bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
WATER SALINIZATION IN IRAN: SPATIAL VARIATION OF SALINITY IN GROUNDWATER RESOURCES OF NORTH WEST (URMIA LAKE)
Authors: Mosaferi Mohammad , Shakerkhatibi Mohammad , Jahanimoghaddam Hamed , Esmat Saatloo Mehdi
Published: November 2022

This study presents the quality of drinking water in terms of salinity in the western margin of Lake Urmia, Iran. During the study a total of 121 samples from 116 wells and 5 springs were collected which constitute drinking water resources of 301 villages in the study area. Approximately more than 30% of the water resources were brackish or saline. The maximum EC is recorded at 3060 µs/cm, which is more than 2500 µs/cm recommended by the European Union. The minimum EC is 410 µs/cm with an average of 980± 495µs/cm. The brackish water resources were located in the northern parts, middle parts and also in the southeast. Unfortunately, in water resources of the study area, salinity seems to be high. This issue should be addressed as a serious concern by managers of water sector.
Impact of nitrogen fertilization on nodulation and symbiotic efficiency of indigenous Bradyrhizobium japonicum strains
Authors: Sikora S. , Abrlic J. , Rajnović I. , Kajic S.
Published: November 2022

Nitrogen fixation is a beneficial microbial process that greatly contribute to sustainable agricultural production and environment protection. Soil bacteria, collectively named rhizobia, are characterized by their unique ability to induce the formation of root nodules in which they convert molecular nitrogen into a usable form for plants. Soybean plants require a large amount of nitrogen for their development and achievement of high seed yields. The use of high quality rhizobial inoculants strives to optimize nitrogen nutrition of soybean with minimal environmental impacts. Selection of the most suitable Bradyrhizobium japonicum strains is of great importance for successful soybean inoculation as well as optimal nitrogen fertilization. The aim of the present study was to determine the impact of fertilization with different rates of mineral nitrogen on nodulation and symbiotic efficiency of indigenous B. japonicum strains. In the vegetation pot experiment two indigenous and one reference B. japonicum strain as well as different rates of mineral nitrogen were tested. Application of increased rates of mineral nitrogen reduced number of nodules and nodule dry weight. The highest nitrogen content was determined in plants grown without any mineral nitrogen fertilization but inoculated with indigenous B. japonicum strains.
Contribution to the exploitation of oil by-products for use in the production of quality feed through the fermentation with the fungal strain LGAM P123 of basidiomyces Pleurotus ostreatus
Authors: KARALIS IOANNIS , ΑRAPOGLOY DIMITRIS , CHORIANOPOYLOS NIKOS , ILIOPOYLOS CHRISTOS
Published: November 2022

In Greece, large quantities of by-products are produced annually from urban and industrial activities among them very high olive oil productionby-products. Thus, the interest of the scientific community has focused on the utilization of olive oil waste mainly as a feed using various microorganisms and fungi, of which only a small number can biodegrade the waste. In the present study the effect of solid fermentation of olive mill waste (OMW)-straw (in various proportions) mixture using the LGAM P123 strain of Pleurotus ostreatus under the conditions of experiments on the quality of the olive pomace is investigated. LGAM P123 strain was grown in solid and liquid substrates as well as in a mixture of the hay and olive-pomace substrate. The results obtained from the experimental procedure resulted in an increase in the proportion of proteins in straw and OMW mixtures. In addition, the content of fibrous matter in the fermented samples showed a significant decrease whereas total polyphenols appeared an extremely strong decrease.
The possibility of recycling of multilayer packaging waste: Reducing Environmental impacts
Authors: Mumladze Tamari , ŠLEINIŪTĖ Agne , Denafas Gintaras
Published: November 2022

Multilayer Packaging Waste (MPW) represents the largest fraction of packaging waste and is mainly composed of multiple plastic films laminated with Al foil. Most produced multilayer film is based on the different polymers, such as: polyester (PET), polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene (PE) as main components, and an aluminum layer. According to Eurostat Statistics Explained, the amount of packaging waste generated in the EU between 2007 and 2016 was estimated at 79 ± 1.25 million ton per year. Because of that, this type of waste is difficulty recyclable, its representative one of the biggest polluter in the environment. Research aims was to recovery valuable materials from MPW in order to reduce waste stream and reduce environmental polution.
Pasture biodiversity after five years of establishment of a walnut silvopastoral system fertilized with different types of sewage sludge
Authors: MOSQUERA-LOSADA MR , ARIAS-MARTÍNEZ D. , RIGUEIRO-RODRÍGUEZ A. , FERREIRO-DOMÍNGUEZ N.
Published: November 2022

Silvopasture is the combination of woody vegetation with forage and animal production on the same land that allows the diversification of agricultural income and productivity. In the silvopastoral systems, the fertilisation with sewage sludge could increase tree growth and pasture production at the same time that the pasture biodiversity is modify. The objective of this study was to evaluate the pasture biodiversity of a walnut silvopastoral system grazed by sheep and fertilized with three types of sewage sludge (anaerobic, composted and pelletized) and with mineral fertilisation after five years of establishment. At the beginning of the experiment all plots were sown with Dactylis glomerata L., Lolium perenne L. and Trifolium repens L. Nevertheless, their presence diminished over the years probably due to the shade generated by the trees, the competence with native and less demanding species and the cattle trampling. Moreover, the nitrogenous fertilisation benefited the native species such as Agrostis capillaris L., Bromus hordeaceus L. and Holcus lanatus L., which are less productive and of worse quality but more frugal and nitrophile shade-tolerant species with a higher soil seed bank compared with the sown species.
Removal of heavy metals from sewage sludge using combined hydrothermal pretreatment and chelate extraction
Authors: Usťak Sergej , Muňoz Jakub
Published: November 2022

The removal of heavy metals from sewage sludge using the combined influence of hydrothermal pretreatment and chelate extraction was tested. The classical method of batch extraction with chelates and the advanced hydrothermal pretreatment (HTP) extraction process with chelates were compared. Both experiments with removal of selected HMs were performed with 0.1 M solutions of 5 different chelating agents: citric acid (CA), S-carboxymethyl-L-cysteine (SCLC), ethylenediamine disuccinic acid (EDDS), methylglycine diacetic acid (MGDA) and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). The sequential order of potential extraction efficiency at chelates was found as EDDS> EDTA> MGDA >>> SCLC> KC. The mixture of sewage sludge with high sand content soil (A) had in all cases the higher removal efficiency in comparison to the sewage sludge mixture with clay soil (B). The removal of the tested HMs from mixture A and B was better than from the sewage sludge alone. HTP extraction method showed better removal efficiency and significantly shorter time of the process. Also, this extraction method had the higher potential of efficiency in the mixture of soils and sewage sludge. More detailed research on this topic is desirable.
Benthic litter density maps through low-cost underwater towed video camera surveys. An integrated approach.
Authors: FAKIRIS E , CHRISTODOULOU D , KORDELLA S , GERAGA M , PAPATHEODOROU G
Published: November 2022

The marine environment is the final recipient and digester of litter. Floating and benthic litter constitute the majority of litter items in the marine environment while both remain quite unexploited due to their demand in high-cost and time-consuming surveys. In this paper we propose an integrated approach for assessing in detail the spatial distribution and composition of benthic litter in coastal environments, through the use of underwater towed cameras. The method is showcased in Syros Island, Cyclades, Greece where benthic litter density maps revealed benthic litter sources and environmental drivers controlling their spatial distribution and general pathways.
A method for the extraction of microplastics from solid samples using olive oil
Authors: Scopetani Costanza , Pellinen Jukka , Pflugmacher Stephan
Published: November 2022

Microplastics (MPs) extraction from sediment, sand and soil samples is a challenge that the scientific community is facing nowadays; currently there are no standardized and validated protocols and the most common methods rely on density separation techniques, often unable to separate high density polymers. The aim of the present work was to develop a non-density based, efficient and cost effective method. We tested an oil based extracting technique exploiting the oleophilic properties of plastic. Soil and marine and freshwater sand samples were spiked with 11
different kind of polymers: Polypropylene (PP), low density Polyethylene (LDPE), high density Polyethylene (HDPE), Polyurethane (PU), Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), Polystyrene (PS), Polycarbonate (PC), Polyamide (PA), Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA) and Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). FTIR preliminary results show high recovery rates for almost all polymers except for PTFE. Further developments of this promising method are currently in progress.
TiO2/Graphene Oxide Heterostructures for Photocatalytic Applications
Authors: Giannakopoulou Tatiana , Papailias Ilias , Todorova Nadia , Trapalis Aristotelis , Bahnemann Detlef
Published: November 2022

In the present work, TiO2/graphene oxide (GO) heterostructures with different concentrations of GO were synthesized by hydrothermal transformation of Na-titanate in basic solution. The morphology of the prepared materials was observed by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The transient absorption spectra of the pure TiO2 and composite TiO2/GO materials were collected using laser flash photolysis technique in order to assess photoinduced charge transfer kinetics. Finally, the materials were tested for photocatalytic hydrogen production under solar light irradiation.
AN INTEGRATED APPROACH FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF CONSTRUCTED WETLANDS OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY, USING BOTH CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL DATA
Authors: Dailianis Stefanos , Charalambous Nikolina , Foiniris Stelios , Komodromou Andrea , Cocilovo Claudia , Dormousoglou Margarita , Lyberatos Gerasimos , Ntaikou Ioanna
Published: November 2022

The present study evaluated the operational efficiency of a constructed wetland (CW) located at Andritsaina/Krestena municipality (Western Greece, Peloponnese, Greece), using a battery of tests and bioassays. Specifically, raw WWs entering the CW basins with broadleaf cattail Typha latifolia (raw-WWs) and biologically treated WWs effluents ending up in the adjustment tank were randomly collected in October, December 2018, and January 2019. Thereafter, freshwater algae (i.e., Chlorococcum sp., Scenedesmus sp.), invertebrates (i.e., Thamnocephalus platyurus, Brachionus calyciflorus), higher plant species (i.e., Sorghum saccharatum, Lepidium sativum and Sinapis alba) as well as human lymphocytes were treated with WWs for determining critical toxic endpoints in any case. The obtained data were further interpreted with physicochemical parameters, like total and dissolved COD (tCOD and dCOD respectively), total suspended solids (TSS) and volatile suspended solids (VSS), commonly measured in both raw- and treated-WWs samples. The results showed that almost all chemical parameters measured in treated-WWs were lower than those occurred in raw-WWs, and significantly related with the obtained critical toxic endpoints in all cases. Those preliminary findings give rise to the importance of using a battery of bioassays as useful tools for assessing CWs treatment process efficiency thus contributing to the environmental sustainability and human health.
Detection of cyanobacterial toxins and oligopeptides from the Polemidia Dam in Cyprus
Authors: Keliri Eleni , Antoniou Maria , Edwards Christine , Mazur-Marzec Hanna
Published: November 2022

Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms are becoming more spatially persistent worldwide. The formation and release, through cell-death and/or excretion, of bioactive metabolites (cyanotoxins) is comprising a reoccurring concern to environmental protection agencies. Cyanotoxins can negatively impact mammalian health in various ways by causing cytotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, and neurotoxicity. Besides conventional toxins some genera can produce an array of oligopeptides characterized as microginin, cyanopeptolins, and aeruginosins. In this work we studied the occurrence of both conventional cyanotoxins as well as oligopeptides in a eutrophic dam located in Cyprus (Polemidia Dam) in years 2014-2018. To identify those oligopeptides advanced analytical techniques have been employed; specifically, tandem mass spectrometry at different modes (for screening and for quantitative analysis). Our initial results indicate that the detection of conventional cyanotoxins was lower than the method detection limits and for their detection in the ng/L range the analysis was conducted in the MRM mode. An array of oligopeptides was detected such as microcin SF608 (m/z 609.34), anabaenopeptin F (m/z 851.49), and aeruginosin 602 (m/z 609.34). There were no seasonal variations for the years 2014 and 2015 sampling events, while some of the oligopeptides (m/z 726.6) detected have not been previously reported in the cited literature.
Development and application of methods for the determination of pesticide residues in natural waters and sediments, coupled to GC-MS
Authors: KAPSI M. , Albanis T. , SAKKAS V.
Published: November 2022

The main objectives of this study were to develop rapid and accurate screening multiresidue pesticide methods on the basis of Solid-Phase Extraction (SPE) technique for the determination of 10 pesticides in water samples and on the basis of QuEChERS technique regarding sediments samples. The target compounds were determined by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The method was validated in terms of accuracy, precision, linearity, detection and quantification limits. The recovery percentages obtained for the pesticides in water samples at three different concentration levels, ranged between 73.2 to 101.2%, with relative standard deviations below 9.3%. The corresponding results from the sediment ranged between 69.5 to 122.7% with relative standard deviations below 11.2%. The limits of detection for the pesticides in water and sediment were below 12 ng L-1 and 9 mg kg-1, respectively. The optimized methods were applied in Epirus region (North-Western Greece) to determine the concentration level of the target compounds in sea water and sediment samples. The analytical methodologies exhibited excellent analytical characteristics and proved to be reliable for the estimation of the pollutant load in sea water and sediment samples from marine aquaculture.
Chemical tanker accidents and the 2010 HNS convention
Authors: Boviatsis Michael , Alexopoulos Aristotelis , Vlachos Georgios , Samiotis Georgios
Published: November 2022

The 2010 HNS Convention covers any damage caused by the carriage by sea of hazardous and noxious substances in the territory or territorial sea of a State Party to the Convention. The costs of preventive actions, i.e. measures to avoid or minimize damage, are also covered wherever taken. The HNSC includes preventive measures as any reasonable measures taken by any person after an incident has occurred to prevent or minimize damage, i.e.actions such as clean-up or removal of HNS from a wreck if the HNS present a hazard or pollution risk. It seems that after the CLC (1992), much environmental legislation has lost the concept of pro-activeness / prevention of an environmental hazard and are more focused on compensation and reactiveness. This approach is not consistent with the purpose of environmental legislation and the examination of the basic principles of HNSC in parallel with distinctive environmental hazards, proves this theory of reactive strategy.
Bio-scrubber coupled with ozonation for enhanced VOCs abatement
Authors: Senatore V. , Oliva G. , Zarra T. , Belgiorno V. , Naddeo V.
Published: November 2022

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are toxic for the environment and human health and their tendency to readily volatilize in the atmosphere leads to problems connected to odours annoyance. The conventional treatments for VOCs gaseous emissions conventionally entail the application of chemical-physical processes, only promoting the transfer of the contaminants from gas to liquid and/or solid phases. Advanced Oxidation Process (AOPs) and biological processes, conversely, support the oxidation of the organic pollutants, promoting their conversion into harmless and odourless compounds.
This study aims at evaluating the performance of an innovative treatment solution, at pilot scale, of AOPs pretreatment coupled with a bio-scrubbing unit for the abatement of toluene, selected as model VOCs. Different operating conditions have been evaluated to understand the behavior towards inlet load fluctuations.
The results exhibited that the ozonation applied as pretreatment to the biological process may promote an increase of the pollutant biodegradability along with synergic effects due to the absorption of the ozone derived compounds into the culture growth, resulting in a significant enhancement of removal performances respect to the conventional biotechnologies.
Three String Quartets, Op. 150
Authors: Ries Ferdinand
Published: November 2022

Though often remembered primarily for his published recollections about his famous teacher Beethoven, Ferdinand Ries (1784–1838) was an accomplished composer in his own right. Among his many works are twenty-seven string quartets composed between the years of 1795 and 1834. His Three String Quartets, Op. 150, first published by Nikolaus Simrock in Bonn in 1828, evince his considerable imagination and skill. While these quartets borrow elements from the then-popular quatuor brillant style, Ries's careful attention to motivic organization and polyphonic writing elevates these works to a higher level of artistic sophistication. While technically brilliant writing for the first violin remains at the forefront in Quartet no. 3, Quartets nos. 1 and 2 reveal more complex formal processes and better integration of their virtuosic first violin parts. In this volume, Quartets nos. 1 and 3 have been carefully edited based on the composer's autographs, while Quartet no. 2, the autograph of which is now lost, is based on the original Simrock print.
Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection and Maternal Primary Cytomegalovirus Infection in Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Referral Patients: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Kitamura Asa , Toriyabe Kuniaki , Hagimoto-Akasaka Miki , Ikejiri Makoto , Minematsu Toshio , Suga Shigeru , Kitano Masako , Takeuchi Kazuhiko , Usui Satoko , Masuda Sawako , Kondo Eiji , Kihira Masamichi , Morikawa Fumihiro , Ikeda Tomoaki
Published: November 2022

Background: There are no detailed reports in the literature on maternal cytomegalovirus antibody screening for universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) referral patients. We examined maternal cytomegalovirus antibody screening results and estimated the incidence of maternal primary cytomegalovirus infection among UNHS referral patients. Methods: During September 2013–March 2021, fresh urine samples were collected in the first week after birth from 98 neonates with UNHS referral results at 15 obstetrical institutions in Mie, Japan (the first hearing screening). We performed a real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis to detect cytomegalovirus DNA in the samples. Infants with ≥200 copies/mL of cytomegalovirus DNA were diagnosed with congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) infection. A second hearing screening was performed, and patients with positive results were sent to the otorhinolaryngologists for further examinations of congenital hearing loss. We calculated incidence rates (%) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for cCMV infection among patients with UNHS referral results and maternal primary cytomegalovirus infection among patients who underwent maternal cytomegalovirus antibody screening. Results: Among the 98 neonates with UNHS referral results (the first hearing screening), 5 were diagnosed with cCMV infection (incidence rate: 5.1%; 95% CI: 0.8–9.5). All five patients with cCMV had positive second hearing screening results and were sent to their otorhinolaryngologists. All five were diagnosed with congenital hearing loss, and four were diagnosed with congenital hearing loss secondary to cCMV infection. The remaining patient with cCMV infection was diagnosed with congenital hearing loss unrelated to cCMV infection. Of the 98 patients, 60 underwent maternal cytomegalovirus antibody screening. Among the 60 patients, six had maternal primary cytomegalovirus infection during pregnancy (incidence rate: 10.0%; 95% CI: 2.4–17.6). Of the six patients, four were positive for cytomegalovirus immunoglobulin (CMV Ig) G and IgM antibodies in maternal blood with low CMV IgG antibody avidity results during early pregnancy, while the remaining two had maternal CMV IgG antibody seroconversion during pregnancy. Conclusions: This is the first study to examine the maternal primary cytomegalovirus infection incidence rate in patients with UNHS referral results (the first hearing screening). We identified a 10-fold higher risk in this population (10.0%) than in the general population (0.98%).
Italian Reaction To The Carolingian EU Project
Authors: Tulun Teoman Ertuğrul
Published: November 2022

Italy has joined China's global project of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), commonly known as the New Silk Road. BRI "involves a wave of Chinese funding for major infrastructure projects around the world, in a bid to speed Chinese goods to markets further afield". French President Emmanuel Macron and German Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel signed in January 2019 a new "Treaty on Franco-German Cooperation and Integration" in Aachen. In February, France recalled its ambassador in Rome "after what Paris described as 'repeated, baseless attacks' from the ruling Italian parties". Italy's participation in China's BRI has been generally evaluated in terms of its economic implications. However, the political aspect and especially Italy's general attitude pertaining to EU is as important as the economic aspect. The discontent of Italian politicians with the Franco-German axis is not limited only with the far-right or "populist" called politicians. Italy has entered into a comprehensive cooperation with China without waiting for the possible EU joint action on the issue. We see that Italy is not content with the kind of "hegemonic axis" emerging in the EU. The Franco-German axis brings more division than unison to the EU and Europe.
The Communication Success Screener (COMSS): a pilot study of perceived communicative success across modalities, environments, and demands.
Authors: Gallée Jeanne , Tilton-Bolowksy Victoria E. , Stark Brielle C
Published: November 2022

Background: Behavioral intervention targeting speech, language, and communication concerns is an established therapeutic approach for patients with either acute or progressive communication concerns across a range of acquired neurogenic disorders. The multidimensional factors that contribute to a person’s self-identified communication challenges and strengths in their daily communication needs must be considered to provide functional and person-centered care. While many assessments grounded in clinician observation or client self-report have been developed to capture communication impairments, there is a direct need for a screening tool that comprehensively evaluates the roles of modality (verbal, text, gesture) and environment (in- person, virtual) on self-reported success across communicative demands.Aims: We describe and validate an approach to monitoring the progression of receptive and expressive communication skills in acquired neurogenic communication disorders in the context of communication practices of the 21st century, culminating in the development, implementation, and applications of a novel clinical instrument for this purpose: the Communication Success Screener (COMSS). Methods and Procedures: Thirty-three participants with acquired aphasia were recruited to complete and evaluate the COMSS via an online survey. Quantitative and open-ended participant feedback was used to validate and propose adaptations to the COMSS. Group level analyses and case presentations are used to highlight COMSS features and outcomes.Outcomes and Results: Participant responses to the COMSS questionnaire demonstrate that this screening tool creates differentiated communicative success profiles based on self-report. Participant feedback indicated that the COMSS appropriately evaluates self-reported success across modalities of verbal, written, and non-verbal expression in the context of in-person and virtual environments.Conclusions and Implications: Individuals with communication-led concerns often display heterogeneous language profiles with individualized functional communication concerns as a function of their daily activities of living and environmental supports. We introduce the COMSS as a valid tool to improve treatment goals and monitoring of functional change by evaluating self-reported communicative success as a function of form, modality, environment, and task demand.
PERAWATAN KESEHATAN MASYARAKAT
Authors: Pratama Bima Poetra
Published: November 2022

Paradigma yang sehat adalah strategi kesehatan baru melihat masalah kesehatan variabel kontinu, dirancang sistem terdistribusi dengan aktivitas Layanan selalu bermanfaat meningkatkan kesehatan masyarakat, profesional medis bersama-sama masyarakat inklusif.
MENGELOLA MUSIK DALAM GEREJA
Authors: Rupa' Calvin Sholla
Published: November 2022

Musik adalah salah satu hal penting dalam gereja karena musik adalah unsur yang tidak terpisahkan dari liturgi atau tata ibadah gerejawi. Penggunaan alat musik dan lagu-lagu dalam ibadah sering menjadi pertentangan sehingga musik harus dikelola dengan baik.Ada tiga hal yang perlu diperhatikan dalam pengelolaan musik dalam gereja yaitu: fungsi musik gerejawi; unsur-unsur musik gerejawi yaitu: tempo, irama, suara, intro, interludium, postludium; dan pemilihan lagu yang tepat dalam penyembahan.
Making Sense of Solid for Data Governance and GDPR
Authors: Pandit Harshvardhan J.
Published: November 2022

Solid is a new radical paradigm based on decentralising data from central organisations to individuals, that seeks to empower individuals to have active control of who and how their data is being used. In order to realise this vision, the use-cases and implementations of Solid also require to be consistent with the relevant privacy and data protection regulations such as the GDPR. However, to do so requires prior understanding of all actors, roles, and processes involved in a use-case, which then need to be aligned with GDPR's concepts to identify relevant obligations and only then investigate their compliance. To assist with this process, we apply the existing standardised terminologies and paradigms from ISO/IEC standards to describe the actors and implementations of Solid as `cloud technologies'. We then investigate the applicability of GDPR's requirements to Solid-based implementations, along with an exploration of how existing issues arising from GDPR enforcement also apply to Solid. Finally, we outline the path forward through specific extensions to Solid's specifications that mitigates known issues and enables the realisation of its benefits.
How well do surveys on adherence to pandemic policies assess actual behaviour: measurement properties of the Dutch Covid-19 Adherence to Prevention Advice Survey (CAPAS).
Authors: Bussemakers Carlijn , van Dijk Mart , Dima Alexandra , de Bruin Marijn
Published: November 2022

BackgroundSurvey data on adherence to COVID-19 prevention measures have often been used to inform policy makers and public health professionals. However, there is a lack of studies critically examining the validity and reliability of those self-reported measures.AimWe studied the measurement properties of the Covid-19 Adherence to Prevention Advice Survey (CAPAS), a novel questionnaire implemented in a repeated cross-sectional (i.e., ‘Trend’) Study and a Cohort Study in the Netherlands during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsThe CAPAS is a novel questionnaire developed in March 2020, with the aim to assess social activity and adherence to COVID-19 prevention measures. Items were formulated to minimise social desirability and aid memory retrieval. Based on the COSMIN framework, we investigated criterion validity by comparing trends of self-reported behaviour to trends in objective data. Responsiveness was assessed by studying whether self-reported behaviour changed following contextual (e.g., policy) changes. Test-retest reliability was examined over periods in which the context was stable.ResultsOverall, trends in self-reported behaviour closely corresponded to trends in external objective data. Self-reported behaviours were responsive to contextual changes and test-retest reliabilities were adequate. For infrequent behaviours reliability improved when measures were dichotomised. We were able to examine national representativeness for vaccination, which suggested a modest overestimation of on average 3.7%.ConclusionsThis study supports the suitability of using carefully designed, self-reported surveys (and the CAPAS specifically) to study changes in pandemic behaviours in a dynamic context.
Obesitas pada Anak
Authors: Fentinha Alifah Dwi
Published: November 2022

Obesitas atau kegemukan adalah keadaan tubuh yang melebihi standar. Obesitas ini dapat mengakibatkan depresi bahkan dampak terburuknya yaitu munculnya keinginan untuk mengakhiri hidup. Obesitas menjadi faktor permasalahan kesehatan yang serius diseluruh dunia. Permasalahan berat badan ini tidak hanya muncul di negara barat seperti Amerika tetapi juga banyak ditemukan di negara berkembang seperti Indonesia (Indanah et al, 2021). Dalam permasalahan obesitas yang semakin marak terjadi, untuk itu diperlukan kesadaran dan kepiawaian setiap individu. Setiap individu dapat menerapkan pola hidup sehat, mencukupi makanan yang berserat, minum air yang cukup, mengurangi konsumsi makanan ringan dan lain sebagainya. Hal ini diterapkan guna terwujudnya masyarakat yang sehat dan terhindar dari berbagai jenis penyakit. Sesuai dengan latar belakang yang telah dikemukakan, maka tujuan penulisan artikel ini untuk menjelaskan tentang obesitas. Menguraikan tentang faktor-faktor penyebab obesitas pada anak. Mengetahui dampak-dampak obesitas pada anak. Memahami pencegahan obesitas pada anak.
Five-year-old children identify emotions in music along valence and intensity dimensions
Authors: Kragness Haley Elisabeth , Mansoor Arooba , Qureshi Areeba , Peiris Rachel , Cirelli Laura
Published: November 2022

Music is a highly effective medium for communicating emotional states. Perception of musical emotions is influenced by cues for intensity, such as tempo and loudness, which are readily identified across cultures. Emotion perception is also influenced by cues for the valence, which in Western music is largely communicated through major versus minor mode. How do these music-emotion associations develop? While previous studies have shown preschool children match music with ”happy” and “sad” labels, it is unclear whether judgments are driven by intensity, valence, or both. We adapted Widen and Russell’s (2016) Children’s Scales of Pleasure and Arousal (“CSPA”) to investigate children’s perception of valence and intensity in music (data collected in 2021). Five-year-old children rated excerpts from a corpus of orchestral film music (Eerola & Vuoskoski, 2011) on either valence (N = 29) or intensity (N = 27). We correlated children’s ratings with those of non-musician adults (Eerola & Vuoskoski, 2011). Children’s ratings were positively correlated with adults’ for both scales, p’s < .001, indicating they gleaned both intensity and valence from the music. Results additionally suggested that 5-year-old children use similar musical features to adults to make their judgments. However, correlations were far from perfect, and children’s valence judgments were affected by the breadth of their exposure to musical cultures. Results show that musical emotion perception has an extended developmental trajectory, and point to the CSPA as a tool for testing children in a way that better informs contemporary theories of music emotion perception.
Beyond individual cognitions: Time for intervention science to focus on health context and audience
Authors: Chalabaev Aïna , Cheval Boris , Maltagliati Silvio , Saoudi Ilyes , Sniehotta Falko
Published: November 2022

Intervention science faces a hazardous paradox: on the one hand, vulnerable populations (e.g., patients, people from low socio-economic background, older adults) are those for whom adoption of healthy behaviours is most urgent; on the other hand, behaviour change models are less predictive, and interventions less successful, in these populations. This commentary presents four reasons that may explain this issue: (1) research mostly focuses on what causes behaviour and how to change it, at the expense of investigating among whom and under what conditions models are valid; (2) models put an undue emphasis on individual cognitions; (3) most studies are not conducted on vulnerable populations; (4) most researchers are from high-income countries. Several avenues are proposed to address this issue: (a) providing a central place to the context and audience in health behaviour change modelisation, through collaborations with researchers from other disciplines and countries, and with members of the targeted audience; (b) better reporting samples’ socio-demographic characteristics and increasing samples’ diversity; (c) using more rigorous and innovative designs (e.g., powered randomised controlled trials, N-of-1 trials, intensive longitudinal studies). In conclusion, it becomes urgent to change the way we do research: the social utility and credibility of intervention science depend on it.
Study of Echocardiographic Measurements to Estimate the Physiological Cardiac Efficiency in Apparently Healthy Patients Visiting University Hospital for Cardiac Evaluation
Authors: Nepal O. , Humagain S. , Koju R. P.
Published: November 2022

Background Healthy cardiac function is evaluated by echocardiography in the non-invasive cardiology department. Cardiac functional and structural evaluation is assessed by cardiologists based on a physiologically defined normal range. We want to compute the physiological value of variables in the healthy population.

Objective To compute and compare the recorded echocardiographic parameters among apparently healthy patients.

Method This is a retrospective study and a total of 544 subjects whose standard reference range was within the normal limit are included for computational study. 268 males (52.8%) and 240 females (47.2%) were studied for the size of the aortic root, size of the left atrium, left ventricular internal diameter during diastole (LVIDd) and systole (LVIDs), interventricular septum during diastole and systole (IVSd and IVSs), left ventricular posterior wall during diastole (LVPWd) and systole (LVPWs) and ejection fraction (EF).

Result Ejection fraction (EF) is not significantly different (p=0.14) between genders, Mean±SD; 70.45±6.7 for females and Mean±SD; 68.34±7.18 for males. The mean age of examined female patients is Mean±SD; 36.88±12.6 which is not significantly different with male patients age Mean±SD; 38.28±12.5. Males have larger left ventricular internal diameter in diastole, Mean±SD; 43.90±6.4 than females Mean±SD; 41.37±8.08. Ejection fraction for females is Mean±SD; 70.45±6.7, for males is Mean±SD; 68.34±7.18 with p=0.14.

Conclusion Absolute echocardiographic measurements vary physiologically between apparently healthy genders yet the ejection fraction is not significantly different between both the genders in the examined Nepali population.
Association of Anthropometric Parameters with Lipid Profile among Adult Population of Kaski District, Nepal
Authors: Kathayat G. , Pokharel D. R. , Yadav N. K. , Manoj S.
Published: November 2022

Background Anthropometric parameters of individuals are good at predicting functional impairment, mortality, and future cardiometabolic diseases. The relationship between anthropometric parameters and lipid profiles have been studied in different parts of the world. But to date, no such studies have been conducted in Nepal.

Objective To investigate the association between anthropometric parameters and lipid profile in the adult population of Kaski district, Nepal.

Method This study was carried out at Manipal Teaching Hospital, Pokhara, Kaski, Nepal. The fasting lipid profiles were analyzed in a total of 400 subjects aged > 18 years with an automated OCD Vitros 350 dry chemistry analyzer. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to test the normality of the data. The mean values of fasting lipids were compared within the subjects with different body mass index groups using ANOVA and waist circumference, waist-hip ratios, waist-height ratios, and neck circumference using independent samples t-test. The anthropometric indices evaluated were body mass index, waist circumference, waist-hip ratio, waist-height ratio, head circumference, neck circumference, and mid-upper arm circumference. Pearson’s correlation coefficients and multiple regression analysis were performed to identify the association between the lipid profile and anthropometric parameters. The difference was considered statistically significant when p values (two-tailed) were < 0.050.

Result The mean values of the serum lipid parameters other than high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were found to be higher in the subjects with an above than normal BMI, waist circumference, waist-hip ratio, waist-height ratio, and neck circumference. Pearson’s correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis showed that waist-height ratio best predicts serum triglycerides (β=0.622, p < 0.001) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (β=-0.711, p < 0.001) among all measured anthropometric parameters.

Conclusion Among all the studied anthropometric parameters, the WHtR was found to be the most powerful predictor of serum triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.
Prevalence of Refractive Error and Ocular Pathologies among School Children: Finding from the School Eye Program of Dhulikhel Hospital
Authors: Shrestha A. , Shrestha P. , Shrestha T. , Makaju Shrestha R. , Sujakhu D. , Dhakal K. , Thapa G. , Paneru D.
Published: November 2022

Background Childhood blindness and visual impairments could lead to the onset of blindness among children and adolescents. New cases appear particularly between the ages of 6-15 years and if uncorrected, runs a risk of developing Amblyopia, strabismus. There exists a mounting need to strengthen and modify established school eye health programs in Nepal as per the local needs and conditions.

Objective To determine the prevalence of refractive error and ocular pathologies among school children in rural Nepal.

Method This cross-sectional study was conducted in nine schools of Kavrepalanchowk and Bhaktapur district with 953 students screened from December 2018 to February 2020. The team of optometrist, ophthalmic assistants and ophthalmologist applied a standard protocol for screening of refractive error as a part of the school eye program of Dhulikhel Hospital. Other standard eye examinations were performed to note the ocular pathologies. The association of socio-demographic factors of students having refractive errors with that in emmetropes was identified using logistic regression analysis.

Result A total of 953 students were screened in nine study sites, age ranged from 5-19 years. There were 183 students (19.2%) with refractive errors. Blurred vision was the common complaint reported by 2.5% of students. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed higher age group children (aOR=2.93; 95% CI: 1.62-5.29; P=0.01) and urban area children (aOR=4.37; 95% CI: 0.87-21.98; P=0.07) to have higher odds of refractive error.

 Conclusion Refractive error is the major eye problem among school children. Despite its high prevalence, there is still a major gap in timely diagnosis and treatment. Regular vision screening and timely treatment is required for better addressing refractive error among school-going children.
Assessment of Palatal Throat Form in Lateral Cephalogram and its Correlation with the Skeletal Base and Facial Divergence: An Institutional Based Study
Authors: Sapkota B. , Koju S. , Mahanta S. K. , Rimal U.
Published: November 2022

Background Along with peripheral seal, palatal throat form also has significant value to achieve good retention and stability of maxillary complete denture. The palatal throat form also determines the posterior extention of maxillary dentures and affects the comfortability of the patients.

Objective To analyse the palatal throat form in a Nepalese population based on age, gender malocclusion and facial divergence.

Method This study consisted of 300 randomly selected radiographs with a mean age of 21.46±5.62 years. Skeletal malocclusion in lateral palatal throat form outlines. Patient were also categorized according to different Schudy’s facial divergence angle (SNMP). The obtained data was tabulated based on the age, gender, palatal throat form, type of malocclusion and facial divergence. The results obtained were subjected to a statistical analysis to find the relation between variants of the soft palate and types of malocclusion in different gender groups.

Result Proportion between palatal throat form and malocclusion found to be significant. There is no significant difference in proportion of different class of palatal throat form between genders. Whereas Class II palatal throat form found to be most common in all facial divergence.

Conclusion It was observed that Class II malocclusion was most common among three types. The relation between palatal throat form and malocclusion, was found to be statistically significant.
Peak Systolic Velocity in Middle Cerebral Artery in Patients with Severe Traumatic Brain Injury as an Indicator of Detrimental Rise in Intracranial Pressure
Authors: Shrestha B. , Lakshmipathy G.
Published: November 2022

Background Intracranial pressure (ICP) is the major concern for neurosurgeons while treating patients with severe traumatic brain injury, as any troublesome escalation in intracranial pressure heralds feared complications leading to definite morbidity or even mortality.

Objective This study focuses on analyzing the correlation between peak systolic velocity in middle cerebral artery derived from transcranial doppler ultrasonographic spectral analysis and intracranial pressure values derived from invasive intracranial pressure monitoring system in a patient with severe traumatic brain injury.

Method A prospective observational study was performed using a convenience sample technique including all adult patients with severe traumatic brain injury who had invasive intracranial monitors placed as part of their clinical care. Transcranial doppler ultrasonography was performed with a 2 MHz linear probe of ACUSON X300 ultrasound system while simultaneous intracranial pressure readings were obtained directly from invasive intracranial pressure monitoring. The association between peak systolic velocity in the middle cerebral artery and invasive intracranial pressure was assessed with Pearson’s correlation coefficient.

Result One hundred one transcranial doppler ultrasound spectral analysis was performed on 26 individual patients. The mean age of the population involved in this study is 43.57 years ± S.D. 19.95 (range 18-78 years), with male preponderance in a ratio of 5.5:1. Pearson’s correlation coefficient of peak systolic velocity in middle cerebral artery and intracranial pressure was 0.715 (p < 0.000) demonstrating a significant positive correlation. With further evaluation of area under curve characteristics, peak systolic velocity in middle cerebral artery of 39.6 cm/s yielded the most favorable balance of test characteristics to diagnose elevation of intracranial pressure, with a resulting sensitivity of 82.1% and specificity of 84.4%.

Conclusion Peak systolic velocity in middle cerebral artery can be explored further as a dependable screening tool to evaluate intracranial pressure among patients with severe traumatic brain injury in settings with unavailability of invasive intracranial pressure monitoring facilities.
Behcet’s Disease with Absent HLA Serotyping and Pathergy Test
Authors: Ranabhat S. , Byanju R. , Khadka S.
Published: November 2022

Behcet’s disease is a multisystemic vasculitis of unknown etiopathogenesis characterized by recurrent acute inflammation. A 30-year male presented with progressive blurred vision in both eye for one month associated with photophobia, redness and ocular pain. On presentation best corrected visual acuity was 6/9 both eyes. Bilateral ocular examination of anterior segment demonstrated occasional cells. Treatment history of multiple joint pain along with oral aphthous ulcers. Erythematous papulopustular lesion over face, neck, trunk and genital ulcers were being treated. Irrespective of negative human leucocyte antigen B51 and pathergy, patient was diagnosed as Behcet’s disease on the basis of clinical criteria and started with topical steroid and cycloplegic. At one-month, ocular symptoms were relieved. Behcet’s disease is a rare, autoimmune disease, which lacks universal pathognomonic test and investigations, therefore diagnosis is primarily done with international criteria for Behcet’s disease. Multidisciplinary approach certainly helps in early diagnosis and eliminating morbidity.
Epidermoid Cyst of the Ear Lobule in Adult
Authors: Karmacharya S. , Sah S. K. , Adhikari S.
Published: November 2022

An epidermoid cyst is one of the most common benign cysts of the skin. The cyst is filled with keratin flakes and its wall is composed of keratinized, stratified, squamous epithelium. Epidermoid cysts can occur anywhere on the body, usually along the lines of embryonic fusion and mostly on the face, scalp, neck, chest, and upper back. Around 80% of the epidermoid cysts are seen in ovaries and testicles whereas, in the head and neck, they account for only about 7% and 1.6% of epidermoid cysts are reported in the oral cavity. The condition can be congenital or acquired. Congenital causes are rare and may be caused by the entrapment of ectodermal elements intradermally or subcutaneously during embryogenesis. Acquired causes of an epidermoid cyst may result from traumatic or iatrogenic implantation of epithelial cells into the dermal layer or from obstruction of a pilosebaceous unit in the hair follicle. Surgical excision completes the treatment.