A TOF-PET prototype with position sensitive PMT readout

A prototype of time-of-flight positron emission computed tomography (TOF-PET) has been developed for acquiring the coincident detection of 511 keV gamma-rays produced from positron annihilation. It consists of two 80.5 mmx80.5 mm LYSO scintillator arrays (composed of 35 x35 pixel finger crystals) with the position sensitive photomultiplier tubes R2487 as the readout. Each array is composed of 2 mm x2 mm x 15 mm finger crystals and the average pixel pitch is 2.30 mm. The measured results indicate that the TOF information has the potential to significantly enhance the image quality by improving the noise variance in the image reconstruction. The best spatial resolution (FWHM) of the prototype for the pairs of 511 keV gamma-rays is 1.98 mm and 2.16 mm in the x and y directions, respectively, which are smaller than the average pixel pitch of 2.30 mm.

Caratterizzazione di un rivelatore MCP-PMT per misure di risoluzione temporale e spaziale.

Questa tesi descrive una prima serie di misure effettuate per caratterizzare le prestazioni di un rivelatore di fotoni MCP-PMT a multi anodo, con particolare enfasi sulla risoluzione temporale e spaziale. I risultati sono stati confrontati con quelli relativi a tre ulteriori rivelatori (un MCP-PMT a singolo anodo e due fotomoltiplicatori a silicio). Le misure sono state effettuate presso i Laboratori dell’Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN - Sezione di Bologna) per conto del Dipartimento di Fisica dell’Università di Bologna. La rivelazione della luce ha sempre occupato un posto fondamentale nella Fisica Nucleare e Subnucleare. Il principio base della rivelazione consiste nel trasformare la luce incidente in un segnale elettrico misurabile e i primi strumenti storicamente utilizzati furono i fotomoltiplicatori. Successivamente furono introdotti dei nuovi rivelatori di fotoni chiamati Micro Channel Plates, composti da un array di canali di dimensioni microscopiche, ciascuno in grado di moltiplicare gli elettroni prodotti per effetto fotoelettrico dai fotoni incidenti. Questo nuovo modello presenta ottime prestazioni in particolare per quanto riguarda la risoluzione temporale, e questa insieme ad altre caratteristiche (come la segmentazione degli anodi, che permette una risoluzione spaziale migliore), ha spinto a studiarne il funzionamento.

Diver's view of PMT's [Photomultiplier tubes]

IMB (Irvine, Michigan, Brookline), a collaboration between the University of Michigan, the University of California at Irvine, and the U.S. Department of Energy, was an experiment designed to determine the ultimate stability of matter. IMB construction image. Underwater view along bottom of "pool" showing PMT's [photomultiplier tubes] on bottom and opposite wall.

Post-glacial sea-level changes around the Australian margin : a review

It has been known since Rhodes Fairbridge’s first attempt to establish a global pattern of Holocene sea-level change by combining evidence from Western Australia and from sites in the northern hemisphere that the details of sea-level history since the Last Glacial Maximum vary considerably across the globe. The Australian region is relatively stable tectonically and is situated in the ‘far-field’ of former ice sheets. It therefore preserves important records of post-glacial sea levels that are less complicated by neotectonics or glacio-isostatic adjustments. Accordingly, the relative sea-level record of this region is dominantly one of glacio-eustatic (ice equivalent) sea-level changes. The broader Australasian region has provided critical information on the nature of post-glacial sea level, including the termination of the Last Glacial Maximum when sea level was approximately 125 m lower than present around 21,000–19,000 years BP, and insights into meltwater pulse 1A between 14,600 and 14,300 cal. yr BP. Although most parts of the Australian continent reveals a high degree of tectonic stability, research conducted since the 1970s has shown that the timing and elevation of a Holocene highstand varies systematically around its margin. This is attributed primarily to variations in the timing of the response of the ocean basins and shallow continental shelves to the increased ocean volumes following ice-melt, including a process known as ocean siphoning (i.e. glacio-hydro-isostatic adjustment processes). Several seminal studies in the early 1980s produced important data sets from the Australasian region that have provided a solid foundation for more recent palaeo-sea-level research. This review revisits these key studies emphasising their continuing influence on Quaternary research and incorporates relatively recent investigations to interpret the nature of post-glacial sea-level change around Australia. These include a synthesis of research from the Northern Territory, Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia. A focus of these more recent studies has been the re-examination of: (1) the accuracy and reliability of different proxy sea-level indicators; (2) the rate and nature of post-glacial sea-level rise; (3) the evidence for timing, elevation, and duration of mid-Holocene highstands; and, (4) the notion of mid- to late Holocene sea-level oscillations, and their basis. Based on this synthesis of previous research, it is clear that estimates of past sea-surface elevation are a function of eustatic factors as well as morphodynamics of individual sites, the wide variety of proxy sea-level indicators used, their wide geographical range, and their indicative meaning. Some progress has been made in understanding the variability of the accuracy of proxy indicators in relation to their contemporary sea level, the inter-comparison of the variety of dating techniques used and the nuances of calibration of radiocarbon ages to sidereal years. These issues need to be thoroughly understood before proxy sea-level indicators can be incorporated into credible reconstructions of relative sea-level change at individual locations. Many of the issues, which challenged sea-level researchers in the latter part of the twentieth century, remain contentious today. Divergent opinions remain about: (1) exactly when sea level attained present levels following the most recent post-glacial marine transgression (PMT); (2) the elevation that sea-level reached during the Holocene sea-level highstand; (3) whether sea-level fell smoothly from a metre or more above its present level following the PMT; (4) whether sea level remained at these highstand levels for a considerable period before falling to its present position; or (5) whether it underwent a series of moderate oscillations during the Holocene highstand.

Basic finance made accessible in Excel 2007 : "the big 5, plus 2"

The basic principles and equations are developed for elementary finance, based on the concept of compound interest. The five quantities of interest in such problems are present value, future value, amount of periodic payment, number of periods and the rate of interest per period. We consider three distinct means of computing each of these five quantities in Excel 2007: (i) use of algebraic equations, (ii) by recursive schedule and the Goal Seek facility, and (iii) use of Excel's intrinsic financial functions. The paper is intended to be used as the basis for a lesson plan and contains many examples and solved problems. Comment is made regarding the relative difficulty of each approach, and a prominent theme is the systematic use of more than one method to increase student understanding and build confidence in the answer obtained. Full instructions to build each type of model are given and a complete set of examples and solutions may be downloaded (Examples.xlsx and Solutions.xlsx).

Spectral, thermal and electrical properties of poly(o- and m-toluidine) PVC blends prepared by solution blending

Poly(o-toluidine) (POT) and poly(m-toluidine) (PMT) blends with polyvinylchloride (PVC) of five different compositions have been prepared by solution blending. The POT-PVC and PMT-PVC blends were prepared using THF as a solvent in which POT-HNO3, PMT-HNO3 bases and PVC are soluble. The blends have been characterized by spectral, thermal and electrical measurements. The results indicate the formation of blends at all the compositions presently studied. The thermal stability of the POT-PVC and PMT-PVC blends is higher than that of POT-HNO3 and PMT-HNO3 salts, respectively. Using the present method, POT/PMT can conveniently be blended with 30% wt/wt of PVC without significant loss in its conductivity. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

A construção da síndrome pré-menstrual

Esta pesquisa visa problematizar a síndrome pré-menstrual (SPM) enquanto entidade biomédica a-histórica tornada evidente a partir do preenchimento de critérios diagnósticos. O ponto de partida é a hipótese de que o modelo biomédico de explicação da SPM incorpora e reproduz os padrões sociais vigentes que insistem em visões estereotipadas dos gêneros em função da diferenciação biológica dos sexos. A partir de uma reflexão sobre a construção do fato científico e da preponderância do discurso biomédico na compreensão dos corpos, emoções e comportamentos femininos, analisamos as mudanças históricas ocorridas nessa visão considerada reducionista. No final do século XVIII e início do XIX, a essência da feminilidade era localizada no útero; a partir de meados do século XIX, os ovários passaram a ser considerados a fonte das doenças das mulheres, inclusive as nervosas e mentais. No início do século XX começou a ocorrer uma mudança nos discursos biomédicos e a essência da feminilidade passou a ser localizada em substâncias químicas denominadas hormônios. Desde então o organismo feminino tornou-se cada vez mais representado como controlado pelos hormônios, reificando a crença de que as mulheres são cíclicas e em determinados períodos, instáveis, irracionais e, portanto, não confiáveis. Essa ênfase nos hormônios coincide com a primeira descrição, em 1931, do que era chamado tensão pré-menstrual. Na década de 1950, a terminologia mudou para síndrome pré-menstrual. Inicialmente foi compreendida como diretamente produzida pelos hormônios femininos, mas não há evidência empírica que comprove esta hipótese. Após 80 anos de pesquisas, não se encontrou um marcador biológico ou teste bioquímico que possa ser utilizado para o diagnóstico. Os próprios critérios diagnósticos não são consensuais entre os pesquisadores, pois foram descritos mais de 200 sintomas que incidem de forma variada e inconstante. Não se conhece ainda o mecanismo etiopatogênico e alguns autores questionam a própria existência da síndrome enquanto entidade biomédica e apresentam visões feministas e sócio-culturais para a compreensão do fenômeno. Muitas mulheres, entretanto, afirmam ter TPM (nomenclatura mais comum nos meios leigos). Para aprofundar esta questão e ampliar nossa compreensão, a análise de artigos biomédicos recentes (2000 a 2011) sobre a SPM foi confrontada com a experiência direta ou indireta da TPM em mulheres de camadas médias da população. Com este objetivo, foram analisados artigos científicos sobre a SPM selecionados a partir de um levantamento no PubMed, ferramenta de buscas online, e realizadas entrevistas individuais em profundidade, abertas, semi-estruturadas com mulheres em idade reprodutiva selecionadas através do sistema de amostragem conhecido como bola de neve (snow ball). Após a análise tanto dos artigos científicos quanto das entrevistas, concluímos que apesar de pressupostos comuns que a biologia determina diferenças de gênero naturais e universais entre homens e mulheres a SPM dos artigos biomédicos e a TPM das mulheres não coincidem. Sem desconsiderar as sensações desagradáveis, os problemas e o sofrimento das mulheres que afirmam ter TPM, os resultados deste estudo apontam para uma realidade complexa que enseja mais pesquisa em direção a descrições menos reducionistas destas experiências femininas

车载直接探测多普勒测风激光雷达光学鉴频器

基于建立的车载直接探测激光雷达系统，对接收光学鉴频器进行了研究。针对边界层、对流层和平流层不同的气溶胶和大气分子浓度以及风速动态范围，同时采用直接探测的两种主要技术。利用多光束菲索（Fizeau）干涉仪（MFI）和阵列光电倍增管（PMT），接收气溶胶散射信号，获得边界层风速。采用双法布里-珀罗（Fabry-Perot）干涉仪（DFP）和光电倍增管探测器，分析分子散射信号，得到对流层风场。使用实际的激光雷达系统参数和大气模型参数，对两个鉴频器进行了优化设计，分析了它们的风速测量灵敏度和精度。多光束菲索干涉仪

基于Fizeau干涉仪的直接探测多普勒测风、激光雷达研究

回顾了基于Fizeau干涉仪的多普勒测风激光雷达的基本原理，在对测风雷达的主要参数说明的基础上，分析了多通道探测器的选择以及由于干涉仪圆形口径引起的通道间的能量修正系数问题，最后对基于Fizeau干涉仪多普勒测风激光雷达雷达系统的风速测量误差进行了数值模拟．结果显示，研制中的基于Fizeau干涉仪的多普勒测风激光雷达系统在5km以下范围内，风速测量误差可以达到0．56m／s（30s积分实际时间）．

基于菲佐干涉仪与多通道光电倍增管阵列的多普勒频移检测技术

提出了基于菲佐干涉仪和多通道光电倍增管(PMT)阵列探测器组合的多普勒频移检测的方案, 适用于风速测量的直接探测多普勒激光雷达。首先介绍了工作原理, 再根据菲佐干涉仪光谱特征对频移检测用干涉仪进行了优化设计, 优化设计的菲佐干涉仪腔长150mm、平板反射率0.755。对提出的菲佐干涉仪和多通道光电倍增管阵列探测器组合的方案进行了数值模拟, 以分子散射作为背景噪声, 计算了该方法的风速测量误差。模拟结果表明, 设计的基于菲佐干涉仪的直接探测多普勒测风激光雷达, 在30 s的积分时间内、探测高度5 km以下,

国产YAP：Ce闪烁晶体的相对探测能力测量

为适应在n、γ昆合脉冲辐射场中对低强度快脉冲y辐射测量的需要，近年国内新研制出实用型YAlO3：Ce（YAP：Ce）快响应无机闪烁晶体。我们使用脉冲线性电流大于1．5A的光电倍增管，分别配置这种晶体以及CeF3、NaI等晶体构成闪烁探测器，在放射性标准源场中，对晶体的相对探测能力进行测量。测量结果表明：国产新型YAP：Ce无机晶体对这1．25MeV射线的探测能力比同体积的CeF3平均高一个量级，是同体积NaI的40％左右；当晶体厚度小于2mm时，YAP：Ce与CeF2、NaI的输出比值分别大于16和44％，说明厚度越薄晶体的相对探测能力越强。

时间型和增益型光电倍增管分压系统的比较研究

介绍了光电倍增管分压器的工作原理,在此基础上讨论了分压器和输出信号(增益、线性和时间响应等)的关系。根据这些原理,按照实际实验需求设计分压器,进行了实验比较分析。

RIBLL终端LASCAR闪烁体阵列探测器研制进展

介绍了RIBLL终端LASCAR闪烁体阵列探测器的工作原理和结构特点. 描述了为满足放射性核束实验的要求而对阵列所作的重要改进. 给出了LASCAR构型优化改造的工作设想和实施步骤.

CHRONOAMPEROMETRIC STUDIES ON MIGRATION AND DIFFUSION OF COUNTERION IN POLY(3-METHYLTHIOPHENE)

Small amplitude potential step experiments were carried out to study the counterion transfer process in oxidized poly(3-methylthiophene) (PMT) film. The results demonstrate that anion transfer process in PMT film is migration rather than diffusion. A porous metal electrode model-single hole model, which takes into account both the ionic resistance of the film and the uncompensated solution resistance, was found suitable to describe the potential step experiments. According to this model, the ionic resistivity of oxidized PMT film was calculated to be 5.0 x 10(4) OMEGA.cm, and, in turn, the diffusion coefficent of ClO4- ion in PMT film 3.7 x 10(-9) cm2/s.

聚(3-甲基噻吩)薄膜中对离子的迁移与扩散——计时电流法研究

在聚(3-甲基噻吩)(PMT)氧化态进行的小幅度电位阶跃计时电流实验证明,氧化态PMT膜中阴离子的传输是迁移过程,而非扩散过程.适用于该电位跃过程的模型是考虑膜离子阻抗及未补偿溶液电阻的多孔金属电极模型——单孔模型.用该迁移模型得到的PMT膜离子电阻率为5.0×10~4Ω·cm,进而求得ClO_4~-离子在膜内的扩散系数为3.7×10~(-9)cm~2/s.