The effect of field modifier blocks on the fast photoneutron dose equivalent from two high-energy medical linear accelerators

High-energy linear accelerators (linacs) have several advantages, including low skin doses and high dose rates at deep-seated tumours. But, at energies more than 8 MeV, photonuclear reactions produce neutron contamination around the therapeutic beam, which may induce secondary malignancies. In spite of improvements achieved in medical linac designs, many countries still use conventional (non-intensity-modulated radiotherapy) linacs. Hence, in these conventional machines, fitting the beam over the treatment volume may require using blocks. Therefore, the effect of these devices on neutron production of linacs needs to be studied. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of field shaping blocks on photoneutron dose in the treatment plane for two high-energy medical linacs. Two medical linacs, a Saturn 43 (25 MeV) and an Elekta SL 75/25 (18 MeV), were studied. Polycarbonate (PC) films were used to measure the fluence of photoneutrons produced by these linacs. After electrochemical etching of the PC films, the neutron dose equivalent was calculated at the isocentre and 50 cm away from the isocentre. It was noted that by increasing the distance from the centre of the X-ray beam towards the periphery, the photoneutron dose equivalent decreases rapidly for both the open and blocked fields. Increasing the energy of the photons causes an increase in the amount of photoneutron dose equivalent. At 25 MeV photon energy, the lead blocks cause a meaningful increase in the dose equivalent of photoneutrons. In this research, a 30% increase was seen in neutron dose contribution to central axis dose at the isocentre of a 25 MeV irregular field shaped by lead blocks. It is concluded that lead blocks must be considered as a source of photoneutron production when treating irregular fields with high-energy photons.     

Exact and approximate Fourier rebinning algorithms for the solution of the data truncation problem in 3-D PET

This paper presents an extended 3-D exact rebinning formula in the Fourier space that leads to an iterative reprojection algorithm (iterative FOREPROJ), which enables the estimation of unmeasured oblique projection data on the basis of the whole set of measured data. In first approximation, this analytical formula also leads to an extended Fourier rebinning equation that is the basis for an approximate reprojection algorithm (extended FORE). These algorithms were evaluated on numerically simulated 3-D positron emission tomography (PET) data for the solution of the truncation problem, i.e., the estimation of the missing portions in the oblique projection data, before the application of algorithms that require complete projection data such as some rebinning methods (FOREX) or 3-D reconstruction algorithms (3DRP or direct Fourier methods). By taking advantage of all the 3-D data statistics, the iterative FOREPROJ reprojection provides a reliable alternative to the classical FOREPROJ method, which only exploits the low-statistics nonoblique data. It significantly improves the quality of the external reconstructed slices without loss of spatial resolution. As for the approximate extended FORE algorithm, it clearly exhibits limitations due to axial interpolations, but will require clinical studies with more realistic measured data in order to decide on its pertinence.     

Distance-based consensus method for ABC analysis

A distance-based multi-criteria consensus framework on the concepts of ideal and negative-ideal solutions is presented for the ABC analysis of inventory items. This article demonstrates a way of classifying inventory items using the TOPSIS (‘Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution’) model. The methodology has been applied in a pharmaceutical company located in the heart of Kolkata, India. The technique takes into account various conflicting criteria having incommensurable units of measurement. Unit cost, lead time, consumption rate, perishability of items and cost of storing of raw materials have been considered for the case study. By using TOPSIS, the items are ranked in categories A, B and C. The suitability, practicability and effectiveness of the TOPSIS method used in ABC classification have been judged using the analysis of variance (ANOVA) technique. A simulation model has been used to compare the proposed model with that of the traditional ABC classification technique.     

A fully fuzzified,intelligent theory-of-constraints product-mix decision

The present research work outlines a fuzzified approach using fuzzy linear programming (FLP) using a suitably designed smooth logistic membership function (MF) for finding fuzziness patterns at disparate levels of satisfaction for theory of constraints-based (TOC) product-mix decision problems. The objective of the present work is to find fuzziness patterns of product-mix decisions with disparate levels of satisfaction of the decision-maker (DM). Another objective is to provide a robust, quantified monitor of the level of satisfaction among DMs and to calibrate these levels of satisfaction against DM expectations. Product-mix decision should take into account considerations such as the DM's level of satisfaction (sometimes called ‘emotions’) in order to make the decision a robust one. Sensitivity of the decision has been focused on a bottleneck-free, optimal product-mix solution of a TOC problem. The inefficiency of traditional linear programming (LP) in handling multiple-bottleneck problems using TOC is discussed using an illustrative example. Relationships among the degree of fuzziness, level of satisfaction and the throughput of modified TOC guide decision-makers (DM) under tripartite fuzzy environment in obtaining their product-mix choice trading-off with a pre-determined allowable fuzziness.     

Preparation,Optimization, and Characterization of Topotecan Loaded PEGylated Liposomes Using Factorial Design

This study reports the development of liposomal system for a potent antitumor drug, topotecan. To achieve this goal conventional and PEGylated liposomes were prepared according to a factorial design by hydration method followed by extrusion. Parameters such as type of lipid, percentage of cholesterol, percentage of phosphatidylglycerols, percentage of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-lipids, and drug to lipid molar ratio were considered as important factors for the optimizing the entrapment and retention of topotecan inside the liposomes. The size and zeta-potential of the PEGylated and conventional liposomes were measured by particle size analyzer and zeta-potentiometer, respectively. The stability and release characteristics of PEGylated liposome loaded topotecan were compared with conventional liposomes and free topotecan.

The optimized PEGylated [distearoyl phosphatidylcholine (DSPC)/cholesterol/ distearoyl phosphatidylglycerol (DSPG)/ distearoyl phosphatidylethanolamine-PEG₂₀₀₀ (DSPE-PEG₂₀₀₀); 7:7:3:1.28] and related conventional [DSPC/cholesterol/DSPG; 7:7:3] liposomes showed a narrow size distribution with a polydipersity index of 0.15 and 0.10, an average diameter of 103.0 ± 13.1 and 95.2 ± 11.10 nm, and with drug loading of 11.44 and 6.21%, respectively. Zeta-potential was ?10 ± 2.3 and ?22 ± 2.8 mV for PEGylated and conventional liposomes, respectively. The results of stability evaluation showed that the lactone ring of topotecan was notably preserved upon liposome encapsulation. PEGylated liposomes containing topotecan showed a significant decrease (P < 0.001) in release rate in comparison with conventional leptosomes. These results indicate the suitability of PEGylated liposomes in controlling topotecan release.

The prepared liposomes (especially PEGylated liposomes) as those described here may be clinically useful to stabilize and deliver topotecan for the treatment of cancer.     

Reliability analysis of the flat-topped array beam FSO communication link

Free-space optical communication systems are affected by turbulent atmosphere. The atmospheric transmission is affected by absorption, scattering and turbulence. In this paper, the effects of absorption and scattering are taken into account using Beer’s law and the effects of turbulence are considered in calculating the average intensity distribution. An analytical expression for the average intensity distribution of a partially coherent flat-topped array (PCFTA) beam in turbulent atmosphere is derived based on the extended Huygens–Fresnel principle. The average intensity, power in bucket, signal to noise ratio, and bit error rate of this kind of beam are investigated in details. It is shown by numerical results and analytical methods that the average intensity and link parameters of PCFTA beams change during propagation and these changes are dependent upon both source parameters and weather conditions.     

Design considerations and experimental studies on semi-active smart pin joint

Hostile dynamic loadings such as severe wind storms, earthquakes, and sudden impacts can cause severe damage to many civil engineering structures. An intelligent structural system equipped with smart structural members that are controllable in real-time is an effective solution to structural damage and failure during such situations. Civil intelligent structures with controllable properties to adapt to any changes due to dynamic loadings can lead to effective protection of structures and their occupants. In this paper, design and testing of a semi-active magnetorheological (MR) pin joint, in which the moment resistance can be controlled in real-time by altering the magnetic field, is reported with the view of using it as a potential candidate for smart members in the development of intelligent structures. Design of prototype smart pin joints includes theoretical analysis related to the radius of the rotary plate, the property of MR fluids and the gap between the rotary plate and the casing based on the requirements of the dynamics of MR pin joints. FEM analysis was deployed to study the distribution of the magnetic field along the gap. It is found, from the theoretical analysis and experimental verification, that the MR pin joint with a diameter of 180 mm can produce a torque of up to 30 Nm, which meets requirements for semi-active members in a multi-storey prototype building model in the next stage of research and development.     

Thermal and crystallization behavior of SiO2-PbF2 glass system in the presence of ErF3 and Al2O3

Oxyfluoride glass-ceramics have been introduced as one of the best bulk hosts for upconversion process of rare-earth ions. However, less attention to the technological topics in the process of glass crystallization has hindered the development of them in industrial scale applications. In this research, SiO₂–PbF₂ glasses were investigated to clarify the ambiguous role of rare-earth ions and alumina content in the microstructure and crystallization behavior. Results indicated that Er³⁺ addition caused a liquid-liquid phase separation via nucleation and growth mechanism, which led to single phase crystallization of β-PbF₂:Er³⁺ solid solution. Moreover, Er³⁺ had a significant effect on the crystallite size, size distribution, and PbF₂ crystallization temperature. On the other hand, increasing Al₂O₃ content enhanced the transparency and thermal stability of glass samples, whereas it reduced the amount of fluorine loss and increased the dissolution of Er³⁺ in fluoride crystalline structure. These results address some of the most controversial issues about crystallization behavior of rare-earth-doped oxyfluoride glasses.     

Development of a high precision flexure-based microgripper

This paper presents the design and development of a high precision microgripper for micromanipulation. The design is based on a hybrid flexure-based compliant mechanism and a bias spring structure which render high fidelity and inherent mechanical advantages. Finite element analysis (FEA) was conducted to evaluate responses of the model under specified load and displacement to investigate optimum design of the model. The prototype of the proposed microgripper was fabricated using electro-discharge machining (EDM) process. An experimental study of the performance was carried out and the results are presented. The experimental results are also compared with the computational analysis results. The results show that a high level of displacement amplification and a maximum stroke of 100 μm can be achieved.