15,023 research outputs found
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Ionising radiation exposure from medical imaging – A review of Patient's (un) awareness
Introduction: Medical imaging is the main source of artificial radiation exposure. Evidence, however, suggests that patients are poorly informed about radiation exposure when attending diagnostic scans. This review provides an overview of published literature with a focus on nuclear medicine patients on the level of awareness of radiation exposure from diagnostic imaging. Methods: A review of available literature on awareness, knowledge and perception of ionising radiation in medical imaging was conducted. Articles that met the inclusion criteria were subjected to critical appraisal using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Results: 140 articles identified and screened for eligibility, 24 critically assessed and 4 studies included in synthesis. All studies demonstrated that patients were generally lacking awareness about radiation exposure and highlighted a lack of communication between healthcare professionals and patients with respect to radiation exposure. Conclusion: Studies demonstrate a need to better inform patients about their radiation exposure, and further studies focusing on nuclear medicine patients are particularly warranted. Implications for practice: Adequate and accurate information is crucial to ensure the principle of informed consent is present
General scalar products in the arbitrary six-vertex model
In this work we use the algebraic Bethe ansatz to derive the general scalar
product in the six-vertex model for generic Boltzmann weights. We performed
this calculation using only the unitarity property, the Yang-Baxter algebra and
the Yang-Baxter equation. We have derived a recurrence relation for the scalar
product. The solution of this relation was written in terms of the domain wall
partition functions. By its turn, these partition functions were also obtained
for generic Boltzmann weights, which provided us with an explicit expression
for the general scalar product.Comment: 24 page
Polarization-selective excitation of N-V centers in diamond
The nitrogen-vacancy (N-V) center in diamond is promising as an electron spin
qubit due to its long-lived coherence and optical addressability. The ground
state is a spin triplet with two levels () degenerate at zero
magnetic field. Polarization-selective microwave excitation is an attractive
method to address the spin transitions independently, since this allows
operation down to zero magnetic field. Using a resonator designed to produce
circularly polarized microwaves, we have investigated the polarization
selection rules of the N-V center. We first apply this technique to N-V
ensembles in [100] and [111]-oriented samples. Next, we demonstrate an imaging
technique, based on optical polarization dependence, that allows rapid
identification of the orientations of many single N-V centers. Finally, we test
the microwave polarization selection rules of individual N-V centers of known
orientation
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Radiation exposure awareness from patients undergoing nuclear medicine diagnostic 99mTc-MDP bone scans and 2-deoxy-2-(18F) fluoro-D-glucose PET/computed tomography scans
INTRODUCTION: Medical imaging is on average the largest source of artificial radiation exposure worldwide. This study seeks to understand patient's awareness of radiation exposure derived from nuclear medicine diagnostic scans and assess if current information provided by leaflets is adequate.
METHODS: Single-centre cross-sectional questionnaire study applied to bone scan and FDG PET/computed tomography patients, at a nuclear medicine and PET/computed tomography department over a 15-week period in 2018. Questionnaires on dose comparators were designed in collaboration with patients, public, and experts in radiation exposure. Qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis and quantitative data using SPSS (V. 24).
RESULTS: A total of 102 questionnaires were completed (bone scan = 50; FDG PET/computed tomography = 52). Across both groups, 33/102 (32.4%) patients reported having a reasonable understanding of nuclear medicine and 21/102 (20.6%) reported a reasonable knowledge of ionising radiations. When asked to compare the exposure dose of respective scans with common comparators 8/50 (16%) of bone scan patients and 11/52 (21.2%) FDG PET/computed tomography answered correctly. On leaflet information, 15/85 (17.6%) patients reported the leaflets do not provide enough information on radiation exposure and of these 10/15 (66.7%) commented the leaflets should incorporate more information on radiation exposure dose.
CONCLUSION: More observational and qualitative studies in collaboration with patients are warranted to evaluate patients' understanding and preferences in communication of radiation exposure from nuclear medicine imaging. This will ensure communication tools and guidelines developed to comply with ionising radiation (medical exposure) regulation 2017 are according to patients needs and preferences
f [N pi N]: from quarks to the pion derivative coupling
We study the N pi N coupling, in the framework of a QCD-inspired confining
Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model. A simple relativistic confining and instantaneous
quark model is reviewed. The Salpeter equation for the nucleon and the boosted
pion is solved. The f [n pi n] and f[n pi Delta] couplings are calculated and
they turn out to be reasonably good. The sensibility of f[n pi n] and f[n pi
Delta] to confinement, chiral symmetry breaking and Lorentz invariance is
briefly discussed.Comment: 30 pages in LaTex RevTex, 6 postscript figure
Inducing energy gaps in graphene monolayer and bilayer
In this paper we propose a mechanism for the induction of energy gaps in the
spectrum of graphene and its bilayer, when both these materials are covered
with water and ammonia molecules. The energy gaps obtained are within the range
20-30 meV, values compatible to those found in experimental studies of graphene
bilayer. We further show that the binding energies are large enough for the
adsorption of the molecules to be maintained even at room temperature
Noncommutative fields in three dimensions and mass generation
We apply the noncommutative fields method for gauge theory in three
dimensions where the Chern-Simons term is generated in the three-dimensional
electrodynamics. Under the same procedure, the Chern-Simons term is shown to be
cancelled in the Maxwell-Chern-Simons theory for the appropriate value of the
noncommutativity parameter. Hence the mutual interchange between
Maxwell-Chern-Simons theory and pure Maxwell theory turns out to be generated
within this method.Comment: Comments 5 pages, epl, version accepted for publication in
Europhysics Letter
Avaliacao de cultivares de mandioca em tres ecossistemas do Estado do Piaui.
Avaliando o potencial genetico de cultivares de mandioca no Piaui, foram conduzidos tres ensaios nos municipios de Eliseu Martins, Flores doPiaui e Regeneracao-PI, no ano agricola 1985/86. Foram quatro cultivares procedentes do Piaui (Vermelhinha, Joao Vaz Preto, Cruvela e EnganaLadrao) e em cada local foi adicionada um cultivar procedente do Centro Nacional de Pesquisa de Mandioca e Fruticultura-CNPMF, Cruz das Almas-BA (Aipim Bahia, Tola 6301 e Mamao). O delineamento estatistico utilizado foi o de blocos ao acaso com quatro repeticoes e cinco tratamentos constituidos pelas cultivares de mandioca. As cultivares Aimpim Bahia, Mamao e Tola 6301 apresentaram os maiores rendimentos de raizes frescas (34,17 t, 19,98 t e 16,71 t/ha) em Eliseu Martins, Regeneracao
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