467 research outputs found
The cohort of the atomic bomb survivors: major basis of radiation safety regulations
Since 1950 about 87 000 A-bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki have been monitored within the framework of the Life Span Study, to quantify radiation-induced late effects. In terms of incidence and mortality, a statistically significant excess was found for leukemia and solid tumors. In another major international effort, neutron and gamma radiation doses were estimated, for those survivors (Dosimetry System DS02). Both studies combined allow the deduction of risk coefficients that serve as a basis for international safety regulations. As an example, current results on all solid tumors combined suggest an excess relative risk of 0.47 per Sievert for an attained age of 70 years, for those who were exposed at an age of 30 years. After exposure to an effective dose of one Sievert the solid tumor mortality would thus be about 50% larger than that expected for a similar cohort not exposed to any ionizing radiation from the bombs
On the choice of methodology for evaluating dose-rate effects on radiation-related cancer risks
Recently, several compilations of individual radiation epidemiology study results have aimed to obtain direct evidence on the magnitudes of dose-rate effects on radiation-related cancer risks. These compilations have relied on meta-analyses of ratios of risks from low dose-rate studies and matched risks from the solid cancer Excess Relative Risk models fitted to the acutely exposed Japanese A-bomb cohort. The purpose here is to demonstrate how choices of methodology for evaluating dose-rate effects on radiation-related cancer risks may influence the results reported for dose-rate effects. The current analysis is intended to address methodological issues and does not imply that the authors recommend a particular value for the dose and dose-rate effectiveness factor. A set of 22 results from one recent published study has been adopted here as a test set of data for applying the many different methods described here, that nearly all produced highly consistent results. Some recently voiced concerns, involving the recalling of the well-known theoretical point—the ratio of two normal random variables has a theoretically unbounded variance—that could potentially cause issues, are shown to be unfounded when aimed at the published work cited and examined in detail here. In the calculation of dose-rate effects for radiation protection purposes, it is recommended that meta-estimators should retain the full epidemiological and dosimetric matching information between the risks from the individual low dose-rate studies and the acutely exposed A-bomb cohort and that a regression approach can be considered as a useful alternative to current approaches
Fluorescence and Treatment Light Monitoring for Interstitial Photodynamic Therapy
In interstitial photodynamic therapy, light is distributed to the tumor via light diffusers. The light dose and the related phototoxic effect achieved throughout the target volume critically depend on absorption, scattering and diffuser positioning. Using liquid tissue phantoms, we investigated the dependencies of treatment light transmission and protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) fluorescence on these parameters. This enabled monitoring hemoglobin oxygenation and methemoglobin formation during irradiation (635 nm, 200 mW cm−1 diffuser length). Starting with two parallel cylindrical diffusers at 10 mm radial separation, the light transmitted between the fibers was largely determined by the minimal distance between the diffusers, but rather insensitive to an additional axial displacement or tilting of one fiber with respect to the other. For fixed distance between the diffusor centers, however, tilting up to direct contact resulted in a 10‐fold signal increase. For hemoglobin within erythrocytes, irradiation leads to photobleaching of PpIX without marked change in hemoglobin oxygenation until hemolysis occurs. Afterward, hemoglobin is rapidly deoxygenized and methemoglobin is formed, leading to a dramatic increase in absorption. For lysed blood, these effects start immediately. A comparison of intraoperative monitoring of the signals with the experimental results might help prevent insufficient treatment by reconsidering treatment planning or prolonging irradiation
Investigations on correlations between changes of optical tissue properties and NMR relaxation times
Background: Accurate light dosimetry is a complex remaining challenge in interstitial photodynamic therapy (iPDT) for malignant gliomas. The light dosimetry should ideally be based on the tissue morphology and the individual optical tissue properties of each tissue type in the target region. First investigations are reported on using NMR information to estimate changes of individual optical tissue properties. Methods: Porcine brain tissue and optical tissue phantoms were investigated. To the porcine brain, supplements were added to simulate an edema or high blood content. The tissue phantoms were based on agar, Lipoveneous, ink, blood and gadobutrol (Gd-based MRI contrast agent). The concentrations of phantom ingredients and tissue additives are varied to compare concentration-dependent effects on optical and NMR properties. A 3-tesla wholebody MRI system was used to determine T1 and T2 relaxation times. Optical tissue properties, i.e., the spectrally resolved absorption and reduced scattering coefficient, were obtained using a single integrating sphere setup. The observed changes of NMR and optical properties were compared to each other. Results: By adjusting the NMR relaxation times and optical tissue properties of the tissue phantoms to literature values, recipes for human brain tumor, white matter and grey matter tissue phantoms were obtained that mimic these brain tissues simultaneously in both properties. For porcine brain tissue, it was observed that with increasing water concentration in the tissue, both NMR-relaxation times increased, while µa decreased and µs’ increased at 635 nm. The addition of blood to porcine brain samples showed a constant T1, while T2 shortened and the absorption coefficient at 635 nm increased. Conclusions: In this investigation, by changing sample contents, notable changes of both NMR relaxation times and optical tissue properties have been observed and their relations examined. The developed dual NMR/optical tissue phantoms can be used in iPDT research, clinical training and demonstrations
On the feasibility to study inverse proximity effect in a single S/F bilayer by Polarized Neutron Reflectometry
Here we report on a feasibility study aiming to explore the potential of
Polarized Neutron Reflectometry (PNR) for detecting the inverse proximity
effect in a single superconducting/ferromagnetic bilayer. Experiments,
conducted on the V(40nm)/Fe(1nm) S/F bilayer, have shown that experimental spin
asymmetry measured at T = 0.5TC is shifted towards higher Q values compared to
the curve measured at T = 1.5TC. Such a shift can be described by the
appearance in superconducting vanadium of magnetic sub-layer with thickness of
7 nm and magnetization of +0.8 kG.Comment: Changes in the 2nd version: small mistypes are corrected. Manuscript
submitted to JETP let. 4 pages, 2 figure
Depth profile of the ferromagnetic order in a YBaCuO / LaCaMnO superlattice on a LSAT substrate: a polarized neutron reflectometry study
Using polarized neutron reflectometry (PNR) we have investigated a
YBa2Cu3O7(10nm)/La2/3Ca1/3MnO3(9nm)]10 (YBCO/LCMO) superlattice grown by pulsed
laser deposition on a La0.3Sr0.7Al0.65Ta0.35O3 (LSAT) substrate. Due to the
high structural quality of the superlattice and the substrate, the specular
reflectivity signal extends with a high signal-to-background ratio beyond the
fourth order superlattice Bragg peak. This allows us to obtain more detailed
and reliable information about the magnetic depth profile than in previous PNR
studies on similar superlattices that were partially impeded by problems
related to the low temperature structural transitions of the SrTiO3 substrates.
In agreement with the previous reports, our PNR data reveal a strong magnetic
proximity effect showing that the depth profile of the magnetic potential
differs significantly from the one of the nuclear potential that is given by
the YBCO and LCMO layer thickness. We present fits of the PNR data using
different simple block-like models for which either a ferromagnetic moment is
induced on the YBCO side of the interfaces or the ferromagnetic order is
suppressed on the LCMO side. We show that a good agreement with the PNR data
and with the average magnetization as obtained from dc magnetization data can
only be obtained with the latter model where a so-called depleted layer with a
strongly suppressed ferromagnetic moment develops on the LCMO side of the
interfaces. The models with an induced ferromagnetic moment on the YBCO side
fail to reproduce the details of the higher order superlattice Bragg peaks and
yield a wrong magnitude of the average magnetization. We also show that the PNR
data are still consistent with the small, ferromagnetic Cu moment of 0.25muB
that was previously identified with x-ray magnetic circular dichroism and x-ray
resonant magnetic reflectometry measurements on the same superlattice.Comment: 11 pages, 7 figure
Magnetic proximity effects in V/Fe superconductor/ferromagnet single bilayer revealed by waveguide-enhanced polarized neutron reflectometry
Polarized neutron reflectometry is used to study the magnetic proximity
effect in a superconductor/ferromagnet (SC/FM) system of composition
Cu(32nm)/V(40nm)/Fe(1nm)/MgO. In contrast to previous studies, here a single
SC/FM bilayer, is studied and multilayer artefacts are excluded. The necessary
signal enhancement is achieved by waveguide resonance, i.e. preparing the
V(40nm)/Fe(1nm) SC/FM bilayer sandwiched by the highly reflective MgO substrate
and Cu top layer, respectively . A new magnetic state of the system was
observed at temperatures below 0.7 TC. manifested in a systematic change in the
height and width of the waveguide resonance peak. Upon increasing the
temperature from 0.7 TC to TC, a gradual decay of this state is observed,
accompanied by a 5% growth of the diffuse scattering. According to theoretical
studies, such behavior is the result of the magnetic proximity effect. Due to
the presence of the thin FM layer the superconducting electrons are polarized
and, as a result, near the SC/FM interface an additional magnetic layer appears
in the SC with thickness comparable to ksi, the coherence length of the
superconductor.Comment: Submitted to the Journal of Superconductivity and Novel Magnetism. 11
pages, 6 figures
Feasibility of study magnetic proximity effects in bilayer "superconductor/ferromagnet" using waveguide-enhanced Polarized Neutron Reflectometry
A resonant enhancement of the neutron standing waves is proposed to use in
order to increase the magnetic neutron scattering from a
"superconductor/ferromagnet"(S/F) bilayer. The model calculations show that
usage of this effect allows to increase the magnetic scattering intensity by
factor of hundreds. Aspects related to the growth procedure (order of
deposition, roughness of the layers etc) as well as experimental conditions
(resolution, polarization of the neutron beam, background etc) are also
discussed.
Collected experimental data for the S/F heterostructure
Cu(32nm)/V(40nm)/Fe(1nm)/MgO confirmed the presence of a resonant 60-fold
amplification of the magnetic scattering.Comment: The manuscript of the article submitted to Crysstalography Reports.
23 pages, 5 figure
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