Clinical and Dosimetric Implications of Air Gaps between Bolus and Skin Surface during Radiation Therapy

Purpose: The main objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of air gaps of 0 - 5.0 cm between bolus and skin for 1.0 cm Superflab bolus on surface dose (DSurf) and depth of maximum dose (dmax) in solid water and Rando? phantoms. Methods: In this work, the effects of bolus to surface distance on DSurf and variation in dmax were analyzed in a solid water phantom and in an anthropomorphic Rando? phantom for different field sizes, using Gafchromic? EBT films and farmer chamber. Results: For field sizes of 5 × 5 cm2 the DSurf is significantly affected by increasing air gaps greater than 5 mm. For field sizes larger than 10 × 10 cm2, DSurf is nearly the same for air gaps of 0 - 5.0 cm. For small fields and 6 MV photon beam, dmax increases with increasing air gap, while for 10 MV beam and smaller field sizes (i.e. 5 × 5 and 10 × 10 cm2) the dmax first decreases and then increases with the air gaps. For both 3DCRT and IMRT plans on Rando?, DSurf reduction is more prominent with increasing air gaps. Conclusion: For field sizes larger than 10 × 10 cm2 DSurf is largely unaffected by air gaps. However, smaller air gap results in shallower dmax for both 6 MV and 10 MV photon beams at all fields sizes. Special consideration should be taken to reduce air gaps between bolus and skin for field sizes smaller than 10 × 10 cm2 or when surface contour variations are greater or when the bolus covers small area and at the border of the field.

Developing Theoretical Relativistic Framework for Research in Open and Flexible Learning： A New Trend in Educational Research

The purpose of research study was to develop a theoretical relativistic framework for research in open and flexible learning environment because it is a new dimension in the field of education. Developing a theoretical relativistic framework for any research study is first and prime step in walking on the track to reach the distinction set by the researcher. Open and flexible learning is a new trend in education, enriched with ICT-use as a basic demand of the 21st century generation in all parts of the globe. So, it requires a theoretical framework for its initiation, implementation, development and evaluation which is relatively developed and advanced from the existing framework. In any research study the literature review is carried out in order to develop, build or construct a theoretical framework. The researcher of the study has observed while attending the international conference on ODL （AAOU, 2013） that most of the studies require theoretical underpinning for ICT-use in education. The researcher assume that being a new trend in education to use ICT for teaching learning purpose; it requires conceptual clarity and theoretical background of the user and researcher, because, without theory the practice is wastage of money, time and energy and it becomes ineffective and requires relatively new conceptual development. So, the problem stated by the researcher for the study was： Developing theoretical relativistic framework for research in open and flexible learning： A new trend in educational research. The objective of the study was integrating the interrelated concepts to build a pnemonological network for identifying the constructs in ICT-rich open and flexible learning environment. The study was significant because it provided theoretical background for conducting research in ICT-use for teaching and learning through open and flexible systems; whether blended or online learning and training. The methodology used by the researcher was qualitative and interpretive because there were reviewing of literature and meta-analysis for building the framework. The data were analyzed and interpreted by the researcher for the findings and drawing conclusions. On the basis of conclusions the researcher has made suggestions and recommendations for conducting research in open and flexible learning environment by using this theoretical relativistic framework. The framework was named as Virtual Learning Environment Framework （VLEF）.

Cost Effective Scheme for OLT in Next Generation Passive Optical Access Network Based on Noise Free Optical Multi Carrier

We propos e a cos t-effective multi-carrier generation technique which minimizes the passive optical access network(PON) costs. In this study replacement of laser array with multi-carrier source at optical line terminal(OLT) side in PON is addressed. With 25-GHz frequency spacing, the generated optical multi-carriers exhibit good tone to noise ratio(TNR) i. e. above 20 d B, and least amplitude difference i. e. 1.5d B. At the OLT, multi-carriers signal based multiplexed differential phase shift keying(DPSK) data from all the channels each having 10 Gbps for downlink is transmitted through 25 km single mode fiber. While the transmitted information is retrieved at optical network unit(ONU), part of the downlink signal is re-modulated using intensity modulated(IM) on-off keying(OOK) for upstream transmission at 10-Gbps. Simulation results are in good agreement with the theoretical analysis, showing error free transmission in downlink and uplink with 10 Gbps symmetric data rate at each channel. The receivedpower, both for uplink and downlink transmission, is adequate for all channels at BER of 10-9 with minimum power penalties. Power budget is calculated for different splitting ratios showing excellent system margins for any unseen losses. The proposed setup provides a cost-effective way minimizing transmission losses, and providing greater system's margin in PON architecture.

Colorless WDM-PON Using Single Side Band Carrier Suppressed Signals Mitigating Carrier Rayleigh Backscattering

A new scheme is offered for minimizing carrier Rayleigh backscattering(CRB) in single feeder fiber based wavelength division multiplexed passive optical network(WDM-PON). The proposed scheme is based on single side band carrier suppressed(SSBCS) signal, both at network and receiver sides, used for the first time at optical line terminal(OLT) and optical network unit(ONU) sides. We use dual-drive Mach-zehnder modulator(DD-MZM) for generating SSB-CS signals, which decreases the expense per bit in full transmission. SSB-CS mitigates CRB, both at OLT and ONU sides, because of having no chance of reflections from the carrier. Since no extra dedicated RF or laser source is used at ONU side, we thus achieve cost effective colorless WDM-PON system. Suppressed signals from four channels, each of 10 Gbps, are multiplexed before injecting into the fiber span of 25 km at OLT. At ONU side, half of the downlink power is used for re-modulating the data signal. The simulation results show an errorfree transmission. Moreover, the detailed power budget calculations show that the proposed scheme can be sought out for splitting ratio up to 128. Hence it offers enough system's margin for unseen losses.

Impairments Approximations in Assembled mmWave and Radio Over Fiber Network

The fiber nonlinearity and phase noise(PN)are the focused impairments in the optical communication system,induced by high-capacity transmission and high laser input power.The channels include high-capacity transmissions that cannot be achieved at the end side without aliasing because of fiber nonlinearity and PN impairments.Thus,addressing of these distortions is the basic objective for the 5G mobile network.In this paper,the fiber nonlinearity and PN are investigated using the assembled methodology of millimeter-wave and radio over fiber(mmWave-RoF).The analytical model is designed in terms of outage probability for the proposed mmWave-RoF system.The performance of mmWave-RoF against fiber nonlinearity and PN is studied for input power,output power and length using peak to average power ratio(PAPR)and bit error rate(BER)measuring parameters.The simulation outcomes present that the impacts of fiber nonlinearity and PNcan be balanced for a huge capacity mmWave-RoF model applying input power carefully.

Emerging Factors Affecting Blended Learning in Virtual Learning Environment Framework （VLEF）

The classical definition of learning is： change and modification of behavior as a result of experience, training, and practice. In modem technological world; this definition has been changed and modified to include the changes and modification in behavior as a result of experience, training, and practice by using modem toolkits and metacognition for self-regulated, lifelong, open, flexible, and continuous learning in Virtual Learning Environment Framework （VLEF）. The classical factors of learning included： motivation, attitude, interest, attention, readiness, participation, and reinforcement. But, due to the modem toolkits, gadgets, and ICT technologies, there are new varieties in modes of presentations and instructions. The emerging learning factors to be integrated and blended include： multimedia, hypermedia, and multimodality. The researcher has intended to identify the gap in the existing literature for the inclusion of new emerging factors such as multimedia, hypermedia, and multimodal presentations. The purpose of the study was to identify the gap in the factors of learning for learning blend in this era of science and technology, especially, in the ICT-integrated form of blended learning. The methodology of the study was analysis and synthesis of literature in the form of reviewing literature for developing a model of blended leaning. The study is significant because it has filled the gap in factors of learning for making it blended in VLEF. The factors were analyzed and synthesized in the form of a model. The findings were summarized for drawing conclusion, and at the end there were made some suggestions and recommendations for blended learning environments.

A novel symmetric 10 Gbit/s architecture with a single feeder fiber for WDM-PON based on chirp-managed laser

We propose the single feeder fiber architecture for wavelength division multiplexing passive optical network(WDM-PON)based on directly modulated chirp managed laser(CML).The downlink(DL)signal output from the laser is converted to return-to-zero(RZ)differential phase shift signal using a pulse carver.The downstream signal is reused as a carrier for the upstream using intensity modulation technique.Simulation results show the error-free performance at symmetric data rate of 10 Gbit/s per channel with negligible power penalty and improved receiver sensitivity for the uplink(UL),over 25 km standard single-mode fiber(SSMF).A low-cost and reduced circuitry network design is implemented on a single feeder fiber with the elimination of differential encoder and one external modulator.

A novel duplex WDM-PON with DPSK modulated downstream and re-modulation of the downlink signal for OOK upstream

We experimentally demonstrate and analyze a 10 Gbit/s full duplex wavelength division multiplexing passive optical net- work （WDM-PON） system. A non-return-to-zero differential phase shift keying （NRZ-DPSK） modulation technique is first utilized for downlink direction, and then the downlink signal is re-modulated for the uplink direction using intensity modulation technique of on-off keying （0OK） with a data rate of 10 Gbit/s per channel. An effective colorless WDM-PON full duplex transmission system is achieved for the data rate of 10 Gbit/s per channel with a channel spacing of 60 GHz over the distance of 25 km with low power penalty.

Power budget analysis of dual/single feeder fiber WDMPON

This paper investigates how to reduce the cost of wavelength division multiplexing passive optical network(WDMPON) by comparing the transmission performance of bidirectional single feeder fiber and dual feeder fiber. Comparison is performed on the basis of power budgeting and cost of both arrangements. Simulation results using Optisystem show that the performance of a single feeder fiber is almost equivalent to that of a dual feeder fiber. Therefore, the single feeder fiber WDM-PON can efficiently replace the dual feeder fiber WDM-PON with the minimum deterioration in system performance and reduction in cost.

An AWG-based 10 Gbit/s colorless WDM-PON system using a chirp-managed directly modulated laser

We propose an arrayed waveguide grating(AWG)-based 10 Gbit/s per channel full duplex wavelength division multiplexing passive optical network(WDM-PON).A chirp managed directly modulated laser with return-to-zero(RZ) differential phase shift keying(DPSK) modulation technique is utilized for downlink(DL) direction,and then the downlink signal is re-modulated for the uplink(UL) direction using intensity modulation technique with the data rate of 10 Gbit/s per channel.A successful WDM-PON transmission operation with the data rate of 10 Gbit/s per channel over a distance of 25 km without any optical amplification or dispersion compensation is demonstrated with low power penalty.

Rayleigh backscattering minimization in single fiber colorless WDM-PON using intensity remodulation technique

The performance of colorless wavelength-division multiplexed passive optical network(WDM-PON) systems suffers from the transmission impairments mainly due to Rayleigh backscattering(RB).In this paper,we propose and demonstrate a single fiber colorless WDM-PON which enhances the tolerance to RB induced noise.The high extinction ratio in both return-to-zero(RZ)-shaped differential phase shift keying(DPSK) downstream(DS) data signal and intensity-remodulated upstream(US) data signal helps to improve the tolerance to RB induced noise.Simulation results show that downstream and upstream signals can achieve error-free performance at 10 Gbit/s with negligible penalty and improve the tolerance to RB induced noise over 25 km standard single-mode fiber.