Design and thermal-hydraulic analysis of multi-target system with 100 MeV proton linear accelerator for the production of 67Cu and 68Ge radioisotopes.

Radioisotopes are widely used in the fields of medicine, science, and industry. The growing demand for medical radioisotopes has driven research on alternative production methods. In particular, both isotopes of 67Cu and 68Ge play vital roles in the medical environment in many countries to be used in the radio-immunotherapy and the positron emission tomography imaging, respectively. This study designed a multi-target system consisting of two Zn and one Ga2O3 plates to enable simultaneous production of the medical radioisotopes 67Cu and 68Ge using 100 MeV proton beams. To understand the thermal effect on the multi-targets, we examined the distribution of energy absorbed in each solid plate target when exposed to an accelerated proton beam through the thermal-fluid analysis based on ANSYS simulation. For confirming thermal stability for two Zn targets and one Ga2O3 target, the modified water flow path inside the multi-target system was designed effectively with the controlled distribution of multiple sub-holes between main inlet and the following four channels. It was confirmed that the newly designed multi-target system of Zn and Ga2O3 solid plates shows higher thermal stability than the case of uniform distribution of water inlet, which means it could be exposed to a higher current beam of 7.57% to decrease the processing time.

Geometric analysis algorithm based on a neural network with localized simulation data for nano-grating structure using Mueller matrix spectroscopic ellipsometry.

Mueller matrix spectroscopic ellipsometry (MMSE) is a nondestructive tool for nanostructure analysis, and recently the enhanced computational power, combining neural networks and simulation data, enhance its analysis ability on more complex geometries. This study introduces a deep learning method to realize fast and accurate analysis; predicting nanostructure parameters by pairing Mueller matrices with relatively limited library data and then applying neural network algorithm. Thus, it was realized to predict the width and height of 1D grating structure with an accuracy of MAE below 0.1 nm through the proposed two-step prediction algorithm. Finally, experimental validation on SiO2 grating of 38 nm width and 100 nm height showed a good agreement in the dimensions with reasonable range compared to those measured by scanning electron microscopy.

Nationalistic Media Obsession With Olympic Medal Counts: The Case of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

Because Olympic medals are awarded to athletes representing an individual National Olympic Committee, it is natural for the media, and even the International Olympic Committee, to create a table indicating which nation has experienced the most athletic success. Problems, and even disagreements, arise when nations utilize different methods to count medals. The 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, contested in 2021, provided a unique opportunity to observe how media organizations create a narrative around medal tables. American media outlets preferred to consistently show the United States at the top of the medal standings even though China had more gold medals for much of the Games' fortnight. Non-American media organizations took exception to that method of counting.

Impact of surface roughness of gypsum materials on adaptation of zirconia cores.

PURPOSE: The present study investigated the influences of various gypsum materials on the precision of fit of CAD/CAM-fabricated prostheses and analyzed their correlation with surface roughness. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The master model of the mandibular right first molar was replicated, and four experimental groups based on two types of Type IV stone (GC Fujirock EP, Die keen) and two types of scannable stone (Aesthetic-Basegold, Everest Rock) were created to include a total of 40 specimens, 10 in each group. The surface roughness of the working models for the respective experimental groups was measured. Once the zirconia cores had been fabricated, the marginal and internal fits were measured with a digital microscope using the silicone replica technique. The mean and standard deviation of the respective points of measurement were computed and analyzed through the one-way ANOVA and Tukey's HSD test. The correlation between surface roughness and the precision of fit of the zirconia core was analyzed using the Pearson correlation analysis (α=.05). RESULTS: The zirconia cores fabricated from the scannable stone working models exhibited a superior precision of fit as compared to those fabricated from the Type IV stone working models. The correlation analysis results showed a clear positive correlation between surface roughness and the precision of fit of zirconia cores in all of the experimental groups (P<.05). CONCLUSION: The results confirmed that the surface roughness of dental working models has a decisive influence on the precision of fit of zirconia cores.

Influence of various gypsum materials on precision of fit of CAD/CAM-fabricated zirconia copings.

The clinical applicability of CAD/CAM-fabricated zirconia copings is tested using working models made from four different highstrength Type IV gypsum materials. Each of the four materials was used to fabricate 15 zirconia copings. Precision of fit was measured with a digital electron microscope using the silicone replica technique. The mean and standard deviation of each reference point were analyzed using the one-way analysis of the variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's honest significant difference (HSD) tests (α=0.05). The overall marginal and internal fits of the zirconia copings were as follows: GS (GS: Grey Stone) group: 91.43 µm, LS (LS: Light green Stone) Group: 87.89 µm, RS (RS: Red Stone) Group: 88.75 µm, BS (BS: Beige Stone) Group: 82.78 µm. There were no significant differences between the mean adaptations of the gypsum varieties (p>0.05). This confirmed that the type of gypsum material used does not determine the precision of fit of a prosthesis.

Quantitative evaluation of common errors in digital impression obtained by using an LED blue light in-office CAD/CAM system.

OBJECTIVE: This study addresses common errors that may occur during digital impression procedures using the CEREC AC and in-office CAD/CAM systems. Error types and frequencies resulting from digital impressions of the oral cavity were investigated and their origins identified to facilitate the acquisition of more accurate digital impressions. METHOD AND MATERIALS: A total of 1,251 digital impression cases, including 163 onlays and 1,088 inlays, were constructed as restorations using the CEREC AC system. Two evaluators determined five categories of digital errors as a basis for evaluation over two sessions. The five categories were as follows: inappropriate scanner positioning (ISP), improper handling of the scanner (IHS), irregular powder arrangement (IPA), improper cavity preparation (ICP), and insufficient scanned data (ISD). RESULTS: The most frequently encountered errors were non-linear powder application (IPA), inappropriate oral cavity scanner placement (ISP), and insufficient data (ISD). ISP showed that inlays had a slightly higher frequency of errors, but this observation was not statistically significant (P > .05). CONCLUSION: Most errors are caused by incorrect operation of intraoral scanners or uneven application of powder in acquiring digital impressions. To provide optimal digital impression results, careful chairside technique procedures and operation of intraoral scanners are required.

Three-dimensional evaluation of gaps associated with fixed dental prostheses fabricated with new technologies.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: One of the most important factors in determining the clinical outcomes of fixed dental prostheses is the gap between the fixed dental prosthesis and the abutment. However, reports that investigated these gaps in the context of fixed dental prostheses fabricated with new technologies are few. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to measure and analyze the fit of fixed dental prostheses. The fixed dental prostheses for the study were produced with the subtractive method (milling soft metal blocks), additive method (selective laser sintering), and traditional method (lost wax and casting). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ten specimens were fabricated with the soft metal block, selective laser sintering, and lost wax and casting methods. The 3-dimensional measurement method was adopted to obtain the measure gap figures of the specimens. To fabricate a digital replica, computer-aided design reference casts were prepared by scanning the study casts, and silicone replicas were fabricated for each specimen. These silicone replicas were scanned and obtained 40,000 point cloud data. The study also defined the mean gap for each specimen by averaging approximately 40,000 gap points to evaluate the fit of the specimens. Data were analyzed with 1-way ANOVA and the Tukey honestly significant difference (α=.05). RESULTS: The mean gap was the smallest for fixed dental prostheses fabricated with the soft metal block, followed by the selective laser sintering, then the lost wax and casting. One-way ANOVA revealed statistically significant differences in the size of the gap among the 3 groups (P<.001), and the Tukey honestly significant difference test confirmed the specific differences among the groups (P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: The fit obtained with the new soft metal block and selective laser sintering techniques was better than that obtained with the traditional lost wax and casting method. Thus, fixed dental prostheses produced by using these new techniques can be considered clinically acceptable.

In vitro evaluation of marginal and internal adaptation of three-unit fixed dental prostheses produced by stereolithography.

The purpose of this study was to investigate, by measuring the gap, the possible clinical use of three-unit fixed dental prostheses (FDPs) manufactured using stereolithography. A total of 20 epoxy models were built with a same case (abutment teeth 14, 16). The 40 specimens were produced using the stereolithography (SLA) and wax-up (LW). The 960 gaps of the 40 specimens produced were measured by a silicone replica. The Wilcoxon rank sum test was then used to compare and analyze the data obtained from the two groups (α=0.05). The total gap, as measured from the SLA and LW groups, was 98.6 and 66.6 µm, respectively. The results indicate that the gap in the SLA group is statistically significantly greater than that in the LW group (p<0.05). Further assessment and improvement of the SLA method for the fabrication of FDPs is evidently still required.

Evaluation of the color reproducibility of all-ceramic restorations fabricated by the digital veneering method.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical acceptability of all-ceramic crowns fabricated by the digital veneering method vis-à-vis the traditional method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Zirconia specimens manufactures by two different manufacturing method, conventional vs digital veneering, with three different thickness (0.3 mm, 0.5 mm, 0.7 mm) were prepared for analysis. Color measurement was performed using a spectrophotometer for the prepared specimens. The differences in shade in relation to the build-up method were calculated by quantifying ΔE(*) (mean color difference), with the use of color difference equations representing the distance from the measured values L(*), a(*), and b(*), to the three-dimensional space of two colors. Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) combined with a Tukey multiple-range test was used to analyze the data (α=0.05). RESULTS: In comparing means and standard deviations of L(*), a(*), and b(*) color values there was no significant difference by the manufacturing method and zirconia core thickness according to a two-way ANOVA. The color differences between two manufacturing methods were in a clinically acceptable range less than or equal to 3.7 in all the specimens. CONCLUSION: Based on the results of this study, a carefully consideration is necessary while selecting upper porcelain materials, even if it is performed on a small scale. However, because the color reproducibility of the digital veneering system was within the clinically acceptable range when comparing with conventional layering system, it was possible to estimate the possibility of successful aesthetic prostheses in the latest technology.

Accuracy and precision of polyurethane dental arch models fabricated using a three-dimensional subtractive rapid prototyping method with an intraoral scanning technique.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy and precision of polyurethane (PUT) dental arch models fabricated using a three-dimensional (3D) subtractive rapid prototyping (RP) method with an intraoral scanning technique by comparing linear measurements obtained from PUT models and conventional plaster models. METHODS: Ten plaster models were duplicated using a selected standard master model and conventional impression, and 10 PUT models were duplicated using the 3D subtractive RP technique with an oral scanner. Six linear measurements were evaluated in terms of x, y, and z-axes using a non-contact white light scanner. Accuracy was assessed using mean differences between two measurements, and precision was examined using four quantitative methods and the Bland-Altman graphical method. Repeatability was evaluated in terms of intra-examiner variability, and reproducibility was assessed in terms of inter-examiner and inter-method variability. RESULTS: The mean difference between plaster models and PUT models ranged from 0.07 mm to 0.33 mm. Relative measurement errors ranged from 2.2% to 7.6% and intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from 0.93 to 0.96, when comparing plaster models and PUT models. The Bland-Altman plot showed good agreement. CONCLUSIONS: The accuracy and precision of PUT dental models for evaluating the performance of oral scanner and subtractive RP technology was acceptable. Because of the recent improvements in block material and computerized numeric control milling machines, the subtractive RP method may be a good choice for dental arch models.

Evaluation of the marginal and internal gap of metal-ceramic crown fabricated with a selective laser sintering technology: two- and three-dimensional replica techniques.

PURPOSE: One of the most important factors in evaluating the quality of fixed dental prostheses (FDPs) is their gap. The purpose of this study was to compare the marginal and internal gap of two different metal-ceramic crowns, casting and selective laser sintering (SLS), before and after porcelain firing. Furthermore, this study evaluated whether metal-ceramic crowns made using the SLS have the same clinical acceptability as crowns made by the traditional casting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The 10 study models were produced using stone. The 20 specimens were produced using the casting and the SLS methods; 10 samples were made in each group. After the core gap measurements, 10 metal-ceramic crowns in each group were finished using the conventional technique of firing porcelain. The gap of the metal-ceramic crowns was measured. The marginal and internal gaps were measured by two-dimensional and three-dimensional replica techniques, respectively. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test, the Wilcoxon rank-sum test and nonparametric ANCOVA were used for statistical analysis (α=.05). RESULTS: In both groups, the gap increased after completion of the metal-ceramic crown compared to the core. In all measured areas, the gap of the metal cores and metal-ceramic crowns produced by the SLS was greater than that of the metal cores and metal-ceramic crowns produced using the casting. Statistically significant differences were found between cast and SLS (metal cores and metal-ceramic crown). CONCLUSION: Although the gap of the FDPs produced by the SLS was greater than that of the FDPs produced by the conventional casting in all measured areas, none exceeded the clinically acceptable range.

An evaluation of marginal fit of three-unit fixed dental prostheses fabricated by direct metal laser sintering system.

OBJECTIVES: This in vitro study aimed to evaluate and compare marginal fit of three-unit fixed dental prostheses (FDPs) fabricated using a newly developed direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) system with that of three-unit FDPs by a conventional lost wax technique (LW) method. METHODS: Ten cobalt-chromium alloy three-unit FDPs using DMLS system and another ten nickel-chromium alloy FDPs using LW method were fabricated. Marginal fit was examined using a light-body silicone. After setting, the silicon film was cut into four parts and the thickness of silicon layer was measured at 160× magnification using a digital microscope to measure absolute marginal discrepancy (AMD), marginal gap (MG) and internal gap (IG). A repeated measure ANOVA for statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS statistical package version 12.0 (α=0.05). RESULTS: The mean values of AMD, MG, and IG were significantly larger in the DMLS group than in the LW group (p<0.001). Means of AMD, MG and IG in the first molars were 83.3, 80.0, and 82.0µm in the LW group; and 128.0, 112.0, and 159.5µm in the DMLS group, respectively. No significant difference between measurements for premolars and molars was found (p>0.05). SIGNIFICANCE: The marginal fit of the DMLS system appeared significantly inferior compared to that of the conventional LW method and slightly larger than the acceptable range. For clinical application further improvement of DMLS system may be required.

Using optimization models to demonstrate the need for structural changes in training programs for surgical medical residents.

The primary goal of a residency program is to prepare trainees for unsupervised care. Duty hour restrictions imposed throughout the prior decade require that residents work significantly fewer hours. Moreover, various stakeholders (e.g. the hospital, mentors, other residents, educators, and patients) require them to prioritize very different activities, often conflicting with their learning goals. Surgical residents' learning goals include providing continuity throughout a patient's pre-, peri-, and post-operative care as well as achieving sufficient surgical experience levels in various procedure types and participating in various formal educational activities, among other things. To complicate matters, senior residents often compete with other residents for surgical experience. This paper features experiments using an optimization model and a real dataset. The experiments test the viability of achieving the above goals at a major academic center using existing models of delivering medical education and training to surgical residents. It develops a detailed multi-objective, two-stage stochastic optimization model with anticipatory capabilities solved over a rolling time horizon. A novel feature of the models is the incorporation of learning curve theory in the objection function. Using a deterministic version of the model, we identify bounds on the achievement of learning goals under existing training paradigms. The computational results highlight the structural problems in the current surgical resident educational system. These results further corroborate earlier findings and suggest an educational system redesign is necessary for surgical medical residents.

Properties of synthetic monosulfate as a novel material for arsenic removal.

Monosulfate was examined as a novel material for As(V) removal since its layered double hydroxide structure was expected to possess a high capacity for anion exchange. Phase-pure monosulfate was synthesized by hydration at 80-90°C for 36 h using a stoichiometric mixture of tricalcium aluminate (calcined at 1300°C) and gypsum. The analyses of PXRD, WDXRF, and FE-SEM confirmed the successful synthesis of highly pure monosulfate with a negligible impurity of ettringite. Batch experiments were carried out to investigate the kinetics of As(V) removal by monosulfate. A close relationship between As(V) uptake and sulfate release was observed. The intercalation of arsenate in the interlayer of monosulfate was confirmed by PXRD and FT-IR analyses. From a series of equilibrium batch experiments, it is seen that initial sorption of As(V) on monosulfate follows Langmuir isotherm, whereas further injection of As(V) caused transformation of monosulfate to ettringite, which was confirmed by FE-SEM micrographs. However, after the transformation, the solid phases in the equilibrium experiments were found to significantly lose their ability to take up As(V) in exchange for sulfate. A possible explanation for this result was hypothesized and discussed in the context of the literature.

Outcome based state budget allocation for diabetes prevention programs using multi-criteria optimization with robust weights.

We consider the problem of outcomes based budget allocations to chronic disease prevention programs across the United States (US) to achieve greater geographical healthcare equity. We use Diabetes Prevention and Control Programs (DPCP) by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as an example. We present a multi-criteria robust weighted sum model for such multi-criteria decision making in a group decision setting. The principal component analysis and an inverse linear programming techniques are presented and used to study the actual 2009 budget allocation by CDC. Our results show that the CDC budget allocation process for the DPCPs is not likely model based. In our empirical study, the relative weights for different prevalence and comorbidity factors and the corresponding budgets obtained under different weight regions are discussed. Parametric analysis suggests that money should be allocated to states to promote diabetes education and to increase patient-healthcare provider interactions to reduce disparity across the US.