Hydro-meteorological data quality assurance and improvement

Advances in measurement equipment and data transfer enabled easy and economic automatic monitoring of various hydro-meteorological variables. The main characteristic of such automatic monitoring systems is that they do not rely on human activities, but only on electronic devices. Even if those electronic devices are of highest quality and accuracy, and properly tuned to specific problem, the reliability of measured values relyieson many other factors and unexpected or undesired occurrences, like modification of measurement micro location, power supply shortages or surges, etc. The sampled and acquired data values have to be additionally checked, validated and sometimes improved or cleared before further use. This paper presents an innovative approach to data validation and improvement through the framework generally applicable to all hydrological data acquisition systems. The proposed framework can incorporate any number of validation methods and can be easily customized according to the characteristics of every single measured variable. The framework allows for the self-adjustment and feedback to support self-learning of used validation methods, same as expert-controlled learning and supervision. After data validation, for low-scored data, its value quality can be improved if redundant data exist, so framework has the data reconstruction module. By applying different interpolation techniques or using redundant data value the new data is created same as accompanying metadata with the reconstruction history. After data reconstruction, the framework supports the data adjustment, the post-processing phase where the data is adjusted for the specific needs of each user. Every validated and sometimes improved data value is accompanied with a meta-data that holds its validation grade as a quality indicator for further use.

Lower 68 Ga-DOTATOC Uptake in Non-Functioning Pituitary Neuroendocrine Tumors Compared to Normal Pituitary Gland - a Proof-of-Concept Study

OBJECTIVES: 68 Ga-DOTATOC PET targets somatostatin receptors (SSTRs) and is well established for the detection of SSTR-expressing tumors, such as gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors. Pituitary adenomas, recently designated as pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (PitNETs), also express SSTRs, but there has been no previous evaluations of 68 Ga-DOTATOC PET in PitNET patients. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the diagnostic properties of 68 Ga-DOTATOC PET in the most common PitNET, i.e. non-functioning (NF)-PitNET. DESIGN/METHODS: NF-PitNET patients (n = 9) and controls (n = 13) were examined preoperatively with 68 Ga-DOTATOC PET for 45 min after tracer injection in dynamic list mode. Tumor specimens were collected during surgery in patients. MRI and PET images were co-registered using PMOD software. The maximum standard uptake value (SUVmax ) was analyzed in manually outlined regions of interest (ROC) around the tumor in patients and around the pituitary gland in controls. Immunohistochemical analyses were conducted on tumor specimens for assessment of tumor cell type and SSTR expression. RESULTS: Median SUVmax (IQR) was lower in patients than in controls (3.9 [3.4-8.5] vs 14.1 [12.5-15.9]; P < .01]. In ROC analysis, the area under the curve was 0.87 (P < .01) for SUVmax , with 78% sensitivity and 92% specificity. Immunohistochemical analysis showed NF-PitNETs were of gonadotroph (n = 7) and corticotroph (n = 2) origin. SSTR expression was high for SSTR3, low-to-moderate for SSTR2, and low for SSTR1 and SSTR5. CONCLUSIONS: This proof-of-concept study shows that 68 Ga-DOTATOC PET can be used to differentiate between normal pituitary tissue and NF-PitNET

Hydro-meteorological data quality assurance and improvement

Advances in measurement equipment and data transfer enabled easy and economic automatic monitoring of various hydro-meteorological variables. The main characteristic of such automatic monitoring systems is that they do not rely on human activities, but only on electronic devices. Even if those electronic devices are of highest quality and accuracy, and properly tuned to specific problem, the reliability of measured values relyieson many other factors and unexpected or undesired occurrences, like modification of measurement micro location, power supply shortages or surges, etc. The sampled and acquired data values have to be additionally checked, validated and sometimes improved or cleared before further use. This paper presents an innovative approach to data validation and improvement through the framework generally applicable to all hydrological data acquisition systems. The proposed framework can incorporate any number of validation methods and can be easily customized according to the characteristics of every single measured variable. The framework allows for the self-adjustment and feedback to support self-learning of used validation methods, same as expert-controlled learning and supervision. After data validation, for low-scored data, its value quality can be improved if redundant data exist, so framework has the data reconstruction module. By applying different interpolation techniques or using redundant data value the new data is created same as accompanying metadata with the reconstruction history. After data reconstruction, the framework supports the data adjustment, the post-processing phase where the data is adjusted for the specific needs of each user. Every validated and sometimes improved data value is accompanied with a meta-data that holds its validation grade as a quality indicator for further use.

Determination of biological activity of protein component in milk, modified for infant feeding, by pepsin-pancreatin digest index

Kao alternativa humanom mlijeku, u slučajevima kada majka ne može da hrani dijete vlastitim mlijekom, danas se u svijetu koristi najčešće kravlje mlijeko čiji je sastav modificiran da bi se približio sastavu humanog mlijeka. Kravlje mlijeko ima 3,5 puta više proteina od humanog mlijeka; osim toga u sastavu proteina kravljeg mlijeka nalazi se 79% kazeina i 21% serum proteinu, a u proteinima humanog mlijeka 35% kazeina i 65% serum proteina. Sastav serum proteina također nije identičan. U skladu sa ovim razlikuje se i amino-kiselinski sastav navedenih proteina i njihova biološka vrijednost. Cilj ovog rada bio je ispitivanje biološke aktivnosti modificiranih proteina u smjeru kazein-serum protein u proizvodnji "infant formula" pepsin-pankreatin testom. Ustanovljeno je utoliko veće povećanje aktivnosti ukoliko je sustav bliži proteinu humanog mlijeka.This study was carried out with the aim to determine biological activity of milk proteins, modified to supstitute human milk proteins in infant formulae, by pepsin-pancreatin digest index. The better biological activity was obtained by samples with higher simmilarity of modified milk proteins to human milk proteins

Determination of biological activity of protein component in milk, modified for infant feeding, by pepsin-pancreatin digest index

Kao alternativa humanom mlijeku, u slučajevima kada majka ne može da hrani dijete vlastitim mlijekom, danas se u svijetu koristi najčešće kravlje mlijeko čiji je sastav modificiran da bi se približio sastavu humanog mlijeka. Kravlje mlijeko ima 3,5 puta više proteina od humanog mlijeka; osim toga u sastavu proteina kravljeg mlijeka nalazi se 79% kazeina i 21% serum proteinu, a u proteinima humanog mlijeka 35% kazeina i 65% serum proteina. Sastav serum proteina također nije identičan. U skladu sa ovim razlikuje se i amino-kiselinski sastav navedenih proteina i njihova biološka vrijednost. Cilj ovog rada bio je ispitivanje biološke aktivnosti modificiranih proteina u smjeru kazein-serum protein u proizvodnji "infant formula" pepsin-pankreatin testom. Ustanovljeno je utoliko veće povećanje aktivnosti ukoliko je sustav bliži proteinu humanog mlijeka.This study was carried out with the aim to determine biological activity of milk proteins, modified to supstitute human milk proteins in infant formulae, by pepsin-pancreatin digest index. The better biological activity was obtained by samples with higher simmilarity of modified milk proteins to human milk proteins

Boosting Long-term Memory via Wakeful Rest: Intentional Rehearsal is not Necessary, Automatic Consolidation is Sufficient.

<div><p>People perform better on tests of delayed free recall if learning is followed immediately by a short wakeful rest than by a short period of sensory stimulation. Animal and human work suggests that wakeful resting provides optimal conditions for the consolidation of recently acquired memories. However, an alternative account cannot be ruled out, namely that wakeful resting provides optimal conditions for intentional rehearsal of recently acquired memories, thus driving superior memory. Here we utilised non-recallable words to examine whether wakeful rest boosts long-term memory, even when new memories could not be rehearsed intentionally during the wakeful rest delay. The probing of non-recallable words requires a recognition paradigm. Therefore, we first established, via Experiment 1, that the rest-induced boost in memory observed via free recall can be replicated in a recognition paradigm, using concrete nouns. In Experiment 2, participants heard 30 non-recallable non-words, presented as ‘foreign names in a bridge club abroad’ and then either rested wakefully or played a visual spot-the-difference game for 10 minutes. Retention was probed via recognition at two time points, 15 minutes and 7 days after presentation. As in Experiment 1, wakeful rest boosted recognition significantly, and this boost was maintained for at least 7 days. Our results indicate that the enhancement of memory via wakeful rest is <i>not</i> dependent upon intentional rehearsal of learned material during the rest period. We thus conclude that consolidation is <i>sufficient</i> for this rest-induced memory boost to emerge. We propose that wakeful resting allows for superior memory consolidation, resulting in stronger and/or more veridical representations of experienced events which can be detected via tests of free recall and recognition.</p></div

Clinical and Immunopathological Features of Moyamoya Disease

Background: Moyamoya disease (MMD) is a cerebrovascular disease characterized by progressive stenosis or occlusion of the terminal portion of internal carotid arteries and the formation of a vascular network at the base of the brain. The pathogenesis of MMD is still unclear. Methodology/Principal Findings: We retrospectively analyzed clinical data for 65 consecutive patients with MMD in our institutions and evaluated the histopathological and immunohistochemical findings of intracranial vessels from 3 patients. The onset age distribution was found to have 1 peak at 40–49 year-old age group, no significant difference was observed in the female-to-male ratio (F/M = 1.2). Intracranial hemorrhage was the predominant disease type (75%). Positive family history was observed in 4.6 % of patients. Histopathological findings were a narrowed lumen due to intimal fibrous thickening without significant inflammatory cell infiltration, and the internal elastic lamina was markedly tortuous and stratified. All 3 autopsy cases showed vacuolar degeneration in the cerebrovascular smooth muscle cells. Immunohistochemical study showed the migration of smooth muscle cells in the thickened intima, and aberrant expression of IgG and S100A4 protein in vascular smooth muscle cells. The Complement C3 immunoreactivity was negative. Conclusion/Significance: This study indicated that aberrant expression of IgG and S100A4 protein in intracranial vascular wall of MMD patients, which suggested that immune-related factors may be involved in the functional and morphologica

Pituitary Neoplasm Nomenclature Workshop: Does Adenoma Stand the Test of Time?

The WHO Classification of Endocrine Tumours designates pituitary neoplasms as adenomas. A proposed nomenclature change to pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (PitNETs) has been met with concern by some stakeholder groups. The Pituitary Society coordinated the Pituitary Neoplasm Nomenclature (PANOMEN) workshop to address the topic. Experts in pituitary developmental biology, pathology, neurosurgery, endocrinology, and oncology, including representatives nominated by the Endocrine Society, European Society of Endocrinology, European Neuroendocrine Association, Growth Hormone Research Society, and International Society of Pituitary Surgeons. Clinical epidemiology, disease phenotype, management, and prognosis of pituitary adenomas differ from that of most NETs. The vast majority of pituitary adenomas are benign and do not adversely impact life expectancy. A nomenclature change to PitNET does not address the main challenge of prognostic prediction, assigns an uncertain malignancy designation to benign pituitary adenomas, and may adversely affect patients. Due to pandemic restrictions, the workshop was conducted virtually, with audiovisual lectures and written précis on each topic provided to all participants. Feedback was collated and summarized by Content Chairs and discussed during a virtual writing meeting moderated by Session Chairs, which yielded an evidence-based draft document sent to all participants for review and approval. There is not yet a case for adopting the PitNET nomenclature. The PANOMEN Workshop recommends that the term adenoma be retained and that the topic be revisited as new evidence on pituitary neoplasm biology emerges

Dance as a Risk Factor for Injuries and Development of Occupational Diseases

Ozljede i bolesti mogu znatno utjecati na stvaralačku sposobnost, kreativnost i dostignuća umjetnika. Povezanost uvjeta i načina rada s pojavom bolesti u umjetnika prepoznata je već u srednjem vijeku. Tjelesna zahtjevnost izvedbe, gdje se tijelo koristi kao instrument izražavanja, može uzrokovati ozljede i razvoj profesionalnih bolesti koje mogu dovesti do nemogućnosti umjetničke interpretacije na očekivanoj razini, prekinuti aktivnosti i onemogućiti nastavak profesionalne karijere. Plesači su jedna od skupina umjetnika/izvođača koji su izloženi specifičnim rizicima i kojima treba specifična zdravstvena zaštita, što nije moguće ostvariti bez poznavanja mehanizama nastajanja ozljeda i uvažavanja posebnosti potreba plesača. Mnogi plesači teže visokim umjetničkim i estetskim kriterijima izvedbe, pri čemu često protežu svoje tjelesne mogućnosti i izdržljivost i zanemaruju vlastita tjelesna ograničenja. Zdravstveni problemi plesača obuhvaćaju čitav niz ozljeda, profesionalnih bolesti i bolesti vezanih uz rad koji se kreću od stresa i straha od nastupa sve do poremećaja u prehrambenim navikama. Također obuhvaćaju ozljede mišićno-koštanoga sustava, sindrome prenaprezanja i trenažnoga preopterećenja koje može uzrokovati karakterističnu topološku pojavu boli, koja je često početak kroničnih zdravstvenih problema kod plesača. Navedeni zdravstveni problemi plesača sve su češće područje zanimanja liječnika različitih specijalizacija, unaprjeđenja i provođenja preventivnih programa, dijagnostičkih metoda i liječenja u tom djelu populacije.Injuries and diseases can significantly affect the creativity and artistic performance. The link between working conditions and artistic performance had been recognised as early as the medieval age. Physically demanding performance arts such as dance can sometimes result in injuries, illnesses, inability to perform, and even end artist’s career. Dancers are exposed to specific risks and in need of specific medical care. Many dancers often stretch their physical capabilities and endurance and neglect their physical limitations. Their health problems include a number of work-related illnesses that range from stress and stage fright to metabolic and nutritional disorders. They also include musculoskeletal injuries due to overload training that are often the beginning of chronic health problems