Alpha spectrometry in emergency preparedness

A study to assess the choice of science as a vocation and career, considering alpha spectrometry in emergency preparedness, was carried out. The development of a career or a vocation by any individual in the field of science could better be achieved through consolidated plan towards a goal. In this assessment, a number of required variables for developing skills by scientists for the future have been analyzed and considered to be essential in a strategic build-up to a career. Through the various fields of scientificradiation technology from their operation through to waste management, contamination measurement and other radiological analysis are identified to be very important. To make this approach more proficient, certain required variables for developing skills by scientists for the future have been elaborated in this study. Some of the requirements considered are; Education, Creativity, Culture, Employment, Finance and Governance. It was resolved that in evaluating the choice of a career, the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis relating to the parameters (requirements) indicated above cannot be overemphasized in the buildup of a modern scientific career

Variation of Radon Gas Emanation with Altitude in Some Parts of Greater Accra

The study to ascertain the correlation between the concentration of radon gas (222Rn) at a relatively higher altitude and that of the concentration at a lower altitude with seismic activity and geological formation was carried out at McCarthy Hill and GAEC using LR-115 solid state nuclear track detectors. A total of 180 track detectors were buried in a grid form at a depth of 75 cm covering an area of 576 sq. meters with intervals of 12 meters between the holes. The radon concentrations varied from 0.27 ± 0.04 kBq m?3 to 86.30 ± 2.94 kBq m?3 for Site A and 0.72 ± 0.04 kBq m?3 to 51.98 ± 1.75 kBq m?3 for Site B, whiles a variation from 1.22 ± 0.102 kBq m?3 to 123.23 ± 0.072 kBq m?3 was determined for Site C. Even though, all the three sites are located along the Akwapim fault zone, an anomaly of more than 5? was observed at GAEC  with a mean concentration of 37.39 ± 0.350 kBqm-3 whiles  mean concentrations of 10.00 ± 0.126 kBqm-3 and 8.07 ± 0.069 kBqm-3 were obtained for sites A and B respectively at McCarthy Hill. The anomaly observed at G.A.E.C could be attributed to the geological setting of the landscape with respect to the altitude of the study area and its closeness to the Eastern Boundary fault compared to the study area at McCarthy Hill. Keywords: radon concentration, altitude, correlation, LR-115, anomaly, Eastern Boundary fault

Adaptation of the Wound Healing Questionnaire universal-reporter outcome measure for use in global surgery trials (TALON-1 study): mixed-methods study and Rasch analysis

BackgroundThe Bluebelle Wound Healing Questionnaire (WHQ) is a universal-reporter outcome measure developed in the UK for remote detection of surgical-site infection after abdominal surgery. This study aimed to explore cross-cultural equivalence, acceptability, and content validity of the WHQ for use across low- and middle-income countries, and to make recommendations for its adaptation.MethodsThis was a mixed-methods study within a trial (SWAT) embedded in an international randomized trial, conducted according to best practice guidelines, and co-produced with community and patient partners (TALON-1). Structured interviews and focus groups were used to gather data regarding cross-cultural, cross-contextual equivalence of the individual items and scale, and conduct a translatability assessment. Translation was completed into five languages in accordance with Mapi recommendations. Next, data from a prospective cohort (SWAT) were interpreted using Rasch analysis to explore scaling and measurement properties of the WHQ. Finally, qualitative and quantitative data were triangulated using a modified, exploratory, instrumental design model.ResultsIn the qualitative phase, 10 structured interviews and six focus groups took place with a total of 47 investigators across six countries. Themes related to comprehension, response mapping, retrieval, and judgement were identified with rich cross-cultural insights. In the quantitative phase, an exploratory Rasch model was fitted to data from 537 patients (369 excluding extremes). Owing to the number of extreme (floor) values, the overall level of power was low. The single WHQ scale satisfied tests of unidimensionality, indicating validity of the ordinal total WHQ score. There was significant overall model misfit of five items (5, 9, 14, 15, 16) and local dependency in 11 item pairs. The person separation index was estimated as 0.48 suggesting weak discrimination between classes, whereas Cronbach's α was high at 0.86. Triangulation of qualitative data with the Rasch analysis supported recommendations for cross-cultural adaptation of the WHQ items 1 (redness), 3 (clear fluid), 7 (deep wound opening), 10 (pain), 11 (fever), 15 (antibiotics), 16 (debridement), 18 (drainage), and 19 (reoperation). Changes to three item response categories (1, not at all; 2, a little; 3, a lot) were adopted for symptom items 1 to 10, and two categories (0, no; 1, yes) for item 11 (fever).ConclusionThis study made recommendations for cross-cultural adaptation of the WHQ for use in global surgical research and practice, using co-produced mixed-methods data from three continents. Translations are now available for implementation into remote wound assessment pathways