Evaluation of Gross Alpha and Beta Activity Concentrations and Annual Effective Dose in Drinking Waters of Misan Province-Iraq Using Low Background Gas Flow Proportional Counter (LB- 4110)

In this study, assessment of levels natural radioactivity in drinking water samples of Misan Province of Iraq was carried out. A total of 33 (Tigris river, station and Tap) water samples collected from eleven places in Misan Province of Iraq. The beta and alpha gross radioactivity of the samples water was measured and an average annual effective dose derived of drinking-water ingestion was estimation utilizing new model a LB-4110 low background gas flow proportional counter. The data indicated that the Beta and Alpha gross activities and annual effective dose in samples did not exceed WHO recommended levels (0.5 Bq/L of Alpha gross, 1.0 Bq/L of Beta gross and 0.1 mSv/y for annual effective dose).

Numerical simulation of pulsed planar evaporation into background gas based on direct Monte Carlo simulation and solution of the BGK model kinetic equation

A numerical study of the planar gas expansion under pulsed evaporation into the background gas is carried out. The chosen conditions are typical for nanosecond laser deposition of thin films and nanostructure synthesis, with the saturated gas pressure at the surface of 5.4 MPa and the background pressure of 50 and 500 Pa. The problem is solved based on the direct simulation Monte Carlo method and direct numerical solution of the BGK model kinetic equation. A generally good agreement was obtained for all computed macroscopic quantities, with the exception of the higher density peak in the compressed layer and a wider shock front in the background gas for the BGK model.

Comparison of Environmental and Occupational Health in Gas Flare Host Communities and those Farther from Gas Flare Sites

Background: Gas flaring occurs during crude oil extraction and can have adverse implications for the community’ health and the environment. Reports show that residents complain about ill-health e.g. insomnia due to heat generated during gas flaring. This article therefore compares the impact on health in gas flaring host and non-gas flaring host communities. Methodology: This research followed a mixed method approach of quantitative and qualitative analysis. Six questions were asked on occupation, residence, distance from the gas flare, social status in community, health status and family health history. Two questions assessed health status as well as family health history of participants and were semi-qualitative. All questions were adopted from a previously published report. Comparison of environmental and occupational data between host and neighbouring communities was done. Outcome: Nearness of residence to gas flare sites show increased frequency in the number of ill health issues in respondents and their families. The impact of gas flaring i.e. ill health is high in those near to the site and diabetes is more prevalent amongst other ill-health conditions surveyed. Multiple comparisons show that the group farthest from gas flare site have significantly least proportion of members who are stressed or suffering respiratory problems. Conclusion: Impact on health or wellbeing among members of gas flaring host communities are more severe when compared to those far. Government policies need to mitigate the adverse effects of gas flaring and the community needs to be educated on the impacts of gas flaring and how this can be minimised.

A nanopore ion source delivers single amino acid and peptide ions directly into the gas phase

A technology for sequencing single proteins would expand our understanding of biology and improve the detection and treatment of disease. Approaches based on fluorosequencing, nanopores, and tunneling spectroscopy are under development and show promise. However, only mass spectrometry (MS) has demonstrated an ability to identify amino acids with minimal degeneracy. We envision sequencing a protein by fragmenting it and delivering its constituent amino acids into a mass spectrometer in sequential order, but existing ion sources employ a background gas that scrambles the spatial ordering of ions and degrades their transmission. Here we report an ion source comprising a glass capillary with a sub-100 nm diameter pore that emits amino acid ions from aqueous solution directly into vacuum. Emitted ions travel collision-less trajectories before striking a single-ion detector. We measured unsolvated ions of 16 different amino acids as well as glutathione and two of its post-translationally modified variants.

Effect of the Helium Background Gas Pressure on the Structural and Optoelectronic Properties of Pulsed-Laser-Deposited PbS Thin Films

This work focuses on the dependence of the features of PbS films deposited by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) subsequent to the variation of the background pressure of helium (PHe). The morphology of the PLD-PbS films changes from a densely packed and almost featureless structure to a columnar and porous one as the He pressure increases. The average crystallite size related to the (111) preferred orientation increases up to 20 nm for PHe ≥ 300 mTorr. The (111) lattice parameter continuously decreases with increasing PHe values and stabilizes at PHe ≥ 300 mTorr. A downshift transition of the Raman peak of the main phonon (1LO) occurs from PHe = 300 mTorr. This transition would result from electron–LO–phonon interaction and from a lattice contraction. The optical bandgap of the films increases from 1.4 to 1.85 eV as PHe increases from 50 to 500 mTorr. The electrical resistivity of PLD-PbS is increased with PHe and reached its maximum value of 20 Ω·cm at PHe = 300 mTorr (400 times higher than 50 mTorr), which is probably due to the increasing porosity of the films. PHe = 300 mTorr is pointed out as a transitional pressure for the structural and optoelectronic properties of PLD-PbS films.

An Unusual Case of Gas Gangrene in Intravenous Heroin Addict

BACKGROUND: Gas gangrene is a clostridium infection primarily of muscle tissue, most commonly caused by C. perfringens. Clinical diagnosis is usually made by local inspection of the wound: the infected tissue shows characteristic signs of tissue inflammation with blistered changes. The disease can starts suddenly, 4-6 hours after the injury, but most commonly the incubation period lasts 2-4 days. Without proper medical intervention, death occurs in 4-24 hours after the development of the first symptoms, but even with timely and adequate therapy, the lethality is very high (around 12%). Due to its fulminant course, in all cases with fatal outcomes, a forensic autopsy is an obligatory procedure. However, discovering the entrance gate and source of infection is not an easy task, especially in the absence of a traumatic injury. CASE PRESENTATION: Male, 27 years old, an intravenous heroin addict for about 10 years, injured his left leg in a traffic accident. He only visited the doctor after 5 days. Upon examination, it was determined that there were no externally visible injuries and no fracture, and he was given a splint immobilization for an ankle luxation. Twelve days after the accident (or 7 days after the immobilization) his mother found him unconscious. CONCLUSION: From medicolegal aspects, it’s important to have in mind even the less frequent paths of infection, in order to give an expert professional opinion on origin and cause of death.