Monte Carlo simulation of a whole-body counter using IGOR phantoms

Whole-body counting is a technique of choice for assessing the intake of gamma-emitting radionuclides. An appropriate calibration is necessary, which is done either by experimental measurement or by Monte Carlo (MC) calculation. The aim of this work was to validate a MC model for calibrating whole-body counters (WBCs) by comparing the results of computations with measurements performed on an anthropomorphic phantom and to investigate the effect of a change in phantom's position on the WBC counting sensitivity. GEANT MC code was used for the calculations, and an IGOR phantom loaded with several types of radionuclides was used for the experimental measurements. The results show a reasonable agreement between measurements and MC computation. A 1-cm error in phantom positioning changes the activity estimation by >2 %. Considering that a 5-cm deviation of the positioning of the phantom may occur in a realistic counting scenario, this implies that the uncertainty of the activity measured by a WBC is ∼10-20

Calibration of the whole body counter at PSI

Abstract. At the Paul Scherrer Institut (PSI), measurements with the whole body counter are routinely carried out for occupationally exposed persons and occasionally for individuals of the population suspected of radioactive intake. In total about 400 measurements are performed per year. The whole body counter is based on a p-type high purity germanium (HPGe) coaxial detector mounted above a canvas chair in a shielded small room. The detector is used to detect the presence of radionuclides that emit photons with energies between 50 keV and 2 MeV. The room itself is made of iron from old railway rails to reduce the natural background radiation to 24 nSv/h. The present paper describes the calibration of the system with the IGOR phantom. Different body sizes are realized by different standardized configurations of polyethylene bricks, in which small tubes of calibration sources can be introduced. The efficiency of the detector was determined for four phantom geometries (P1, P2, P4 and P6) simulating human bodies in sitting position of 12 kg, 24 kg, 70 kg and 110 kg, respectively. The measurements were performed serially using five different radionuclide sources ( Eu) within the phantom bricks. Based on results of the experiment, an efficiency curve for each configuration and the detection limits for relevant radionuclides were determined. For routine measurements, the efficiency curve obtained with the phantom geometry P4 was chosen. The detection limits range from 40 Bq to 1000 Bq for selected radionuclides applying a measurement time of 7 min. The proper calibration of the system, on the one hand, is essential for the routine measurements at PSI. On the other hand, it serves as a benchmark for the already initiated characterisation of the system with Monte Carlo simulations

Combined abnormalities of femoral version and acetabular version and McKibbin Index in FAI patients evaluated for hip preservation surgery.

Frequencies of combined abnormalities of femoral version (FV) and acetabular version (AV) and of abnormalities of the McKibbin index are unknown. To investigate the prevalence of combined abnormalities of FV and AV and of abnormalities of the McKibbin index in symptomatic patients with femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), a retrospective, Institutional Review Board (IRB)-approved study of 333 symptomatic patients (384 hips) that were presented with hip pain and FAI was performed. The computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging based measurement of central AV, cranial AV and FV was compared among five subgroups with distinguished FAI subgroups and patients that underwent a hip preservation surgery. The allocation to each subgroup was based on AP radiographs. Normal AV and FV were 10-25°. The McKibbin index is the sum of central AV and FV. Of patients that underwent a hip preservation surgery, 73% had a normal McKibbin index (20-50°) but 27% had an abnormal McKibbin index. Of all patients, 72% had a normal McKibbin index, but 28% had abnormal McKibbin index. The prevalence of combined abnormalities of FV and AV varied among subgroups: a higher prevalence of decreased central AV combined with decreased FV of patients with acetabular-retroversion group (12%) and overcoverage (11%) was found compared with mixed-type FAI (5%). Normal AV combined with normal FV was present in 41% of patients with cam-type FAI and in 34% of patients with overcoverage. Patients that underwent a hip preservation surgery had normal mean FV (17 ± 11°), central AV (19 ± 7°), cranial AV (16 ± 10°) and McKibbin index (36 ± 14°). Frequency of combined abnormalities of AV and FV differs between subgroups of FAI patients. Aggravated and compensated McKibbin index was prevalent in FAI patients. This has implications for open hip preservation surgery (surgical hip dislocation or femoral derotation osteotomy) or hip arthroscopy or non-operative treatment

Stationary perturbations and infinitesimal rotations of static Einstein-Yang-Mills configurations with bosonic matter

Using the Kaluza-Klein structure of stationary spacetimes, a framework for analyzing stationary perturbations of static Einstein-Yang-Mills configurations with bosonic matter fields is presented. It is shown that the perturbations giving rise to non-vanishing ADM angular momentum are governed by a self-adjoint system of equations for a set of gauge invariant scalar amplitudes. The method is illustrated for SU(2) gauge fields, coupled to a Higgs doublet or a Higgs triplet. It is argued that slowly rotating black holes arise generically in self-gravitating non-Abelian gauge theories with bosonic matter, whereas, in general, soliton solutions do not have rotating counterparts.Comment: 8 pages, revtex, no figure

Posterior Extra-articular Ischiofemoral Impingement Can Be Caused by the Lesser and Greater Trochanter in Patients With Increased Femoral Version: Dynamic 3D CT–Based Hip Impingement Simulation of a Modified FABER Test

Background: Posterior extra-articular hip impingement has been described for valgus hips with increased femoral version (FV). These patients can present clinically with lack of external rotation (ER) and extension and with a positive posterior impingement test. But we do not know the effect of the combination of deformities, and the impingement location in early flexion is unknown. Purpose: To evaluate patient-specific 3-dimensional computed tomography (3D CT) scans of hips with increased FV and control hips for differences in range of motion, location and prevalence of osseous posterior intra- and extra-articular hip impingement. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: Osseous 3D models based on segmentation of 3D CT scans were analyzed for 52 hips (38 symptomatic patients) with positive posterior impingement test and increased FV (>35°). There were 26 hips with an increased McKibbin instability index >70 (unstable hips). Patients were mainly female (96%), with an age range of 18 to 45 years. Of them, 21 hips had isolated increased FV (>35°); 22 hips had increased FV and increased acetabular version (AV; >25°); and 9 valgus hips (caput-collum-diaphyseal angle >139°) had increased FV and increased AV. The control group consisted of 20 hips with normal FV, normal AV, and no valgus (caput-collum-diaphyseal angle <139°). Validated 3D CT–based collision detection software for impingement simulation was used to calculate impingement-free range of motion and location of hip impingement. Surgical treatment was performed after the 3D CT–based impingement simulation in 27 hips (52%). Results: Hips with increased FV had significantly (P < .001) decreased extension and ER at 90° of flexion as compared with the control group. Posterior impingement was extra-articular (92%) in hips with increased FV. Valgus hips with increased FV and AV had combined intra- and extra-articular impingement. Posterior hip impingement occurred between the ischium and the lesser trochanter at 20° of extension and 20° of ER. Impingement was located between the ischium and the greater trochanter or intertrochanteric area at 20° of flexion and 40° of ER, with a modification of the flexion-abduction-ER (FABER) test. Conclusion: Posterior extra-articular ischiofemoral hip impingement can be caused by the lesser and greater trochanter or the intertrochanteric region. We recommend performing the modified FABER test during clinical examination in addition to the posterior impingement test for female patients with high FV. In addition, 3D CT can help for surgical planning, such as femoral derotation osteotomy and/or hip arthroscopy or resection of the lesser trochanter

Pulsation of Spherically Symmetric Systems in General Relativity

The pulsation equations for spherically symmetric black hole and soliton solutions are brought into a standard form. The formulae apply to a large class of field theoretical matter models and can easily be worked out for specific examples. The close relation to the energy principle in terms of the second variation of the Schwarzschild mass is also established. The use of the general expressions is illustrated for the Einstein-Yang-Mills and the Einstein-Skyrme system.Comment: 21 pages, latex, no figure

Monumenta illustrata. Raumwissen und antiquarische Gelehrsamkeit

Bereits zur Zeit der europäischen Renaissance, lange vor der Ausrufung eines spatial turn in den Kulturwissenschaften, wurde das wechselseitige Verhältnis von Raum und Wissen als Analysekategorie eingeführt. Der Band demonstriert das mit Untersuchungen zu den archäologischen Landeskunden des 15. bis 17. Jahrhundert. In der geographisch-historischen Betrachtung erschlossen sich im 15. Jahrhundert Raumkonzepte, die wiederum auf das eigene Selbstverständnis zurückwirkten. Der vorliegende Band geht in Fallstudien zu landeskundlichen Forschungen der frühen Neuzeit der Geschichte des Raumwissens nach. Dabei kommt Flavio Biondos Italia Illustrata (erschienen 1474) ein besonderes Interesse zu, da das Werk in vielen Bereichen Europas ähnliche Untersuchungen angeregt hat, etwa in Spanien, Skandinavien, der Schweiz und im Rheingebiet

Monitor units are not predictive of neutron dose for high-energy IMRT

Abstract Background Due to the substantial increase in beam-on time of high energy intensity-modulated radiotherapy (>10 MV) techniques to deliver the same target dose compared to conventional treatment techniques, an increased dose of scatter radiation, including neutrons, is delivered to the patient. As a consequence, an increase in second malignancies may be expected in the future with the application of intensity-modulated radiotherapy. It is commonly assumed that the neutron dose equivalent scales with the number of monitor units. Methods Measurements of neutron dose equivalent were performed for an open and an intensity-modulated field at four positions: inside and outside of the treatment field at 0.2 cm and 15 cm depth, respectively. Results It was shown that the neutron dose equivalent, which a patient receives during an intensity-modulated radiotherapy treatment, does not scale with the ratio of applied monitor units relative to an open field irradiation. Outside the treatment volume at larger depth 35% less neutron dose equivalent is delivered than expected. Conclusions The predicted increase of second cancer induction rates from intensity-modulated treatment techniques can be overestimated when the neutron dose is simply scaled with monitor units.</p