Reference Level Research Articles

Interpretation and implementation of adult diagnostic reference levels in nuclear medicine and positron emission tomography in the UK.

In the UK, the Administration of Radioactive Substances Advisory Committee (ARSAC) sets National Diagnostic Reference Levels (NDRLs) for diagnostic nuclear medicine (NM) and PET procedures. The NDRLs are published by ARSAC. This article summarises how these NDRLs should be applied and used within the UK and proposes a new model on how they are set. As an exemplar, the results of a recent survey of administered activities in the UK for 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) for whole-body tumour imaging and infection inflammation imaging are presented here. ARSAC recommends that the UK NDRLs for NM or PET examinations are set as either a fixed activity (MBq) or by administered activity per body weight (MBq/kg). ARSAC proposes setting the first weight-based activity scaling NDRLs for 18F-FDG whole-body tumour imaging and 18F-FDG infection inflammation imaging to 3.5 MBq/kg.

Relationships between cardio-ankle vascular index and peptides related to hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in patients with lower extremity arterial disease

Introduction: Cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI), a blood pressure-independent measure of heart-ankle pulse wave velocity, is a relatively new indicator of arterial stiffness. The absolute value of the difference in right CAVI and left CAVI (diff-CAVI) has been proposed as a new indicator of leg ischemia in patients with lower extremity arterial disease (LEAD). The aim of this study was to elucidate the relationships between diff-CAVI and peptides related to hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), which have been proposed as biomarkers for leg ischemia in patients with LEAD. Methods: The subjects were 165 outpatients with LEAD who had already received medication therapy for LEAD. The relationships between diff-CAVI and serum levels of the seven HDP-related peptides, which were measured by mass-spectrometry, were investigated. Results: HDP-related peptides with m/z 2091 (P-2091) and m/z 2378 (P-2378) showed significant positive correlations with diff-CAVI, and odds ratios (ORs) for large diff-CAVI (≥ 1.05) of the 3rd vs. 1st tertile groups of P-2091 (OR: 3.71 [1.24~11.15]) and P-2378 (OR: 4.46 [1.39~14.30]) were significantly higher (p < 0.01) than the reference level. The associations of P-2091 and P-2378 with diff-CAVI were shown to be independent of age, gender, habit of smoking, history of diabetes, BMI and blood pressure in multivariable analyses. The other peptides with m/z 2081, 2127, 2209, 2858 and 3156 did not show significant associations with diff-CAVI. Conclusion: P-2091 and P-2378 were associated with diff-CAVI and are thought to be useful indicators of leg ischemia in patients with LEAD.

Establishing national diagnostic reference levels in fluoroscopy and fluoroscopically guided interventions in Ireland and comparing these with national diagnostic reference levels in Europe and internationally.

The purpose of this work was to establish national Irish diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) for a clinically representative and comprehensive list of clinical indications, anatomical regions, and common procedures for fluoroscopy and fluoroscopically guided interventions and compare these, where possible, to other DRLs established at a national level. A list of clinical indications, anatomical regions and common procedures was established. A national database of service providers was used to identify all medical radiological facilities providing fluoroscopy and fluoroscopically guided intervention services. These facilities were issued with an online survey. National Pka DRLs were set as the 75th percentile of the distribution of median values obtained. A national median dose was also established which is the 50th percentile of the median doses provided by facilities for the same patients and conditions as the national DRL value. The broad categorisation of equipment type was also considered. Where statistically significant differences were found between different detector types, detector specific national DRLs were established (flat panel detector and image intensifier specific DRLs). National Pka DRLs were established for 52 fluoroscopy and fluoroscopically guided intervention clinical indications, anatomical regions, and procedures. In addition, equipment specific (flat panel detector and image intensifier based systems) adult DRLs were established for the EVAR and lumbar puncture under fluoroscopy procedures. Paediatric DRLs were established for two fluoroscopy and fluoroscopically guided intervention clinical indications, anatomical regions, and procedures across various weight categories. Comparisons with other nationally set DRLs and other relevant literature suggest that Irish DRLs are typically lower than those established elsewhere. This work provided a unique opportunity to establish national DRLs based on census data for a wide range of clinical indications, anatomical regions, and procedures across adult and paediatric fluoroscopy and fluoroscopically guided interventions. Where comparisons with other nationally established work was possible Irish values are largely below other DRLs.

Etiopathogenetic programs aimed at preventing in children risk-associated diseases caused by exposure to adverse components in emissions from a large non-ferrous metallurgic production

Introduction. Non-ferrous metallurgy holds a specific place among various productions that create potential health risks due to environmental pollution. Total emissions from the branch enterprises into ambient air reach three million tons (aluminum, fluorine, nickel, manganese, benzo(a)pyrene, sulfur dioxide and trioxide, hydrocarbon, etc.) per year, which accounts for 18% of the total emissions from all stationary sources. Implementation of etiopathogenetic prevention programs is a promising trend in preventing in children actual diseases associated with poor quality of the environment. The aim of this study was to develop and substantiate technologies aimed at reducing incidence in children of risk-associated pathologies caused by exposure to emissions from a large non-ferrous metallurgic enterprise as well as assess their effectiveness. Materials and methods. We examined five hundred forty two children lived in close proximity to a large non-ferrous metallurgic enterprise and 149 children who lived on a reference territory. Both groups were comparable in terms of age, sex, lifestyle, and socioeconomic position. The examination program included general clinical, functional, laboratory, chemical-analytical and statistical research methods, mathematical modelling, and assessment of technology effectiveness. Results. Fluorine, aluminum, manganese, chromium and nickel compounds as well as benzo(a)pyrene were identified in ambient air on the observation territory, their levels reaching 1.20–10.96 of average annual MPL; ambient air on the reference territory conformed to safety standards. Blood levels of these chemicals, which are 1.4–5.0 times higher than the reference level, raise prevalence of diseases of respiratory, nervous, musculoskeletal, and endocrine systems and blood by 1.6–3.1 times. Pathomorphosis and pathology prevalence are determined by serous-catarrhal and immune-dependent inflammation with damage to airway epithelium and thyrocytes, deceleration of endochondral ossification and bone remodelling, impaired neuromediator synthesis and inhibited synaptic transmission, hemopoiesis suppression; impaired iron and iodine metabolism, imbalance in immune-competent cell sub-populations, specific sensitization and redox imbalance induced by chemical exposures. Limitations. The study was performed in 4–7 years children lived in an area influenced by a large non-ferrous metallurgic enterprise. Conclusion. Implementation of etiopathogenetic prevention programs decreases frequency of relapses by 3.8 times; prevents a growth in incidence rates; increases the number of children in health groups I and II (practically healthy and without any chronic diseases) by 17–39%; promotes recovery of functional and metabolic activity of critical organs and systems in 68–98% cases. It reduces costs associated with medication provision for children with risk-associated pathology by 34–60% and by 50–75% for children with high and medium risks. Another significant result 2.6–3.3 times shorter duration of temporary disability due to taking care of a sick child with a risk-associated disease; this period decreases 2.6–3.3 times in case of children with high and medium risks. Economic efficiency of these technologies amounts to 6.5 rubles per 1 spent ruble.

Radiological Threats in the Territory of Mine No.1 of the Lermontovsky Production Association "Almaz"

Introduction. Mine No. 1, operated until 1975, is in the Beshtau mountain range of the Stavropol Territory. The radiation situation and its potential deterioration due to the unsatisfactory condition of the mine dumps is of concern to the public and local administration. The article presents the results of radiation survey of the mine and its dumps and assesses their impact on the exposure of the population and terrestrial biota. Materials and methods. Gamma survey of the territory and express measurement of radon activity were carried out. For determination of radionuclide activity in soil, sampling with subsequent laboratory analysis was carried out. According to the results of measurements, radiation doses to the population and biota were estimated. Results. In the dumps of thirteen adits the dose rate values do not exceed 0.6 µSv/h. In the area of other 11 adits there are sites with higher values (up to 5 µSv/h), the soil of which is classified as solid radioactive waste. Values of radon volumetric activity reach 1.5 kBq/m3. When passing the longest route, the effective dose from the inhalation intake of radon will not exceed 3 mSv. The radiation doses to biota are 3 or more times lower than the derived consideration reference level. Limitations. When comparing the radionuclide content in soil with the criteria for waste classification and estimating biota doses, the traditional assumption of the age-old equilibrium of 234U and 230Th in 238U decay chains was used. Radiation doses were estimated under the assumption of permanent presence of bioobjects on the territory. The chronic exposure dose rate values of 1.0 mGy/day for mammals, vertebrates, and common pine and 10 mGy/day for plants and invertebrates were taken as safe dose levels. Conclusion. Single visits to Mount Beshtau do not pose a threat to public health. At the estimated values of radiation doses to terrestrial biota there is no information about deterministic effects of ionizing radiation on bioobjects.

Machine learning-enhanced high-resolution exposure assessment of ultrafine particles

Ultrafine particles (UFPs) under 100 nm pose significant health risks inadequately addressed by traditional mass-based metrics. The WHO emphasizes particle number concentration (PNC) for assessing UFP exposure, but large-scale evaluations remain scarce. In this study, we developed a stacking-based machine learning framework integrating data-driven and physical-chemical models for a national-scale UFP exposure assessment at 1 km spatial and 1-hour temporal resolutions, leveraging long-term standardized PNC measurements in Switzerland. Approximately 20% (1.7 million) of the Swiss population experiences high UFP exposure exceeding an annual mean of 104 particles‧cm−3, with a national average of (9.3 ± 4.7)×103 particles‧cm−3, ranging from (5.5 ± 2.3)×103 (rural) to (1.4 ± 0.5)×104 particles‧cm−3 (urban). A nonlinear relationship is identified between the WHO-recommended 1-hour and 24-hour exposure reference levels, suggesting their non-interchangeability. UFP spatial heterogeneity, quantified by coefficient of variation, ranges from 4.7 ± 4.2 (urban) to 13.8 ± 15.1 (rural) times greater than PM2.5. These findings provide crucial insights for the development of future UFP standards.

Robust Control of Irrigation Systems Using Predictive Methods and Disturbance Rejection

Ensuring that the world’s population meets its food needs, despite water restrictions, can be significantly improved by increasing irrigation efficiency and productivity. Achieving this goal necessitates technological advancements in control systems. Therefore, the implementation of effective control systems across the entire irrigation water distribution chain is crucial and requires technological modernization. This paper presents a control scheme that combines the benefits of model predictive control (MPC) and active disturbance rejection by using generalized proportional integral (GPI) observers. The proposed control scheme was applied to a three-canal irrigation system. The simulation results confirm that the proposed controller is robust to disturbances and ensures accurate tracking for all reference levels. The controller’s performance is highlighted by the improvement in response time and considerable reduction in overshoot compared with the optimized proportional integral (PI) controllers. Additionally, the use of GPI observers allows for the precise estimation of nonlinear disturbances and phase variables, enhancing the robustness of the system. The efficiency of the observer is due to its ability to adequately estimate global additive disturbances, including unknown parameters and external disturbances in the input–output dynamics.

Revisiting the safety limit in magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia: insights from eddy current induced heating

Objective.Magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia (MNH) emerges as a promising therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment, leveraging alternating magnetic fields (AMFs) to induce localized heating through magnetic nanoparticles. However, the interaction of AMFs with biological tissues leads to non-specific heating caused by eddy currents, triggering thermoregulatory responses and complex thermal gradients throughout the body of the patient. While previous studies have implemented the Atkinson-Brezovich limit to mitigate potential harm, recent research underscores discrepancies between this threshold and clinical outcomes, necessitating a re-evaluation of this safety limit. Therefore, in this study, through electromagnetic (EM) simulations, the complex interaction between AMFs and anatomical models was investigated.Approach.In particular, we considered a circular coil configuration placed at different positions along the craniocaudal axis of various anatomical human models. The excitation current was normalized, at different frequencies, to meet the basic restriction of local 10 g-averaged specific energy absorption rate (SAR) in the human models, as defined by the exposure guidelines of the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) and the standard IEC 60601-2-33 of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).Main results.The resulting permissible magnetic field strength values, for the reference levels set by the ICNIRP 2020 guidelines, emerged to be up to approximately 1.4 and 3 times less than that defined in the Atkinson-Brezovich limit. The widely used limit was found to align more closely with the first level of controlled operating mode defined in the IEC 60601-2-33 standard.Significance.The results indicate that the permissible magnetic field amplitude during MNH treatment should be much lower than that in the Atkinson-Brezovich limit. This study offers valuable insights into the role of computational simulations in advancing the potential to establish a reliable metric for safety evaluation and monitoring within the clinical framework of MNH.

Penentuan Diagnostic Reference Level Pemeriksaan Thoraks Postero-anterior (PA) dengan Klinis Tuberkulosis

Diagnostic reference level (DRL) based on clinical indication of tuberculosis (TB) in chest postero-anterior (PA) examination is still rare. Therefore, this study is expected to be used as an indicator of radiation dose in the optimization protocol. The research method was retrospective, based on the data of chest PA examination exposure parameters of TB clinical and non-TB clinical patients. The study was conducted in June-October 2024 at Hospital A for clinical TB patients, Hospital B, and Hospital C for non-TB patients. Data on exposure parameters were collected and analyzed with descriptive statistics, determination of DRL values was based on the calculation of quartile-2 values, then the DRL value of PA thoracic examination for clinical indications of TB will be compared with the Indonesian national DRL value. The results showed that the DRL value for clinical indications of TB was 0.3 mGy, which is lower than the Indonesian national DRL value. In the future, the determination of the DRL value is based on clinical indications so that the optimization protocol is adjusted to the image quality and the required radiation dose so that the diagnosis will be more accurate and prevent patients from unnecessary exposure.

Optimal portfolio choice under kinked power utility

We extend the kinked power utility function by allowing a different risk aversion level in the two parts contained in the utility function. We maximize the expected utility of the replacement ratio at retirement that is wealth at retirement to a stochastic benchmark, for plan members in a defined contribution pension plan in a complete market. We derive closed-form optimal solutions under risk aversion and loss aversion implied by the kinked power utility. We find that plan members under kinked power utility tend to de-risk around the reference level, which could lead to a great proportion of the replacement ratio at retirement being on the reference level, while a small variation in the proportion of the replacement ratio at retirement ending up in the left tail. When the reference level is set at 100%, and the market price for future pension premiums (the value of initial capital) is lower than that for the benchmark, a lower risk aversion level when the replacement ratio falls below the reference level, could lead to a significant increase in the proportion of the replacement ratio at retirement being not below the reference level.

Size-Specific Dose Estimate for Chest of Adult Patients in 128- Slice Computed Tomography at Rajavithi Hospital

Aims: To determine the patient radiation dose using Size-Specific Dose Estimates (SSDEs) for chest CT in adult patients performed with 128-slice CT technology. Study Design: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted as a retrospective analysis. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Radiology, Rajavithi Hospital, between April 1 and September 30, 2021. Methods: We included 500 patients (209 males, 291 females). All patients underwent chest contrast enhancement with a venous phase protocol. The patient radiation dose in terms of SSDE was calculated based on AP+Lat dimensions, effective diameter, and water-equivalent diameter. SSDEs was measured from the middle slice of the scan range. The conversion factors following body size and composition were applied according to the AAPM Reports No. 204 and 220 recommendations. Additionally, the study assessed the effective dose and dose-length product (DLP). Key parameters, including DLP, CTDIvol, effective dose, and SSDEs at the 75th percentile, were evaluated to determine radiation dose levels. These values were then compared with established national and international diagnostic reference levels. Results: The study found that the mean DLP was 301.74 mGy·cm, CTDIvol was 8.38 mGy, effective dose was 4.22 mSv, SSDE (AP+Lat) was 11.80 mGy, SSDE (Effective Diameter) was 11.86 mGy, and SSDE (Dw) was 12.91 mGy. When compared with reference radiation dose values from Thailand and international standards, the DLP, CTDIvol, and effective dose values were found to be lower than both Thai and international reference values. In contrast, the SSDE (AP+Lat) was also lower than previously reported findings. Additionally, the study found no available comparative data for SSDE (Effective Diameter) and SSDE (Dw). Conclusion: The comparison of radiation dose values using SSDE across the three methods revealed highly consistent results. The SSDE values obtained from this study can serve as reference levels for the radiation doses received by patients undergoing CT scans at the Radiology Department of Rajavithi Hospital. These values are instrumental in assessing the appropriateness of radiation doses applied during CT imaging and can serve as benchmarks for future dose optimization efforts. Furthermore, this study highlights the significance of evaluating radiation doses in diagnostic imaging, providing valuable baseline data that enhances our understanding of the radiation risks associated with various types of examinations. Further research is warranted to investigate radiation exposure in computed tomography for other body regions.

Variation in Radon Concentration Between Apartments in Housing Cooperatives

Housing cooperatives are a common form of housing in Nordic countries, being tasked with responsibilities such as maintenance, renovation, and, when needed, radon mitigation. This study analyzed the radon level variation in nearly 16,000 apartments across 3552 housing cooperatives. The analysis explored how radon levels varied based on the number of measurements conducted within each cooperative, assuming that apartments sharing the same plot address belong to the same cooperative. The radon concentrations in the apartments of the cooperative typically followed a log-normal distribution. The geometric standard deviation (GSD) specific to each housing cooperative varied considerably. The median GSD ranged between 1.5 and 2.0, depending on the number of apartments measured. A predictive model was developed to estimate the likelihood of apartments exceeding the radon reference level based on the housing cooperative’s geometric mean radon concentration. The results highlight the importance of measuring radon levels in all apartments within housing cooperatives to ensure radon safety. Additionally, the model offers support for housing cooperative decision-makers and epidemiological studies, helping to address uncertainties and to account for spatial variations in radon exposure.

National scale assessment of the occurrence and risk of trace organic contaminants in Canadian Lake sediments.

In Canada studies on the presence of trace organic contaminants (TrOCs) such as pharmaceuticals, personal care products, pesticides and flame retardants in lakes have primarily focused on the water column at localized scales. To address this gap, the occurrence of 44 TrOCs, representative of various types of human activities, was investigated in surface sediments (0-2cm) from 193 lakes across Canada. A total of 28 targeted TrOCs were detected, with 99.5% of the samples containing at least one detection, and one lake exhibiting up to 12 detections. The most frequently detected contaminants (> 20% of samples) were the insect-repellent diethyltoluamide (DEET), the UV filter oxybenzone, the flame retardants tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBEP), tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP), and triphenyl phosphate (TPP), the stimulant caffeine, and cotinine, a metabolite of the stimulant nicotine. Median reported concentrations of the targeted TrOCs ranged from 0.017pgg-1 to 359ngg-1, with a maximum value of 23,700ngg-1 observed for DEET in one lake. The geographic distribution of analyte concentrations varied by compound class: pharmaceuticals and consumer product additives were predominantly found in the more urbanized regions of Ontario and Quebec, whereas personal care products such as DEET and oxybenzone were more frequently detected in the western provinces of Canada. An environmental risk assessment based on an additive model conducted on three aquatic organisms (algae, cladocerans, and fish) revealed that 4% and 6% of the lakes posed a potentially high risk for cladocerans and algae, respectively. A geographical analysis indicated that lakes in the south of the eastern provinces of Canada presented the highest risks for all three species. These findings represent the first large-scale results detailing the extent of contamination caused by TrOCs on Canadian lake sediments. They establish reference levels that can guide future monitoring efforts and inform policy discussions aimed at protecting lake ecosystems.

Comparison of AAPM TG282 and Dance breast dosimetry models: Impact on estimates of average MGD for the United Kingdom breast screening programmes.

The American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) Task group 282 (TG282) in collaboration with the European Federation for Organisations of Medical Physics (EFOMP) have developed a novel breast dosimetry model intended as a single international standard. To explore the impact of TG282 dosimetry on estimates of average Mean Glandular Dose (MGD) in the United Kingdom (UK) National Health Service (NHS) Breast Screening Programmes (BSP). MGDs were estimated, using the TG282 dosimetry model, for the most recent UK NHSBSP dose survey. This dataset included MGDs estimated using the Dance dosimetry model for 439,916 Full Field Digital Mammography (FFDM) exposures of 111,132 women and 10,831 Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (DBT) exposures of 5,113 women. Direct comparisons of the two models were made and differences explored using this large-scale real world dataset. TG282 model MGDs were on average approximately 20% and 15% lower than Dance model values for FFDM and DBT respectively. For the UK National Diagnostic Reference Level (NDRL) breast thickness range of 50mm to 60mm inclusive differences were smaller at approximately 13% and 10% respectively. The difference between dosimetry models was shown to depend on the properties of the imaged population and X-ray equipment used. Average differences of up to 63.1% were observed at higher CBT values for FFDM. On average, the TG282 dosimetry model resulted in lower estimates for MGD in UK mammography. The differences were more pronounced for women with larger than average compressed breast thickness.

Excess fibroblast growth factor 23 in alcoholic osteomalacia is derived from the bone

Abstract Excess fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), a mature osteocyte-derived phosphaturic hormone, causes chronic hypophosphatemic osteomalacia in adults. This rare condition was recently reported in 2 alcoholic patients, with marked improvement upon cessation of alcohol consumption, suggesting a link between alcohol and FGF23-related hypophosphatemia within the highly limited cases. This study aimed to investigate whether the source of excess FGF23 in alcohol-induced FGF23-related hypophosphatemic osteomalacia is the bone or the other organs. To achieve this goal, an immunohistochemical approach for the bone obtained from a patient was employed. Initial attempts at quantifying FGF23 in the bone using conventional immunohistochemistry (IHC) faced issues in quantifiability and sensitivity for low FGF23 expression levels. Therefore, next-generation IHC with phosphor-integrated dots (PIDs) was applied, which enabled the quantification of FGF23 expression in the bone across a broad range. Preliminary analyses using IHC with PIDs on normal bone samples (n = 12) provided a reference level (154.5 PID particles per cell). IHC with PIDs quantified suppressed physiological FGF23 expression in the bone samples from 3 patients with tumor-induced osteomalacia, where FGF23 is oversecreted from a tumor (13.6 PID particles per cell). Subsequently, bone samples obtained from a 70-year-old male with alcohol-induced FGF23-related hypophosphatemic osteomalacia were analyzed, showing a higher number of PID particles per cell (199.4 PID particles per cell) than the reference level. This study suggests that orthotopic, bone-derived FGF23 is implicated in alcohol-induced FGF23-related hypophosphatemic osteomalacia. Furthermore, the study also demonstrated that highly sensitive IHC with PIDs could aid in the differential diagnosis of FGF23-related hypophosphatemia of unknown origin. Specifically, a bone sample with a low number of PID particles per cell indicates an excess ectopic secretion of FGF23; a bone sample with a normal to high number of PID particles per cell indicates an excess orthotopic secretion of FGF23.

Observational study: effect of varying transport durations and feed withdrawal on the physiological status and health of dairy calves

Long-distance transport and associated fasting of unweaned calves have the potential to compromise the animals’ welfare. This observational study aimed to determine how transport and fasting durations impacted the physiology and health of 115 transported calves in three transport groups; IRE (n = 20, mean age 29.8d; short road transport (~ 29 h incl. resting time) and short feed deprivation (~ 11 h)), INT (n = 65, mean age 24.9d; long road/ferry transport (~ 79 h incl. resting times) and long feed deprivation (~ 28 h and 25 h)), and NLD (n = 30, mean age 17.7d; short road transport (~ 28 h incl. resting time) and long feed deprivation (> 18 h)). All calves travelled through an assembly centre. Each calf was blood sampled (arrival at destination farm, 1-week and 3-weeks post-arrival), health scored (arrival, 1, 3, 7, 8, 20d post-arrival) and weighed (farm/mart of origin [IRE and INT only], arrival, and 3-weeks post-arrival). (Generalised) linear mixed models were used to analyse differences in blood variables, weight, and health scores on arrival and during recovery (all other timepoints). Despite differing transport durations, both INT and NLD calves exhibited glucose, beta-hydroxy-butyrate, non-esterified-fatty-acids and sodium levels outside reference limits upon arrival, which were different from values observed in IRE calves (p < 0.05). Lactate and potassium were above reference range for INT calves on arrival, and higher than in IRE and NLD groups (p < 0.05). One- and three-weeks post arrival, most variables returned to within reference ranges, and differences between groups were minimal and not clearly associated with either transport duration or fasting during transport. Health scores did not differ between transport groups at arrival, and differences were minimal during the three-week recovery period. INT calves lost more weight during the journey than IRE calves (p < 0.01), while INT and NLD calves gained similar weight in the 3-weeks post-arrival, but less than IRE calves (both p < 0.01). Overall, changes in the physiological status of calves post transport appeared to relate more to the duration of feed deprivation than to the duration of transport, except for potassium and lactate (muscle fatigue), which were impacted more for INT calves. Most variables showed clear signs of recovery to within reference levels for all groups within three weeks. Minimizing the duration of feed deprivation during transport should be a key consideration for the dairy industry to reduce the impact of transport on calf welfare.

„Raport do El Greca” Nikosa Kazantzakisa zagubiony w tłumaczeniu (Report to Greco by Nikos Kazantzakis Lost in Translation)

In this essay, I analyse selected excerpts from the Polish edition of Nikos Kazantzakis’s Report to El Greco (2012), which was translated not directly from Greek but from an English text. My aim is to show what dangers await the translator when he omits the source text and the implications this has on the target text and, consequently, on the reception of the translated work. I focus mainly on the following issues: the incompleteness of the target text and content deficiencies in relation to the source text; the content inadequacy of the target text, the lack of lexical and phraseological equivalence; the lack of equivalence at the level of cultural references. The analysis reveals significant discrepancies, which are not limited to omissions or far-reaching paraphrases, but touch upon the core of Kazantzakis’ work, his key philosophical concepts, which are almost completely misrepresented in the Polish edition.

From collective to individual radon risk exposure: An insight into the current European regulation.

Radon (222Rn) is a radioactive gas with well-documented harmful effects; the World Health Organization has confirmed it as a cancerogenic for humans. These detrimental effects have prompted Europe to establish national reference levels to protect the exposed population. This is reflected in European directive 59/2013/EURATOM, which has been transposed into the national regulations of EU Member States. Specifically, the directive requires the identification of Radon Priority Areas to facilitate remediation in regions with high Rn levels. The regulation also includes measures for radiation protection, aiming to safeguard the population collectively and individuals from Rn exposure. These two requirements can be conceptualised and translated into two complementary concepts: collective and individual risk. This work addresses the lack of a standardised methodology at the European level for defining radon (Rn) risk across regions. It provides the first approach to transitioning from collective to individual risk areas (CRAs to IRAs), offering clear insights into the application of European Rn protection regulations. Key challenges have been addressed, including geo-hazard mapping without a response variable, evaluating the performance of Spatial Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis, and assessing the use and representativeness of available indoor Rn data to support individual risk assessment. The study also explores the optimal scale for delineating Radon Priority Areas. The effectiveness of this novel approach, which incorporates both collective and individual risk factors in accordance with European regulations, has been tested in a case study in the Bolzano province (north-eastern Italy).

Side‐Stream Based Marine Solubles From Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua) Modulate Appetite and Dietary Nutrient Utilization in Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar L.) and can Replace Fish Meal

Whitefish fisheries’ side‐stream biomass is an abundant underutilized resource that can be valorized to benefit future aquaculture sustainability. Four novel ingredients based on side‐streams from Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) fileting were produced. FM‐hb, a fish meal (FM), and FPH‐hb, a fish protein hydrolysate based on heads (h) and backbones (b); FM‐hbg, a FM based on heads, backbones, and viscera/guts (g); and FPC‐g, a fish protein concentrate based on viscera preserved in formic acid. Four diets were prepared containing one of the ingredients replacing 50% of the dietary FM protein, in addition to a positive (FM10) and a negative (FM5) control. The six diets were fed to triplicate tanks with Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.; 113 ± 1 g) over 8 weeks. Besides general performance, gut and brain gene expression for selected hormones and key neuropeptides involved in the control of appetite and digestive processes were studied during feeding and postprandial, and possible reference levels for Atlantic salmon were established. All side‐stream‐added diets performed well, with no significant differences in performance and biometrics between the treatments. Some gene expression differences were observed, but no well‐defined patterns emerged supporting clear dietary effects related to digestive performance or appetite. However, in the brain, a short‐time upregulation of agouti-related protein-1 (agrp1), corresponded to higher cumulative feed intake (FI) for the FM10 diet supporting notions that this may be a candidate biomarker for appetite in salmon. Expression of stomach ghrelin-1 (ghrl1) was higher than ghrelin-2 (ghrl2) and membrane-bound O-acyltransferase domain-containing 4 (mboat4), and midgut peptide YYa-2 (pyya2) and glucagon-a (gcga) were higher than peptide YYb-1 (pyyb1). A comparison showed that midgut peptide YYa-1 (pyya1), pyya2, and gcga expressions were higher than in the hindgut, which is opposite of what is found in mammals. In conclusion, this study shows that sustainable side‐stream raw materials with different characteristics can partly replace high‐quality commercial FMs giving similar performance.

Reference levels of mean and peak anaerobic power for male and female long-track speed skaters

Reference levels of mean and peak anaerobic power for male and female long-track speed skaters