Radiation Detection, Measurement, and Visualization Assisted by Virtual and Augmented Reality

Localizing a radiation source in an urban environment is a challenge in nuclear nonproliferation and radiation detection. Mobile radiation sensor networks can be sent into an area of interest to collect count rate measurements at many locations in an attempt to find the radiation source. However, there are numerous factors that cause fluctuations in background count rate such as time and location, and these factors make it challengingto analyze thecollected data. Displaying these measurements in a virtual model has contextualized them and made it easier to determine if environmental factors are introducing false positives. A virtual model has been shown to display measurements in near real-time, but not in real-time. The ability to quickly localize a source is hamperedby this lack of real-time data access as well as by poor qualityofvirtual models. This paper introduces, 1)a new data streaming approach to displaysensor network detector data viewable in a virtual reality model within a second of measurement,2)an application designed to quicken statistics-baseddecision-making on the possibilityof a source in an area, and 3) results of a photogrammetry 3D modeling technique that more easily creates higher fidelity models. Data streaming is improved by using AWS DynamoDB for quick data storage and access. An augmented reality application guides users through the process of sampling an area and statistically determining whether a source is present. Drone photogrammetry via Agisoft Photoscan software is used for high fidelity 3D model creation

MODIFIED NODAL INTEGRAL METHOD INCORPORATED WITH IRREGULAR-SHAPE ELEMENTS FOR NAVIER-STOKES EQUATIONS

ABSTRACT A simple isoparametric geometry mapping is applied to incorporate irregular four-node quadrilateral elements into Modified Nodal Integral Method for the two-dimensional, time-dependent, incompressible Navier-Stokes equations. The modified scheme has been applied to solve the twodimensional lid driven cavity problem with exact solution, solved over a sub-domain that necessitate non-rectangular elements for efficient coarse discretization permitted by nodal scheme. Numerical results show that accuracy of the modified nodal integral scheme can be maintained for irregular shaped cells, thus extending the efficiency and accuracy of such schemes to domains with curved boundaries

Hazard of pesticides on the hearing of farmers.

Introduction: As the population of world is increasing there is increased use of pes-ticides to enhance the crop production. Farmers are trying different types of chemi-cals to kill harmful germs, but they are exposing themselves to different hazards. Throughout the world insecticides are used to kill insects that harm crops. These insecticides are usually neurotoxic. They have a lethal effect on the nervous trans-mission. Peoples who are exposed to these poisons are also at great risk of neuro-toxic effects .Objective: To study the effects of pesticides on the hearing of the farmers. It was a retrospective and descriptive type of study which was conducted in the department of physiology in association with department of ENT.Methodology: This retrospective study done between Mar 2019 to Aug 2019 at ENT department of Liaquat University Hospital Hyderabad. 100 subjects (50 study group having exposure to pesticides for at least five years, while 50 subjects as controls having no history of exposure to pesticides during last 5 years) were selected. The selected participants were subjected to a detailed otoscopic examination and if no other cause e.g. conductive deafness was found, the selection was finalized. The finalized participants were undergone through a comprehensive audiometric evalu-ation.Results: showed pesticide damages the hearing (P= .003). There was no link be-tween the age of farmers and hearing loss (1.00). It was found that as the duration of exposure increased the intensity of hearing loss increased (.001). It was also de-tected that that hearing loss was more frequent in nonprofessional than in profes-sionals (.001).Conclusion: This study revealed that pesticide affects sense of hearing in humans. Keywords: Pesticide, hearing loss, Farmers

Subjective Knowledge and The Antecedent-Mediator Relationship of TPB In Female Adolescence: Healthy Eating Intentions Prediction

Purpose: This study aims to examine the predictors of intentions towards healthy eating (HE) behavior by applying the theory of planned behavior. It also aims to verify the way subjective knowledge about healthy eating moderates the attitude-intentions, subjective norms-intentions, and perceived behavioral control-intentions relationships. Methodology: The study employs a survey research design in which data is collected via self-administered structured questionnaires. The sample size was 404 female adolescences of 15-19 years. SPSS version 21, SMART PLS version 3, and AMOS version 20 were used to analyze the reliability, validity, measurement, and structural models. Findings: Family environment, as well as Parental norms and conformity towards those, are stronger to shape positive intentions towards, HE than other societal members’ norms. Perceived behavioral control of HE is not a significant antecedent of HE intentions which might be due to the contingency effect of subjective knowledge. Subjective knowledge about HE moderating the attitude-intentions, subjective norms-intentions, and perceived behavioral control-intentions relationships as proposed. Conclusion: This is the novelty of the present work in that it has presented the moderating role of subjective knowledge about HE on the aforementioned relationships of TPB and cultivated significant results out of it. TPB is extended and delivered that overall model contributed 65% of the variance in determining HE intentions by attitude, subjective norms, and behavioral control

Electrochemiluminescence nanoimmunosensor for CD63 protein using a carbon nanochips/iron oxide/nafion-nanocomposite modified mesoporous carbon interface

The detection of extracellular vesicles, or exosomes are important mediators in intercellular communication and often play a role in cancer progression. CD63 is a key exosomal protein due to its distinctive cellular functions and association with many cancers. This describes a label-free electrochemiluminescence (ECL) nanoimmunosensor for the detection of CD63 protein over mesoporous carbon screen-printed electrode (MC-SPE) modified with novel nanocomposite of carbon nanochips (CNCs), iron oxide (Fe3O4) and nafion (NAF) . Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy were used to analyse nanocomposite. All the analytical performance of fabricated CD63 immunosensor were conducted applying ECL. In spite of the simple fabrication strategies utilized, the fabricated immunosensor showcased a broad linear range to detect CD63 from 100 fg mL-1 to 10 ng mL-1, with a limit of detection of 100 fg mL-1, excellent selectivity, interference-resistance capability and potential to detect CD63 in real clinical samples

Awake craniotomy for brain tumours in Pakistan: An initial case series from a developing country

Awake craniotomy offers safe resection of brain tumours in eloquent area. Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, recently started the programme in Pakistan, and the current study was planned to assess our experience of the first 16 procedures. The retrospective study comprised all such procedures done from November 2015 to May 2016. Pre-operative and post-operative variables were analysed. Of the 16 patients, 11(68.75%) were males and 5(31.25%) were females. The overall median age was 37 years (interquartile range[IQR]: 23-62 years). The most common presenting complaint was seizures 8(50%), followed by headache6(38%). The common pathologies operated include oligodendroglioma and glioblastoma. Pre-operative mean Karnofsky Performance Status score was 76±10, which increased to 96±7 post-operatively at discharge. Besides, 2(12.5%) intra-operative complications were observed, i.e. seizure and brain oedema, in the series. The study had median operative time of 176 minutes (IQR: 115-352) and median length of stay of 4 days (IQR: 3-7).Awake craniotomy was highly effective in maintaining post-operative functionality of the patient following glioma resection. It was also associated with shorter hospital course and so lower cost of management

Recent advancement in sensitive detection of carcinoembryonic antigen using nanomaterials based immunosensors

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is a prominent cancer biomarker that allows for early diagnosis of various cancers. Present immunoassays techniques help quantify such target molecules in test samples via anti-antibody reaction. Despite their rapid usage, conventional immunoassay techniques demonstrate several limitations that can be easily overcome by employing nanomaterials in sensing assays. Thus, nanomaterial-based immunosensors have gained steady attention from the scientific community owing to their high specificity and low detection limit. Various nanomaterials like platinum, gold, silver and carbon exhibit exceptional properties have allowed promising results in the detection and diagnostics of CEA. Thus, the present review aims to explore the significance and the recent developments of nanomaterial-based biosensors for detecting CEA biomarkers with high sensitivity, selectivity, and specificity. After a brief introduction, we discussed the fundamentals of immunosensors immobilization strategies and common nanomaterials. In the next section, we highlighted the recent advances in the common immunosensors detection approaches for CEA alone and simultaneous detection of CEA with other biomarkers detection. Finally, we concluded the review by discussing the future perspectives of this promising field of biomarkers detection

A Virtual Reality Framework to Optimize Design, Operation and Refueling of GEN-IV Reactors.

many GEN-IV candidate designs are currently under investigation. Technical issues related to material, safety and economics are being addressed at research laboratories, industry and in academia. After safety, economic feasibility is likely to be the most important crterion in the success of GEN-IV design(s). Lessons learned from the designers and operators of GEN-II (and GEN-III) reactors must play a vital role in achieving both safety and economic feasibility goals