2,334 research outputs found
Performance evaluation of the Boron Coated Straws detector with Geant4
The last decade has witnessed the development of several alternative neutron
detector technologies, as a consequence of upcoming neutron sources and
upgrades, as well the world-wide shortage of He. One branch of development
is the family of B-based gaseous detectors. This work focuses on the
boron coated straws (BCS) by Proportional Technologies Inc., a commercial
solution designed for use in homeland security and neutron science. A detailed
Geant4 simulation study of the BCS is presented, which investigates various
aspects of the detector performance, e.g. efficiency, activation, absorption
and the impact of scattering on the measured signal. The suitability of the BCS
detector for Small Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS), direct chopper spectrometry
and imaging is discussed.Comment: 50 pages, 37 figures, minor changes after review, results unchange
Suppression of intrinsic neutron background in the Multi-Grid detector
One of the key requirements for neutron scattering instruments is the
Signal-to-Background ratio (SBR). This is as well a design driving requirement
for many instruments at the European Spallation Source (ESS), which aspires to
be the brightest neutron source of the world. The SBR can be effectively
improved with background reduction. The Multi-Grid, a large-area thermal
neutron detector with a solid boron carbide converter, is a novel solution for
chopper spectrometers. This detector will be installed for the three
prospective chopper spectrometers at the ESS. As the Multi-Grid detector is a
large area detector with a complex structure, its intrinsic background and its
suppression via advanced shielding design should be investigated in its
complexity, as it cannot be naively calculated. The intrinsic scattered neutron
background and its effect on the SBR is determined via a detailed Monte Carlo
simulation for the Multi-Grid detector module, designed for the CSPEC
instrument at the ESS. The impact of the detector vessel and the neutron
entrance window on scattering is determined, revealing the importance of an
optimised internal detector shielding. The background-reducing capacity of
common shielding geometries, like side-shielding and end-shielding is
determined by using perfect absorber as shielding material, and common
shielding materials, like BC and Cd are also tested. On the basis of the
comparison of the effectiveness of the different shielding topologies and
materials, recommendations are given for a combined shielding of the Multi-Grid
detector module, optimised for increased SBR.Comment: 26 pages, 18 figures, revise
Far-Ultraviolet Dust Albedo Measurements in the Upper Scorpius Cloud Using the SPINR Sounding Rocket Experiment
The Spectrograph for Photometric Imaging with Numeric Reconstruction (SPINR)
sounding rocket experiment was launched on 2000 August 4 to record
far-ultraviolet (912-1450 A) spectral and spatial information for the giant
reflection nebula in the Upper Scorpius region. The data were divided into
three arbitrary bandpasses (912-1029 A, 1030-1200 A, and 1235-1450 A) for which
stellar and nebular flux levels were derived. These flux measurements were used
to constrain a radiative transfer model and to determine the dust albedo for
the Upper Scorpius region. The resulting albedos were 0.28+/-0.07 for the
912-1029 A bandpass, 0.33+/-0.07 for the 1030-1200 A bandpass, and 0.77+/-0.13
for the 1235-1450 A bandpass
The first clinical implementation of a real-time six degree of freedom target tracking system during radiation therapy based on Kilovoltage Intrafraction Monitoring (KIM).
PURPOSE: We present the first clinical implementation of a real-time six-degree of freedom (6DoF) Kilovoltage Intrafraction Monitoring (KIM) system which tracks the cancer target translational and rotational motions during treatment. The method was applied to measure and correct for target motion during stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for prostate cancer. METHODS: Patient: A patient with prostate adenocarcinoma undergoing SBRT with 36.25Gy, delivered in 5 fractions was enrolled in the study. 6DoF KIM technology: 2D positions of three implanted gold markers in each of the kV images (125kV, 10mA at 11Hz) were acquired continuously during treatment. The 2D→3D target position estimation was based on a probability distribution function. The 3D→6DoF target rotation was calculated using an iterative closest point algorithm. The accuracy and precision of the KIM method was measured by comparing the real-time results with kV-MV triangulation. RESULTS: Of the five treatment fractions, KIM was utilised successfully in four fractions. The intrafraction prostate motion resulted in three couch shifts in two fractions when the prostate motion exceeded the pre-set action threshold of 2mm for more than 5s. KIM translational accuracy and precision were 0.3±0.6mm, -0.2±0.3mm and 0.2±0.7mm in the Left-Right (LR), Superior-Inferior (SI) and Anterior-Posterior (AP) directions, respectively. The KIM rotational accuracy and precision were 0.8°±2.0°, -0.5°±3.3° and 0.3°±1.6° in the roll, pitch and yaw directions, respectively. CONCLUSION: This treatment represents, to the best of our knowledge, the first time a cancer patient's tumour position and rotation have been monitored in real-time during treatment. The 6 DoF KIM system has sub-millimetre accuracy and precision in all three translational axes, and less than 1° accuracy and 4° precision in all three rotational axes
A simulational study of the indirect geometry neutron spectrometer, BIFROST at the European Spallation Source, from neutron source position to detector position
The European Spallation Source (ESS) is intended to become the most powerful
spallation neutron source in the world and the flagship of neutron science in
the upcoming decades. The exceptionally high neutron flux will provide unique
opportunities for scientific experiments, but also set high requirements for
the detectors. One of the most challenging aspects is the rate capability and
in particular the peak instantaneous rate capability, i.e. the number of
neutrons hitting the detector per channel or cm at the peak of the neutron
pulse. The primary purpose of this paper is to estimate the incident rates that
are anticipated for the BIFROST instrument planned for ESS, and also to
demonstrate the use of powerful simulation tools for the correct interpretation
of neutron transport in crystalline materials. A full simulation model of the
instrument from source to detector position, implemented with the use of
multiple simulation software packages is presented. For a single detector tube
instantaneous incident rates with a maximum of 1.7 GHz for a Bragg peak from a
single crystal, and 0.3 MHz for a vanadium sample are found. This paper also
includes the first application of a new pyrolytic graphite model, and a
comparison of different simulation tools to highlight their strengths and
weaknesses.Comment: 45 pages, 20 figure
Inter-cultural differences in response to a computer-based anti-bullying intervention
Background and purpose: Many holistic anti-bullying interventions have been attempted, with mixed success, while little work has been done to promote a 'self-help' approach to victimisation. The rise of the ICT curriculum and computer support in schools now allows for approaches that benefit from technology to be implemented. This study evaluates the cross-cultural effects of a computer-based anti-bullying intervention on primary school-aged children's knowledge about bullying and relevant coping strategies.
Programme description: FearNot! is an interactive computer-based virtual learning environment designed for use as an anti-bullying intervention. It includes interactive virtual agents who assume the most common participant roles found in episodes of bullying. FearNot! was used by children over three consecutive weeks to allow its effectiveness to be evaluated in a longitudinal in situ programme.
Sample: Two comparable samples were drawn from the UK and Germany. In the UK, 651 participants (aged 8-11) were recruited from primary schools in Hertfordshire, Coventry and Warwickshire, whereas the 535 German participants (aged 7-10) were sourced from Grundschulen in the Bayern and Hessen regions. Because of lack of parental consent, late joiners and absences/missing responses, data from 908 participants (UK 493; Germany 415) were analysed.
Design and methods: A quasi-experimental, pre/post-tests control group design employed pre-published and bespoke questionnaires to collect data. Descriptive and inferential analyses were conducted.
Results: UK students possessed higher coping strategy knowledge scores than German participants, but German children's scores improved over time and as a result of the FearNot! intervention.
Conclusions: Overall, while not effective at increasing children's coping strategy knowledge in this study, the FearNot! intervention could prove a useful classroom tool to approach the issue of bullying as part of a wider initiative. Cultural differences at baseline and reactions to the intervention are discussed
Comparison of topological descriptors for similarity-based virtual screening using multiple bioactive reference structures
This paper reports a detailed comparison of a range of different types of 2D fingerprints when used for similarity-based virtual screening with multiple reference structures. Experiments with the MDL Drug Data Report database demonstrate the effectiveness of fingerprints that encode circular substructure descriptors generated using the Morgan algorithm. These fingerprints are notably more effective than fingerprints based on a fragment dictionary, on hashing and on topological pharmacophores. The combination of these fingerprints with data fusion based on similarity scores provides both an effective and an efficient approach to virtual screening in lead-discovery programmes
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