Implementación de un sistema económico para vigilancia radiológica para el Personal Ocupacionalmente Expuesto en Servicios de Medicina Nuclear

The nature of the routine activities carried on in nuclear medicine services, where several not sealed radioactive sources are used, the occupational personal exposed (POE, to ionization radiation) is exposed to both, internal and external radioactive contamination and direct radiation also. The radiological most important radioisotope in such Nuclear Medicine Services (NMS) is the 131I. The Mexican official organization in nuclear safety: Comisión de Seguridad Nuclear y Salvaguardias (CNSNS) stipulate, as a requirement in the operation license of Nuclear Medicine Services the mandatory of internal and external dosimetry survey of Exposed Workers. The external dosimetry survey is normally carried out but the internal dosimetry survey is not easy to do, because internal dosimetry systems are too expensive and in Mexico there are only 3 organizations (CFE-CLV, ININ, CNSNS) where count with this kind of systems but they are´nt easily available for the Nuclear Medicine Services. Because that before fact, we propose a single, and low cost system to survey (SLCS) of internal dosimetry of Exposed Worker. This system is based in a scintillation NaI(Tl) detector of 2 x 2” and a radiation monitor that is used in a routine radiation and contamination measures, with a minimal infrastructure investment. This system is numerical calibrated with Montecarlo method, and its function is compared with an well established commercial validated System of the Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones nucleares (ININ) being a good function corresponding. This system is easy to implement in any nuclear medicine to complain the requirement of operation license in this internal dosimetry workers survey.Debido a que la naturaleza de las actividades rutinarias llevadas a cabo en los servicios de medicina nuclear, donde se utilizan varias fuentes radiactivas no selladas, el Personal Ocupacionalmente Expuesto(POE), se ve directamente involucrado tanto a la contaminación radiactiva interna como externa. El radioisótopo de mayor importancia desde el punto de vista de riesgo radiológico en Servicios de Medicina Nuclear (NMS) es el 131I. El órgano regulador oficial para la seguridad radiológica y nuclear en México: Comisión Nacional de Seguridad Nuclear y Salvaguardias (CNSNS) expide, una licencia de operación en Servicios de Medicina Nuclear, como requisito para la supervisión de dosimetría interna y externa al POE. La supervisión de dosimetría externa normalmente se lleva a cabo sin embargo la dosimetría interna no es tan fácil de evaluarse, puesto los sistemas de dosimetría interna son demasiado costosos y en México solo hay tres Instituciones (CFE-CLV, ININ, CNSNS) donde se tienen este tipo de sistemas, por lo que en los Servicios de Medicina Nuclear no es tan fácil su acceso. Debido a que antes mencionado, proponemos un sistema de bajo costo (SLCS) para evaluar la dosimetría interna de POE. Este sistema está basado en un detector de centelleo de NaI(Tl) de 2 x 2 pulgadas y un monitor de radiación típicamente usado en mediciones de rutinarias de radiación y contaminación, con una inversión mínima en la infraestructura. Este sistema está calibrado numéricamente con el método Montecarlo, y se ha comparado con un sistema comercial del Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Nucleares (ININ) ya validado con una buena función de respuesta. Este sistema es fácil de implementar en cualquier servicio de medicina nuclear para así cumplir con el requisito en la licencia de operación en la supervisión de dosimetría interna al POE

Studies and a model of appropriation of information and communication technologies in university students’ everyday life

This thesis investigated the appropriation of information and communication technologies in everyday life among university students and mature people. To that end, pertinent literature was reviewed resulting in the identification of three issues in need of a more careful appraisal by the HCI field. These issues were used as the research questions propelling this work; they include the identification of elements favouring the process of appropriation; the effect of a changing context on this process; and the co-existence of seemingly overlapping ICTs in people’s lives. A qualitative methodology was utilised in the studies reported in this thesis. Ethnographic work was conducted over a period of three months with fifteen masters students at the University of Glasgow in the UK. Further ethnographic work over a shorter time frame was conducted abroad among university students at Hokkaido University in Japan, Ajou University in South Korea and Nankai University in China. Additional ethnographic work was conducted among mature people in a religious community in Mexico. Qualitative data gathered was analysed using Grounded Theory and Structuration Theory. Two are the main contributions of this work. First, a number of insights providing some answers to the research questions posited in this thesis. These answers were advanced as a complement and expansion to issues previously identified in the literature as relevant in the process of appropriation. Because of the ecological perspective underlying this thesis, these answers were presented as technology-neutral and yet useful to understand how the appropriation of technology is induced and sustained, what the impact of a changing environment in the process of appropriation is, and how similar technologies with overlapping features can thrive in the same environment. The second contribution of this work was a three-layered model of appropriation of ICTs built from the identification of common patterns across the studies conducted. This model sought to detail the role of several intersecting large-scale social processes or structures (i.e., governments, various-sized private and state-owned organisations, the media, families and peers, as well as marketing practices, technical infrastructures and architectural spaces) that provide the resources and restrictions upon which the process of appropiation of digital technology rests. This framework was advanced as a simple tool to aid HCI researchers in the collection, analysis and reporting of qualitative data around the process of appropriation as shaped by the pervasive social structures of contemporary society. The limitations of the ethnographic work here reported, as well as those of the ensuing conclusions, are identified and used to suggest some avenues of future exploration around the appropriation of ICTs in daily life

Improving the surface finish of concave and convex surfaces using a ball burnishing process

The ball burnishing process is done to improve the surface finish of workpieces that have been previously machined. In this article we present the results of tests performed with this process that was applied to workpieces with a convex or concave surface of two different materials: aluminum A92017 and steel G10380. An experiment to do the tests was designed. The results of measurements of surface roughness are presented in this paper as well. These results are compared to those measured in the workpieces before being burnished. After that conclusions are drawn about the improvement of surface roughness applied to the workpieces through the ball burnishing process. The main innovation of this paper is that we work with concave and convex geometries. We also obtain a table of recomended parameter values for the process

An Analysis of Investments by Multilateral Development Banks in Central America

Multilateral development banks (MDBs) are under increased pressure to justify their allocation of donor resources. These funds help produce growth in developing regions such as Central America (CA), where wealth inequality limits individuals\u27 access to basic services and increases the prevalence of crime and corruption. MDB leaders are not always confident the allocation of limited resources creates optimal value. The capital asset price model (CAPM) was the theoretical framework of this correlational study. Archival data consisting of annual reports and audited financial statements were used to draw a sample (N = 66) of USD $4.857-asset valued loans made by MDBs between 1995-2013 in 7 CA countries. Regression analysis was used to determine the significance of relationships between the independent variables including the risk-free rate of return (Rf), volatility of a project (βp), and expected return on the market (Rm) and the dependent variable, the expected return (rp) used by MDBs. No evidence of a statistically significant relationship between the expected return of individual loans (adjusted for risk-free rate, volatility, and market return) and the expected return used by MDBs was found using correlational analysis. Findings from multiple regression analysis indicated that the expected return used by MDBs underperforms risk-adjusted market expectations. Study findings may help MDB leaders to promote business development and social welfare in CA through private investments, which may result in positive social change

Relationship between the Sludge Settling Characteristics and the Parameters of the Activated Sludge System

The activated sludge process is one of the most commonly employed domestic and industrial waste treatment process. Different types of mathematical models have been proposed for design and operation of this process, most of which do not consider the relationship between the sludge settling characteristics and the aeration unit performance. This project studies the validity of a model developed by La Motta (2004b) which links the operating parameters of an activated sludge system and the classical limiting flux sludge settling theory. Favorable results were obtained demonstrating that the model predicts very similar values of the parameters of the system in comparison with the parameters observed in an activated sludge pilot plant that is located within installations of the Marrero Wastewater Treatment Plant, New Orleans, Louisiana. This research also demonstrated that the model is a helpful tool for the design and operation of an activated sludge system

Relationship between the Sludge Settling Characteristics and the Parameters of the Activated Sludge System

The activated sludge process is one of the most commonly employed domestic and industrial waste treatment process. Different types of mathematical models have been proposed for design and operation of this process, most of which do not consider the relationship between the sludge settling characteristics and the aeration unit performance. This project studies the validity of a model developed by La Motta (2004b) which links the operating parameters of an activated sludge system and the classical limiting flux sludge settling theory. Favorable results were obtained demonstrating that the model predicts very similar values of the parameters of the system in comparison with the parameters observed in an activated sludge pilot plant that is located within installations of the Marrero Wastewater Treatment Plant, New Orleans, Louisiana. This research also demonstrated that the model is a helpful tool for the design and operation of an activated sludge system

Brand personality: theory and dimensionality

Purpose: This paper aims to critique human personality as a theory underpinning brand personality and to propose instead a theory from human perception, and by doing so, to identify universally relevant dimensions. Design/methodology/approach: A review of published measures of brand personality, a re-analysis of two existing data bases and the analysis of one new database are used to argue and test for the dimensions derived from perception theory. Findings: Existing work on brand personality suggests 16 separate dimensions for the construct, but some appear common to most measures. When non-orthogonal rotation is used to re-analyse existing trait data on brand personality, three dimensions derived from signalling and associated theory can emerge: sincerity (e.g. warm, friendly and agreeable), competence (e.g. competent, effective and efficient) and status (e.g. prestigious, elegant and sophisticated). The first two are common to most measures, status is not. Research limitations/implications: Three dimensions derived from signalling and associated theory are proposed as generic, relevant to all contexts and cultures. They can be supplemented by context specific dimensions. Practical implications: Measures of these three dimensions should be included in all measures of brand personality. Originality/value: Prior work on brand personality has focussed on identifying apparently new dimensions for the construct. While most work is not theoretically based, some have argued for the relevance of human personality. That model is challenged, and an alternative approach to both theory and analysis is proposed and successfully tested

Integrated weather sensor platform and decision support system for improved sweet potato production

Water management represents an essential component in all agricultural activities, where significant improvements can be achieved through the implementation of field measuring devices and irrigation scheduling models. The methods that integrate these tools may be based on information regarding the soil, crop, and weather. Evapotranspiration (ET) is one of the most important components of the soil water-balance used in modeling. A number of estimation methods have been developed to determine Reference Evapotranspiration (ETo) under various types of weather conditions. In this research, an analysis was conducted between different ETo estimation methods and ETo calculated from soil water content measurements and a soil-water budget, in Northeast Louisiana during the 2010 sweetpotato growing season. Similarly, the standardize ASCE Penman-Monteith equation was then compared to ETo equations using limited weather inputs. Additionally, a Sweetpotato Irrigation Scheduler (SPIS) based on a simple soil-water balance approach was developed to improve irrigation scheduling using weather, crop, and soil data. The model’s predictions were validated, for the critical first 30 Days after Transplanting (DAT) and for the entire growing season, against field data obtained from soil water content probes. A previously developed phenology-driven Bayesian belief network model was used to establish the timing and depth of irrigation. Some difficulties where found during the assessment of ETo and the simulation of the soil-water content under unsaturated soil and dry weather conditions. These circumstances reduced the capacity of the soil to move water appropriately, slowing down some of the processes involved in the soil-water budget, causing a misrepresentation by the ETo equations and the irrigation scheduling model