Weibull Distribution and the multiplicity moments in pp (ppˉ)pp\,(p\bar{p}) collisions

A higher moment analysis of multiplicity distribution is performed using the Weibull description of particle production in $pp\,(p\bar{p})$ collisions at SPS and LHC energies. The calculated normalized moments and factorial moments of Weibull distribution are compared to the measured data. The calculated Weibull moments are found to be in good agreement with the measured higher moments (up to 5$^{\rm{th}}$ order) reproducing the observed breaking of KNO scaling in the data. The moments for $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV are also predicted.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Exploring the southern pulsar population in image domain with the Murchison Wide eld Array

Pulsars are unparalleled astrophysical tools for studying high-energy physics. This thesis demonstrates that an image-based approach probes complementary part of the parameter space to traditional periodicity searches, and has the potential to reveal previously undiscovered pulsars. The success of this study emphasizes the application of image-based techniques in identifying pulsar candidates in low-frequency imaging and serves as a first step in improving future pulsar detection efficiency, for both the MWA and the SKA-Low

POZZOLANIC EFFECT OF RICE HUSK ASH IN PASTE

The research of this final year project is to investigate the pozzolanic effect of rice husk ash in the cement/binder paste. In order to attain this main objective, there are several tasks need to be carried out. In other word, there are several sub-objectives need to be attained to achieve the mainobjective of this research. Thesub-objectives of this research will be discussed clearly in the introduction. The production of rice husk ash is the main topic concerning in this research. Rice husk ash produced must fulfill two basic requirements, the ash must contain at least 80% of silica and it must attain amorphous phase so that the ash is chemical reactive in the mixture. Thus, the high quality ash can be obtained by controlling the burning process of the rice husk. A standard burning procedure had been fixed and the detail of the burning procedure is discussed in detail inthe methodology section. The fines of the rice husk ash will be determined by using Blaine Air Permeability test and Le Chatelier flask test. However, the equipment of Le Chatelier flask is not available in the university. Thus, the test had to be carried out by using ordinary conical flask. The concept and procedure for Le Chatelier Flask test will maintain the same for ordinary conical flask testbutthe result obtained for LeChatelier Flask test will be more accurate than the ordinary conical flask due to the different equipment calibration between both tests. Water/cement-binder ratio is supposed determining by using the flow tablet but due to unavailability of flow table in the university, Vicat test had been chosen to determine the water/cement-binder ratio. The water/cement-binder ratio is maintained constant previously in this research but the selected water/cement-binder ratio is not suitable for all the mixtures especially mixtures that incorporate higher percentage of RHA. Therefore, water/cement-binder ratio for all the mixtures will be determined by carrying out the Vicat test to ensure that the mixtures will undergo complete hydration process. Thus, we had fixed one water/cement-binder ratio for every mixture, but one value of W/C ratio for each mixture cannot be justified as the optimum W/C ratio that gives the optimum compressive strength for the each mixture. Thus, we choose a few more water/cement-binder ratio for each mixture so that we can obtain a curve that will give theoptimum compressive strength for all the mixtures. The degree of hydration of the paste can be obtained by carrying outthe TGA test. The paste at the age of 28 days will be grinded and will be tested in the TGA machine. Since there are a lot samples to be tested, the optimum compressive strength for each samples will be chosento undergothe TGAtest

Effects of occupational heat exposure on female brick workers in West Bengal, India

Background : Manual brick-manufacturing units in India engage a large number of female workers on a daily-wage basis for a period of 8 months per year. There are two groups of female workers in the brickfields: the brick molders and the brick carriers. These brickfields are mostly unorganized, and the workers are exposed to extreme conditions such as very high seasonal heat. The present trend of increasing temperatures, as a result of global warming and climate change, will put an additional burden on them. Objective : This study aims to evaluate the effect of workplace heat exposure on the well-being, physiological load, and productivity of female brickfield workers in India. Design : A questionnaire study (n=120), environmental temperature, and weekly work productivity analyses were evaluated for 8 months in the brickfields. Cardiac strain and walking speed (subset, n=40) were also studied and compared in hotter and colder days amongst the female brickfield workers. Results : The subjects experience summer for about 5 months with additional heat stress radiating from the brick kiln. The weekly productivity data show a linear decline in productivity with increased maximum air temperature above 34.9°C. The cardiac parameters (peak heart rate (HRp), net cardiac cost (NCC), relative cardiac cost (RCC), and recovery heart rates) were significantly higher on hotter days (Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGTout) index: 26.9°C to 30.74°C) than on cooler days (WBGTout index: 16.12°C to 19.37°C) for the brick molders; however, this is not the case for the brick carriers. As the brick carriers adapt to hotter days by decreasing their walking speed, their productivity decreases. Conclusion : We conclude that high heat exposure in brickfields during summer caused physiological strain in both categories of female brickfield workers. A coping strategy employed by the brick carriers was to reduce their walking speed and thus lose part of their earnings. The lost productivity for every degree rise in temperature is about 2% in the brickfields. This reduction will be exacerbated by climate change and may undermine the quality of life of female brickfield workers

High-dose-rate brachytherapy boost in prostate cancer: clinical outcomes, late rectal toxicity and uncertainties in organ at risk delineation

Prostate cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in the developed world, having caused 293,000 deaths in 2013 (Global Burden of Disease Cancer, et al., 2013). According to the Spanish Network of Cancer Registries (REDECAN), 33,370 new cases were diagnosed in 2015 in Spain. In 2014, prostate cancer was ranked fifth in terms of cancer deaths among Spanish men (Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 2014). High-risk prostate cancer is an aggressive form of the disease with a higher risk of distant metastasis and mortality. This classification represents a significant portion of the nearly 28,000 prostate cancer deaths per year in the United States and the 5,855 deaths in Spain (American Cancer Society 2015; Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 2014). There are different treatment options for locally advanced prostate cancer, such as active surveillance, radical prostatectomy, and radiotherapy. The use of radiotherapy in the radical treatment of intermediate- and high-risk prostate cancer has been well studied in several prospective randomized trials (Zelefsky et al., 2008; Coen et al., 2002). This option can be administered through EBRT, BT, and either HDRBT or LDRBT given alone or combined with EBRT. HDRBT is a brachytherapy technique, and when combined with EBRT, it allows for dose escalation, administration of the complete dose to the target (the prostate), and minimisation of the dose received by the surrounding normal tissues. Current international treatment guidelines recommend the use of HDRBT combined with EBRT, which is also known as “HDRBT boost”. According to the ABS, GEC/ESTRO, and ESTRO/EUA/EORTC, this treatment modality improves local control compared with monotherapy, as well as the outcomes in certain patients with intermediate- and high-risk disease (Zaorsky et al., 2017). There are no specific recommendations about the best dose fractionation scheme for HDRBT boost. Several studies have reported various treatment schemes, which has made it difficult to compare the results of acute and late toxicity. In recent years, there has been a transition in the number of fractions delivered. Initially, as many as four boost fractions were used, but currently, the evidence supports large boost fractions with a single HDRBT boost (Morton et al., 2013). This trend has been accompanied by important biological effects, as well as practical and cost-saving advantages. Furthermore, virtually all-geometric uncertainty is eliminated, as there is no risk of inter-fraction variability. For these reasons, there has been much interest in this technique, which has also been adopted by several centres for high-risk patients. This thesis is motivated by the need for clinical outcomes, including improvements in prevention and decrease of rectal toxicity. The purpose of this thesis was threefold. Firstly, to determine the clinical outcomes of a cohort of patients diagnosed with prostate cancer and treated with HDRBT boost using real-time TRUS based planning in combination with EBRT (see Chapter IV, Paper I). Secondly, determining the occurrence of late rectal toxicity in our patients’ cohort and evaluating its potential relationship with D2cc parameter. This was based in the rectal constraint recommended by GEC/ESTRO, given the absence of another rectal dose constraints from similar studies of HDRBT combined with EBRT for prostate cancer (see Chapter IV, Paper I). Thirdly, we proposed to evaluate the D 2cc robustness in HDRBT for prostate cancer using the interobserver variability in the rectum contouring. A first pilot study was performed with a limited number of patients and physicians of the same center (see Chapter IV, Paper II). Lastly, in order to evaluate the outcomes from the pilot study, a multicentre prospective study was performed (see Chapter IV, Paper III). Below is a summary of the information contained in each of the papers of this thesis. Chapter I provides a summary describing the findings of the research that were carried out by the doctoral candidate. Chapter II provides a general introduction and justification of the thesis. Chapter III contains the general aim, specific objectives and the study design of the thesis. In Chapter IV (Paper I), we review our institution´s experience with HDRBT boost for localized prostate cancer. The first purpose of this study was to analyse the clinical outcomes, particularly local control, overall survival, and late rectal toxicity. The second purpose was to determine the significance of dose-volume histogram parameters for predicting LRT after single-fraction HDRBT boost and EBRT in prostate cancer patients. A cohort of 300 patients diagnosed with locally advanced prostate cancer and treated with HDRBT boost plus EBRT were followed prospectively. The patient data were used for both purposes. The treatment comprised a single-fraction HDRBT boost of 15 Gy plus EBRT ...MedicinaCiencias de la Salu