Steering an intense relativistic electron beam in a linear induction accelerator.

The best electron beam transport through a linear induction accelerator (LIA) is achieved when the beam is well centered on the magnetic axis of the focusing solenoids. Since the beam may be injected offset from, or at an angle to, the centerline, dipole magnets are usually provided as a means to steer the beam and center it. Steering may be accomplished by trial and error, but this is very time consuming, especially for accelerators with a low repetition rate for beam position measurements and dipole adjustments. This article presents a steering method requiring a minimal number of measurements and adjustments to position the beam at any desired location, including positioning on the centerline.

Calibration of two compact permanent magnet spectrometers for high current electron linear induction accelerators.

In this work, two compact, permanent magnet, electron spectrometers have been built to measure the electron beam energy at the Dual Axis Radiographic Hydrodynamic Test facility. Using H- and OH- anions, the spectrometers were calibrated at the Special Technologies Laboratory in Santa Barbara, California (USA). The spectrometers were mounted on a custom drift tube that allows the magnet assemblies to be translated, which increases the path length of the electrons traveling through the magnetic field and therefore increases the upper bound of the measurable electron kinetic energy. The measurable range of electron kinetic energies is between 2.8 MeV-4.1 MeV for the first spectrometer and 14.1 MeV-21.1 MeV for the second spectrometer, with an overall measurement uncertainty of 0.32%.

Health governance--its introduction in Lanarkshire Health Board.

OBJECTIVE: To describe an approach to implementing the principles of clinical governance in a Health Board setting. DESIGN: Using guidance from the Scottish Executive and The Faculty of Public Health Medicine to set up a health governance structure at Health Board level. Auditing current work to identify areas that required to be progressed. SETTING: Lanarkshire Health Board. RESULTS: A Health Governance Committee and a Health Governance Advisory Group, to support the work of the main committee, were set up at Board level. The Scottish Executive Governance Monitoring Template has been adapted to cover the main public health functions. Topics considered in the first year include qualifications, registration and CPD activity of Consultants in Public Health Medicine, audit of public health advice on gastro-intestinal illness, audit of DPH Annual Report and audit of items of business on Health Board agenda. CONCLUSION: The model developed in Lanarkshire has a Health Governance Advisory Group which works in support of the main Health Governance Committee. This model works well in practice with much of the routine work being done by the Advisory Group. This has streamlined the work of the Health Governance Committee and facilitated its introduction.

Perceived usefulness of the Director of Public Health Annual Report: a consumer survey.

The Annual Report of the Director of Public Health for Forth Valley was evaluated in terms of its usefulness as perceived by recipients. Six months after publication, more than half had retained their copy and a similar proportion had made use of it or anticipated using it in the coming year. Its main use was as a reference. The Report had least impact upon Consultants and General Practitioners.

Hepatosis dietetica, nutritional myopathy, mulberry heart disease and associated hepatic selenium level in pigs.

Outbreaks of Hepatosis Dietetica (HD), Nutritional Myopathy (NM) and Mulberry Heart Disease (MHD) in Western Australia are described. Hepatic selenium concentrations were low in pigs with HD and NM, but not with MHD. The mean hepatic selenium concentration in pigs unaffected with these conditions was 1.07 +/- 0.12 ppm dry wt. Cereal grain in an area of Western Australia where HD and NM frequently occur was found to be low in selenium and the addition of 0.1 ppm selenium to pig rations appeared to be an effective prophylactic measure. The extensive use of lupin seed as a protein source replacing much of the meat meal in pig rations may have contributed to an increase in the incidence of HD and NM.

Medicines evaluation and monitoring group: central nervous system effects of pentazocine.

Hospital-based drug monitoring facilities have been used to investigate the frequency of perceptual disturbances in inpatients receiving pentazocine and the occurrence of dependence upon this drug after discharge from hospital. A pilot study was carried out in which seven out of 70 hospital inpatients receiving pentazocine reported such episodes, while in a prospective study, 9 out of 132 patients receiving pentazocine and 1 out of 112 receiving cyclimorph, dihydrocodeine, or pethidine reported their occurrence. A total of 135 patients who received pentazocine for disorders likely to require longterm analgesia were followed up for six months after their discharge from hospital. 24 had received pentazocine after discharge; two required an increase in dosage and four expressed a preference for pentazocine.