Evaluation of the knowledge and application of diagnostic imaging modalities among veterinary surgeons in Nigerian veterinary medical schools

The awareness, theoretical and practical knowledge of radiography, ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), nuclear medical imaging (NMI) and thermography were accessed among veterinary surgeons teaching in veterinary schools in Nigeria, using a structured questionnaire. Respondents were grouped into five depending on their years of experience post-graduation. These were Group A (0-5 years), Group B (6-10 years), Group C (11-15 years) Group D (16-20 years) and Group E (> 20 years). The result of the awareness of radiography as a diagnostic imaging modality in veterinary practice was not dependent on the years of research experience. A 100 % of respondents in Group A were aware that ultrasonography is indicated in veterinary practice; while only 96.67 % were aware that radiography is so indicated. There was a gradual decline in the awareness of CT compared to radiography and ultrasonography. There was low awareness of the application of MRI, NMI and thermography in veterinary practice by all respondents irrespective of their years of experience. There was a decline in the degree of theoretical knowledge with advancement in the technique. The variation in the mere observation of the practical demonstration of radiography was related to years of research experience, with the exception of Group D. Group E recorded the highest positive response to practical knowledge of all the diagnostic imaging modalities. There was a remarkable drop in the practical knowledge of CT, MRI, NMI and thermography, compared to radiography and ultrasonography in each of the study groups. Only 1 veterinary school had a CT scanning machine, and none had an MRI unit, a gamma camera or a thermographic camera. Only 4 veterinary schools taught MRI. No veterinary school taught NMI and thermography. Appropriate recommendations were made. Keywords: CT, MRI, NMI, Radiography, Thermography, Ultrasonograph

D-SLATS: Distributed Simultaneous Localization and Time Synchronization

Through the last decade, we have witnessed a surge of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, and with that a greater need to choreograph their actions across both time and space. Although these two problems, namely time synchronization and localization, share many aspects in common, they are traditionally treated separately or combined on centralized approaches that results in an ineffcient use of resources, or in solutions that are not scalable in terms of the number of IoT devices. Therefore, we propose D-SLATS, a framework comprised of three different and independent algorithms to jointly solve time synchronization and localization problems in a distributed fashion. The First two algorithms are based mainly on the distributed Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) whereas the third one uses optimization techniques. No fusion center is required, and the devices only communicate with their neighbors. The proposed methods are evaluated on custom Ultra-Wideband communication Testbed and a quadrotor, representing a network of both static and mobile nodes. Our algorithms achieve up to three microseconds time synchronization accuracy and 30 cm localization error

Beta detection of strontium-90 and the potential for direct in situ beta detection for nuclear decommissioning applications

Strontium-90 is one of the primary beta-emitting radionuclides found at nuclear decommissioning sites. Monitoring its activity in the environment is of utmost importance given its radiotoxicity. Current procedures for the beta detection of strontium-90 are time consuming, produce secondary waste and expensive. There is a demand for real-time in situ radiostrontium monitoring in groundwater at nuclear decommissioning sites. This paper presents a review of existing techniques for strontium-90 monitoring and examines a novel approach through direct beta detection with a gallium arsenide photodiode based detector. A proof of concept detector was modelled in the physics simulation software, Geant4, and evaluated as candidate for in situ detection of beta emitting radionuclides. The simulation results indicate that the detector is physically capable of counting 89.86% of incident 0.546 MeV electrons from a 1 mm range in water. This validation will provide the basis for further development of an in situ beta detector

Detection of Strontium-90, a Review and the Potential for Direct In Situ Detection

Strontium-90 is a by-product of nuclear fission and one of the primary beta emitting radionuclides found at nuclear decommissioning sites. Accidents, spills and leaks at nuclear waste facilities have dispersed strontium-90 into the environment, where it has mixed with groundwater. Given its radiotoxicity, activity levels must be carefully monitored to reduce the risk of exposure. Currently, monitoring is undertaken by sampling of groundwaters from boreholes and strontium-90 is radiochemically separated before its activity is counted. These procedures generate high quality results, but are time consuming, expensive and produce chemical waste. This paper reviews current techniques and proposes a novel approach through in situ beta detection, within groundwater monitoring boreholes, with gallium arsenide photodiodes. Gallium arsenide photodiodes are increasingly being applied to other forms of ionising radiation and have characteristics which make them suitable for rapid and mobile beta detection. To investigate this proposal, a 325 μm thick, proof of concept detector was modelled in the physics simulation software, Geant4. The simulation results indicate that the detector is physically capable of counting 99.31% of incident 0.4 MeV electrons, with 36.94% ± 0.04 % depositing all of their energy within the sensitive layer. This validation will provide the basis for further development of an in situ beta detector

Spin rotation and oscillations for high energy particles in a crystal and possibility to measure the quadrupole moments and tensor polarizabilities of elementary particles and nuclei

It is shown that particle motion in a bent (straight) crystal is accompanied by particle spin rotation and oscillations that allows to measure the tensor electric and magnetic polarizabilities of nuclei and elementary particles. It is shown that channelling of particles in either straight or bent crystal with the polarized nuclei could be used both to analyze polarization of high energy particles and polarize them.Comment: reported at RC2005; prepared in the framework of INTAS Project#03-52-615

New physics signatures at a Linear Collider: model-independent analysis from `conventional' polarized observables

We discuss four-fermion contact-interaction searches in the processes e^+e^-\to\mu^+\mu^-, c{\bar c} and b{\bar b} at a future e^+e^- Linear Collider with c.m. energy \sqrt{s}=0.5 TeV and with both beams longitudinally polarized. Our analysis is based on the measurements of familiar polarized observables such as the total cross section and the forward-backward/left-right asymmetries, and accounts for the general set of contact interaction couplings as independent, non-zero, parameters thus avoiding simplifying, model-dependent, assumptions. We derive the corresponding model-independent constraints on the above-mentioned coupling constants, and evaluate the corresponding reach at the Linear Collider, emphasizing the role of beam polarization. We compare the results with a model-dependent procedure where only one coupling is varied at a time.Comment: 13 pages, including 3 figure

Training of the Ni-Mn-Fe-Ga ferromagnetic shape-memory alloys by cycling in a high magnetic field

The temperature and magnetic field dependencies of Ni-Mn-Ga polycrystals deformation are investigated. Ingots were prepared by arc-melting in argon atmosphere and further annealing. A training procedure (cycling across the martensitic transition point) for the two-way shape-memory effect was performed with Ni$_{2.16}$Fe$_{0.04}$Mn$_{0.80}$Ga samples. Changes in sample deformations were noticed with changing the magnetic field at a constant temperature. The first cycle deformation increment as compared with the initial value (in the austenitic state at zero field) in the course of the martensitic transition was 0.29%, and 0.41% and 0.48% for the second and third cycles, respectively.Comment: Presented at the Second Moscow International Symposium on Magnetism (Moscow-2002

Delayed Reheating and the Breakdown of Coherent Oscillations

We analyze the evolution of the perturbations in the inflaton field and metric following the end of inflation. We present accurate analytic approximations for the perturbations, showing that the coherent oscillations of the post-inflationary condensate necessarily break down long before any current phenomenological constraints require the universe to become radiation dominated. Further, the breakdown occurs on length-scales equivalent to the comoving post-inflationary horizon size. This work has implications for both the inflationary "matching" problem, and the possible generation of a stochastic gravitational wave background in the post-inflationary universe.Comment: 18 pages, 5 figures, v2: references added, extended discussion in section

Using care plans to better manage multimorbidity

BACKGROUND: The health care for patients having two or more long-term medical conditions is fragmented between specialists, allied health professionals, and general practitioners (GPs), each keeping separate medical records. There are separate guidelines for each disease, making it difficult for the GP to coordinate care. The TrueBlue model of collaborative care to address key problems in managing patients with multimorbidity in general practice previously reported outcomes on the management of multimorbidities. We report on the care plan for patients with depression, diabetes, and/or coronary heart disease that was embedded in the TrueBlue study. METHODS: A care plan was designed around diabetes, coronary heart disease, and depression management guidelines to prompt implementation of best practices and to provide a single document for information from multiple sources. It was used in the TrueBlue trial undertaken by 400 patients (206 intervention and 194 control) from 11 Australian general practices in regional and metropolitan areas. RESULTS: Practice nurses and GPs successfully used the care plan to achieve the guideline-recommended checks for almost all patients, and successfully monitored depression scores and risk factors, kept pathology results up to date, and identified patient priorities and goals. Clinical outcomes improved compared with usual care. CONCLUSION: The care plan was used successfully to manage and prioritise multimorbidity. Downstream implications include improving efficiency in patient management, and better health outcomes for patients with complex multimorbidities

Effect of Heat Treatment and Sulfuric Acid Anodization on Corrosion Resistance of Aluminum Alloy (AA7075)

This paper, studied the effect of heat treatment and anodization on corrosion resistance of aluminum alloy 7075 (AA7075), with a view to improving its corrosion resistance. Microstructure and micro hardness of the anodic film of the samples were studied with the aid of optical metallurgical microscope and automated micro hardness testing machine. Linear polarization methods were used to assess the corrosion behaviour of the alloy in 0.5M HCl. The microstructure of the annealed sample showed formation of dendrites while precipitation hardened samples in palm kernel oil and SAE 40 engine oil showed precipitates of MgZn2. The SEMS result showed pores and micro cracks on the surfaces of the anodized samples, with the as cast and anodized sample in sulfuric acid exhibiting most compact with few pores. The as cast and sulfuric acid anodized sample shows highest micro hardness value of 205.33 HV, while the least value of 150.67 HV was recorded in sample precipitation hardened in SAE 40 engine oil and anodized in sulfuric acid. Analysis of the potentiodynamic polarization data and curves showed a linear relationship (decrease in icorr, decreases the corrosion rate) between current density and the corrosion rate in all the samples. Higher polarization resistance of 15.093 Ω/cm2 was recorded by the as cast and Sulfuric acid (SA) anodized sample while the precipitation treated in SAE 40 engine oil plus SA anodized sample recorded lowest polarization resistance of 5.2311 Ω/cm2. Heat treatment alone improves corrosion resistance of AA 7075 in 0.5 M HCl solution but heat treatment plus SA anodization does not improve corrosion resistance in the same environment