Purpose: This study provides a simple protocol for validation of the gamma passing rates and to identify the optimum values of % dose and mm criteria for dose distributions measured with a detector array. Methods: We ...Purpose: This study provides a simple protocol for validation of the gamma passing rates and to identify the optimum values of % dose and mm criteria for dose distributions measured with a detector array. Methods: We chose ArcCHECK detector array to illustrate the concepts. We used plans with uniform or quasi-uniform dose distributions along the detector array for testing in the presence of dose errors. For testing sensitivity to spatial shift we employed a plan with approximately constant dose gradient along the axis of the instrument. Results: We identified a representative set of parameters which describe performance of a detector array. We determined the minimum gamma-index acceptance criteria allowing the passing rates to reach 100% in the absence of errors, and identified the minimum fully detectable errors for such criteria. For our baseline plans delivered to ArcCHECK, 100% passing rates were obtained for 1.5% dose criterion together with ±3% minimum error detectable at 100% rate, and for 1.5 mm criterion together with the minimum fully detectable error of ±3 mm. We inspected the impact of selected program options on the passing rates. Conclusions: The protocol we developed provides a simple method of commissioning-style analysis of a detector array without a need for analysis of a large number of clinical plans.展开更多
The most crucial requirement in radiation therapy treatment planning is a fast and accurate treatment planning system that minimizes damage to healthy tissues surrounding cancer cells. The use of Monte Carlo toolkits ...The most crucial requirement in radiation therapy treatment planning is a fast and accurate treatment planning system that minimizes damage to healthy tissues surrounding cancer cells. The use of Monte Carlo toolkits has become indispensable for research aimed at precisely determining the dose in radiotherapy. Among the numerous algorithms developed in recent years, the GAMOS code, which utilizes the Geant4 toolkit for Monte Carlo simula-tions, incorporates various electromagnetic physics models and multiple scattering models for simulating particle interactions with matter. This makes it a valuable tool for dose calculations in medical applications and throughout the patient’s volume. The aim of this present work aims to vali-date the GAMOS code for the simulation of a 6 MV photon-beam output from the Elekta Synergy Agility linear accelerator. The simulation involves mod-eling the major components of the accelerator head and the interactions of the radiation beam with a homogeneous water phantom and particle information was collected following the modeling of the phase space. This space was po-sitioned under the X and Y jaws, utilizing three electromagnetic physics mod-els of the GAMOS code: Standard, Penelope, and Low-Energy, along with three multiple scattering models: Goudsmit-Saunderson, Urban, and Wentzel-VI. The obtained phase space file was used as a particle source to simulate dose distributions (depth-dose and dose profile) for field sizes of 5 × 5 cm<sup>2</sup> and 10 × 10 cm<sup>2</sup> at depths of 10 cm and 20 cm in a water phantom, with a source-surface distance (SSD) of 90 cm from the target. We compared the three electromagnetic physics models and the three multiple scattering mod-els of the GAMOS code to experimental results. Validation of our results was performed using the gamma index, with an acceptability criterion of 3% for the dose difference (DD) and 3 mm for the distance-to-agreement (DTA). We achieved agreements of 94% and 96%, respectively, between simulation and experimentation for the three electromagnetic physics models and three mul-tiple scattering models, for field sizes of 5 × 5 cm<sup>2</sup> and 10 × 10 cm<sup>2</sup> for depth-dose curves. For dose profile curves, a good agreement of 100% was found between simulation and experimentation for the three electromagnetic physics models, as well as for the three multiple scattering models for a field size of 5 × 5 cm<sup>2</sup> at 10 cm and 20 cm depths. For a field size of 10 × 10 cm<sup>2</sup>, the Penelope model dominated with 98% for 10 cm, along with the three multiple scattering models. The Penelope model and the Standard model, along with the three multiple scattering models, dominated with 100% for 20 cm. Our study, which compared these different GAMOS code models, can be crucial for enhancing the accuracy and quality of radiotherapy, contributing to more effective patient treatment. Our research compares various electro-magnetic physics models and multiple scattering models with experimental measurements, enabling us to choose the models that produce the most reli-able results, thereby directly impacting the quality of simulations. This en-hances confidence in using these models for treatment planning. Our re-search consistently contributes to the progress of Monte Carlo simulation techniques in radiation therapy, enriching the scientific literature.展开更多
The distribution of biodiversity at multiple sites of a region has been traditionally investigated through the additive partitioning of the regional biodiversity, called γ-diversity, into the average within-site biod...The distribution of biodiversity at multiple sites of a region has been traditionally investigated through the additive partitioning of the regional biodiversity, called γ-diversity, into the average within-site biodiversity or α-diversity, and the biodiversity among sites, or β-diversity. The standard additive partitioning of diversity requires the use of a measure of diversity which is a concave function of the relative abundance of species, like the Shannon entropy or the Gini- Simpson index, for instance. When a phylogenetic distance between species is also taken into account, Rao’s quadratic index has been used as a measure of dissimilarity. Rao’s index, however, is not a concave function of the distribution of relative abundance of either individual species or pairs of species and, consequently, only some nonstandard additive partitionings of diversity have been given using this index. The objective of this paper is to show that the weighted quadratic index of biodiversity, a generalization of the weighted Gini-Simpson index to the pairs of species, is a concave function of the joint distribution of the relative abundance of pairs of species and, therefore, may be used in the standard additive partitioning of diversity instead of Rao’s index. The replication property of this new measure is also discussed.展开更多
Background: The effect of repeated blood donation on some biochemical values of healthy adult male blood donors in Calabar, Nigeria was studied. Methods: One hundred and fifty three (153) healthy repeat blood donors a...Background: The effect of repeated blood donation on some biochemical values of healthy adult male blood donors in Calabar, Nigeria was studied. Methods: One hundred and fifty three (153) healthy repeat blood donors and 90 first time blood donors constituted the study population. Samples were analyzed using colorimetric procedures. Results: The BMI values of 24.4 ± 2.4 kg/ m2 in the first time donors was significantly higher than the 21.7 ± 1.7 kg/m2 obtained in repeat donors (P 2 = 0.7934, P Conclusion: A reduction in the values of some lipid profiles and high GGT activity is associated with repeated blood donations in this study population. Repeated blood donation may play a significant role in reducing the incidence of heart disease.展开更多
The natural radioactivity of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K and the fallout of 137Cs in soils and granite rocks of two regions in Yemen (Shabwah and Hadramout) were measured by using gamma-ray spectrometry (HPGe) detector. The ...The natural radioactivity of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K and the fallout of 137Cs in soils and granite rocks of two regions in Yemen (Shabwah and Hadramout) were measured by using gamma-ray spectrometry (HPGe) detector. The average values of the radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in the soil samples are 14.34, 25.78 and 566.05 Bq/kg respectively. For rock samples, the average activity concentration for 226Ra, 232Th and 40K are 45, 106 and 1235 Bq/kg respectively. Low concentration values of 137Cs in soil and rock samples under investigation, are not radiologically important. The radium equivalent activity (Raeq) and external hazard index (Hex) of all samples are less than the limits of 370 Bq·kg-1 and unity, respectively. The average values of total absorbed dose rate due to three primordial radionuclides in soil and rock samples are 46.5 nGy/h and 138.36 nGy/h, respectively, where the absorbed average value of the granite is higher than the permitted limit. So, the local people must avoid using these granite samples as the interior decorative materials of dwelling without radioactivity control.展开更多
文摘Purpose: This study provides a simple protocol for validation of the gamma passing rates and to identify the optimum values of % dose and mm criteria for dose distributions measured with a detector array. Methods: We chose ArcCHECK detector array to illustrate the concepts. We used plans with uniform or quasi-uniform dose distributions along the detector array for testing in the presence of dose errors. For testing sensitivity to spatial shift we employed a plan with approximately constant dose gradient along the axis of the instrument. Results: We identified a representative set of parameters which describe performance of a detector array. We determined the minimum gamma-index acceptance criteria allowing the passing rates to reach 100% in the absence of errors, and identified the minimum fully detectable errors for such criteria. For our baseline plans delivered to ArcCHECK, 100% passing rates were obtained for 1.5% dose criterion together with ±3% minimum error detectable at 100% rate, and for 1.5 mm criterion together with the minimum fully detectable error of ±3 mm. We inspected the impact of selected program options on the passing rates. Conclusions: The protocol we developed provides a simple method of commissioning-style analysis of a detector array without a need for analysis of a large number of clinical plans.
文摘The most crucial requirement in radiation therapy treatment planning is a fast and accurate treatment planning system that minimizes damage to healthy tissues surrounding cancer cells. The use of Monte Carlo toolkits has become indispensable for research aimed at precisely determining the dose in radiotherapy. Among the numerous algorithms developed in recent years, the GAMOS code, which utilizes the Geant4 toolkit for Monte Carlo simula-tions, incorporates various electromagnetic physics models and multiple scattering models for simulating particle interactions with matter. This makes it a valuable tool for dose calculations in medical applications and throughout the patient’s volume. The aim of this present work aims to vali-date the GAMOS code for the simulation of a 6 MV photon-beam output from the Elekta Synergy Agility linear accelerator. The simulation involves mod-eling the major components of the accelerator head and the interactions of the radiation beam with a homogeneous water phantom and particle information was collected following the modeling of the phase space. This space was po-sitioned under the X and Y jaws, utilizing three electromagnetic physics mod-els of the GAMOS code: Standard, Penelope, and Low-Energy, along with three multiple scattering models: Goudsmit-Saunderson, Urban, and Wentzel-VI. The obtained phase space file was used as a particle source to simulate dose distributions (depth-dose and dose profile) for field sizes of 5 × 5 cm<sup>2</sup> and 10 × 10 cm<sup>2</sup> at depths of 10 cm and 20 cm in a water phantom, with a source-surface distance (SSD) of 90 cm from the target. We compared the three electromagnetic physics models and the three multiple scattering mod-els of the GAMOS code to experimental results. Validation of our results was performed using the gamma index, with an acceptability criterion of 3% for the dose difference (DD) and 3 mm for the distance-to-agreement (DTA). We achieved agreements of 94% and 96%, respectively, between simulation and experimentation for the three electromagnetic physics models and three mul-tiple scattering models, for field sizes of 5 × 5 cm<sup>2</sup> and 10 × 10 cm<sup>2</sup> for depth-dose curves. For dose profile curves, a good agreement of 100% was found between simulation and experimentation for the three electromagnetic physics models, as well as for the three multiple scattering models for a field size of 5 × 5 cm<sup>2</sup> at 10 cm and 20 cm depths. For a field size of 10 × 10 cm<sup>2</sup>, the Penelope model dominated with 98% for 10 cm, along with the three multiple scattering models. The Penelope model and the Standard model, along with the three multiple scattering models, dominated with 100% for 20 cm. Our study, which compared these different GAMOS code models, can be crucial for enhancing the accuracy and quality of radiotherapy, contributing to more effective patient treatment. Our research compares various electro-magnetic physics models and multiple scattering models with experimental measurements, enabling us to choose the models that produce the most reli-able results, thereby directly impacting the quality of simulations. This en-hances confidence in using these models for treatment planning. Our re-search consistently contributes to the progress of Monte Carlo simulation techniques in radiation therapy, enriching the scientific literature.
文摘目的研究前庭神经鞘瘤放射外科治疗计划中的剂量均匀性指数(homogeneity index,HI)的影响因素,以及HI更简便的替代计算方法。方法回顾性分析301例前庭神经鞘瘤伽玛刀治疗计划,298例病人采用经典单次治疗,3例采用连续低分割治疗。根据国际辐射单位和测量委员会(ICRU)-83标准,计算计划的HI,并评估可能影响HI的因素。计算靶区的剂量变异系数(dose coefficient of variation,Dcv),评估其作为HI替代方案的可行性。结果治疗计划的平均HI为0.60±0.08。单因素分析发现除周边剂量外,所有计划参数与HI的相关性均有统计学意义(均P<0.05)。多因素分析显示:处方剂量线、覆盖率、选择性、梯度指数和靶区体积是有统计学意义的相关因素(均P<0.05)。Dcv可很好拟合HI。结论HI与治疗计划多个参数关系密切。Dcv可试用作为更简便计算HI的替代方法。
文摘The distribution of biodiversity at multiple sites of a region has been traditionally investigated through the additive partitioning of the regional biodiversity, called γ-diversity, into the average within-site biodiversity or α-diversity, and the biodiversity among sites, or β-diversity. The standard additive partitioning of diversity requires the use of a measure of diversity which is a concave function of the relative abundance of species, like the Shannon entropy or the Gini- Simpson index, for instance. When a phylogenetic distance between species is also taken into account, Rao’s quadratic index has been used as a measure of dissimilarity. Rao’s index, however, is not a concave function of the distribution of relative abundance of either individual species or pairs of species and, consequently, only some nonstandard additive partitionings of diversity have been given using this index. The objective of this paper is to show that the weighted quadratic index of biodiversity, a generalization of the weighted Gini-Simpson index to the pairs of species, is a concave function of the joint distribution of the relative abundance of pairs of species and, therefore, may be used in the standard additive partitioning of diversity instead of Rao’s index. The replication property of this new measure is also discussed.
文摘Background: The effect of repeated blood donation on some biochemical values of healthy adult male blood donors in Calabar, Nigeria was studied. Methods: One hundred and fifty three (153) healthy repeat blood donors and 90 first time blood donors constituted the study population. Samples were analyzed using colorimetric procedures. Results: The BMI values of 24.4 ± 2.4 kg/ m2 in the first time donors was significantly higher than the 21.7 ± 1.7 kg/m2 obtained in repeat donors (P 2 = 0.7934, P Conclusion: A reduction in the values of some lipid profiles and high GGT activity is associated with repeated blood donations in this study population. Repeated blood donation may play a significant role in reducing the incidence of heart disease.
文摘The natural radioactivity of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K and the fallout of 137Cs in soils and granite rocks of two regions in Yemen (Shabwah and Hadramout) were measured by using gamma-ray spectrometry (HPGe) detector. The average values of the radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in the soil samples are 14.34, 25.78 and 566.05 Bq/kg respectively. For rock samples, the average activity concentration for 226Ra, 232Th and 40K are 45, 106 and 1235 Bq/kg respectively. Low concentration values of 137Cs in soil and rock samples under investigation, are not radiologically important. The radium equivalent activity (Raeq) and external hazard index (Hex) of all samples are less than the limits of 370 Bq·kg-1 and unity, respectively. The average values of total absorbed dose rate due to three primordial radionuclides in soil and rock samples are 46.5 nGy/h and 138.36 nGy/h, respectively, where the absorbed average value of the granite is higher than the permitted limit. So, the local people must avoid using these granite samples as the interior decorative materials of dwelling without radioactivity control.
