Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'In-field diagnosticts'

Ever since the inception of Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI), unabated advancements in its capabilities and applications have been spearheaded by a vibrant research effort to devise dedicated acquisition sequences, protocols and hardware. In translational research, however, the transition of these innovations into the arenas of biomedical research, and ultimately clinical practice is frequently hampered by practical considerations. These include the availability of appropriate expertise, time and resources for their implementation, and considerations of compatibility with established techniques and results reported in literature. Such concerns provide the impetus to maximize the utility of existing protocols before attempting the development of novel dedicated techniques. In this thesis, three investigations, each targeting a different DTI application, are presented. The strategy implemented throughout involves assessing the suitability of existing sequences for the intended task, and determining any limiting factors, evaluating whether appropriate modifications of the acquisition protocols used are capable of alleviating limitations, and developing novel, dedicated protocols wherever necessary. The value and, importantly, the wide scope of this approach in answering important research questions is exemplified through the breadth of the studies presented. The first study presents, for the first time, a quantitative evaluation of the effects of cardiac pulsation on prevalent DTI metrics acquired with a specific acquisition protocol used routinely in clinical practice. Findings inform the on-going debate on whether the investment in cardiac gating is merited by improvements in data quality. Effects were observed during only 6 % of the cardiac cycle, and not 20 % as previously reported. The impact of cardiac pulsation on selected diffusion Tensor indices was minimal in group studies, but of potential practical relevance in individual cases. Methods to predict which individuals may benefit from gating have also been suggested. Secondly, the feasibility of post-mortem DTI was established through the successful acquisition, also for the first time, of DTI data on a chemically fixed whole human post-mortem brain using a clinical sequence. Previous failed attempts have been attributed to insufficient SNR. In this study scanner stability and distortion are found to be the main limiting factors, and mitigated using appropriate averaging and co-registration strategies. The third study assessed the potential of ultra-high field strength DTI by identifying and optimizing the potential strengths of DTI at 7T. Subsequent to optimization with respect to SNR, the main sources of artefact were found to be B1 inhomogeneity and inadequate fat suppression. Both were alleviated by modification of the available acquisition protocol, resulting in higher SNR and data quality than previously reported. Finally, in developing appropriate data quality measures, the ‘Difference method’, commonly used for the quantification of SNR, was found to be unsuitable for in vivo DTI acquisitions at 7 T, leading to the proposal, and successful implementation and validation of an alternative.

The determination of the plasma confinement propertiesdemand data as the electron temperature, the ionic and electrondensity profiles and the radiative emissivity profiles. Thefocus of this thesis is the importance of radial profiles inspectroscopic diagnostics applied to the EXTRAP-T2Rreversed-field pinch.

EXTRAP-T2R is a resistive shell reversed-field pinch with amagnetic field shell penetration time much longer than therelaxation cycle time scale. Significant improvements inconfinement properties derived by quantitative plasmaspectroscopy in the vacuum ultraviolet are observed compared tothe previous device EXTRAP-T2. The low level of magneticturbulence and the good magnetic surfaces in the edge regionexplain this observed improvement. A current profile controlexperiment reduces the stochastic transport, which is connectedto the dynamo, and improves the confinement in EXTRAP-T2R evenmore.

A comparison of the electron temperature estimated by usinga ratio of line intensities from the same ionization stage ofoxygen and the Thomson scattering system shows that thedifference is explained by the different spatial dependence ofthe excited state populations and the corresponding emissivityof these spectral lines. A collisional radiative model givesestimates for radial profiles of impurities which are notmeasured in EXTRAP-T2R. The estimated profiles can in turn beused to determine the radial profile of the effective ioncharge, the emissivity and finally the radiative power. Asinput, the model uses radial profiles.

Neutral hydrogen is predominantly present in the boundaryregion of the plasma. Spectroscopic investigations in this areashow very asymmetric spectral lines of hydrogen due to themovement of atoms. The velocity of the hydrogen atoms dependson the type of plasma-wall interaction and their measurementhelps to identify the different interaction processes. Theexistence of hydrogen molecules in the edge complicates theinterpretation of the line shapes and on the determination ofthe particle confinement time.

Keywords:Reversed-field pinch, EXTRAP-T2R, quantitativeplasma spectroscopy, VUV spectroscopy, line-integrated electrontemperature, oxygen, profiles, confinement properties, powerbalance, hydrogen, particle confinement time.

This thesis starts with a research overview of the relationship between financial system development, capital markets and economic growth. The general consensus among economists is that financial system development contributes to economic growth and that both banks and capital markets are important in that development. These findings justify the interest that aid agencies and international organisations show for assisting financial development in developing countries. The authors go on to create a model for Capital Market Diagnostics (CMD) that could be used by such organisations to evaluate the level of development of the capital market in a developing country. The model consists of three steps. Step one determines whether necessary conditions, such as security and rule of law, exist in the country. Step two lists factors that can improve or impede the development of the capital market, focusing on the availability of capital, the availability of investment opportunities and macro environment factors that affect these two. The third step consists of an evaluation of the financial institutions in the country, providing checklists for interviews and site visits. To test the model it was implemented during a field study in Georgia. The conclusions from the test were that the final model, having been improved during the field study, meets the requirements for accuracy and usability and can be utilised as intended. The evaluation also resulted in conclusions on the development of the Georgian capital market. The level of development is low, mainly due to a lack of investment opportunities. There are few companies using the capital market in Georgia, and the ongoing privatisation process is not changing this but instead creates privately held companies with few owners. Another cause for the low level of development is a lack of capital, due to low interest and level of knowledge from domestic investors and a pension system that does not channel investments to the capital market. However, the institutions of the capital market are sufficiently developed for the current level of market activity and do not limit capital market development at this stage.

Thesis (D. Tech.) -- Central University of Technology, Free State, 2009
Superficial cancerous lesions are commonly treated through low energy X-ray or electron radiation in radiotherapy. The treatment units that produce the radiation are equipped with square, rectangular and round applicators of different sizes. These applicators attach to the treatment units and define the radiation field size applied during treatment. An applicator is chosen to fit the shape of the cancerous lesion on the patient as closely as possible. Since cancerous lesions are irregular in shape, there will always be an area of healthy tissue between the edge of the lesion and the edge of the standard field shape. This healthy tissue will be irradiated along with the lesion during treatment which is undesirable since the cancer wound heals through reparative growth of the surrounding healthy tissue after treatment. Traditional techniques that were developed to shield this healthy tissue and thus shape the radiation field to the shape of the lesion present various shortcomings. This study introduces a new thermal-spray process for producing radiation field shaping shields which overcomes most of the shortcomings encountered with the traditional field shaping techniques. Since none of the commercially available thermal-spray equipment could be used to produce field shaping shields, new thermal-spray equipment was designed and fabricated tailor made to the application. Different techniques to determine the contours of the treatment area on the patient were investigated. These included a patient contact technique using a plaster bandage impression and a non-contact technique using 3D laser scanning. From the plaster bandage impression a plaster model can be produced onto which a high density low melt material such as Wood’ s alloy can be thermally sprayed to produce a field shaping mask. A model can also be produced from the 3D laser scanning data through laser sintering (LS) in nylon polyamide powder or through computer numerical controlled (CNC) milling in a block of low density polyurethane. The thermal-spray technique was evaluated by comparing the field shaping ability of radiation shields produced through the technique to the field shaping ability of shields produced through the traditional techniques. Radiographic film was used for this purpose and the results are presented in the form of isodensity charts. The required thicknesses of thermal-sprayed field shaping masks to shield radiation of various energies were also determined. The thicknesses were determined through radiation transmission measurements of known thicknesses of sprayed sheets of Wood’ s alloy. X-ray imaging showed that there were no defects present within thermal-sprayed layers of Wood’ s alloy that may negatively affect the shielding ability of masks produced through the technique.

Cette thèse porte sur la conception d’un système de mesure in-situ permettant de détecter les perturbations variables dans l’environnement proche d’un réseau d’antennes. Une première partie est consacrée à l’étude du bénéfice d’un tel système appliqué à un réseau de goniométrie. Une étude quantitative de la dégradation des performances de goniométrie sur porteur en présence d’obstacles variables est réalisée. Le deuxième point majeur de cette thèse est le choix de la technologie pour la conception du système de diagnostic. La Technique de diffusion modulée par l’optique (OMS) est sélectionnée. Un modèle de prédiction de la puissance rétrodiffusée par la sonde OMS a été élaboré afin de choisir la dimension de sonde optimale. Suite aux études théoriques, une sonde de 12 cm chargée par la photodiode (PDCS30T) a été réalisée. Des mesures en chambre anéchoïque ont été menées afin de valider le bilan de liaison et mesurer la sensibilité de la sonde à des obstacles proches. Finalement, une étude est réalisée afin d’étudier la sensibilité exigée par le réseau de diagnostic pour détecter la présence d’obstacles. Un dimensionnement du système global est calculé
This thesis focuses on the design of an in-situ measurement system to detect variable disturbances in the near field of antenna arrays. The first part was focused on the study of the benefit of the monitoring system for direction finding antennas (DFA). A quantitative study of degradation of performances of DFA installed on a carrier in presence of variable obstacles was done. The second point of the study concerns the choice for the technology for the diagnostic system design. The Optically Modulated Scatterer Technique (OMS) is selected. A model that predicts the OMS backscattered power is developed to select the optimal dimension of the probe. Following the theoretical studies, a 12 cm OMS probe coupled to the nonlinear device (PDCS30T) was designed. Measurements in anechoic chamber were conducted to validate the budget link model and measure the sensitivity of the probe to nearby objects. Finally, a study is conducted to investigate the sensitivity required by the diagnostic probes for detecting the presence of obstacles. A dimensioning of the overall system is computed

Cette thèse porte sur la caractérisation des champs magnétiques générés par l'interaction entre un laser d'intensité de 1017 W/cm2 à 1018 W/cm2 et de cibles solides, et leurs effets sur le faisceau d'électrons chauds. En effet, les différents champs magnétiques créés lors de cette interaction ont un rôle fondamental sur les caractéristiques du faisceau d'électrons chauds : sa source et son transport dans la matière. Des diagnostics de polarimétrie et d'interférométrie croisée ont été développés lors de cette thèse pour observer le champ magnétique en surface de la cible irradiée par laser et en particulier leurs évolutions spatiale et temporelle. Deux différents régimes ont été observés selon le contraste en intensité de l'impulsion laser : un possédant une montée rapide de champ magnétique suivie d'une décroissance plus lente créées par le déplacement des électrons chauds dans la matière, et un possédant une croissance plus lente de forme logarithmique créée par la pré-impulsion du laser par effet thermoélectrique. L'interprétation de nos résultats obtenues par ces diagnostics ont permis d'évaluer la résistivité du plasma. Cette résistivité nommée anormale dans la littérature se comprend en estimant l'influence du champ magnétique sur l'anisotropie du transport des électrons et donc sur la résistivité. Le dernier diagnostic permettant l'estimation du champ magnétique détaillé dans cette thèse est la déflectométrie protonique. Elle permet d'observer la déviation d'un faisceau de protons lors de sa propagation sous l'effet de champs électrique et magnétique. D'autres expériences se sont focalisées sur la divergence de ce faisceau d'électrons. Deux diagnostics principaux ont été utilisés : l'imagerie K α et l'imagerie du rayonnement de transition cohérente (C.T.R.) en face arrière de cibles
This thesis concerns magnetic fields, generated by the interaction between strong laser pulse (intensity up to1018 W/cm2) and solid target, and their effects on the fast electron beam. Indeed, the various magnetic fields created during this interaction can inuence the divergence of the fast electron beam. The magnetic field createdduring this interaction have a fundamental role on the fast electron beam characteristics : its source and its transportin the material. Diagnotics of polarimetry and crossed interferometry were developed during this thesis to observethe on-surface magnetic field of the target, and in particular, their spatial and temporal evolutions. Two types oftemporal evolution of the magnetic field were observed according to the contrast in intensity of the laser pulse : afast rise of magnetic field followed by a slower decrease created by the travel of the fast electrons in the material,and a slower growth of logarithmic form created by the pre-pulse of the laser by thermoelectric effect. The interpretation of our results obtained by these diagnotics allowed us to estimate the resistivity of the plasma.This resistivity named "anomalously high resistivity" in the literature can be explained by taking into account theinuence of the magnetic field on the electrons transport (creation of an anisotropy) and thus on the resitivity.The last diagnotic allowing the estimation of the magnetic field detailed in this thesis is the proton deectometry. itallows to observe the deviation of a proton beam during its propagation under the inuence of electric and magneticfields. Other experiments were focused on the fast electron beam divergence. Two main diagnotics were used : the K α imaging and the coherent transition radiation (C.T.R) imaging at the rear side of solid targets. These diagnoticsallowed to estimate the fast electron beam divergence for two distinct energetic electron populations. The differenceof divergence coming from characteristics of both diagnotics (electrons in charge of the emissions in different energies). The diagnotics of on-surface magnetic fields of target irradiated by intense laser, such as the technics of polarimetry and crossed interferometry developed in this thesis, are dedicated to be combined with diagnotics determining the evolution of the radial size of the fast electron beam generated by the laser-matter interaction. Their simultaneous use, and the correlation between their respective data, should allow to establish experimentally, in the short term, the inuence of the on-surface magnetic fields on the fast electron beam initial characteristics, in particular the angular and energy distributions. Our results of polarimetry on the spatio-temporal evolution of the magnetic fields of surface establish the state of the art for this type of measures. There are possible improvements, in particular as regards their use in conditions of irradiation by lasers of intensities > 1018 W/cm2. These perspectives are also the object of discussions in this manuscript

The aim of this thesis was to optimize and improving reliable, fast, sensitive and specific field-deployable tools for the early detection of quarantine plant pathogens. In the first part of the thesis the work was concentrated in developing a field-applicable LAMP-based assay for the detection of Xylella fastidiosa, Phytophthora ramorum and Ceratocystis platani. Each assay, optimized on the portable instrument Genie II ® (Optigene, UK), was based on the conventional LAMP reaction and showed the capability to detect X. fastidiosa, C. platani and P. ramorum with high specificity and sensitivity in only 30 minutes also on plant samples for which a rapid kit method for in field-DNA extraction was also utilized. However, the assay targeting C. platani and P. ramorum were able to detect also C. fimbriata and P. lateralis, having also many cross reactions with other Phythophtora species. Even if the specificity was assessed by results obtained from melting analyses, that gave different temperature between target and non-target species, improving the specificity of a LAMP assay was needed. The second part of the thesis was hence concentrated in improving the chemistry and the specificity of a LAMP assay. The use of sequence-specific LAMP probes was analyzed by the development of a conventional and FRET-assimilating probe-based LAMP method targeting Fusarium circinatum, a pine pathogen for which specificity is a very important requirement concerning diagnostics. The capability of increasing the specificity using this novel LAMP chemistry was assessed by comparing LAMP results of conventional and probe-based LAMP reaction developed for F. circinatum: with conventional reaction many cross reactions were obtained with phylogenetically closest Fusaria while with the probe-based method only F. temperatum was amplified as cross reaction. Due to positive results obtained applying the probe-based method on wood samples DNA extracted with the field method the suitability for using it into the field was also assessed. The same probe-based LAMP chemistry was then implemented for multiplex application concerning pine needles pathogens Dothistroma septosporum, Dothistroma pini and Lecanosticta acicola, obtaining as preliminary results that of having a multiplex specific reaction directly in the field in about 10 minutes. Concerning this third part of this work, the possibility to apply the described method on crude samples was investigated concerning pine needles for which preliminary test to optimize a field suitable crude extraction method were carried out with promising results. As in the last part of this work was assessed that in Italy the distribution of Dothistroma septosporum is widespread by applying a TaqMan-based qPCR method while L. acicola was reported only in restricted places and D. pini was never reported, the developed LAMP method could be useful to prevent and monitoring their spread and introduction.

Solution-processed organic field effect transistors (OFETs) have emerged in recent years as promising contenders to be part of electronic and optoelectronic circuits owing to their compatibility with low-cost high throughput roll-to-roll manufacturing technology. The stringent performance requirements for OFETs in terms of carrier mobility, switching speed, turn-on voltage and uniformity over large areas require the performance of single crystal-based OFETs, but these suffer from major scale-up challenges. To achieve device performance approaching that of single crystals with scalable, high throughput and industry-compatible solution coating of OFETs requires understanding and ultimately controlling the crystallization of organic semiconductors (OSCs), and producing very low defect-density thin films. In this thesis, we develop an understanding of the process-structure-property-performance relationship in OSCs that bring fresh insights into the nature of solution crystallization and lead to novel ways to control OSC crystallization, and finally help achieve fabrication of high-performance OFETs by scalable, high throughput and industry-compatible blade coating method. We probe the solution crystallization of OSCs by employing a suite of ex & in situ characterization techniques. This leads us to an important finding that OSC molecules aggregate to form a dense amorphous intermediate state and nucleation happens from this intermediate state during blade coating under a wide window of coating conditions. This phenomenon resembles the so-called two-step nucleation model. Two-step nucleation mediates the crystallization of a wide range of natural and synthetic products ranging from soft materials, such as proteins, biominerals, colloids and pharmaceutical molecules, to inorganic compounds. We go on to show that this nucleation mechanism is generally applicable to achieve formation of high-quality polycrystalline films in a variety of small molecule OSCs and their polymer blends. This phenomenon results in highly textured and well-connected domains, which exhibit reduced interfacial and bulk trap-state densities, helping raise the carrier mobility by one to two orders of magnitude in OFETs in comparison to direct nucleation. We extend the understanding developed for solution crystallization of various acenes and thiophene-based small molecule OSCs to the high-performance benzothieno-benzothiophene (BTBT) based small molecule OSCs. On this end, we develop protocols to fabricate high-quality thin films of BTBT based OSCs by blade coating at industrially compatible coating speeds (>100 mms-1). These films show massive single-domains with very few apparent defects when crystallized via multiple liquid-crystalline phases in two-step nucleation conditions, resulting in an average carrier mobility of ~10 cm2V-1s-1. To sum up, this thesis develops an understanding of OSC solution crystallization and efficient protocols to control polycrystalline thin film quality for high-performance OFETs. These protocols involve a combination of two-step nucleation pathway, solvent mixtures, polymer blends and device-manufacturing conditions. Our efforts enable to realize high-performance OFETs based on high-quality polycrystalline OSC thin films at industry-compatible conditions.

Laser at intensity above of 10^10 W/cm^2 that interacts with a solid target generate photons, electrons, and ion beams, emitted from a plasma which expands in vacuum. The electron and ion energies depend strongly on the laser parameters, on the irradiation conditions, and on the target properties. This work was performed at the University of Messina, using a Nd:YAG laser, with 3 ns pulse duration, and 1064 nm wavelength, at an intensity of 10^10 W/cm^2 to generate a plasma by means of different targets. Ion emissions occur mainly along the normal to the target surface and can be detected using the Time-of-Flight technique, through Ion Collector, when the ion current is high enough, or Secondary Electron Multiplier, when the current is less than 10 µA. To increase the current, magnetic fields with cylindrical symmetry can be applied along the axis of ion emission, to obtain a focusing effect for the charged particle beam emerging out of the plasma. The formation of electronic traps, due to the magnetic field’s force lines, drives the ions’ acceleration by improving their kinetic energy. The application of a magnetic field generated by a coil, or an electric field generated by semi-cylindrical electrodes, directed orthogonally to the ions beam produces a deflections of charged particles, according to their mass-to-charge ratio and their velocity or energy, respectively. Ion accelerations of the order of hundreds of eV per charge state, plasma temperatures of the order of tens of eV, and Boltzmann energy distributions have been obtained for the different irradiated targets. At higher intensities, such as those investigated at the INFN-LNS in Catania (10^12 W/cm^2 with a post-acceleration system up to 30 kV), and at the PALS Laboratory in Prague (10^16 W/cm^2), a compact Thomson Parabola Spectrometer, designed at the University of Messina, was employed. It allows to detect particles emitted by hot plasmas and do fast analysis of the charge state, kinetic energy and mass-to-charge ratio. The spectrometer consists of a double input pinhole, for alignment, a permanent magnet (0.004 ÷ 4 kG) and an electric field (0.05 ÷ 5 kV/cm) parallel to each other and orthogonal to the direction of the beam. It can be equipped with different types of planar detectors such as phosphor screen, Gafchromic, PM–355 and others. Further measurements were conducted at the IPPLM of Warsaw, using a Ti:Sapphire laser, with 45 fs pulse duration and intensity of about ~10^19 W/cm^2, to irradiate an advanced target based on a thin film of Graphene oxide covered with metal layers, in order to investigate the acceleration in forward direction, in the Target Normal Sheath Acceleration regime. The Time-of-Flight technique was employed, using semiconductor detectors based on silicon carbide. By optimizing the focusing conditions, a maximum energy for protons of 2.85 MeV was measured, using a gold metallization of 200 nm. Finally, the experimental data obtained are compared with the simulations performed using the Particlein-Cell (PIC) method. PIC provides the electronic densities as a function of time and space, and allows to evaluate the electric field developed in the rear surface of the irradiated foil. The simulation indicates that carbon ions are subject to a lower acceleration than protons, depending on the charge-to-mass ratio. Thus, carbon ions are not affected by the maximum electric field due to its fast time decay. Considering the angular emission distribution of protons and the six charge states of carbon, and their Boltzmann energy with a fixed cut-off, the data obtained are in agreement with the experimental measurements. These measurements, analyses and simulations, collected and performed during my PhD years, are discussed and presented in the following chapters of this thesis.

У дипломній роботі досліджено проблеми обліково-аналітичного відображення іфнормації в сфері послуг. Визначено специфіку підприємств з транспортування й розподілу газу, їхній вплив на організацію обліку. Розроблено рекомендації щодо удосконалення облку та аудиту підприємств сфери послуг. Одержала подальший розвиток методика діджиталізації деяких облікових процесів. Запропоновано напрямки удосконалення аудиту в сфері транспортування газу, виділено його основні прийоми.
The thesis examines the problems of accounting and analytical reflection of information in the field of services. The specifics of gas transportation and distribution enterprises, their influence on the organization of accounting are determined. Recommendations for improving the cloud and audit of service enterprises have been developed. The method of digitalization of some accounting processes was further developed. The directions of improvement of audit in the field of gas transportation are offered, its basic receptions are allocated.
ВСТУП 4 РОЗДІЛ 1. ТЕОРЕТИЧНІ АСПЕКТИ ОБЛІКОВО-АНАЛІТИЧНОЇ СИСТЕМИ У СФЕРІ ПОСЛУГ 1.1. Сутність організації облікового процесу 6 1.2. Напрямки аналітичного процесу 11 1.3. Техніко-економічна характеристика Гусятинського УЕГГ ПАТ «Тернопільгаз» 18 РОЗДІЛ 2. ОРГАНІЗАЦІЇ ОБЛІКУ ТА АУДИТУ НА ГУСЯТИНСЬКОМУ УЕГГ 2.1. Організація діловодства та документування 28 2.2. Згортання та розгортання інформації 34 2.3. Елементи діджиталізації фінансового обліку 37 2.4. Методика та організація аудиту 40 РОЗДІЛ 3. АНАЛІЗ ВИТРАТ ГУСЯТИНСЬКОГО УЕГГ 3.1. Аналіз витрат на транспортування газу 47 3.2. Аналіз собівартості 1000м3 газу 51 3.3. Факторний аналіз рентабельності капіталу 54 РОЗДІЛ 4. ОХОРОНА ПРАЦІ ТА БЕЗПЕКА В НАДЗВИЧАЙНИХ СИТУАЦІЯХ 6.1. Організація охорони праці на Гусятинському УЕГГ ПАТ «Тернопільгаз» 66 6.2. Стійкість роботи підприємств сфери послуг в умовах надзвичайних ситуацій 69 ВИСНОВКИ І ПРОПОЗИЦІЇ 72 СПИСОК ВИКОРИСТАНИХ ДЖЕРЕЛ 76

This research has contributed to the field of parasitology by evaluating several diagnostic tests in the area of lymphatic filariasis and determining their suitability for field surveys. A lymphatic filariasis survey in Papua New Guinea (PNG) using the TropBio Assay showed a wide range of prevalence with locations of high prevalence among areas of low prevalence that could be reservoirs of infection if not covered by the filariasis elimination program. Additionally, the results of parasitological surveys conducted in Timor-Leste and PNG are presented, which show the presence of human parasites in these countries previously unreported in the literature. Finally, research is presented that suggests that the presence of intestinal parasites may confer some benefit to the human host. Diagnostic tests are just as important as the medications, vaccinations and therapies used to prevent and control population health issues. Without these tests, measurement of many health problems could not occur. They are also required to determine if activities designed to address a particular health problem are succeeding. Standardised and validated diagnostic tests are therefore a mandatory requirement for monitoring and evaluation of many health programs. An essential element for determining whether a disease is eradicable is an effective diagnostic tool. Prioritised research needs for eliminating lymphatic filariasis include defining the comparative accuracy of diagnostics and taking advantage of improving user friendliness. In 2005, a new test kit became available for detecting infection by Brugia spp. in infected individuals. The BRUGIArapid cassette uses a recombinant antigen, BmR1, to detect antibody present in serum and whole blood samples. The literature was evaluated to determine the relationship between prevalence of seropositivity using tests incorporating BmR1 and prevalence of microfilaraemia. Additionally, the test was evaluated to determine its suitability for use in field conditions. The BRUGIArapid cassette was used in several sites throughout Timor-Leste. A literature review showed acceptable sensitivity and specificity and minimal cross-reactions with other parasitic infections. There was a linear relationship between the prevalence of microfilaraemia and prevalence of seropositivity to BmR1. The equation predicts that a location with 1% microfilaraemia prevalence will have a 9.3% (95% PI, 5.2 –13.3) seropositivity to BmR1 prevalence. The test was quick and easy to use at the field sites. Problems noted with the test were poor fitting reagent bottle lids that leaked buffer during transport and testing, inaccurate instructions and a failure of the test pad to clear blood from the reading area at the recommended reading time. Changes were made to the design of the buffer bottles and test instructions were updated. The BRUGIArapid cassette was accepted for use by the World Health Organization (WHO) in Brugian filariasis elimination programs. There have been mixed reports of the sensitivity of the filter paper version of the TropBio W. bancrofti ELISA. This technique was evaluated as part of the baseline surveys undertaken in PNG for the elimination of filariasis program. Nocturnal blood was collected and tested for microfilaraemia and by the ICT, TropBio ELISA and the filter paper version of the TropBio ELISA kit for antigenaemia. The absorbent pad from the ICT was removed and tested by the TropBio ELISA kit. To reduce the complexity of the TropBio ELISA the necessity of the boiling step to inactivate rheumatoid factor was investigated. A modified field version of the TropBio ELISA, the fast friendly field test, that has no boiling step and is read visually, was evaluated and compared to the standard test. The filter paper technique showed poor sensitivity (67.2%, 95% CI: 62.1–72.1) although it was similar to the ICT (63.6%, 95% CI: 58.6–68.4) when compared to the serum TropBio ELISA. Using the filter paper from the ICT had better sensitivity (83.2%, 95% CI: 74.7–89.7) but was poor when used at another site (41.7%, 95% CI: 22.4–63.4) when compared to the serum version. Paired measurements using boiled and unboiled specimens were significantly correlated (r=0.97, p<0.001). The fast friendly field test had 96.0% (CI, 79.7–99.9) sensitivity and 98.4% (CI, 94.2–99.8) specificity compared to the serum version. The filter paper technique is unsuitable for due to its poor sensitivity. The boiling step appears unnecessary in the standard TropBio ELISA. The fast friendly field version shows acceptable sensitivity and specificity but may be cumbersome in field settings. Baseline surveys of Wuchereria bancrofti lymphatic filariasis prevalence were conducted at two localities in each of the PNG provinces of New Ireland, West New Britain, East New Britain, Bougainville and Oro in 2006 prior to the beginning of mass drug administration for the Filariasis Elimination Program. These data were collected as part of the monitoring and evaluation requirements for the program. Venous blood was collected between the hours of 1900 and 0100, a thick blood smear prepared and examined for microfilariae and the serum tested by the TropBio ELISA. There were no antigenaemic individuals found in Rorovana, Bougainville and the prevalence ranged from 1.0% (95% CI: 0.2–1.8) at Oro Bay, Oro to 64.7% (95% CI: 59.5–69.9) in Sipai, Bougainville. Microfilaraemia was not found at the two sites in the Oro province with the highest prevalence found at Kokopo, East New Britain (22.6%, 95% CI: 15.1–30.1). Overall, antigenaemia rose with age with a peak prevalence in the 40–44 year old age group. Excluding Rorovana, there was no difference in antigenaemia prevalence (p=0.29) between the genders but males had a higher prevalence of microfilaraemia compared to females (p<0.01). West New Britain had undergone a mass drug administration (MDA) one month before the baseline prevalence testing had started. In Kokopo, West New Britain there was a 36.4% (95% CI: 30.0–42.8) antigenaemia prevalence but no cases of microfilaraemia. PNG shows a wide range of lymphatic filariasis prevalence. Concentration of lymphatic filariasis in small communities could act as a reservoir source for surrounding districts if these are missed during the MDA. Successful baseline surveys were conducted using the TropBio ELISA. As this test quantifies the amount of antigen, rather than simply giving an ordinal positive or negative result, comparison with results from further surveys will allow a better measure of the effects of MDA. Timor-Leste's elimination of lymphatic filariasis program includes the use of albendazole annually for all adults and six monthly for children aged two to sixteen years. Children under two receive pyrantel pamoate. These drugs treat the soil-transmitted helminths (STH) Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and hookworm. These nematodes cause intestinal problems, contribute to malnutrition and hookworm and whipworm are associated with anaemia. Baseline and post-treatment surveys are necessary to determine the impact of the control program. Three villages, Buihomau, Suai Loro and Sika, were selected and, using local volunteers to approach every household, faecal samples were collected from village residents. The samples were transported back to James Cook University, Australia, preserved in sodium-acetic acid-formalin, concentrated and examined for parasitic protozoan cysts and helminth eggs, larvae or adults. Assessment of intestinal parasites in Timor-Leste revealed an overall prevalence among the three sites of 34.8%, 1.3% and 0.9% of hookworm, Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura respectively. Most hookworm infections were of light intensity (97.2%), which may be an artefact due to the delay in processing. Hookworm prevalence increased with age with the highest prevalence found in the ≥ 70 age group (83%). Also of importance were one case of Strongyloides infection and a 2.4% prevalence of taeniasis. The prevalence rate of non-pathogenic Entamoeba coli was 76.6% (95% CI: 72.1–81.1). Prevalence rates for STH in this survey will be used to compare with later surveys and determine the effect of mass drug administration. There have been no cases of Strongyloides spp. and only one case of Taenia solium in Timor-Leste reported in the literature. Free roaming pigs are the most common livestock and there are few latrines availabile to households in Buihomau and Suai Loro. Therefore, the environmental conditions for neurocysticercosis are present if cysticerci of Taenia solium is in the pig population. Improvements in water supply, sanitation and housing are needed in addition to MDA to reduce the parasite load in Timor-Leste. Neurocysticercosis is one of the most common parasitic infections of the nervous system but has not been reported in PNG and Timor-Leste despite being present in nearby Indonesia. Testing blood for the presence of antibody can be a sensitive and specific method of determining neurocysticercosis. Serum samples from past parasitological surveys in PNG, Timor-Leste and Irian Jaya were tested by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and immunoblot using glycoproteins from T. solium prepared by isoelectric-focusing and recombinant protein Ag1V1/Ag2. Using glycoproteins 1.7%, 2.1% and 2.0% of samples from Timor-Leste, PNG and Irian Jaya were repeatedly positive in the ELISA. There were two samples positive from each of Timor-Leste and PNG using purified glycoproteins and recombinant protein in the ELISA and immunoblot. Further surveys and testing is required to confirm this finding and if found, intervention measures should be put in place. The absence of parasitological infection in humans has been suggested as the cause for the rise in some allergic and autoimmune diseases including Crohn's disease (CD). Although the cause of CD is not known, the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been implicated. CD is a granulomatous disease that shows a Th1 cytokine profile. In contrast, immune responses to infection by Necator americanus shows a bias towards a Th2 cytokine pattern. Patients with CD given Trichuris suis orally have shown significant improvement. CD patients were inoculated with hookworm and the immune response to several crude antigens was measured. Compared to controls, CD patients had a greater lymphoproliferative response to crude antigen from Saccharomyces cerevisiae (p<0.05) and Bacteroides fragilis (p<0.05). Cytokine profiles were determined from whole blood cultures with crude antigen. Median interferon- γ production towards B. fragilis was lower (p<0.05) in CD patients with hookworm and taking methotrexate compared to controls. Net Interferon-γ/Net IL-10 ratios from whole blood stimulated with S. cerevisiae showed a step wise increase with CD patients with hookworm infection having lower ratios than CD patients without hookworm or control subjects. S. cerevisiae appears to have a role in the aetiology of CD while N. americanus may modify the immune response in CD patients. Consideration should therefore be given to the possible rise of allergic or autoimmune diseases when reducing parasite loads in populations. This work has contributed to evaluating the comparative accuracy of diagnostic tests for lymphatic filariasis. The BRUGIArapid cassette was shown to be suitable for use in Brugian filariasis elimination programs. Conversely, the studies on the filter paper collection technique to determine TropBio antigenaemia demonstrated that the test was unsuitable. Investigation into the TropBio ELISA methodology resulted in the fast friendly field version of the TropBio ELISA. Baseline prevalence surveys in lymphatic filariasis and soil-transmitted helminths will now allow monitoring and evaluation of these programs to occur. Identification of Taenia spp. and serological evidence of neurocysticercosis suggests a comprehensive survey in PNG and Timor-Leste is required to determine the extent of the problem. Finally, consideration should be given to the possible rise in autoimmune and allergic diseases as an unwanted effect of programs to reduce prevalence and intensity of infection of STH.

Title: The game analysis of the performance of the creative players in professional football. Objectives: The aim of the work is to analyse the success of creative players in professional football. The study of the literature to find out the requirements for the exercise of creative players and we will analyze the success by the facts on the basis of indirect observations of gaming performance in the selected master games. Findings will evaluate the application and subsequently we will formulate specific recommendations for the practice. Methods: We carry out analysis method of indirect observations with the help of videos of selected events and subsequent analysis. Results: Analysis of selected game actions in the attack phase of the game in the middle of the center ofensive player, and their success. Keywords: Football, the offensive phase of the game, individual game performance, creativity in football, the disposition of the players on the field, diagnostics in football.