The aim was to explore magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) experiences of patients with spinal metastasis after adjustments to the examination procedures have been made in accordance with the findings from a previous study. MRI is an important medical technology, which is considered to be the first choice of examination method when diagnosing and evaluating spinal metastatic tumors. It is a challenge

This work discusses an experimental technique for studying the mechanics of three-dimensional (3D) granular solids. The approach combines 3D X-ray diffraction and X-ray computed tomography to measure grain-resolved strains, kinematics and contact fabric in the bulk of a granular solid, from which continuum strains, grain stresses, interparticle forces and coarse-grained elasto-plastic moduli can b

This study is devoted to the assessment of the relations between the digital chest x-ray screening procedure parameters, different dose quantities (DAP, ESD, Effective dose) for different age and gender patient groups and patient’s anthropometric indicators. We selected the anthropometric indicators with the maximum impacton patient’s doses. We propose a new approach for the determination of the s

The aim of this study was to evaluate adult patient doses in Russia in the context of patient protection. Effective doses from x-ray and nuclear medicine examinations were assessed using two approaches. The first was based on data collection performed by the authors in hospitals in St. Petersburg and other 17 Russian regions. The second approach was to assess mean doses through the collective dose

The dynamic interaction of methanol and its derivatives with Cu-exchanged ZSM-5 during methanol temperature-programmed desorption from 30 to 450 °C has been investigated using in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy and first-principles calculations. The results emphasize that defects in the framework structure of the zeolite and Brønsted acid sites constitute ion-excha

The release of toxic organic pollutants and heavy metals by primitive electronic waste (e-waste) processing to waterways has raised significant concerns, but little is known about their potential ecological effects on aquatic biota especially microorganisms. We characterized the microbial community composition and diversity in sediments sampled along two rivers consistently polluted by e-waste, an

The luminous X-ray binary 47 Tuc X9 shows radio and X-ray emission consistent with a stellar-mass black hole (BH) accreting from a carbon-oxygen white dwarf. Its location, in the core of the massive globular cluster 47 Tuc, hints at a dynamical origin. We assess the stability of mass transfer from a carbon-oxygen white dwarf onto compact objects of various masses, and conclude that for mass transf

Accurate and efficient evaluation of the stored energy is essential for Q factors, physical bounds, and antenna current optimization. Here it is shown that the stored energy can be estimated from quadratic forms based on a state-space representation derived from the electric and magnetic field integral equations. The derived expressions are valid for small antennas embedded in temporally dispersiv

Purpose: To set forth experiences in the context of the SERGS Pilot Curriculum—the first standardized educational program for robotic use in gynecological surgery—in terms of feasibility, effectiveness and potential for certification. Methods: The Society of European Robotic Gynecological Surgery (SERGS) outlined a Pilot Curriculum for standardized education in robot-assisted laparoscopic gynecolo

The taxanes Docetaxel and Paclitaxel are two of the standard chemotherapies for patients with metastatic breast cancer. The functional effect of Docetaxel and Paclitaxel on human innate immune cells of the myeloid lineage is not well established, nor is the effects these agents have on differentiation of monocytes into macrophages and dendritic cells. Therefore, the aim with this project was to de

In all manufacturing processes, it is important to determine the costs and their distribution between different sequential processing steps. A cost equation based directly on the losses during manufacturing, such as rejection rate, stops and waste of workpiece materials, also provides a valuable aid in giving priority to various development activities and investments. The present work concerns how

The aim of the current study is to establish conversion coefficients (CCs) from dose-area product to effective dose for barium meal (BM) fluoroscopic examinations. The study is based on data collected at a major University hospital in St-Petersburg, Russia. The structure of the BM examinations was evaluated and a computational model for effective dose estimation, using PCXMC 2.0 software, was deve

The ability to apply highly controlled electric fields within microfluidic devices is valuable as a basis for preparative and analytical processes. A challenge encountered in the context of such approaches in conductive media, including aqueous buffers, is the generation of electrolysis products at the electrode/liquid interface which can lead to contamination, perturb fluid flows and generally in

An important function of coastal ecosystems is the reduction of the nutrient flux from land to the open sea, the coastal filter. In this study, we focused on the two most important coastal biogeochemical processes that remove nitrogen and phosphorus permanently: denitrification and phosphorus burial. We compiled removal rates from coastal systems around the Baltic Sea and analyzed their spatial va

The increasing biofuel production from agricultural crops has been suggested to cause indirect land use change (iLUC). This increases interest in biofuel feedstocks that qualify as iLUC-free: (1) residues without a market, (2) crops from previously unused arable land, (3) additional crops and (4) biomass from intensified production. In the present study, biofuel potential from such feedstocks was

Studies based on object-based image analysis (OBIA) representing the paradigm shift in remote sensing image change detection (CD) have achieved remarkable progress in the last decade. Their aim has been developing more intelligent interpretation analysis methods in the future. The prediction effect and performance stability of random forest (RF), as a new kind of machine learning algorithm, are be