Molecular Imaging of Pulmonary Tuberculosis in an Ex-Vivo Mouse Model Using Spectral Photon-Counting Computed Tomography and Micro-CT

Assessment of disease burden and drug efficacy is achieved preclinically using high resolution micro computed tomography (CT). However, micro-CT is not applicable to clinical human imaging due to operating at high dose. In addition, the technology differences between micro-CT and standard clinical CT prevent direct translation of preclinical applications. The current proof-of-concept study presents spectral photon-counting CT as a clinically translatable, molecular imaging tool by assessing contrast uptake in an ex-vivo mouse model of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). Iodine, a common contrast used in clinical CT imaging, was introduced into a murine model of TB. The excised mouse lungs were imaged using a standard micro-CT subsystem (SuperArgus) and the contrast enhanced TB lesions quantified. The same lungs were imaged using a spectral photoncounting CT system (MARS small-bore scanner). Iodine and soft tissues (water and lipid) were materially separated, and iodine uptake quantified. The volume of the TB infection quantified by spectral CT and micro-CT was found to be 2.96 mm(3) and 2.83 mm(3), respectively. This proof-of-concept study showed that spectral photon-counting CT could be used as a predictive preclinical imaging tool for the purpose of facilitating drug discovery and development. Also, as this imaging modality is available for human trials, all applications are translatable to human imaging. In conclusion, spectral photon-counting CT could accelerate a deeper understanding of infectious lung diseases using targeted pharmaceuticals and intrinsic markers, and ultimately improve the efficacy of therapies by measuring drug delivery and response to treatment in animal models and later in humans

Characterization of the PTW 34031 ionization chamber (PMI) at RCNP with high energy neutrons ranging from 100 – 392 MeV

Radiation monitoring at high energy proton accelerators poses a considerable challenge due to the complexity of the encountered stray radiation fields. These environments comprise a wide variety of different particle types and span from fractions of electron-volts up to several terra electron-volts. As a consequence the use of Monte Carlo simulation programs like FLUKA is indispensable to obtain appropriate field-specific calibration factors. At many locations of the LHC a large contribution to the particle fluence is expected to originate from high-energy neutrons and thus, benchmark experiments with mono-energetic neutron beams are of high importance to verify the aforementioned detector response calculations. This paper summarizes the results of a series of benchmark experiments with quasi mono-energetic neutrons of 100, 140, 200, 250 and 392 MeV that have been carried out at RCNP - Osaka University, during several campaigns between 2006 and 2014

The influence of environmental parameters on the thermographic analysis of the building envelope

Abstract Typically, thermographic measurements are used to analyze the building envelope in a qualitative way (e.g. detection of thermal bridges, missing insulation, etc.). Besides, thermography can also be used to obtain surface temperatures, which can give an indication of the thermal performance of the building envelope. In this paper the influence of the most important environmental parameters on the thermographic analysis of different wall types is examined using a multivariable parameter study. This results in guidelines that are in good accordance with the existing guidelines. Furthermore some remarks were made concerning the ambiguities in the existing guidelines. INTRODUCTION Europe has high ambitions concerning energy efficiency and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. By 2050, one of the goals is to reduce the CO2-emissions by more than 80 %, which is impossible with the current policy. In order to reach this goal, the percentage of renovated buildings has to increase from 1% to around 2,5% per year by 202

Data Management and Tools for the Access to the Radiological Areas at CERN

As part of the refurbishment of the PS accelerator complex Personnel Protection System, the Radiation Protection (RP) checkpoints and buffer zones, for the radiological controls of equipment removed from the beam areas, have been incorporated into the design of the new access points