Branko Markoski

The Importance of Age over Radioiodine Avidity as a Prognostic Factor in Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma with Distant Metastases

BACKGROUND Differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) usually has a good prognosis and rarely develops distant metastases. Although it might be expected that avid radioiodine uptake in distant metastases would be associated with a favorable outcome, there are few long-term studies regarding this. The present study was performed to evaluate the influence of radioiodine uptake in distant metastases on the disease-specific survival (DSS) in DTC patients. METHODS This retrospective study included 77 DTC patients with distant metastases (M1) who were treated with (131)I therapy from 1977 to the end of 2000 in our institution. The median follow-up of patients was 6.1 years. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed using the Kaplan-Meier method and log rank test, and Cox Regression model, respectively. RESULTS Seventy-seven patients with M1 included 51 (66.2%) women and 26 (33.8%) men; 32 (41.6%) patients were <45 years old and 45 (58.4%) patients were >or=45 years old (range: 8-70 years; mean age: 45.4 years); histologically, there were 54 (70.1%) papillary carcinomas, 22 (28.6%) follicular carcinomas, and one case (1.3%) with an inconclusive histological report. The probability of DSS after appearance of M1 was 57.95% after 5 years, 48.31% after 10 years, and 39.46% after 15 and 20 years. In patients with iodine-avid distant metastases the 5-year DSS was 66.54%, the 10-year DSS was 55.09%, and the 15- and 20-year DSS were 44.99%. In contrast, patients with non-iodine-avid lesions had a 5- and 10-year DSS of 18.33%. This difference relating to the relationship between (131)I uptake in distant metastases and survival was significant (p = 0.0006). The proportion of patients with non-iodine-avid distant metastases that were >or=45 years old was significantly greater than the proportion of patients with non-iodine-avid distant metastases that were <45 years old (p < 0.01). If patients were matched for age, iodine non-avidity significantly shortened the survival in patients <45 years old (p < 0.001). According to multivariate analysis age had significantly greater influence on survival compared with iodine avidity (p < 0.001, p = 0.078, respectively). CONCLUSION Patients with distant metastases have a long-term survival that depends, in addition to other factors, on age and the degree of radioiodine uptake in distant metastases.

Selective IR absorption in molecular nanofilms

We study the dynamics of a single Frenkel exciton in a disordered molecular chain. The coherent-potential approximation (CPA) is applied to the situation when the single-molecule excitation energies as well as the transition dipole moments, both their absolute values and orientations, are random. Such model is believed to be relevant for the description of the linear optical properties of one-dimensional

Augmented AVI video file for road surveying

J

Analysis of basketball games using neural networks

aggregates. We calculate the exciton density of states, the linear absorption spectra and the exciton coherence length which reveals itself in the linear optics. A detailed analysis of the low-disorder limit of the theory is presented. In particular, we derive asymptotic formulas relating the absorption linewidth and the exciton coherence length to the strength of disorder. Such expressions account simultaneously for all the above types of disorder and reduce to well-established form when no disorder in the transition dipoles is present. The theory is applied to the case of purely orientational disorder and is shown to agree well with exact numerical diagonalization.Abstract We have formulated a microscopic theory of optical properties of ultrathin molecular films (nanofilms), i.e. quasi 2D systems parallel to XY planes bounded by two surfaces. Exposure of nanofilms to the external electromagnetic fields has result in creation of excitons – but different than bulk ones. Harmonic exciton states were calculated using the method of two-time, retarded, temperature dependent Green’s functions. It has been shown that two types of optical excitations can occur: bulk and surface exciton states. Exciton energy dispersion law shows discrete behavior with non-zero values. Analysis of the dielectric properties of these crystalline systems for low exciton concentration shows that the permittivity strongly depends on boundary parameters and the thickness of the film. In addition, permittivity shows very narrow and discrete dependence of external electromagnetic field frequency, which is a consequence of both resonance and quantum size effects. Influences of boundary conditions on optical characteristics (through analyses of dynamical absorption coefficient) of these nanostructures were specially and in details explored.

MRI Versus 131I Whole-Body Scintigraphy for the Detection of Lymph Node Recurrences in Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma

This paper presents a novel video augmentation approach: a video recording of a real entity augmented by structured data. This augmented video is a self-contained entity integrating values of perceptible and non-perceptible attributes of the same real entity. It simplifies data search, storage and management. Streaming, sharing, collaboration and synchronization are also simplified by the fact that the structured data (so-called augmented data) are integrated in the video file and therefore only one file needs to be manipulated. Our approach was applied to address the issues which road engineers experience while using the ROad Measurement and Data Acquisition System (ROMDAS). The ROMDAS system collects and analyses the road-condition state through video recordings and the data corresponding acquired by specific measuring devices. Currently, however, road engineers have to search the videos manually in order to find details of interest provided by the analysis of the data measured due to the separation of the video from the data. The ROMDAS system manages a large collection of road-condition data. It does not offer history management of video recordings of the same road captured at different time. We present this hybrid video augmentation system: the Augmented Video stream Framework (AVF). It allows creation, search, history management and playback of such augmented video files for effective road surveying based on the discrete data recorded in parallel to the video recordings. The AVF provides road engineers with effective and more comfortable perceptible and non-perceptible data search, storage and history management to be used for (collaborative) road inspection and maintenance.

Computer adaptive testing for student's knowledge in C++ exam

Data mining is a technology in data analysis with rising application in sports. Basketball is one of most popular sports. Due to its dynamics, a large number of events happen during a game. Basketball statisticians have task to note as many of these events as possible, in order to provide their analysis. In this paper, we used data from the First B basketball league for men in Serbia, for seasons 2005/06, 2006/07, 2007/08, 2008/09 and 2009/2010. During these five seasons, total of 890 games were played. Data were collected for individual players, so it was necessary to adapt these in order to show statistics for a whole team. These data were analyzed using feedforward technique in neural networks, which is the most often used technique in analyzing nonlinear sports data. As a final result, we concluded that the most important elements in basketball are two-point shots under the hoop and defensive rebound, i.e. game “in paint”.

Mobile robot control using self-learning neural network

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to compare the clinical usefulness of MRI and radioiodine (¹³¹I) whole-body scintigraphy for the detection of lymph node metastases in differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). MATERIALS AND METHODS After surgery and ¹³¹I therapy, 40 patients with DTC underwent ¹³¹I whole-body scintigraphy and MRI. Each patient was clinically suspected of having or already had evidence of nodal recurrences (confirmed by laboratory studies, cytologic analysis, or whole-body scintigraphy). Planar whole-body scintigraphy was done after administration of 111 MBq of ¹³¹I, and MRI was done using spin-echo T1- and T2-weighted imaging, T1-weighted spin-echo imaging with fat suppression, and STIR sequences. RESULTS MRI detected nodal metastases as partly or entirely cystic and as heterogeneously enhanced on contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images. Hyperintense cystic areas appeared on T1- and T2-weighted images and STIR sequences in 57% of cases. Nodal metastases showed extracapsular spread in 24% of patients. MRI results were true-positive in 76%, true-negative in 90%, false-negative in 24%, and false-positive in 11% of cases, whereas ¹³¹I whole-body scintigraphy results were true-positive in 71%, true-negative in 91%, and false-negative in 29% of cases. There were no false-positive results of ¹³¹I whole-body scintigraphy. False-negative whole-body scintigraphy was induced by tumor dedifferentiation. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of MRI were 76.2%, 89.5%, 82.5%, 88.9%, and 77.3%, respectively, and the corresponding values for ¹³¹I whole-body scintigraphy were 71.4%, 100%, 85%, 100%, and 76%, respectively. CONCLUSION Whole-body scintigraphy is more specific than MRI in the detection of nodal metastases in patients with DTC. The principal value of MRI is in non-iodine-avid recurrences and in evaluation of mediastinal foci.

Kernel sets in compass edge detection

In adaptive learning systems for distance learning attention is focused on adjusting the learning material to the needs of the individual. Adaptive tests adjust to the current level of knowledge of the examinee and is specific for their needs, thus it is much better at evaluating the knowledge of each individual. The basic goal of adaptive computer tests is to ensure the examinee questions that are challenging enough for them but not too difficult, which would lead to frustration and confusion. The aim of this paper is to present a computer adaptive test (CAT) realized in MATLAB.

PERMITTIVITY IN PERTURBED MOLECULAR NANOFILMS

The paper describes the concept of the navigation system for a mobile robot. The system is using a navigation algorithm based on self-learning neural network, necessary to form a movement plan for a robot. The algorithm is adapted and implemented to navigate real platform of a mobile robot equipped by two independent wheel drives, encoders and a set of short-range sonars. Navigation algorithm is placed into a PC, which is connected to mobile robot by wireless and wired links. Experiments have shown ability of collision-free navigation of mobile robot in real time.

Using Network Node Description Language for modeling networking scenarios

Edge detection is an important operation in the analysis of a digital image and includes a set of mathematical methods to identify points of discontinuity. For this purpose, different algorithms are used for estimating image gradient. Many edge detection techniques are implemented with convolution mask and based on discrete approximations to differential operators. Differential operations measure the rate of change in the image brightness function. The compass approach implies taking a single mask and rotating it to major compass orientations. Using a suitable programming environment, this paper provides a comparative visual analysis of several digital images, with the ability to change the kernel set in compass edge detection.