Filling and validating rainfall data based on statistical techniques and artificial intelligence

The study of the hydric regime of rainfall helps in management analysis and decision-making in hydrographic basins, but a fundamental condition is the need for continuous time series of data. Therefore, this study compared gap filling methods in precipitation data and validated them using robust statistical techniques. Precipitation data from the municipality of Itirapina, which has four monitoring stations, were used. Four gap filling techniques were used, namely: normal ratio method, inverse distance weighting, multiple regression and artificial neural networks, in the period from 1979 to 1989. For validation and performance evaluation, the coefficient of determination (R²), mean absolute error (MAE), mean squared error (RMSE), Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient (Nash), agreement index (D), confidence index were used (C) and through non-parametric techniques with Mann-Witney and Kruskal-Wallis test. Excellent performances of real data were verified in comparison with estimated data, with values above 0.8 of the coefficient of determination (R²) and of Nash. Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests were not significant in Stations C1 and C2, demonstrating that there is a difference between real and estimated data and between the proposed methods. It was concluded that the multiple regression and neural network methods showed the best performance. From this study, efficient tools were found to fill the gap, thus promoting better management and operation of water resources. Keywords: artificial neural networks, inverse distance weighting, multiple regression, normal ratio method.

Comparison of Normal Ratio Method and Distance Power Method for Estimating Missing Rainfall Data with Three Neighboring Stations

This study compared the performances of Normal Ratio Method and Distance Power Method as a tool for estimating missing rainfall data. The data utilized are the rainfall data of the three neighboring station of Catarman, Northern Samar, Philippines. These stations are Catbalogan Station (Samar Province), Legazpi (Bicol Province) and Masbate (Masbate Province). The observed daily rainfall data for the Catarman (Northern Samar), Catbalogan, Legazpi, and Masbate were obtained from the Philippine Atmospheric Geographical Astronomical Services Administration. The monthly rainfall were computed for the three (3) neighboring stations (Catbalogan, Legazpi, Masbate). The evaluation used the T-test for correlated samples and the Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient for the monthly rainfall data computed of the three neighboring Station of Catarman, Northern Samar with the three neighboring stations. Based from the results, Normal Ratio Method performs better than Distance Power Method as applied to three neighboring stations.

Breed availability analysis of local beef cattle in Seram Utara Timur Seti District Maluku Tengah Regency

This study aim were to analyze the potential availability of breeds for beef cattle development in Seram Utara Timur Seti District. The research method used was a desk study and survey method. Desk studies were conducted by utilizing relevant secondary data from various related agencies, as well as relevant research results. Meanwhile, surveys and direct observations in the field were carried out in the Animal Husbandry Production Center (KSP) areas, namely Wailoping, Kobisonta and Waitila Village. The variables observed included population structure and potential availability of beef cattle. The results showed that the proportion of the beef cattle population for the categories of calves, youth and adults was 23.18; 22.18 and 54.64% respectively. The sex ratio of male to female in all age categories is still below the normal ratio of 1 male to 5. Total breed growth (net increase) was 70 tails per year from the total population of beef cattle in Seram Utara Timur Seti District (13,032 tails). The total growth of beef cattle is still less than 1% (around 130 heads) of the total population, so it is necessary to pay attention for the development of the source area for beef cattle breeding in Seram Utara Timur Seti District.

Correlation between Vitamin A Deficiency and the Severity of Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Pneumonia in Children

Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia is a problem that has attracted the attention of children’s respiratory department in recent years. The relationship between vitamin A deficiency (VA) and the severity of Mycoplasma disease (MPP) in children was studied. In this paper, the hospitalized children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) in our hospital were selected as the research objects, and they were divided into common type and refractory type (RMPP) for comparative experiment. The VA and immunoglobulin levels of the two groups were compared. Attention should be paid to the normal ratio of VA deficiency (CVAD) and sub deficiency (svad) in the two groups. In this paper, the relationship between infection, immunoglobulin level and VA level was analyzed. The results showed that CVAD was 27.27% in MPP group and 63.75% in RMPP group. Comparison of immunoglobulin levels between the two groups: the levels of IgM, IgA and IgG in the normal MPP group were significantly lower than those in the RMPP group. On the other hand, the detection rate of CVAD was 81.48% in RMPP with infection and 54.72% in RMPP without infection. The detection rate of CVAD in patients with infection was significantly higher than that in patients without infection. There was a correlation between VA Deficiency and MPP classification.

Chemical Derivatization and Characterization of Novel Antitrypanosomals for African Trypanosomiasis

The search for novel antitrypanosomals and the investigation into their mode of action remain crucial due to the toxicity and resistance of commercially available antitrypanosomal drugs. In this study, two novel antitrypanosomals, tortodofuordioxamide (compound 2) and tortodofuorpyramide (compound 3), were chemically derived from the natural N-alkylamide tortozanthoxylamide (compound 1) through structural modification. The chemical structures of these compounds were confirmed through spectrometric and spectroscopic analysis, and their in vitro efficacy and possible mechanisms of action were, subsequently, investigated in Trypanosoma brucei (T. brucei), one of the causative species of African trypanosomiasis (AT). The novel compounds 2 and 3 displayed significant antitrypanosomal potencies in terms of half-maximal effective concentrations (EC50) and selectivity indices (SI) (compound 1, EC50 = 7.3 μM, SI = 29.5; compound 2, EC50 = 3.2 μM, SI = 91.3; compound 3, EC50 = 4.5 μM, SI = 69.9). Microscopic analysis indicated that at the EC50 values, the compounds resulted in the coiling and clumping of parasite subpopulations without significantly affecting the normal ratio of nuclei to kinetoplasts. In contrast to the animal antitrypanosomal drug diminazene, compounds 1, 2 and 3 exhibited antioxidant absorbance properties comparable to the standard antioxidant Trolox (Trolox, 0.11 A; diminazene, 0.50 A; compound 1, 0.10 A; compound 2, 0.09 A; compound 3, 0.11 A). The analysis of growth kinetics suggested that the compounds exhibited a relatively gradual but consistent growth inhibition of T. brucei at different concentrations. The results suggest that further pharmacological optimization of compounds 2 and 3 may facilitate their development into novel AT chemotherapy.

Ventricle contact may be associated with higher 11C methionine PET uptake in glioblastoma

Purpose Ventricle contact is associated with a worse prognosis and more aggressive tumor characteristics in glioblastoma (GBM). This is hypothesized to be a result of neural stem cells located around the lateral ventricles, in the subventricular zone. 11C Methionine positron emission tomography (metPET) is an indicator for increased proliferation, as it shows uptake of methionine, an amino acid needed for protein synthesis. This study is the first to study metPET characteristics of GBM in relation to ventricle contact. Methods A total of 12 patients with IDH wild-type GBM were included. Using MRI, the following regions were determined: primary tumor (defined as contrast enhancing lesion on T1) and peritumoral edema (defined as edema visible on FLAIR excluding the enhancement). PET parameters in these areas were extracted using PET fused with MRI imaging. Parameters extracted from the PET included maximum and mean tumor-to-normal ratio (TNRmax and TNRmean) and metabolic tumor volume (MTV). Results TNRmean of the primary tumor showed significantly higher values for the ventricle-contacting group compared to that for the non-contacting group (4.44 vs 2.67, p = 0.030). Other metPET parameters suggested higher values for the ventricle-contacting group, but these differences did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion GBM with ventricle contact demonstrated a higher methionine uptake and might thus have increased proliferation compared with GBM without ventricle contact. This might explain survival differences and should be considered in treatment decisions.

Features of lipid, carbohydrate metabolism and renal function in patients with type 1 diabetes and different levels of albumin in the urine depending on the level of cystatin C

Annotation. The aim of the study was to examine the differences in lipid, carbohydrate metabolism and renal function in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) with different levels of albumin in the urine depending on the level of cystatin C. The sample was 78 men and 62 women aged 22-26 years, T1D patients. The control group consisted of 8 almost healthy men and 13 almost healthy women of the same age. The level of microalbuminuria and cystatin C was determined in all patients by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Biochemical evaluation of fasting glucose, fasting blood glucose, glucose 2 h after exercise, mean value of glucose, glycated hemoglobin, total cholesterol, triglycerides, GFR according to Cockcroft-Gault, CKD EPI and GFR according to cystatin C. Statistical processing of the obtained results was performed in the license package “Statistica 5.5”, using non-parametric evaluation methods. In T1D patients compared to the control group found significantly higher values – fasting blood glucose, glucose 2 hours after exercise, the average value of glucose, glycated hemoglobin, total cholesterol and triglycerides, cystatin C and lower values – international normal ratio, GFR according to Cockcroft-Gault, GFR by CKD EPI and GFR by cystatin C. With increasing levels of albumin in urine in patients with cystatin C<0.9, there were changes in the following indicators: higher values of total cholesterol in men with proteinuria compared to men with normo- and microalbumin ; and lower values – the international normal ratio in women with microalbuminuria, compared with women with normoalbuminuria; Cockcroft-Gault GFR in men with proteinuria and GFR by CKD EPI in men with proteinuria and microalbuminuria compared to men with normoalbuminuria. With increasing levels of albumin in the urine in patients with cystatin C>0.9 there were changes in the level of the following indicators: higher values – fasting blood glucose and triglycerides in women with proteinuria compared with women with normoalbuminuria, and glycated hemoglobin and total cholesterol compared with and microalbuminuria; international normal ratio in men with microalbuminuria, compared with men with normoalbuminuria; and smaller values – GFR level by Cockcroft-Gault in men with microalbuminuria compared to men with normoalbuminuria; GCF levels by Cockcroft-Gault in women with proteinuria compared to women with microalbuminuria and GFR levels by CKD EPI in women with proteinuria compared to women with normoalbuminuria and microalbuminuria. With increasing levels of cystatin C, a decrease in glycated hemoglobin in men and women with microalbuminuria and triglycerides in women with microalbuminuria, as well as greater values of the international normal ratio in men with normoalbuminuria and GFR on cystatin C in men and women with normoalbuminuria and micro. Thus, the study obtained results that indicate the existence of differences in the studied indicators between healthy and sick subjects, between men and women and between groups of T1D patients’ men or women with different levels of albumin and cystatin C.

Ratio of isotopic parameters δ2H-δ18o in Late Pleistocene and Holocene ice wedge

The subject of this research is the ratio of isotopic parameters of deuterium of heavy oxygen&nbsp;in ice wedges. The authors considered such parameter as inclination of the line of the ration of deuterium of heavy&nbsp;oxygen&nbsp;in ice wedges. Proximal to GMLV (or LLMV) position of isotope values for ice wedge and inclination of the line&nbsp;proximate&nbsp;to 8 suggests that the ice wedge was formed from atmospheric precipitation&nbsp;(winter snow). The article provides separate examples of anomalous deuterium ratios of heavy oxygen with very low ration of line inclination, which in combination with the abnormally low dexc values indicate the indicate isotopic fractionation processes in snow before melting and/or melting snow water before filling frost-cutting cracks. Three author determines the three main types of ratios of deuterium m of heavy oxygen content in ice wedge: a) normal ratio &delta;2H-&delta;18O (with line inclination of the ratio proximate to GLMV or LLMW). b) ratio of deuterium&nbsp; of heavy oxygen to deviation from GLMV or LLMW (with signs of change in the primary isotope signal of atmospheric precipitation), c) anomalous ratio of deuterium of heavy oxygen. It is shown that the first two types&nbsp; are characteristic to most ice wedge under study in the vast part of the Russian cryolithozone from the European North to the east of Chukotka; the third type is obtained for several Holocene ice wedge in Transbaikal and upper Yenisei River. This may be explained by significant isotope transformation of snow cover in the conditions of distinctly continental climate.

BIMG-19. 18F-FLUCICLOVINE PET/CT TO DISTINGUISH RADIATION NECROSIS FROM TUMOR PROGRESSION IN BRAIN METASTASES TREATED WITH STEREOTACTIC RADIOSURGERY: A PROSPECTIVE PILOT STUDY

PURPOSE To estimate the accuracy of 18F-Fluciclovine PET/CT in distinguishing radiation necrosis (RN) from tumor progression (TP) among patients with brain metastases (BM) having undergone prior stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) who presented with a follow-up MRI brain (with DSC-MR perfusion) which was equivocal for RN versus TP. METHODS Within 30 days of equivocal MRI brain, subjects underwent 18F-Fluciclovine PET/CT on a Siemens Biograph mCT scanner with a 10 mCi bolus dose immediately prior to PET. Data were collected in list mode for 25 minutes post-injection and were reconstructed as a static image of data 10–25 minutes post-injection, and as a dynamic series of four 5-minute frames between 5–25 minutes post-injection. Quantitative metrics for each lesion were documented including SUVmax, SUVmean, SUVpeak, and normal brain SUVmean. Lesion to normal brain ratios were calculated. The reference standard was clinical follow-up with MRI brain (with DSC-MR perfusion) every 2–4 months until multidisciplinary consensus (or tissue confirmation) for diagnosis of RN versus TP. RESULTS From 7/2019-11/2020, 16 of 16 planned subjects enrolled and underwent 18F-Fluciclovine PET/CT for evaluation of 21 brain lesions. Primary histology included NSCLC (n=7), breast (n=5), melanoma (n=3), and endometrial (n=1). Ranges of quantitative metrics were: SUVmax, 2.18–12.1; SUVmean, 1.16–7.37; SUVpeak, 1.06–5.14; normal brain SUVmean, 0.19–0.50; SUVmax/normal ratio, 7.5–45.4; SUVmean/normal ratio, 4.2–26.3; and SUVpeak/normal ratio, 3.9–26.4. Among the patients 10 patients with 12 lesions who completed follow up, estimates of the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for SUVmax, SUVmean, and SUVpeak were: 0.93, 0.93, and 0.82, respectively. CONCLUSION In this population, 18F-Fluciclovine PET/CT favorably produces a wide range of lesion quantitative metric values, low uptake in the normal brain, and promising accuracy to distinguish RN from TP. Completion of follow-up for all patients is required. Phase II and III studies are under development.

Ventricle Contact Is Associated With Higher 11C Methionine PET Uptake in Glioblastoma

Introduction: Ventricle contact is associated with a worse prognosis and more aggressive tumor characteristics in glioblastoma (GBM). This is hypothesized to be a result of neural stem cells located around the lateral ventricles, in the subventricular zone. 11C methionine Positron Emission Tomography (metPET) is an indicator for increased proliferation, as it shows uptake of methionine, an amino acid needed for protein synthesis. This study is the first to study metPET characteristics of GBM in relation to ventricle contact. Methods: 12 patients with IDH wild type GBM a were included. Using MRI, the following regions were determined: primary tumor (defined as contrast enhancing lesion on T1) and peritumoral edema (defined as edema visible on FLAIR excluding the enhancement). PET parameters in these areas were extracted using PET fused with MRI imaging. Parameters extracted from the PET included: maximum and mean tumor-to-normal ratio (TNRmax and TNRmean) and metabolic tumor volume (MTV). Results: TNRmean of the primary tumor showed significantly higher values for the ventricle contacting group compared to the non-contacting group (4.44 vs 2.67, p=0.015). Other metPET parameters suggested higher values for the ventricle contacting group, but these differences did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion: GBM with ventricle contact show a higher methionine uptake and thus increased proliferation compared with GBM without ventricle contact. This might explain survival differences and should be considered in treatment decisions.