The Delphi technique as a tool to evaluate a concept CPD framework to be implemented by medical technologists in South Africa

Published ArticleA concept CPD framework, to be implemented by medical technology workers, was compiled and needed to be evaluated by professionals. The aim of this survey was therefore to use the Delphi technique as a research tool to evaluate the concept CPD framework by a widely distributed group of medical technology workers. The Delphi technique is a research tool organizing group communication in gaining consensus among a panel of experts. A monitoring team co-ordinated and evaluated the Delphi process in response to the feedback received by a panel of experts. Panellists are selected for their contribution to the topic under investigation. They do not normally interact with one another during the Delphi rounds. Fifteen panellists, distributed throughout South Africa, participated. The panellists were knowledgeable about medical technology and CPD. During the three Delphi rounds, statements were added, moderated, rephrased and rated. This resulted in a final CPD framework that consisted of 71 statements, completed within the three months scheduled time frame with a very high percentage co-operation of the panellists. The Delphi technique was an ideal tool for evaluating the concept CPD framework among a widely distributed group of medical technology workers

EVIDENCE OF IMMUNE STIMULATION FOLLOWING SHORT-TERM EXPOSURE TO SPECIFIC EXTREMELY LOW-FREQUENCY ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS

Published ArticleThere is increasing evidence that extremely low frequency (ELF) electromagnetic fields (EMFs) interact with immune cells. Even more evident is that immune cells are activated when exposed to these fields for a short period. Signal specificity and dosimetry appear to play a role. In this study, four groups of laboratory mice received daily exposure to a specific electromagnetic field with an intensity of 5μT for one hour, four hours and twenty-four hours (continuously) respectively for a period of seven days. The control group received no exposure and was used as standard for comparison. Following exposure, whole blood was analysed for leukocyte count, CD3, CD4, CD8 and CD19 analysis. The results for the twenty-four hour exposure group indicated increased total leukocyte, lymphocyte, CD3 and CD4 values and a decreased neutrophil values. These findings provide evidence that the immune system is indeed stimulated by exposure to EMFs

Can listed property shares be a surrogate for direct property investment behaviour?

The listed property sector in South Africa has grown to a size which could be considered to be a good representation of the income producing property market in general. Stock market listed property investment funds offer the opportunity to compare indirect property investment to direct property investment, which could bridge the gap between irrational investment behaviour and intrinsic asset values. This study investigates the relationship between listed property share prices and the property values in listed property funds. The share prices are correlated with various factors, such as the accounting ratios of the companies, the financial statements of the companies and general economic variables. The outcome of the study is an explanation of the behaviour of listed property shares, and its relationship to the direct property market and the general economy. This would assist in the explanation of market behaviour and provides the opportunity to more accurately predict portfolio asset values, which might be used in the valuation of individual real estate assets.http://www.sajems.org/index.php/sajemsai201

The Polarized 3-He Target

This research was sponsored by the National Science Foundation Grant NSF PHY-931478

A-dependence of nuclear transparency in quasielastic A(e,e'p) at high Q^2

The A-dependence of the quasielastic A(e,e'p) reaction has been studied at SLAC with H-2, C, Fe, and Au nuclei at momentum transfers Q^2 = 1, 3, 5, and 6.8 (GeV/c)^2. We extract the nuclear transparency T(A,Q^2), a measure of the average probability that the struck proton escapes from the nucleus A without interaction. Several calculations predict a significant increase in T with momentum transfer, a phenomenon known as Color Transparency. No significant rise within errors is seen for any of the nuclei studied.Comment: 5 pages incl. 2 figures, Caltech preprint OAP-73

Determination of the neutron electric form factor in quasielastic scattering of polarized electrons from polarized 3He

We report a measurement of the asymmetry in spin-dependent quasielastic scattering of longitudinally polarized electrons from a polarized 3He gas target. The asymmetry is measured at kinematics sensitive to the transverse-longitudinal response function RTL(Q2,ω). The value of the neutron electric form factor GEn(Q2=0.16 (GeV/c2))=+0.070±0.100±0.035 is extracted from the asymmetry using a Faddeev calculation of the 3He wave function

Inclusive electron scattering from nuclei at x≃1

The inclusive A(e,e′) cross section for x≃1 was measured on 2H, C, Fe, and Au for momentum transfers Q2 from 1 to 6.8 (GeV/c)2. The scaling behavior of the data was examined in the region of transition from y scaling to x scaling. Throughout this transitional region, the data exhibit ξ scaling, reminiscent of the Bloom-Gilman duality seen in free nucleon scattering

Two-Body Photodisintegration of the Deuteron up to 2.8 GeV

Measurements were performed for the photodisintegration cross section of the deuteron for photon energies from 1.6 to 2.8 GeV and center-of-mass angles from 37° to 90°. The measured energy dependence of the cross section at θc.m.=90° is in agreement with the constituent counting rules

Evidence for virtual Compton scattering from the proton

In virtual Compton scattering an electron is scattered off a nucleon such that the nucleon emits a photon. We show that these events can be selected experimentally, and present the first evidence for virtual Compton scattering from the proton in data obtained at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center. The angular and energy dependence of the data is well described by a calculation that includes the coherent sum of electron and proton radiation

Status of an Investigation of the 3-He Wave Function by Quasi-Free Scattering

This research was sponsored by the National Science Foundation Grant NSF PHY-931478