Study on the reusability of fluorescent nuclear track detectors using optical bleaching

Fluorescent nuclear track detectors (FNTDs) based on Al${_2}$O${_3}$:C,Mg crystals are luminescent detectors that can be used for dosimetry and detection of charged particles and neutrons. These detectors can be utilised for imaging applications where a reasonably high track density, approximately of the order of 1 $\times$ $10^4$ tracks in an area of 100 $\times$ 100 $\mu$m$^2$, is required. To investigate the reusability of FNTDs for imaging applications, we present an approach to perform optical bleaching under the required track density conditions. The reusability was assessed through seven irradiation-bleaching cycles. For the irradiation, the studied FNTD was exposed to alpha-particles from an $^{241}$Am radioactive source. The optical bleaching was performed by means of ultraviolet laser light with a wavelength of 355 nm. Three dedicated regions on a single FNTD with different accumulated track densities and bleaching conditions were investigated. After every irradiation-bleaching cycle, signal-to-noise ratio was calculated to evaluate FNTD performance. It is concluded that FNTDs can be reused at least seven times for applications where accumulation of a high track density is required

The Digitalized Zakat Management System in Malaysia and the Way Forward

The development of technology and innovation has a significant influence on the current financial markets. Introducing new business models and transferring from traditional markets to the digital markets through those technologies are some ways of digital transformation. Zakat system has been a great part of Islamic economics and the financial system which has to embrace digitalization to be compatible with the current digital era. This research aims to address the current status of digitalization about the zakat management system in Malaysia and to explore the necessary improvement in embracing the digitalization by the zakat institutions. The research adopts a qualitative research approach where it collects the data from various sources such as books, journals, conference papers, and other relevant websites. To analyze the data, the research employs a descriptive and exploratory research technique. This study finds that despite having websites by the zakat institutions in Malaysia, the zakat system has a lack of data set of aṣnāf and proper data for the collected and distributed funds. Digital transformation is needed to observe the check and balance of the zakat funds’ collection and distribution. In addition, human development through zakat funds needs to embrace more development through digitalization. Moreover, the zakat institutions are encouraged to advance their readiness and understanding of technologies and innovation to embrace digital assets and their zakat-ability

Value of MUNE versus compound muscle action potential in assessing motor unit loss in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome

Abstract Background The most prevalent nerve entrapment disorder, known as carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), is brought on by wrist-based median nerve compression. Focal demyelination progresses to axonal dysfunction as the condition worsens. In order to detect motor unit (MU) loos, this study compares two motor unit number estimation (MUNE) techniques with compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitude. The CMAP amplitude and MUNE of the median nerve in 137 hands of 70 neurophysiologically approved CTS patients, aged 40.27 ± 10.06 years were examined. Another 90 hands from 56 healthy volunteers who are age- and gender-matched serve the control group. Results In contrast to 192.5 and 248.5 in controls, the median nerve values of incremental and adapted multipoint stimulation (aMPS) MUNE in CTS patients were, respectively, 111 and 133 (p < 0.0001). Patients with severe CTS compared to those with mild CTS using both methods had significantly lower MUNE. MUNE values are the same regardless of gender or hand dominance. In comparison to MUNE methods (cutoff values of 106.5 and 203, respectively), CMAP amplitude had a sensitivity and specificity of more than 60% in detecting MU loss (cutoff value of 6.85 mV). The CTS grading had no effect on the CMAP amplitude. MUNE values had positive with CMAP amplitude and negative with CTS grading and Phalen test positivity. Conclusions When identifying motor nerve involvement in CTS patients, the MUNE technique is more accurate than a standard motor nerve conduction study (NCS). It was emphasized that MUNE evaluation in determining MU loss in the early stages of CTS may be helpful in diagnosis and treatment. There was no correlation between handedness and the number of MUs as determined by MUNE techniques. Both methods almost equally identify MU loss and have the same sensitivity and specificity

Unique approach for precise determination of binding energies of hypernuclei with nuclear emulsion and machine learning

Hypertriton is the lightest hypernucleus and a benchmark in hypernuclear physics. However, it has recently been suggested that its lifetime and binding energy values may differ from the established values. To solve this puzzle, it is necessary to measure both values with a higher precision. For the precise measurement of the binding energy, we are aiming at developing a novel technique to measure the hypertriton binding energy with unprecedented accuracy by combining nuclear emulsion data and machine learning techniques. The analysis will be based on the J-PARC E07 nuclear emulsion data. Furthermore, a machine-learning model is being developed to identify other single and double-strangeness hypernuclei

New directions in hypernuclear physics

11 pags. 3 figs., 1 tab.A hypernucleus, a subatomic bound system with at least one hyperon, is a great test ground to investigate nuclear forces and general baryonic interactions with up, down and strange quarks. Hypernuclei have been extensively studied for almost seven decades in reactions involving cosmic rays and with accelerator beams. In recent years, experimental studies of hypernuclei have entered a new stage using energetic collisions of heavy-ion beams. However, these investigations have revealed two puzzling results related to the lightest three-body hypernuclear system, the so-called hypertriton, and the unexpected existence of a bound state of two neutrons with a Λ hyperon. Solving these puzzles will not only impact our understanding of the fundamental baryonic interactions with strange quarks but also of the nature of the deep interior of neutron stars. In this Perspective, we discuss approaches to solving these puzzles, including experiments with heavy-ion beams and the analysis of nuclear emulsions using state-of-the-art technologies. We summarize ongoing projects and experiments at various facilities worldwide and outline future perspectives.Discussions presented for the WASA-FRS experiment here are based on the experiment S447, which is currently scheduled in 2022 at the FRS at the GSI Helmholtzzentrum fuer Schwerionenforschung, Darmstadt (Germany) in the context of FAIR Phase-0. The authors thank the accelerator departments at GSI and IMP, the FRS department at GSI and the Experiment Electronics department at GSI for the technical support. The authors thank the J-PARC E07 collaboration to provide us the nuclear emulsion data. The authors thank Luise Doersching-Steitz of GSI, Rita Krause of GSI, Yukiko Kurakata of RIKEN, Daniela Press of GSI, Miao Yang of IMP and Xiaohua Yuan of IMP for supporting the projects, including the administrative works. The authors also thank Risa Kobayashi of RIKEN and Yoko Tsuchii of Gifu University for their technical support in mining hypertriton events in the E07 nuclear emulsions. KN, JY, and MY acknowledge support by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Numbers JP23224006, JP16H02180, JP20H00155, and JP20J00682, and MEXT KAKENHI Grant Numbers JP24105002 (Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas 2404), JP18H05403, and JP19H05147 (Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas 6005). SE and CR are supported by the grant 2019-T1/TIC-13194 of the program "Atracción de Talento Investigador" of the Community of Madrid