Time resolution of the plastic scintillator strips with matrix photomultiplier readout for J-PET tomograph

Recent tests of a single module of the Jagiellonian Positron Emission Tomography system (J-PET) consisting of 30 cm long plastic scintillator strips have proven its applicability for the detection of annihilation quanta (0.511 MeV) with a coincidence resolving time (CRT) of 0.266 ns. The achieved resolution is almost by a factor of two better with respect to the current TOF-PET detectors and it can still be improved since, as it is shown in this article, the intrinsic limit of time resolution for the determination of time of the interaction of 0.511 MeV gamma quanta in plastic scintillators is much lower. As the major point of the article, a method allowing to record timestamps of several photons, at two ends of the scintillator strip, by means of matrix of silicon photomultipliers (SiPM) is introduced. As a result of simulations, conducted with the number of SiPM varying from 4 to 42, it is shown that the improvement of timing resolution saturates with the growing number of photomultipliers, and that the 2 x 5 configuration at two ends allowing to read twenty timestamps, constitutes an optimal solution. The conducted simulations accounted for the emission time distribution, photon transport and absorption inside the scintillator, as well as quantum efficiency and transit time spread of photosensors, and were checked based on the experimental results. Application of the 2 x 5 matrix of SiPM allows for achieving the coincidence resolving time in positron emission tomography of $\approx$ 0.170 ns for 15 cm axial field-of-view (AFOV) and $\approx$ 0.365 ns for 100 cm AFOV. The results open perspectives for construction of a cost-effective TOF-PET scanner with significantly better TOF resolution and larger AFOV with respect to the current TOF-PET modalities.Comment: To be published in Phys. Med. Biol. (26 pages, 17 figures

The effectiveness of coordinated care for people with chronic respiratory disease

The document attached has been archived with permission from the editor of the Medical Journal of Australia (10 January 2008). An external link to the publisher’s copy is included.Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of coordinated care for chronic respiratory disease. Design and setting: Community-based geographical control study, in western (intervention) and northern (comparison) metropolitan Adelaide (SA). Participants: 377 adults (223 intervention; 154 comparison) with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma or other chronic respiratory condition, July 1997 to December 1999. Intervention: Coordinated care (includes care coordinator, care guidelines, service coordinator and care mentor). Main outcome measures: Hospital admissions (any, unplanned and respiratory), functionality (activities of daily living) and quality of life (SF-36 and Dartmouth COOP). Results: At entry to the study, intervention and comparison subjects were dissimilar. The intervention group was 10 years older (P < 0.001), less likely to smoke (P = 0.014), had higher rates of hospitalisation in the previous 12 months (P < 0.001) and had worse self-reported quality of life (SF-36 physical component summary score [P < 0.001] and four of nine COOP domains [P = 0.002–0.013]). After adjustment for relevant baseline characteristics, coordinated care was not associated with any difference in hospitalisation, but was associated with some improvements in quality of life (SF-36 mental component summary score [P = 0.023] and three of nine COOP domains [P = 0.008–0.031]) compared with the comparison group. Conclusions: Coordinated care given to patients with chronic respiratory disease did not affect hospitalisation, but it was associated with an improvement in some quality-of-life measures.Brian J Smith, Heather J McElroy, Richard E Ruffin, Peter A Frith, Adrian R Heard, Malcolm W Battersby, Adrian J Esterman, Peter Del Fante and Peter J McDonal

3D Printing our future: Now

This 3D Printing our Future:Now talk and visual presentation was given to delegates at the IMI 3D Workshop held at 3M Buckley Innovation Centre on 17th March 2015. The event was hosted by 3Mbuckley Innovation Centre for IMI plc a global engineering company, 3M, and leading 3D additive manufacturing technology providers: EOS, Renishaw and HK 3D printing to disseminate and share their experience on the latest 3D additive design and manufacturing technologies available to the engineering and product industries. The 3D Printing our Future:Now talk and visual presentation provided an overview of art, design & architecture research, creative practice, and enterprise & innovation specifically using 3D additive technologies within the School of Art, Design & Architecture and research groups at the University of Huddersfield. The talk focused on introducing the importance of creative design research practice and how 3D printing has evolved as an increasingly essential and highly versatile tool in the creative process particularly for concept, physical visualisation, prototyping , tooling and manufacture. Nine research cases were shown to the 3M/IMI delegates to highlight the range of 3D art, concept design, prototyping, and manufacturing projects supported by University of Huddersfield 3D printing technology facilities at Queen Street Studios

3D Additive Manufacturing Symposium & Workshop

The IMI /3M BIC 3D Additive Manufacturing Symposium and Workshop was hosted by 3M Buckley Innovation Centre on March 17th 2015. The event was attended by the major players in precision engineering, 3D additive design and manufacturing: Representatives from EOS, Renishaw, HK 3D Printing IMI Plc Senior Management team, design engineers, programmers and academics from the University of Huddersfield School of Art Design & Architecture, 3M Buckley centre 3D printing management and designers shared their experiences and latest solutions to expand the potential of innovation and professional enterprise for design, prototyping and manufacturing. This publication showcases the keynote innovation presentations given at the IMI/3M BIC 3D Additive Manufacturing symposium. The main themes included focus on research, design, concept actualisation, prototyping, and engineering solutions. This is a unique visual documentary of the evolutions in additive manufacturing and provides a snaphsot of latest 3D technology solutions in 2015