16.精子形成のホルモン支配(第669回千葉医学会例会・第38回千葉泌尿器科集談会)

Understanding the temporal and spatial variability in a crop yield is viewed as one of the key steps in the implementation of precision agriculture practices. Therefore, a study on a center pivot irrigated 23.5 ha field in Saudi Arabia was conducted to assess the variability in alfalfa yield using Landsat-8 imagery and a hay yield monitor data. In addition, the study was designed to also explore the potential of predicting the alfalfa yield using vegetation indices. A calibrated yield monitor mounted on a large rectangular hay baler was used to measure the actual alfalfa yield for four alfalfa harvests performed in the period from October 2013 to May 2014. A total of 18 Landsat-8 images, representing different crop growth stages, were used to derive different vegetation indices (VIs). Data from the yield monitor was used to generate yield maps, which illustrated a definite spatial variation in alfalfa yield across the experimental field for the four studied harvests as indicated by the high spatial correlation values (0.75 to 0.97) and the low P-values (4.7E-103 to 8.9E-27). The yield monitor-measured alfalfa actual yield was compared to the predicted yield form the Vis. Results of the study showed that there was a correlation between actual and predicted yield. The highest correlations were observed between actual yield and the predicted using NIR reflectance, SAVI and NDVI with maximum correlation coefficients of 0.69, 0.68 and 0.63, respectively

National reporting codes for the mineral industry: The case of JORC in Australia.

Στην παρούσα εργασία παρουσιάζεται ο Κώδικας για την Ανακοίνωση Κοιτασματολογικών Ερευνών, Γεωλογικών και Οικονομικοτεχνικών Απολήψιμων Αποθεμάτων της Αυστραλίας (JORC), όπως αυτός αναθεωρήθηκε το 2012. Συζητούνται συνοπτικά οι Αρχές που διέπουν τον Κώδικα, οι Ορισμοί που πρέπει να υιοθετούνται στις Δημόσιες Ανακοινώσεις, καθώς και η έννοια του Αρμόδιου Μελετητή (Competent Person), με παράλληλη αναφορά σε παραδείγματα απαιτήσεων του Κανονισμού. Παρουσιάζεται επίσης μια συνοπτική σύγκριση με το αντίστοιχο Παν-Ευρωπαϊκό Πρότυπο Ανακοινώσεων (PERC), όπως αυτό δημοσιεύθηκε στις 15 Μαρτίου 2013. Στην Ελλάδα δεν υπάρχει ακόμα σε εφαρμογή Κανονιστικό Πλαίσιο για τη Δημόσια Ανακοίνωση Κοιτασματολογικών Ερευνών και Αποθεμάτων, αν και το πρότυπο PERC πιθανόν να αποτελέσει το Εθνικό Κανονιστικό Πλαίσιο. Σκοπό της εργασίας αποτελεί η έναρξη συζήτησης ανάμεσα στους γεωλόγους και μηχανικούς για τις ευκαιρίες αλλά και τις προκλήσεις, που θα επιφέρει ένα τέτοιο Κανονιστικό Πλαίσιο.A revised version of the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves commonly called the JORC Code was released in Australia in December 2012. This paper provides a summary of the principles that guide the Code, and the definitions therein, as well as the rationality behind adopting the Code as a Public Reporting tool. Brief examples of reporting requirements are also discussed. Additionally, references and a general comparison to the Pan-European Reserves & Resources Reporting Code (PERC standard) are presented. Although, in Greece there is no relevant Regulatory Framework in place yet or enforcement of any International Code, the adaptation of PERC is probably ahead, and hence this paper aims to open the discussion among geoscientists and mining engineers for the opportunities and the challenges that they will face

From Monte Carlo PET Simulations to Reconstructed Images : Modelling and Optimisation for 68Ga Theragnostics

In nuclear medicine, radiopharmaceuticals can be administered for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in theragnostics, a strategy that combines both diagnosis and therapy. This can be achieved by using similar radiopharmaceuticals for imaging and radionuclide therapy, which enables highly personalised disease management. One theragnostic application is for the diagnosis and management of neuroendocrine tumours, where the diagnosis and subsequent therapy stratification often relies on a qualitative evaluation following [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-TOC PET imaging, with [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE radionuclide therapy being a potential treatment option. In this case, peri-therapeutic SPECT imaging enables for the disease to be closely monitored during therapy. There is growing interest in utilising quantitative metrics to identify the most suitable candidates for radionuclide therapy and to subsequently perform individualised dosimetry. Consequently, it is important to understand potential limitations in the image acquisition process that will impact the accuracy and precision of quantitative estimates, and one effective method to do so is through Monte Carlo simulations.This thesis is based on four papers utilising Monte Carlo simulations, with a focus on modelling and optimising for 68Ga-PET theragnostics. Paper I explores the possibility of modelling and simulating a clinical GE Discovery MI PET system and coupling simulated data with a reconstruction software, entirely in silico, to enable further simulation-based studies. The implementation of correction factors emulates the processes used in clinical scanners for a more realistic approach. The model successfully generates results comparable to those obtained from a corresponding measurement on a clinical scanner. Papers II, III, and IV focus on 68Ga-PET imaging of neuroendocrine tumours, with Papers III and IV also incorporating 177Lu-SPECT imaging. Anthropomorphic phantoms were utilised to enable the simulation of [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-TOC PET and [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE SPECT exams with patient-like geometries and activity distributions. In Paper II, it was shown that a non-linearly scaled administered activity based on patient weight harmonises image quality, regardless of patient body size. A harmonised image quality is important to ensure that all patients receive an equal standard of care. Paper III investigated the potential impact of respiration on quantitative estimates in [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-TOC PET and [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE SPECT imaging. The extent of lesion motion substantially influenced the recovered lesion activity concentration, with deviations exceeding 30% from the simulated activity concentration. Furthermore, differences in quantitative bias were observed between PET and SPECT imaging, primarily attributed to the different imaging time points. In Paper IV, efforts were undertaken to elevate the realism of simulated patient models, enabling the creation of highly realistic simulated images. The ability to generate realistic images holds great future potential, as it allows for the construction of databases of simulated reconstructed images with known ground truth. These databases can serve various purposes, including software performance evaluation and integration with machine learning. In conclusion, the use of a computational pipeline that connects Monte Carlo simulations with a reconstruction software enables simulation-based studies of entire PET-exam procedures to be conducted. Access to the underlying data driving the simulations makes it possible to isolate individual parameters and track their impact on the results, allowing for a systematic evaluation of in vivo confounders entirely in silico

Transmembrane Inhibitor of RICTOR/mTORC2 in Hematopoietic Progenitors

Summary Central to cellular proliferative, survival, and metabolic responses is the serine/threonine kinase mTOR, which is activated in many human cancers. mTOR is present in distinct complexes that are either modulated by AKT (mTORC1) or are upstream and regulatory of it (mTORC2). Governance of mTORC2 activity is poorly understood. Here, we report a transmembrane molecule in hematopoietic progenitor cells that physically interacts with and inhibits RICTOR, an essential component of mTORC2. Upstream of mTORC2 (UT2) negatively regulates mTORC2 enzymatic activity, reducing AKTS473, PKCα, and NDRG1 phosphorylation and increasing FOXO transcriptional activity in an mTORC2-dependent manner. Modulating UT2 levels altered animal survival in a T cell acute lymphoid leukemia (T-ALL) model that is known to be mTORC2 sensitive. These studies identify an inhibitory component upstream of mTORC2 in hematopoietic cells that can reduce mortality from NOTCH-induced T-ALL. A transmembrane inhibitor of mTORC2 may provide an attractive target to affect this critical cell regulatory pathway

Entities: A Field of Imaginary Games

With this body of work, I am looking for visual symbols that help communicate unuttered meanings through storytelling and stimulate an affectual response to the viewer. This exploration is presented in two different forms: a surreal sculptural installation and a board game. The installation consists of large-scale sculptures made from light and soft materials (polyurethane foam, plastic waste, paper) that are available to move inside the gallery, while the board game is presented as a set of 3D prints with instructions on how the participants can play it. The materials used in the installation suggest a way to transform waste into art and reveal further meanings of the objects-symbols depicted. I offer these symbols to the viewers as a vocabulary of available metaphors to rediscover poetic meaning, reflective free play, and communal storytelling. “Entities” is a word used to describe the things and objects that, in this project, possess agency. Each entity is a self-contained singular existence but also part of a whole. Entities can be used as metaphors for emotional states and memories, and eventually act as a lever for storytelling

Branch Prediction as a Reinforcement Learning Problem: Why, How and Case Studies

Recent years have seen stagnating improvements to branch predictor (BP) efficacy and a dearth of fresh ideas in branch predictor design, calling for fresh thinking in this area. This paper argues that looking at BP from the viewpoint of Reinforcement Learning (RL) facilitates systematic reasoning about, and exploration of, BP designs. We describe how to apply the RL formulation to branch predictors, show that existing predictors can be succinctly expressed in this formulation, and study two RL-based variants of conventional BPs.Comment: 6 pages, appeared in ML workshop for Computer Architecture and Systems 202

Branch Prediction as a Reinforcement Learning Problem: Why, How and Case Studies

Recent years have seen stagnating improvements to branch predictor (BP) efficacy and a dearth of fresh ideas in branch predictor design, calling for fresh thinking in this area. This paper argues that looking at BP from the viewpoint of Reinforcement Learning (RL) facilitates systematic reasoning about, and exploration of, BP designs. We describe how to apply the RL formulation to branch predictors, show that existing predictors can be succinctly expressed in this formulation, and study two RL-based variants of conventional BPs

Branch Prediction as a Reinforcement Learning Problem: Why, How and Case Studies

Recent years have seen stagnating improvements to branch predictor (BP) efficacy and a dearth of fresh ideas in branch predictor design, calling for fresh thinking in this area. This paper argues that looking at BP from the viewpoint of Reinforcement Learning (RL) facilitates systematic reasoning about, and exploration of, BP designs. We describe how to apply the RL formulation to branch predictors, show that existing predictors can be succinctly expressed in this formulation, and study two RL-based variants of conventional BPs

Geological study for a wetland restoration: the case of the drained Mouria Lake (W. Peloponnese).

Η Λίμνη Μουριά αποξηράνθηκε στα τέλη της δεκαετίας του 1960, λόγω των αυξημένων αναγκών για καλλιεργήσιμες εκτάσεις. Στην παρούσα μελέτη εξετάζονται τα ιζηματολογικά χαρακτηριστικά μίας μικρής έκτασης της πρώην λίμνης, στην οποία κατασκευάστηκε μία πιλοτική λίμνη. Οι ανώτεροι ορίζοντες (πάχους περίπου 3 m) αποτελούνται από λεπτόκοκκο υλικό ποτάμιας προέλευσης, που αποτέθηκε σε λιμναίο περιβάλλον, σχηματίζοντας το λιμνοθαλάσσιο πυθμένα που εκτείνεται σε όλη την περιοχή της αποξηραμένης λίμνης. Σε βάθος 3 m απαντάται στρώμα άμμου, το οποίο αποτέθηκε σε περιβάλλον υψηλής ενέργειας και αποτελεί το υπόβαθρο του λιμνοθαλάσσιου πυθμένα. Τα ιζήματα χαρακτηρίζονται πολύ έντονα αλκαλικά με υψηλή περιεκτικότητα σε διαλυμένα στερεά. Η υψηλή ικανότητα ιοντοανταλλαγής (CEC) οφείλεται αποκλειστικά στην παρουσία αργιλικών ορυκτών. Χαλαζίας, άστριοι, αργιλικά ορυκτά και ασβεστίτης είναι τα κύρια ορυκτολογικά συστατικά. Η ορυκτολογική και γεωχημικήσύσταση των ιζημάτων οφείλεται κυρίως στην αποσάθρωση των περιβαλλόντων σχηματισμών. Οι έντονα αλκαλικές συνθήκες (υψηλό pH), που επικρατούν στα ιζήματα της περιοχής, δρουν ανασταλτικά στην κινητικότητα των ιχνοστοιχείων. Απαιτείται συνεχής παρακολούθηση της χημικής σύστασης των ιζημάτων της πιλοτικής λίμνης, γιατί ενδεχόμενη μεταβολή των συνθηκών που επικρατούν σήμερα, θα διαταράξει την ισορροπία του συστήματος της πιλοτικής λίμνης προκαλώντας ενδεχόμενα αύξηση της κινητικότητας των ιχνοστοιχείων και αποδέσμευσή τους στο περιβάλλον.The Μouria Lake was drained for cultivation during late 1960’s. A 0.5-ha large pilot-scale wetland is now constructed in order to study the sedimentological lakerestoration aspects. The uppermost horizons (up to 3 m thick) consist of fine sediments (mud, silt, clay) of fluvial origin, deposited in a lacustrine environment and constituting the lagoonal bottom material, which extents all over the area ever covered by the original Mouria Lake. A sand layer (3 m beneath the current surface) constitutes the substrate of the lagoonal bottom revealing a higher energy deposition environment in comparison to the overlying fine sediments. High pH and electric conductivity values reveal strong alkaline environment and high content of dissolved solids, respectively. The sediments reveal high CEC, as a result of high clay minerals content. Other main mineral phases that occur include quartz, feldspars and calcite. The weathering of marginal rocks is the major factor controlling the mineralogical-geochemical composition of the sediments. The strong alkaline features of the sediments inhibit trace element mobilization. Continuous monitoring of the chemical composition is necessary in order to predict and prevent a possible mobilization of hazardous trace elements and the subsequent release to the environment