[en] The probe consists essentially of a plastic scintillator and a boron scintillator coupled optically and mechanically in a phototube, the entire unit being surrounded by a polyethylene casing. The characteristics of these different components have been determined experimentally in order to obtain a balanced response, i.e. the probe is always triggered by the same predetermined dose, regardless of whether it is exposed to gamma rays alone, to neutrons alone or to a gamma-neutron mixture. the experimental results confirm that probes of this design have a linear response and monitor criticality conditions exactly, and also that they are never blinded, regardless of the dynamics and the power of these conditions. The data from the probes are centralized in a processing box whose characteristics, like those of the probes, meet the criteria laid down by the Criticality Safety Commission. Particular emphasis is placed on the triggering reliability of the probe, which gives a warning signal only if the exceeding of the dose is confirmed by the presence of a certain dose-rate, and on the possibility of remote confirmation of an accident and control of action that might be required by measurement of the dose-rate of ambient neutrons and gammas. (author)

[en] The emergency dose-rate meter/dose meter unit described is designed for monitoring the working conditions and for personal monitoring of an emergency team operating in a hostile environment. A portable ionization-chamber radiation indicator either worn by personnel or placed in the working area provides information on the radiation field in the environment in which the emergency team is operating. The information provided by the indicator is processed by an appropriate processing unit which determines the absorbed-dose rate and the absorbed dose simultaneously. These two values are displayed on a television screen, superimposed on the picture transmitted by the camera filming the operation. The time and an identification number of the person performing the operation are shown on the same screen; the values of these quantities can be recorded on video tape. The indicator can be linked to the processing system either by a cable up to 100 m long or by radio (the latter system is in the design stage). (author)

[en] Bone radiological signs in six cases of systemic mastocytosis are described: lesions may be diffuse or circumscribed and of the condensation and/or rarefaction type. In most cases, however, the lesions are of the mixed type. Bone mastocytosis may occur without any cutaneous lesions and this emphasizes the value, from the diagnostic point of view, of radiological examinations of the skeleton. Diagnosis is defined and confirmed by three features: the association of condensing lesions and bone rarefactions in different regions of the skeleton; the presence of mastocytic proliferation in stained biopsy specimens from the posterior iliac bone which is not decalcified; fixation of sup(99m)Tc pyrophosphate in the axial skeleton on scintigraphy

[en] During the past few decades there has been an increase in the production of many types of electronic devices such as rectifying tubes, thyratrons, klystrons, magnetrons, etc., containing elements capable of emitting undesirable X-radiation. These components are not only found in equipment used in industry and research laboratories, but also in devices of a more domestic nature, such as colour television sets, usually low in energy, this radiation may nevertheless constitute a health hazard for many users of such devices and may affect not only workers but even the population as a whole. The Commission of the European Communities (Euratom) felt it was desirable to review the state of the art with regard to problems of radiological protection arising in the manufacture, repair and use of such electronic equipment and to seek suitable technical and administrative solutions. In conjunction with the Centre Physique Atomique et Nucleaire of the Paul Sabatier University, the Commission held an International Symposium in Toulouse on 3-6 November 1970, which was attended by manufacturers of electronic equipment, officials of technical inspection bodies and representatives of public health and occupational safety authorities. The following items were discussed: classification and identification of sources of parasitic X-rays, methods of measuring soft X-rays, biological aspects of exposure to soft X-rays, performance standards and methods for testing and inspecting electronic equipment. The Symposium was followed attentively by 180 delegates from 21 countries and international organizations, and was concluded by a round table discussion at which the chairmen of the different sessions, assisted by experts, drew conclusions from their sessions and from the discussions, pointing up the problems which needed most urgently to be studied. This document contains the texts, in their original versions, of the papers presented at the meetings, together with the minutes of the discussions and of the final round table meeting