Relative Increase Research Articles

Pengaruh Kemampuan Menghadapi Konflik dan Kritik Terhadap Hubungan Sosial

Social relationship abilities can be improved by the ability to deal with conflict and criticism. The aim of the research is to reveal the influence of the ability to deal with conflict (X1) with the ability to deal with criticism (X2), using a quantitative associative strategy method. The research location was SMP Negeri 2 Gido, the research population was all class VIII students and the sample was taken purposively as many as 60 people. The data collection instrument was a closed questionnaire which was distributed to a number of respondents. Data were analyzed using multiple linear regression analysis to answer research questions according to the proposed hypothesis. The research results concluded that the ability to deal with conflict (X1) partially had a significant effect on improving social relations (Y). The regression coefficient value for the variable ability to deal with conflict is negative, namely 0.071 and every 1.00% increase in ability will be followed by an increase in social relations of 0.071%. The ability to face criticism (X2) partially has a significant effect on increasing social relationship abilities (Y). The regression coefficient value for the ability to face criticism is positive, namely 1.102 and for every 1.00% increase in the ability to face criticism, it will be followed by an increase in social ability of 1.102%. Variables X1 and X2 together have a significant effect on variable Y and every increase in X1 and the contribution of the influence of variables X1 and it is recommended for school counselors to provide special guidance and counseling services to handle, develop and improve students' social abilities.

The first isotopic evidence of Early Iron Age lead ore exploitation in the Silesian‐Krakow upland, Poland: a provenance study of Lusatian culture lead ornaments

AbstractThe Bronze and Early Iron Ages witnessed a significant increase in trade relations driven by the search for valuable metals. This paper presents new insights into the use of galena from the Silesia and Krakow Upland region in southern Poland, known as the ‘Olkusz ore deposits’, within the context of metal ores in prehistoric Europe. Eleven lead‐based ornaments from Lusatian Urnfield Culture cemeteries were examined using lead isotope analysis. The majority of these ornaments were found to be made from local ore, which provides evidence for the early exploitation of Olkusz lead deposits dating back 1,000 years earlier than previously known from archaeological artefacts.

Problems of protecting children’s rights who are citizens of Ukraine enjoying temporary protection in EU countries

The full-scale war in Ukraine caused a mass migration of its population and led to the increase in private relations complicated by a foreign element, which are the subject matter of private international law. The Council Directive 2001/55/EC of 20 July 2001 on minimum standards for giving temporary protection in the event of a mass influx of displaced persons and on measures promoting a balance of efforts between Member States in receiving such persons and bearing the consequences thereof provided the opportunity for citizens of Ukraine to receive the status of temporary protection on the territory of the EU countries. Cases of children being taken away from their accompanying persons or from their families have become a new challenge for Ukrainian children and their parents, who moved from Ukraine to the territory of the EU and who are under the temporary protection status. Those cases occur due to differences in legislation in matters of guardianship and parental responsibility. The author of the article has studied and systematized cases, when social services of the host country are authorized to act urgently in the interests of a child and take a child away from the family. The article provides general characteristics of circumstances that are reasons for taking a decision on the application of emergency measures by social services of EU countries to children who are citizens of Ukraine enjoying temporary protection in EU countries. It is established that the removal of children from their parents, guardians or authorized persons to accompany the child occurs under different circumstances and each situation is individual, but having systematized the cases, the author has identified the following reasons: staying in the EU unaccompanied by adults and on the grounds of “parental negligence” or “improper performance of parental duties”. The author analyses the legal status of an unaccompanied child under the national legislation of Ukraine and foreign national legislation of some EU countries. The legal status of unaccompanied children under the Directive 2001/55/EC and the Convention on the Rights of the Child of 1989 is investigated. It is substantiated that the practice of recognizing Ukrainian children enjoying the temporary protection status as unaccompanied children is based on the following grounds: а) deficiency (inconsistency, non-recognition) of documents authorizing a person who accompanies a child for taking care of a child; в) non-compliance (non-recognition) of documents on the right to guardianship, issued in Ukraine, with the requirements of the host country that granted temporary protection; с) independent stay of a child on the EU territory, who is a citizen of Ukraine and has reached the age of 16, left Ukraine independently and is on the EU territory without parents and accompanying persons.

Incidence of contrast-associated acute kidney injury: a prospective cohort.

Contrast-associated acute kidney injury (CA-AKI) is a deterioration of kidney function that occurs after the administration of a iodinated contrast medium (ICM). Most studies that defined this phenomenon used older ICMs that were more prone of causing CA-AKI. In the past decade, several articles questioned the true incidence of CA-AKI. However, there is still a paucity of a data about the safety of newer ICM. To assess the incidence of CA-AKI in hospitalized patients that were exposed to computed tomography (CT) with and without ICM. Prospective cohort study with 1003 patients who underwent CT in a tertiary hospital from December 2020 through March 2021. All inpatients aged > 18 years who had a CT scan during this period were screened for the study. CA-AKI was defined as a relative increase of serum creatinine of ≥ 50% from baseline or an absolute increase of ≥ 0.3 mg/dL within 18 to 48 hours after the CT. Chi-squared test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and linear regression model with restricted cubic splines were used for statistical analyses. The incidence of CA-AKI was 10.1% in the ICM-exposed group and 12.4% in the control group when using the absolute increase criterion. The creatinine variation from baseline was not significantly different between groups. After adjusting for baseline factors, contrast use did not correlate with worse renal function. The rate of CA-AKI is very low, if present at all, with newer ICMs, and excessive caution regarding contrast use is probably unwarranted.

Kebijakan Perdagangan Uni Eropa terhadap Produk Logam Dasar

Trade relations between the European Union and China experienced rapid growth during the first two decades of the 21st century. The increase in trade relations is in line with the implementation of EU trade barriers through anti-dumping investigation reports at the World Trade Organization (WTO) against Chinese products. In the period 2001 – 2022, Chinese base metal products became the commodity with the most reported cases in antidumping investigations carried out by the EU at the WTO. However, in the same period, the value of imports of basic metal products to the European Union was lower compared to the value of imports of other products such as electricity & equipment as well as machine products, nuclear reactors and boilers. This article aims to explain the reasons behind the European Union's stance in making Chinese base metal products the most common commodity in antidumping investigation reports at the WTO. This article uses Alan Bryman's qualitative method, and the neoclassical realism theory proposed by Gideon Rose to analyze European Union policy towards Chinese Base Metal Products. The application of systemic pressure variables in neoclassical realism theory influences the European Union's position in the international system as an external factor, while there are other variables, in this case internal factors, which also influence the European Union's strategic trade policy-making process through the European Commission. The findings of this article show that China's dominance in world metals consumption and production since the early 2000s, especially in the 2013 – 2017 period, triggered the European Commission's perception that the European base metals industry was experiencing a decline in competitiveness and needed protection. In the 2013-2017 period, China's contribution to the world base metals market increased by 13% compared to 8% in the previous decade. On the other hand, the European Commission has maximized its influence in mobilizing national forces as outlined in the resolution document 2017/C399/12 to build a sustainable base metals industry. The European Union's trade policy in making Chinese base metal products the highest case report in antidumping investigations at the WTO over the last two decades, was driven by the European Commission, as the trade policy formulation unit in the European Union, to respond to systemic challenges in the global base metals market.

Progression, reliability, predicting parameters and sample size calculations for quantitative fundus autofluorescence measures in ABCA4-related retinopathy

Background/aimsTo investigate the progression of quantitative autofluorescence (qAF) measures and the potential as clinical trial endpoint in ABCA4-related retinopathy.MethodsIn this longitudinal monocentre study, 64 patients with ABCA4-related retinopathy (age (mean±SD),...

Magneto-plasmon of AA-stacked bilayer graphene nanoribbons at finite temperature

Magneto-band structures of AA-stacked bilayer graphene nanoribbons with armchair and zigzag (BLAGNR and BLZGNR) edges are calculated by the pz-orbital tight-binding model. At zero field, BLAGNR is a semiconductor or metal determined by its width. Magnetic field can reduce band-gap and exhibit crossing bands. For metallic BLZGNRs, crossing bands shift and parabolic bands are separated more widely with magnetic field; however, partial flat bands keep unchanged. Temperature significantly increases plasmon frequency and strength for semiconducting BLAGNRs, but slightly affects those of metallic BLAGNRs and BLZGNRs. Magnetic field, for gapped BLAGNRs, can effectively reduce the threshold temperature for inducing plasmon. Whether magneto-plasmon frequency and critical momentum of dispersion relation increase or decrease is strongly sensitive to nanoribbon’s geometry. Field-modulated plasmons with a wide range of frequency could provide potential applications in waveguides and optical sensors.

Governance of the circular economy in the canned fish industry: A case study from Spain

Spain is the leading country in production, 305,403 tons in 2022, of canned fish in Europe. Part of its success is because this industry is one of the leading sectors in innovation and technology transfer within the agri-food chain in Spain. At the beginning of the 21st century, its research center created a line of product valorization, the seed of current research on circular economy. This article aims to analyze, from the New Institutional Economics (NIE) approach, the process of institutional change and the evolution of the Spanish canned fish sector. The evolution of the legal framework, as well as the internal organization of the sector and its strategies, have modified the governance relationships, altering the incentives and transaction costs of the industry actors. The results show the existence of two distinct stages, 2007–2015 and 2016–2022. In the first stage, most of the research projects were regional in nature and institutional relations were more limited. In the second stage, the creation of a solid legal framework together with the inauguration of a new research center, the incorporation of new equipment, the increase in the number of partners and the increase in relations with agents in the sector reinforced the implementation of the circular economy in the canning industry. In both periods, the high degree of associationism in the Spanish canned fish industry is key to creating economies of scale, increasing public and private collaborations and participating in research projects.

Tungsten-Based Contrast Agent for Photon-Counting Detector CT Angiography in Calcified Coronaries: Comparison to Iodine in a Cardiovascular Phantom.

Calcified plaques induce blooming artifacts in coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) potentially leading to inaccurate stenosis evaluation. Tungsten represents a high atomic number, experimental contrast agent with different physical properties than iodine. We explored the potential of a tungsten-based contrast agent for photon-counting detector (PCD) CCTA in heavily calcified coronary vessels. A cardiovascular phantom exhibiting coronaries with calcified plaques was imaged on a first-generation dual-source PCD-CT. The coronaries with 3 different calcified plaques were filled with iodine and tungsten contrast media solutions equating to iodine and tungsten delivery rates (IDR and TDR) of 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0 g/s, respectively. Electrocardiogram-triggered sequential acquisitions were performed in the spectral mode (QuantumPlus). Virtual monoenergetic images (VMIs) were reconstructed from 40 to 190 keV in 1 keV increments. Blooming artifacts and percentage error stenoses from calcified plaques were quantified, and attenuation characteristics of both contrast media were recorded. Blooming artifacts from calcified plaques were most pronounced at 40 keV (78%) and least pronounced at 190 keV (58%). Similarly, percentage error stenoses were highest at 40 keV (48%) and lowest at 190 keV (2%), respectively. Attenuation of iodine decreased monotonically in VMIs from low to high keV, with the strongest decrease from 40 keV to 100 keV (IDR of 2.5 g/s: 1279 HU at 40 keV, 187 HU at 100 kV, and 35 HU at 190 keV). The attenuation of tungsten, on the other hand, increased monotonically as a function of VMI energy, with the strongest increase between 40 and 100 keV (TDR of 2.5 g/s: 202 HU at 40 keV, 661 HU at 100 kV, and 717 HU at 190 keV). For each keV level, the relationship between attenuation and IDR/TDR could be described by linear regressions ( R2 ≥ 0.88, P < 0.001). Specifically, attenuation increased linearly when increasing the delivery rate irrespective of keV level or contrast medium. Iodine exhibited the highest relative increase in attenuation values at lower keV levels when increasing the IDR. Conversely, for tungsten, the greatest relative increase in attenuation values occurred at higher keV levels when increasing the TDR. When high keV imaging is desirable to reduce blooming artifacts from calcified plaques, IDR has to be increased at higher keV levels to maintain diagnostic vessel attenuation (ie, 300 HU), whereas for tungsten, TDR can be kept constant or can be even reduced at high keV energy levels. Tungsten's attenuation characteristics in relation to VMI energy levels are reversed to those of iodine, with tungsten exhibiting high attenuation values at high keV levels and vice versa. Thus, tungsten shows promise for high keV imaging CCTA with PCD-CT as-in distinction to iodine-both high vessel attenuation and low blooming artifacts from calcified plaques can be achieved.

Global expansion of wildland-urban interface (WUI) and WUI fires: insights from a multiyear worldwide unified database (WUWUI)

Fires in the wildland-urban interface (WUI) are an important issue globally. To understand the change of WUI, we develop a 9 km worldwide unified wildland-urban interface database for 2001–2020 with Random Forest models and satellite data. We find that WUI has been increasing in all populated continents from 2001 to 2020 and the global relative increase is 24%, with the largest relative increase (∼59%) over Africa. Global total fire counts decrease by 10% from 2005 to 2020, whereas the WUI fraction of fire counts increases by 23%. The global total burned area decreases by 22% from 2005 to 2020, whereas the WUI fraction of burned area increases by 35%. These are mainly due to the expansion of WUI area. On all the populated continents, the WUI fractions of fire counts are higher than the WUI fractions of burned area, implying that WUI fires tend to have smaller sizes than wildland fires. We also project future WUI changes for the years 2030 and 2040, together with the projection of future fire burned area under different shared socioeconomic pathways (SSP) scenarios in the Community Earth System Model version 2 (CESM2). The projected global WUI fraction (excluding Antarctica and the oceans) is 5.9% in 2040 compared to 4.8% in 2020. The global WUI fraction of burned area is projected to increase from now to 2040 under most scenarios analyzed in this study, unless the WUI area stays at the 2020 level together with the projected burned area under SSP4-4.5. This study is a first step to understanding the changes of WUI fires at the global scale and demonstrates a growing importance of WUI fires. The global multi-year WUI and WUI fire datasets developed in this study can facilitate future work quantifying the impacts of WUI fires on air quality and climate.

A Diary Study of the Within-Person Associations Between Daily Stressors and Negative Affect Among Post-Secondary Students With Recent Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Engagement

Exposure to stressors is known to lead to psychological impairment over time. However, the proximal relation between stressors and distress remains unclear, particularly among emerging adults with existing mental health concerns. Using daily diary methods, we explored the associations between five subtypes of daily stressors and negative affect among 160 post-secondary students with recent nonsuicidal self-injury engagement. We also examined whether this relation was moderated by coping strategies. We found a robust relation between daily stressors and negative affect, such that in most same-day and next-day models, relative increases in daily stressors led to increased negative affect. In contrast, we found that heightened negative affect only predicted daily stressor occurrence in same-day models. Problem-focused and socially-supported coping moderated the effect between social mistreatment and distress. Findings emphasize the need to adopt stress mitigation strategies in post-secondary contexts, as stressors may contribute to ongoing distress among students with mental health concerns.

Myocardial analysis from routine 4D cardiac-CT to predict reverse remodeling and clinical outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve implantation

PurposeOur study aimed to determine whether 4D cardiac computed tomography (4DCCT) based quantitative myocardial analysis may improve risk stratification and can predict reverse remodeling (RRM) and mortality after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). MethodsConsecutive patients undergoing clinically indicated 4DCCT prior to TAVI were prospectively enrolled. 4DCCT-derived left- (LV) and right ventricular (RV), and left atrial (LA) dimensions, mass, ejection fraction (EF) and myocardial strain were evaluated to predict RRM and survival. RRM was defined by either relative increase in LVEF by 5% or relative decline in LV end diastolic diameter (LVEDD) by 5% assessed by transthoracic echocardiography prior TAVI, at discharge, and at 12-month follow-up compared to baseline prior to TAVI. ResultsAmong 608 patients included in this study (55 % males, age 81 ± 6.6 years), RRM was observed in 279 (54 %) of 519 patients at discharge and in 218 (48 %) of 453 patients at 12-month echocardiography. While no CCT based measurements predicted RRM at discharge, CCT based LV mass index and LVEF independently predicted RRM at 12-month (ORadj = 1.012; 95 %CI:1.001–1.024; p = 0.046 and ORadj = 0.969; 95 %CI:0.943–0.996; p = 0.024, respectively). The most pronounced changes in LVEF and LVEDD were observed in patients with impaired LV function at baseline. In multivariable analysis age (HRadj = 1.037; 95 %CI:1.005–1.070; p = 0.022) and CCT-based LVEF (HRadj = 0.972; 95 %CI:0.945–0.999; p = 0.048) and LAEF (HRadj = 0.982; 95 %CI:0.968–0.996; p = 0.011) independently predicted survival. ConclusionComprehensive myocardial functional information derived from routine 4DCCT in patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing TAVI could predict reverse remodeling and clinical outcomes at 12-month following TAVI.

Between Laws and Trends: Unraveling the Dynamics of Vertical Housing Units’ Development under Institutional Forces in the Brazilian Amazon

This paper is based on the recognition of a phenomenon occurring in the real estate market of Belém, Pará, in the Brazilian Amazon. The phenomenon refers to the relative increase in the size of the balconies of residential apartments launched in the city between 2005 and 2017 by construction companies, with the aim of increasing the number of units built per tower. Given that balconies were originally areas of low frequency for the occupants of apartments in this region, the aim of this article was to identify and analyze the institutional factors that support this product development strategy, which is becoming increasingly consolidated among companies. To investigate this phenomenon, we collected data from official documents provided by the Municipal Urban Planning Department (Secretaria Municipal de Urbanismo—SEURB), specifically focusing on the launch of residential high-rise buildings during the specified period. Regression techniques with ordinary least squares methods were applied, as well as econometric models of spatial autocorrelation. The results of the hypothesis tests confirmed the relationship between the restrictive parameters imposed by the city’s Urban Master Plan and the relative increase in apartment balconies. The spatial autocorrelation models confirmed the spatial spillover effect, showing that apartment projects with this characteristic tend to be concentrated in certain areas of the city, influencing each other. In order to discuss this phenomenon, the institutional theory was the protagonist of the analysis, showing how an organizational strategy can adapt to the authority that regulates the occupation of urban land in the city, meeting the two market forces and the demand and supply of apartments.

Velocity variations and hydrological drainage at Baltoro Glacier, Pakistan

Abstract. Glacial meltwater directly influences glacier dynamics. However, in the case of debris-covered glaciers, the drivers of glacier velocity and the influence of supraglacial lakes have not yet been sufficiently analysed and understood. We present a spatio-temporal analysis of key glacier characteristics for Baltoro Glacier in the Karakoram from October 2016 to September 2022 based on Earth observation data and climate parameters extracted from the High Asia Refined analysis (HAR) data set. For the glacier variables, we used surface velocity, supraglacial lake extent, melt of snow and ice, and proglacial run-off index. For climate variables, we focused on air temperature and precipitation. The surface velocity of Baltoro Glacier was characterized by a spring speed-up, summer peak, and fall speed-up with a relative increase in summer of 0.2–0.3 m d−1 (75 %–100 %) in relation to winter velocities, triggered by the onset of or an increase in basal sliding. Snow and ice melt have the largest impact on the spring speed-up, summer velocity peak, and the transition from inefficient to efficient subglacial drainage. The melt covered up to 64 % (353 km2) of the entirety (debris-covered and debris-free) of Baltoro Glacier and reached up to 4700 m a.s.l. during the first melt peak and up to 5600 m a.s.l. during summer. The temporal delay between the initial peak of seasonal melt and the first relative velocity maximum decreases downglacier. Drainage from supraglacial lakes (3.6–5.9 km2) contributed to the fall speed-up, which showed a 0.1–0.2 m d−1 (20 %–30 %) lower magnitude compared to the summer velocity peak. Most of the run-off can be attributed to the melt of snow and ice. However, from mid-June onward, the lakes play an increasing role, even though their contribution is estimated to be only about half of that of the melt. The observed increase in summer air temperatures leads to a greater extent of melt, as well as to a rise in the number and total area of supraglacial lakes. This tendency is expected to intensify in a future warming climate.

Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation Synthesis of Heterostructured TiO2/CuxO Films for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting Applications

TiO2 is a versatile photo-/electrochemically active material that finds a wide variety of applications in industry and science alike. Its main but often overlooked advantage is the abundance of Ti in nature, as it is the 9th most commonly found element in the Earth’s crust. Despite some drawbacks (e.g., large band gap) that limit its light conversion efficiency in comparison to some other materials, it is particularly inert in corrosive media, and its properties can be modified by various means. In this study TiO2 films are synthesized by an anodization-like procedure called plasma electrolytic oxidation. By varying synthesis conditions different morphologies and structures are obtained. Moreover, successful heterostructuring is achieved by adding a copper precursor into the solution. The TiO2/CuxO films are comprehensively characterized for their structural, optical, and photoelectrochemical properties. Interpretation of XPS and XANES spectra suggest that the content of Cu2+ increases in relation to the maximum voltage reached during synthesis. The UV–vis absorption was also found to display a distinct Cu2+ absorption footprint, as well as lower optical band gap values for the heterostructures. A comprehensive photoelectrochemical characterization for water splitting in 1 M KOH reveals that the TiO2/CuxO films exhibit improved activity overall.

Abstract A020: NAD+ Boosting through NRH supplementation enhances treatment efficacy in EOC

Abstract Background: Dihydronicotinamide riboside (NRH), the reduced form of nicotinamide riboside (NR), is a recently identified, naturally occurring precursor of arguably the most crucial cofactor for cellular function, Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD+). Recent investigation suggests that NRH is more adept at increasing NAD+ stores than traditional NAD precursors, and such extreme NAD+ boosting via NRH supplementation induces cytotoxicity in certain cellular contexts. It has also been shown that the lack of functional BRCA protein in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) directly impacts intracellular NAD+ levels. Given that altered cellular metabolism and DNA repair mechanisms are central alterations in EOC, and these processes are functionally dependent on NAD+, we sought to assess whether NRH supplementation in EOC cell lines enhanced cellular cytotoxicity alone and in combination with standard therapeutic agents. Methods: We supplemented 3 ovarian cancer cell lines (SKOV3, OVCAR8 and ES2) with NRH and traditional NAD precursor, NA (nicotinic acid) alone and in combination with carboplatin, paclitaxel, combination, and olaparib. Cytotoxicity was measured via CellTiter-Glo. RNA sequencing of EOC cell lines was performed to determine the differential expression of NAD+ anabolic and catabolic enzymes. Of note, all three cell lines are known to be BRCA1 &amp;2 wildtype while OVCAR8 cells are hypermethylated and harbor loss of heterozygosity (LOH high) at the BRCA1 loci. Results: Significant cytotoxicity was noted in NRH treated cells (~40 %) with minimal cell death in the NA treated lines. Strikingly, NRH supplementation enhanced carboplatin cytotoxicity by 25-50 % depending on cell line, paclitaxel cytotoxicity by 10-25 %, and the combination by 10-35 % whereas NA supplementation had no effect on the baseline treatment induced cytotoxicity. Interestingly, the effect of NRH supplementation with olaparib differed between the ES2 and OVCAR8 cell lines, with a significant 20 % increase in cell death in ES2 vs OVCAR8 cells with a negligible increase in cell death. PARP inhibition by olaparib requires NAD+. RNA sequencing revealed an increased expression in NAMPT, an enzyme involved in the NAD+ salvage pathway in the ES2 cell line relative to the OVCAR8, suggesting that the ES2 cells harbor a baseline NAD+ deficit rendering them more vulnerable to PARP inhibition following NAD+ boosting. This is also consistent with the OVCAR8 data suggesting that hypermethylated BRCA1 results in a relative increase in NAD+ to the extent that NRH supplementation does not enhance the efficacy of PARP inhibition. Conclusions: Here we show that in the context of EOC, exploitation of the NAD+ bioenergetic phenotype through NRH supplementation is a biologically feasible strategy to enhance the response of traditional therapy with potentially minimal toxicity. This data suggests several potential mechanisms by which cellular NAD+ availability belies treatment efficacy and resistance and highlights the potential utility of NAD+ metabolomics as a biomarker to guide treatment decisions. Citation Format: Kevin Lee, Tanvi Joshi, Catherine Lyons, Mary Howard Singleton, Elizabeth Catranis, Sagar Chokshi, Luciana Madiera da Silva, Marie Migaud, Jennifer Scalici. NAD+ Boosting through NRH supplementation enhances treatment efficacy in EOC [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Ovarian Cancer; 2023 Oct 5-7; Boston, Massachusetts. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(5 Suppl_2):Abstract nr A020.

(123) Postoperative Changes of Serum Total Testosterone Levels in Patients with Prostate Cancer After Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy

Abstract Introduction Although a relationship between prostate cancer and serum total testosterone (TT) has been studied, previous evidences were contradictory. Although a relationship between prostate cancer and serum total testosterone (TT) in terms of cancer biology as well as sexual function has been studied, previous evidences were contradictory and not organized very well. Objective We investigated the changes in TT levels after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) for prostate cancer as a prospective surveillance. Methods From July 2015 to January 2022, 290 patients out of 1,343 prostate biopsies performed in our hospital underwent RARP with a diagnosis of localized prostate cancer. TT measurements were performed at 6:00 early morning on admission to all patients for biopsy. Of these, we studied 76 patients whose TT values have been measured during postoperative follow-up. TT values were measured 1 month after RARP, every 3 months until 36 months thereafter, and every 6 to 12 months thereafter for up to 72 months postoperatively. Results The median and quartile of age, serum PSA and TT (pre-TT) values at biopsy of the 76 patients were 69 years (64–72 years), 7.47 ng/mL (5.65–12.74 ng/mL) and 4.03 ng/mL (2.96–4.83 ng/mL), respectively. There was no significant correlation between age and pre-TT values (p = 0.21). RARP was performed an average of 2.9 months after biopsy. The median follow-up period was 43 months (31–60 months). PSA recurrence was observed in 18 patients (23.7%), with 3- and 5-year PSA non-recurrence rates of 77.4% and 74.9%, respectively. There was no significant difference in pre-TT values between patients with or without PSA recurrence (p = 0.107). Analysis of TT values at each observation period after RARP showed relative increase by an average of 23.4% (after 1 month) to 41.6% (after 36 months) when compared with pre-TT values. Further analysis of dividing 76 patients into 2 groups by a pre-TT value of 3.00 ng/mL showed that only in the low pre-TT group (pre-TT &amp;lt; 3.00 ng/mL: 21 cases, 27.6%), the rate of increase in TT values over pre-TT was significantly higher than that in the normal pre-TT group (pre-TT ≥ 3.00 ng/mL: 55 cases, 72.4%) at each observation period up to 72 months after RARP except 33 and 54 months Conclusions The transition of postoperative TT values in the patients who underwent RARP continued to show a significant increase at each observation period only in the group with low TT values preoperatively, suggesting that biochemical hypogonadism may have been presumably caused by prostate cancer-bearing conditions preoperatively in these patients with low TT values. Disclosure No.

The impact of policy and policy communication on COVID-19 vaccination inequalities among Venezuelan refugees and migrants in Colombia: a comparative cross-sectional interrupted time-series analysis

IntroductionEquitable access to vaccines for migrants and refugees is necessary to ensure their right to health and to achieve public health goals of reducing vaccine-preventable illness. Public health policies require...

Semantic segmentation of raw multispectral laser scanning data from urban environments with deep neural networks

Real-time semantic segmentation of point clouds has increasing importance in applications related to 3D city modelling and mapping, automated inventory of forests, autonomous driving and mobile robotics. Current state-of-the-art point cloud semantic segmentation methods rely heavily on the availability of 3D laser scanning data. This is problematic in regards of low-latency, real-time applications that use data from high-precision mobile laser scanners, as those are typically 2D line scanning devices. In this study, we experiment with real-time semantic segmentation of high-density multispectral point clouds collected from 2D line scanners in urban environments using encoder - decoder convolutional neural network architectures. We introduce a rasterized multi-scan input format that can be constructed exclusively from the raw (non-georeferenced profiles) 2D laser scanner measurement stream without odometry information. In addition, we investigate the impact of multispectral data on the segmentation accuracy. The dataset used for training, validation and testing was collected with multispectral FGI AkhkaR4-DW backpack laser scanning system operating at the wavelengths of 905 nm and 1550 nm, and consists in total of 228 million points (39 583 scans). The data was divided into 13 classes that represent various targets in urban environments. The results show that the increased spatial context of the multi-scan format improves the segmentation performance on the single-wavelength lidar dataset from 45.4 mIoU (a single scan) to 62.1 mIoU (24 consecutive scans). In the multispectral point cloud experiments we achieved a 71 % and 28 % relative increase in the segmentation mIoU (43.5 mIoU) as compared to the purely single-wavelength reference experiments, in which we achieved 25.4 mIoU (905 nm) and 34.1 mIoU (1550 nm). Our findings show that it is possible to semantically segment 2D line scanner data with good results by combining consecutive scans without the need for odometry information. The results also serve as motivation for developing multispectral mobile laser scanning systems that can be used in challenging urban surveys.

Mechanical-permeability characteristics of composite coal rock under different gas pressures and damage prediction model

Determining the influence of gas pressure on the mechanics, permeability, and energy evolution of gas-bearing composite coal is helpful to better understand the formation process and prevention measures of gasdynamic disasters. In this paper, true triaxial mechanical-permeability tests are carried out on the gas-bearing composite coal rock under different gas pressures, focusing on the influence of gas pressure on the mechanics, permeability, and energy response characteristics of the composite coal rock, and a damage constitutive model based on energy dissipation is established. The results show that increasing the gas pressure decreases the load bearing capacity, strain, pre-peak relative permeability, and deformation capacity of the sample. The greater the gas pressure is, the greater the relative permeability decreases and the greater the post-peak relative permeability increases. The gas pressure has a great influence on the energy of the sample. The elastic strain energy ratio (Ue/U) increases with the increase in gas pressure, and the dissipative energy ratio (Ud/U) decreases with the increase in gas pressure. The coal-rock composite constitutive model based on energy dissipation is in good agreement with the experimental curves.