Continuous wave optically stimulated luminescence (CW-OSL) is relatively a simple technique that offers good signal to noise ratio (SNR) and involves simple instrumentation. This study reports the ...influence and optimization of CW-OSL parameters on minimum detectable dose (MDD) using α-Al2O3:C phosphor. It is found that at a given stimulation intensity MDD in CW-OSL mode depends on signal integration time. At lower integration times MDD is inferior. It exhibits an improvement for intermediate values, shows a plateau region and deteriorates as integration time increases further. MDD is found to be ∼127 μGy at 4 mW/cm2 stimulation intensity for integration time of 0.1s, which improves to ∼10.5 μGy for 60s. At stimulation intensity of 72 mW/cm2, MDD is 37 μGy for integration time of 60s and improves significantly to 7 μGy for 1s.
•CW-OSL parameters are optimized to obtain best SNR and MDD in Al2O3:C.•MDD is found to depend on signal integration time and stimulation intensity.•With time, MDD initially improves, stabilizes then deteriorates.•At a given intensity, MDD is optimum for a certain range of integration time.
The Co/Cu/Ni/Fe salts of 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO) and 2,4,6-trinitroanilino benzoic acid (TABA) were prepared and characterized during this work. All the salts exhibited exothermic ...decomposition in DSC. The FT-IR spectra of the gaseous products evolved during TGA of NTO salts indicated the release of NO
2 and cleavage of NTO ring during the course of decomposition. Thermal decomposition of TABA salts also produced NO
2 on decomposition. The transition metal salts enhanced the burning rates of AP–HTPB composite propellant evaluated during this work. The best catalytic effect was obtained with Fe–NTO salt which increased the burning rate to the extent of ∼80% as well as brought down the pressure index (
n) to 0.18 (2–9
MPa).
The polycrystalline sample of LiBaPO
4
: Tb
3+
(LBPT) was successfully synthesized by solution combustion synthesis and studied for its luminescence characteristics. The thermoluminescence (TL) glow ...curve of LBPT material consists of two peaks at 204.54 and 251.21°C. The optimum concentration was 0.005 mol to obtain the higher TL intensity compared to commercial TLD-100 phosphor. The peak shape method was used to calculate kinetic parameter (activation energy and frequency factor). In CW-OSL mode its sensitivity for beta exposure was found to be 50% compared to commercially available
α
-Al
2
O
3
: C and 40% than LMP (BARC), and photoluminescence spectrum of LBPT shows green emission when excited with 225 nm UV source.
Introduction Pelvic radiography is a frequent investigation. European guidelines aim to ensure appropriate use and adequate quality. When initial images are inadequate, repeat radiographs are often ...required, which may have significant patient safety and economic implications. Objectives The study aimed to assess the adequacy of pelvic imaging across three orthopaedic centres, to identify causes for inadequate imaging and to establish the cost of inadequate imaging from financial and patient safety perspectives. Methods Pelvic radiographs were identified on Picture Archiving and Communication System software at three UK hospitals. Radiographs were assessed against European guidelines and indications for repeat imaging were analysed. Results A total of 1,531 sequential pelvic radiographs were reviewed. The mean age of patients was 60 years (range 5 months to 101 years). Of this total, 51.9% of images were suboptimal, with no significant difference across the three hospitals (P > 0.05). Hospital 3 repeated radiographs in 6.3% of cases, compare with 18.1% and 19.7% at hospitals 1 and 2, respectively (P > 0.05). Hospital 3 identified pathology missed on the initial radiograph in 1% of cases, compared with 5.4% and 5.5% at hospitals 1 and 2, respectively (P > 0.05). Out-of-hours imaging is associated with a higher rate of suboptimal quality (69.1%) compared with normal working hours (51.3%; P = 0.006). Adequacy rates vary with age (χ
= 43.62, P < 0.001). Risk of having a suboptimal radiograph increases above the age of 60-years (χ
= 4.45, P < 0.05). The annual cost of repeat radiographs was £56,200 per hospital. Discussion and conclusion High rates of pelvic radiograph inadequacy can lead to missed pathology and the requirement for repeat imaging, which has significant patient safety and financial implications. Risk factors for inadequate radiographs include older patients and those having out-of-hours imaging.
Al and Zn are two of the most common alloying elements in commercial Mg alloys, which can improve the physical properties through solid solution strengthening and precipitation hardening. Diffusion ...plays a key role in the kinetics of these and other microstructural design relevant to Mg-alloy development. However, there is a lack of multicomponent diffusion data available for Mg alloys. Through solid-to-solid diffusion couples, diffusional interactions of Al and Zn in ternary Mg solid-solution at 400° and 450 °C were examined by an extension of the Boltzmann-Matano analysis based on Onsager’s formalism. Concentration profiles of Mg-Al-Zn ternary alloys were determined by electron probe microanalysis, and analyzed to determine the ternary interdiffusion coefficients as a function of composition. The magnitude of
D
~
Z
n
Z
n
M
g
ternary interdiffusion coefficients was greater than that of
D
~
A
l
A
l
M
g
,
the magnitude of
D
~
Z
n
Z
n
A
l
ternary interdiffusion coefficients was greater than that of
D
~
M
g
M
g
A
l
, and the magnitude of
D
~
M
g
M
g
Z
n
was greater than that of
D
~
A
l
A
l
Z
n
. Appreciable diffusional interactions among Mg, Al, and Zn were observed by variations in sign and magnitude of cross interdiffusion coefficients. In particular, Zn was found to significantly influence the interdiffusion of Mg and Al significantly: the
D
~
M
g
Z
n
A
l
and
D
~
A
l
Z
n
M
g
ternary cross interdiffusion coefficients were both negative, and large in magnitude, in comparison to
D
~
M
g
M
g
A
l
and
D
~
A
l
A
l
M
g
, respectively. Al and Mg were observed influence the interdiffusion of Mg and Al, respectively, with positive
D
~
M
g
A
l
Z
n
and
D
~
A
l
M
g
Z
n
interdiffusion coefficients, but their influence on the Zn interdiffusion was negligible.
Particulate matter (PM) mass concentrations, seasonal cycles, source sector, and source region contributions in Central Asia (CA) are analyzed for the period April 2008-July 2009 using the Sulfur ...Transport and dEposition Model (STEM) chemical transport model and modeled meteorology from the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. Predicted aerosol optical depth (AOD) values (annual mean value similar to 0.2) in CA vary seasonally, with lowest values in the winter. Surface PM2.5 concentrations (annual mean value similar to 10 mu g m-3) also exhibit a seasonal cycle, with peak values and largest variability in the spring/summer, and lowest values and variability in the winter (hourly values from 2 to 90 mu g m-3). Surface concentrations of black carbon (BC) (mean value similar to 0.1 mu g m-3) show peak values in the winter. The simulated values are compared to surface measurements of AOD as well as PM2.5, PM10, BC, and organic carbon (OC) mass concentrations at two regional sites in Kyrgyzstan (Lidar Station Teplokluchenka (LST) and Bishkek). The predicted values of AOD and PM mass concentrations and their seasonal cycles are fairly well captured. The carbonaceous aerosols are underpredicted in winter, and analysis suggests that the winter heating emissions are underestimated in the current inventory. Dust, from sources within and outside CA, is a significant component of the PM mass and drives the seasonal cycles of PM and AOD. On an annual basis, the power and industrial sectors are found to be the most important contributors to the anthropogenic portion of PM2.5. Residential combustion and transportation are shown to be the most important sectors for BC. Biomass burning within and outside the region also contributes to elevated PM and BC concentrations. The analysis of the transport pathways and the variations in particulate matter mass and composition in CA demonstrates that this region is strategically located to characterize regional and intercontinental transport of pollutants. Aerosols at these sites are shown to reflect dust, biomass burning, and anthropogenic sources from Europe; South, East, and Central Asia; and Russia depending on the time period. Simulations for a reference 2030 emission scenario based on pollution abatement measures already committed to in current legislation show that PM2.5 and BC concentrations in the region increase, with BC growing more than PM2.5 on a relative basis. This suggests that both the health impacts and the climate warming associated with these particles may increase over the next decades unless additional control measures are taken. The importance of observations in CA to help characterize the changes that are rapidly taking place in the region are discussed.
The 3 x 2 m spacing currently used for eucalyptus plantations in the state of Andhra Pradesh, southern India does not permit intercropping from the second year. This discourages small landholders who ...need regular income from taking up eucalyptus plantations and benefiting from the expanding market for pulpwood. Therefore, on-farm experiments were conducted near Bhadrachalam, Khammam district (Andhra Pradesh) for over 4 years from August 2001 to November 2005 to examine whether wide-row planting and grouping of certain tree rows will facilitate extended intercropping without sacrificing wood yield. Eucalyptus planted in five-spatial arrangements in agroforestry 3 x 2 m (farmers' practice), 6 x 1 m, 7 x 1.5 m paired rows (7 x 1.5 PR), 11 x 1 m paired rows (11 x 1 PR) and 10 x 1.5 m triple rows (10 x 1.5 TR) was compared with sole tree stands at a constant density of 1,666 trees ha⁻¹. Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) was intercropped during the post-rainy seasons from 2001 to 2004, and fodder grasses (Panicum maximum and Brachiaria ruziziensis) were intercropped during both the seasons of 2005. At 51 months after planting, different spatial arrangements did not significantly affect height and diameter at breast height (dbh). Total dry biomass of eucalyptus in different spatial arrangements ranged between 59.5 and 52.9 Mg ha⁻¹, the highest being with 6 x 1 m and the lowest with 10 x 1.5 TR, but treatment differences were not significant. The widely spaced paired row (11 x 1 PR) and triple row (10 x 1.5 TR) arrangements produced 62-73% of sole cowpea yield in 2003, 59-66% of sole cowpea yield in 2004, and 79-94% of sole fodder in 2005. In contrast, the 3 x 2 m spacing allowed only 17-45% of sole crop yields in these years. The better performance of intercrops in widely spaced eucalyptus was likely because of limited competition from trees for light and water. Intercropping of eucalyptus in these wider rows gave 14% greater net returns compared with intercropping in eucalyptus spaced at 3 x 2 m, 19% greater returns compared with that from sole tree woodlot and 263% greater returns compared with that from sole crops. Therefore, in regions where annual rainfall is around 1,000 mm and soils are fairly good, eucalyptus at a density of 1,666 plants per ha can be planted in uniformly spaced wide-rows (6 m) or paired rows at an inter-pair spacing of 7-11 m for improving intercrop performance without sacrificing wood production.
Kangaroo mother care (KMC - early continuous skin-to-skin contact between mother and infants) has been recommended as an alternative care for low birth weight infants. There is limited evidence in ...our country on KMC initiated at home. The present study was undertaken to study acceptability of KMC in different community settings.
A community-based pilot study was carried out at three sites in the States of Odisha, Gujarat and Maharashtra covering rural, urban and rural tribal population, respectively. Trained health workers provided IEC (information, education and communication) on KMC during antenatal period along with essential newborn care messages. These messages were reinforced during the postnatal period. Outcome measures were the proportion of women accepting KMC, duration of KMC/day and total number of days continuing KMC. Focus group discussions and in-depth interviews were also carried out.
KMC was provided to 101 infants weighing 1500-2000 g; 57.4 per cent were preterm. Overall, 80.2 per cent mothers received health education on KMC during antenatal period, family members (68.3%) also attended KMC sessions along with pregnant women and 55.4 per cent of the women initiated KMC within 72 h of birth. KMC was provided on an average for five hours per day. Qualitative survey data indicated that the method was acceptable to mothers and family members; living in nuclear family, household work, twin pregnancy, hot weather, etc., were cited as reasons for not being able to practice KMC for a longer duration.
It was feasible to provide KMC using existing infrastructure, and the method was acceptable to most mothers of low birth infants.
In this paper, a new formalism of a combined tracer and interdiffusion experiment for a binary interdiffusion couple is developed. The analysis requires an interdiffusion couple that initially ...contains a thin layer of tracers of one or both of the constituent elements at the original interface of the couple (sandwich interdiffusion experiment). This type of interdiffusion experiment was first performed in 1958 by J.R. Manning. The theoretical analysis presented in this paper is based on a newly developed phenomenological theory of isotopic interdiffusion combined with the Boltzmann-Matano formalism. This new analysis now provides the means to obtain the composition dependent interdiffusion coefficient and tracer diffusion coefficients simultaneously from analysis of the interdiffusion and tracer profiles in a single sandwich interdiffusion experiment. The new analysis is successfully applied to the results of Manning's original 'sandwich interdiffusion' experiment in the Ag-Cd system (six couples in total) and is validated with an independent determination of the Ag and Cd tracer diffusion coefficients by Schoen using the conventional thin film technique. Suggestions for further development of the sandwich interdiffusion experiment and analysis to the case of multicomponent alloys are provided.
Aim: This is a cross-sectional comparative study, aimed to quantify the expression of patched (PTCH) gene in ameloblastoma, odontogenic keratocyst (OKC) and also the comparison of both the ...expressions.
Materials and Methods: Genomic deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was extracted and quantified, and the expression of the PTCH gene was done in 17 cases of ameloblastoma and 17 cases of OKC by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR).
Results: It was observed that there was an overexpression of the PTCH gene in both ameloblastoma and OKC with a good mean cycle threshold (CT) value of 32.71 ± 2.432 and 34.69 ± 1.875, respectively. When comparing the PTCH expression between the two, ameloblastoma showed higher expression than the OKC and the difference is statistically significant with P value of 0.025.
Conclusions: Our findings suggest that there is overexpression of PTCH in ameloblastoma and OKC, but it is highly expressed in ameloblastoma when compared to OKC. Overexpression of PTCH may constitute the activation of the Sonic Hedgehog pathway and may suggest the mechanism for the development of ameloblastoma and OKC. Hence it can be used as a valuable marker for early diagnosis and in the identification of therapeutic targets.
PDF
