Impact of the Caspian Sea Level Fluctuation on Ground Water Regime and Functioning of the Hydro-Reclamation Network on the Caspian Side Zones

An aim of the research is to investigate an impact of the Caspian Sea level fluctuations on the ground water regime and functioning of the hydro-meliorative network on the Caspian side zone, including Mugan- Salyan region. On the basis of the long-term data of Baku meteorological station during 1830-2014, the water level changes in the Caspian Sea was analyzed, calculations on ground water level fluctuations on the sea influence zone with the application of the selected calculation method were performed. It was determined that due to the changes in the Caspian Sea level between-28,9 m (minimum) and -26,13 m (maximum) interval, the ground water tables at the 25 km influence coastal zone, changes between 0,5- 1,93 m. These values are less than an accepted for the zone value of hesk=2,2 m. An analysis of the data shows that due to the fluctuations, especially rising of the Caspian sea water level, the normal working regime of the hydro-reclamation network (collector and drainage system, different type of the irrigation canals and rivers) under operation have been disturbed in the side zones, including in Mugan-Salyan massive. Consequently, this creates risks for formation of secondary salinization, water logging and desertification in the Caspian Sea influence zone

Compact gamma detector module for radiation monitoring

Modern unmanned technologies make it possible to implement them in almost all industries, including radiation monitoring. Already in 2011, at the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident, the first drones were demonstrated to measure the radiation background of the territories. Improvement of such devices is one of the topical directions. Our research team has proposed the concept of a gamma radiation detector module for unmanned aerial vehicles. The concept is represented by a matrix of modernized silicon photomultipliers based on silicon structures. The new structures have a design of deep pixel photodiodes of the MLPD type. Today experimental samples have superiority in such parameters as high efficiency of registration of ionizing radiation. Also, such parameters as low sensitivity to vibrations and low power consumption of photodiodes make it possible to integrate them into unmanned and small-sized radiation monitoring systems

A compact and sustainable electronic module for silicon photomultipliers

This article presents the development of a cost-effective and efficient electronic module for silicon photomultipliers (SiPM). The electronic module combines essential functionalities, such as a high voltage power supply, a preamplifier, and a signal comparator, into a compact circuit. A high voltage power supply with a range of 30 to 140 V provides a stable bias voltage with 0.01 V accuracy for the SiPMs, while a preamplifier with 40 gain and 250 MHz bandwidth enables signal amplification necessary to extract weak signals. The comparator converts an analogue signal (higher than 8 mV) into TTL (transistor-transistor logic), which makes it easy to process and analyze with digital devices such as microcontrollers or make it possible to send signals over long distances by a cable. The module has been tested using an LYSO scintillator and a SiPM called a micropixel avalanche photodiode (MAPD). It provides a more effective and efficient solution for reading out signals from SiPMs in a variety of applications, delivering reliable and accurate results in real-time.Comment: an article, 9 pages, 6 figure

Performance of a plastic scintillator developed using styrene monomer polymerization

This paper presents a newly developed plastic scintillator produced in collaboration with Turkiye Energy, Nuclear and Mineral Research Agency (TENMAK). The scintillator is manufactured using thermal polymerization of commercially available styrene monomer. The absorption spectrum of the scintillator exhibited two absorption bands at 225 nm and 340 nm, with an absorption edge observed at 410 nm. The wavelength of the emitted light was measured in the range of 400-800 nm, with a maximum intensity at 427 nm. Monoenergetic electrons from the 137Cs source were used to evaluate the characteristics of the new scintillator, particularly its light yield. As the light readout the MAPD-3NM type silicon photomultiplier array (4 x 4) with an active area of 15 x 15 mm2, assembled using single MAPDs with an active area of 3.7 x 3.7 mm2, was used. The light yield of the scintillator was determined to be 6134 photons/MeV. In addition, the efficiency of the scintillator for gamma rays with an energy of 662 keV was found to be approximately 1.8 %. A CmBe neutron source was employed to evaluate its fast neutron detection performance. However, neutron/gamma discrimination using pulse shape discrimination (charge integration) method was not observed. The results demonstrate the potential of a newly produced plastic scintillator for various applications, particularly in radiation monitoring and detection systems.Comment: 7 pages, 7 figure

Прогностическое значение наличия в крови циркулирующей опухолевой ДНК как маркера минимального резидуального заболевания при колоректальном раке I–III стадии

Introduction. Studies on non-metastatic colorectal cancer have demonstrated the prognostic role of circulating tumor (ctDNA) after surgery, and the ability to identify patients with the greatest risk of progression. This makes it possible in the future to personalize neoadjuvant and adjuvant treatment.The study objective – to evaluate the correlation of the ctDNA status before and after surgery with a clinical outcome in patients with stage I–III colorectal cancer.Materials and methods. The study included data from patients with morphologically verified colorectal cancer with stage I–III who were treated at the N. N. Blokhin National Oncology Research Center in the period from 2016 to 2021. Blood samples were collected before and after surgical treatment (on the 7–10th day after surgery). The minimum permissible concentration at which ctDNA in a plasma sample was considered positive was 0.4 copies of mutant DNA in 1 mcL of plasma. The main criterion of effectiveness was disease-free survival (DFS). The presence of cDNA before and after surgery was a negative prognostic factor for progression in stage I–III of CRC. Patients with positive cDNA after surgery had worse DFS results despite adjuvant chemotherapy. Patients with stage II CRC with negative ctDNA, regardless of adjuvant CT after surgery, did not have disease progression in 100 % of cases.Results. The study included 146 patients with stage I–III colorectal cancer. Progression was detected in 34 patients. The median follow-up time was 22 months (0–66 months). Data on progression were known in 119 patients. Positive cDNA data were detected before surgery in 55 of 120 patients (45 %), after surgery in 46 of 119 (38.6 %). In the group with positive cDNA before surgery, the median DFS was 35 months (95 % confidence interval (CI) 24,0–45.9), in the group with negative cDNA before surgery, the median DFS was not achieved (hazard ratio (HR) 4.6; 95 % CI 2.0–10.4), 1‑year DFS in the cDNA positive group was 62 % versus 100 % in the cDNA negative group (p <0.001). In the group with positive cDNA after surgery, the median DFS was 20 months (95 % CI 8,1–31,9), in the group with negative cDNA was not achieved (HR 27,7; 95 % CI 6,6–116,6; p <0,001). Patients with positive cDNA after surgery had worse DFS scores despite adjuvant chemotherapy. Patients with stage II CRC without ctDNA after surgery in 100 % did not have disease progression regardless of adjuvant CT.Conclusion. The presence of cDNA before and after surgery was a negative prognostic factor of progression after surgical treatment at stage I–III. The high negative prognostic value of cDNA makes it possible to select patients with stage II who do not need adjuvant chemotherapy.Введение. Исследования, посвященные неметастатическому колоректальному раку, продемонстрировали прогностическое значение анализа циркулирующей опухолевой ДНК (цоДНК) после операции, что в перспективе позволит персонализировать как неоадъювантное, так и адъювантное лечение.Цель исследования – изучить прогностическое значение статуса цоДНК до и после операции у пациентов с колоректальным раком I–III стадии.Материалы и методы. В исследование были включены данные пациентов с морфологически верифицированным колоректальным раком I–III стадии, проходивших лечение в Национальном медицинском исследовательском центре онкологии им. Н. Н. Блохина в период с 2016 по 2021 г. Забор образцов крови осуществлялся до и после хирургического лечения (на 7–10‑е сутки после операции). Минимально допустимая концентрация, при которой цоДНК в образце плазмы считали позитивной, – 0,4 копий мутантного ДНК в 1 мкл плазмы. Основным критерием эффективности являлась выживаемость без признаков болезни (ВБПБ).Результаты. В исследование были включены 146 пациентов с колоректальным раком I–III стадии. Прогрессирование выявлено у 34 больных. Медиана времени наблюдения составила 22 мес (1–66 мес). Данные о прогрессировании заболевания получены для 119 пациентов. Положительный цоДНК-статус до операции выявлен у 55 (45 %) из 120 больных, после хирургического вмешательства – у 46 (38,6 %) из 119. В группе цоДНК+ медиана ВБПБ до операции составила 35 мес (95 % доверительный интервал (ДИ) 24,0–45,9), в группе цоДНК она не была достигнута (отношение рисков (ОР) 4,6; 95 % ДИ 2,0–10,4). Однолетняя ВБПБ в группах положительного и отрицательного статуса цоДНК оказалась равна 62 и 100 % соответственно (p <0,001). При цоДНК+ медиана ВБПБ после операции составила 20 мес (95 % ДИ 8,1–31,9), при цоДНК– она не была достигнута (ОР 27,7; 95 % ДИ 6,6–116,6; p <0,001). Пациенты с положительным статусом цоДНК после операции имели худшие показатели ВБПБ, несмотря на проведение адъювантной химиотерапии. При колоректальном раке II стадии и отрицательном цоДНК-статусе после операции в 100 % случаев прогрессирования заболевания не наблюдалось (независимо от проведения адъювантной химиотерапии).Заключение. Наличие цоДНК до и после операции является негативным прогностическим фактором прогрессирования заболевания при колоректальном раке I–III стадии. Высокое негативное прогностическое значение цоДНК позволяет выбирать пациентов с заболеванием II стадии, не нуждающихся в проведении адъювантной химиотерапии

The tourism and economy of Varosha

Ankara : İhsan Doğramacı Bilkent Üniversitesi İktisadi, İdari ve Sosyal Bilimler Fakültesi, Tarih Bölümü, 2016.This work is a student project of the The Department of History, Faculty of Economics, Administrative and Social Sciences, İhsan Doğramacı Bilkent University.by Sheridan, Michael Douglas