Optimization of Spectral String Data Analysis Using a Binomial Discriminator for Weak-source Detection Decisions.

Operational health physics applications, such as radiological and nuclear monitoring and detection for homeland security or radiation protection purposes, generate time sequences of independent individual measurement data. Statistical algorithms have been developed that use the analysis of patterns in the data strings to enhance the test statistic for the decision on the absence or presence of a radiation source. These hypothesis test procedures have been applied to spectral data and have been optimized for the highest rate of correct identification of a weak Cs source at constant false positive detection rates.

Low-Fidelity Spectral Analysis Utilizing a Binomial Discriminator for Weak-Source Detection Decisions.

The identification of radiological sources by analysis of a gamma spectrum usually relies on the location of the set of radionuclide-specific electron energies corresponding to the incident photons interacting by photoelectric absorption in the detection medium. The challenge in low-level detection applications is the identification of these "photopeaks" above the background counts registered in the detector from the natural radiation environment and system noise. For source detection decisions, regions of the gamma spectrum other than at the photopeak energies may provide additional information about the presence of a source and allow for a higher rate of correct identification of a weak source.

Hand washing frequency in an emergency department.

Study Objective: Previous studies, conducted mainly in ICUs, have shown low compliance with hand-washing recommendations, with failure rates approaching 60%. Hand washing in the emergency department has not been studied. We examined the frequency and duration of hand washing in one ED and the effects of three variables: level of training, type of patient contact (clean, dirty, or gloved), and years of staff clinical experience.

Hand washing frequency in an emergency department.

Objectives Previous studies, conducted mainly in ICUs, have shown low compliance with hand-washing recommendations, with failure rates approaching 60%. Hand washing in the emergency department has not been studied. We examined the frequency and duration of hand washing in one emergency department and the effects of three variables: level of training, type of patient contact (clean, dirty, or gloved), and years of staff clinical experience.