Commissioning of TrueBeamTM Medical Linear Accelerator: Quantitative and Qualitative Dosimetric Analysis and Comparison of Flattening Filter (FF) and Flattening Filter Free (FFF) Beam

Motive of the study is to present quantitative and qualitative analysis and comparison of beam data measurement with FF (flattening filter) and FFF (flattening filter free) beam in a Varian TrueBeamTM Medical Linear Accelerator. Critique of beam characterization and evolution of dosimetric properties for 6 MV, 10 MV, 15 MV FF beam and 6 MVFFF, 10 MVFFF FFF beam has been carried out. We performed the comparison of photon beam data for two standard FF photon energy 6 MV, 10 MV verses 6 MVFFF, and 10 MVFFF FFF beam. Determination and comparison of parameter involved PDD (Percentage depth dose), Depth dose profile, Symmetry, Flatness, Quality index, Relative output factor, Penumbra, Transmission factor, DLG (Dosimetric leaf gap), in addition to degree of Un-flatness and off-axis ratio of FFF beam. Outcomes of presenting study had shown that change of various parameters such as Percentage depth dose curves, Shape of the depth dose profile, Transmission, Value of quality index and significant rise in surface dose for FFF in comparison with FF beam. Differences in the output factor at lower and higher field sizes for FFF beam compared to that of FF beam were found. The maximum output factor deviation between 6 MV and 6 MVFFF was found to be 4.55%, whereas in 10 MV and 10 MVFFF was 5.71%. Beam quality TPR20/10 for FFF beam was found to be lesser in magnitude, 5.42% for 6 MVFFF whereas 4.50% for 10 MVFFF compared to 6 MV and 10 MV FF beam respectively. Jaw transmission and interleaf leakage for FFF beam were found to be lesser than FF beam. Also DLG for FFF beam was found to be lesser in magnitude comparable to that of flattened beam. This study is mainly inclined towards evaluation and comparison of the FF and FFF beam. It has been observed that, the outcome of a commissioning beam data generation fully complies with vendor specification and published literature.

Contribution of CRUST2. 0 components to the tri-axiality of the Earth and equatorial flattening of the core

Equatorial flattening of the core were previously estimated to be 5 × 10^-4 by using seismically derived density anomaly, and 1. 7748280× 10^-5 by assuming that the ratio of polar flattening to equatorial flattening of the core is the same as that of the whole Earth. In this study, we attempted to explain the difference by applying a density-contrast stripping process to the crust in the second method. We use the CRUST2. 0 model to estimate the inertia-moment contribution resulted from the density-contrast structure in the crust to a tri-axial Earth. The contribution of the density contrast in the crust was removed layer by layer. The layers include topography, bathymetry, ice, soft sediment, hard sediment, upper crust, middle crust, lower crust and the reference crust. For the boundaries of the topography and bathymetry layers, we used ETOPO5 values with a resolution of 5＇. For boundaries of other layers, we used values from the CRUST2. 0 model with a resolution of 2~. After the contribution of density contrast is stripped, the equatorial flattening of the core was found to be 6. 544× 10 ^-5, which is still one order of magnitude smaller than the result given by the first method. This suggests that at least one of the methods is not correct. The influence of the uncertainty in the equatorial flattening of the core on the Free Core Nutation frequency is small, but its effect on the gravitational torque acting on the tri-axial inner core cannot be ignored. So an accurate determination of the equatorial flattening of the core is still necessary.

Analysis of Collapse in Flattening a Micro-grooved Heat Pipe by Lateral Compression

The collapse of thin-walled micro-grooved heat pipes is a common phenomenon in the tube flattening process, which seriously influences the heat transfer performance and appearance of heat pipe. At present, there is no other better method to solve this problem. A new method by heating the heat pipe is proposed to eliminate the collapse during the flattening process. The effectiveness of the proposed method is investigated through a theoretical model, a finite element（FE） analysis, and experimental method. Firstly, A theoretical model based on a deformation model of six plastic hinges and the Antoine equation of the working fluid is established to analyze the collapse of thin walls at different temperatures. Then, the FE simulation and experiments of flattening process at different temperatures are carried out and compared with theoretical model. Finally, the FE model is followed to study the loads of the plates at different temperatures and heights of flattened heat pipes. The results of the theoretical model conform to those of the FE simulation and experiments in the flattened zone. The collapse occurs at room temperature. As the temperature increases, the collapse decreases and finally disappears at approximately 130 ℃ for various heights of flattened heat pipes. The loads of the moving plate increase as the temperature increases. Thus, the reasonable temperature for eliminating the collapse and reducing the load is approximately 130℃. The advantage of the proposed method is that the collapse is reduced or eliminated by means of the thermal deformation characteristic of heat pipe itself instead of by external support. As a result, the heat transfer efficiency of heat pipe is raised.

VARIATION OF WOVEN FABRIC GEOMETRY——Non-uniform Flattening of Yarns

In previous research much effort has been devoted to the geometry of woven fabrics and relat-ed problems under the assumption of constant yarn configuration in fabric.This paper will first re-port that image crimp (yarn crimp measured by an image analysis method) seems larger than actualvalue.From the explanation of this result,the variation of yarn configuration in woven fabric dueto the non-uniform flattening is revealed.The significance of this actual structure of woven fabricsis discussed.It is believed that the variation of yarn configuration is very important for fabric per-formance,and may be an advantage for fabric quality.

A comparative study between flattening filter-free beams and flattening filter beams in radiotherapy treatment

Flattening filter-free(FFF) beams generated by medical linear particle accelerators(linacs) have recently been used in radiotherapy clinical practice.FFF beams have fundamental physical parameter differences with respect to standard flattening filter(FF) beams,such that the generally used dosimetric parameters and definitions are not always viable.This study investigates dosimetric parameters for use in the quality assurance of FFF beams generated by medical linacs in radiotherapy.The main characteristics of the photon beams are analyzed using specific data generated by a Varian True Beam linac having both FFF and FF beams of 6 and 10 MV(megavolt) energy,respectively.Definitions for dose profile parameters are suggested,starting from the renormalization of the FFF with respect to the corresponding FF beam.From this point,the flatness concept is translated into one of "un-flatness",and other definitions are proposed,maintaining a strict parallelism between FFF and FF parameter concepts.The quality controls used in establishing a quality assurance program when introducing FFF beams into the clinical environment are given,maintaining similarity to those used for standard FF beams,and recommendations for the introduction of FFF beams into clinical radiotherapy application for breast cancer patients are provided as an example for comparison between FFF and FF for dose distribution and coverage for a target volume.Although there are many advantages of using a FFF beam,especially for advanced radiotherapy techniques,there are a few limitations(e.g.,using a relatively higher energy photon beam for stereotactic radiotherapy(SRT),limited speed of current multileaf collimators(MLCs),and off-axis distance-dependent modulation in intensitymodulated radiation therapy(IMRT)) as well as challenges(e.g.,criteria for beam quality evaluation and penumbra,establishment of dosimetry methods,and consequences of photon target burn-up) that need to be addressed for establishing the FFF beam as a viable alternative to the FF beam.

A dosimetric evaluation of flattening filter-free volumetric modulated arc therapy for postoperative treatment of cervical cancer

Objective The aim of the study was to compare flattening filter-free(FFF) beams and conventional flattening filter(FF) beams in volumetric modulated arc therapy(VMAT) for cervical cancer after surgery, through a retrospective planning study.Methods VMAT plans of FFF beams and normal FF beams were designed for a cohort of 15 patients. The prescribed dose was 45 Gy to 1.8 Gy per fraction, and at least 95% of the planning target volume received this dose. Doses were computed with a commercially available treatment planning system using a Monte Carlo(MC) algorithm. Plans were compared according to dose-volume histogram analysis in terms of planning target volume homogeneity and conformity indices(HI and CI), as well as organs at risk(OAR) dose and volume parameters. Results FFF-VMAT was similar to FF-VMAT in terms of CI, but inferior to FF-VMAT considering HI. No statistically differences were observed between FFF-VMAT and FF-VMAT in following organ at risks including pelvic bone marrow, small bowel, bladder, rectum, and normal tissue(NT)..Conclusion For patients with cervical cancer after hysterectomy, the FFF beam achieved target and OAR dose distribution similar to that of the FF beam. Reduction of beam-on time in cervical cancer is beneficial.

Analysis and experiment of cross-section flattening incoreless tube bending

In order to predict the flattening rate of the cross-section accurately during the tube ben- ding, the generation principle, the solution and the influence factor of the cross-section flattening were studied. On the basis of the plane-stress and the assumption that the plastic volume is con- stant, three-dimensionai strain formulas were established in consider of the cross-section flattening. Considering the wail-thickness change, the approximate calculation formulas of short axis flattening rate were deduced, with the outer diameter and the inner diameter as parameters. Because different materials have different cross-section flattening rates, a material correction factor was introduced to modify the formula based on experiments. Finally, the validity of the theoretical formulas was proved according to the calculation and the experiment results, which can provide a reference for the forming quality prediction in tube bending.

Precise calculation of average strain and average strain rate considering roll elastic flattening

Considering roll elastic flattening, new equations were proposed to calculate the average strain ε and average strain rate ε- in the hot strip rolling process. By comparing the proposed equations with currently used equations ,it was observed that the strain rate of thick strip and strain are not sensitive to roll elastic flattening. However,for thin strip, a noticeable calculated difference in the strain rate occurred when roll elastic flattening was considered.

The Physics of Rotational Flattening and the Point Core Model

The effect of rotation on the shape (figure) and gravitational quadrupole of astronomical bodies is calculated by using an approximate point core model: A point mass at the center of an ellipsoidal homogeneous fluid. Maclaurin’s analytical result for homogenous bodies generalizes to this model and leads to very accurate analytical results connecting the three observables: oblateness (ò), gravitational quadrupole (J2), and angular velocity parameter (q). The analytical results are compared to observational data for the planets and a good agreement is found. Oscillations near equilibrium are studied within the model.

Case Report: Anaplastic Astrocytoma Treated with Postoperative Radiotherapy Using Flattening Filter-Free Volumetric Arc Therapy (FFF-VMAT) during Pregnancy—Acceptable Fetal Dosimetry

Background: Postoperative irradiation for brain tumor in pregnant women is a matter of concern. Aim: We aimed to assess the safety of radiotherapy for brain tumors in pregnancy. We here report a successful treatment for anaplastic astrocytoma during pregnancy: surgery + postoperative irradiation. We wish to emphasize how we devised irradiation procedure to achieve both therapeutic effectiveness and safety to the fetus/infant. Case Presentation: A 34-year-old pregnant woman suffered with brain anaplastic astrocytoma. Tumor resection under craniotomy was performed with success. We decided to conduct postoperative radiotherapy at 25 weeks of gestation to reduce the risk of recurrence. We used a flattening filter-free volumetric arc therapy (FFF-VMAT) technique, which can achieve lower out-of-field dose than VMAT with a flattening filter or helical tomotherapy. We prescribed 60 Gy over 30 fractions. During actual beam delivery, surface and rectal dose to the patient (mother) were measured. The total fetal dose was estimated at 0.006 - 0.018 Gy, which is under the threshold set by the ICRP. A male healthy infant was born vaginally at the 37th week of pregnancy. The patient (mother) and the infant are healthy at the time of writing. Conclusion: FFF-VMAT is a good choice for brain tumors during pregnancy.

Assessment of Monitor Units and Gamma Pass Rate for 6 MV and Flattening Filter Free (FFF) Beams in Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT)

Background: In linear accelerators, the treatment field’s uniform intensity is achieved by including a flattening filter in the beam. However, to produce more conformal dose distributions, contemporary radiotherapy practice now frequently uses fluence and aperture modifying techniques, such as volumetric modulated arc therapy. In these circumstances, the flattening filter in the beam manufacturing process is no longer required. It is therefore necessary to compare the monitor units of 6 MV and flattening filter free plans and how it influences the gamma pass rates to determine which is best for treating cervical cancer with pelvic lymph node metastasis. Methods: VMAT plans for fifteen patients with cervical cancer with pathological pelvic lymph node metastasis were included in this study. Each patient had two VMAT plans using conventional 6 MV beam with flattening filter and one with flattening filter free beam (FFF). The VMAT plans were made using two arcs, and then recalculated to give the planned dose distribution to the detectors in a Delta4 phantom. The VMAT plans were irradiated on the Delta4 phantom using an Elekta linear accelerator (6 MV). Results: The mean monitor unit for the 6 MV plans was 506.3 MU and a standard deviation of 48.6 while that of the FFF plans had a mean MU of 701.5 with a standard deviation of 87.6. The total monitor units (MUs) for the FFF plans were significantly greater than the 6 MV plans (p = 6.1 × 10-5). Conclusion: Flattening filter free (FFF) plans require more numbers of monitor units in comparison to conventional 6 MV filtered beams for external radiation of cervical cancer with pelvic lymph nodes involvement.

FLATTENING TIPS

有了Adobe Creative Suite，你可以设计出有着很棒的透明度效果的图片的版面。不过，正如阿拉斯泰尔·戴伯斯所说，要正确地输出它们就有点困难了，就像是场恶梦。

Roll Flattening Analytical Model in Flat Rolling by Boundary Integral Equation Method

In order to improve rolled strip quality, precise plate shape control theory should be established. Roll flat- tening theory is an important part of the plate shape theory. To improve the accuracy of roll flattening calculation based on semi infinite body model, especially near the two roll barrel edges, a new and more accurate roll flattening model is proposed. Based on boundary integral equation method, an analytical model for solving a finite length semi infinite body is established. The lateral surface displacement field of the finite length semi-infinite body is simulated by finite element method （FEM） and lateral surface displacement decay functions are established. Based on the boundary integral equation method, the numerical solution of the finite length semi-infinite body under the distribu ted force is obtained and an accurate roll flattening model is established. Different from the traditional semi-infinite body model, the matrix form of the new roll flattening model is established through the mathematical derivation. The result from the new model is more consistent with that by FEM especially near the edges.

Study on deformation mechanism of Ti-2Al-2.5Zr alloy tube in the flattening test

The flattening test,using one pair paralleled plates to flatten tube structure radially,is generally employed to examine the ductility of tube used in once through steam generator(OTSG).This study focuses on the stress condition and deformation mechanism analysis on the concentrated stress regions of Ti-2 Al-2.5 Zr alloy tube during the flattening test.Firstly,the finite element analysis was performed using the commercial software ABAQUS to determine the stress condition.Secondly,the Electron BackScattered Diffraction(EBSD)was implemented to observe the microstructure evolution of Ti-2 Al-2.5 Zr alloy.Finally,Schmid law was employed to analyze the activated deformation mechanism under condition of the complex stress.It was found that the condition of the complex stress in stress concentration regions,including tension and compression regions,can be simplified into two directional stresses condition.In grains whose c-axis is nearly towards TD and ND,the strain is mainly accommodated by prismatic slip,whereas in grains whose c-axis deviates about 45°from ND to TD mainly by basal slip.The{10-12}extensive twin and corresponding parent grain orientation mainly relied on the stress condition.Additionally,the intergranular twin pairs connected at common grain boundaries(GBs)with high strain compatibility were found at low angle GBs,which were activated under a combination of macro stress and strain compatibility effect.

Accurate Gain Flattening Filters Manufactured by Optical Compensation Monitoring Method

GFFs with less than 0.4 dB peak-to-peak error functions are routinely fabricated using commercially available coating machines by utilizing the natural error compensation mechanism of wavelength variable turning point optical monitoring method.

Dual occupations of sulfur induced band flattening and chemical bond softening in p-type S_(y)Co_(4)Sb_(12-2y)S_(2y) skutterudites

The electronegative filling in skutterudites not only broadened the scope of filling atoms,but also facilitated the preparation of p-type skutterudites.However,the introduction of a single sulfur atom in the Co_(4)Sb_(12) cannot be achieved without charge compensation through the traditional equilibrium method.In the present study,the dual occupations of S-atoms by self-charge compensation were shown as the most stable forms under high pressure,and a series of p-type S_(y)Co_(4)Sb_(12-2y)S_(2y) skutterudites was successfully prepared by high-pressure-high-temperature(HPHT)method.The electronic structures and transport properties of as-obtained materials were investigated,and the related mechanisms were explored.The results suggested that the presence of S-impurities led to flattening of the electronic band that led to a higher Seebeck coefficient.The S-doped Co_(4)Sb_(12) displayed lower elastic modulus,elastic constant,and Debye temperature,thus indicating the chemical bond softening in skutterudites.The thermal conductivities of S_(y)Co_(4)Sb_(12-2y)S_(2y) compounds reduced monotonously with the increase in Scontent.This study provides a new and promising avenue for optimizing the thermoelectric properties of p-type Co_(4)Sb_(12).

Gain Flattening Filter for Hybrid Sb-Doped EDFA Using All-Fiber Mach-Zehnder Interferometers

We demonstrate a novel gain-flattening filter based on all fiber Mach-Zehnder interferometers for Sb-doped silica hybrid EDFA. A gain flatness of better than 0.9dB has been achieved for three concatenated filters in C-band.

Simplified Weighted Velocity Field for Prediction of Hot Strip Rolling Force by Taking into Account Flattening of Rolls

The weighted velocity field was simplified for analysis of hot strip rolling. Using the field and GM （geometric midline） yield criterion, the deformation power, friction power and shear power were obtained respectively. Summing the partial power contributions, the total deformation power for strip rolling was presented. Then, by minimizing the power function, the rolling force was obtained; meanwhile, considering the effect of roll elastic flattening, iterative calculation of the roll radius was carried out until the radius was convergent. On line data were corn pared with the calculated results to verify the model accuracy. It was indicated that the calculated rolling forces were basically in agreement with the measured ones since the maximum error was less than 10.0%. Moreover, the effects of various rolling conditions such as thickness reduction, friction factor and shape factor, upon separating force, location of neutral angle, and stress state coefficient were discussed systematically.

Earth's density flattening and hypothesis of latitudinal normal density

In this paper, the definition of latitudinal density and density flattening of the level ellipsoid is given, and integral formulas of latitudinal density for pole gravity and equator gravity are derived. According to the pole gravity condition and equator gravity condition for the level ellipsoid, latitudinal density distribution function of the level ellipsoid is obtained. It is proved mathematically that latitudinal density of the earth's equator is larger than that of the pole, the earth's density flat-tening calculated preliminarily is 1/322, and hypothesis of the earth's latitudinal normal density is further proposed, so that theoretical preparation for studying the forming cause of the earth gravity in problems such as continent drift, mantle convection, and submarine extension is made well.

Dosimetry Study of High Dose Rate Flattening Filter-Free Radiation on the Protection of Lumbosacral Spine and Pelvic Bone Marrow

Objective This study aimed to analyze the dosimetric parameters of volumetric modulated arc therapy(VMAT) and dynamic multileaf collimator(DMLC) plans with lumbosacral spine(LS) and pelvic bone marrow(PBM) sparing in the flattening filter-free(FFF) model.Methods Thirty patients with cervical cancer were selected for analysis.For each patient,four plans with different strategies were generated:VMAT_FF,VMAT_FFF,DMLC_FF,and DMLC_FFF.Dose volumes for organs at risk,conformity index,heterogeneity index(HI),and total number of machine unit(MU) were compared by paired t-test.Result Compared with plans in the FF model,the irradiated dose to LS significantly decreased both VMAT_FFF and DMLC_FFF plans in the FFF model while the MU increased.The mean dose of LS decreased by 107.2 cGy(P<0.05) in the VMAT_FFF plan.In comparison with the VMAT plans in both models of FF and FFF,the DMLC plans reduced the dose volume of 10 Gy by 5.9%(P<0.05),and the mean dose of LS was 189.6-293.1 cGy.The PBM volume receiving 40 Gy showed a decrease of 0.5%-1.1%(P<0.05) as well.The HI increased in the VMAT plans by approximately 0.053 and 0.039.Conclusion The DMLC plans exhibited the best sparing of the PBM and LS in both FF and FFF models and increased the HI.The plans in the FFF model could limit the volume dose of LS but increase the MU.