Search

SummaryThere is limited literature and no reviews on oral health promotion activities in the workplace to guide planning and practice. This review summarizes evidence about oral health promotion activities in the workplace (nature and extent), its impact and the factors that facilitate or act as barriers to implementation. Using the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, scientific articles written in English and published in peer-reviewed journals up to April 2021, from six databases (Medline, PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, EMBASE and Emcare) were screened and selected. The full texts of 95 articles were then considered; 21 articles met the inclusion criteria of using oral health status or oral health predisposing factors as primary outcome after an intervention in the workplace. Almost all included articles took a quantitative approach (n = 18), two used a qualitative design and another used a mixed-method approach. The most common activities were personalized or group oral health education interventions and oral health screenings conducted by a dental professional. Two studies reported the cost-benefit of workplace oral health promotion (WOHP). The literature indicated that WOHP interventions can be successful in achieving improvements in oral health, measured using a range of clinical (plaque accumulation, gingival inflammation, periodontal inflammation) and self-rated oral health indicators. Based on the limited literature available, WOHP may have benefits for employee oral health and employers, and the support of managers and organizations potentially improves the success of programmes. The workplace would appear to be an ideal setting to promote oral health. However, there is limited information to guide oral health promotion planning and implementation, and policy.

The practitioner-academic transition can be a challenge. There are often tensions and difficulties involved in identity change, key aspects of which are writing, publishing, and maintaining the writing habit. In order to support this transition, the writing meeting framework, originally designed to support academic writers in changing and maintaining their writing behaviours, was trialled and evaluated with early career academics who were previously teachers in schools or colleges. We aimed to investigate whether the framework could support former practitioners in changing and maintaining their writing behaviours. Six participants met regularly in pairs to set writing goals and check on progress. Participants were interviewed, and transcripts analysed using self-determination theory to understand what happened in the meetings and whether the framework helped participants to write, keep writing and feel part of a network. Our analysis explored the extent to which it met three psychological needs (competence, relatedness and autonomy). We found evidence that it did, but with varying degrees. We also found that relationships between pairs were important, and that a beneficial writing meeting required a mutualistic relationship. Findings suggest that the framework can, in certain conditions, help former practitioners to maintain change in their writing behaviour so as to be able to perform an aspect of academic work that can be particularly challenging for them during the practitioner-academic transition.

Studies of running mechanics often use a standardized lab shoe, ostensibly to reduce variance between subjects; however, this may induce unnatural running mechanics. The purpose of this study was to compare the step rate, vertical average loading rate, and ground contact time when running in standardized lab shoes versus participants’ normal running shoes. Ground reaction forces were measured while the participants ran overground in both shoe conditions at a self-selected speed. The Student’s t-test revealed that the vertical average loading rate magnitude was smaller in lab shoes versus normal shoes (42.09 [11.08] vs 47.35 [10.81] body weight/s, P = .013), while the step rate (170.92 [9.43] vs 168.98 [9.63] steps/min, P = .053) and ground contact time were similar (253 [25] vs 251 [20] ms, P = .5227) and the variance of all outcomes was similar in lab shoes versus normal shoes. Our results indicate that using standardized lab shoes during testing may underestimate the loads runners actually experience during their typical mileage.

IntroductionChanges of environment brought about by deployments are often attributed to an increase in smoking of service personnel. Electronic cigarettes are recognised as being a viable aid to quitting smoking but are currently banned from sale in Oman and were therefore banned during exercise SAIF SAREEA 3 (SS3). This paper sought to establish whether smoking increased on this exercise and for what reasons. Also, if deployed smoking cessation services are likely to be used, if available.MethodsQuestionnaires were distributed to deployed troops at various locations in theatre for data collection.ResultsSmoking prevalence increased by 5.2% (29) in the deployed population by the end of the exercise. The largest increase was seen in those smoking 20 cigarettes a day or more, rising by 269.8% (73) with a mean increase of 9 cigarettes per day. During the exercise the number of personnel using electronic cigarettes decreased and individuals’ rate of electronic cigarette use also decreased. Those who smoked less during the exercise did mainly through choice (56.8%). 50% (280) of all individuals who increased smoking habits during the exercise did so out of boredom.ConclusionsDuring exercise SS3 the number of individuals who smoked and the quantity they smoked increased. The ban on electronic cigarettes in Oman and while on exercise potentially had an effect on the increased smoking habits. There is an argument to include smoking cessation material in medical modules to prevent ex-smokers from restarting, continue to aid those quitting and potentially lessen severity of increasing smoking habits while deployed.

Exercise SAIF SAREEA 3 (SS3) is a triservice combined joint training military Exercise between the UK and the Omani Armed forces. SS3 represented a rare opportunity to exercise a complete role 1 medical reception station (MRS) in a tented platform for a prolonged period providing ‘real life support’, as opposed to an exercise without casualties. This article is a discursive paper making recommendations for amendments to the established structure for the MRS within static high-temperature deployments. Considering the facility blueprint, recognising and implementing improvements to patient flow and increasing infection prevention control measures resulted in limiting the spread of disease outbreak. During the deployment there were considerable challenges delivering care in extreme heat above 50°C these included the use of environmental control units, white liners and refrigerator units which allowed care to be delivered throughout the day, and for the appropriate care of both casualties and medication. Finally, the article covers improved patient service with a paper-based triage system supporting innovative ideas to deliver care.

IntroductionModule 501 provides core medications which are fundamental to the capability of a prehospital treatment team (PHTT). The quantities of each medication in the module inventory undergo regular review, but these do not correspond to a population at risk (PAR) figure or deployment length for which they intend to be used. This article proposes how the quantities of Module 501 drugs can be scaled for a given deployment, in this example using statistics taken from static PHTTs on Exercise Saif Sareea 3 (SS3).MethodsThe statistics were gathered using a custom-built search of electronic records from the Deployed Defence Medical Information Capability Programme in addition to written record-keeping, which were aligned to the weekly PAR at each PHTT location throughout their full operational capability periods. A quotient was then derived for each module item using a formula.ResultsAmong the 10 most commonly prescribed drugs were four analgesics and three antimicrobials. 42 of the 110 studied drugs were not prescribed during SS3.DiscussionThe data from SS3 reflect the typical scope of disease encountered in the deployed land setting. Employing these data, the use of a formula to estimate the drug quantities needed to sustain a Strike Armoured Infantry Brigade over a 28-day period is demonstrated.RecommendationsFurther study of Module 501 across varied deployment environments would be valuable in evolving this approach to medicinal scaling if proven effective for the warm desert climate. It could then be applied to other modules to further inform future Strike medical planning.LimitationsSeveral considerations when drawing deductions from the data are mentioned, including the inaccuracy of predictor variables taken from the EpiNATO-2 reports.ConclusionThe proposed formula provides an evidence-based framework for scaling drug quantities for a deployment planning. This may improve patient safety and confer logistical, storage and fiscal benefits.

The research team explored UK trainee sport psychologists’ perspectives on developing professional judgment and decision-making (PJDM) expertise during their British Psychological Society (BPS) Qualification in Sport and Exercise Psychology (QSEP; Stage 2). An assorted analysis approach was adopted to combine an existing longitudinal qualitative data set with the collection and analysis of a new qualitative data set. Participants (female, n = 1; and male, n = 6) were interviewed 4 times over a 3-year training period, at minimum yearly intervals. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, and reflexive thematic analysis applied to transcripts using the theoretical concepts of PJDM. Experience, analytical reasoning, and observation of other practitioners’ practice was useful for developing PJDM expertise. PJDM expertise might be optimised through the use of knowledge elicitation principles. For example, supervisors could embed critical cues within the anecdotes they share to expand the experience base that trainees can draw from when making decisions.

Results from testing of position-sensitive capacitive Frisch-grid (PSCFG) TIBr gamma-ray detectors are presented. Due to its high atomic number, high density, and low Fano factor, TIBr offers excellent energy resolution and high detection efficiency over a wide energy range, thus providing significant advantages over other detector materials commonly used in hand-held instruments. Using high-fidelity 3-D position sensing enables the response non-uniformity caused by defects in the TIBr crystal to be corrected, thereby offering an approach to overcome one of the technical barriers limiting the use of this promising semiconductor material. By utilizing the 3-D position information, temporal and spatial variations of the charge collection efficiency are presented, which provide microscopic characterization of the PSCFG devices. Using the 3-D response correction technique, the best energy resolution measured is

IntroductionEpidemiological data captured from military exercises and operations can highlight treatment requirements specific to operating in certain environmental conditions. Such data is invaluable to enable accurate planning for future exercises. Epidemiological data were collected during Exercise SAIF SAREEA 3 (SS3) to provide an insight into medical provision requirements for low-tempo military operations in hot, desert climates.MethodEpidemiological data was collected from all consultations conducted during the exercise within the LAND Medical Reception Station, 24 August–14 November 2018, using Epi-NATO surveillance systems.ResultsOf the 1414 total consultations recorded, 759 were first presentations and 665 were follow-up consultations, with 35 referrals made to hospitals. 1348 days of limited duties were given and 258 working days were lost. The most common coding reported for consultations were ‘non-battle non-sport related injuries’, ‘sport related injuries’and ‘dermatological'.DiscussionThe data highlight the most common cause of injuries and the role of assets such as dental, sexual and mental health services for future deployments. A number of explanations are considered in relation to the patterns identified and the effect on future planning for working in hot climates. Furthermore, Exercise SS3 had reduced numbers of personnel requiring deployed Role 2 or host nation hospital services, which again raises further considerations for future deployments.

As the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps celebrates its 70th Anniversary, army nursing continues to advance patient care delivery to new levels. Advanced level nursing practice has moved from the relatively ‘calm’ confines of the NHS to the austere desert of Oman. This article will provide a personal account of the first deployment of a military nurse practitioner since it was formally introduced in 2012 to frontline medicine, leading an armoured prehospital treatment team.

Introduction Social media platforms such as YouTube provide largely unregulated opportunities for covert tobacco product placement that immerse viewers in evolving narratives and surrounding fan-created material. A Winfield Blues product placement appeared in series 3 of The Big Lez Show, a “crude comedy,” DIY animation web series that has garnered more than 70 million views. Methods We used a netnographic approach that adapts the traditional, in-person participant observation techniques of ethnography to investigate this online fan and associated paratexts, and conducted a frame-by-frame analysis of the most pertinent 12 minutes and 5 seconds of animation, and 250 pages of paratexts. Results The Big Lez show links “Winnie Blues” to seemingly authentic virtual content, including memes, merchandise, discussion groups, and even smartphone apps. These para, or secondary texts, surround the original content, provide opportunities for brand co-creation in online fan forums, and integrate tobacco brands in everyday life. Conclusions The Big Lez Show integrates Winnie Blues with popular culture and raises important questions about how social media facilitates tobacco product placement. Policy responses include encouraging social media platforms to include tobacco within webmaster guidelines and requiring site owners to demonstrate their content reaches only those legally able to purchase tobacco. Implications Contemporary entertainment using social media platforms can create immersive contexts that present an elusive and ongoing challenge to tobacco control policies. The Big Lez Show’s use of the Winnie Blues brand imagery spawned memes, merchandise, and smartphone apps that amplified the brand’s reach and connection with young people. Policy responses include stronger requirements that webmasters include tobacco product placement within their guidelines or requirements that site owners featuring tobacco imagery demonstrate their sites do not reach those aged below the age at which tobacco may be legally purchased.

IntroductionOver recent years much research, both civilian and military, has occurred in the field of heat illness. This has helped force health protection and medical management of service personnel operating in hot climates. Exercise Saif Sareea 3 in Oman saw a collection of presentations to the deployed UK medical treatment facilities due to the effects of heat.MethodThis paper aims to describe the case series of 24 casualties that presented to the deployed primary care facilities and 17 that were admitted to the deployed secondary care facility due to the effects of heat.ResultsOnly 10 casualties fulfilled the in-theatre diagnostic criteria for heat illness, of which two were of moderate severity and required aeromedical evacuation to the UK.ConclusionsCommanders appeared extremely well read on Joint Service Publication 539 (JSP539; May 2017) Heat Illness and Cold Injury: Prevention and Management, following the Brecon enquiry, and were proactive in managing their force in preventative measures. This likely contributed towards the low numbers of patients with heat illness seen on the exercise. JSP539 did, however, appear to have some limitations when trying to apply it to all patients seen within the operational patient care pathway, and some areas for development are discussed.

Health and risk management of personnel in hot climates remains a Commander’s responsibility, with Joint Service Publication 539 Heat Illness and Cold Injury: Prevention and Management (JSP 539) being the guiding document for the UK military. This policy can be challenging to interpret occasionally, needing medical professionals to provide ongoing advice to commanders. This is to achieve a shared understanding of scientific concepts and risks to allow a more informed decision-making by commanders. This then leads to the appropriate mitigation of risks to as low as reasonably practical. Exercise SAIF SAREEA 3 saw commanders and medical cooperation at all levels with a practical and pragmatic application of the principles articulated in joint policy. The elements which saw enhanced cooperation included pathophysiology, work rates and work:rest ratios, rest and sleep periods, uniform, acclimatisation, and hydration and electrolyte balance. This approach was exhibited throughout the planning, deployment and execution of Exercise SAIF SAREEA 3, which saw extremely low levels of heat injury throughout the exercise when compared with SAIF SAREEA 2 and related exercises. This personal view aims to describe the command and medical interaction on SAIF SAREEA 3 which the authors feel contributed to those successes against climatic effects.

IntroductionThis paper presents the burden of mental health cases throughout UK military exercise SAIF SAREEA 3 (SS3), a low-tempo armoured brigade exercise in Oman from June to November 2018, and aims to discuss ways that mental health may be better managed on future large exercises.MethodsA retrospective review of all attendances at army medical facilities and relevant computerised medical records was undertaken.Results14 mental health cases were identified, which required 51 follow-up presentations throughout the duration of SS3. This represented 1.2% of all first patient presentations, and 6.3% of all follow-up work. 64% had diagnoses which predated deployment and could all be classified within 10th revision of International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems as either F30–F39 mood (affective) disorders, or F40–F48 neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorders; all new diagnoses made while deployed were adjustment disorders. The medical officer spent an average of 147 min total clinical care time per patient. Six patients were aeromedically evacuated (AE), which represented 26% of all AE cases from SS3.ConclusionsPresentations were low, but time consuming and with poor disposal outcomes. Most conditions predated the exercise, and could have been predicted to worsen through the deployment. Given the disproportionate burden that mental health cases afforded during SS3, future brigade-sized deployments should include deployed mental health professionals in order to offer evidence-based therapy which should lead to improved disposal outcomes and a reduced AE burden.

Room-temperature operable semiconductor gamma-ray detectors offer the potential of superior energy resolution compared to scintillators, which can be valuable in the design of radionuclide identification equipment. To achieve the best energy resolution and simultaneously provide good sensitivity, multiple detection elements must be arrayed to operate in parallel. This paper describes efforts to construct such an array from multiple elements of thallium bromide (TlBr), a material that inherently offers a high interaction probability and photopeak efficiency for gamma rays. The base design of the array comprises capacitive Frisch grid (CFG) elements. A key objective is optimizing the energy resolution of each element, for which the single-carrier characteristics of the CFG design were chosen. Gains are realized through signal processing that accounts for 1-D or 3-D material inhomogeneity and charge collection variations. Fully corrected energy resolution reaches values of 1.6% FWHM at 662 keV.

UK Defence Medical Services (DMS) personnel are increasingly being deployed to tropical environments. Current predeployment training for combat medical technicians (CMTs) is restricted to an entry theatre medical brief delivered to all personnel on arrival in theatre. Some units also provide some

A mass balance method of calculating drilled cuttings recovery and fluid loss/influx is presented. Field results are shown that illustrate hole cleaning effectiveness, hole enlargement, and wellbore breathing. A drilling fluid system including mass flow and density meters on the inlet and outlet of the circulating system is used to continuously measure and trend drilling fluid density, flow rate, and drilled cuttings recovery. Drilling fluid density measurements of the inlet and outlet flow streams are compensated for temperature and pressure and then used to calculate cuttings recovery based on the drilled rock density. Mass balance calculations also account for drill string fluid displacement and fluid seepage/loss/influx across the face of the borehole.

The aim of this work is to develop a gamma-ray/neutron dual-particle imager, based on rotational modulation collimators (RMCs) and pulse shape discrimination (PSD)-capable scintillators, for possible applications for radioactivity monitoring as well as nuclear security and safeguards. A Monte Carlo simulation study was performed to design an RMC system for the dual-particle imaging, and modulation patterns were obtained for gamma-ray and neutron sources in various configurations. We applied an image reconstruction algorithm utilizing the maximum-likelihood expectation-maximization method based on the analytical modeling of source-detector configurations, to the Monte Carlo simulation results. Both gamma-ray and neutron source distributions were reconstructed and evaluated in terms of signal-to-noise ratio, showing the viability of developing an RMC-based gamma-ray/neutron dual-particle imager using PSD-capable scintillators.

Electrophilic olefins can react with the S-H moiety of cysteine side chains. The formation of a covalent adduct through this mechanism can result in the inhibition of an enzyme. The reactivity of an olefin towards cysteine depends on its functional groups. In this study, 325 reactions of thiol-Michael-type additions to olefins were modeled using density functional theory. All combinations of ethenes with hydrogen, methyl ester, amide, and cyano substituents were included. An automated workflow was developed to perform the construction, conformation search, minimization, and calculation of molecular properties for the reactant, carbanion intermediate, and thioether products for a model reaction of the addition of methanethiol to the electrophile. Known cysteine-reactive electrophiles present in the database were predicted to react exergonically with methanethiol through a carbanion with a stability in the 30-40 kcal mol(-1) range. 13 other compounds in our database that are also present in the PubChem database have similar properties. Natural bond orbital parameters were computed and regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between properties of the olefin electronic structure and the product and intermediate stability. The stability of the intermediates is very sensitive to electronic effects on the carbon where the anionic charge is centered. The stability of the products is more sensitive to steric factors.

Samples of Cs2LiYCl6 :Ce (CLYC) scintillator have been characterized using monoenergetic neutron beams in the energy range 4.1–5.5 MeV. Four crystals with dimensions (thickness×diameter) of 1″×1″, 1″×2″, and 2″×2″ were evaluated, including one crystal with natural concentrations of Li isotopes and three that were enriched in 6 Li. The intrinsic efficiency of CLYC for fast-neutron detection has been determined for the natural-Li crystal. These measurements were translated into reaction cross-sections, and show good agreement with available cross-section data for neutron interactions with the 35Cl component of CLYC. Furthermore, it is shown that the charged-particle energy released in the fast-neutron reactions on 35 Cl varies linearly with the energy of the incoming neutron. These results verify the efficacy of CLYC for fast-neutron spectroscopy in a range of applications.

Cs 2 LiYCl 6 :Ce 3+ (CLYC) scintillator has gained recent interest because of its ability to perform simultaneous gamma spectroscopy and thermal neutron detection. Discrimination between the two incident particle types owes to the fundamentally unique emission waveforms, a consequence of the interaction and subsequent scintillation mechanisms within the crystal. Due to this dual-mode detector capability, CLYC was selected for the development of an Advanced Radiation Monitoring Device (ARMD), a compact handheld instrument for radioisotope identification and localization. ARMD consists of four 1 in.-right cylindrical CLYC crystals, custom readout electronics including a suitable multi-window application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), battery pack, proprietary software, and Android-based tablet for high-level analysis and display. We herein describe the motivation of the work and engineering design of the unit, and we explain the software embedded in the core module and for radioisotope analysis. We report an operational range of tens of keV to 8.5 MeV with approximately 5.3% gamma energy resolution at 662 keV, thermal neutron detection efficiency of 10%, battery lifetime of up to 10 h, manageable rates of 20 kHz; further, we describe in greater detail time to identify specific gamma source setups.

Threshold voltage variation with ionizing dose was measured for a commercial power MOSFET. Variation of radiation response was captured using a Bayesian linear model, which enabled a Monte Carlo simulation of variation in circuit performance.

Controlling relative daughter cell size is key during cytokinesis. Uncontrolled size asymmetries can lead to aneuploidy and division failure. At the same time, precisely regulated size asymmetries are of crucial importance in many divisions during embryonic development. Therefore, being able to monitor daughter cell size is important in cytokinesis studies. However, freely available tools allowing to effectively measure the size of daughter cells in three dimensions during cytokinesis are missing. Here, we describe an open-access plugin for ImageJ or Fiji based on an active contour surface representation of the cells. Our method provides a user-friendly and accurate way to monitor the size of the two daughter cells throughout cytokinesis.

Measurements using bubble detectors have been performed in order to characterise the neutron dose and energy spectrum in the Russian segment of the International Space Station (ISS). Experiments using bubble dosemeters and a bubble-detector spectrometer, a set of six detectors with different energy thresholds that is used to determine the neutron spectrum, were performed during the ISS-22 (2009) to ISS-33 (2012) missions. The spectrometric measurements are in good agreement with earlier data, exhibiting expected features of the neutron energy spectrum in space. Experiments using a hydrogenous radiation shield show that the neutron dose can be reduced by shielding, with a reduction similar to that determined in earlier measurements using bubble detectors. The bubble-detector data are compared with measurements performed on the ISS using other instruments and are correlated with potential influencing factors such as the ISS altitude and the solar activity. Surprisingly, these influences do not seem to have a strong effect on the neutron dose or energy spectrum inside the ISS.

The textbook mechanism for the addition of a thiol to an olefin is the Michael-type addition, which involves a nucleophilic attack of a thiolate anion on an alkene to form a carbanion intermediate. Previous computational models of these reactions have proposed alternative mechanisms, as no minimum corresponding to the carbanion intermediate was present on the potential energy surface. We show that many popular pure and hybrid DFT functionals, such as PBE and B3LYP, erroneously predict that the carbanion is not an intermediate, favoring a noncovalent charge-transfer complex stabilized spuriously by delocalization error. Range-separated DFT functionals correct this problem and predict stable carbanion structures and energies. In particular, calculations using the ωB97X-D functional are in close agreement with CCSD(T) data for the structures and energies of a series of thio-carbanions. Range-separated functionals will make it possible to model the reaction mechanisms of Michael-type additions that occur in biochemistry, such as the covalent modification of a cysteine side chain by drugs containing an electrophilic double bond.

The coupling of Cs2LiYCl6:Ce (CLYC) scintillator to silicon photon converters has been evaluated with the goal of investigating replacements for the traditional photomultiplier tube (PMT) in small handheld spectrometers. Energy spectra produced under irradiation by a range of gamma-ray and neutron sources were collected with CLYC mounted to several avalanche photodiodes, PIN photodiodes, and silicon photomultipliers. The performance for both gamma rays and neutrons was compared to that obtained by coupling CLYC to PMTs. None of the silicon devices evaluated provide comparable performance to that of a PMT with CLYC. This is attributed to the photon-detection efficiency of the silicon detectors over the wavelength range of CLYC emissions, as well as the noise characteristics of the devices.

We have developed a dynamic gamma-ray emission image reconstruction method called MVIR (Moving Voxel Image Reconstruction) for lane detection in multilane portal monitor systems. MVIR was evaluated for use in the Fixed Site Detection System (FSDS), a prototype three-lane gamma-ray portal monitor system for EZ-pass toll plazas. As a baseline, we compared MVIR with a static emission image reconstruction method in analyzing the same real and simulated data sets. Performance was judged by the distributions of image intensities for source and no-source vehicles over many trials as a function of source strength. We found that MVIR produced significantly better results in all cases. The performance difference was greatest at low count rates, where source/no-source distributions were well separated with the MVIR method, allowing reliable source vehicle identification with a low probability of false positive identifications. Static emission image reconstruction of the same data produced overlapping distributions that made source vehicle identification unreliable. The performance of the static method was acceptable at high count rates. Both algorithms reliably identified two strong sources passing through at nearly the same time.

This paper discusses our initial investigation of fast neutron detection with a Cs2LiYCl6 (CLYC) scintillator. CLYC has been already developed for dual mode detectors (thermal neutrons and gamma rays). Described are results collected under mono-energetic irradiation from a Van de Graaff generator and a continuous irradiation from a 252Cf source. There are two reactions in which fast neutrons are captured 35Cl(n,p)35S and 6Li(n,t)α; both have been observed. They produce a proton and a pair of α/t particles, respectively. The response to mono-energetic fast neutrons due to the 35Cl(n,p) reaction produces a peak and due to the 6Li(n,t) reaction a continuum in the energy spectra. The relation between the peak (continuum) position and the excitation energy is linear within evaluated energy range. This allows for fast neutron spectroscopy. The α/β ratios for both reactions were found to be different and somewhat dependent on the excitation energy. The decay times under the proton excitation slightly differ from these under the α/t excitation, while both are significantly different from the gamma ray excited curves. This is important for pulse shape discrimination. Using continuous excitation from 252Cf initial efficiency was estimated for the 35Cl(n,p) reaction. For a 1-inch right cylinder crystal the measured intrinsic efficiency is at least 0.06%, while calculated is 0.5%. The discrepancy is due to experimental inaccuracies. The relative detection efficiency scales linearly with the volume. A convolution of the theoretical 252Cf fast neutron distribution and the 35Cl(n,p) cross-section curve was found to match the experimental data.

A series of zinc complexes was prepared from 2(N-piperazinyl-N′-methyl)-2-methylene-4-R′-6-R-phenols ([ONNR′,R]H) [R′= Me, R = tBu, (L1H); R′ = R = tBu, (L2H); R′= R = tAm,{tert-Amyl} (L3H)] and characterized through elemental analysis, 1H and 13C{1H} NMR spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography. Reaction of ZnEt2 with L1H-L3H gave Zn[ONNtBu,tBu]2 (1) as a monometallic complex and {[μ-ONNR′,R]ZnEt}2 (2-4) as bimetallic species with distorted tetrahedral environments about the Zn centres. Reaction of 3 and 4 with alcohols gave {[ONNtAm,tAm]Zn(μ-OR′′)}2 (5) and (6) bimetallic species with Zn centres bridged by benzyl alkoxide and ethoxide groups, respectively. A morpholinyl derived ligand was also synthesized and characterized (L4H) and its 1:1 stoichiometric reaction with ZnEt2 resulted in complex 7, {[μ-ONOtBu,tBu]ZnEt}2. The reactivity of complexes 2-7 in the ring opening polymerization of rac-lactide and e-caprolactone was studied. Reactions of carbon dioxide with cyclohexene oxide in the presence of 6 or 7/ROH afforded cyclohexene carbonate.

Double beta decay (ββ) is a nuclear decay mode expected to appear in at least two varieties, the double-neutrino (2ν) and the zero-neutrino (0ν) mode. The 0νββ-decay is of particular interest as it requires the neutrino to be a Majorana particle. The search for such a decay is presently being carried out or planned in a number of experiments, such as EXO, MAJORANA, GERDA, CUORE, COBRA, NEMO-III and SNO+. The 0ν-decay rate depends on the neutrino mass but, unfortunately, also on a rather complex nuclear matrix element, making the extraction of the mass heavily dependent on the underlying theoretical nuclear model. However, all theoretical models can readily be tested against the 2ν mode, which, unlike its 0ν counterpart, only involves simple Gamow–Teller nuclear matrix elements. These elements can be determined experimentally either through charge-exchange reactions or, for the ground-state transition, through the electron capture (EC) or single β-decay of the intermediate odd–odd nucleus. The present program is geared towards the measurement of the EC branching ratios (BR). In most cases, these ratios are poorly known or not known at all, because EC is usually suppressed by several orders of magnitude compared to the β-decay counterpart due to energy considerations. Traditional methods for measuring these ratios have so far suffered from overwhelming background generated by these high-energy electrons. Recently, a unique background-free method for measuring EC branching ratios was proposed using the TITAN ion trap at the TRIUMF ISAC (Isotope Separator and ACcelerator) radioactive beam facility. The measurements will make use of the EBIT (Electron Beam Ion Trap) operating in Penning mode where electrons from the β−-decay will be confined by the magnetic field. K-shell X-rays from EC will be detected by seven X-ray detectors located around the trap, thus providing orders of magnitude background suppression and thus ideal low-BR measurement environment.

Red cell volume distribution curves may be readily obtained using electronic cell counters, and the proportion of cells that deviate from the normal population may be determined. In this study, we report the results of red cell volume distribution analyses in pregnant and non-pregnant females. The relationship between red cell volume distribution and other red cell indices is also studied. Statistical analysis showed good correlation between various Channelyzer parameters and red cell indices including Hb, RCC, MCV, MCH, and MCHC. A significant proportion of pregnant patients showed abnormal red cell volume distribution curves particularly in the latter half of pregnancy. During the latter half of pregnancy there was an increased proportion of microcytic cells in 8% of patients and evidence for macrocytosis was found in 67% of patients. In general there was good correlation between stages of gestation and Channelyzer parameters associated with macrocytosis. It is suggested that analysis of red cell size, which may be simply performed with minimal quantities of blood and inconvenience using the Channelyzer, could give insight into those conditions associated with variation in red cell size including iron deficiency and folate deficiency in pregnancy and it is conceivable that repeated estimations of these parameters could obviate the need for blanket administration of haematinics to the pregnant patient.

On-line targets of silicon carbide have been used to produce radioactive ion beams (RIB) at TRIUMF’s ISAC facility. Surface ionized beams of Li, Na and Al from SiC targets have been delivered to a variety of experiments. While yields of Li and Na radionuclide beams have been high enough to meet experimental requirements, the yields of radio-aluminums have been very low in comparison to in-target production estimates. The properties of SiC relevant to radioactive Al ion beam production are reviewed and on-line measurements of radiogenic Li, Na and Al from SiC are presented. Diffusion, effusion and formation of stable phases are found to strongly affect the release of radio-aluminum from SiC, greatly reducing overall Al RIB production efficiency. In comparison, the production of radio-sodium beams from SiC is found to be relatively efficient.

A general technique that corrects γ -ray gated β decay-curve data for detector pulse pile-up is presented. The method includes corrections for non-zero time-resolution and energy-threshold effects in addition to a special treatment of saturating events due to cosmic rays. This technique is verified through a Monte Carlo simulation and experimental data using radioactive beams of Na 26 implanted at the center of the 8 π γ -ray spectrometer at the ISAC facility at TRIUMF in Vancouver, Canada. The β -decay half-life of Na 26 obtained from counting 1809-keV γ -ray photopeaks emitted by the daughter Mg 26 was determined to be T 1 / 2 = 1.07167 ± 0.00055 s following a 27 σ correction for detector pulse pile-up. This result is in excellent agreement with the result of a previous measurement that employed direct β counting and demonstrates the feasibility of high-precision β -decay half-life measurements through the use of high-purity germanium γ -ray detectors. The technique presented here, while motivated by superallowed-Fermi β decay studies, is general and can be used for all half-life determinations (e.g. α -, β -, X-ray, fission) in which a γ -ray photopeak is used to select the decays of a particular isotope.

Methods of optimizing the performance of an array of Compton-suppressed, segmented HPGe clover detectors have been developed which rely on the physical position sensitivity of both the HPGe crystals and the Compton-suppression shields. These relatively simple analysis procedures promise to improve the precision of experiments with the TRIUMF-ISAC Gamma-Ray Escape-Suppressed Spectrometer (TIGRESS). Suppression schemes will improve the efficiency and peak-to-total ratio of TIGRESS for high γ-ray multiplicity events by taking advantage of the 20-fold segmentation of the Compton-suppression shields, while the use of different summing schemes will improve results for a wide range of experimental conditions. The benefits of these methods are compared for many γ-ray energies and multiplicities using a GEANT4 simulation, and the optimal physical configuration of the TIGRESS array under each set of conditions is determined.

Tests of the performance of a 32-fold segmented HPGe clover detector coupled to a 20-fold segmented Compton-suppression shield, which form a prototype element of the TRIUMF-ISAC Gamma-Ray Escape-Suppressed Spectrometer (TIGRESS), have been made. Peak-to-total ratios and relative efficiencies have been measured for a variety of γ -ray energies. These measurements were used to validate a GEANT4 simulation of the TIGRESS detectors, which was then used to create a simulation of the full 12-detector array. Predictions of the expected performance of TIGRESS are presented. These predictions indicate that TIGRESS will be capable, for single 1 MeV γ rays, of absolute detection efficiencies of 17% and 9.4%, and peak-to-total ratios of 54% and 61% for the “high-efficiency” and “optimized peak-to-total” configurations of the array, respectively.

A new scintillator crystal, now known as CLYC (Cs 2 LiYCl 6 :Ce), has been under development for over 15 years (1) . It was primarily of interest for radiation de tection applications because of its good energy resolu tion for gamma rays (< 4% for 662 keV gamma rays) and its capability for detection of th ermal neutrons. The pulse shapes of the signals from the two radiations are different, which allow them to be separated electronically, permitting simultaneous detection of gamma rays and neutrons. The crystal is now commercially available. Early investigations of the neutron response by the current authors (2) revealed that CLYC also responds to fast neutrons. In fact, the good energy resolution of the response under monoenergetic neutron irradiations showed that CLYC was an excellent high-energy neutron spectrometer. This discovery has great impact on the field of neutron spectroscopy, which has numerous, although often specialized, applications. This presentation focuses on app lications in counter-terrorism scenarios where neutrons may be involved. The relative importance of the fast neutron response of CLYC, compared to the thermal and gamma-ray response, will be discusse d for these scenarios. (1) C.M. Combes, P. Dorenbos, C.W.E. van Eijk, K.W. Kramer, H.U. Gudel, J. Lumin. 82 (1999) 299-305 (2) M.B. Smith, T. Achtzehn, H.R. Andrew s, E.T.H. Clifford, H. Ing, V.D. Kovaltchouk, IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci 60(2) (2013) 855-859 *This work has been supported by the US Department of Defense, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, under competitively awarded contract HDTRA1-12-C-0005. This support does not constitute an express or implied endorsement on the part of the Government. DISTRIBUTION A. Approved for public release: distribution unlimited. Keywords: Radiation Detection, CLYC, Counter-terrorism, GEANT4

Bubble detectors have been used to characterise the neutron dose and energy spectrum in several modules of the International Space Station (ISS) as part of an ongoing radiation survey. A series of experiments was performed during the ISS-34, ISS-35, ISS-36 and ISS-37 missions between December 2012 and October 2013. The Radi-N2 experiment, a repeat of the 2009 Radi-N investigation, included measurements in four modules of the US orbital segment: Columbus, the Japanese experiment module, the US laboratory and Node 2. The Radi-N2 dose and spectral measurements are not significantly different from the Radi-N results collected in the same ISS locations, despite the large difference in solar activity between 2009 and 2013. Parallel experiments using a second set of detectors in the Russian segment of the ISS included the first characterisation of the neutron spectrum inside the tissue-equivalent Matroshka-R phantom. These data suggest that the dose inside the phantom is ∼70 % of the dose at its surface, while the spectrum inside the phantom contains a larger fraction of high-energy neutrons than the spectrum outside the phantom. The phantom results are supported by Monte Carlo simulations that provide good agreement with the empirical data.

The TRIUMF-ISAC gamma-ray escape-suppressed spectrometer (TIGRESS) is a new γ-ray detector array being developed for use at TRIUMF's Isotope Separator and Accelerator (ISAC) radioactive ion beam facility. TIGRESS will comprise 12 32-fold segmented clover-type HPGe detectors coupled with 20-fold segmented modular Compton suppression shields and custom digital signal processing electronics. This paper provides an overview of the TIGRESS project and progress in its development to date.

A measurement of the half-life of 62Ga was made as part of a programme of high-precision superallowed Fermi β decay studies at the ISAC radioactive beam facility. The experiment was conducted by counting β+ particles from the decay of 62Ga in a 4π gas proportional counter. The half-life was measured to be 116.01 ± 0.19 ms. Several parameters were varied during the experiment to test for systematic effects, but no significant effects were found.

High-resolution γ-ray spectroscopy is essential to fully exploit the unique, high-quality beams available at the next generation of radioactive ion beam facilities such as the TRIUMF isotope separator and accelerator (ISAC). The 8π spectrometer, which consists of 20 Compton-suppressed HPGe detectors, has recently been reconfigured for a vigorous research programme in weak interaction and nuclear structure physics. With the addition of a variety of ancillary detectors it has become the world's most powerful device dedicated to β-decay studies. This paper provides a brief overview of the apparatus and highlights from recent experiments.

BaF 2 detectors for picosecond gamma-ray decay lifetime measurements have been installed into the 8π gamma-ray spectrometer as a proof-of-principle for a possible installation of a full array of ten detectors. Using four detectors a test measurement of the half-life of the 2 + state in 152 Sm resulted in a value of 1.33(6) ns, compared with a published value of 1.396 ns. Measurements with a 26 Na stopped beam were performed with various master-trigger conditions. Using a master trigger of germanium-SCEPTAR-BaF 2 OR BaF 2 -BaF 2 , the FWHM of the BaF 2 -BaF 2 triggered events was found to be ∼290 ps compared with ∼ 1.9 ns for the germanium-SCEPTAR-BaF 2 triggered events. Simulations using GEANT4 of a suggested BaF 2 lifetime measurement system have been carried out. These illustrate the considerable gain in spectrum quality which can be expected using simple add-back protocols.

High-spin states of the $^{44}$Sc nucleus, populated in the 68 MeV $^{18}$O + $^{30}$Si reaction, have been studied in a $\gamma-\gamma$-recoil coincidence experiment. The detailed decay pattern, with various paths and cross-transitions, has been extended up to 9.1 MeV. High-quality DCO and polarization information assign spins and parities for the majority of the observed levels. The negative-parity states are discussed and compared with rotational bands in neighbouring $f_{7/2}$-shell nuclei.

The TRIUMF-ISAC Gamma-Ray Escape-Suppressed Spectrometer (TIGRESS) will consist of twelve units of four high-purity germanium (HPGe) crystals in a common cryostat. The outer contacts of each crystal will be divided into four quadrants and two lateral segments for a total of eight outer contacts. The performance of a prototype HPGe four-crystal unit has been investigated. Integrated noise spectra for all contacts were measured. Energy resolutions, relative efficiencies for both individual crystals and for the entire unit, and peak-to-total ratios were measured with point-like sources. Position-dependent performance was measured by moving a collimated source across the face of the detector.