Numerical simulation of non-standard tensile tests of thin metal foils

The evolution of the fracture processes occurring in thin metal foils can be evidenced by tensile tests performed on samples of non-standard dimensions. The load versus displacement record of these experiments does not return directly the local stress-strain relationship and the fracture characteristics of the investigated material. In fact, the overall response of thin foils is sensitive to local imperfections, size and geometric effects. Simulation models of the performed tests can support the interpretation of the experimental results, provided that the most significant physical phenomena are captured. The present contribution focuses on the role of modelling details on the numerical output that can be obtained in this context

Assessment and comparison of radiation dose and image quality in multi-detector CT scanners in non-contrast head and neck examinations

Purpose: To assess and compare radiation dose and image quality from non-contrast head and neck computed tomography (CT) examinations from four different multi-detector CT (MDCT) scanners. Material and methods: Four CT scanners with different numbers of detector rows including one 4-MDCT, a 6-MDCT, a 16-MDCT, and a 64-MDCT were investigated. Common CT dose descriptors including volumetric CT dose index (CTDIv), dose length product (DLP), and the effective dose (ED), and image quality parameters include image noise, uniformity, and spatial resolution (SR) were estimated for each CT scanner with standard tools and methods. To have a precise comparison between CT scanners and related doses and image quality parameters, the ImPACT Q-factor was used. Results: Minimum and maximum CTDIv, DLP, and ED in the head scan were 18 ± 3 and 49 ± 4 mGy, 242 ± 28 and 692 ± 173 mGy × cm, 0.46 ± 0.4 and 1.31 ± 0.33 mSv for 16-MDCT and 64-MDCT, respectively. And 16 ± 2 to 27 ± 3, 286 ± 127 to 645 ± 79 and 1.46 ± 0.65 to 3.29 ± 0.40 for neck scan, respectively. The Q-factor in head scan was 2.4, 3.3, 4.4 and 5.6 for 4-MDCT, 6-MDCT, 16-MDCT and 64-MDCT, respectively. The Q-factor in neck scan was 3.4, 4.6, 4.7 and 6.0 for 4-MDCT, 6-MDCT, 16-MDCT and 64-MDCT, respectively. Conclusions: The results clearly indicate an increasing trend in the Q-factor from 4-MDCT to 64-MDCT units in both head and neck examinations. This increasing trend is due to a better SR and less noise of images taken and/or fewer doses in 64-MDCT

Measurement of the photon and thermal neutron doses of contralateral breast surface in breast cancer radiotherapy

Introduction and purpose:During the radiation therapy of tumoral breast, the contralateral breast (CB) will receive scattered doses. In the present study, the photon and thermal neutron dose values received by CB surface during breast cancer radiation therapy were measured.Materials and methods:The right breast region of RANDO phantom was considered as CB, and the measurements of photon and thermal neutron dose values were carried out on this region surface. The phantom was irradiated with 18 MV photon beams, and the dose values were measured with thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD-600 and TLD-700) chips for 11 � 13, 11 � 17 and 11 � 21 cm2 field sizes in the presence of physical and dynamic wedges.Results:The total dose values (photon + thermal neutron) received by the CB surface in the presence of physical wedge were 12·06, 15·75 and 33·40 of the prescribed dose, respectively, for 11 � 13, 11 � 17 and 11 � 21 cm2 field sizes. The corresponding dose values for dynamic wedge were 9·18, 12·92 and 29·26 of the prescribed dose, respectively. Moreover, the results showed that treatment field size and wedge type affect the received photon and thermal neutron doses at CB surface.Conclusion:According to our results, the total dose values received at CB surface during breast cancer radiotherapy with high-energy photon beams are remarkable. In addition, the dose values received at CB surface when using a physical wedge were greater than when using a dynamic wedge, especially for medial tangential fields. © Cambridge University Press 2019

Exploring changes in thalamus metabolites as diagnostic biomarkers in idiopathic generalised epilepsy patients using magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Introduction: Idiopathic generalised epilepsy (IGE) refers to a group of epilepsies resulting from the activation of neurons in the whole brain. This study aimed to evaluate the metabolite changes in thalamus as diagnostic biomarkers in IGE patients compared to healthy individuals using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) technique. Methods: The MRS was performed on 35 IGE patients (26 women and 11 men) with average age of 32 (ranged from 18 to 43) and 35 healthy individuals (13 women and 22 men) with average age of 31 (ranged from 21 to 50) as the control group. The levels of N-acetylaspartate (NAA), creatine (Cr) and choline (Cho) were measured using MRS. The NAA/Cr and NAA/Cho ratios were calculated for all participants. These values were statistically compared using t-test between the groups. Results: The NAA had significant lower values in IGE patients, 9.6 (SD = 0.8) and 9.9 (SD = 0.7) for right and left thalamus, respectively, compared to 10.9 (SD = 0.9) and 10.7 (SD = 0.9) in control group. The Cr values in the left side of thalamus were significantly higher in IGE patients (6.7 [SD = 0.8] versus 5.8 [SD = 0.5]); however, there was no difference in right thalamus. Measurements showed no difference for amounts of Cho between the groups in both sides of thalamus. The NAA/Cr ratio was 1.48 (SD = 0.14) and 1.48 (SD = 0.16) for right and left thalamus, respectively, in IGE patients in comparison with 1.83 (SD = 0.2) and 1.86 (SD = 0.26) in controls. There was no meaningful variation between the NAA/Cho ratio of the right and left thalamus among the groups. Conclusion: Thalamic NAA, Cr and NAA/Cr ratio values in IGE patients showed statistical differences compared to healthy individuals. Evaluating metabolites variations in thalamus using MRS is suggested for differentiating IGE patients from healthy individuals. keywords: Epilepsy, MRI, MRS, Spectroscop

The Effect of a Fall Proof Training on Balance and Fear of Falling in Older Women

Background and Aims Balance deficiency is one of the risk factors for falls, injury or even death of the elderly. This study aimed to investigate The Effect of a Fall Proof training on balance and fear of falling in older women was conducted. Methods This study was a quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest design. Thirty elderly women aged 60-70 years were selected as available for the sample. Subjects were randomly divided into control (n=15) and experimental (n=15) groups. To assess static and dynamic balance, Sharpend Romberg test and time up and go test and to assess fear of falling the fear of falling questionnaire were used. Exercises were performed for 8 weeks, three sessions per week and each session for 60 minutes by experimental group, while the control group did not do any exercise. Analysis of covariance and paired t-test were used to analyze the dataResults The results of this study showed that a period of Fall Prof Training significantly increased static (P=0.01) and dynamic balance (P=0.01) and a significant decrease in fear of falling (P=0.01) In the experimental group compared to the control group.Conclusion Due to the weak balance and high fear of falling in the elderly, based on the findings of this study, we can use fall proof exercises in elderly rehabilitation and exercise

The use of EBT3 film and Delta4 for the dosimetric verification of EclipseTM treatment planning system in a heterogeneous chest phantom: An IMRT technique

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the dose calculation accuracy of EclipseTM treatment planning system (TPS) in a heterogeneous chest phantom with the intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) technique using EBT3 film and Delta4. Materials and Methods: Two IMRT plans (A and B) were prepared for radiotherapy of the heterogeneous chest phantom. Plan A was between the left lung and the surrounding soft tissue and plan B was carried out on the soft tissue. EBT3 film and Delta4 were used for dose measurement in the phantom. EclipseTM TPS was also used for dose calculation. Finally, the gamma index values of the TPS with film and TPS with Delta4 were obtained. A 95 passing rate of gamma index with the passing criterion of 3mm/3 and a dose threshold of 20 as the standard criterion was considered in this study. Furthermore, the passing rates of gamma indices of the film and Delta4 were compared with each other via Bland-Altman analysis. Results: The mean passing rate of gamma index with standard passing criterion between the TPS calculations and film measurements was 96.95±0.22, while it was equal to 97.7±0.56 and 98.45±0.21 between the TPS calculations and 2D and 3D Delta4 measurements, respectively. Additionally, the differences between the passing rates of gamma indices of the film and Delta4 were less than 5. Conclusion: The findings demonstrate that the accuracy of dose calculations of EclipseTM TPS in a heterogeneous chest phantom with the IMRT technique is within the standard passing criterion. Furthermore, it can be concluded that there is a good agreement between the film and Delta4, as IMRT QA devices. © 2019 Novin Medical Radiation Institute. All rights reserved

Dosimetric Comparison of Four Different Techniques for Supraclavicular Irradiation in 3D-conformal Radiotherapy of Breast Cancer

This study aimed to compare and evaluated the dosimetric characteristics of esophagus, spinal cord, carotid artery, lungs, and brachial plexus in patients with breast cancer undergoing four various techniques of supraclavicular irradiation. By keeping unchanged the breast tangential radiotherapy fields, four different treatment field arrangements were created to irradiate the supraclavicular region as follows: (1) four field (4F; 1 anterior-posterior and 1 posterior-anterior), (2) six field (6F; 2 anterior-posterior and 2 posterior-anterior), (3) five field-1 (5F-1; 2 anterior-posterior and 1 posterior-anterior), and (4) five field-2 (5F-2; 1 anterior-posterior and 2 posterior-anterior). Then, the dosimetric parameters for the above-mentioned organs were evaluated. The mean dose (Dmean) of the esophagus had significant difference between 6F and 5F-2 techniques. For the spinal cord, the Dmean dosimetric parameter demonstrated significant difference between the 4F and 6F techniques, and between the 4F and 5F-1 techniques, with lower values for the 4F technique. There was no significant difference between the different irradiation techniques in all the dosimetric parameters for the carotid artery. The Dmean of the left lung significantly differed between the 4F and 5F-2 techniques, with lower values for the 5F-2 technique. Furthermore, the V20Gy dosimetric parameter had significant difference between the 4F and 6F, and also 4F and 5F-2, techniques with lower values for 5F-2. The maximum dose (Dmax) of the brachial plexus showed significant difference between the two techniques of 5F. The V45Gy dosimetric parameter of the brachial plexus revealed significant difference between the 4F and 6F techniques, and also between the 4F and 5F-1 techniques, with lower values for 5F-1. In general, these techniques had similar dosimetric results, with little differences. The dosimetric parameters for the esophagus and lung showed better results with the 5F-2 technique in comparison with other techniques. Dosimetric results for the brachial plexus and spinal cord improved with the 5F-1 and 4F techniques, respectively, against other techniques. Dose distribution for the carotid artery did not differ in the four irradiation techniques

Estimation of radiation dose-reduction factor for cerium oxide nanoparticles in MRC-5 human lung fibroblastic cells and MCF-7 breast-cancer cells

In the current study, radiation dose-reduction factor (DRF) of nanoceria or cerium oxide nanoparticles (CONPs) in MRC-5 Human Lung Fibroblastic Cells and MCF-7 Breast-Cancer Cells was estimated. Characterization of CONPs was determined using scanner electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and spectrophotometer. Then, six plans were designed with different radiation dose values on planning target value. The obtained MRC-5 and MCF-7 cells were treated with non-toxic concentrations of CONPs and then exposed. Finally, cell viability () of the cell lines was determined using MTT assay. The findings showed that CONPs have no significant radioprotective effect against 10 cGy radiation dose value. Nevertheless, 70 μM CONPs resulted in a significant radioprotection against 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 cGy radiation dose values compared with the control group in MRC-5 cells. For all radiation dose values, mean cell viability () of MCF-7 had not increased significantly at the presence of nanoceria compared with control group. According to the findings, it was revealed that the use of CONPs have a significant radioprotective effect on normal lung cells, while they do not provide any protection for MCF-7 cancer cells. These properties can help to increase therapeutic ratio of radiotherapy. © 2018, © 2018 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group

Internet of Things in Sustainable Energy Systems

Our planet has abundant renewable and conventional energy resources but technological capability and capacity gaps coupled with water-energy needs limit the benefits of these resources to citizens. Through IoT technology solutions and state-of-the-art IoT sensing and communications approaches, the sustainable energy-related research and innovation can bring a revolution in this area. Moreover, by the leveraging current infrastructure, including renewable energy technologies, microgrids, and power-to-gas (P2G) hydrogen systems, the Internet of Things in sustainable energy systems can address challenges in energy security to the community, with a minimal trade-off to environment and culture. In this chapter, the IoT in sustainable energy systems approaches, methodologies, scenarios, and tools is presented with a detailed discussion of different sensing and communications techniques. This IoT approach in energy systems is envisioned to enhance the bidirectional interchange of network services in grid by using Internet of Things in grid that will result in enhanced system resilience, reliable data flow, and connectivity optimization. Moreover, the sustainable energy IoT research challenges and innovation opportunities are also discussed to address the complex energy needs of our community and promote a strong energy sector economy