• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2023

Background: The detectors of both computed radiography (CR) and direct digital radiography (DR) have a wide dynamic range that could tolerate high values of exposure factors without an adverse effect on image quality. Therefore, this study aims to assess patient radiation dose and proposes institutional diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) for two teaching hospitals in Ghana. Materials and Methods: CR and DR systems were utilized in this study from two teaching hospitals. The CR system was manufactured by Philips Medical Systems DMC GmbH, while the DR system was manufactured by General Electric. The entrance skin doses (ESDs) were calculated using the standard equation and the tube output measurements. Free-in-air kerma (µGy) was measured using a calibrated radiation dosimeter. The proposed institutional DRLs were estimated using 75^th percentiles values of the estimated ESDs for nine radiographic projections. Results and Discussion: The calculated DRLs were 0.4, 1.6, 3.4, 0.5, 0.4, 1.1, 1.0, 1.2, and 1.7 mGy for chest posteroanterior (PA), lumbar spine anteroposterior (AP), lumbar spine lateral (LAT), cervical spine AP, cervical spine LAT, skull PA, pelvis AP, and abdomen AP, respectively in CR system. In the DR system, the values were 0.3, 1.6, 3.1, 0.4, 0.3, 0.7, 0.6, 0.9, and 1.3 for chest PA, lumbar spine AP, lumbar spine LAT, cervical spine AP, cervical spine LAT, skull PA, pelvis AP, and abdomen AP, respectively. Conclusion: Institutional DRLs in nine radiographic projections have been proposed for two teaching hospitals in Ghana for the first time. The proposed DRLs will serve as baseline data for establishing local DRLs in the hospitals and will be a valuable tool in optimizing patient doses.

• Analyses & Alternatives
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.29-61
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• 2019

Within the discipline of International Relations (IR), the literatures on global governance (GG) and great power management (GPM) at best ignore each other, and at worst treat the other as a rival or enemy. On the one hand, the GPM literature, like both realism in all its forms, and neoliberalism, takes for granted the ongoing, disproportionate influence of the great powers in the management of the international system/society, and does not look much beyond that. On the other hand, the GG literature emphasizes the roles of smaller states, non-state actors and intergovernmental organizations (IGOs), and tends to see great powers more as part of the problem than as part of the solution. This paper argues that the rise to prominence of a non-traditional security agenda, and particularly of human security, has triggered a de facto merger of GPM and GG that the IR literature usually treated as separate and often opposed theories. We use the Ebola crisis of 2014-15 to show how an issue framed as human security brought about a multi-actor response that combined the key elements of GPM and GG. The security framing overrode many of the usual inhibitions between great powers and non-state actors in humanitarian crises, including even the involvement of great power military forces. Through examining broadly the way in which the Ebola crisis is tackled, we argue that in an age of growing human security challenges, GPM and GG are necessarily and fruitfully merging. The role of great powers in this new human security environment is moving away from the simple means and ends of traditional GPM. Now, great powers require the ability to cooperate and coordinate with multiple-level actors to make the GG/GPM nexus more effective and sustainable. In doing so they can both provide crucial resources quickly, and earn respect and status as responsible great powers. IGOs provide legitimation and coordination to the GPM/GG package, and non-state actors (NSAs) provide information, specialist knowledge and personnel, and links into public engagement. In this way, the unique features of the Ebola crisis provide a model for how the merger of GPM and GG might be taken forward on other shared-fate threats facing global international society.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.45.1-45.8
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• 2020

Objective: The aim of this study was to introduce a gelatin/bovine serum albumin (BSA) tissue standard, which provides dissolution properties identical to those of biological tissues. Further, the study evaluated whether the utilization of endodontic activating devices led to enhanced phantom dissolution rates. Materials and Methods: Bovine pulp tissue was obtained to determine a benchmark of tissue dissolution. The surface area and mass of samples were held constant while the ratio of gelatin and BSA were varied, ranging from 7.5% to 10% gelatin and 5% BSA. Each sample was placed in an individual test tube that was filled with an appropriate sodium hypochlorite solution for 1, 3, and 5 minutes, and then removed from the solution, blotted dry, and weighed again. The remaining tissue was calculated as the percent of initial tissue to determine the tissue dissolution rate. A radiopaque agent (sodium diatrizoate) and a fluorescent dye (methylene blue) were added to the phantom to allow easy quantification of phantom dissolution in a canal block model when activated using ultrasonic (EndoUltra) or sonic (EndoActivator) energy. Results: The 9% gelatin + 5% BSA phantom showed statistically equivalent dissolution to bovine pulp tissue at all time intervals. Furthermore, the EndoUltra yielded significantly more phantom dissolution in the canal block than the EndoActivator or syringe irrigation. Conclusions: Our phantom is comparable to biological tissue in terms of tissue dissolution and could be utilized for in vitro tests due to its injectability and detectability.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.212-215
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• 2014

The aim of the study was to identify the effects of two different diets (sand eels or saurels) on the serum protein electrophoretic patterns of Oriental White Storks held in captivity. The tests were performed on two groups of storks according to the diet (group 1 and 2). Twenty-two (group 1) or twenty-nine (group 2) storks were included. The values of complete blood count (CBC), serum biochemistry profiles, protein fractions (albumin, ${\alpha}$-globulin, ${\beta}$-globulin, and ${\gamma}$-globulin), and lipoprotein (high density- [HDL] and low density lipoprotein [LDL]) were compared between samples obtained during two groups (p < 0.05). The ${\alpha}$-globulin fraction was decreased and the ${\beta}$-globulin fraction was significantly increased in samples obtained from group 1 compared to those obtained from group 2. In group 1, the concentration of LDL was also significantly increased compared to that of group 2. In conclusion, we confirmed that the ${\beta}$-globulin fraction was significantly elevated in storks fed sand eels.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.77-85
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• 2000

To investigate the practical assessing method of pork quality, 302 carcasses were selected randomly to represent commercial conditions and were probed at 24 hr postmortem (PM) by Danish Meat Quality Marbling (MQM), Hennessy Grading Probe (HGP), Sensoptic Resistance Probe (SRP) and NWK pH-K21 meter (NpH). Also, filter paper wetness (FPW), lightness (L*), ultimate pH (pHu), subjective color (SC), firmness/wetness (SF) and marbling scores (SM) were recorded. Each carcass was categorized as either PSE (pale, soft and exudative), RSE (Reddish-pink, soft and exudative), RFN (reddish-pink, firm and non-exudative) or DFD (dark, firm and dry). When discriminant analysis was used to sort carcasses into four quality groups the highest proportion of correct classes was 65% by HGP, 60% by MQM, 52% by NpH and 32% by SRP. When independent variables were combined to sort carcasses into groups the success was only 67%. When RSE and RFN groups were merged so that there were only three groups (PSE, RSE+RFN, DFD) differentiating by color MQM was able to sort the same set of data into the new set of three groups with 80% accuracy. The proportions of correct classifications for HGP, NpH and SRP were 75%, 61% and 35% respectively. There was a decline in predication accuracy when only two groups, exudative (PSE and RES) and non exudative (RFN and DFD) were sorted. However, when two groups designated PSE and non-PSE (RSE, RFN and DFD) were sorted then the proportion of correct classification by MQM, HGP, SRP and NpH were 87%, 81%, 71% and 66% respectively. Combinations of variables only increased the prediction accuracy by 1 or 2% over prediction by MQM alone. When the data was sorted into three marbling groups based on SM this was not well predicted by any of the probe measurements. The best prediction accuracy was 72% by a combination of MQM and NpH.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.94-99
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• 2014

The present study aimed to evaluate the in vitro antimycobacterial effects of hop plant, Humulus japonicus. Methanol extract of H. japonicus (MeOH extract) showed strong direct bactericidal effects against Mycobacterium tuberculosis in vitro. Furthermore, the MeOH extract significantly inhibited M. tuberculosis growth in human macrophages. When five fractions obtained from MeOH extract were examined using the same methods, the hexane and ethyl acetate fractions showed bactericidal effects against M. tuberculosis in vitro, whereas the butanol and water fractions inhibited M. tuberculosis growth in macrophages. Because H. japonicus extract exhibited antimycobacterial activity against both free M. tuberculosis in culture medium and intracellular M. tuberculosis in human macrophages, this plant might be a good candidate for development of a new anti-tuberculosis drug.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.1917-1923
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• 2016

Background: Lynch Syndrome (LS) is a familial cancer condition caused by germline mutations in DNA mismatch repair genes. Individuals with LS have a greatly increased risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC) and it is therefore important to identify mutation carriers so they can undergo regular surveillance. Tumor DNA from LS patients characteristically shows microsatellite instability (MSI). Our aim here was to screen young CRC patients for MSI as a first step in the identification of unrecognized cases of LS in the Saudi population. Materials and Methods: Archival tumor tissue was obtained from 284 CRC patients treated at 4 institutes in Dammam and Riyadh between 2006 and 2015 and aged less than 60 years at diagnosis. MSI screening was performed using the BAT-26 microsatellite marker and positive cases confirmed using the pentaplex MSI analysis system. Positive cases were screened for BRAF mutations to exclude sporadic CRC and were evaluated for loss of expression of 4 DNA mismatch repair proteins using immunohistochemistry. Results: MSI was found in 33/284 (11.6%) cases, of which only one showed a BRAF mutation. Saudi MSI cases showed similar instability in the BAT-26 and BAT-25 markers to Australian MSI cases, but significantly lower frequencies of instability in 3 other microsatellite markers. Conclusions: MSI screening of young Saudi CRC patients reveals that approximately 1 in 9 are candidates for LS. Patients with MSI are strongly recommended to undergo genetic counselling and germline mutation testing for LS. Other affected family members can then be identified and offered regular surveillance for early detection of LS-associated cancers.

• Korean Security Journal
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• no.55
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• pp.169-192
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• 2018

This article assesses the recent police reform strategy in England and Wales with the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011. Police and Crime Commissioners have a responsibility not just for the police force but also for reducing crime in their area of responsibility. This ensures that their remit runs much more widely than their predecessor body, the police authority. The article goes on to evaluate the nature and extent of crime by making immediate use of survey of local police commanders. The surveys showed that police commands were swamped with minor crime and anti-social offences. The arrival of Police and Crime Commissioners has meant that now police priorities can be more closely aligned to those of the public and where anti-social behaviour is now recognised as impacting on the lives of many residents more significantly than criminal activity. The article highlights the changes introduced by government following the Winsor Review to police pay, pensions and conditions of service. It reflects on the impact of this on both police morale and professional motivation. It suggests that current government policy is now haemorrhaging the police service as increasing numbers of experienced officers are leaving the police service which could ultimately undermine its long-term resilience as a strategic emergency service.

• Ocean Systems Engineering
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.23-60
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• 2016

The major objective of this study was to develop further understanding of 3D nearshore hydrodynamics under a variety of wave and tidal forcing conditions. The main tool used was a comprehensive 3D numerical model - combining the flow module of Delft3D with the WAVE solver of XBeach - of nearshore hydro- and morphodynamics that can simulate flow, sediment transport, and morphological evolution. Surf-swash zone hydrodynamics were modeled using the 3D Navier-Stokes equations, combined with various turbulence models (${\kappa}-{\varepsilon}$, ${\kappa}-L$, ATM and H-LES). Sediment transport and resulting foreshore profile changes were approximated using different sediment transport relations that consider both bed- and suspended-load transport of non-cohesive sediments. The numerical set-up was tested against field data, with good agreement found. Different numerical experiments under a range of bed characteristics and incident wave and tidal conditions were run to test the model's capability to reproduce 3D flow, wave propagation, sediment transport and morphodynamics in the nearshore at the field scale. The results were interpreted according to existing understanding of surf and swash zone processes. Our numerical experiments confirm that the angle between the crest line of the approaching wave and the shoreline defines the direction and strength of the longshore current, while the longshore current velocity varies across the nearshore zone. The model simulates the undertow, hydraulic cell and rip-current patterns generated by radiation stresses and longshore variability in wave heights. Numerical results show that a non-uniform seabed is crucial for generation of rip currents in the nearshore (when bed slope is uniform, rips are not generated). Increasing the wave height increases the peaks of eddy viscosity and TKE (turbulent kinetic energy), while increasing the tidal amplitude reduces these peaks. Wave and tide interaction has most striking effects on the foreshore profile with the formation of the intertidal bar. High values of eddy viscosity, TKE and wave set-up are spread offshore for coarser grain sizes. Beach profile steepness modifies the nearshore circulation pattern, significantly enhancing the vertical component of the flow. The local recirculation within the longshore current in the inshore region causes a transient offshore shift and strengthening of the longshore current. Overall, the analysis shows that, with reasonable hypotheses, it is possible to simulate the nearshore hydrodynamics subjected to oceanic forcing, consistent with existing understanding of this area. Part II of this work presents 3D nearshore morphodynamics induced by the tides and waves.

• Ocean Systems Engineering
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.61-97
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• 2016

This is the second of two papers on the 3D numerical modeling of nearshore hydro- and morphodynamics. In Part I, the focus was on surf and swash zone hydrodynamics in the cross-shore and longshore directions. Here, we consider nearshore processes with an emphasis on the effects of oceanic forcing and beach characteristics on sediment transport in the cross- and longshore directions, as well as on foreshore bathymetry changes. The Delft3D and XBeach models were used with four turbulence closures (viz., ${\kappa}-{\varepsilon}$, ${\kappa}-L$, ATM and H-LES) to solve the 3D Navier-Stokes equations for incompressible flow as well as the beach morphology. The sediment transport module simulates both bed load and suspended load transport of non-cohesive sediments. Twenty sets of numerical experiments combining nine control parameters under a range of bed characteristics and incident wave and tidal conditions were simulated. For each case, the general morphological response in shore-normal and shore-parallel directions was presented. Numerical results showed that the ${\kappa}-{\varepsilon}$ and H-LES closure models yield similar results that are in better agreement with existing morphodynamic observations than the results of the other turbulence models. The simulations showed that wave forcing drives a sediment circulation pattern that results in bar and berm formation. However, together with wave forcing, tides modulate the predicted nearshore sediment dynamics. The combination of tides and wave action has a notable effect on longshore suspended sediment transport fluxes, relative to wave action alone. The model's ability to predict sediment transport under propagation of obliquely incident wave conditions underscores its potential for understanding the evolution of beach morphology at field scale. For example, the results of the model confirmed that the wave characteristics have a considerable effect on the cumulative erosion/deposition, cross-shore distribution of longshore sediment transport and transport rate across and along the beach face. In addition, for the same type of oceanic forcing, the beach morphology exhibits different erosive characteristics depending on grain size (e.g., foreshore profile evolution is erosive or accretive on fine or coarse sand beaches, respectively). Decreasing wave height increases the proportion of onshore to offshore fluxes, almost reaching a neutral net balance. The sediment movement increases with wave height, which is the dominant factor controlling the beach face shape.