No / Radiographer abnormality detection schemes (RADS) were first introduced in the United Kingdom (UK) in the mid 1980s with the development of the ‘red dot scheme’. This article establishes the current position of UK RADS practice and provides insight into specific areas for development. Method: A postal questionnaire was distributed to 456 sites, including 270 emergency departments and 186 minor injuries units (MIU). Information was sought relating to: the type of emergency department and radiography service provided; details of RADS operated including any education and audit to support radiographer participation; and the mandatory/voluntary nature of the system adopted. Results: A total of 306 (n = 306/456; 74%) responses were received. The large majority of respondents (n = 284/306; 92.8%) indicated that a RADS was in operation. Of these, 221 sites operated a red dot scheme, 7 sites operated a radiographer comment system, and a further 54 sites operated both a red dot and comment scheme. Two sites indicated that a RADS other than red dot or radiographer commenting was operated. Twenty-one different methods of highlighting abnormal images were identified and eight different commenting methods. The RADS was considered mandatory at 25% of sites. Conclusion: This study confirms the continued widespread contribution of radiographers to the trauma diagnostic process through the use of RADS. The informal nature of the systems, inconsistent approaches to audit and education, and variations in the methods employed are issues which require national guidance.

No

A toxoplasmose afeta cerca de um bilhão de pessoa em todo mundo, é geralmente assintomática, apesar de doença ocular ou doenças grave e letal em fetos, pacientes com HIV e transplantados. A sorologia é a principal ferramenta para o diagnóstico e determinação de incidência, que é uma tarefa difícil, devido à alta prevalência na maioria dos países. Estudos de incidência são ideais em crianças, mas este grupo é protegido pela sociedade e de difícil abordagem por métodos invasivos como a punção venosa. A saliva pode ser uma ótima alternativa por sua coleta não ser invasiva, aceitável para crianças, e conter pequenas quantidades de IgG, eliminada através da mucosa gengival e fluido crevicular. Métodos de detcção de anticorpos disponíveis no mercado estão focados em amostras de soro, com baixa sensibilidade e são raros os relatos de pesquisas com material biológico alternativo, como a saliva. Sendo assim, padronizamos imunoensaios com alta sensibilidade para detecção de anticorpos anti- T. gondii na saliva frente a amostras de soro de 20 voluntários adultos. A sensibilidade e especificidade dos nossos dot-ELISA e ELISA de captura com proteína A foram semelhantes entre soro e saliva. Também testamos 100 amostras de saliva de universitários em nossos ensaios, onde mostramos uma frequência da toxoplasmose de 19% (IC 95% 12-28%). Imunoensaios para detecção de IgG anti-T. gondii em saliva são uma ferramenta muito promissora para estudos epidemiológicos da toxoplasmose em crianças ou outros grupos protegidos. / Toxoplasmosis that affects about one billion people worldwide is usually asymptomatic, despite ocular disease and severe and lethal disease in fetuses, AIDS patients and transplant recipients. Serology is the main approach for diagnosis and incidence determination is a difficult task due to high prevalence in most countries. Incidence studies are feasible in children but this age group is protected and difficult to approach by invasive methods as venipuncture. Saliva could be obtained by non-invasive procedure, acceptable for children, and it contains small amounts of IgG from mucosal and gingival crevicular fluid. Available antibody detection methods are focused in serum samples, with low sensitivity and few reports of alternative biological material, like saliva. Here, we standardized immunoassays with high sensitivity for detection of anti-T. gondii IgG in paired saliva and serum sample from 20 adult volunteers, which allows DOT-ELISA and a Protein A IgG capture assay. The sensitivity and specificity of the saliva DOT-ELISA were similar to sera ELISA. We also tested 100 saliva samples from university graduates in all assays, showing 19% (95%CI 12-28%) frequency of toxoplasmosis in this group, lower than reported for our area. Protein A IgG capture saliva assay was also efficient with similar results. Immunoassay with saliva IgG for toxoplasmosis is a very promising tool for use for the epidemiology of toxoplasmosis in children or other protected groups.

Neste trabalho foi desenvolvido um Dot-ELISA capaz de detectar anticorpos anti-Plasmodium vivax, anti-Plasmodium falciparum, anti-Trypanosoma cruzi e anti-Treponema pallidum, simultaneamente. O teste foi padronizado e aplicado em amostras de pacientes com malária, doença de Chagas e sífilis e comparado com testes de referência. Foi utilizado no estudo 52 amostras de pacientes com doença de Chagas, 43 pacientes com sífilis, 103 indivíduos com infecção presente (primo-infectado e não primo-infectados) ou passada de malária, indivíduos com anticorpos heterólogos, 30 indivíduos com leishmaniose 100 indivíduos saudáveis. O Dot-ELISA-Multi apresentou 100% de especificidade para todos os antígenos nas amostras de indivíduos saudáveis e com anticorpos heterólogos, com exceção do antígeno TESA que obteve 99%. A sensibilidade obtida foi de 100% em indivíduos chagásicos e 88% em pacientes com sífilis. Em indivíduos com malária a sensibilidade obtida foi de 90% para PvMSP119 (antígeno de P. vivax) e 47% para Pf-Zw (antígeno de P. falciparum). A positividade do teste em indivíduos não parasitados com histórico de malária foi de 92%. Nas amostras de malária observou-se que em indivíduos que tinham tido ultimo episódio de P. vivax, associação negativa foi observada entre o tempo passado desde o último episódio e reatividade de Dot-ELISAMulti PvMSP119, e associação positiva entre o número de episódios de malária e reatividade de Dot-ELISA-Multi Pf-Zw. Indivíduos cujo o último episódio foi por P. falciparum, o Dot-ELISA-Multi Pf-Zw apresentou associação positiva com o número de episódios ocorridos. O comparado com os testes de referência utilizados apresentou um nível muito bom de concordância para TESA, EAE, PvMSP119 e um nível bom de concordância para Pf-Zw / In the present study, a Dot-ELISA was assembled to test antibodies against Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium falciparum, Trypanosoma cruzi and Treponema pallidum and was standardized and evaluated in serum samples from patients with malaria, Chagas disease and syphilis, in comparison with reference tests. The study was carried out on serum samples from 52 patients with chronic Chagas disease, 103 individuals with current (parasitemic) or past malaria (aparasitemic), 43 patients with syphilis, 30 with leishmaniosis, 21 individuals with heterologous antibodies and 100 blood donors. The diagnostic performance of Dot-ELISA-Multi for serum samples from patients with heterologous antibodies and from healthy blood donors, an overall 100% specificity was obtained for all antigens but TESA. A 100% sensitivity was observed in serum specimens from chronic-chagasic patients and 88% in serum specimens from syphilis patients. For malaria samples, the positivity was 90% for PvMSP119 and 47% for Pf-Zw antigen. In past malaria individuals, positivity was 92%. Sera from subjects who had had a P. vivax-malaria last episode presented negative association between time elapsed since their last malaria episode and results from Dot-ELISA-Multi PvMSP119; while positive association was observed between number of malaria episodes and results from Dot-ELISA-Multi Pf-Zw. For individuals who had had a P. falciparum-malaria last episode, Dot-ELISAMulti Pf-Zw results showed positive association with number of malaria episodes only. Altogether, concerning the reactivity of the five antigens of the Dot-ELISAMulti, as compared with their respective reference tests, we have observed a very good level of concordance for TESA, EAE, PvMSP119 and for Tp-Zw and a good level for Pf-Zw

Neste trabalho foi desenvolvido um Dot-ELISA capaz de detectar anticorpos anti-Plasmodium vivax, anti-Plasmodium falciparum, anti-Trypanosoma cruzi e anti-Treponema pallidum, simultaneamente. O teste foi padronizado e aplicado em amostras de pacientes com malária, doença de Chagas e sífilis e comparado com testes de referência. Foi utilizado no estudo 52 amostras de pacientes com doença de Chagas, 43 pacientes com sífilis, 103 indivíduos com infecção presente (primo-infectado e não primo-infectados) ou passada de malária, indivíduos com anticorpos heterólogos, 30 indivíduos com leishmaniose 100 indivíduos saudáveis. O Dot-ELISA-Multi apresentou 100% de especificidade para todos os antígenos nas amostras de indivíduos saudáveis e com anticorpos heterólogos, com exceção do antígeno TESA que obteve 99%. A sensibilidade obtida foi de 100% em indivíduos chagásicos e 88% em pacientes com sífilis. Em indivíduos com malária a sensibilidade obtida foi de 90% para PvMSP119 (antígeno de P. vivax) e 47% para Pf-Zw (antígeno de P. falciparum). A positividade do teste em indivíduos não parasitados com histórico de malária foi de 92%. Nas amostras de malária observou-se que em indivíduos que tinham tido ultimo episódio de P. vivax, associação negativa foi observada entre o tempo passado desde o último episódio e reatividade de Dot-ELISAMulti PvMSP119, e associação positiva entre o número de episódios de malária e reatividade de Dot-ELISA-Multi Pf-Zw. Indivíduos cujo o último episódio foi por P. falciparum, o Dot-ELISA-Multi Pf-Zw apresentou associação positiva com o número de episódios ocorridos. O comparado com os testes de referência utilizados apresentou um nível muito bom de concordância para TESA, EAE, PvMSP119 e um nível bom de concordância para Pf-Zw / In the present study, a Dot-ELISA was assembled to test antibodies against Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium falciparum, Trypanosoma cruzi and Treponema pallidum and was standardized and evaluated in serum samples from patients with malaria, Chagas disease and syphilis, in comparison with reference tests. The study was carried out on serum samples from 52 patients with chronic Chagas disease, 103 individuals with current (parasitemic) or past malaria (aparasitemic), 43 patients with syphilis, 30 with leishmaniosis, 21 individuals with heterologous antibodies and 100 blood donors. The diagnostic performance of Dot-ELISA-Multi for serum samples from patients with heterologous antibodies and from healthy blood donors, an overall 100% specificity was obtained for all antigens but TESA. A 100% sensitivity was observed in serum specimens from chronic-chagasic patients and 88% in serum specimens from syphilis patients. For malaria samples, the positivity was 90% for PvMSP119 and 47% for Pf-Zw antigen. In past malaria individuals, positivity was 92%. Sera from subjects who had had a P. vivax-malaria last episode presented negative association between time elapsed since their last malaria episode and results from Dot-ELISA-Multi PvMSP119; while positive association was observed between number of malaria episodes and results from Dot-ELISA-Multi Pf-Zw. For individuals who had had a P. falciparum-malaria last episode, Dot-ELISAMulti Pf-Zw results showed positive association with number of malaria episodes only. Altogether, concerning the reactivity of the five antigens of the Dot-ELISAMulti, as compared with their respective reference tests, we have observed a very good level of concordance for TESA, EAE, PvMSP119 and for Tp-Zw and a good level for Pf-Zw

A toxoplasmose afeta cerca de um bilhão de pessoa em todo mundo, é geralmente assintomática, apesar de doença ocular ou doenças grave e letal em fetos, pacientes com HIV e transplantados. A sorologia é a principal ferramenta para o diagnóstico e determinação de incidência, que é uma tarefa difícil, devido à alta prevalência na maioria dos países. Estudos de incidência são ideais em crianças, mas este grupo é protegido pela sociedade e de difícil abordagem por métodos invasivos como a punção venosa. A saliva pode ser uma ótima alternativa por sua coleta não ser invasiva, aceitável para crianças, e conter pequenas quantidades de IgG, eliminada através da mucosa gengival e fluido crevicular. Métodos de detcção de anticorpos disponíveis no mercado estão focados em amostras de soro, com baixa sensibilidade e são raros os relatos de pesquisas com material biológico alternativo, como a saliva. Sendo assim, padronizamos imunoensaios com alta sensibilidade para detecção de anticorpos anti- T. gondii na saliva frente a amostras de soro de 20 voluntários adultos. A sensibilidade e especificidade dos nossos dot-ELISA e ELISA de captura com proteína A foram semelhantes entre soro e saliva. Também testamos 100 amostras de saliva de universitários em nossos ensaios, onde mostramos uma frequência da toxoplasmose de 19% (IC 95% 12-28%). Imunoensaios para detecção de IgG anti-T. gondii em saliva são uma ferramenta muito promissora para estudos epidemiológicos da toxoplasmose em crianças ou outros grupos protegidos. / Toxoplasmosis that affects about one billion people worldwide is usually asymptomatic, despite ocular disease and severe and lethal disease in fetuses, AIDS patients and transplant recipients. Serology is the main approach for diagnosis and incidence determination is a difficult task due to high prevalence in most countries. Incidence studies are feasible in children but this age group is protected and difficult to approach by invasive methods as venipuncture. Saliva could be obtained by non-invasive procedure, acceptable for children, and it contains small amounts of IgG from mucosal and gingival crevicular fluid. Available antibody detection methods are focused in serum samples, with low sensitivity and few reports of alternative biological material, like saliva. Here, we standardized immunoassays with high sensitivity for detection of anti-T. gondii IgG in paired saliva and serum sample from 20 adult volunteers, which allows DOT-ELISA and a Protein A IgG capture assay. The sensitivity and specificity of the saliva DOT-ELISA were similar to sera ELISA. We also tested 100 saliva samples from university graduates in all assays, showing 19% (95%CI 12-28%) frequency of toxoplasmosis in this group, lower than reported for our area. Protein A IgG capture saliva assay was also efficient with similar results. Immunoassay with saliva IgG for toxoplasmosis is a very promising tool for use for the epidemiology of toxoplasmosis in children or other protected groups.

Two vertices are said to be identifed if they are combined to form one vertex whose neighborhood is the union of their neighborhoods. A graph is total domination dot-critical if identifying any pair of adjacent vertices decreases the total domination number. On the other hand, a graph is total domination dot-stable if identifying any pair of adjacent vertices leaves the total domination number unchanged. Identifying any pair of vertices cannot increase the total domination number. Further we show it can decrease the total domination number by at most two. Among other results, we characterize total domination dot-critical trees with total domination number three and all total domination dot-stable graphs.

Semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) are prime candidates for single and entangled photon sources in quantum information technologies due to their unique optical properties. This thesis investigates the development of QD sources operating at the telecom C-band ---around 1550 nm---, a critical aspect for long-distance applications in optical fibers. The research focuses on the design and optimization of InAs/GaAs QDs for efficient single photon emission within the telecom C-band. This thesis delves into the optimization of the quantum dot environment, by etching its matrix as a microlens (ML). The design process utilizes both simulations and lab fabrication techniques to achieve a source with high single photon throughput, a key requirement for quantum key distribution (QKD). To achieve this, the design optimizes factors such as material growth techniques, device structures, and microlens array configuration to enhance light collection efficiency by a microscope objective and Purcell effect for higher single-photon emission rate. The optimized microlens geometries, particularly the Gaussian and hemispherical shapes, significantly enhanced light extraction efficiency by the objective, achieving up to 40\% and 35\% respectively. The combined fabrication techniques of FIB milling, photolithography, and dry etching resulted in upgraded optical properties and minimal scattering in the microlenses. Furthermore, this work builds upon previous research conducted at the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH). The Quantum Nano Photonics (QNP) group successfully employed QDs to generate entangled photon states. This thesis extends this research by focusing on the design and optimization of a telecom C-band QD source suitable for long-distance transmission through existing fiber optic infrastructure over the Greater Stockholm Metropolitan Area, i.e. between the QNP-group lab at KTH AlbaNova campus and Ericsson HQ, in Kista, Stockholm. The feasibility of such transmission is explored by demonstrating the transmission of single photons from a QD source in the QNP lab at KTH to Ericsson's lab. This thesis contributes to the advancement of QD-based telecom C-band photon sources for future quantum communication networks, with a specific focus on microlens design and fabrication for enhanced single-photon emission efficiency. / Halvledarkvantprickar (QD) är utmärkta kandidater för enstaka och sammanflätade fotonkällor i kvantinformationsteknik på grund av deras unika optiska egenskaper. Denna avhandling undersöker utvecklingen av QD-källor som strålar på telekom C-band ---cirka 1550 nm---, en kritisk aspekt för långdistansapplikationer i optiska fiber. Forskningen fokuserar på design och optimering av InAs/GaAs QDs för effektiv emission av enstaka fotoner inom telekom C-bandet. Denna avhandling fördjupar sig i utformningen av kvantprickarkällan, med hjälp av en mikrolins (ML) array. Designprocessen använder både simuleringar och tillverkningstekniker för att uppnå en källa med hög enfotonrenhet, ett viktigt krav för kvantnyckeldistribution (QKD). För att uppnå detta optimerar designen faktorer som materialtillväxttekniker, enhetsstrukturer och mikrolinskonfiguration för att förbättra ljusinsamlingseffektiviteten och Purcell-effekten för ljusare och snabbare emission av enstaka fotoner. De optimerade mikrolinsgeometrierna, särskilt de gaussiska och halvsfäriska formerna, förbättrade avsevärt ljusextraktionseffektiviteten och nådde upp till 40\% respektive 35\%. De kombinerade tillverkningsteknikerna FIB-fräsning, fotolitografi och torretsning resulterade i uppgraderade optiska egenskaper och minimal spridning i de mikrolinserna. Vidare bygger detta arbete på tidigare forskning som bedrivits vid Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan (KTH). Quantum Nano Photonics-gruppen (QNP) använde framgångsrikt QD för att generera sammanflätade fotontillstånd. Denna avhandling utvidgar denna forskning genom att fokusera på design och optimering av en telekom C-band QD-källa lämplig för långdistansöverföring genom befintlig fiberoptisk infrastruktur över Storstockholmsområdet, dvs. mellan QNP-gruppens labb på KTH AlbaNova campus och Ericssons huvudkontor i Kista, Stockholm. Genomförbarheten av sådan överföring undersöks genom att demonstrera överföringen av enstaka fotoner från en QD-källa i QNP-labbet på KTH till Ericssons labb. Denna avhandling bidrar till utvecklingen av QD-baserade C-bandsfotonkällor för framtida kvantkommunikationsnätverk, med ett specifikt fokus på mikrolinsarraydesign för förbättrad renhet och emissionseffektivitet för enskilda fotoner. Arbetet bygger på tidigare forskning om generering av kvantsammanflätning och banar väg för säkra kvantkommunikationsnätverk över långa avstånd.

A simplified model of a double quantum dot is presented and analyzed, with applications to spin-qubit quantum computation. The ability to trap single electrons in semiconductor nanostructures has led to the proposal of quantum computers with spin-based qubits coupled by the exchange interaction. Current theory predicts an exchange interaction with a -1 power-law dependence on the detuning ϵ, the energy offset between the two dots. However, experiment has shown a -3/2 power-law dependence on ϵ. Using WKB analysis, this thesis explores one possible source of the modified dependence, namely an ϵ-dependent tunnel coupling between the two wells. WKB quantization is used to find expressions for the tunnel coupling of a one-dimensional double-well, and these results are compared to the exact, numerical solutions, as determined by the finite difference method and the transfer matrix method. Small ϵ-dependent corrections to the tunnel coupling are observed. In typical cases, WKB correctly predicts a constant tunnel coupling at leading-order. WKB also predicts small ϵ-dependent corrections for typical cases and strongly ϵ-dependent tunnel couplings for certain exceptional cases. However, numerical simulations suggest that WKB is not accurate enough to analyze the small corrections, and is not valid in the exceptional cases. Deviations from the conventional form of the low-energy Hamiltonian for a double-well are also observed and discussed.

A simplified model of a double quantum dot is presented and analyzed, with applications to spin-qubit quantum computation. The ability to trap single electrons in semiconductor nanostructures has led to the proposal of quantum computers with spin-based qubits coupled by the exchange interaction. Current theory predicts an exchange interaction with a -1 power-law dependence on the detuning ϵ, the energy offset between the two dots. However, experiment has shown a -3/2 power-law dependence on ϵ. Using WKB analysis, this thesis explores one possible source of the modified dependence, namely an ϵ-dependent tunnel coupling between the two wells. WKB quantization is used to find expressions for the tunnel coupling of a one-dimensional double-well, and these results are compared to the exact, numerical solutions, as determined by the finite difference method and the transfer matrix method. Small ϵ-dependent corrections to the tunnel coupling are observed. In typical cases, WKB correctly predicts a constant tunnel coupling at leading-order. WKB also predicts small ϵ-dependent corrections for typical cases and strongly ϵ-dependent tunnel couplings for certain exceptional cases. However, numerical simulations suggest that WKB is not accurate enough to analyze the small corrections, and is not valid in the exceptional cases. Deviations from the conventional form of the low-energy Hamiltonian for a double-well are also observed and discussed.