The physics of magnetic particle inspection

This thesis describes the results of an investigation into the Physics of Magnetic Particle Inspection. This is a non destructive technique used to detect the presence of surface breaking cracks in ferrous metals. On applying a magnetic ink to the surface of the part being magnetised, particles will be attracted towards any regions of flux discontinuity. This allows the defect to be visible to the eye. The main areas of study were the magnetic properties of the inks used, a computer simulation of the indication process and work of a more practical nature concerning MPI. From the magnetic measurements it was found that field induced agglomeration of the particles imparts the ink with a coercivity and remanence which varies with concentration. Low field time decay measurements show the existence of two reversal mechanisms within the magnetic ink, i.e. Brownian and Neel. The effect interparticle interactions have on a single aggregate has been studied by the use of remanence curves and this was found to lower the aggregates' magnetisation. This therefore lowers the magnetic force on a particle during the inspection process. The spin reversal mechanism has also been determined. The computer simulation of the indication mechanism originally written by McCoy has been improved to accommodate time varying waveforms. Results from this investigation indicate that the rms of the waveform is the important parameter when specifying field values for magnetisation levels for low remanence steels. This is contrary to the British Standard BS 6072 but in agreement with the draft European Standard. It was also found that increasing the paint layer thickness decreased the number of particles at a crack. This variation was found to be similar to the variation of the magnetic leakage field from the crack with increasing paint thickness. From a study of the effects of viscosity and radii on the number of particles arriving at a crack, we find that for particles whose radius is greater than 10 microns no change is observed as the viscosity is altered. Thyristor controlled power supplies are increasingly being used to magnetise inspection pieces and for this reason the relationship between the mean and rms of the waveform has been determined. It was found that the relationship between the two is non linear. This has implications if the user wishes to remain within BS 6072. Experimental verification of the simulation results is also presented. An offshoot of this is a possible method of determining the crack width using MPI, this is also presented. Finally it was noted that upon increasing the applied magnetic field, particles present at the crack rotated through 180 degrees. This also occurred upon decreasing the magnetic field. Investigation of this unusual effect are reported as well as a possible mechanism for it

Oral versus written assessments: a test of student performance and attitudes

Student performance in and attitudes towards oral and written assessments were compared using quantitative and qualitative methods. Two separate cohorts of students were examined. The first larger cohort of students (n = 99) was randomly divided into ‘oral’ and ‘written’ groups, and the marks that they achieved in the same biology questions were compared. Students in the second smaller cohort (n = 29) were all examined using both written and oral questions concerning both ‘scientific’ and ‘personal development’ topics. Both cohorts showed highly significant differences in the mean marks achieved, with better performance in the oral assessment. There was no evidence of particular groups of students being disadvantaged in the oral tests. These students and also an additional cohort were asked about their attitudes to the two different assessment approaches. Although they tended to be more nervous in the face of oral assessments, many students thought oral assessments were more useful than written assessments. An important theme involved the perceived authenticity or ‘professionalism’ of an oral examination. This study suggests that oral assessments may be more inclusive than written ones and that they can act as powerful tools in helping students establish a ‘professional identity’

Selective primary alcohol oxidation of lignin streams from butanol-pretreated agricultural waste biomass

We would like to thank the CRITICAT Centre for Doctoral Training for financial support [Ph.D. studentship to IP; Grant code: EP/L016419/1] and BBSRC Global Challenges Research Fund Impact Acceleration Account at St Andrews BB/GCRFIAA/20. CSL thanks the Leverhulme Trust for funding an Early Career Fellowship.Chemically modified lignins are important for the generation of biomass-derived materials and as precursors to renewable aromatic monomers. A butanol-based organosolv pretreatment has been used to convert an abundant agricultural waste product, rice husks, into a cellulose pulp and three additional product streams. One of these streams, a butanol-modified lignin, was oxidized at the γ position to give a carboxylic acid functionalized material. Subsequent coupling of the acid with aniline aided lignin characterization and served as an example of the flexibility of this approach for grafting side chains onto a lignin core structure. The pretreatment was scaled up for use on a multi-kilogram scale, a development that enabled the isolation of an anomeric mixture of butoxylated xylose in high purity. The robust and scalable butanosolv pretreatment has been developed further and demonstrates considerable potential for the processing of rice husks.PostprintPeer reviewe

The diagnostic certainty levels of junior clinicians: a retrospective cohort study

Background: Clinical decision-making is influenced by many factors, including clinicians’ perceptions of the certainty around what is the best course of action to pursue. Objective: To characterise the documentation of working diagnoses and the associated level of real-time certainty expressed by clinicians and to gauge patient opinion about the importance of research into clinician decision certainty. Method: This was a single-centre retrospective cohort study of non-consultant grade clinicians and their assessments of patients admitted from the emergency department between 01 March 2019 and 31 March 2019. De-identified electronic health record proformas were extracted that included the type of diagnosis documented and the certainty adjective used. Patient opinion was canvassed from a focus group. Results: During the study period, 850 clerking proformas were analysed; 420 presented a single diagnosis, while 430 presented multiple diagnoses. Of the 420 single diagnoses, 67 (16%) were documented as either a symptom or physical sign and 16 (4%) were laboratory-result-defined diagnoses. No uncertainty was expressed in 309 (74%) of the diagnoses. Of 430 multiple diagnoses, uncertainty was expressed in 346 (80%) compared to 84 (20%) in which no uncertainty was expressed. The patient focus group were unanimous in their support of this research. Conclusion: The documentation of working diagnoses is highly variable among non-consultant grade clinicians. In nearly three quarters of assessments with single diagnoses, no element of uncertainty was implied or quantified. More uncertainty was expressed in multiple diagnoses than single diagnoses. Implications: Increased standardisation of documentation will help future studies to better analyse and quantify diagnostic certainty in both single and multiple working diagnoses. This could lead to subsequent examination of their association with important process or clinical outcome measures

Combined chelation therapy in thalassemia major for the treatment of severe myocardial siderosis with left ventricular dysfunction

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In thalassemia major (TM), severe cardiac siderosis can be treated by continuous parenteral deferoxamine, but poor compliance, complications and deaths occur. Combined chelation therapy with deferiprone and deferoxamine is effective for moderate myocardial siderosis, but has not been prospectively examined in severe myocardial siderosis.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>T2* cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) was performed in 167 TM patients receiving standard subcutaneous deferoxamine monotherapy, and 22 had severe myocardial siderosis (T2* < 8 ms) with impaired left ventricular (LV) function. Fifteen of these patients received combination therapy with subcutaneous deferoxamine and oral deferiprone with CMR follow-up.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>At baseline, deferoxamine was prescribed at 38 ± 10.2 mg/kg for 5.3 days/week, and deferiprone at 73.9 ± 4.0 mg/kg/day. All patients continued both deferiprone and deferoxamine for 12 months. There were no deaths or new cardiovascular complications. The myocardial T2* improved (5.7 ± 0.98 ms to 7.9 ± 2.47 ms; p = 0.010), with concomitant improvement in LV ejection fraction (51.2 ± 10.9% to 65.6 ± 6.7%; p < 0.001). Serum ferritin improved from 2057 (CV 7.6%) to 666 (CV 13.2%) μg/L (p < 0.001), and liver iron improved (liver T2*: 3.7 ± 2.9 ms to 10.8 ± 7.3 ms; p = 0.006).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In patients with severe myocardial siderosis and impaired LV function, combined chelation therapy with subcutaneous deferoxamine and oral deferiprone reduces myocardial iron and improves cardiac function. This treatment is considerably less onerous for the patient than conventional high dose continuous subcutaneous or intravenous deferoxamine monotherapy, and may be considered as an alternative. Very prolonged tailored treatment with iron chelation is necessary to clear myocardial iron, and alterations in chelation must be guided by repeated myocardial T2* scans.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>This trial is registered as NCT00103753</p

DOACs for stroke prevention in patients with AF and cancer

Stroke prophylaxis in atrial fibrillation is an important consideration in patients with cancer. However, there is little consensus on the choice of anticoagulation, due to the numerous difficulties associated with active cancer. Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have been shown to be a promising option. Here, we conduct a simple cross-sectional analysis of 29 cancer patients receiving DOACs for stroke prophylaxis in atrial fibrillation at a tertiary-care institution in London. Our study demonstrates an encouraging efficacy and safety profile of DOACs used in this setting. We conclude by suggesting that, while DOACs may be useful, anticoagulation in cancer patients should continue to be individualised