bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Increasing the content of fiber and minerals in gnocchi with added dragon fruit peels as sub stitution of ingredient for improvement of food product quality and human health
Authors: Rahmah L. , Ansori Arif N. M. , Sari Novi I. P.
Published: April 2024

Gnocchi is a type of homemade pasta made from potatoes, flour and eggs. Improving food product quality in terms of nutrition in gnocchi products it is possible now also use food waste. In addition to improvement of food product quality and human health, the addition of dragon fruit peel, which is considered as waste, can provide reasonable solutions or ideas about recycling of food waste. In this study, the produced food product was gnocchi with addition of by-product — dragon fruit peel, which was tested for fiber content and content of the following minerals: iron, potassium, calcium. The data obtained were then analyzed statistically by the SPSS program to determine the effect of variation using the T-test. Based on the results of the study it was concluded that the content of dietary fiber of dragon fruit peel in the sample of gnocchi denoted as F3 featured the highest water-soluble dietary fiber content with a score of 1.33%, water insoluble dietary fiber content with a score of 1.86%. and total dietary fiber content with a score of 3.19%. This also shows that the more dragon fruit peel is added, the higher is the total dietary fiber content in gnocchi with addition of dragon fruit peel. This high dietary fiber will be beneficial to humans, especially good for the digestive system. Meanwhile, the mineral content of gnocchi with dragon fruit peel also showed that the F3 sample had the highest mineral content, in particular — iron (Fe) in amount of 1.886 mg/100 g, potassium (K) 6.179 mg/100 g, and calcium (Ca) in amount of 25.339 mg/100 g. This also shows that the addition of dragon fruit peel is useful for improvement of human health and the quality of food product, i. e. gnocchi by increasing the total content of dietary fiber and improving the mineral composition of gnocchi due to addition of dragon fruit peel.
Måleegenskaper ved den norske versjonen av Søvnvaner hos barn, Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ)
Authors: Hysing Mari , Sivertsen Børge
Published: April 2024

Beskrivelse: Søvnvaner hos barn (The Children´s Sleep Habits Questionnaire) er et foreldreutfylt spørreskjema. Formålet er å kartlegge søvnvaner og de hyppigst forekommende søvnvanskene hos barn mellom 4 og 10 år.
Litteratursøk: Vårt systematiske litteratursøk, og påfølgende kontakt med førsteforfatter, identifiserte til sammen to norske publikasjoner.
Psykometri: Det fins ingen informasjon om normer eller validitet i de inkluderte studiene, men den ene publikasjonen fant at instrumentet skiller mellom kliniske grupper av barn med psykiske vansker og en kontrollgruppe. Reliabilitetsmål viser generell god reliabilitet, men det var lav reliabilitet på en underskala for søvnrelaterte respirasjonsvansker
Konklusjon: Da kun to publikasjoner basert på én klinisk studie av barn med psykiske vansker ble identifisert, er det ikke tilstrekkelig dokumentasjon for å vurdere de psykometriske egenskapene til instrumentet. Det må derfor utøves varsomhet ved bruk av CSHQ i klinisk praksis. Spesielt bør man være oppmerksom på lav reliabilitet i henhold til søvnrelaterte respirasjonsvansker. Populasjonsbaserte norske studier som kan gi et normgrunnlag for aldersgruppen er nødvendig.
Måleegenskaper ved den norske versjonen av Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (BSID, BSID-II, BSID-III)
Authors: Richter Jörg , Valla Lisbeth
Published: April 2024

Beskrivelse: Bayley Scales of Infant Development (BSID) måler kognitiv, språklig og motorisk utviklingsfungering, samt sosial og emosjonell tilpassingsadferd hos sped- og små barn i alderen 1 til 42 måneder. Den er revidert to ganger, og tredjeutgaven, BSID-III, er den som er vanligst å bruke i dag. BSID-III består av fem deltester som er sammenfattet til tre skalaer og tre spørreskjemaer, men bare de tre kjerneskalaene (kognitiv skala, motorisk skala, og språklig skala) er inkludert i den norske utgaven. Det tar mellom 30 og 50 minutter å administrere testen, avhengig av barnets alder. Den norske utgaven av BSID-III er tilgjengelig fra Pearson Assessment and Information AB.
Litteratursøk: Vårt systematiske litteratursøk resulterte i 147 treff, hvorav syv publikasjoner fra fem norske kliniske studier og én dansk befolkningsstudie (åtte artikler basert på BSID, 16 basert på BSID-II, og to på BSID-III).
Psykometri: Det finnes ikke dokumentasjon på de psykometriske egenskapene ved norske eller skandinaviske versjoner av BSID-III basert på . Bare én norsk studie rapporterte prediktiv validitet i forhold til psykomotorisk utviklingsindeks (PDI) i norske BSID-data. Det ble konkludert, basert på relativt høy area under the curve (AUC) i reciever operating characheristics (ROC) -kurveanalysen, at PDI er et effektivt diagnostisk instrument. Ingen av de norske eller skandinaviske studiene har undersøkt eller rapportert om testens reliabilitet. Det finnes ingen norske eller andre skandinaviske normer.
Konklusjon: Det foreligger ikke dokumentasjon på psykometriske egenskaper ved den norske eller skandinaviske versjonen av BSID-III. Det er stort behov for studier om psykometriske egenskaper i norske utvalg. Amerikanske normer må anvendes med forsiktighet til klinisk utviklingsvurdering av norske barn.
Måleegenskaper ved den norske versjonen av Development and Well-being Assessment (DAWBA)
Authors: Brøndbo Per Håkan , Martinussen Monica
Published: April 2024

Beskrivelse: Development and Well-Being Assessment (DAWBA) ble utviklet på 1990-tallet i Storbritannia som et diagnostisk verktøy for å fange opp vanlige barne- og ungdomsdiagnoser (DSM-IV) (Goodman et al., 2000). Den norske oversettelsen ble gjort av Einar Heiervang, Kjerstin Søvik, Melanie Young, Anne Karin Ullebø og Ingrid Jangård Orre. Det finnes tre versjoner av DAWBA med spørsmål som rettes til henholdsvis foreldre, ungdommer og lærere. Alle tre kan administreres enten via web eller manuelt. Den norske versjonen inneholder spørsmål for en rekke ulike lidelser og forstyrrelser i tillegg til man kartlegger bakgrunnsinformasjon og sterke sider hos barnet. Det tar omtrent 50 minutter for foreldre å besvare spørsmålene i foreldreversjonen. Det stilles krav om relevant opplæring og utdanning for å kunne anvende DAWBA. Det diagnostiske systemet er tenkt brukt klinisk og til forskningsformål.
Litteratursøk: Det systematiske litteratursøket resulterte i 33 treff hvorav åtte oppfylte inklusjonskriteriene. De inkluderte artiklene rapporterte resultater fra to studier, Barn i Bergen-studien med et befolkningsbasert utvalg (Heiervang et al., 2007) og en klinisk studie basert på barn og ungdommer henvist til BUP (Brøndbo et al.,2012).
Psykometri: De inkluderte studiene rapporterte forekomster av ulike diagnoser både i en klinisk gruppe og et større utvalg av barn bosatt i Bergen. Én studie har undersøkt reliabiliteten mellom ulike klinikere som har anvendt DAWBA, med høyt samsvar (interrater-reliabilitet) for de fleste diagnosene. Det er enkelte studier som belyser validiteten, f.eks ved at DAWBA er sammenlignet med diagnoser satt av klinikere uten å anvende DAWBA, mens en annen studie har undersøkt sammenhengen mellom datagenererte diagnoser ved hjelp av DAWBA og diagnoser satt av klinikere basert på informasjon innhentet via DAWBA.
Konklusjon: For ordinær klinisk bruk kan den norske versjonen av DAWBA være et godt hjelpemiddel i arbeidet med diagnostisering av problemer innenfor psykisk helse for barn og unge. Foreliggende dokumentasjon tyder på at de datagenererte diagnosene kun bør brukes til omtrentlige prevalensestimat i forskningsøyemed.
Måleegenskaper ved den norske versjonen av Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales-Second Edition (Vineland-II)
Authors: Heyerdahl Sonja , Eikeseth Svein
Published: April 2024

Beskrivelse: Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (Vineland ABS) er et meget brukt kartleggingsinstrument for vurdering av adaptiv atferd (daglige aktiviteter som kreves for å klare seg på egen hånd, personlig og sosialt). Instrumentet ble først publisert i 1984 i USA. Vineland-II er en omfattende revisjon, publisert 2005; skandinavisk tilpasning og normering 2011. NCS Pearson Inc. er rettighetshaver. Den skandinaviske Vineland-II er gitt ut i tre versjoner: et intervjuskjema og et spørreskjema for foreldre (foreldreskjema) med skandinaviske normer, og et lærerskjema. Adaptiv atferd vurderes innenfor fire brede domener (indekser) for aldersgruppen 2 - 21 år: kommunikasjon, dagliglivets ferdigheter, sosiale ferdigheter og motorikk (< 7 år). Funnene summeres til Generelle adaptive ferdigheter.
Litteratursøk: Vårt systematiske søk etter dokumentasjon for måleegenskapene ved den norske versjonen av Vineland-II førte til 33 treff. Tre artikler ble hentet inn i fulltekst, bare en hadde benyttet Vineland-II, og relevante data ble ikke rapportert i artikkelen. Det er gjort en skandinavisk (svensk-dansk- norsk) normering av foreldreskjema, som rapporteres i manualen for Vineland-II.
Psykometri: Vår vurdering av testens psykometriske egenskaper baserer seg på data fra manualen (en skandinavisk representativ tverrsnittsundersøkelse; N = 1673). Normdata rapporteres omfattende. Begrepsvaliditet støttes ved godt samsvar med etablerte diagnostiske systemer. Konfirmatoriske faktoranalyser viste en rimelig god tilpasning. Data fra en liten studie barn med autisme viste avvik som forventet. Intern konsistens og split-half reliabilitet var meget tilfredsstillende både for Generelle adaptive ferdigheter og indeksene (> 0,90, med unntak av motorikk for noen aldersgrupper).
Konklusjon: Vineland-II er nylig publisert, og det foreligger ikke ennå relevante norske eller skandinaviske publikasjoner utover studien som er rapportert i manualen. Den skandinaviske utgaven har et godt normeringsgrunnlag, som brukes til en omfattende og systematisk resultatfremstilling for det enkelte barn som vurderes. Psykometriske analyser indikerer gode psykometriske egenskaper for foreldreskjema. Intervjuskjemaet som fylles ut av utreder tilsvarer foreldreskjema, men det er ikke dokumentert at normer og de psykometriske egenskapene for dette skjemaet er de samme som for foreldreskjemaet.
Måleegenskaper ved den norske versjonen av Beck Youth Inventories - Second Edition (BYI-II)
Authors: Kornør Hege , Johansen Sissel
Published: April 2024

Beskrivelse: Beck Youth Inventories – Second Edition (BYI-II) er et spørreskjema som fylles ut av barn og ungdommer i alderen 7-18 år for å kartlegge selvbilde, psykiske og sosiale problemer. De amerikanske psykologene Judith Beck og John Jolly, og psykiateren Aaron Beck står bak utviklingen av både den første utgaven (BYI, publisert i 2001) og BYI-II (publisert i 2005). BYI-II ble oversatt til norsk og ble publisert i 2012. Vi fant ingen opplysninger om oversettelsesprosessen. BYI-II inneholder 100 testledd, 20 for hver av de fem skalaene Selvbilde, Angst, Depresjon, Sinne og Normbrytende atferd. Rettighetsinnehaver Pearsson Assessment stiller krav om at man skal være autorisert lege eller psykolog for å kunne kjøpe testen fra dem.
Litteratursøk: Vårt systematiske litteratursøk etter studier av måleegenskaper ved den norske versjonen av BYI-II resulterte i 28 treff, hvorav ingen var relevante. Vi innhentet i tillegg den norske BYI-II-manualen, som oppfylte inklusjonskriteriene. Dessuten inkluderte vi den danske BYI-II-manualen og en dansk studie, men ingen svenske studier ble funnet.
Psykometri: Den norske BYI-II-manualen inneholdt normer basert på data fra 600 norske barn og ungdommer fordelt på kjønn og tre aldersgrupper (7-10, 11-14 og 15-18 år). Skalaenes indre konsistens (Cronbachs alfa) varierte fra 0,84 til 0,92 (god til utmerket). En eksplorerende faktoranalyse støttet BYI-IIs femfaktorstruktur med 38 % forklart varians. Vi fant ingen informasjon om test-retest reliabilitet eller kriterievaliditet.
Konklusjon: Så lenge vi mangler kunnskap om skalaenes kriterievaliditet er det vanskelig å tolke skårer i klinisk sammenheng. Slik tolkning må derfor skje med stor varsomhet og bruk av klinisk skjønn. BYI-II kan gjerne brukes på gruppe- og systemnivå som et verktøy for å beskrive ulike psykisk helseaspekter hos barn og ungdom. Det er behov for ytterligere forskning på måleegenskaper ved den norske versjonen av BYI-II, med særlig vekt på test-retest reliabilitet, kriterievaliditet og representative normer.
Måleegenskaper ved den norske versjonen av Child and Adolescent PsychiatricAssessment (CAPA) og Preschool Age Psychiatric Assessment (PAPA)
Authors: Jozefiak Thomas , Berg-Nielsen Turid Suzanne
Published: April 2024

Beskrivelse: «Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Assessment (CAPA)» ble utgitt av Angold og kolleger i 2008. CAPA ble oversatt til norsk av Jozefiak i 2010. «Preschool Age Psychiatric Assessment (PAPA)» ble utgitt i 2004 og ble oversatt til norsk av Wichstrøm i 2006. Oversettelser ble gjennomført i samarbeid med originalforfatterne. Alle rettigheter, inkludert de norske oversettelsene, innehas av Adrian Angold ved Duke University i USA. CAPA og PAPA er «intervjuerbaserte», strukturerte psykiatriske intervjuer beregnet for både forskning og klinisk bruk. Begge er bygget opp på samme måte og kartlegger debuttidspunkt, varighet, frekvens og grad av symptomer på en rekke psykiatriske diagnoser i henhold til DSM-IV, samt funksjonsnedsettelser. CAPA er et direkte intervju av 9-18 år gamle barn og ungdom. PAPA er beregnet på foreldre til 2-5 år gamle barn. Det er utarbeidet omfattende «glossarier» som angir detaljerte definisjoner av symptomer samt regler for koding. CAPA-intervjuet tar ca. 1-3 timer PAPA-intervjuet noe lenger (1,5-4 timer). Lengden på intervjuene avhenger av omfanget av psykiske problemer hos barnet. Det kreves 3 års relevant helse- eller sosialfaglig høyskoleutdanning og ca. 2 ukers opplæringskurs, trening og sertifisering av intervjueren i regi av Duke University. Intervjuene foreligger i elektronisk versjon, kodes elektronisk under intervjuet og diagnoser settes ved Duke University ved hjelp av algoritmer.
Litteratursøk: Ni norske artikler med CAPA og/eller PAPA ble inkludert, men ingen svenske/danske. De ni artiklene rapporterte fra to norske undersøkelser. PAPA ble brukt i en representativ epidemiologisk undersøkelse av en kohort av 4 år gamle barn (N = 995) i Trondheim, og CAPA i en risikobefolkning (N = 400) av 12-20 år gamle ungdommer i norske barnevernsinstitusjoner.
Psykometri: Studiene viste god interrater reliabilitet for både CAPA og PAPA. Begrepsvaliditeten var dokumentert ved intervjuenes evne til å skille mellom relevante kliniske grupper, assosiasjoner med kjente risikofaktorer, prediksjonsevner for utfall, samt konfirmatoriske faktoranalyser.
Konklusjon: Det ble identifisert et begrenset dokumentasjonsgrunnlag for de psykometriske egenskapene ved de norske versjonene av CAPA og PAPA. Reliabilitet og validitet vurderes som tilfredsstillende. Intervjuene er lovende i framtidig forskningssammenheng, men på grunn av manglende studier fra barne- og ungdomspsykiatriske utvalg i Skandinavia kan en ennå ikke gi anbefalinger til vanlig klinisk bruk.
Christ for the Bitterness, His Cross for the Pain: Berteologi Kontekstual melalui Lagu God of the Poor pada Situasi Mangandung dalam Budaya Batak Toba
Authors: Simanjuntak Josephine Nauli
Published: April 2024

AbstractContextual Theology is the result of thinking about the existence of God in life so that it can explain faith that is intertwined in various contexts. Citing Bevans’ thoughts on Contextual Theology, which presents a countercultural model, this paper aims to provide space so anyone can realize God’s presence in various life contexts. This paper will introduce Batak Toba culture through the Mangandung tradition, interpret the song “God of the Poor,” and theologize the Mangandung tradition through the meaning of the translation of the song “God of the Poor.” In the future, this paper can provide new meanings about Mangandung, open newhorizons about traditions that process popular songs about God, and present critical thinking to understand God’s presence. By collaborating with a song, “God of the Poor,” and the cultural tradition of Mangandung, God is found in one of the processes of human life: suffering.
Abstrak Teologi Kontekstual merupakan hasil olah pemikiran akan eksistensi Tuhan di kehidupan sehingga dapat menjelaskan iman yang berkait kelindan dalam berbagai konteks. Mengutip pemikiran Bevans mengenai Teologi Kontekstual yang menyajikan model budaya tandingan, tulisan ini bertujuan untuk memberikan ruang agar siapapun dapat menyadari kehadiran Tuhan pada berbagai konteks kehidupan. Tulisan ini akan memperkenalkan kebudayaan Batak Toba melalui tradisi Mangandung, memaknai lagu God of the Poor, dan berteologi pada tradisi Mangandung melalui pemaknaan terjemahan lagu God of the Poor. Kelak tulisan ini dapat memberikan makna baru mengenai Mangandung, membuka cakrawala baru mengenai tradisi yang berproses bersama lagu populer mengenai Tuhan, serta menyajikan suatu pemikiran kritis untuk memahamikehadiran Tuhan. Dengan menggandeng lagu God of the Poor dan tradisi budaya Mangandung, Tuhan ditemukan dalam salah satu proses kehidupan manusia: penderitaan.
Sebuah Tinjauan Pastoral-Psikologis terhadap Anak Perempuan Penenun Ulos di Kabupaten Tapanuli
Authors: Sinaga Lamria
Published: April 2024

AbstractThis article presents the dilemma of girls working as ulos weavers in North Tapanuli Regency. By using cultural, socio-economic, and pastoral psychology analysis, it is found that: ulos weaving is a gender-basedwork because it is specifically done by women; parents let their children work as ulos weavers to meet the family’s needs; forms of conformity in adolescence in Batak society are influenced by patrilineal culture. Based on these findings, a theological-psychological pastoral approach is offered which aims to free children from injustice and violence by building democratic relational relations within the family. Family counseling with the family system theory method is considered useful in helping dysfunctional families as a background of children working as weavers. The method used in this article is a qualitative research method based on working methods of literature and verbatim research as field data collection tools.
AbstrakArtikel ini menyajikan fenomena dilematik anak perempuan bertenun ulos di Kabupaten Tapanuli Utara. Dengan menggunakan analisis budaya, sosial ekonomi, dan pastoral psikologi ditemukan bahwa: bertenun ulos adalah pekerjaan berbasis gender karena khusus dilakukan oleh kaum perempuan; orang tua yang membiarkan anak bertenun untuk mencukupi kebutuhan hidup keluarga; bentuk konformitas pada usia remaja dalam masyarakat Batak dipengaruhi oleh budaya patrilineal. Berdasarkan temuan tersebut maka ditawarkan respons berbasis pastoral teologis-psikologis yang bertujuan membebaskan anak dari ketidakadilan dan kekerasan, yaitu dengan membangun hubungan relasional demokratis di dalam keluarga. Konseling keluarga dengan metode Teori Sistem Keluarga dianggap mampu untuk menolong keluarga yangdifungsional sebagai latar belakang anak bekerja bertenun. Metode yang digunakan pada artikel ini adalah metode penelitian kualitatif berdasarkan metode kerja studi pustaka dan verbatim sebagai alat pengumpul data lapangan.
Interaction between decentralized financial services and the traditional banking system: A comparative analysis
Authors: Frolov Serhiy , Ivasenko Maksym , Dykha Mariia , Shalyhina Iryna , Hrabar Vladyslav , Fenyves Veronika
Published: April 2024

This paper investigates the interaction between decentralized financial services and the traditional banking system by building VAR models, conducting Granger causality tests, building impulse response functions, and performing variance analysis. To implement the model, banking indicators of the USA, India, and Great Britain were selected: the volume of commercial and industrial loans, interest rate, consumer price index, total liabilities and capital of banks, aggregate deposits, federal funds rate (for the USA), and repo rate (for India). The study examined central bank data of the specified countries from July 2018 to January 2024 with the TVL indicator, which measures the sum of all assets locked in DeFi protocols. The results of the impulse response function (IRF) for countries demonstrate different interactions between TVL and bank indicators. The US response to TVL shocks demonstrates a stimulative monetary policy, with significant Fed rate reductions and increased commercial lending to boost economic activity. In contrast, India’s monetary stimulus, marked by declining repo rates and growth in banking sector liabilities and deposits, aims to enhance economic resilience. The UK, however, adopts a conservative monetary approach, with sharp bank rate increases and mixed lending and deposit responses, prioritizing financial stability. Analysis across these nations highlights different impacts of financial indicators on TVL. In the US, the evolving relationship between TVL and bank indicators reflects the financial system’s complexity. India’s sensitivity to monetary policy, credit conditions, and inflation significantly influences TVL. In the UK, central bank decisions, particularly the bank rate, play a crucial role in financial market dynamics.
AcknowledgmentThe authors appreciate the assistance in the preparation of the article provided by the University of Debrecen Program for Scientific Publication and the János Bolyai Research Scholarship of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.
Impact of urbanization on people’s income and proposing new livelihood strategies for people in urban areas
Authors: Thuat Pham Trong , Thuy Cu Thanh
Published: April 2024

This study was undertaken to examine the effects of urbanization on the income of people in Vietnam. The research utilized data from a survey of 597 people who were impacted by urbanization in Vietnam. Research methods included: (i) The T-test difference test method, which is a method used to examine the influence of urbanization on people’s income by comparing the income differential between persons in urban regions and those in rural ones; (ii) The least squares method was used to quantify the impact of various factors on the income of people in the study area. The study concludes that people with similar education and job positions earn higher incomes if they live and work in urban areas as opposed to rural ones (the beta coefficient of the variable Place_Edu is 0.806, and the beta coefficient of the variable Place_Posit is 3.309). According to the findings of this study, individuals residing in urban areas generally have higher incomes than those living in rural areas (the beta coefficient of the Place variable is 3.140). According to research findings, urbanization has both positive and negative impacts on people’s income in Vietnam.
Mental health of residents of radioactively contaminated territories of the Chelyabinsk region in the late period after the resettlement
Authors: Burtovaia E. Yu.
Published: April 2024

In case of radiation accidents, one of the radical protective measures is the evacuation of residents from contaminated areas. Its purpose is to reduce the possible radiation effect to the population. At the same time, evacuation itself becomes a serious stressful factor that has a negative impact on a person’s health and mental status. The objective of this work is to assess the state of mental health of residents of the Muslyumovo settlement in the Chelyabinsk region (the territory exposed to radioactive contamination as a result of radioactive waste releases into the Techa River) who participated in the resettlement program in the period from 2006 to 2010. Mental health was assessed twice: primarily in 2008-2010 against the background of resettlement, and again in 2019-2020, 10 or more years after the resettlement. The study includes 2 groups formed by random selection. The main group consisted of 100 persons from among the participants of the resettlement program. The comparison group included 80 persons living in the territories exposed to radioactive contamination, but not participating in the resettlement program. According to the main socio-hygienic characteristics, the groups are homogeneous and comparable. The following methods were used: clinical, clinical and psychological, and the method of statistical processing of materials. As a result, it was found that both in the primary and in the repeated study, residents of the Muslyumovo settlement, Chelyabinsk region, participating in the resettlement program, were statistically significantly more likely (p<0.001) to have mental disorders and behavioral disorders (neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorders (F 40)), compared with the control group. Also, according to the results of the survey, statistically significantly more often the psychogenic effect of resettlement (p≤0.001) was detected in patients of the main group. The data obtained suggest a long-term effect of resettlement on the mental health of the population involved. Understanding the consequences of the protective measures carried out (resettlement) will clarify the criteria for their application, as well as predict the manifestations of mental maladaptation in the population with the potential development of radiation accidents.
Public exposure in the Orenburg region due to natural sources of ionizing radiation. Part 3: Approaches to radon survey planning
Authors: Kormanovskaya T. A. , Kononenko D. V. , Saprykin K. A.
Published: April 2024

A comprehensive radiation survey of settlements in six districts of the eastern part of the Orenburg region in terms of exposure to natural sources of ionizing radiation, carried out in 2019, revealed numerous exceedances of the hygienic norm (action level) for indoor radon concentration in residential and public buildings. It was found that among other studied factors, exhalation of radon from the ground under the buildings is the main source of high levels of public exposure. Due to the lack of funding for the continuation of the survey in 2020, specialists of St. Petersburg Research Institute of Radiation Hygiene after Professor P.V. Ramzaev, Directorate of Rospotrebnadzor in the Orenburg region and the Center of Hygiene and Epidemiology in the Orenburg region needed to develop new approaches to survey planning. These new approaches should provide maximum amount of measurement information necessary to ensure radiation safety of the region’s population, with minimal financial investments and labor costs. Indoor radon concentration in residential and public buildings was undoubtedly chosen as the studied factor, and the integrated measurement method using SSNTDs was chosen as the most suitable method for the objectives of the survey due to its scalability and ease of detectors deployment. Since exposure to radon and its progeny is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking, the selection of priority districts of the region for the radon survey was based on average standardized trachea, bronchi, and lung cancer morbidity rates in the districts of the Orenburg region for 2009-2018. The survey conducted in 2020-2023 revealed exceedances of the hygienic norm (action level) for indoor radon concentration in five of seven surveyed districts. By 2025 it is planned to conduct radon surveys in three more districts of the Orenburg region with increased respiratory systems cancer morbidity rates.
Harmonisation of quantitative assessment between different generation of PET/CT: Biograph mCT and Biograph Vision
Authors: Petryakova A. V. , Chipiga L. A. , Andreev G. A. , Gromova E. A. , Kataeva G. V. , Kovalev K. V. , Onischenko S. S. , Bezumova E. V.
Published: April 2024

The usage of modern positron emission tomography scanners, in particular with digital detectors, allows obtaining images with better quality, increases the detection of small pathological lesions, reduces scanning time and the activity administered to the patient which leads to a decrease of patient dose as well. However, the values of the quantitative image parameters shift upward, which can lead to significant differences with the quantitative assessment obtained on the previous generation device. In order to compare quantitative assessments obtained on different generations of PET/CT, it is necessary to harmonise quantitative image parameters and perform regular quality control. The aim of current work is the comparison of different methods for harmonization of quantitative image parameters on the example of harmonisation of two PET/CT: Biograph mCT 128 and Biograph Vision 600. NEMA IEC Body phantom filled with 18F solution was scanned in Listmode in two bed positions with overlap in the sphere area during five minutes per bed position. Recovery coefficient used for harmonisation was measured for each sphere of the phantom. Harmonisation between Vision and mCT was performed using two methods: choosing of harmonised reconstruction parameters and EQ.PET technology. The acceptable divergence range between the recovery coefficients for Vision and for mCT is ±10% (20% range). The recovery coefficients measured for reconstruction: 4 iterations and 5 subsets, ToF+PSF, Gaussian 7 mm, matrix 220x220 completely fit within the 20% range. The recovery coefficients measured using EQ = 6 mm (optimal value) fit within the 20% range except the spheres with a diameter of 10 and 13 mm. Both harmonisation methods allow to approximate the quantitative assessment/ However, EQ.PET has limitations for the small lesions. Choosing harmonised reconstruction parameters is the mostwidely used harmonisation method; the EQ.PET allows to harmonise quantitative assessment without the use of multiple reconstruction protocols and losses in visualization ability
Effect of variability of human bone morphometric parameters on the uncertainty of internal bone marrow doses due to 90Sr
Authors: Shishkina E. A. , Sharagin P. A. , Tolstykh E. I.
Published: April 2024

Computational phantoms are used to calculate the doses of internal exposure of active bone marrow. The computational phantoms of ICRP were created for a reference man with anatomical characteristics typical of an average individual. The doses calculated with such phantoms correspond to population-average values. Individual variability introduces a stochastic component of uncertainty into the dose estimation. The objective of this study is to assess the effect of individual variability of bone structure dimensions on the results of dosimetric modeling. The phantoms are represented by simple geometry figures filled with trabecular structures and bone marrow (spongiosa), covered externally with a cortical layer. The models of bone geometry are described by parameters characterizing the linear dimensions, the microarchitecture of the spongiosa (trabecular thickness, trabecular separation, bone volume fraction), as well as the cortical layer thickness. By varying these parameters, sets of phantoms were generated to simulate the individual variability of bone geometry. The mean absorbed dose rate in active bone marrow from a single decay of 90Sr/90Y was calculated assuming isotope distribution either in the volume of the trabecular or cortical bone. All estimates are on the example of the phantom of an adult male skeleton. The individual variability of the main parameters of segment computational phantoms depends on size and equal to: a) for linear dimensions – 12-15%; b) for bone volume fraction – 22-24%; c) for cortical thickness – 21-23%. This leads to uncertainties of dose rate estimation equal to 21% – 25%.
Evaluation of the possibilities of using albumin microspheres for radioaerosol study of the deposition of inhaled substances and mucociliary clearance
Authors: Kobylyansky V. I. , Chechetkina O. B.
Published: April 2024

The need to study and evaluate the leading protective mechanisms of the respiratory system remains one of the key, but unresolved problems of modern medicine, concerning both radiation hygiene and toxicology, and pulmonology. The model of the respiratory tract presented by the ICRP only partially addresses them, significantly limiting the feasibility and possibilities of its use. The solution of this problem undoubtedly contributes to the improvement of methods of prevention and treatment from the effects of incorporative radionuclides entering by inhalation, as well as methods for diagnosing and treating respiratory diseases aimed at the earliest stages of their pathogenesis, given that the processes of deposition of inhaled substances and lung clearance directly depend both therapeutic and pathogenic effects. This is especially relevant when there is a danger of contamination with radioactive waste, when there is an urgent need to deal with highly pathogenic influence and its consequences. The most informative method for studying the processes of deposition inhalant and mucociliary clearance is radioaerosol. However, due to the circumstances, there are no radiopharmaceuticals that could be used for such a study since the 2000s, which prompted us to carry out this work. At the same time, albumin microspheres labeled with 99mTc are considered potentially suitable, but not studied radiopharmaceuticals in this regard. The aim of the work was to study the aerodynamic properties of albumin microspheres and evaluate the possibilities of their use for radioaerosol study of the processes of deposition of inhaled substances and mucociliary clearance. The aerodynamic properties of albumin micro[1]spheres were studied using optical and scanning electron microscopy by studying their dry dispersion, initial and obtained from its suspension in distilled water, generated by an ultrasonic inhaler according to the developed technology. The results indicated that the dispersible particles were characterized by sphericity, clear boundary differentiation and a relatively homogeneous distribution of particles with a relatively narrow size range (spread 1-2.5 µm) and little conglomeration, as well as a smooth surface. Conclusion. The investigated albumin microspheres are suitable for radioaerosol study of the processes of deposition of inhaled substances and mucociliary clearance.
Radiation accidents in X-ray and radionuclide diagnostics and therapy: comparison of Russian and international approaches to the terminology and classification
Authors: Vodovatov A. V. , Chipiga L. A. , Ryzhov S. A. , Petryakova A. V. , Biblin A. M. , Gorsky G. A.
Published: April 2024

Introduction of new methods of nuclear medicine, X-ray diagnostics and therapy using medical sources of ionizing radiation inevitably leads to an increase in the number and types of accidents (abnormal situations). In international practice in recent years, special attention has been paid to the prevention of radiation accidents and incidents from medical exposure. The main focus is put on accidental exposure (overexposure) of patients in X-ray and radionuclide diagnostics and therapy. These approaches are implemented in Russian regulatory and methodological documents in a limited and formal way. The main attention is paid to large-scale technogenic radiation accidents, and accidents (abnormal situations) from medical irradiation are undeservedly ignored. The aim of the work was to analyze the terminology and classification of radiation accidents and incidents from medical exposure in the Russian Federation and foreign countries to develop proposals to improve approaches to their classification within the framework of revision of existing regulatory and methodological documents. The results of the work indicate that it is necessary to actualize Russian approaches to the definition and classification of radiation accidents in medicine considering the specifics of medical exposure. For this purpose, it is advisable to introduce different levels of accidents (abnormal situations), differing from each other by the scale of impact and consequences for patients, workers and public. Considering the absence of elaborated scenarios of accidents (abnormal situations) in Russian regulatory and methodological documents, such gradation can be borrowed from international regulatory documents provided that it is adapted to the specifics and realities of the Russian health care system
Investigating the projected changes in water balance components under climate change considering the effect of storage structures
Authors: Nandi Saswata , Reddy Manne Janga
Published: April 2024

The objective of this study was the critical challenge of accurately predicting water balance components in the Upper Bhima River basin, which is also facing significant challenges due to climate change. A major challenge faced in water balance studies is inadequacy of existing hydrological models to account for the effects of storage structures. The study utilized the variable infiltration capacity–routing application for parallel computation of discharge hydrological model with a newly developed storage structure scheme to simulate water balance components for historical (1999–2010) and future (2019–2040) periods, with future climate forcing from 19 Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 GCMs under Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP)4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios. The performance of the model was evaluated against observed streamflow data and around 30% improvement is noticed for the Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency score. The results signify the adverse impacts of climate change in the region, particularly a significant decrease in monsoon precipitation which may intensify drought scenarios and affect monsoon-driven agriculture. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the high sensitivity of baseflow in the Upper Bhima River to climate alterations, indicating potential threats to biodiversity and river ecosystem health. This research offers indispensable findings crucial for future strategies concerning hydropower, flood management, and water resource management in the region.
Probabilistic projections of temperature and rainfall for climate risk assessment in Vietnam
Authors: Tran-Anh Quan , Ngo-Duc Thanh
Published: April 2024

In this study, we developed a probabilistic model using the surrogate mixed model ensemble (SMME) method to project temperature and rainfall in Vietnam under the Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 4.5 and 8.5 scenarios. The SMME model combines patterns from 31 global climate models participating in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) and their weighted model surrogates. Testing for the period of 2006–2018 demonstrated the SMME's ability to encompass observed temperature and rainfall changes. By the end of the 21st century, there is a 5% probability of average temperature increase exceeding 6.29 °C, and a 95% probability of minimum temperature increasing by more than 2.21 °C during 2080–2099 under RCP8.5 compared to 1986–2005. Meanwhile, rainfall is projected to slightly increase, with an average rise of 6.12% at the 5% probability level. The study also quantified the contributions of uncertainty sources – unforced, forced, and scenario-related – to the projection results, revealing that unforced uncertainty dominates the total signal at the beginning of the 21st century and gradually decreases, while forced uncertainty remains relatively moderate but increases gradually over time. As we approach the end of the century, scenario uncertainty dominates, accounting for 75–80% of the total signal.
Relationship between monthly surface water derived from Sentinel-2 imagery and meteorological data (precipitation and evaporation) at Baghdad, Iraq
Authors: Mahdi Zahraa S. , Tawfeek Yasmin Q. , Al-Jiboori Monim H.
Published: April 2024

This study was carried out using two main monthly datasets: satellite images and some meteorological parameters (like precipitation and evaporation) for 2 years (2018 and 2021). Using the fine spatial resolution images acquired from Sentinel-2, digital maps of surface water areas were produced by calculating the Modified Normalized Difference Water Index for all months in QGIS and then classifying them into two main categories (water and non-water bodies). The results show that the largest areas were in January 2021 (77.2 km2) and 40.7 km2 in November 2018, while the lowest (18.7 km2) were in June 2021 and July 2018. Monthly mean values of cumulative precipitation and evaporation were used to find their relationships with surface water areas. The results show that the year 2021 was a severe dry year, whereas the lowest precipitation (25 mm) in that year was associated with higher evaporation losses (3,021.8 mm) during this year. When combined with surface water areas and meteorological parameters, a non-linear relationship between water areas and evaporation was found for both years, and a linear relationship between precipitation and water areas for the wet year of 2018.
The Effect of Personality Traits of Healthcare Worker Candidates on their
Attitudes Towards the Elderly
Authors: Demirel Yüksel , Çağatay Hüseyin Tolga , Başaran Esin , Özdemir Eler Çiğdem , Turgay Gülay , Gülşen Mustafa
Published: April 2024

Background::

It is known that attitudes towards the elderly are an important variable affecting healthcare services. Considering the increasing trends of the
population over 65 years in countries, it is important to determine the attitudes of future healthcare workers towards the elderly and to prepare them
to serve in the health sector with activities that will lead to positive changes. In this direction, it is important to determine the effect of personality
traits of prospective healthcare workers on their attitudes toward the elderly

Methods::

The research was conducted using the “relational survey model”. The study was conducted with 581 prospective healthcare workers. Personal
Information Form, Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, and Kogan's Scale of Attitudes towards the Elderly were used as data collection tools. Data
were obtained and analyzed using the online data collection method.

Results::

According to the results of the study, it was found that the attitudes of students who were healthcare candidates for older adults were generally
positive ( = 63.46±13.42). While there was a positive yet moderate and statistically significant correlation between attitudes towards the elderly
and scores on the Extraversion subscale (r= 0.634, p<0.01) and a negative yet moderate and statistically significant correlation with scores on the
Neuroticism (r= -0.568, p<0.01) and Psychoticism (r= -0.602, p<0.01) subscales. The personality traits extraversion, neuroticism, and psychoticism
explained 58.6% of the attitude towards the elderly. According to the regression results, extraversion (β= 0.358; p<0.001) positively affected
attitudes towards the elderly, whereas neuroticism (β= -0.310; p<0.001) and psychoticism (β= -0.307; p<0.001) negatively affected attitudes
towards the elderly.

Conclusions::

Given the important role of healthcare professionals in improving the care and quality of life of the elderly, it is necessary to develop strategies to
improve the attitudes of future healthcare professionals towards the elderly. Consideration of personality traits in determining these strategies may
contribute to the development of effective and personalized approaches.
Quantum Dots in Cancer Theranostics: A Thorough Review of Recent Advancements in Bioimaging, Tracking, and Therapy across Various Cancer
Types
Authors: Matini Amir , Naghib Seyed Morteza , Mozafari M. R.
Published: April 2024

Quantum dots (QDs) have attracted considerable interest due to their potential applications
and economic viability in various industrial sectors, such as communications, displays,
and solar cells. This fascination originates from the quantum size effect-induced remarkable
optical properties exhibited by QDs. In recent years, significant progress has been made in producing
QDs devoid of cadmium, known to be toxic to cells and living organisms. These QDs
have generated considerable interest in bioimaging due to their potential for targeting molecules
and cells. There is a developing need for diagnostics and therapy at the individual molecule and
single-cell level in the medical field. As a result, the application of QDs in the medical industry
is gaining momentum. This study provides an overview of the most recent developments in applying
QDs for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, also known as theranostics. It emphasizes
specifically the use of QDs in cancer therapy.
Procalcitonin and qSOFA as a Marker of Mortality in Sepsis.
Authors: Parrey Ashaq Hussain , Koka Manzoor , Kassana Basharat , Ismail Mohd
Published: April 2024

Background:

Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated
host response to infection. The qSOFA and procalcitonin are currently used for both diagnostic as
well as prognostic purposes.

Objective:

To explore the combined use of day one procalcitonin level and qSOFA scores for prognostication
of sepsis-related mortality

Design:

This was a prospective observational study.

Participants:

All patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria for sepsis with an age of more than
16 years were enrolled in the study

Results:

In this study of 211 patients, 15 patients died (7.1%) during hospital stay. Among the 15
patients who died, the highest mortality of 29.4% was seen in patients with qSOFA of “3”, qSOFA
of “2” had a mortality of 12.8%, qSOFA of “1” had a mortality of 1% and qSOFA of “0” had
zero mortality. In this study, procalcitonin had a statistically significant positive correlation/association
with both qSOFA and mortality.

Conclusion:

The qSOFA and procalcitonin at presentation to the emergency department in septic
patients have a significant correlation with mortality in patients hospitalized with sepsis. Obtaining
these two parameters at presentation will help in managing aggressively these patients who at
presentation have higher qSOFA and procalcitonin levels.
Progress of Angiogenesis Signal Pathway and Antiangiogenic Drugs in
Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
Authors: Zhu Yunzhi , Hu Yi , Yang Chengsheng , Huang Shipu , Wen Jianping , Huang Weiguo , Xiao Shengjun
Published: April 2024

Nasopharyngeal cancer is a rare cancer with unique ethnic and geographic distribution. Since nasopharyngeal cancer often originates from the
pharyngeal crypt, early symptoms are not obvious. They are difficult to detect in time, and the disease is usually diagnosed and treated only when it
has progressed to an advanced-stage. Since angiogenesis is essential for the growth and invasion of solid tumors, antiangiogenic therapy has
become a common treatment strategy for many solid tumors, and it has also achieved remarkable results in the treatment of nasopharyngeal
carcinoma, which is prone to recurrence and distant metastasis. In this paper, we review the latest research progress of antiangiogenic drugs for
nasopharyngeal carcinoma and their antiangiogenic mechanism of action and further propose some promising antiangiogenic therapeutic targets.