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The effect of the intrinsic lutetium radioactivity on the detection performances of a LYSO based in-beam PET-like prototype used for quality control of hadrontherapy treatments is studied. This radioactivity leads to a background that degrades the measurement of the β+ signal. In particular, it prevents the measurement of faint signals originating from low activity β+ sources. This paper presents a method to estimate the minimum β+ activity that can be measured for any acquisition time taking into account the non-extensible dead time of the detector. This method is illustrated with experimental data collected with the in-beam PET-like prototype. The results presented in this paper are therefore specific to this detector. The method can however be applied in other contexts, either to other lutetium based PET detectors or even to non-PET detectors affected by lutetium radioactivity. The dead time correction formalism can also be used generally to scale signal and background yields in any non-paralizable detector, even those in which the background is not due to the presence of intrinsic radioactivity.

The measurement of the natural ionizing radiation in the Federal University of Technology Owerri, Nigeria was carried out using a well calibrated Digital Geiger Muller counter models GCA – 04w. Measurements were taken randomly in thirty (30) diff erent locations outside the building and thirty (30) locations inside diff erent buildings in the University. Results obtained for outdoor Dose rate ranges from 0.07 μSv/hr to 0.23 μSv/hr with a mean value of 0.144 μSv/hr. While the result for the indoor dose rate ranges from 0.08 μSv/hr to 0.21 μSv/hr with a mean of 0.14 μSv/hr. The highest value recorded for the outdoor radiation is from the university front gate which is .023μSv/hr. While the highest value recorded inside the buildings is from the School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology (SAAT) which is 0.21 μSv/hr. All these values are lower than the world safely limits of 0.247 μSv/hr. This shows that the risk of ionizing radiation on the staff and students of the Federal University of Technology is minimal.

The forensic identification of nitrate ions in post-blast pit soil samples is crucial for investigating nitrate-based explosive incidents owing to environmental factors such as rainfall and monsoon conditions, which can significantly alter the concentration and distribution of nitrate residues at blast sites, as nitrate ions are completely soluble in water. This study investigated the influence of rainfall on the retention and detectability of nitrate ions in pit soil collected from spiked simulated explosive samples, replicating the topographical conditions of hilly regions frequently impacted by insurgent and terrorist activities. Ion Chromatography (IC), a highly sensitive and selective analytical technique, was employed to quantify nitrate ion concentrations within the soil matrix. This study aimed to elucidate the mobility, leaching behavior, and retention of nitrate ions in soils affected by blast under natural drizzling rainfall conditions.

The effect of acute administration of ethanol extract of F. thoningii on anxiety and fear in Swiss white mice was studied. 30 adult Swiss white mice of both sexes were randomly divided in to three groups of 10 mice each. Group1 served as the control and was administered normal saline only. Group 2 (low dose group) was administered 10mg/kg ethanol extract of the F. thoningii, while group 3 (high dose group) was given 20mg/kg of the same extract. All animals were allowed food and water ad libitum. Neurobehavioral parameter was assessed using the light/dark transition box. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to test for variability within and among groups. Results were expressed as Mean ±SEM (standard error of the mean) and probability level p<0.05 was accepted as significant. The result showed that the frequency of transition in the light/dark transition box was significantly increased in the test groups (p<0.05; p<0.01).Similarly, the Light Box Duration was also significantly increased (p<0.01) in the low and high dose groups respectively. However, the Dark box duration was significantly decreased (p<0.05; p<0.01) in the low and high dose groups compared to control. This index showed a decreased level of anxiety and fear in the test groups. This was followed by a corresponding trend of decreased frequency of stretch attend posture and duration of freezing in the light/dark transition box (p<0.01; p<0.001) compared to the control. Summarily, acute administration of ethanol extract of F. thonningii causes calmness and sedation in moderate and high doses. It is therefore likely that it reduces aggression. If the result from this finding is extrapolated to humans, F. thoningii could be used to reduce anxiety disorders.

This study was carried out to investigate the rotational structure of even-even 166Hf isotopes using the phenomenological fitting, Sood’s semi-empirical formula. The rotational energies from the calculated values were compared to the experimental spectrum. The result shows that in 166Hf, calculated energies fit the experimental values to a remarkable degree of accuracy.

Background: Macitentan significantly improves pulmonary hemodynamics and survival in patients with primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH). Its beneficial effect, however, may be blunted due to the adverse impacts such as anemia and peripheral edema. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a significant consequence of congenital heart disease (CHD). Its presence and severity are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. We tried to evaluate that the effectiveness of the macitentan in patients with late-onset pulmonary hypertension after atrial septal defect operation in our center. Methods: The effect of a single dose of macitentan (10 mg) on pulmonary hemodynamics, functional capacity was examined in four patients with late-onset pulmonary hypertension after atrial septal defect operation. Results: The macitentan significantly improved mean pulmonary artery pressure (MPAP), cardiac output (CO), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), right ventricle systolic wave(RVS’), 6-minute walking test and NT-proBNP levels compared with before treatment. Conclusions: Macitentan can be used in patients with late-onset pulmonary hypertension after shunt operation especially atrial septal defect.

Anthropogenic activity has escalated the planet’s temperature and resulted in dire consequences on our environment, and our health, whether physical or mental. The imbalance created in the planet’s environmental conditions has consequently caused a rupture in mental health, and ecoanxiety has become one of the adverse indirect repercussions. Not quite recently, a sense of urgency has been spreading in the literature of climate change, evoking a call for action, and requesting commitment from us all: individuals, communities, and countries. This paper attempts to establish a link between the climate crisis and ecoanxiety in the aim to restore our cognition of our roles to save the planet, salvage our health and preserve, and conserve, environmental resources for future generations.

Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) is a major public health concern, affecting approximately 900,000 people annually in the United States. In rare cases, a Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) may allow a venous thrombus to cross into the arterial circulation, causing a paradoxical embolism. This case report presents a 46-year-old male who developed left renal artery stenosis after a paradoxical embolism, likely triggered by a prolonged flight and binge alcohol consumption. The patient was found to have a moderate-sized PFO and renal infarction, confirmed by imaging studies. Despite initial anticoagulation therapy and a planned stenting procedure, intraoperative findings revealed only mild stenosis, leading to cancellation of the stent placement. The patient ultimately underwent PFO closure with an Amplatzer Talisman device. This case underscores the diagnostic challenges in managing paradoxical embolism and the need for individualized treatment, particularly concerning anticoagulation duration, the decision for PFO closure, and post-procedural antithrombotic therapy. Further research is required to establish optimal management strategies for cryptogenic embolic events.

It is planned to carry out a comprehensive experimental and theoretical study on the high temperature of low calorific gas combustion with oxygen-deficient oxidizers. The experimental research will be performed using the experimental facility with a combustion chamber. The oxygen concentration in combustion oxidizers will be varied from 21% by volume (normal) air to 2%. The test combustion chamber will be fed with propane or methane as the reference fuel, then with low calorific fuels as test gases obtained by mixing various combustible components, e.g. H2, CH4, CO, and neutral gases, e.g. N2, CO2. Gaseous fuels prepared in this way will be burned in the atmosphere of a deficient oxidizer with a temperature changing from 800 °C to 1100 °C. Oxidizers will be heated up to a certain temperature using two methods: by flue gas heat exchanger and kanthal rod electric preheater. Different burner geometry will be used. The burner will be equipped with annular swirl vanes for co-axial or under different angles, fuel, and oxidizers flow to have a high swirl number achieved by flow aerodynamics and mixing. Experimental data will be verified with numerical simulations with the use of ANSYS CFD Fluent code.

A study of palm lines, various landmarks on the hand, and their correlation with the hand's anthropometric dimensions may sometimes help predict various future events in the life of an individual. We try to find out any correlation between these appearances and the sudden death of an individual. In the present study, we collected data from an individual’s hand after carefully breaking the rigor mortis in the deceased brought for medicolegal postmortem examination and measured the different dimensions. The data were then subjected to statistical analysis. The article may help rule out the cultural belief about the study of the lifeline and age at the time of death. Palmistry is a self-interpretation of changes in or around the lifeline by an individual, and it varies from person to person. There is no concrete literature proof available that suggests its importance in ascertaining the age of the individual.We also observed that there is no close relation between the age interpreted by the lifeline and the biological age of the individual. Our study shows that the individual either lives too long or too short compared to age by the lifeline.We observed that unnatural deaths are more common in young individuals, and males outnumber females. According to the cause of death, hanging, accident, and poisoning are the most common, followed by sudden death and homicide. In our study, we observed that there is no correlation between unnatural death and the lifeline of an individual and age at the time of death.