A new plan quality index for nasopharyngeal cancer SIB IMRT

A new plan quality index integrating dosimetric and radiobiological indices was proposed to facilitate the evaluation and comparison of simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) plans for nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) patients.Ten NPC patients treated by SIB-IMRT were enrolled in the study. Custom software was developed to read dose–volume histogram (DVH) curves from the treatment planning system (TPS). A plan filtering matrix was introduced to filter plans that fail to satisfy treatment protocol. Target plan quality indices and organ at risk (OAR) plan quality indices were calculated for qualified plans. A unique composite plan quality index (CPQI) was proposed based on the relative weight of these indices to evaluate and compare competing plans. Plan ranking results were compared with detailed statistical analysis, radiation oncology quality system (ROQS) scoring results and physician's evaluation results to verify the accuracy of this new plan quality index.The average CPQI values for plans with OAR priority of low, normal, high, and PTV only were 0.22 ± 0.08, 0.49 ± 0.077, 0.71 ± 0.062, and −0.21 ± 0.16, respectively. There were significant differences among these plan quality indices (One-way ANOVA test, p < 0.01). This was consistent with statistical analysis, ROQS results and physician's ranking results in which 90% OAR high plans were selected.Plan filtering matrix was able to speed up the plan evaluation process. The new matrix plan quality index CPQI showed good consistence with physician ranking results. It is a promising index for NPC SIB-IMRT plan evaluation.     

A dynamic water quality index model based on functional data analysis

A water quality index (WQI) incorporates two shortcomings in the dynamic assessment of water quality, namely: (1) the sampling time series must be identical for each indicator and no missing data should occur, and (2) stationary weights cannot represent the changes in the pollutant importance. To solve these problems, the present study introduces the functional data analysis method into WQI research and establishes a dynamic WQI (D-WQI) model. D-WQI is a generalization of the conventional WQI. In the D-WQI model, the changes of water quality and pollutant importance are represented in the form of dynamic functional curves. The generation methods of the concentration curves, sub-index curves, dynamic weight curves, and WQI curves are discussed. As an illustration, the D-WQI model is applied in the water quality assessment of the Changjiang River in Sanjiangying in 2012. Result shows that the river can be classified as II (good) throughout the year, which can satisfy the requirement of the Chinese South-to-North Water Diversion Project.     

Evaluation of groundwater quality using water quality index and its suitability for assessing water for drinking and irrigation purposes: Case study of Sistan and Baluchistan province (Iran)

The present study evaluates the groundwater quality for drinking and agricultural purposes and determines physicochemical characteristics of groundwater in the Sistan and Baluchistan province in Iran. In order to investigate the water quality, sampling was done in 654 open dug wells, the chemical parameters were analyzed, and water quality index was determined. In this regard, Langelier saturation index (LSI), Ryznar Stability index (RSI), Puckorius scaling index (PSI), Larson–Skold index (LS), and Aggressiveness index (AI) were considered to determine water suitability for industrial purposes. Finally, the analytical results were taken to generate the numerical spatial distribution of the parameters using the geographic information system (GIS) environment. According to the results, water sources were less corrosive based on AI and PSI, low and light corrosion according to RSI, and corrosion according to the Larsson–Sckold index. The results of the drinking water quality index showed that 1.2% shared extraction wells were classified as excellent, 52.1% as good, 39% as poor, 6% as very poor, and 1.7% as unsuitable for drinking purpose classes. In addition, irrigating water quality index illustrated that 19.9% and 80.1% wells were placed in the “excellent” and “Good” classes, respectively. Also, the quality of water in this study was categorized as brackish.     

Determination of backscatter factors based on the quality index for diagnostic kilovoltage x-ray beams

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the relationship between backscatter factors and Al-half-value-layers (Al-HVL) by making the quality index (QI) a parameter for diagnostic kilovoltage x-ray beams.MethodsBackscatter factors, B_w, for x-ray fluence spectra were calculated from the weighted average of B_w for monoenergetic photons of between 8 and 140 keV with field sizes of 10 cm × 10 cm to 40 cm × 40 cm. The value of B_w for monoenergetic photons was calculated from the ratio of the water kerma at the surface of a water phantom and that at the same point free-in-air using the EGSnrc/cavity code. The weighted averaged backscatter factors were validated by comparing them with those of direct Monte Carlo calculations for the x-ray fluence spectra. The B_w for the x-ray fluence spectra were classified by a QI of 0.35, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, and 0.7 specified by the ratio of the effective energy and maximum energy. The relationship between B_w and Al-HVL was evaluated for the given QI values. The x-ray fluence spectra were generated for tube voltages of 40–140 kVp with Al-HVLs of 0.5–13.2 mm using the SpekCalc program.ResultsThe weighted averaged backscatter factors for x-ray fluence spectra agreed within 0.7% with those of the direct Monte Carlo calculations. The backscatter factors were represented by the fitting curves of R² > 0.99 with Al-HVL for the given QI values.ConclusionsIt is possible to obtain B_w more accurately by using QI specified by the measured Al-HVL.     

A proposal for modification of the Belgian biotic index method

Modifications to a standard biological water quality assessment method, used in Belgium since 1979, were studied.As a result, we recommend the following:- samples should be processed live- samples should not be washed through a series of sieves- systematic units represented by only one individual should be included in the calculation of the biotic index.Using this modification, the biotic index can be calculated more rapidly and shows a higher correlation with a chemical water quality assessment index.     

A simplified method for the biological assessment of the quality of fresh and slightly brackish water

A simplified method for the biological assessment of the saprobic quality of surface water is described. The method has the advantage that it is unnecessery to determine accurately the species of organisms present in the sample, which must be done when existing saprobic systems are used. The method described here cannot be used when there is a great abundance of a single species and a very strong environmental disturbance must be assumed.     

层次分析法对南水北调中线水源区的水质评价

层次分析法(AHP)是一种多指标多因素综合评价法,其理论内容深刻而表现形式简单,包括递阶层次结构模型、判断矩阵的建立及其求值、一致性检验和综合指数计算等运算过程.在南水北调中线水源区3个采样点进行了2a的水体浮游植物和9项理化指标的检测,并应用层次分析法通过季节4因素和6项理化指标对水质进行综合评价.结果表明:层次分析综合指数PI在3采样点有差异并且变化灵敏,渠首 (陶岔S1 ) PI=0.5697,水质属于污染;库心 (小太平洋S2 ) PI=0.3619,水质属于尚清洁;丹江入库上游 (大石桥S3 ), PI=0.7755,水质属于中污染;AHP分析结果与实际基本相符.根据结果分析认为:层次分析法做为综合评价法对水质评价有重要性,值得推广应用;丹江口水库是重要的水资源,但目前水质状况并不理想,因此做好水源区的长期生态监测,加强理论和技术研究,改善水质,极为重要.     

Dual-energy CT imaging of orbits during episcleral brachytherapy with Ru-106 plaques: A phantom study on its potential for plaque position verification

PurposeTo investigate the potential of dual energy CT (DECT) to suppress metal artifacts and accurately depict episcleral brachytherapy Ru-106 plaques after surgical placement.MethodsAn anthropomorphic phantom simulating the adult head after surgical placement of a Ru-106 plaque was employed. Nine DECT acquisition protocols for orbital imaging were applied. Monochromatic 140 keV images were generated using iterative reconstruction and an available metal artifact reduction algorithm. Generated image datasets were graded by four observers regarding the ability to accurate demarcate the Ru-106 plaque. Objective image quality and visual grading analysis (VGA) was performed to compare different acquisition protocols. The DECT imaging protocol which allowed accurate plaque demarcation at minimum exposure was identified. The eye-lens dose from orbital DECT, with and without the use of radioprotective bismuth eye-shields, was determined using Monte Carlo methods.ResultsAll DECT acquisition protocols were judged to allow clear demarcation of the plaque borders despite some moderate streaking/shading artifacts. The differences between mean observers’ VGA scores for the 9 DECT imaging protocols were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). The eye-lens dose from the proposed low-exposure DECT protocol was found to be 20.1 and 22.8 mGy for the treated and the healthy eye, respectively. Bismuth shielding was found to accomplish >40% reduction in eye-lens dose without inducing shielding-related artifacts that obscure plaque delineation.ConclusionsDECT imaging of orbits after Ru-106 plaque positioning for ocular brachytherapy was found to allow artifact-free delineation of plaque margins at relatively low patient exposure, providing the potential for post-surgery plaque position verification.     

Micronuclei in humans induced by exposure to low level of ionizing radiation: influence of polymorphisms in DNA repair genes

Understanding the risks deriving from protracted exposure to low doses of ionizing radiation has remarkable societal importance in view of the large number of work settings in which sources of IR are encountered. To address this question, we studied the frequency of micronuclei (MN), which is an indicator of DNA damage, in a population exposed to low levels of ionizing radiation and in matched controls. In both exposed population and controls, the possible influence of single nucleotide polymorphisms in XRCC1, XRCC3 and XPD genes on the frequency of micronuclei was also evaluated. We also considered the effects of confounding factors, like smoking status, age and gender. The results indicated that MN frequency was significantly higher in the exposed workers than in the controls [8.62+/-2.80 versus 6.86+/-2.65; P=0.019]. Radiological workers with variant alleles for XRCC1 or XRCC3 polymorphisms or wild-type alleles for XPD exon 23 or 10 polymorphisms showed a significantly higher MN frequency than controls with the same genotypes. Smoking status did not affect micronuclei frequency either in exposed workers or controls, while age was associated with increased MN frequency in the exposed only. In the combined population, gender but not age exerted an influence on the yield of MN, being higher in females than in males. Even though there is a limitation in this study due to the small number of subjects, these results suggest that even exposures to low level of ionizing radiation could have genotoxic effects and that XRCC3, XRCC1 and XPD polymorphisms might contribute to the increased genetic damage in susceptible individuals occupationally exposed to chronic low levels of ionizing radiation. For a clear conclusion on the induction of DNA damage caused by protracted exposure to low doses of ionizing radiation and the possible influence of genetic polymorphism in DNA repair genes larger studies are needed.     

Ambient UV-B radiation reduces PSII performance and net photosynthesis in high Arctic Salix arctica

Ambient ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation potentially impacts the photosynthetic performance of high Arctic plants. We conducted an UV-B exclusion experiment in a dwarf shrub heath in NE Greenland (74°N), with open control, filter control, UV-B filtering and UV-AB filtering, all in combination with leaf angle control. Two sites with natural leaf positions had ground angles of 0° (‘level site’) and 45° (‘sloping site’), while at a third site the leaves were fixed in an angle of 45° to homogenize the irradiance dose (‘fixed leaf angle site’). The photosynthetic performance of the leaves was characterized by simultaneous gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence measurements and the PSII performance through the growing season was investigated with fluorescence measurements. Leaf harvest towards the end of the growing season was done to determine the specific leaf area and the content of carbon, nitrogen and UV-B absorbing compounds. Compared to a 60% reduced UV-B irradiance, the ambient solar UV-B reduced net photosynthesis in Salix arctica leaves fixed in the 45° position which exposed leaves to maximum natural irradiance. Also a reduced Calvin Cycle capacity was found, i.e. the maximum rate of electron transport (J_max) and the maximum carboxylation rate of Rubisco (V_cmax), and the PSII performance showed a decreased quantum yield and increased energy dissipation. A parallel response pattern and reduced PSII performance at all three sites indicate that these responses take place in all leaves across position in the vegetation. These findings add to the evidence that the ambient solar UV-B currently is a significant stress factor for plants in high Arctic Greenland.