bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Patient-Reported Outcomes in Patients With Advanced Urothelial Cancer Who Are Ineligible for Cisplatin and Treated With First-Line Enfortumab Vedotin Alone or With Pembrolizumab
Authors: Milowsky Matthew I. , O'Donnell Peter H. , Hoimes Christopher J. , Petrylak Daniel P. , Flaig Thomas W. , Moon Helen H. , Friedlander Terence W. , Mar Nataliya , McKay Rana R. , Srinivas Sandy , Gravis Gwenaelle , Ramamurthy Chethan , Bupathi Manojkumar , Bracarda Sergio , Wright Phoebe , Hepp Zsolt , Carret Anne-Sophie , Yu Yao , Dillon Ryan , Kataria Ritesh , Beaumont Jennifer L. , Purnajo Intan , Rosenberg Jonathan E.
Published: January 2024

PURPOSE

Locally advanced/metastatic urothelial cancer (la/mUC) affects patients' quality of life (QOL) and functioning. We describe the impact of first-line (1L) enfortumab vedotin (EV) alone or with pembrolizumab (P) on QOL/functioning/symptoms in patients with la/mUC who were cisplatin-ineligible from EV-103 Cohort K.

METHODS

In this phase Ib/II trial, patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to EV + P or EV monotherapy (mono). Exploratory patient-reported outcomes (PROs) were assessed using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire–Core Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) and Brief Pain Inventory Short Form (BPI-SF) at baseline, once per week for cycles 1-3, and then in every cycle through the end of treatment. Changes in scores from baseline to week 24, reported as least squares mean (standard error), were assessed by mixed models for repeated measures. There were no formal statistical comparisons between treatment arms.

RESULTS

Of 149 patients treated, 65 (EV + P) and 63 (EV mono) comprised the PRO analysis set. For EV + P, EORTC QLQ-C30 QOL was maintained through week 24 with improvements in emotional functioning, pain, and insomnia. Clinically meaningful improvements were seen in EORTC QLQ-C30 pain after EV + P at weeks 12 (–14.41 [3.14]) and 24 (–14.99 [3.56]) and BPI-SF worst pain at week 24 (–2.07 [0.37]). For EV mono, EORTC QLQ-C30 QOL remained stable with clinically meaningful improvements in EORTC QLQ-C30 pain (–12.55 [4.27]), insomnia (–14.46 [4.69]), and constipation (–10.09 [4.35]) at week 24. There were small-to-moderate improvements in BPI-SF worst pain at week 24.

CONCLUSION

EV + P in patients with la/mUC who were cisplatin-ineligible was associated with preservation or improvement of QOL/functioning/symptoms. Improvement in pain was seen in both PRO instruments and treatment arms. These data complement clinical outcomes of 1L EV + P.
Function phononic crystals
Authors: Röhlig David , Kuhn Eduard , Teichert Fabian , Thränhardt Angela , Blaudeck Thomas
Published: January 2024

We propose a novel type of phononic crystal for which the materials parameters are continuous functions of space coordinates without discontinuities corresponding to a seamless fusion of the constituent materials within the crystal lattice. With the help of an adaptation of this fundamental approach, we extend the well-established concept of phononic crystals, allowing an investigation of the transition from conventional phononic crystals with a regulated step-like parameter function to the realm of so-called function phononic crystals. Our study is based on a first-principle theory assisted by high-performance computer simulations and focuses on an understanding of the effects of a deviation from the typical parameter step function on the phononic density of states (DOS). Our exploration of the DOS reveals a characteristic rapid convergence: even a slight deviation from an ideal step function has the potential to induce radical changes in the band structure leading to the emergence of desirable features, especially multiple complete phononic band gaps.
Optimal Cumulative I-131 Activity in Metastatic Differentiated Thyroid Cancer: Balancing Efficacy and Adverse Events
Authors: Bharadwaj Mangu Srinivas , Ballal Sanjana , Bal Chandrasekhar
Published: January 2024

Background

The optimal cumulative activity (CA) of I-131 therapy for patients with metastatic differentiated thyroid cancer (mDTC) remains contentious. This study aimed to determine the maximum CA of I-131 that could be administered without a significant increase in adverse events (AEs) by analyzing a long-term cohort of patients.

Methods

Data from patients with mDTC treated with I-131 therapy and followed for at least 2 years from 1967 to 2019 were reviewed. Patients were categorized into 3 groups based on the received CA: group A (≤600 mCi), group B (>600-1000 mCi), and group C (>1000 mCi). The study assessed long-term AEs and survival outcomes.

Results

The study included 671 adult patients with mDTC (mean age, 48 years; range, 19-81) with a median follow-up of 122 months (interquartile range: 82-180). Group A, group B, and group C comprised 269 (40.0%), 212 (31.6%), and 190 (28.4%) patients, respectively. Ten-year survival rates were 72%, 42.7%, and 29% in groups A, B, and C, respectively. A total of 40/671 (6%) AEs were observed in 38 patients: 3 (1.1%), 12 (5.7%), and 25 (13.2%) in groups A, B, and C, respectively. Five patients developed second primary malignancy: 3 in group A and 1 each in group B and C. However, CA >1000 mCi of I-131 was associated with significant increase in bone marrow suppression, decreased pulmonary function, and xerostomia (P < .001).

Conclusion

The study suggests that a maximum CA of up to 1000 mCi strikes a favorable balance between keeping AEs low and benefiting a subset of patients with extensive metastases showing intense I-131 concentration.
Pituitary Macroadenoma With Macronodular Adrenal Hyperplasia and Novel Armadillo Repeat-Containing Protein 5 (ARMC5) Mutation
Authors: Khosla Shikha , Alsarraf Farah , Nylen Eric S
Published: January 2024

We present an unusual case of primary bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasia (PBMAH) in a 72-year-old African American man. The patient was found to harbor massively enlarged bilateral adrenal glands on imaging along with mild autonomous cortisol secretion. His workup for PBMAH included leukocyte analysis for the armadillo repeat-containing protein 5 (ARMC5) gene. The test revealed a novel heterozygous somatic ARMC5 mutation. The patient was initially managed conservatively. He subsequently presented with unprovoked bilateral pulmonary emboli. This was followed by the discovery of a nonsecreting pituitary macroadenoma, a hitherto unreported but putative association.
P-15 A rare case of Trichorhinophalangeal Syndrome Type I
Authors: Akçura Can , Alkan Samet , Güney Sedat Can , Aykut Ayça , Durmaz Asude , Özdemir Nilüfer , Hekimsoy Zeliha
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Trichorhinopharyngeal syndrome (TRPS) type 1 is a rare autosomal dominant genetic disorder due to defects of the TRPS1 gene. Clinical findings include short stature, fine hair, craniofacial and skeletal malformations, and deformities in phalangeal joints. This rare disease has a wide clinical spectrum and careful investigation on suspected cases should be made.

Clinical Case

A 19-year-old female patient, after application to the rheumatology clinic of our center with hand deformities, was referred to our endocrinology clinic after initial examination revealed no rheumatologic disorder; with a pre-diagnosis of a possible bone mineral disorder. She had no co-morbid disease, but her history revealed admissions to a pediatric endocrinology unit and investigations of a possible mucopolysaccharidosis, though no diagnosis had been made. There was no kinship between her parents. In her physical examination, she had fine hair, the fifth metacarpal bone of her right hand was short, she had palpable bone cysts on both of her third phalanges, and a high palatal arch. She had a short stature of 149 cm. From her history, it was learned that none of her relatives showed similar phenotypic properties. Her laboratory findings, listed in Table 1, showed no definitive defect other than a mild vitamin D deficit. The X-ray of her hands (Figure 1) showed shortening of the right fifth metacarpal bone. Her bone mineral density scan was normal. From this point, due to her clinical and radiological findings, a possible diagnosis of pseudo-pseudohypoparathyroidism was assumed, and the patient was referred to the department of genetics. The result of the genetic analysis revealed a heterozygous c.2894G>A (p.Arg965His) variant in the TRPS1 (NM_014112/5) gene. As a result, the patient was diagnosed with trichorhinophalangeal syndrome type 1, and was referred to the department of physical medicine and rehabilitation for physiotheraphy program for her hand deformities and possible future deformities in the skeletal system. Because the disease has an autosomal dominant inheritance, she was also informed about genetic consultancy for her possible future conception.

Conclusion

Trichorhinophalangeal syndrome type 1 is a rare disease and can mimic a variety of disorders including pseudo-pseudohypoparathyroidism, rheumatoid arthritis and other rheumatological diseases. Though there is no definite treatment, suspected cases should be evaluated both clinically and genetically to avoid misdiagnosis.

Financial disclosures: None

Funding resources: NoneFigure 1.X-ray of the patient's handsArrow shows shortening of the right fifth metacarpal bone  Table 1.Laboratory findings of the patientALT: alanine aminotransferase, ALP: alkaline phosphatase, PTH: parathormone
P-24 Intriguing association between type 1 diabetes mellitus, Gitelman syndrome and Cacci Ricci disease: Triad of rare diseases
Authors: Elfekih Hamza , Bnina Molka Ben , Abdessalem Fatma Ben , Gorchene Asma , Ach Koussay , Hasni Yosra , Chaieb Molka
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is known to be associated with other autoimmune diseases. Nevertheless, medical conditions can coexist in unexpected ways. Such is the case of a rare and fascinating occurrence, where a patient was diagnosed with T1DM, Gitelman syndrome and Cacci Ricci disease.

Clinical Case

A 27-year-old male patient was suspected to have Gitelman syndrome at the age of 3 years in the presence of tetany crisis, abdominal pain and severe hypokalemia at 1,4 mmol/L. The diagnosis was confirmed by genetic testing highlighting a mutation in the SLC12A3 gene that codes for the sodium-chloride cotransporter. Abdominal pain disappeared after potassium and magnesium supplementation and the repercussion of Gitelman's syndrome was growth retardation. Diabetic ketoacidosis decompensation due to T1DM was developed. He had poor glycemic control although intensified insulin protocol. Cacci Ricci's disease was revealed by terminal hematuria. Abdomino-pelvic CT-scan objectified precalicial canalicular ectasia with bilateral nephrocalcinosis and about twenty non obstructing bilateral micro-nephrolithiasis. Serum calcium, phosphorus and PTH levels were in the normal range.

Conclusion

The coexistence of T1DM, Gitelman syndrome, and Cacci Ricci disease in the same patient remains a fascinating medical mystery. Abnormalities in certain ion channels and transporters could affect multiple systems leading to the manifestation of seemingly unrelated conditions in a single patient. As research continues, healthcare professionals hope to gain a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms and develop more effective treatment strategies for these rare and complex cases.
P-60 Opioid induced secondary adrenal insufficiency: A case report
Authors: Rocha José Vicente , Lopes Marta Vaz , Peixe Carolina , De Griné Severino Mariana , Alexandre Maria Inês , Gomes Ana Coelho , Bugalho Maria João
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Opioid treatment is common and useful in acute pain management, but long-term opioid treatment is not routinely recommended. Opioids influence the endocrine system by blunting the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis: as ACTH is synthesized from the same precursor protein as beta-endorphins, opioids lower serum cortisol and supress cortisol response through a mechanism of negative feedback. In the same way, naloxone infusion leads to an increase in serum cortisol.

Clinical Case

A forty-nine-year-old woman was sent to an endocrinology appointment due to altered serum cortisol measurements. She had a past history of Graves’ disease currently in clinical and biochemical remission. Her history was also notable for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease under inhaled corticosteroids and previous toxicophilic habits under methadone replacement treatment.

The patient was asymptomatic with a laboratory evaluation of the HPA axis suggestive of adrenal insufficiency –morning serum cortisol measurements persistently under 10μg/dL. Stimulation test with cosyntropin showed an insufficient response with a peak cortisol of 12 μg/dL, confirming adrenal insufficiency.

As the patient had no clinical signs of adrenal insufficiency and was maintained under inhaled corticosteroid treatment, she was given an emergency glucocorticoid card and was instructed to take replacement treatment with hydrocortisone in stress situations.

Conclusion

In this patient, the HPA axis suppression might have been multifactorial resulting from inhaled glucocorticoids and chronic opioid use. Opioids are very common drugs and adrenal insufficiency is probably more frequent than it is accounted for in this population, with unspecific symptoms but possible serious consequences. Therefore, patients under opioid treatment with suggestive symptoms might benefit from adrenal insufficiency exclusion.
Depth of Anesthesia and Nociception Monitoring: Current State and Vision For 2050
Authors: Laferrière-Langlois Pascal , Morisson Louis , Jeffries Sean , Duclos Catherine , Espitalier Fabien , Richebé Philippe
Published: January 2024

Anesthesia objectives have evolved into combining hypnosis, amnesia, analgesia, paralysis, and suppression of the sympathetic autonomic nervous system. Technological improvements have led to new monitoring strategies, aimed at translating a qualitative physiological state into quantitative metrics, but the optimal strategies for depth of anesthesia (DoA) and analgesia monitoring continue to stimulate debate. Historically, DoA monitoring used patient’s movement as a surrogate of awareness. Pharmacokinetic models and metrics, including minimum alveolar concentration for inhaled anesthetics and target-controlled infusion models for intravenous anesthesia, provided further insights to clinicians, but electroencephalography and its derivatives (processed EEG; pEEG) offer the potential for personalization of anesthesia care. Current studies appear to affirm that pEEG monitoring decreases the quantity of anesthetics administered, diminishes postanesthesia care unit duration, and may reduce the occurrence of postoperative delirium (notwithstanding the difficulties of defining this condition). Major trials are underway to further elucidate the impact on postoperative cognitive dysfunction. In this manuscript, we discuss the Bispectral (BIS) index, Narcotrend monitor, Patient State Index, entropy-based monitoring, and Neurosense monitor, as well as middle latency evoked auditory potential, before exploring how these technologies could evolve in the upcoming years. In contrast to developments in pEEG monitors, nociception monitors remain by comparison underdeveloped and underutilized. Just as with anesthetic agents, excessive analgesia can lead to harmful side effects, whereas inadequate analgesia is associated with increased stress response, poorer hemodynamic conditions and coagulation, metabolic, and immune system dysregulation. Broadly, 3 distinct monitoring strategies have emerged: motor reflex, central nervous system, and autonomic nervous system monitoring. Generally, nociceptive monitors outperform basic clinical vital sign monitoring in reducing perioperative opioid use. This manuscript describes pupillometry, surgical pleth index, analgesia nociception index, and nociception level index, and suggest how future developments could impact their use. The final section of this review explores the profound implications of future monitoring technologies on anesthesiology practice and envisages 3 transformative scenarios: helping in creation of an optimal analgesic drug, the advent of bidirectional neuron-microelectronic interfaces, and the synergistic combination of hypnosis and virtual reality.
Saiteninstrumente in der Ägäis und auf Zypern in der bronze- und früheisenzeit
Authors: Μικράκης Εμμανουήλ
Published: January 2024

Η διατριβή μελετά τη μουσική στο Αιγαίο και την Κύπρο κατά την Εποχή του Χαλκού και την Πρώιμη Εποχή του Σιδήρου, μέχρι τις αρχές του έβδομου αι. π.Χ. με βάση τις εικονογραφικές και τις λίγες αρχαιολογικές μαρτυρίες που έχουν σωθεί για τα έγχορδα μουσικά όργανα και τη χρήση τους. Οι διαθέσιμες πηγές αποκαλύπτουν το ρόλο της μουσικής στη λατρεία, τα ταφικά έθιμα, τη διεκδίκηση και προβολή κοινωνικού γοήτρου (π.χ. στo πλαίσιo συμποσίων) και την ιδεολογική θεμελίωση κοινωνικών σχέσεων και πολιτικής εξουσίας. Μας πληροφορούν επίσης για την παράλληλη εξέλιξη της μουσικής και των κοινωνικοπολιτικών θεσμών καθώς και για τη διακίνησή της μέσα από τα εμπορικά, διπλωματικά και άλλα δίκτυα που συνέδεαν το Αιγαίο και την Κύπρο με τους πολιτισμούς της Συρίας και της Παλαιστίνης, της Ανατολίας, της Μεσοποταμίας και της Αιγύπτου. Η μελέτη των αρχαιολογικών καταλοίπων αποκαλύπτει τέλος στοιχεία της σκέψης που αναπτύχθηκε γύρω από τη μουσική, τη σχετική μυθολογία και τις θρησκευτικές αντιλήψεις. Για μια αρχαιολογία που επιχειρεί να θέσει ερωτήματα ιστορικά και κοινωνιολογικά στα υλικά κατάλοιπα του παρελθόντος, η μελέτη της μουσικής είναι τόσο σημαντική όσο σημαντική είναι η θέση που κατείχε αυτή η αινιγματική τέχνη στις κοινωνίες της μεσογειακής αρχαιότητας.
Standard versus mini amplatz size in patients undergoing pediatric percutaneous nephrolithotomy through 16 years of experience: A retrospective study in single-center experience
Authors: Rasyid Nur , Fadhly Syifa Fauziah , Atmoko Widi , Birowo Ponco
Published: January 2024

Background: Pediatric urolithiasis is associated with considerable morbidity and a very high recurrence rate of approximately 67%. Current guideline recommendations for standard pediatric percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) remain a problem due to several complications, such as hemorrhage or renal damage, especially in the pediatric population. However, mini-PCNL is regarded as a safer and more effective method for pediatric patients. This study compares PCNL with mini-PCNL, along with their efficacy and safety, in the Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital, Indonesia.

Methods: This observational retrospective study was performed on pediatric patients aged < 18 years (pediatric patients) who underwent PCNL with a standard 22-30 Fr sheath or mini 15-21 Fr sheath. We reviewed postoperative outcomes, including stone-free rate (SFR), presence of complications, and postoperative drainage method. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 26.0.

Results: Our study included a total of 42 pediatric patients (mean age: standard, 4.61 ± 3.52 years; mini, 8.0 ± 3.57 years; p<0.05). The stone-free rate was significantly higher in the mini-PCNL group (87.9%) than in the standard PCNL group (59.1%, p <0.05). All patients treated with mini-PCNL were tubeless, while some patients in the standard group still needed a postoperative drainage tube (p=0.012). Complications, such as infundibulum laceration, were rare, and their differences between groups insignificant (p=1). Even though it has been demonstrated that standard sheath PCNL is considered effective for children, smaller PCNL sheaths offers more experience. Mini-PCNL provides a similar complication rate, while remaining effective in treating urolithiasis; thus, it is thought to be a non-inferior option for treating pediatric populations, especially younger and smaller children.

Conclusions: Mini-PCNL is non-inferior to standard PCNL in terms of efficacy and safety for the treatment of pediatric urolithiasis. Mini-PCNL resulted in higher SFR and totally tubeless follow-up.
Case Report: Primary follicular lymphoma of the colon presenting as an incidental finding on endoscopy
Authors: Everard Kylie Rose , Pirzada Amrah , Ikpatt Offiong
Published: January 2024

We present a previously healthy 63-year-old female with incidental polyps in the colon that were detected during a surveillance endoscopy. Clinical examination and imaging studies did not detect any lymphadenopathy or organomegaly. Histopathologic evaluation of polyps showed a low-grade primary follicular lymphoma. We suggest that follicular lymphoma should be considered as a differential diagnosis of polypoid lesions of the colon.
COVID-19 pneumonia in older patients: clinical features and outcomes of a 400 case series
Authors: Cherif Yosra , Jridi Maysam , Derbal Samar , Chebbi Donia , Farhati Sameh , Sfar Haifa , Hentati Olfa , Ben Dahmen Fatma , Abdallah Meya
Published: January 2024

Background Since late 2019, COVID-19 has been a major health issue worldwide. Older patients seemed more susceptible to severe forms and complications with higher mortality rates. This study aimed to identify the clinical features and outcomes of SARS-Cov-2 pneumonia in elderly patients. Methods Retrospective monocentric study in the internal medicine Covid-19 unit of the Ben Arous regional hospital, enrolling admitted patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia, aged 65 years and above from September 2020 to September 2021. Results The study group counted 222 women (55.5%). The mean age was 74 years. At least one chronic disease was found in 84.75% of patients. The most common comorbidities were high blood pressure (55.75%), and diabetes mellitus (50%). The most frequent symptoms were dyspnoea (69.8%), fatigue (66.8%) and dry cough (65.8%). Corrected Qt interval was prolonged in 24.2% of cases. Chest computed tomography were performed in 277 cases (69.3%). Ground glass opacities (93.86%), consolidations (73.3%) and crazy paving (36%) were the main findings. Assessment of pulmonary extent found important involvement (41.87%), sever lesions (23.82%), moderate involvement (21.29%) and critical involvement (1.8%). C-reactive protein (CRP) was elevated in 94.25% of patients. Elevated D-dimer levels were common (68.8%). Antinuclear antibodies were positive in 22.85% cases, and lupus anticoagulant in 35.41%. Acute kidney failure was noted in 25% of patients. The incidence of pulmonary embolism in the current study was 12.99%. The death rate was 8%. According to multivariate logistic regression: older age (odds ratio:1.11, 95% CI: 1.058-1.167; P P< .005), elevated C-reactive protein levels (odds ratio: 1.008, 95% CI: 1.003-1.013; P< .005) and duration of hospital stay (odds ratio: 1.131, 95% CI: 1.062-1.204; P< .005) were predictive factors of mortality. Conclusions Clinical presentation of covid-19 pneumonia in elderly patients is particular due to pre-existing comorbidities and frailty. Mortality risk factors are age, elevated CRP and length of hospitalization.
Education programmes on performance-based assessment for allied health and nursing clinical educators: A scoping review protocol
Authors: Alpine Lucy , Barrett Emer , Broderick Julie , Mockler David , O'Connor Anne
Published: January 2024

Background Performance-based assessment (PBA) is a complex process undertaken in the workplace by healthcare practitioners known as clinical educators, who assist universities in determining health professional students’ readiness for independent practice. Preparing healthcare professionals for PBA is considered essential to ensuring the quality of the assessment process in the clinical learning environment. A preliminary search of the literature indicated a paucity of research guiding the development of education programmes that support practice educators to understand and implement PBA. Objective The aim of this scoping review is to investigate and describe education programmes delivered to allied health and nursing clinical educators, to develop PBA knowledge and skills. Methods This review will follow the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for conducting scoping reviews. Electronic databases relevant to this research topic will be searched including, EMBASE, ERIC, MEDLINE (Ovid), Web of Science and CINAHL and other targeted databases for grey literature. Studies that include PBA as the main focus or a component of the education programmes, of any format, delivered to clinical educators in allied health and nursing will be included. Studies may report the design and/or implementation and/or evaluation of PBA education programmes. Relevant English language publications will be sought from January 2000 to October 2022. Two reviewers will screen all titles and abstracts against the inclusion/exclusion criteria, and publications deemed relevant will be eligible for full text screening, confirming appropriateness for inclusion in the scoping review. Data will be charted to create a table of the results, supported a by narrative summary of the findings in line with the review objectives.
THE INFLUENCE OF INTENSIFICATION FACTORS ON SPRING WHEAT YIELD AND AGROCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF SOILS IN LENINOGORSK MUNICIPAL DISTRICT OF THE REPUBLIC OF TATARSTAN
Authors: Gaffarova Liliya , Halitova El'vina , Matveeva Anastasiya
Published: January 2024

The article reveals the relationship between the content of mobile phosphorus and potassium and spring wheat yield in a time series using the example of Leninogorsk municipal district for 48 years (1976-2023). The weather and climatic conditions of the district are suitable for growing various agricultural crops, in particular food grain. The sum of positive active temperatures is 2168º C. It was found that the introduction of mineral and organic fertilizers led to an increase in the supply of arable soils of the district with mobile phosphorus and potassium until 2001, in subsequent years a negative trend. The content of mobile phosphorus forms increased from 62 to 165.0 mg/kg (according to Chirikov method) of soil by the seventh round (2001-2007), and the content of mobile potassium increased from 101 to 151.4 mg/kg (according to Chirikov method) of soil. In the content of mobile potassium, a systematic decrease in indicators is observed from 108.0 (2008-2010) to 118.0 (2018-2019) mg/kg of soil, in the last round an increase to 131.0 mg/kg was revealed. With mineral and organic fertilizers, 3417.6 kg/ha of nitrogen, 1678.6 kg/ha of phosphorus and 1846.2 kg/ha of potassium were introduced into the arable soil over 48 years, while the balance of nitrogen and mobile potassium is negative, with the exception of phosphorus (+506 kg active ingredient/ha). The results of statistical data processing showed a reliable correlation between the actual spring wheat yield and the content of mobile forms of phosphorus and potassium, equal to 0.29-030, respectively. Due to the complex use of mineral and organic fertilizers, the stabilization of basic nutrients content in arable soils of Leninogorsk district and an increase in the yield of spring wheat until 2011 are noticeable. Further, the spring wheat yield varies in a small range of 2.06 - 2.11 t/ha.
Role of Metformin in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Authors: Nowak Karolina , Nowak Karolina , Olejarz Zuzanna , Drygała Zuzanna , Wyrwał Julia , Zielińska Zuzanna , Słowik Magdalena , Nieć Maria , Gierlach Katarzyna , Krasuska Martyna
Published: January 2024

Introduction and purpose:

PCOS is identified by the presence of underdeveloped follicles in the ovaries caused by a lack of ovulation, and it is linked to heightened production of androgens in the ovaries. The observable symptoms of PCOS encompass irregular or absent menstrual cycles, obesity, and indications of excess androgens such as acne or oily skin. Metformin could be advantageous for a specific group of women with PCOS.

The aim of this study is to summarize the current knowledge regarding the effectiveness of metformin in the treatment of PCOS based on available scientific literature.

A brief description of the state of knowledge:Metformin indirectly aids in enhancing ovulation and alleviating long-term metabolic issues, although its impact is considered moderate. Metformin also diminishes the levels of particular markers linked to arterial issues and chronic inflammation beneath the surface. This indicates a potential decrease in the continual risks of type 2 diabetes (DM) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) for women dealing with PCOS.

Summary (conclusions):

Managing PCOS involves personalized targets due to its diverse nature. In clinical practice, metformin is a recommended first step for managing PCOS in overweight or obese patients, particularly when oral contraceptives are not suitable or insulin resistance is evident.
Calibration of Heterogeneous Treatment Effects in Randomized Experiments
Authors: Leng Yan , Dimmery Drew
Published: January 2024

Machine learning is commonly used to estimate the heterogeneous treatment effects (HTEs) in randomized experiments. Using large-scale randomized experiments on Facebook and Criteo platforms, we observe substantial discrepancies between machine learning-based treatment effect estimates and difference-in-means estimates directly from the randomized experiment. This paper provides a two-step framework for practitioners and researchers to diagnose and rectify this discrepancy. We first introduce a diagnostic tool to assess whether bias exists in the model-based estimates from machine learning. If bias exists, we then offer a model-agnostic method to calibrate any HTE estimates to known, unbiased, subgroup difference-in-means estimates, ensuring that the sign and magnitude of the subgroup estimates approximate the model-free benchmarks. This calibration method requires no additional data and can be scaled for large data sets. To highlight potential sources of bias, we theoretically show that this bias can result from regularization, and further use synthetic simulation to show biases result from misspecification and high-dimensional features. We demonstrate the efficacy of our calibration method using extensive synthetic simulations and two real-world randomized experiments. We further demonstrate the practical value of this calibration in three typical policy-making settings: a prescriptive, budget-constrained optimization framework; a setting seeking to maximize multiple performance indicators; and a multitreatment uplift modeling setting.
Market Consequences of Sovereign Accounting Errors
Authors: Boisseau-Sierra Marion , Chu Jenny , Rajgopal Shiva
Published: January 2024

This paper investigates the market consequences of sovereign accounting errors, opening a new area of research on sovereign accounting quality in the accounting literature. Eurostat, a division of the European Commission, provides semiannual assessments of financial reports produced by the member states of the European Union (EU) and issues reservations that detail financial reporting errors. Using a sample of Eurostat reservation issuances across 28 EU countries from 2004 to 2018, we find that sovereign bond yields abnormally increase during a reservation announcement window, especially when a reservation explicitly mentions deficit or debt, when it quantifies the extent of the errors’ financial impact, or when the errors relate to recent fiscal data. Consistent with a home bias after the release of negative news, we find that domestic holdings of sovereign debt increase after the issuance of a reservation. Overall, our evidence suggests that sovereign accounting errors have significant market consequences and raises further questions for future research in sovereign accounting quality.

This paper was accepted by Ranjani Krishnan, accounting.

Supplemental Material: The online appendix and data files are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.00724 .
The Online Saddle Point Problem and Online Convex Optimization with Knapsacks
Authors: Rivera Cardoso Adrian , Wang He , Xu Huan
Published: January 2024

We study the online saddle point problem, an online learning problem where at each iteration, a pair of actions needs to be chosen without knowledge of the current and future (convex-concave) payoff functions. The objective is to minimize the gap between the cumulative payoffs and the saddle point value of the aggregate payoff function, which we measure using a metric called saddle point regret (SP-Regret). The problem generalizes the online convex optimization framework, but here, we must ensure that both players incur cumulative payoffs close to that of the Nash equilibrium of the sum of the games. We propose an algorithm that achieves SP-Regret proportional to [Formula: see text] in the general case, and [Formula: see text] SP-Regret for the strongly convex-concave case. We also consider the special case where the payoff functions are bilinear and the decision sets are the probability simplex. In this setting, we are able to design algorithms that reduce the bounds on SP-Regret from a linear dependence in the dimension of the problem to a logarithmic one. We also study the problem under bandit feedback and provide an algorithm that achieves sublinear SP-Regret. We then consider an online convex optimization with knapsacks problem motivated by a wide variety of applications, such as dynamic pricing, auctions, and crowdsourcing. We relate this problem to the online saddle point problem and establish [Formula: see text] regret using a primal-dual algorithm.
Exploring the Potential and Prospects of Underutilized Vegetables- A Review
Authors: Kukreja Nidhi , Sharma Parul
Published: January 2024

Vegetables are wholesome and inseparable part of the human diet. They are the major providers of minerals, vitamins and trace elements which are essential for the normal sustenance of humans. There are some underutilized vegetables which are not included into the normal foods. These are either neglected or not popular as other conventional vegetables but have tremendous potential and can have much significance in human life. These are abundant sources of antioxidants and phytochemicals and can act as nutraceutical. Therefore, these could be included into the daily diet regime of individuals without any hesitation. In cases of issues related to nutrition like allergies, deficiencies, these should be taken into the utmost consideration. They also remove monotony from the regular or traditional fruits and vegetables. Hence, this present paper displays the significance and potentials of some underutilized vegetables and strategies that can be implied to utilise these and include them into our daily life.
Machine Learning Techniques for Crop Yield Forecasting in Semi-Arid (3A) Zone, Rajasthan (India)
Authors: Sharma Suresh Kumar , Sharma Durga Prasad , Gaur Kiran
Published: January 2024

Economic growth and prosperity of a nation are inextricably linked to the agricultural sector. In the compass of agriculture, climate and other environmental changes are one of the main challenges. The present study attempts to predict crop yield for the Jaipur district which is an important region in the semi-arid eastern plain of Rajasthan (India). Machine learning (ML) techniques are used in forecasting and developing practical solutions for numerous challenges such as climate change with other environmental factors. Crop yield prediction is the process of predicting yield using historical data through meteorological parameters and past yield records. This paper used the agrometeorological time-series data from the year 1991 to 2020 for optimal yield forecasting. There have been numerous attempts to improve crop yield prediction by employing machine learning techniques. However, in this study, fusing the intelligence of reinforcement with deep learning, we got a comprehensive framework for mapping raw data to crop prediction values, allowing an optimal estimation of crop yields with higher accuracy. Upon comparative analysis of numerous ML algorithms, Random Forest is found the best-performing algorithm with an accuracy of 92.3% using supervised machine learning methods. With an accuracy of 92.3%, the proposed Random Forest-based model outperforms other techniques that are currently being used to predict crop yields. The study predictions could significantly help in choosing the best cropping pattern and planning for action accordingly. The results provide the best ways to solve environmental and agricultural problems in this semi-arid region of the specified Rajasthan state facing climate change issues.
Socioeconomics Influencing Pesticide Management Practices in the Tribal Area of Maharashtra
Authors: Uikey Ashish Ashok , Patil Sharvari
Published: January 2024

The current study was carried out in the Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra, India, where rice cultivation relies on pesticides. The study aims to identify challenges faced by farmers in pesticide use and seeks input from farmers to develop strategies for rational pesticide use. The research explores farmers' behavior and perceptions regarding pesticide usage. It investigates socio-economic influences on buying behavior, the level of awareness about pesticide risks and safety measures, purchasing patterns, and promotional strategies employed by a pesticide company. Findings reveal that while pesticides contribute to crop protection, farmers lack proper knowledge about their safe use and potential risks. Lack of awareness and affordability issues lead to improper application, impacting human health and the environment. The study underscores the need for tailored educational programs to improve farmers' understanding of pesticides, emphasizing safe practices and optimal usage. Providing safety gear and measuring containers, ensuring affordability, and strengthening the distribution network is a must. We highlighted the importance of integrated pesticide management, involving scientific knowledge and traditional practices to achieve sustainable agriculture. The current information contributes to the development of effective strategies that align farmers' needs with responsible pesticide use, ultimately supporting both farmer livelihoods and environmental sustainability.
Unlocking Growth Potential: Enhancing Salt-Stressed Seed Germination and Seedling Growth with Ga3 Priming in Acacia auriculiformis A.cunn. ex Benth., Delonix regia
(Bojer ex Hook.) Raf. and Cassia fistula L.
Authors: Praticia S Preethi Jenifer , R. K Selva Kesavan , M Kanchana
Published: January 2024

Gibberellic acid (GA3) is the one of the plant growth regulator which helps plants tolerate salt competently and diminishes the effects of salt stress. The present investigation was done to determine the effect of GA3 on two different Nacl concentrations on seed germination and physiological limits of four fabaceae seeds: Acacia auriculiformis A.Cunn. ex Benth., Delonix regia (Bojer ex Hook.) Raf., Cassia fistula L., and Samanea saman (Jacq.) Merr. Experimentation was directed as a factorial with a completely randomised block design with three replicates. Salinity at two levels (50 mM and 100 mM NaCl) and hormone (GA3 at 150ppm versus no GA3 were the experimental conditions. Therefore, when the salt level was 50 mM NaCl, priming the seeds of these tree seeds with 150 ppm GA3 suggestively increased germination percentage, declined mean germination time, improved physiological parameters of the seeds.
The Growth and Export Competitiveness of Cotton in India
Authors: Gyan Prince , Sharma Hemant , Kalamkar S.S.
Published: January 2024

Cotton production is of paramount importance in India due to its significant impact on various aspects of the country's economy, agriculture, and society. This paper studied the Growth, Instability, and export potentials of cotton in India. This is based on secondary data and data analyzed for three periods viz., Period I (1959-60 to 1978-79), Period II (1979-80 to 1998-99), and period III (1999-00 to 2018-19). The study revealed that the growth of production and productivity of cotton in India increased from periods 1 to 3. The overall period bare that the production growth rate of cotton in India increased significantly by 3.5 percent annually, which is because the productivity rate increased significantly by 2.75 percent per annum, whereas the area also increases significantly at a rate of 0.72 percent annually. The relative contribution of area and price effect was positive with high output growth of cotton due to the development of many policies related to area extension and price policy by the government. The RSCA value in 2012 was -0.02 to -0.08, which would be attributed to an increase in domestic demand and a reduction in ambiguity. The results of RCA revealed that India is leading Agriculture Institutions and state Agriculture Universities should focus on developing as high yielding varieties of cotton for cotton export. The government should also support farmers to increase the export and production of cotton in India.
Consideration for Setting Reference Range for Adrenocorticotropic Hormone Test according to Blood Collection Time
Authors: Park Ji-Hye , Choi Jin-Ju , Lim Soo-Yeon , Yoo Seon-Hee , Lee Sun-Ho
Published: January 2024

Purpose: The reference range described in Adrenocorticotropic Hormone reagent used in our laboratory is 10-60 pg/mL at 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., and 6-30 pg/mL at 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. However, in the case of outpatients, blood is mainly collected between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., accounting for 57.8% of the total. Therefore, This study is intended to help make a more accurate diagnosis by reevaluating the reference range provided by the manufacturer of the Adrenocorticotropic Hormone reagent and setting split-timed reference range. Materials and Methods: The patients collected blood before 10 a.m. were group A (68 people), and the patients collected blood after 10 a.m. were set to group B (80 people). A T-test was performed between groups to test their significance. And it was confirmed whether it was necessary to set the gender classification as a subgroup. The method of setting the reference range was calculated by the Bayesian’s method and the Hoffmann’s method. Results: The reference range of Group A was 8.6 to 60.6 pg/mL by the Bayesian’s method, and the Hoffmann’s method was 3.6 to 61.3 pg/mL. The reference range of Group B was 6.9 to 50.5 pg/mL when applying the Bayesian’s method, and the Hoffmann method’s was 2.3 to 48.9 pg/mL. Conclusion: This study was concluded that it was necessary to set the split-timed reference range. Through this study, the later the blood collection time, the lower the level of Adrenocorticotropic Hormone, indicating that blood collection time is important for patients with clinical significance. If a large number of subjects are selected and supplemented in the future, it is believed that systematic and accurate reference range can be set.
‘Behind bars, beyond borders’: solidarity in the face of the criminalisation of a social work human rights defender
Authors: Yildiz Bilal
Published: January 2024

This commentary piece is written by Bilal Yildiz, a social worker in Turkey and a human rights defender. It tells the story of his arrest on trumped-up charges and the continuing threat to his freedom as a result of his social work activities. Bilal graduated from Istanbul University, Department of Social Work, and continues his master’s programme in human rights law at Istanbul Bilgi University. He has been working as a social worker at the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey since 2016. In addition to his professional work, he has been active in many professional and human rights organisations. He is currently a board member of the Association of Social Workers, a member of the Human Rights Association, a member of the Kurdish Studies Association and a founding member of the Migration Monitoring Association.
Hybrid heterogeneous phantoms for biomedical applications: a demonstration to dosimetry validation
Authors: Ghauri M. Daniyal , Šušnjar Stefan , Guadagno Claudia Nunzia , Bhattacharya Somdatta , Thomasson Björn , Swartling Johannes , Gautam Rekha , Andersson-Engels Stefan , Konugolu Venkata Sekar Sanathana
Published: January 2024

Phantoms simultaneously mimicking anatomical and optical properties of real tissues can play a pivotal role for improving dosimetry algorithms. The aim of the paper is to design and develop a hybrid phantom model that builds up on the strengths of solid and liquid phantoms for mimicking various anatomical structures for prostate cancer photodynamic therapy (PDT) dosimetry validation. The model comprises of a photosensitizer-embedded gelatin lesion within a liquid Intralipid prostate shape that is surrounded by a solid silicone outer shell. The hybrid phantom was well characterized for optical properties. The final assembled phantom was also evaluated for fluorescence tomographic reconstruction in conjunction with SpectraCure’s IDOSE software. The developed model can lead to advancements in dosimetric evaluations. This would improve PDT outlook as a clinical treatment modality and boost phantom based standardization of biophotonic devices globally.
Optimizing bi-layered periodic structures: a closed-form transfer matrix method based on Pendry-MacKinnon’s discrete Maxwell’s equations
Authors: Lipan Ovidiu-Zeno , De Sabata Aldo
Published: January 2024

The optimization procedure that we present is based on a closed-form exact analytical solution for the three-dimensional transfer matrix that we put forward in arXiv, arXiv:2303.06765 (2023)10.48550/arXiv.2303.06765. The analytical solution is valid for all modes, either propagative or evanescent, and any non-magnetic isotropic pattern with frequency-dependent permittivities. In this paper we exemplify the use of the transfer matrix elements to optimize a patterned bilaminar structure such that a subset of evanescent Bloch-Floquet modes (M
x
,M
y
)≠0 acquire large scattering matrix elements at a specified frequency. Such an excited resonant mode propagates along the device’s surface at a frequency smaller than its Rayleigh frequency. These predictions are grouped into three categories. The first category, inspired by topological photonics, is related to robustness of the resonant modes with respect to the change of the dielectric constants, quantified as a map from the real to integer numbers. The second is based on resonant frequency identification, whereas the third is focused on high Q-factors and the use of a complex frequency plane to estimate the Fano-Lorentz spectral line shape for the resonant modes. All the predictions based on the proposed optimization were confirmed by a high-performance analysis software package [CST Studio Suite (2022)].
Theoretical design of an ultra-broadband all-fiber filter covering O+E+S+C+L+U communication band based on cascaded tilted long-period fiber gratings near phase-matching turning point
Authors: Wang Ying , Gu Zhengtian , Ling Qiang , Yan Yuxuan , Du Jie
Published: January 2024

In this paper, a novel, to the best of our knowledge, ultra-broadband all-fiber filter is proposed and designed, which is composed of two (or more) continuously tilted long-period fiber gratings (TLPFGs) with different grating tilt angles and the same actual period. For the filter constructed with two TLPFGs, one TLPFG is operated in a dual-peak resonance state to produce two resonance peaks, and the other TLPFG is operated at the phase-matched turning point to produce a broadband resonance peak. The three resonance peaks are superimposed, resulting in a large broadband peak. Based on the mode coupling theory, the effects of structural parameters such as grating axial period, actual period, tilt angle, and grating length on the characteristics of this filter are analyzed, and an effective method for selecting structural parameters is given. The simulation results show that when the actual period of the two TLPFGs is 170 µm, the tilt angles are 21.961° and 19.639°, and the grating lengths are 0.95 cm and 0.96 cm, respectively, the filter bandwidth can reach up to 440 nm, which can cover the E–U bands. In addition, cascaded multiple TLPFG ultra-broadband filters with different tilt angles are discussed. The cascaded multiple segment TLPFG filter can realize ultra-broadband filtering in the range of 1200–2000 nm, and easily covers the O–U bands. The all-fiber optic filter proposed in this paper has the advantages of simple structure, easy production, low cost, and high filtering capability, which makes it competitive in communication and sensor systems.