Markovian extensions and reductions of a family of σ

In the first part of this paper different properties of two special realizations of a stochastic dynamic system, as well as relationships between the realization problem and a problem derived from it are investigated. In the second part, solutions of the following two problems (that follow directly from the realization problem) are given: how to find the minimal (resp. maximal) markovlan flow of information (understood as a family of σ-algebras) that contains (resp. is contained in) given output of a system, and is such that each of these two flows of information is equally predictable by the other one

DEVELOPMENT OF FRUIT PRODUCTION AND PROCESSING IN THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA

Although Serbia is characterized by favourable natural conditions for growing most of the continental fruit species, the full potential of their exploitation has not been reached yet. The main indicators of this underutilisation are values of main parameters of fruit production during longer periods of time. Due to its mostly extensive feature, the fruit production in Serbia has been ground to a halt for a considerable period of time, and has even shown the signs of reduction. In the period from 1981 to 2011, orchard areas in Serbia covered 252,364 ha on average, with the annual reduction rate of -0.40%. During the analysed period (2001-2010), the highest production volume of processed fruit products (semi-processed and finished products) was recorded in fruit juices (155,012 t) and frozen fruits (24,602 t). Fruit juices and frozen fruits account for 93% of the total processed fruit products in Serbia. The processed fruit production during the analysed period increased at the average annual rate of change of 14.82%

Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) and Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) as Predictors of Short-Term Survival in Patients with Advanced Malignant Biliary Obstruction Treated with Percutaneous Transhepatic Biliary Drainage

Background: Effective biliary tree decompression plays a central role in the palliation of malignant biliary obstruction (MBO). When endoscopic drainage is unfeasible or unsuccessful, percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) is the method of choice and preferred treatment approach in advanced hilar MBO. The prognostic nutritional index (PNI) reflects the patient’s immunonutritional status, while the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) reflects the patient’s inflammation status. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prognostic value of preprocedural PNI and NLR on short-term survival in the advanced stage MBO population threatened with PTBD and to characterize the differences in immunonutritional and inflammatory status between 60-day survivors and non-survivors, as well as analyze other variables influencing short-term survival. Methods: This single-center retrospective study was conducted on patients undergoing palliative PTBD caused by MBO as a definitive therapeutic treatment between March 2020 and February 2022. After the procedure, patients were followed until the end of August 2022. Results: A total of 136 patients with malignant biliary obstruction were included in the study. Based on receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, optimal cut off-values for NLR (3) and PNI (36.7) were determined. In univariate regression analysis, age, absolute neutrophil count, albumin level, NLR ≤ 3, and PNI ≥ 36.7 were significant predictors of 60-day survival. Level of obstruction and PNI ≥ 36.7 were statistically significant independent predictors of 60-day survival in a multivariate regression model. Using PNI ≥ 36.7 as a significant coefficient from the multivariate regression model with the addition of NLR ≤ 3 from univariate analysis, a 60-day survival score was developed. Conclusions: PNI and NLR are easy to calculate from routine blood analysis, which is regularly conducted for cancer patients. As such, they represent easily available, highly reproducible, and inexpensive tests capable of expressing the severity of systemic inflammatory responses in patients with cancer. Our study highlights that preprocedural PNI and NLR values provide predictors of short-term survival in patients with MBO treated with palliative PTBD. In addition, the proposed 60-day survival score can contribute to better selection of future candidates for PTBD and recognition of high-risk patients with expected poor outcomes