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Medical postgraduate trainees are given increasing levels of responsibility during training in the apprenticeship-model of training [1-3]. Responsibility is said to be a key driver of deep learning and understanding [4-7]. Trainees with greater levels of responsibility for decision making have higher levels of motivation to learn compared with trainees who self-assess as having less autonomy [5]. The Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath) indicate that ‘graded responsibility’ is part of training histopathologists and provided a framework for implementation with increasingly complex specimens suitable for reporting by more senior trainees [8,9]. 

The limits of classical equivalent computation based on time, dose, and fractionation (TDF) and linear quadratic models have been known for a long time. Medical physicists and physicians are required to provide fast and reliable interpretations regarding the delivered doses or any future prescriptions relating to treatment changes. In this letter, we propose an outline related to the different models usable for equivalent and biological doses that are likely to be the most appropriate. The used methodology is based on: the linear-quadratic-linear model of Astrahan, the repopulation effects of Dale, and the prediction of multi-fractionated treatments of Thames.

We investigate how the UV spectra of pyruvic acid (PA) and pyruvate are impacted by interactions with water molecules. In particular, we would like to understand the mechanistic origin of the blue shift in the n →− π∗ transition. Pyruvic acid is the simplest α-keto organic acid and is common in the environment. We use density functional theory to optimize geometries to determine excitation energies and find that the excitation energies of the two main pyruvic acid conformers and pyruvate blue shift when interacting with 1 to 4 water molecules, both in vacuo and in a solvent. The excitation wavelength is blue-shifted by 0.9-9.2 nm when adding water molecules to the lowest energy conformer of PA. Calculations of the UV spectra of pyruvic acid (PA) and pyruvate are crucial for understanding the impact of the interactions with water molecules.

Prothrombin Time (PT), also called Quick’s Time (QT), is a coagulation test expressed in seconds, measured in the presence of tissue thromboplastin and calcium ions. Similarly, Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (APTT) is measured in the presence of phospholipids, an activator, and calcium ions. These two tests are among the most commonly used in hemostasis. Their execution absolutely requires plasma samples used as quality controls, whether commercial or prepared locally (“pooled” in the laboratory).This descriptive study aimed to determine the stability duration of an in-house control pool for PT and APTT tests, prepared in the laboratory of the Hematology and Blood Bank service of the Yaoundé University Teaching Hospital, Cameroon.Plasma was collected after centrifugation, mixed, and then frozen at a temperature of -30 °C to preserve the coagulation factors, especially the most labile ones. The plasma pool was then aliquoted, stored at -30 °C protected from light in a domestic freezer, and kept for a period of two weeks. A portion of the pool was tested within four hours of collection: 30 PT and APTT analyses were performed.The assay was performed manually using the tube tilt method. The means obtained were 12.71 seconds for PT and 30.66 seconds for APTT. The acceptability limits (mean ± 2 standard deviations), calculated from the standard deviation, were 11.38 to 14.04 seconds for PT and 27.96 to 33.37 seconds for APTT.The plasma pool was then analyzed daily in duplicate. The average of the results for each day was plotted on a Levey-Jennings chart and interpreted according to Westgard rules. The results showed that the stability duration of the normal control pool is eight (8) days for PT and seven (7) days for APTT.In a context marked by a recurrent shortage of quality control reagents, for various logistical and economic reasons, these results offer a reliable alternative to commercial control samples, which are often expensive or unavailable. The use of locally prepared control pools could thus compensate for stock-outs of normal or pathological control reagents supplied by manufacturers.

Bifurcation analysis and Multiobjective Nonlinear Model Predictive Control (MNLMPC) calculations were performed on a model of circadian oscillations of the Period (PER) and Timeless (TIM) proteins in Drosophila. The MATLAB program MATCONT was used to perform the bifurcation analysis. The optimization language PYOMO was used along with the state-of-the-art global optimization solvers IPOPT and BARON for the MNLMPC calculations. The bifurcation analysis revealed oscillation causing Hopf bifurcations while the MNLMPC calculations revealed the existence of spikes in the control profiles. Both Hopf bifurcation points and the control profile spikes were eliminated using an activation factor involving the hyperbolic tangent function.

Background: Plain X-rays are frequently utilized as diagnostic radiological procedures. However, their usefulness can change based on the situation, such as rib fractures. Moreover, the lack of a uniform procedure in medical facilities, poor image quality resulting from operator error or insufficient training, financial incentives, and insurance reimbursement regulations can all contribute to an overuse of X-rays. Aim: This study presents the changes in the use of X-rays over the past five years (2019-2023) in the Oman Ministry of Health institutions and identifies interventions that assist in the improvement of the quality of care and patient satisfaction. Methods: The study used a mixed-method design, integrating quantitative (retrospective cross-sectional) and qualitative data collection and analyses. Quantitative data were collected from the Nabdh Al-Shifa and the annual health report over five years. Focus group interviews were used for Qualitative data collection. Results: a positive core relationship exists between population size and use of X-rays, and there were underlying contributing factors for over X-rays. The rate at which X-ray consumption has increased over the last two years has been deemed reasonable based on several variables, such as shifts in clinical practice or population growth. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that patients aged from 0-4 years had the highest X-ray utilisation service rate over the past five years, which raises concerns about the long-term risks associated with repeated radiation exposure. Clinical rotations and appropriate training for physicians at primary health care institutions, and strategies to reduce the significant financial implications, are recommended to address the high rate of X-ray utilisation.

Chimerism is a biological condition in which a single individual harbors two or more genetically distinct cell populations originating from different zygotes. This phenomenon may occur naturally due to errors during fertilization or early embryonic development, or it may arise artificially following medical interventions such as hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) or in vitro fertilization (IVF). Chimerism is broadly categorized as natural or artificial, and its presence presents significant challenges in both clinical and forensic contexts. In transplant recipients, the coexistence of donor- and host-derived cells can generate misleading genetic test results and complicate post-transplant monitoring. In forensic investigations, individuals with mixed DNA profiles may be difficult to identify accurately, as standard genetic fingerprinting technologies can yield inconclusive or erroneous findings. These complications underscore the necessity of reliable detection methods capable of identifying and differentiating chimeric cell populations. This review consolidates current knowledge regarding the classification of chimerism and the available diagnostic techniques, emphasizing that improved understanding of this condition is essential for enhancing diagnostic precision, optimizing forensic identification, and minimizing the risk of misinterpretation that may adversely affect medical decisions and legal determinations.

A study reports a novel synthesis of pure copper and the effect of laser energy on optical properties and the particle size of colloidal copper nanoparticles prepared by pulsed laser ablation in liquid (PLAL). Different laser energies (600,700,800 mJ) of pulsed laser (Nd: YaG) were used to prepare colloidal copper nanoparticles size of about (40.4 nm - 91.3 nm) which were measured using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM). The presence of Copper NPs in distilled water, respectively, with nanostructure in the shape of a spherical construction and size of about 50 nm were measured using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The absorption spectrum and Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) were measured to study the optical properties of the prepared copper nucleus, and the results showed that the SPR and high optical density were found in the 320 wavelengths at the laser energy of (600 mJ), present at wavelength 333 to the laser energy (700 mJ) and shifted to a lower wavelength (blue shift) with a higher optical density, a wavelength of 341 at the laser energy of (800 mJ).