Ultrasound Scanning Competencies in Midwifery Education in Zambia: Findings from a Desk Review and Needs Assessment

Introduction: Ultrasound is an essential component of antenatal care. Midwives provide most of the antenatal care but they do not perform ultrasound as it has been beyond their scope of practice. This leaves many women in Low and Middle-Income Countries without access to ultrasound scanning. The aim of this study was to identify competencies in ultrasound scanning in midwifery education. Methods: A desk review and needs assessment were conducted between July and October 2023. Articles and curricula on the internet, Google scholar and PubMed were searched for content on ultrasound scanning competencies. A Google form consisting of 20 questions was administered via email and WhatsApp to 135 participants. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse data. Results: The desk review showed that it is feasible to train midwives in ultrasound scanning. The training programs for midwives in obstetric ultrasound were conducted for 1 week to 3 months with most of them running for 4 weeks. Content included introduction to general principles of ultrasound, physics, basic knowledge in embryology, obstetrics, anatomy, measuring foetal biometry, estimating amniotic fluid and gestational age. Experts like sonographers trained midwives. Theory and hands on were the teaching methods used. Written and practical assessments were conducted. Needs assessment revealed that majority of participants 71 (53%) knew about basic ultrasound training for midwives. All participants (100%) said it is necessary to train midwives in basic ultrasound scan in Zambia. Some content should include, anatomy, measuring foetal biometry, assessing amniotic fluid level, and gestational age determination. Most participants 91 (67%) suggested that the appropriate duration of training is 4 - 6 weeks. Conclusion: Empowering every midwife with ultrasound scanning skills will enable early detection of any abnormality among pregnant women and prompt intervention to save lives.

Acousto-optic scanning multi-photon lithography with high printing rate

As a manufacturing method that is focused on end-users,3D printing has gained a lot of attention in recent years due to its unique advantages in fabricating complex three-dimensional structures.Various new micro-nano 3D printing methods have been developed to meet the demand for high-precision and high-yield manufacturing1-9.Among them,multi-photon-photon lithography(MPL) is a promising 3D nanofabrication technology due to its capability of true 3D digital processing and nanoscale processing resolution beyond the diffraction limit.It has been widely used to fabricate microoptics10,11,photonic crystals12,microfluidics13,meta-surfaces14,and mechanical metamaterials15.

Investigation of reflection anisotropy induced by micropipe defects on the surface of a 4H-SiC single crystal using scanning anisotropy microscopy

Optical reflection anisotropy microscopy mappings of micropipe defects on the surface of a 4H-SiC single crystal are studied by the scanning anisotropy microscopy(SAM)system.The reflection anisotropy(RA)image with a'butterfly pattern'is obtained around the micropipes by SAM.The RA image of the edge dislocations is theoretically simulated based on dislocation theory and the photoelastic principle.By comparing with the Raman spectrum,it is verified that the micropipes consist of edge dislocations.The different patterns of the RA images are due to the different orientations of the Burgers vectors.Besides,the strain distribution of the micropipes is also deduced.One can identify the dislocation type,the direction of the Burgers vector and the optical anisotropy from the RA image by using SAM.Therefore,SAM is an ideal tool to measure the optical anisotropy induced by the strain field around a defect.

Prophylactic Pattern Scanning Laser Retinal Photocoagulation for Diabetic Retinopathy in Spontaneously Diabetic Torii Fatty Rats: Preliminary Experimental Results

Research Background and Purpose: The number of diabetic patients is rapidly increasing, making it crucial to find methods to prevent diabetic retinopathy (DR), a leading cause of blindness. We investigated the effects of prophylactic pattern scanning laser retinal photocoagulation on DR development in Spontaneously Diabetic Torii (SDT) fatty rats as a new prevention approach. Methods: Photocoagulation was applied to the right eyes of 8-week-old Spontaneously Diabetic Torii (SDT) fatty rats, with the left eyes serving as untreated controls. Electroretinography at 9 and 39 weeks of age and pathological examinations, including immunohistochemistry for vascular endothelial growth factor and glial fibrillary acidic protein at 24 and 40 weeks of age, were performed on both eyes. Results: There were no significant differences in amplitude and prolongation of the OP waves between the right and left eyes in SDT fatty rats at 39 weeks of age. Similarly, no significant differences in pathology and immunohistochemistry were observed between the right and left eyes in SDT fatty rats at 24 and 40 weeks of age. Conclusion: Prophylactic pattern scanning retinal laser photocoagulation did not affect the development of diabetic retinopathy in SDT fatty rats.

Accuracy of tree mapping based on hand-held laser scanning comparing leaf-on and leaf-off conditions in mixed forests

The use of mobile laser scanning to survey forest ecosystems is a promising,scalable technology to describe forest 3D structures at high resolution.To confirm the con-sistency in the retrieval of forest structural parameters using hand-held laser scanning(HLS),before operationalizing the method,confirming the data is crucial.We analyzed the per-formance of tree-level mapping based on HLS under differ-ent phenology conditions on a mixed forest in western Spain comprising Pinus pinaster and two deciduous species,Alnus glutinosa and Quercus pyrenaica.The area was surveyed twice during the growing season(July 2022)and once in the deciduous season(February 2022)using several scan-ning paths.Ground reference data(418 trees,15 snags)was used to calibrate the HLS data and to assess the influence of phenology when converting 3D data into tree-level attrib-utes(DBH,height and volume).The HLS-based workflow was robust at isolating tree positions and recognizing stems despite changes in phenology.Ninety-six percent of all pairs matched below 65 cm.For DBH,phenology barely altered estimates.We observed a strong agreement when comparing HLS-based tree height distributions.The values exceeded 2 m when comparing height measurements,confirming height data should be carefully used as reference in remote sensing-based inventories,especially for deciduous species.Tree volume was more precise for pines(r=0.95,and rela-tive RMSE=21.3–23.8%)compared to deciduous species(r=0.91–0.96,and relative RMSE=27.3–30.5%).HLS data and the forest structural complexity tool performed remark-ably,especially in tree positioning considering mixed forests and mixed phenology conditions.

A review of understanding electrocatalytic reactions in energy conversion and energy storage systems via scanning electrochemical microscopy

To address climate change and promote environmental sustainability,electrochemical energy conversion and storage systems emerge as promising alternative to fossil fuels,catering to the escalating demand for energy.Achieving optimal energy efficiency and cost competitiveness in these systems requires the strategic design of electrocatalysts,coupled with a thorough comprehension of the underlying mechanisms and degradation behavior occurring during the electrocatalysis processes.Scanning electrochemical microscopy(SECM),an analytical technique for studying surface electrochemically,stands out as a powerful tool offering electrochemical insights.It possesses remarkable spatiotemporal resolution,enabling the visualization of the localized electrochemical activity and surface topography.This review compiles crucial research findings and recent breakthroughs in electrocatalytic processes utilizing the SECM methodology,specifically focusing on applications in electrolysis,fuel cells,and metal–oxygen batteries within the realm of energy conversion and storage systems.Commencing with an overview of each energy system,the review introduces the fundamental principles of SECM,and aiming to provide new perspectives and broadening the scope of applied research by describing the major research categories within SECM.

Imaging of human parafoveal area with large field of view in adaptive optics line scanning ophthalmoscope

The parafoveal area,with its high concentration of photoreceptors andfine retinal capillaries,is crucial for central vision and often exhibits early signs of pathological changes.The current adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscope(AOSLO)provides an excellent tool to acquire accurate and detailed information about the parafoveal area with cellular resolution.However,limited by the scanning speed of two-dimensional scanning,thefield of view(FOV)in the AOSLO system was usually less than or equal to 2,and the stitching for the parafoveal area required dozens of images,which was time-consuming and laborious.Unfortunately,almost half of patients are unable to obtain stitched images because of their poorfixation.To solve this problem,we integrate AO technology with the line-scan imaging method to build an adaptive optics line scanning ophthalmoscope(AOLSO)system with a larger FOV.In the AOLSO,afocal spherical mirrors in pairs are nonplanar arranged and the distance and angle between optical elements are optimized to minimize the aberrations,two cylinder lenses are orthogonally placed before the imaging sensor to stretch the point spread function(PSF)for su±ciently digitizing light energy.Captured human retinal images show the whole parafoveal area with 55FOV,60 Hz frame rate and cellular resolutions.Take advantage of the 5FOV of the AOLSO,only 9 frames of the retina are captured with several minutes to stitch a montage image with an FOV of 99,in which photoreceptor counting is performed within approximately 5eccentricity.The AOLSO system not only provides cellular resolution but also has the capability to capture the parafoveal region in a single frame,which offers great potential for noninvasive studying of the parafoveal area.

Fatigue properties and damage constitutive model of salt rock based on CT scanning

To investigate the macroscopic fatigue properties and the mesoscopic pore evolution characteristics of salt rock under cyclic loading,fatigue tests under different upper-limit stresses were carried out on salt rock,and the mesoscopic pore structures of salt rock before and after fatigue tests and under different cycle numbers were measured using CT scanning instrument.Based on the test results,the effects of the cycle number and the upper-limit stress on the evolution of cracks,pore morphology,pore number,pore volume,pore size,plane porosity,and volume porosity of salt rock were analyzed.The failure path of salt rock specimens under cyclic loading was analyzed using the distribution law of plane porosity.The damage variable of salt rock under cyclic loading was defined on basis of the variation of volume porosity with cycle number.In order to describe the fatigue deformation behavior of salt rock under cyclic loading,the nonlinear Burgers damage constitutive model was further established.The results show that the model established can better reflect the whole development process of fatigue deformation of salt rock under cyclic loading.

Contribution of CT Scanning in the Investigation of Cranioencephalic Lesions in Bangui

Introduction: Cranioencephalic exploration has always played a major role in CT scans. In the Central Africa Republic (CAR), the lack of cross-sectional imaging before the year 2020 meant that no study had focused on cranioencephalic lesions. The aim of this study was to contribute to improving the management of cranioencephalic pathologies in CAR. Patients and Method: The study took place at the Bangui National Medical Imaging Centre (CNIMB). It was a retrospective study over a two-year period (March 1, 2021 to February 30, 2023). All patients referred for cranioencephalic CT scans were included, regardless of age or sex. Results: 1745 CT scans were performed, 575 of which were cranioencephalic CT scans. The majority of patients were male (53%). Most lived in the capital Bangui (90.9%). Patients aged 61 and over were the most representative. The distribution of patients by requesting department showed that the reception and emergency department was one of the least requesting departments. The main abnormalities observed were strokes, 82.1% of which were ischaemic strokes and 17.9% haemorrhagic strokes. Strokes were followed by degenerative lesions. Post-traumatic injuries included haemorrhagic contusions (38.3%), subdural haematomas in 20.5% of cases, and extradural haematomas (9.3%). Craniofacial lesions (fractures) were observed in 45.8% of cases. Conclusion: Cranioencephalic scans accounted for 1/3 of CT examinations performed during the study period. It revealed pathologies that could not be detected by conventional means. All in all, CT scans contributed to the diagnosis of cerebral pathologies.

Study on Joint Method of 3D Acoustic Emission Source Localization Simplex and Grid Search Scanning

Acoustic emission(AE)source localization is a fundamental element of rock fracture damage imaging.To improve the efficiency and accuracy of AE source localization,this paper proposes a joint method comprising a three-dimensional(3D)AE source localization simplex method and grid search scanning.Using the concept of the geometry of simplexes,tetrahedral iterations were first conducted to narrow down the suspected source region.This is followed by a process of meshing the region and node searching to scan for optimal solutions,until the source location is determined.The resulting algorithm was tested using the artificial excitation source localization and uniaxial compression tests,after which the localization results were compared with the simplex and exhaustive methods.The results revealed that the localization obtained using the proposed method is more stable and can be effectively avoided compared with the simplex localization method.Furthermore,compared with the global scanning method,the proposed method is more efficient,with an average time of 10%–20%of the global scanning localization algorithm.Thus,the proposed algorithm is of great significance for laboratory research focused on locating rupture damages sustained by large-sized rock masses or test blocks.

Algorithm of automatic identification of diabetic retinopathy foci based on ultra-widefield scanning laser ophthalmoscopy

AIM:To propose an algorithm for automatic detection of diabetic retinopathy(DR)lesions based on ultra-widefield scanning laser ophthalmoscopy(SLO).METHODS:The algorithm utilized the FasterRCNN(Faster Regions with CNN features)+ResNet50(Residua Network 50)+FPN(Feature Pyramid Networks)method for detecting hemorrhagic spots,cotton wool spots,exudates,and microaneurysms in DR ultra-widefield SLO.Subimage segmentation combined with a deeper residual network FasterRCNN+ResNet50 was employed for feature extraction to enhance intelligent learning rate.Feature fusion was carried out by the feature pyramid network FPN,which significantly improved lesion detection rates in SLO fundus images.RESULTS:By analyzing 1076 ultra-widefield SLO images provided by our hospital,with a resolution of 2600×2048 dpi,the accuracy rates for hemorrhagic spots,cotton wool spots,exudates,and microaneurysms were found to be 87.23%,83.57%,86.75%,and 54.94%,respectively.CONCLUSION:The proposed algorithm demonstrates intelligent detection of DR lesions in ultra-widefield SLO,providing significant advantages over traditional fundus color imaging intelligent diagnosis algorithms.

Phase behavior of gas condensate in porous media using real-time computed tomography scanning

The phase behavior of gas condensate in reservoir formations differs from that in pressure-volume-temperature(PVT)cells because it is influenced by porous media in the reservoir formations.Sandstone was used as a sample to investigate the influence of porous media on the phase behavior of the gas condensate.The pore structure was first analyzed using computed tomography(CT)scanning,digital core technology,and a pore network model.The sandstone core sample was then saturated with gas condensate for the pressure depletion experiment.After each pressure-depletion state was stable,realtime CT scanning was performed on the sample.The scanning results of the sample were reconstructed into three-dimensional grayscale images,and the gas condensate and condensate liquid were segmented based on gray value discrepancy to dynamically characterize the phase behavior of the gas condensate in porous media.Pore network models of the condensate liquid ganglia under different pressures were built to calculate the characteristic parameters,including the average radius,coordination number,and tortuosity,and to analyze the changing mechanism caused by the phase behavior change of the gas condensate.Four types of condensate liquid(clustered,branched,membranous,and droplet ganglia)were then classified by shape factor and Euler number to investigate their morphological changes dynamically and elaborately.The results show that the dew point pressure of the gas condensate in porous media is 12.7 MPa,which is 0.7 MPa higher than 12.0 MPa in PVT cells.The average radius,volume,and coordination number of the condensate liquid ganglia increased when the system pressure was between the dew point pressure(12.7 MPa)and the pressure for the maximum liquid dropout,Pmax(10.0 MPa),and decreased when it was below Pmax.The volume proportion of clustered ganglia was the highest,followed by branched,membranous,and droplet ganglia.This study provides crucial experimental evidence for the phase behavior changing process of gas condensate in porous media during the depletion production of gas condensate reservoirs.

Tree species identity and interaction determine vertical forest structure in young planted forests measured by terrestrial laser scanning

Vertical forest structure is closely linked to multiple ecosystem characteristics,such as biodiversity,habitat,and productivity.Mixing tree species in planted forests has the potential to create diverse vertical forest structures due to the different physiological and morphological traits of the composing tree species.However,the relative importance of species richness,species identity and species interactions for the variation in vertical forest structure remains unclear,mainly because traditional forest inventories do not observe vertical stand structure in detail.Terrestrial laser scanning(TLS),however,allows to study vertical forest structure in an unprecedented way.Therefore,we used TLS single scan data from 126 plots across three experimental planted forests of a largescale tree diversity experiment in Belgium to study the drivers of vertical forest structure.These plots were 9–11years old young pure and mixed forests,characterized by four levels of tree species richness ranging from monocultures to four-species mixtures,across twenty composition levels.We generated vertical plant profiles from the TLS data and derived six stand structural variables.Linear mixed models were used to test the effect of species richness on structural variables.Employing a hierarchical diversity interaction modelling framework,we further assessed species identity effect and various species interaction effects on the six stand structural variables.Our results showed that species richness did not significantly influence most of the stand structure variables,except for canopy height and foliage height diversity.Species identity on the other hand exhibited a significant impact on vertical forest structure across all sites.Species interaction effects were observed to be site-dependent due to varying site conditions and species pools,and rapidly growing tree species tend to dominate these interactions.Overall,our results highlighted the importance of considering both species identity and interaction effects in choosing suitable species combinations for forest management practices aimed at enhancing vertical forest structure.

Surface evolution of thermoelectric material KCu_(4)Se_(3) explored by scanning tunneling microscopy

Novel two-dimensional thermoelectric materials have attracted significant attention in the field of thermoelectric due to their low lattice thermal conductivity.A comprehensive understanding of their microscopic structures is crucial for driving further the optimization of materials properties and developing novel functional materials.Here,by using in situ scanning tunneling microscopy,we report the atomic layer evolution and surface reconstruction on the cleaved thermoelectric material KCu_(4)Se_(3) for the first time.We clearly revealed each atomic layer,including the naturally cleaved K atomic layer,the intermediate Se^(2-)atomic layer,and the Se^(-)atomic layer that emerges in the thermodynamic-stable state.Departing from the maj ority of studies that predominantly concentrate on macroscopic measurements of the charge transport,our results reveal the coexistence of potassium disorder and complex reconstructed patterns of selenium,which potentially influences charge carrier and lattice dynamics.These results provide direct insight into the surface microstructures and evolution of KCu_(4)Se_(3),and shed useful light on designing functional materials with superior performance.

Optical scanning endoscope via a single multimode optical fiber

Optical endoscopy has become an essential diagnostic and therapeutic approach in modern biomedicine for directly observing organs and tissues deep inside the human body,enabling non-invasive,rapid diagnosis and treatment.Optical fiber endoscopy is highly competitive among various endoscopic imaging techniques due to its high flexibility,compact structure,excellent resolution,and resistance to electromagnetic interference.Over the past decade,endoscopes based on a single multimode optical fiber(MMF)have attracted widespread research interest due to their potential to significantly reduce the footprint of optical fiber endoscopes and enhance imaging capabilities.In comparison with other imaging principles of MMF endoscopes,the scanning imaging method based on the wavefront shaping technique is highly developed and provides benefits including excellent imaging contrast,broad applicability to complex imaging scenarios,and good compatibility with various well-established scanning imaging modalities.In this review,various technical routes to achieve light focusing through MMF and procedures to conduct the scanning imaging of MMF endoscopes are introduced.The advancements in imaging performance enhancements,integrations of various imaging modalities with MMF scanning endoscopes,and applications are summarized.Challenges specific to this endoscopic imaging technology are analyzed,and potential remedies and avenues for future developments are discussed.

A landslide monitoring method using data from unmanned aerial vehicle and terrestrial laser scanning with insufficient and inaccurate ground control points

Non-contact remote sensing techniques,such as terrestrial laser scanning(TLS)and unmanned aerial vehicle(UAV)photogrammetry,have been globally applied for landslide monitoring in high and steep mountainous areas.These techniques acquire terrain data and enable ground deformation monitoring.However,practical application of these technologies still faces many difficulties due to complex terrain,limited access and dense vegetation.For instance,monitoring high and steep slopes can obstruct the TLS sightline,and the accuracy of the UAV model may be compromised by absence of ground control points(GCPs).This paper proposes a TLS-and UAV-based method for monitoring landslide deformation in high mountain valleys using traditional real-time kinematics(RTK)-based control points(RCPs),low-precision TLS-based control points(TCPs)and assumed control points(ACPs)to achieve high-precision surface deformation analysis under obstructed vision and impassable conditions.The effects of GCP accuracy,GCP quantity and automatic tie point(ATP)quantity on the accuracy of UAV modeling and surface deformation analysis were comprehensively analyzed.The results show that,the proposed method allows for the monitoring accuracy of landslides to exceed the accuracy of the GCPs themselves by adding additional low-accuracy GCPs.The proposed method was implemented for monitoring the Xinhua landslide in Baoxing County,China,and was validated against data from multiple sources.

Three-dimensional finite element simulation and reconstruction of jointed rock models using CT scanning and photogrammetry

The geometry of joints has a significant influence on the mechanical properties of rocks.To simplify the curved joint shapes in rocks,the joint shape is usually treated as straight lines or planes in most laboratory experiments and numerical simulations.In this study,the computerized tomography (CT) scanning and photogrammetry were employed to obtain the internal and surface joint structures of a limestone sample,respectively.To describe the joint geometry,the edge detection algorithms and a three-dimensional (3D) matrix mapping method were applied to reconstruct CT-based and photogrammetry-based jointed rock models.For comparison tests,the numerical uniaxial compression tests were conducted on an intact rock sample and a sample with a joint simplified to a plane using the parallel computing method.The results indicate that the mechanical characteristics and failure process of jointed rocks are significantly affected by the geometry of joints.The presence of joints reduces the uniaxial compressive strength (UCS),elastic modulus,and released acoustic emission (AE) energy of rocks by 37%–67%,21%–24%,and 52%–90%,respectively.Compared to the simplified joint sample,the proposed photogrammetry-based numerical model makes the most of the limited geometry information of joints.The UCS,accumulative released AE energy,and elastic modulus of the photogrammetry-based sample were found to be very close to those of the CT-based sample.The UCS value of the simplified joint sample (i.e.38.5 MPa) is much lower than that of the CT-based sample (i.e.72.3 MPa).Additionally,the accumulative released AE energy observed in the simplified joint sample is 3.899 times lower than that observed in the CT-based sample.CT scanning provides a reliable means to visualize the joints in rocks,which can be used to verify the reliability of photogrammetry techniques.The application of the photogrammetry-based sample enables detailed analysis for estimating the mechanical properties of jointed rocks.

Effects of cement content, polypropylene fiber length and dosage on fluidity and mechanical properties of fiber-toughened cemented aeolian sand backfill

Using aeolian sand(AS)for goaf backfilling allows coordination of green mining and AS control.Cemented AS backfill(CASB)exhibits brittle fracture.Polypropylene(PP)fibers are good toughening materials.When the toughening effect of fibers is analyzed,their influence on the slurry conveying performance should also be considered.Additionally,cement affects the interactions among the hydration products,fibers,and aggregates.In this study,the effects of cement content(8wt%,9wt%,and 10wt%)and PP fiber length(6,9,and 12 mm)and dosage(0.05wt%,0.1wt%,0.15wt%,0.2wt%,and 0.25wt%)on fluidity and mechanical properties of the fibertoughened CASB(FCASB)were analyzed.The results indicated that with increases in the three aforementioned factors,the slump flow decreased,while the rheological parameters increased.Uniaxial compressive strength(UCS)increased with the increase of cement content and fiber length,and with an increase in fiber dosage,it first increased and then decreased.The strain increased with the increase of fiber dosage and length.The effect of PP fibers became more pronounced with the increase of cement content.Digital image correlation(DIC)test results showed that the addition of fibers can restrain the peeling of blocks and the expansion of fissure,and reduce the stress concentration of the FCASB.Scanning electron microscopy(SEM)test indicated that the functional mechanisms of fibers mainly involved the interactions of fibers with the hydration products and matrix and the spatial distribution of fibers.On the basis of single-factor analysis,the response surface method(RSM)was used to analyze the effects of the three aforementioned factors and their interaction terms on the UCS.The influence surface of the two-factor interaction terms and the three-dimensional scatter plot of the three-factor coupling were established.In conclusion,the response law of the FCASB properties under the effects of cement and PP fibers were obtained,which provides theoretical and engineering guidance for FCASB filling.

Acousto-optic scanning spatial-switching multiphoton lithography

Nano-3D printing has obtained widespread attention owing to its capacity to manufacture end-use components with nano-scale features in recent years.Multiphoton lithography(MPL)is one of the most promising 3D nanomanufacturing technologies,which has been widely used in manufacturing micro-optics,photonic crystals,microfluidics,meta-surface,and mechanical metamaterials.Despite of tremendous potential of MPL in laboratorial and industrial applications,simultaneous achievement of high throughput,high accuracy,high design freedom,and a broad range of material structuring capabilities remains a long-pending challenge.To address the issue,we propose an acousto-optic scanning with spatial-switching multispots(AOSS)method.Inertia-free acousto-optic scanning and nonlinear swept techniques have been developed for achieving ultrahigh-speed and aberration-free scanning.Moreover,a spatial optical switch concept has been implemented to significantly boost the lithography throughput while maintaining high resolution and high design freedom.An eight-foci AOSS system has demonstrated a record-high 3D printing rate of 7.6×10^(7)voxel s^(-1),which is nearly one order of magnitude higher than earlier scanning MPL,exhibiting its promise for future scalable 3D nanomanufacturing.

In situ observation of the dissolution kinetics of Al_(2)O_(3) particles in CaO–Al_(2)O_(3)–SiO_(2) slags using laser confocal scanning microscopy

The dissolution kinetics of Al_(2)O_(3) in CaO-Al_(2)O_(3) SiOslags was studied using a high-temperature confocal scanning laser microscope at 1773 to 1873 K.The results show that the controlling step during the Al_(2)O_(3) dissolution was the diffusionin molten slag.It was found that the dissolution curves of Al_(2)O_(3) particles were hardly agreed with the traditional boundary layer diffusion model with the increase of the CaO/Al_(2)O_(3) ratio of slag.A modified diffusion equation considering slag viscosity was developed to study the dissolution mechanism of Al_(2)O_(3) in slag.Diffusion coefficients of Al_(2)O_(3) in slag were calculated as 2.8×10to 4.1×10m~2/s at the temperature of 1773-1873 K.The dissolution rate of Al_(2)O_(3) increased with higher temperature,CaO/Al_(2)O_(3),and particle size.A new model was shown to be v_(Al_(2)O_(3))=0.16×r_(0)^(1.58)×x^(3.52)×(T-T_(mp))^(1.11)to predict the dissolution rate and the total dissolution time of Al_(2)O_(3) inclusions with various sizes,where vAl_(2)O_(3) is the dissolution rate of Al_(2)O_(3) in volume,μm^(3)/s;x is the value of CaO/Al_(2)O_(3) mass ratio;R_(0) is the initial radius of Al_(2)O_(3),μm;T is the temperature,K;T_(mp) is the melting point of slag,K.