BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//CERN//INDICO//EN BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:The Significance of a Protocol in X-ray Radiography: Influential P arameters DTSTART;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20210913T100000Z DTEND;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20210913T103000Z DTSTAMP;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260615T110316Z UID:indico-contribution-92-1562@indico.tlabs.ac.za DESCRIPTION:Speakers: Nhlakanipho Mdziniso (University of Eswatini\, Depar tment of Physics)\n**Background Information and Aims**: X-ray imaging is o ne of the classical human health diagnostic procedures. The aim of this wo rk was to explore and analyze the X-ray exposure parameters and their sign ificance in a given protocol in relation to image quality. \n**Materials a nd Methods**: Exposures were delivered on meaty cow ribs\, which served as a human equivalent phantom with tissue heterogeneities. Six different pro tocols corresponding to the foot\, wrist\, ankle\, forearm\, chest\, and h and were used in exposing the phantom with a Shimadzu RAD speed MC unit. T he resultant images were analyzed with Image J software for relative inten sities so as to index image quality per protocol.\n**Results and Discussio ns**: There were variations in the relative intensities read at selected i mage pixels protocol by protocol. This showed that the relative intensitie s can be used to make predictions of image quality and associated dose.\n* *Conclusions**: It is crucial to use the appropriate protocol for any give n X-ray imaging procedure to minimize the dose delivered to tissue without compromising image quality. Relative intensity and thus optical density c an be used as a measure of image quality and radiation dose by protocol.\n \nhttps://indico.tlabs.ac.za/event/92/contributions/1562/ LOCATION:Zoom Online URL:https://indico.tlabs.ac.za/event/92/contributions/1562/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Environmental Assessment Impact of Agbara Industrial Estate: A Rev iew DTSTART;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20210915T083000Z DTEND;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20210915T084500Z DTSTAMP;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260615T110316Z UID:indico-contribution-92-2033@indico.tlabs.ac.za DESCRIPTION:Speakers: Akinwumi Akinpelu (Department of Physics\, Covenant University\, Ota\, Ogun State\, Nigeria)\nThis review gives insights into the levels of naturally occurring radionuclides (NOR)\, radioactive parti cles of air dust\, heavy metals\, environmental pollution and related haza rds at Agbara industrial Estate\, Agbara\, Ogun State\, Nigeria. Due to ma ny industries located in Agbara industrial estates\, there is much dischar ge of gaseous effluent\, waste disposal. Industrial air dust harbours seve ral pollutants\, including heavy metals. The varying particle-size distrib ution of this dust and its large surface area makes it easier for the depo sition and transport of heavy metals. The most used equipment for determin ation of radionuclide concentration is gamma-ray spectrometry with NaI (Tl ) detector. Also\, there are various methods used for the sampling of envi ronmental pollution in dust and for heavy-metal determination which includ e: Andersen sampler filter and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS)\, indu ctively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)\, among others\, respect ively. Studies have shown that the pollutants in industrial areas are main ly derived from industrial activities but not a predominant source of poll ution. Risk-assessment studies have shown that metals in urban dust could cause such problems as human pulmonary toxicity and reduction of invertebr ate populations. The risk levels seem to be higher in children than adults \, as some studies have shown. It is therefore important that scattered st udies on heavy metals\, pollution and radioactivity levels in a particular location should always incorporate risk assessment as one of the main iss ues and are put together in other to know what has been done and to detect research gaps. \n\nKeywords: Radionuclides\; heavy metals\; pollution\; i ndustrial activities\; risk assessment\; toxicity\; human health\n\nhttps: //indico.tlabs.ac.za/event/92/contributions/2033/ LOCATION:https://zoom.us/j/93092215578?pwd=REhYb2J3cHh3OEFrSTZzaFFTY1hrdz0 9 URL:https://indico.tlabs.ac.za/event/92/contributions/2033/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:A new Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis facility at UCT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20210913T094500Z DTEND;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20210913T100000Z DTSTAMP;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260615T110316Z UID:indico-contribution-92-1636@indico.tlabs.ac.za DESCRIPTION:Speakers: Sizwe Mhlongo (University of Zululand)\nInstrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) is one of the most sensitive technique s to non-destructively determine the isotopic composition of a sample. The sensitivity of the technique is determined by the isotope of interest\, i ntensity of the neutron source and neutron energy spectrum. In the case of thermal neutron irradiation with a nuclear reactor the minimum detection limits tend towards the level of ppb. We are in the process of implementin g a new INAA facility within the Metrological and Applied Sciences Univers ity Research Unit (MeASURe) in the Department of Physics\, University of C ape Town. The n-lab currently offers two neutron sources\, a D-T sealed t ube neutron generator (STNG) and radioisotopic 241Am/9Be source. The STNG produces mono-energetic neutrons of around 14 MeV\, with an intensity of 1 0E8 neutrons per second\, and the 220 GBq AmBe source produces neutrons wi th a broad energy spectrum\, ranging from thermal to 11 MeV.\n\nThe first experimental phase will determine the limits of detection for a range of i sotopes with the existing experimental set-up. This will be supplemented w ith simulation driven designs for neutron moderators\, multipliers and ref lectors in order to lower these limits.\n\nhttps://indico.tlabs.ac.za/even t/92/contributions/1636/ LOCATION:Zoom URL:https://indico.tlabs.ac.za/event/92/contributions/1636/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:The investigation of natural radionuclides as tracers for monitori ng sediment processes DTSTART;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20210914T091500Z DTEND;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20210914T094500Z DTSTAMP;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260615T110316Z UID:indico-contribution-92-1597@indico.tlabs.ac.za DESCRIPTION:Speakers: Jacques Bezuidenhout ()\nIn situ and sampling measur ements of naturally occurring radionuclides were investigated in terrestri al sediment in various environments. These environments include beaches\, wetlands\, river basins\, and deserts that are within Southern Africa. The distribution patterns of the natural radionuclides were extracted and cha racteristics were compared and investigated. These characteristics were us ed to develop a method that can radio fingerprint types of sediment. The f ingerprinting can then be used as a tracer to track sediment movement in a quatic systems when artificial disturbances\, like dredging\, occur.\n\nht tps://indico.tlabs.ac.za/event/92/contributions/1597/ LOCATION:Zoom Online URL:https://indico.tlabs.ac.za/event/92/contributions/1597/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Soil-to-plant transfer factors and radiological risk assessment (M onte Carlo simulation) of selected mining sites in Nigeria. DTSTART;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20210914T094500Z DTEND;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20210914T100000Z DTSTAMP;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260615T110316Z UID:indico-contribution-92-2034@indico.tlabs.ac.za DESCRIPTION:Speakers: Muyiwa Michael Orosun (Department of Physics\, Coven ant University\, Ota\, Ogun State\, Nigeria)\nOne of the major route throu gh which human are exposed to ionizing radiation is via food chain\, which is consequent of soil-to-plant transfer of radionuclides. This work repor ted the activity concentrations of 40K\, 238U and 232Th in samples of wate r\, soil and guinea-corn collected from Beryllium and Gold mining sites in Kwara\, Nigeria. In-situ measurements at approximately 1 m in the air was carried out using a well-calibrated portable Gamma Spectrometer (Super-Sp ec RS-125)\, while the collected samples were analyzed using a ‘3 x 3’ inch lead-shielded NaI (Tl) detector. The measured activities in the soil from both mines are lower than the in-situ measurements. This was attribu ted to the contribution from other terrestrial materials on-site. The esti mated mean transfer factors (TFs) for 40K\, 238U and 232Th are 0.21\, 0.17 and 0.31\, and 0.46\, 0.19 and 0.28 respectively for the Beryllium and Go ld mining sites. While the TFs for 238U and 232Th exceeds the mean value o f 0.0062 and 0.0021 for 238U and 232Th respectively\, the TFs for 40K are well below the 0.74 for grains provided by IAEA. The radiation impact asse ssment using the Monte Carlo simulations reveals values that were generall y within the limits recommended by UNSCEAR. \nKeywords: Cancer\, Radioacti vity\, Gamma Spectroscopy\, Risk Assessment\, Monte Carlo\n\nhttps://indic o.tlabs.ac.za/event/92/contributions/2034/ LOCATION:Zoom Online URL:https://indico.tlabs.ac.za/event/92/contributions/2034/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Application of nuclear interactions for material analysis: A case study of determination of metal contaminants from industrial effluents in North-West Nigeria using NAA technique DTSTART;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20210915T080000Z DTEND;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20210915T083000Z DTSTAMP;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260615T110316Z UID:indico-contribution-92-1573@indico.tlabs.ac.za DESCRIPTION:Speakers: Michael Adeleye (Bingham University)\nNeutron Activa tion Analysis (NAA)\, a non-destructive nuclear analytical technique that meets the criteria of experimental simplicity\, analytical accuracy and fl exibility has been applied to investigate the metal contents of industrial effluents collected at several sites in North-Western part of Nigeria. Te n elements (Cr\, Co\, Ca\, Na\, Eu\, Hf\, Th\, Dy\, Sb and Cs) were determ ined from 10 samples from the leather\, textile and petrochemical industri es. The enrichment factors were determined by comparison of the elemental concentration with that of a typical soil from an uninhabited\, uncultivat ed\, non-industrial area within the same locality of the survey. The analy tical result shows that some of the industrial effluents have high elevate d concentration for chromium\, calcium\, cobalt\, sodium\, antimony\, and dysprosium. The most distinct being chromium from the tanneries due to the chemical processing stage of leather products involving tanning with chro me. Certified reference material was used during the analyses as quality c ontrol to assure the analytical quality of the results. The successful app lication of this nuclear analytical technique during this study confirms i ts suitability to environmental studies and the applicability of the k0-NA A method in the Nigeria Research Reactor-1 (NIRR-1) laboratories.\n\nhttps ://indico.tlabs.ac.za/event/92/contributions/1573/ LOCATION:https://zoom.us/j/93092215578?pwd=REhYb2J3cHh3OEFrSTZzaFFTY1hrdz0 9 URL:https://indico.tlabs.ac.za/event/92/contributions/1573/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Compton Camera Imaging for Environmental Purposes DTSTART;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20210914T080000Z DTEND;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20210914T083000Z DTSTAMP;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260615T110316Z UID:indico-contribution-92-1572@indico.tlabs.ac.za DESCRIPTION:Speakers: Helen Boston (University of Liverpool)\nOn 11th Marc h 2011 the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant suffered major damage aft er being hit by a magnitude 9 earthquake and subsequent tsunami. This resu lted in a major radionuclide release to the environment. In response to t his\, remediation of the surrounding agricultural land commenced. \n\nPar t of the scientific focus is on understanding the dynamics of 137Cs\, in t erms of plant uptake and retention in soils. Accurate quantification of a ctivities for sources whose distributions vary spatially and temporally is required.\n\nAt the University of Liverpool\, UK we have characterised th e near-field response of our Compton camera Gamma-Ray Imager (GRI) system to enable accurate estimation of 137Cs activity and its location.\n \nThe ability to precisely determine activity and distribution at small scales ( sub-cm resolution in a sub-metre phase space) is considered to have applic ations beyond studying the dynamics of radiocaesium in environmental media .\n\nAt present\, activity can be reliably estimated from the event rate f or point-like sources\, and a method to derive activity for distributed so urces from the reconstructed Compton images is in development. \n\nThe cha racterisation and validation study of the system performance will be prese nted.\n\nhttps://indico.tlabs.ac.za/event/92/contributions/1572/ LOCATION:https://zoom.us/j/99254723016?pwd=eE8vRmpNcWhhamR3QmFxdU5kR3M2QT0 9 URL:https://indico.tlabs.ac.za/event/92/contributions/1572/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Assessment of Radiological hazards for Latrite Mining Field in Ilo rin South LGA\, North-central Nigeria DTSTART;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20210914T083000Z DTEND;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20210914T090000Z DTSTAMP;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260615T110316Z UID:indico-contribution-92-1565@indico.tlabs.ac.za DESCRIPTION:Speakers: Mojisola Usikalu (Covenant University)\, Muyiwa Oros un (University of Ilorin)\nAssessment of activity concentrations of 40K\, 238U\, 232Th and gamma dose rate (DR) was carried out over a latrite minin g field using a well calibrated Super-Spec (RS-125) gamma spectrometer\, a long Ajese-Ipko road\, Ilorin-south\, Kwara state\, Nigeria. The results of the radioactivity measurements were used to assess the radiological haz ards associated with the latrite mining field and it’s suitability as bu ilding material. Fifty (50) measurements of the activity concentration of the radionuclides were obtained at about 1 meter above the topsoil to cove r a large area. For each of these 50 sample points\, measurements were tak en four (4) times for better accuracy. The mean activity concentrations of 238U and 232Th are higher than their corresponding global average of 32.0 0 Bqkg-1 and 30.00 Bqkg-1 respectively provided by UNSCEAR. This is a caus e for worry as significant enhancement in the concentration of 238U and 23 2Th will increase the level of the background radiation and possibly rende r the soil unfit for use in building and construction purposes. The resul ts of the radiological impact parameters (RIP) such as the mean values of the indoor radiation dose rate (Din). indoor Annual Effective Dose (EADind oor) and Annual Gonadal Equivalent Dose (AGED) are above the recommended l imits provided by UNSCEAR. Since other hazard parameters are close or coul d possibly be approximated to the permissible limit\, this implies that th e lateritic soil from this mine field may not be too suitable for building and construction purposes (either as raw material or finished product).\n \nhttps://indico.tlabs.ac.za/event/92/contributions/1565/ LOCATION:https://zoom.us/j/99254723016?pwd=eE8vRmpNcWhhamR3QmFxdU5kR3M2QT0 9 URL:https://indico.tlabs.ac.za/event/92/contributions/1565/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:The central role of metrology in applied nuclear physics research DTSTART;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20210913T120000Z DTEND;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20210913T123000Z DTSTAMP;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260615T110316Z UID:indico-contribution-92-1596@indico.tlabs.ac.za DESCRIPTION:Speakers: Andy Buffler (UCT)\nThe art and act of measurement l ie at the very heart of the enterprise of Science. Measurement mediates be tween the complexity of the real universe in which we live and the idealis ed order of physical theory. Careful observation of nature thus plays a po werful role in the creation of all scientific knowledge\, and the subseque nt development of technologies. Unambiguous understanding of the quality o f data from experiment\, whether from the detectors located within the cav erns of the Large Hadron Collider at CERN\, or from a handheld radiation c ounter\, is critical for the effective use of the data. I will argue why r adiation metrology is a critical component of all applied nuclear physics research and make the case for measurement to be placed at the forefront o f our laboratory-based teaching programmes.\n\nhttps://indico.tlabs.ac.za/ event/92/contributions/1596/ LOCATION:https://zoom.us/j/99350296428?pwd=a2dkZWczTXJXZkZmTXZNWFlOSzc5dz0 9 URL:https://indico.tlabs.ac.za/event/92/contributions/1596/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Investigation of limit of detection using standard radioactive sou rces with a LaBr3(Ce) detector DTSTART;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20210913T093000Z DTEND;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20210913T094500Z DTSTAMP;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260615T110316Z UID:indico-contribution-92-1582@indico.tlabs.ac.za DESCRIPTION:Speakers: Ferdie van Niekerk ()\nInvestigation of limit of det ection using standard radioactive sources with a LaBr3(Ce) detector\nF. va n Niekerk1\, S.R. Johnson2\, P. Jones3\n1Department of Physics\, Universit y of Stellenbosch.\n2Department of Physics\, University of Cape Town.\n3De partment of Subatomic Physics\, iThemba LABS.\n\nKeywords: LaBr3(Ce) detec tor\; Background radiation\; Gamma radiation\n\nAbstract\n\nAmbient backgr ound radiation has been measured using a LaBr3(Ce) detector. This backgrou nd gamma-radiation is mainly a result of construction materials (such as c oncrete) and air. Radionuclides that form part of the background have been identified after an energy calibration of the detector was performed usin g 22Na\, 60Co and 152Eu radiation sources. These same sources have been me asured at increasing distances from the detector. The study focussed mainl y on the determination of the detection limits of each radiation source ta king into account the presence of background radiation. Therefore\, the ch ange in the intensity measured for each source as a function of increasing distance from the detector has been emphasised. This application is in re lation to the solid angle between the points of the radiation source and t he active detector volume. Further studies and application of all data ava ilable will focus on the relevant factors in order to calculate the limit of detection for a specific activity for each radiation source. \n\nThis s tudy forms part of a broader research project that entails the design\, bu ilding and commissioning of a prototype mobile gamma-ray detection system equipped with a LaBr3(Ce) detector. The successful development of such a d etector system will enable in situ measurements of radiation in various ro bust terrestrial environments with improved sensitivity and spectral resol ution.\n\nhttps://indico.tlabs.ac.za/event/92/contributions/1582/ LOCATION:Zoom URL:https://indico.tlabs.ac.za/event/92/contributions/1582/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Development of a digital data acquisition system for neutron metro logy DTSTART;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20210913T091500Z DTEND;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20210913T093000Z DTSTAMP;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260615T110316Z UID:indico-contribution-92-1591@indico.tlabs.ac.za DESCRIPTION:Speakers: Chloé Sole (UCT )\nFast neutron fields are found in a wide variety of contexts\, for example at accelerator and medical radia tion facilities\, around nuclear power plants\, in airplanes in flight and space stations. These fields often vary widely with respect to both energ y and intensity which complicates measurements of energy dependent fluence . Bonner sphere systems remain widely in use\, although systems based on s cintillator detectors offer distinct advantages including improved energy resolution on the fast neutron energy range (above 1 MeV). Since scintilla tors are typically sensitive to all types of radiation\, including gamma r ays\, it is necessary to select neutron-only events\, and pulse shape disc rimination capabilities of selected scintillators is typically used for th is purpose. Digital pulse processing electronics offer several distinct ad vantages over analogue systems\, including being more cost effective and c ompact\, but most importantly the flexibility of analyzing raw pulses in l ist mode. \n \nWithin the neutron metrology and spectrometry community dig ital pulse processing systems are being developed for a variety of purpose s. New digital data acquisition systems need to be benchmarked against the current metrology standards\, typically based on analogue systems. We pre sent a comparison between the IRSN fast neutron metrology analogue acquisi tion system to an off-the-shelf CAEN desktop digitizer. Measurements were made using a BC-501A scintillator detector at IRSN AMANDE accelerator base d facility. Uncertainty budgets for measurements of neutron energy depende nt fluence distributions are compared for the analogue and digital acquisi tion systems. The broader aim of this project is to further the developmen t of a digital data acquisition system for fast neutron metrology using ad vanced scintillator technology for use in neutron fields where time-of-fli ght may or may not be available.\n\nhttps://indico.tlabs.ac.za/event/92/co ntributions/1591/ LOCATION:Zoom URL:https://indico.tlabs.ac.za/event/92/contributions/1591/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:F-18 activity mesurements at NMISA DTSTART;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20210913T080000Z DTEND;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20210913T083000Z DTSTAMP;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260615T110316Z UID:indico-contribution-92-1563@indico.tlabs.ac.za DESCRIPTION:Speakers: Milton van Rooy (NMISA)\, Martin van Staden (NMISA)\ , Joline Lubbe (NMISA)\, Bruce Simpson (NMISA)\nF-18 is an important radio nuclide in PET imaging and is produced at iThemba LABS. Therefore\, iThemb a LABS and other producers and users of F-18 require traceability from a m etrology institute. At NMISA the absolute activity of F-18 was determined through a primary measurement using 4πβ-γ liquid scintillation coincide nce counting. Conventional beta-efficiency extrapolation was employed. Sub sequently\, a factor for the NMISA ionization chamber was determined and u sed during a SIRTI comparison. A non-extrapolation method based on a detec tion efficiency analysis was also employed to analyse the data\, using an adaptation of the double-phototube coincidence efficiency for a threshold above the second monopeak. Results and uncertainty budgets for the two met hods are presented and discussed. Dissemination of F-18 traceability to iT hemba LABS is also presented.\n\nhttps://indico.tlabs.ac.za/event/92/contr ibutions/1563/ LOCATION:Zoom URL:https://indico.tlabs.ac.za/event/92/contributions/1563/ END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR