CyberKnife beam output factor measurements: A multi-site and multi-detector study

PurposeNew promising detectors are available for measuring small field size output factors (OFs). This study focused on a multicenter evaluation of two new generation detectors for OF measurements on CyberKnife systems.MethodsPTW-60019 microDiamond and W1 plastic scintillation detector (PSD) were used to measure OFs on eight CyberKnife units of various generations for 5–60 mm fixed cones. MicroDiamond and PSD OF were compared to routinely used silicon diodes data corrected applying published Monte Carlo (MC) factors. PSD data were corrected for Čerenkov Light Ratio (CLR). The uncertainties related to CLR determination were estimated.ResultsConsidering OF values averaged over all centers, the differences between MC corrected diode and the other two detectors were within 1.5%. MicroDiamond exhibited an over-response of 1.3% at 7.5 mm and a trend inversion at 5 mm with a difference of 0.2%. This behavior was consistent among the different units. OFs measured by PSD slightly under-responded compared to MC corrected diode for the smaller cones and the differences were within 1%. The observed CLR variability was 2.5% and the related variation in OF values was 1.9%.ConclusionThis study indicates that CyberKnife microDiamond OF require corrections below 2%. The results are enhanced by the consistency observed among different units. Scintillator shows a good agreement to MC corrected diode but CLR determination remains critical requiring further investigations. The results emphasized the value of a multi-center validation over a single center approach.     

Evaluation of the effects of implementing a diode transmission device into the clinical workflow

PurposeThis work investigated effects of implementing the Delta⁴ Discover diode transmission detector into the clinical workflow.MethodsPDD and profile scans were completed with and without the Discover for a number of photon beam energies. Transmission factors were determined for all beam energies and included in Eclipse TPS to account for the attenuation of the Discover. A variety of IMRT plans were delivered to a Delta⁴ Phantom+ with and without the Discover to evaluate the Discover’s effects on IMRT QA. An imaging QA phantom was used to assess the detector’s effects on MV image quality. OSLDs placed on the Phantom+ were used to determine the detector’s effects on superficial dose.ResultsThe largest effect on PDDs after d_max was 0.5%. The largest change in beam profile symmetry and flatness was 0.2% and 0.1%, respectively. An average difference in gamma passing rates (2%/2 mm) of 0.2% was observed between plans that did not include the Discover in the measurement and calculation to plans that did include the Discover in the measurement and calculation. The Discover did not significantly change the MV image quality, and the largest observed increase in the relative superficial dose when the Discover was present was 1%.ConclusionsThe effects the Discover has on the linac beam were found to be minimal. The device can be implemented into the clinic without the need to alter the TPS beam modeling, other than accounting for the device’s attenuation. However, a careful workflow review to implement the Discover should be completed.     

On the evaluation of edgeless diode detectors for patient-specific QA in high-dose stereotactic radiosurgery

PurposeIn this work, the potential of an innovative “edgeless” silicon diode was evaluated as a response to the still unmet need of a reliable tool for plan dosimetry verification of very high dose, non-coplanar, patient-specific radiosurgery treatments. In order to prove the effectiveness of the proposed technology, we focused on radiosurgical treatments for functional disease like tremor or pain.MethodsThe edgeless diodes response has been validated with respect to clinical practice standard detectors by reproducing the reference dosimetry data adopted for the Treatment Planning System. In order to evaluate the potential for radiosurgery patient-specific treatment plan verification, the anthropomorphic phantom Alderson RANDO has been adopted along with three edgeless sensors, one placed in the centre of the Planning Target Volume, one superiorly and one inferiorly.ResultsThe reference dosimetry data obtained from the edgeless detectors are within 2.6% for output factor, off-axis ratio and well within 2% for tissue phantom ratio when compared to PTW 60,018 diode. The edgeless detectors measure a dose discrepancy of approximately 3.6% from the mean value calculated by the TPS. Larger discrepancies are obtained in very steep gradient dose regions when the sensors are placed outside the PTV.ConclusionsThe angular independent edgeless diode is proposed as an innovative dosimeter for patient quality assurance of brain functional disorders and other radiosurgery treatments. The comparison of the diode measurements with TPS calculations confirms that edgeless diodes are suitable candidates for patient-specific dosimetric verification in very high dose ranges delivered by non-isocentric stereotactic radiosurgery modalities.     

Comparison of two scanning electron microscope techniques for examining daily growth increments on fish otoliths

With a secondary detector and a backscatter detector, total primary increment counts on the same otoliths were similar, but more samples could be counted using the backscatter detector and the percentage of unreadable area was consistently lower with this technique.     

Comparative study of the antioxidant activity of the essential oils of five plants against the H2O2 induced stress in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The purpose of this work was to investigate the protective effect of five essential oils (EOs); Rosmarinus officinalis, Thymus vulgaris, Origanum compactum Benth., Eucalyptus globulus Labill. and Ocimum basilicum L.; against oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The chemical composition of the EOs was analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The in vitro antioxidant activity was evaluated and the protective effect of EOs was investigated. Yeast cells were pretreated with different concentrations of EOs (6.25–25 µg/ml) for an hour then incubated with H₂O₂ (2 mM) for an additional hour. Cell viability, antioxidants (Catalase, Superoxide dismutase and Glutathione reductase) and metabolic (Succinate dehydrogenase) enzymes, as well as the level of lipid peroxidation (LPO) and protein carbonyl content (PCO) were evaluated. The chemical composition of EOs has shown the difference qualitatively and quantitatively. Indeed, O. compactum mainly contained Carvacrol, O. basilicum was mainly composed of Linalool, T. vulgaris was rich in thymol, R. officinalis had high α-Pinene amount and for E. globulus, eucalyptol was the major compound. The EOs of basil, oregano and thyme were found to possess the highest amount of total phenolic compounds. Moreover, they have shown the best protective effect on yeast cells against oxidative stress induced by H₂O₂. In addition, in a dose dependent manner of EOs in yeast medium, treated cells had lower levels of LPO, lower antioxidant and metabolic enzymes activity than cells exposed to H₂O₂ only. The cell viability was also improved. It seems that the studied EOs are efficient natural antioxidants, which can be exploited to protect against damages and serious diseases related to oxidative stress.     

Molecular Characteristics of Bovine Serum Albumin-Dextran Conjugates

Bovine serum albumin (BSA)-dextran conjugates were prepared by using the Maillard reaction; depending on the ratio of dextran to BSA used, about 0.5–1 mol of dextran could be bound to 1 mol of native BSA. SDS–PAGE patterns revealed that BSA and dextran had been covalently bonded. Structural analyses by fluorescence spectroscopy and circular dichroism indicated that the BSA surface in each conjugate was covered with dextran without any great disruption of the native conformation. The conjugates could be grouped into two fractions on the basis of the weight-average molecular mass measured: the main fraction at 1.95–2.35×10⁵ g/mol and a less-abundant fraction with aggregates greater than 1.50×10⁶ g/mol. High-performance size-exclusion chromatography in conjunction with multi-angle laser light scattering detection revealed that the BSA-dextran conjugates prepared by using the Maillard reaction had various molar masses and radii.     

福建省主要入侵植物空间分异及其影响因素

在实地调查数据的基础上,本研究结合GIS空间分析技术和地理探测器模型,分析福建省入侵植物空间分布情况,以及地理与社会环境因子及其交互作用对入侵植物分布的影响.结果表明:福建省共记录入侵植物82种,其中,优势科为菊科,小蓬草、藿香蓟和空心莲子草出现频次最高.沿海区域的入侵植物物种数量多于内陆区域,福州和厦门为福建省外来入侵植物的两大热点地区.入侵植物在不同海拔均有分布,但入侵植物的种类随着海拔的升高总体呈下降趋势.地理探测器分析显示,自然环境因子中降水和社会经济因子中路网密度、人口密度是入侵植物空间分布的主要影响因子.各因子的空间交互作用会正向影响入侵植物的空间分布,这反映出入侵植物空间分布影响要素的复杂性.综上,将地理探测器应用到入侵植物研究领域是可行的,筛选出的环境指示因子可用于监测福建省入侵植物的适生区,从而为采取有效的防控措施提供科学依据.     

A Persistence Detector for Metabolic Network Rewiring in an Animal

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祁连山青海云杉林群落结构的空间异质性

以动态监测样地(340 m×300 m)的网格(5 m×5 m)为基本单元,选择5个群落结构属性变量,采用分形几何学和地统计学方法对祁连山大野口流域青海云杉林群落结构的空间异质性进行研究.结果表明: 青海云杉林5个结构属性的变异程度大小依次为:密度＞平均冠幅＞显著度＞盖度＞平均树高,变异系数为43.7%～79.6%.Moran I系数表明,各个结构属性均有不同程度的空间自相关性,自相关大小顺序为:密度＞平均树高＞盖度＞平均冠幅＞显著度,变化范围为-0.047～0.382.指数理论变异函数模型能很好地拟合不同结构属性的空间变异,变程为24.6～68.1 m,各属性变量的结构比除盖度表现为中等空间相关,其他指标均为强烈空间相关,各属性指标分维数接近2,空间依赖性较小.植被密度和盖度空间分布呈带状结构和斑块结构叠加的特点,其他指标呈较强的斑块状空间结构,密度和盖度对平均冠幅、显著度和平均树高有一定的空间依赖性.青海云杉林群落结构空间异质性适宜的采样间隔和采样面积分别为10 m和0.5 hm².