Objectives: Recently, there have been important advances in the clinical application of targeted hybrid near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent-radioactive tracers. ICG-99mTc-nanocolloid, for example, is already being used by some centres for sentinel lymph node biopsy in head and neck cancer. The radioactive component allows imaging at depths which would not be possible with NIR alone and, once exposed, the NIR fluorescence reporter can be imaged at very high resolution. Gamma detection is currently carried out with a separate hand-held gamma camera or with a non-imaging probe. Visualisation of NIR fluorescence during surgery requires a dedicated NIR camera, several of which are available commercially. We describe a novel hand-held hybrid NIR-gamma small field of view camera, capable of displaying co-aligned images from both modalities, which can be fused into one image or viewed separately. This study is a preliminary investigation of the performance of the fluorescence component of this camera, including phantom studies and first images from a preclinical pilot study. Methods: The hybrid camera consists of a 1500 µm thick thallium doped caesium iodide columnar (CsI:Tl) scintillator coupled to an electron multiplying charged coupled device (EMCCD). A 1.0mm diameter tungsten pinhole collimator gives a 40mm x 40mm nominal field of view for an 8mm x 8mm CCD detection area. A fluorescence camera was aligned to provide the same field of view as the gamma camera with an LED ring as the excitation source. The performance of the fluorescence imaging was quantified in this study for the fluorophores ICG and IRDye800CW (CW800) using a range of bespoke phantom experiments. In vivo images were also obtained from a preclinical study of a targeted hybrid tracer (cRGD-CW800-TCO + TCO-DOTA-111In) in mice with HT29 colorectal cancer xenografts. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The portable hybrid camera prototype has been shown to successfully image dual NIR-gamma tracers using both in vitro and in vivo experimental models. With further development, this camera could be used intraoperatively, offering the benefits of gamma imaging at depth in tissues and high resolution surface NIR fluorescence imaging in a single imaging system.
An experimental and numerical study has been carried out to investigate the forced convection heat transfer by clean or dusty air in a two dimensional annulus enclosure filled with porous media (glass beads) between two vertical concentric cylinders. The outer cylinder is of (82 mm) outside diameters and the inner cylinder of (27 mm) outside diameter. Under steady state condition; the inner cylinder surface is maintained at a high temperature by applying a uniform heat flux and the outer cylinder surface at an ambient temperature. The investigation covered values of input power of (6.3, 4.884, 4.04 and 3.26 W), Reynolds number values of (300, 700, 1000, 1500, and 2000) and dust ratio values (density number N) of (2, 4, 6 and 8). A comput
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This review discusses precision agriculture techniques that help reduce the effects of soil degradation and improve soil health, based on an analysis of studies published in scientific databases such as Web of Science, Scopus, IEEE Xplore, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect, with an emphasis on recent field research. The methodology included a qualitative analysis of case studies and application experiments in different areas to evaluate the impact of technologies such as controlled traffic farming (CTF), mechanized guidance (MG), precision fertilization (PF), precision irrigation (PI), conservation tillage (CT), and precision tillage (PT). Research results showed, CT to maintain soil structure and reduce organic matter loss increases soil f
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The impact of management control systems (MCS) on organizations performance empirical research has been the subject of numerous studies during the past decade in developed and emerging economies. In the contemporary competitive, complex and changing global business environment, firms are being challenged to adopt business models that enable them to address the strategic uncertainties and risks they face in their business environments. The main issue of this study is that management accounting researchers argue that one of the ways firms can continually rejuvenate themselves to survive and succeed in these complex and uncertain environments is to understand the role of management control systems in Formulating a b
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This encapsulates the general relationship between plant and bacteria in the natural and agricultural ecosystem. It is based on the activities of useful bacteria, such as plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPRs) and nitrogen-fixing bacteria, in promoting plant growth and plant tolerance to stressful situations regarding pollution, salinity, and drought. The article also mentions that the bacteria maintain plant health by secretion of phytohormones, nitrogen fixation, solubilization of phosphate, and production of antibiotics against pathogenic bacteria. The article also mentions the existing applications of the interaction in sustainable agriculture and bioremediation of contaminated soils.
Abstract
In this paper, fatigue damage accumulation were studied using many methods i.e.Corton-Dalon (CD),Corton-Dalon-Marsh(CDM), new non-linear model and experimental method. The prediction of fatigue lifetimes based on the two classical methods, Corton-Dalon (CD)andCorton-Dalon-Marsh (CDM), are uneconomic and non-conservative respectively. However satisfactory predictions were obtained by applying the proposed non-linear model (present model) for medium carbon steel compared with experimental work. Many shortcomings of the two classical methods are related to their inability to take into account the surface treatment effect as shot peening. It is clear that the new model shows that a much better and cons
... Show MoreAbstract: Plastic pollution is a major issue of the current century. This waste is found in seas, freshwater, lakes, rivers, coastal areas, and soil. In this article, this article discusses the various sources of plastic pollution, including the manufacturing process of plastics and the addition of materials to improve their properties, as well as the use of single-use plastics that are not recyclable, in addition to burning and illegal waste disposal in the open. The impact on public health is through human exposure to toxins from plastics in the environment directly through inhaling dust and fumes, consuming contaminated food and drink, and skin contact. Indirectly, when marine creatures consume microplastics, they will find their way
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The paper presents an annotated checklist of the Salticidae of Armenia. This study was carried out in 2019-2020 in order to provide an inventory of the Salticidae fauna. Thirteen species are reported for the Armenian fauna for the first time: Afraflacilla epiblemoides (Chyzer, 1891); Aelurillus v-insignitus (Clerck, 1757); Asianellus festivus (C. L. Koch, 1834); Heliophanus dubius C. L. Koch, 1835; Heliophanus kochii Simon, 1868; Heliophanus tribulosus Simon, 1868; Heliophanus curvidens (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872); Macaroeris nidicolens (Walckenaer, 1802); Pellenes diagonalis (Simon, 1868); Pellenes geniculatus (Simon, 1868); Pellenes seriatus (Thorell, 1875); Pellenes tripunctatus (Walckenaer, 1802) and Phlegra fasciata (Hahn, 1826).
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Background: Osteoporosis is a skeletal defect manifested by a reduction of bone strength as a result of reduced bone mass to the extent that there is a higher risk of fracture even on minor trauma. Hysterectomy in a premenopausal woman is a well known cause of ovarian failure resulting in an increased risk of osteoporosis.
Objective : To clarify bisphosphonate's preventive effect on osteopenia and osteoporosis in premenopausal women after hysterectomy.
Type of the study: Cross –sectional study.
Method: 84 premenopausal females post hysterectomy aged between 40 – 50 years, were enrolled in this randomized controlled double blinded trail a
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