Evaluation of resistive-plate-chamber-based TOF-PET applied to in-beam particle therapy monitoring

Particle therapy is a highly conformal radiotherapy technique which reduces the dose deposited to the surrounding normal tissues. In order to fully exploit its advantages, treatment monitoring is necessary to minimize uncertainties related to the dose delivery. Up to now, the only clinically feasible technique for the monitoring of therapeutic irradiation with particle beams is Positron Emission Tomography (PET). In this work we have compared a Resistive Plate Chamber (RPC)-based PET scanner with a scintillation-crystal-based PET scanner for this application. In general, the main advantages of the RPC-PET system are its excellent timing resolution, low cost, and the possibility of building large area systems. We simulated a partial-ring scannerbeam monitoring, which has an intrinsically low positron yield compared to diagnostic PET. In addition, for in-beam PET there is a further data loss due to the partial ring configuration. In order to improve the performance of the RPC-based scanner, an improved version of the RPC detector (modifying the thickness of the gas and glass layers), providing a larger sensitivity, has been simulated and compared with an axially extended version of the crystal-based device. The improved version of the RPC shows better performance than the prototype, but the extended version of the crystal-based PET outperforms all other options. based on an RPC prototype under construction within the Fondazione per Adroterapia Oncologica (TERA). For comparison with the crystal-based PET scanner we have chosen the geometry of a commercially available PET scanner, the Philips Gemini TF. The coincidence time resolution used in the simulations takes into account the current achievable values as well as expected improvements of both technologies. Several scenarios (including patient data) have been simulated to evaluate the performance of different scanners. Initial results have shown that the low sensitivity of the RPC hampers its application to hadro

Влияние времени нанесения на свойства и структуру триполифосфатных покрытий, полученных в условиях интенсивной промывки

Приведены результаты исследований по изучению влияния времени нанесения и интенсивной промывки водой на свойства и структуру химически осажденных на сталь триполифосфатных (ТПФ) покрытий. Построены графические зависимости характеристик физических и химических свойств покрытий с матричной структурой, промытых водой, от времени нанесения. Установлено, что с увеличением времени нанесения в интервале 1 – 10 минут удельная масса матрицы (феррум (III) типолифосфат) и количество гелиеподобного слоя ТПФ Na увеличиваются, дефектность матрицы и количество наполнителя, содержащегося в матрице в виде кристаллов ТПФ Na, уменьшается. Это сопровождается, в целом, увеличением удельной массы, снижением пористости и способствует повышению защитной способности и коррозионной стойкости покрытия в условиях атмосферной коррозии.Наведено результати досліджень з вивчення впливу часу нанесення й інтенсивного промивання водою на властивості та структуру хімічно нанесених на сталь триполіфосфатних (ТПФ) покриттів. Побудовано графічні залежності характеристик фізичних і хімічних властивостей покриттів з матричною будовою, промитих водою, від часу нанесення. Встановлено, що зі збільшенням часу нанесення в інтервалі 1 – 10 хвилин питома маса матриці (ферум (III) триполіфосфат) і кількість гелієподібного шару ТПФ Na збільшуються, дефектність матриці й кількість наповнювача, що міститься в матриці у вигляді кристалів ТПФ Na, зменшується. Це супроводжується, в цілому, збільшенням питомої маси, зниженням пористості й сприяє підвищенню захисної здатності та корозійної стійкості покриття в умовах атмосферної корозії.The studies results of the impact of the application time and intensive water washing on structure аnd properties of tripolyphosphate coatings chemically deposited on steel are given. The graphical dependencies of physical characteristics and chemical properties of coats with matrix structure, washed with water from the application time are built. It is found the specific gravity of the matrix (ferrum (III) tripolyphosphate) and the number of gel-like layer TPР Na increase also matrix defectiveness and filler amount that are contained in the matrix as TPP Na crystals, decreases when ap- plication time increases in the 1-10 minutes interval. This is followed by overall increasing of the specific gravity, porosity decreasing and facilitates increasing of the protective ability and corrosion resistance of the coating under atmospheric corrosion

Biomechanics for inclusive urban design : effects of tactile paving on older adults’ gait when crossing the street

In light of our ageing population it is important that the urban environment is easily accessible and hence supports older adults’ independence. Tactile ‘blister’ paving was originally designed to provide guidance for visually impaired people at pedestrian crossings. However, as research links irregular surfaces to falls in older adults, such paving may have an adverse effect on older people. We investigated the effects of tactile paving on older adults’ gait in a scenario closely resembling “crossing the street”. Gait analysis of 32 healthy older adults showed that tactile, as compared to smooth, paving increases the variability in timing of foot placement by 20%, thereby indicating a disturbance of the rhythmic gait pattern. Moreover, toe-clearance during the swing phase increased by 7% on tactile paving, and the ability to stop upon cue from the traffic light was compromised. These results need to be viewed under consideration of the limitations associated with laboratory studies and real world analysis is needed to fully understand their implications for urban design

Spectral characterization and antimicrobial activity of some transition metal complexes of 2-(5-nitro-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-4-bromophenol

ABSTRACT. MnCl2, FeCl3, Ru(DMSO)4Cl2, CoCl2, NiCl2, PdCl2, CuCl2, AgNO3, CdCl2 and HgCl2 complexes of 2-(5-nitro-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-4-bromophenol (HL) were synthesized and characterized. The structures of the complexes were confirmed on the basis of elemental analysis, TGA, molar conductivity and magnetic moment measurements, FT-IR, far-IR, FT-Raman, UV-Visible, NMR and fluorescence spectroscopy. According to the analytical and spectral data, the ligand acted as bidentate, via the imine nitrogen and the phenolate oxygen atoms towards to the metal ions except the Ag(I). The complexes were screened for in vitro antibacterial activities against S. aureus, S. epidermidis, E. coli, K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa, P. mirabilis and for antifungal activity against C. albicans. Ciprofloxacin and fluconazole were used as reference for antibacterial and antifungal activities of the complexes, respectively. In most cases, the complexes tested showed considerable activity on S. aureus especially, which is a Gram positive bacterium. In addition, the Hg(II) and Ag(I) complexes were found to have superior activity toward all of the microorganisms whereas the Pd(II) and Cd(II) complexes showed considerably antimicrobial effect on S. aureus and C. albicans selectively.               KEY WORDS: Benzimidazole, Bromophenol, Transition metal complexes, Antibacterial, Antifungal Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2019, 33(3), 451-466.   DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v33i3.

Ribosomal and Protein Gene Phylogeny Reveals Novel Saprobic Fungal Species FromJuglans regiaandUrtica dioica

During an ongoing investigation of Ascomycetes from plant substrates, three saprobic species were found from plant substrates. Two new species,Leptosphaeria regiaeandNeomicrosphaeropsis juglandiswere isolated from dead branches ofJuglans regiafrom Turkey. Another species is introduced herein asSubplenodomus urticaesp. nov within the family Leptosphaeriaceae found onUrtica dioicain Italy. Multigene phylogenies based on combined LSU, ITS, SSU, and beta-tubulin DNA sequence data generated from maximum likelihood and MrBayes analyses indicate thatLeptosphaeria regiaeis related toL. slovacicaand forms an independent lineage within the genusLeptosphaeria.Subplenodomus urticaeis basal toS. iridicolaand its establishment as a new species is strongly supported.Neomicrosphaeropsis juglandisforms a moderately supported lineage in betweenN. italicaandN. elaeagniin the Didymellaceae. Full morphological details are provided herein and phylogenetic relationships of the three new species are also discussed

Multi-scale phase separation by explosive percolation with single-chromatin loop resolution.

The 2 m-long human DNA is tightly intertwined into the cell nucleus of the size of 10 μm. The DNA packing is explained by folding of chromatin fiber. This folding leads to the formation of such hierarchical structures as: chromosomal territories, compartments; densely-packed genomic regions known as Topologically Associating Domains (TADs), or Chromatin Contact Domains (CCDs), and loops. We propose models of dynamical human genome folding into hierarchical components in human lymphoblastoid, stem cell, and fibroblast cell lines. Our models are based on explosive percolation theory. The chromosomes are modeled as graphs where CTCF chromatin loops are represented as edges. The folding trajectory is simulated by gradually introducing loops to the graph following various edge addition strategies that are based on topological network properties, chromatin loop frequencies, compartmentalization, or epigenomic features. Finally, we propose the genome folding model - a biophysical pseudo-time process guided by a single scalar order parameter. The parameter is calculated by Linear Discriminant Analysis of chromatin features. We also include dynamics of loop formation by using Loop Extrusion Model (LEM) while adding them to the system. The chromatin phase separation, where fiber folds in 3D space into topological domains and compartments, is observed when the critical number of contacts is reached. We also observe that at least 80% of the loops are needed for chromatin fiber to condense in 3D space, and this is constant through various cell lines. Overall, ou

Analisis Curah Hujan Sebagai Upaya Meminimalisasi Dampak Kekeringan Di Kabupaten Gunung Kidul Tahun 2014

Research has been conducted to predict the rainfall by 2013 to minimize drought in Gunungkidul with the purpose to know the predictions of rainfall in GunungKidul Regency in September until December 2013 as well as knowing how to minimize drought in GunungKidul Regency. The Data used in this study are precipitation data from 15 posts in Gunungkidul Regency in January 2009 – December 2013 obtained from Agency for meteorology Climatology and Geophysics (BMKG) D.I.Yogyakarta. The analysis used in this study by using Desktiptif Analysis and decomposition of Seasonal prediction value and generate rainfall in Gunungkidul Regency in September until December 2013 respectively is 98, 448mm, 152,426 mm, 223,112 mm, 360,278 mm. from the results of this prediction can be done the anticipation for the year 2014

2-All­yloxy-5-nitro­benzoic acid

The mol­ecule of the title compound, C10H9NO5, is approximately planar, with the mean planes of the nitro, carboxyl and all­yloxy groups rotated by 8.1 (3), 7.9 (3) and 4.52 (18)°, respectively, from the plane of the benzene ring. Bond lengths in the aromatic ring are influenced by both electronic effects and strain induced by ortho-substitution. In the crystal structure, centrosymmetrically related mol­ecules are paired into dimers through strong O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds

Physicochemical studies on effect of additives on clouding behavior and thermodynamics of polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monooleate

Cloud point (CP) of nonionic surfactant, namely polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monooleate (Tween-80) in aqueous environment and in the presence of different additives such as salts (sodium chloride, NaCl; sodium sulfate, Na2SO4; sodium nitrate, NaNO3) and polymers (polyvinylpyrrolidone, PVP; polyvinyl alcohol, PVA; polyethylene glycol, PEG) have been studied. The CP values of Tween-80 in aqueous medium are found to decrease with increase of surfactant concentration. The CP values of Tween-80 are lower in magnitude in the presence of sodium salts as compared to those in aqueous medium; the effect of sodium salts (between 0.1 and 10 mmol L-1) in reducing CP values were found to be in the order: Na2SO4 ˃ NaCl ˃ NaNO3. The CP values of Tween-80 solutions also decrease with increasing concentrations of polymers used. The values of ∆G0c are positive in all the cases, indicating the non-spontaneous nature of clouding. ∆H0c and ∆S0c values were found to be almost negative in the presence of salts and polymers, except in the case of the PEG-water system. The negative values of ∆H0c and ∆S0c decrease with increasing concentrations of salts and polymers

Development of slate fiber reinforced high density polyethylene composites for injection molding

During the last decade the use of fiber reinforced composite materials has consolidated as an attracting alternative to traditional materials due to an excellent balance between mechanical properties and lightweight. One drawback related to the use of inorganic fibers such as those derived from siliceous materials is the relative low compatibility with conventional organic polymer matrices. Surface treatments with coupling agents and the use of copolymers allow increasing fiber-matrix interactions which has a positive effect on overall properties of composites. In this research work we report the use of slate fiber treated with different coupling agents as reinforcement for high density polyethylene from sugarcane. A silane (propyltrimethoxy silane; PTMS) and a graft copolymer (polyethylene-graft-maleic anhydride; PE-g-MA) were used to improve fiber-matrix interactions on HOPE-slate fiber. The effect of the different compatibilizing systems and slate fiber content were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic thermomechanical analysis (DTMA) as well as mechanical properties (tensile, flexural and impact). The results show that the use of silane coupling agents leads to higher fiber-matrix interactions which has a positive effect on overall mechanical properties. Interesting results are obtained for composites containing 30 wt.% slate fiber previously treated with propyltrimethoxy silane (PTMS) with an increase in tensile and flexural strength of about 16% and 18% respectively. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Authors thank "Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad" ref: MAT2011-28468-C02-02 and "Conselleria d'Educacio, Cultura i Esport" - Generalitat Valenciana ref: GV/2014/008 for financial support.Carbonell Verdú, A.; García García, D.; Jordá Vilaplana, A.; Samper Madrigal, MD.; Balart Gimeno, RA. (2015). Development of slate fiber reinforced high density polyethylene composites for injection molding. Composites Part B: Engineering. 69:460-466. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2014.10.026S4604666