615 research outputs found
Projeto tecnologias sociais para a gestão da água ? TSGA: contribuição para a gestão participativa da água.
Projeto: 06.09.06.001
Expanding the medical physicist curricular and professional programme to include Artificial Intelligence
Purpose: To provide a guideline curriculum related to Artificial Intelligence (AI), for the education and training of European Medical Physicists (MPs). Materials and methods: The proposed curriculum consists of two levels: Basic (introducing MPs to the pillars of knowledge, development and applications of AI, in the context of medical imaging and radiation therapy) and Advanced. Both are common to the subspecialties (diagnostic and interventional radiology, nuclear medicine, and radiation oncology). The learning outcomes of the training are presented as knowledge, skills and competences (KSC approach). Results: For the Basic section, KSCs were stratified in four subsections: (1) Medical imaging analysis and AI Basics; (2) Implementation of AI applications in clinical practice; (3) Big data and enterprise imaging, and (4) Quality, Regulatory and Ethical Issues of AI processes. For the Advanced section instead, a common block was proposed to be further elaborated by each subspecialty core curriculum. The learning outcomes were also translated into a syllabus of a more traditional format, including practical applications. Conclusions: This AI curriculum is the first attempt to create a guideline expanding the current educational framework for Medical Physicists in Europe. It should be considered as a document to top the sub-specialties' curriculums and adapted by national training and regulatory bodies. The proposed educational program can be implemented via the European School of Medical Physics Expert (ESMPE) course modules and - to some extent - also by the national competent EFOMP organizations, to reach widely the medical physicist community in Europe.Peer reviewe
Weak selection and stability of localized distributions in Ostwald ripening
We support and generalize a weak selection rule predicted recently for the
self-similar asymptotics of the distribution function (DF) in the
zero-volume-fraction limit of Ostwald ripening (OR). An asymptotic perturbation
theory is developed that, when combined with an exact invariance property of
the system, yields the selection rule, predicts a power-law convergence towards
the selected self-similar DF and agrees well with our numerical simulations for
the interface- and diffusion-controlled OR.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, submitted to PR
Search for Lorentz and CPT Violation Effects in Muon Spin Precession
The spin precession frequency of muons stored in the storage ring has
been analyzed for evidence of Lorentz and CPT violation. Two Lorentz and CPT
violation signatures were searched for: a nonzero
(=); and a sidereal variation of
. No significant effect is found, and the following
limits on the standard-model extension parameters are obtained: GeV; GeV; and the 95% confidence level limits
GeV and
GeV.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, submitted to Physical Review Letters, Modified to
answer the referees suggestion
The Muon Anomalous Magnetic Moment and the Standard Model
The muon anomalous magnetic moment measurement, when compared with theory,
can be used to test many extensions to the standard model. The most recent
measurement made by the Brookhaven E821 Collaboration reduces the uncertainty
on the world average of a_mu to 0.7 ppm, comparable in precision to theory.
This paper describes the experiment and the current theoretical efforts to
establish a correct standard model reference value for the muon anomaly.Comment: Plenary Talk; PANIC'02 XVI Particles and Nuclear International
Conference, Osaka, Japan; Sept. 30 - Oct. 4, 2002; Report describes the
published 0.7 ppm result and updates the theory statu
An Improved Limit on the Muon Electric Dipole Moment
Three independent searches for an electric dipole moment (EDM) of the
positive and negative muons have been performed, using spin precession data
from the muon g-2 storage ring at Brookhaven National Laboratory. Details on
the experimental apparatus and the three analyses are presented. Since the
individual results on the positive and negative muon, as well as the combined
result, d=-0.1(0.9)E-19 e-cm, are all consistent with zero, we set a new muon
EDM limit, |d| < 1.9E-19 e-cm (95% C.L.). This represents a factor of 5
improvement over the previous best limit on the muon EDM.Comment: 19 pages, 15 figures, 7 table
Search for Lorentz and CPT Violation Effects in Muon Spin Precession
The spin precession frequency of muons stored in the storage ring has
been analyzed for evidence of Lorentz and CPT violation. Two Lorentz and CPT
violation signatures were searched for: a nonzero
(=); and a sidereal variation of
. No significant effect is found, and the following
limits on the standard-model extension parameters are obtained: GeV; GeV; and the 95% confidence level limits
GeV and
GeV.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, submitted to Physical Review Letters, Modified to
answer the referees suggestion
Final Report of the Muon E821 Anomalous Magnetic Moment Measurement at BNL
We present the final report from a series of precision measurements of the
muon anomalous magnetic moment, a_mu = (g-2)/2. The details of the experimental
method, apparatus, data taking, and analysis are summarized. Data obtained at
Brookhaven National Laboratory, using nearly equal samples of positive and
negative muons, were used to deduce a_mu(Expt) = 11 659 208.0(5.4)(3.3) x
10^-10, where the statistical and systematic uncertainties are given,
respectively. The combined uncertainty of 0.54 ppm represents a 14-fold
improvement compared to previous measurements at CERN. The standard model value
for a_mu includes contributions from virtual QED, weak, and hadronic processes.
While the QED processes account for most of the anomaly, the largest
theoretical uncertainty, ~0.55 ppm, is associated with first-order hadronic
vacuum polarization. Present standard model evaluations, based on e+e- hadronic
cross sections, lie 2.2 - 2.7 standard deviations below the experimental
result.Comment: Summary paper of E821 Collaboration measurements of the muon
anomalous magnetic moment, each reported earlier in Letters or Brief Reports;
96 pages, 41 figures, 16 tables. Revised version submitted to PR
Improved Measurement of the Positive Muon Anomalous Magnetic Moment
A new measurement of the positive muon's anomalous magnetic moment has been
made at the Brookhaven Alternating Gradient Synchrotron using the direct
injection of polarized muons into the superferric storage ring. The angular
frequency difference omega_{a} between the angular spin precession frequency
omega_{s} and the angular orbital frequency omega_{c} is measured as well as
the free proton NMR frequency omega_{p}. These determine
R = omega_{a} / omega_{p} = 3.707~201(19) times 10^{-3}. With mu_{mu} /
mu_{p} = 3.183~345~39(10) this gives a_{mu^+} = 11~659~191(59) times 10^{-10}
(pm 5 ppm), in good agreement with the previous CERN and BNL measurements for
mu^+ and mu^-, and with the standard model prediction.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures. accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. D62 Rapid
Communication
Determination of the melting temperature, heat of fusion, and purity analysis of different samples of zidovudine (AZT) using DSC
The determination of chemical purity, melting range, and variation of enthalpy in the process of characterizing medicines is one of the principal requirements evaluated in quality control of the pharmaceutical industry. In this study, the method of purity determination using DSC was outlined, as well as the application of this technique for the evaluation of commercial samples of zidovudine (AZT) (raw material) supplied by different laboratories. To this end, samples from six different laboratories (A, B, C, D, E, and F) and the standard reference (R) from the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) were analyzed. The DSC curves were obtained in the temperature range of 25 to 200 ºC under the dynamic atmosphere of N2 (50 mL min-1), heating rate of β=2 ºC min-1, using an Al capsule containing approximately 2 mg of sample material. The results demonstrated that the standard reference presented a proportion of 99.83% whereas the AZT samples presented a variation ranging from 97.59 to 99.54%. In addition, the standard reference was found to present a temperature of onset of melting point of 122.80 °C. Regarding the samples of active agents provided by the different laboratories, a variation ranging from 118.70 to 122.87 °C was measured. In terms of ΔHm, the samples presented an average value of 31.12 kJ mol-1._________________________________________________________________________________________ RESUMO: A determinação da pureza quÃmica, a faixa de fusão e a variação de entalpia envolvida no processo de caracterização de fármacos é um dos principais requisitos avaliados no controle de qualidade em indústrias farmacêuticas. Neste trabalho é feita uma breve abordagem sobre o método de determinação de pureza utilizando DSC, assim como a aplicação desta técnica para avaliação de amostras comerciais de zidovudina (AZT) (matéria-prima) fornecida por diferentes laboratórios. Para tal, foram analisadas amostras de seis diferentes laboratórios (A,B,C,D,E e F) e a substância quÃmica de referência (R) da United States Pharmacopeia (USP). As curvas DSC foram obtidas na faixa de temperatura entre 25 a 200 ºC, sob atmosfera dinâmica de N2 (50 mL min-1), β=2 ºC min-1, utilizando cápsula de Al contendo aproximadamente 2 mg de amostra. De acordo com os resultados, pode-se observar que a substância quÃmica de referência apresentou teor igual a 99,83% e que as amostras de AZT apresentaram uma faixa de variação entre 97,59 e 99,54%. Pode-se verificar, ainda, que a substância quÃmica de referência apresentou uma temperatura onset de fusão igual a 122,80 °C. Para as amostras dos princÃpios ativos fornecidos pelos diferentes laboratórios, pode-se verificar uma faixa de variação entre 118,70 e 122,87 °C. No que se refere ao ΔHm, as amostras apresentaram valor médio de 31,12 kJ.mol-1
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