh , Athavale Pranav , Bothara Manas , Tambolkar Siddhi , More Aditya
Published: January 2024

In recent years, Agriculture sector has been researched a lot with the advancements in technologies like machine learning and smart computing. With the dynamic economics of Agri-produce, it is becoming challenging for farmers to utilize the land efficiently to get maximum profit in the specific landscape. Crop Yield Prediction (CYP) is crucial and is greatly dependent on environmental factors like soil contents, humidity, rainfall as well as area under cultivation and other required metrics. Due to insufficient incorporation of the multiple environmental circumstances, a number of existing tools and techniques used for CYP, such as historical averages, tend to produce inaccurate findings. In such situation, with multiple options of crop, it is essential for farmers to plan the crop strategy in advance. If the farmer can get estimate of the crop yield in advance, cultivation can be done accordingly. To solve this problem, machine learning approach is implemented as a base for accurate predictions. Crop prediction is done by classification model and yield prediction uses regression models to learn from the data. Multiple ML models are analyzed based on performance metrics. Best performer model is incorporated in backend. Among the used models for yield prediction, Random Forest Regression gives best results with MAE of 0.64 and R2 score of 0.96. For crop prediction, Naïve Bayes classifier gives most accurate results with accuracy of 99.39. The study emphasizes how machine learning could revolutionize crop management techniques by giving farmers insights about optimizing resource allocation and boost overall crop yield.
Exploring Agricultural Disparities in Western Odisha: A Comprehensive Study Based on Composite Index Scores
Authors: Munda Suru , Gartia Rajendra , Dash Samir Ranjan
Published: January 2024

The research endeavor delves into the intricate agricultural disparities prevalent in Western Odisha, focusing on crucial metrics such as land area, yield rates, and production trends spanning the years 2020 to 2022. The study encompassed an extensive scope, encompassing 50 blocks distributed across six carefully selected districts: Nuapada, Jharsuguda, Boudh, Sundargarh, Sambalpur, and Baragarh. These districts were meticulously chosen through a process of simple random sampling from a pool of ten districts in the Western Odisha region. To distill meaningful insights, the research harnessed the power of composite indices, drawn from a comprehensive set of fifteen indicators, each illuminating distinct facets of agricultural development. Through the application of Principal Component Analysis (PCA), five key indicators were expertly extracted from this data set. Drawing upon secondary data sourced from the esteemed Statistical Abstracts of Western Odisha districts, and the Directorate of Economics and Statistics (DES), Government of Odisha (2019-2020), the study validated its assumptions by subjecting the extracted components to the rigors of the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test for normal distribution. Primary data was diligently collected from a cohort of 300 households via meticulously structured questionnaires, encompassing vital parameters such as land area (measured in acres), yield rates (measured in kilograms), and production figures (measured in quintals). It was discovered that the data exhibited deviations from normality, prompting the application of non-parametric methodologies. The ensuing Kruskal-Wallis tests unearthed significant disparities among the identified groups, emphasizing substantial distinctions between the Meteoric, Progressive, Mediocre, and Laggard classifications. To gauge the extent of these disparities, the Gini Coefficient (GC) was aptly employed. The findings underscored that the Meteoric group exhibited more pronounced disparities in land area compared to the other groups, along with marked differences in yield rates. Additionally, this group displayed slightly elevated disparities in production figures. These revelatory results furnish a nuanced understanding of the diverse variances in land area, yield rates, and production levels among the distinct groups. This research endeavor, by shedding light on the dynamic agricultural landscape of Western Odisha, not only highlights the disparities but also offers valuable insights into the underlying factors influencing these agricultural outcomes. These insights, in turn, pave the way for targeted interventions aimed at augmenting agricultural productivity in the region. Addressing these identified disparities emerges as a critical step towards fostering a more equitable and sustainable agricultural sector in Western Odisha.
Long-Term Extrinsic Uniformity Analysis of Gamma Cameras
Authors: Kim Yoon-Jae , Jung Woo-Young , Lee Dong-Hoon
Published: January 2024

Purpose: The long-term trend of extrinsic uniformity by type of gamma camera was analyzed, and the factors affecting uniformity were investigated. Based on this, the purpose was to predict the life of the gamma camera, pay attention to factors that affect uniformity, and obtain better quality images. Materials and methods: Four of the gamma cameras in operation at a senior general hospital in Seoul were selected and the trend of extrinsic uniformity from the first operation date to the present was analyzed. In order to minimize various factors affecting uniformity, a detailed analysis was conducted by calculating the monthly and annual average of the uniformity values. Results: Two Symbia E gamma cameras from SIEMENS, one Symbia Evo Excel gamma camera, and one Symbia Intevo16 gamma camera were selected and analyzed. The uniformity of Symbia E1 (2012 warehousing) changed unevenly, and the uniformity of Symbia E2 (2014 warehousing) changed according to the replacement cycle of 57Co sheet sources. The uniformity of Symbia Evo Excel (received in 2017) and Symbia Intevo 16 (received in 2017) was constant compared to Symbia E. Conclusion: The extrinsic uniformity of the gamma camera gradually increased over time. However, there was a difference in uniformity for each type of gamma camera, and there was a change in uniformity in which the cause could not be accurately identified. In order to improve the quality of the image, it is necessary to periodically check changes in uniformity and minimize factors that affect uniformity.
Calculation of the Least Significant Change Value of Bone Densitometry Using a Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry System
Authors: Seo Han-Kyung , Choi Do-Cheol , Shim Cheol-Min , Jo Jin-Hyeong
Published: January 2024

Purpose: The precision error of a bone density meter reflects the equipment and reproducibility of results by an examiner. Precision error values can be expressed as coefficient of variation (CV), CV%, and root mean square-SD (RMS-SD). The International Society for Clinical Densitometry (ISCD) currently recommends using RMS-SD as the precision error value. When a 95% confidence interval is applied, the least significant change (LSC) value is calculated by multiplying the precision error value by 2.77. Exceeding the LSC value reflects a significant difference in measured bone density. Therefore, the LSC value of a bone density equipment is an essential factor for accurately determining a patient's bone density. Accordingly, we aimed to calculate the LSC value of a bone density meter (Lunar iDXA, GE) and compare it with the value recommended by the ISCD. We also assessed whether the value measured by the iDXA equipment was below the LSC value recommended by ISCD. Material and Methods: The bone densities of the lumbar spine and thighs of 30 participants were measured twice, and the LSC values were calculated using the precision calculation tool provided by the ISCD (http://www.iscd.org). To check the reproducibility of the measurement, patients were asked to completely dismount from the equipment after the first measurement; the patient was then repositioned before proceeding with the second measurement. Results: The LSC values derived using the CV% values recommended by the ISCD were 5.3% for the lumbar spine and 5.0% for the thigh. The LSC values measured using our bone density equipment were 2.47% for the lumbar spine and 1.61% for the thigh. The LSC value using RMS-SD was 0.031 g/cm2 for the lumbar spine and 0.017 g/cm2 for the thigh. Conclusion: that the findings confirm that the CV% value measured using our bone density meter and the LSC value using RMS-SD were maintained very stably. This can be helpful for obtaining accurate measurements during bone density follow-up examinations.
Study of 68Ga Labelled PET/CT Scan Parameters Optimization
Authors: Kwak In Suk , Lee Hyuk , Kim Si Hwal , Moon Seung Cheol
Published: January 2024

Purpose: Gallium-68 (68Ga) is increasingly used in nuclear medicine imaging for various conditions such as lymphoma and neuroendocrine tumors by labeling tracers like Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA) and DOTA-TOC. However, compared to Fluorine-18 (18F) used in conventional nuclear medicine imaging, 68Ga has lower spatial resolution and relatively higher Signal to Background Ratio (SBR). Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the optimized parameters and reconstruction methods for PET/CT imaging using the 68Ga radiotracer through model-based image evaluation. Materials and Methods: Based on clinical images of 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT, a NEMA/IEC 2008 PET phantom model was prepared with a Hot vs Background (H/B) ratio of 10:1. Images were acquired for 9 minutes in list mode using DMIDR (GE, Milwaukee WI, USA). Subsequently, reconstructions were performed for 1 to 8 minutes using OS-EM (Ordered Subset Expectation Maximization) + TOF (Time of Flight) + Sharp IR (VPFX-S), and BSREM (Block Sequential Regularized Expectation Maximization) + TOF + Sharp IR (QCFX-S-400), followed by comparative evaluation. Based on the previous experimental results, images were reconstructed for BSREM + TOF + Sharp IR / 2 minutes (QCFX-S–2min) with varying β-strength values from 100 to 700. The image quality was evaluated using AMIDE (freeware, Ver.1.0.1) and Advanced Workstation (GE, USA). Results: Images reconstructed with QCFX-S-400 showed relatively higher values for SNR (Signal to Noise Ratio), CNR (Contrast to Noise Ratio), count, RC (Recovery Coefficient), and SUV (Standardized Uptake Value) compared to VPFX-S. SNR, CNR, and SUV exhibited the highest values at 2 minutes/bed acquisition time. RC showed the highest values for a 10 mm sphere at 2 minutes/bed acquisition time. For small spheres of 10 mm and 13 mm, an inverse relationship between β-strength increase and count was observed. SNR and CNR peaked at β-strength 400 and then decreased, while SUV and RC exhibited a normal distribution based on sphere size for β-strength values of 400 and above. Conclusion: Based on the experiments, PET/CT imaging using the 68Ga radiotracer yielded the most favorable quantitative and qualitative results with a 2 minutes/bed acquisition time and BSREM reconstruction, particularly when applying β-strength 400. The application of BSREM can enhance accurate quantification and image quality in 68Ga PET/CT imaging, and an optimization process tailored to each institution's imaging objectives appears necessary.
Study on the PET image quality according to various scintillation detectors based on the Monte Carlo simulation
Authors: Kim Eunsoo , Park Chanrok
Published: January 2024

Purpose: Positron emisson tomography (PET) is a crucial medical imaging scanner for the detection of cancer lesions. In order to maintain the improved image quality, it is crucial to apply detectors of superior performance. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare PET image quality using Monte Carlo simulation based on the detector materials of BGO, LSO, and LuAP. Materials and Methods: The Geant4 Application for Tomographic Emission (GATE) was used to design the PET detector. Scintillations with BGO, LSO and LuAP were modelled, with a size of 3.95 × 5.3 mm2 (width × height) and 25.0 mm (thickness). The PET detector consisted of 34 blocks per ring and a total of 4 rings. A line source of 1 MBq was modelled and acquired with a radius of 1 mm and length of 20 mm for 20 seconds. The acquired image was reconstructed maximum likelihood expectation maximization with 2 iteration and 10 subsets. The count comparison was carried out. Results and Discussion: The highest true, random, and scatter counts were obtained from the BGO scintillation detector compared to LSO and LuAP. Conclusion: The BGO scintillation detector material indicated excellent performance in terms of detection of gamma rays from emitted PET phantom.
Two New Reports of Stigmatomma Roger, 1859 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Amblyoponinae) Species from the Indian Subcontinent
Authors: Sahanashree R. , Aswaj Punnath , Aniruddha Marathe , Priyadarsanan Dharma Rajan
Published: January 2024

Two species of Stigmatomma Roger, 1859, namely Stigmatomma amblyops Karavaiev, 1935 and Stigmatomma luyiae Hsu, Esteves, Chou & Lin, 2017 are reported for the first time from the Indian subcontinent. Stigmatomma amblyops was previously known from Vietnam and China whereas S. luyiae was recorded from Taiwan. Workers of the aforementioned species were collected from the Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh, Northeast India.
Legal Analogies in Cicero's Political Thought
Authors: Klink Maarten
Published: January 2024

Abstract: Cicero's political thought is pervaded by analogies of private law that helped him to overcome philosophical difficulties. One serious difficulty was the demand of natural law that property must be owned by the one capable of managing it. This posed a problem to that most remarkable piece of property of all: the res publica . While incapable of managing it, the people was the only theoretically possible owner of the res publica . The legal concept "guardianship" offered a solution. In Cicero's writings the minor, guardian, and object under care demonstrably correspond to the Roman people, the magistrates, and the res publica .
Democratic Backsliding,
Resilience, and Resistance
Authors: Riedl Rachel Beatty , Friesen Paul , McCoy Jennifer , Roberts Kenneth
Published: January 2024

This article assesses two next-level questions in the study of democratic backsliding: democratic
resilience and political polarization. It first advances a set of methodological decision
points to improve clarity in contemporary debates surrounding democratic backsliding
measurement and the possibility of identifying moments of democratic recovery. It
then moves to a theoretical and empirical assessment of pathways by which democratic
backsliding takes place, under what conditions, which specific actors are involved, and
what opportunities exist for democratic recovery given sources of resilience and strategies
of resistance. The authors examine the role of political polarization in backsliding and
highlight the combined importance of political agency and institutional levers for regime
outcomes. The authors argue that regime outcomes are not predetermined by antecedent
conditions, and particularly not by the level of development.
Compact, ultrastable, high repetition-rate 2 μm and 3 μm fiber laser for seeding mid-IR OPCPA
Authors: Hettel W. , Golba G. , Morrill D. , Carlson D. , Chang P. , Wu T.-H. , Diddams S. , Kapteyn H. , Murnane M. , Hemmer M.
Published: January 2024

We report a compact and reliable ultrafast fiber laser system optimized for seeding a high energy, 2 μm pumped, 3 μm wavelength optical parametric chirped pulse amplification to drive soft X-ray high harmonics. The system delivers 100 MHz narrowband 2 μm pulses with >1 nJ energy, synchronized with ultra-broadband optical pulses with a ∼1 μm FWHM spectrum centered at 3 μm with 39 pJ pulse energy. The 2 μm and 3 μm pulses are derived from a single 1.5 μm fiber oscillator, fully fiber integrated with free-space downconversion for the 3 μm. The system operates hands-off with power instabilities <0.2% over extended periods of time.
Evaluation of flip-chip bonding electrical connectivity for ultra-large array infrared detector
Authors: Li Huihao , Wang Jindong , Chen Yan , Liao Qingjun , Sun Changhong , Ye Zhenhua
Published: January 2024

Flip-chip bonding is a key technology for infrared focal plane array (IRFPA) detectors. Due to the high cost of device preparation, the ultra-large array infrared detector cannot be directly used for the flip-chip bonding experiment, and the connectivity rate cannot be measured. To evaluate the flip-chip bonding process, a test device which has the same interconnecting structure as current IRFPA detectors is proposed. Indium bumps are electrically extracted to test electrodes. Electrical measurements were performed to characterize the connection and adhesion of the indium bumps and to calculate the connectivity rate. The electrical connectivity characteristics of the test devices correspond to the observation results of the indium bump extrusion, effectively detecting the interconnecting anomalies such as disconnection, adhesion, overall misalignment, etc., and verifying the feasibility of the test method. The test device has similar multi-layer components and thermal properties as HgCdTe infrared detector for process evaluation and post-processing experiment. The connectivity rate of the test device is up to 100%, and remains above 99% after thermal recycle experiment. The contact resistance of the interconnecting structure is calculated to be about 31.84 Ω based on the test results.
"I told myself, be bold and go and test": Motivators and barriers to HIV testing among gay, bisexual, and other cis-gender men who have sex with men in Ghana ‒ West Africa
Authors: Abu-Ba’are Gamji Rabiu , Aidoo-Frimpong Gloria , Stockton Melissa , Zigah Edem Yaw , Amuah Samuel , Amu-Adu Prince , Amoh-Otoo Richard Panix , Nyblade Laura , Torpey Kwasi , Nelson LaRon E.
Published: January 2024

Despite a disproportionately high burden of HIV, GBMSM in Ghana and sub-Saharan Africa often delay testing until the point of illness. However, limited studies examine factors that affect their participation in testing. We used qualitative in-depth interviews (IDIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs) to collect insights into experiences, motivators, and barriers to HIV testing among GBMSM. Two community-based organizations used snowball and convenience sampling to recruit 10 GBMSM for IDIs and 8 to 12 for FGDs. We transcribed, coded, identified, and analyzed the relationship and commonalities between the participants’ responses. Under experiences with testing, 1) fear of HIV infection created a stressful HIV testing experience, and 2) a friendly and supportive healthcare environment facilitated a positive experience in healthcare facilities. Motivators or facilitators of testing include 1) the perception or belief that HIV testing is an HIV prevention strategy; 2) encouragement from friends and peers; 3) understanding risk associated with certain sexual behaviors; 4) education or information on HIV; 5) access to free testing and incentives; 6) early symptoms and provider recommendation. Barriers to HIV testing include 1) negative community perceptions of HIV; 2) individual-level low-risk perception or indifference about HIV infection; 3) health system issues; 5) Perceived stigma at healthcare facilities. The findings point to the need to address critical issues around stigma, education, peer support, and healthcare resources through interventions and research to improve HIV testing among GBMSM in the country.