Calibration method and performance of a time-of-flight detector to measure absolute beam energy in proton therapy

Background: The beam energy is one of the most significant parameters in particle therapy since it is directly correlated to the particles' penetration depth inside the patient. Nowadays, the range accuracy is guaranteed by offline routine quality control checks mainly performed with water phantoms, 2D detectors with PMMA wedges, or multi-layer ionization chambers. The latter feature low sensitivity, slow collection time, and response dependent on external parameters, which represent limiting factors for the quality controls of beams delivered with fast energy switching modalities, as foreseen in future treatments. In this context, a device based on solid-state detectors technology, able to perform a direct and absolute beam energy measurement, is proposed as a viable alternative for quality assurance measurements and beam commissioning, paving the way for online range monitoring and treatment verification. Purpose: This work follows the proof of concept of an energy monitoring system for clinical proton beams, based on Ultra Fast Silicon Detectors (featuring tenths of ps time resolution in 50 μm active thickness, and single particle detection capability) and time-of-flight techniques. An upgrade of such a system is presented here, together with the description of a dedicated self-calibration method, proving that this second prototype is able to assess the mean particles energy of a monoenergetic beam without any constraint on the beam temporal structure, neither any a priori knowledge of the beam energy for the calibration of the system. Methods: A new detector geometry, consisting of sensors segmented in strips, has been designed and implemented in order to enhance the statistics of coincident protons, thus improving the accuracy of the measured time differences. The prototype was tested on the cyclotron proton beam of the Trento Protontherapy Center (TPC). In addition, a dedicated self-calibration method, exploiting the measurement of monoenergetic beams crossing the two telescope sensors for different flight distances, was introduced to remove the systematic uncertainties independently from any external reference. Results: The novel calibration strategy was applied to the experimental data collected at TPC (Trento) and CNAO (Pavia). Deviations between measured and reference beam energies in the order of a few hundreds of keV with a maximum uncertainty of 0.5 MeV were found, in compliance with the clinically required water range accuracy of 1 mm. Conclusions: The presented version of the telescope system, minimally perturbative of the beam, relies on a few seconds of acquisition time to achieve the required clinical accuracy and therefore represents a feasible solution for beam commission, quality assurance checks, and online beam energy monitoring

Harmonia axyridis

Harmonia axyridis (Pallas, 1773) Figs 1–4, 6, 14–16, 20 Coccinella axyridis Pallas, 1773. Material examined. IRAN: GILAN PROVINCE: Rudsar County, Rudsar, 37°8′11.739″N, 50°16′55.037″E, vi.2016, 2 spec., ex Corylus sp., Z. M. Haghghadam leg., A. Biranvand det. ; Rasht County, Rasht, Melat Park, 37°17′27.151″N, 49°35′47.65″E, iii.–ix.2016 + 2017, 85 ♂♂, 230 ♀♀, ex Corylus sp., Hibiscus sp., Lagerstroemia sp., Nerium sp., Populus, sp., Prunus sp., Robinia sp., Z. M. Haghghadam & M. Mardani-Talaee leg., A. Biranvand & O. Nedvěd det.; Fuman County, Fuman, Shahr Park, 37°13′51.45″N, 49°19′6.134″E, viii.2017, 1 spec., ex Lagerstroemia sp., Z. M. Haghghadam leg., A. Biranvand det.; Langarud County, Langarud, 37°11′33.1″N, 50°09′09.2″E, vii.2017, 5 spec., ex Citrus sp., Z. M. Haghghadam leg., A. Biranvand det.; Lahijan County, Lahijan, 37°11′22.652″N, 50°1′10.229″E, viii.2017, 2 spec., ex Quora sp., Z. M. Haghghadam leg., A. Biranvand det. MAZANDARAN PROVINCE: Nur County, Chamestan, vii.2017, 1 spec., E. Shafiee & E. Dehghan leg., M. Z. Khormizi det.; Ramsar County, Sadat Shahr, 36°53′21.449″N, 50°41′45.658″E, vii.2017, 1 spec., E. Shafiee & E. Dehghan leg., M. Z. Khormizi det. SAUDI ARABIA: RIYADH PROVINCE: Diriyah, 24°48′43.39″N 46°31′17.27″E, v.2005, 1 spec. (forma conspicua), S. A. Turkestani leg., A. N. Al Ansi det. TURKEY: BILECIK PROVINCE: Bilecik Central District, Pelitözü, 40°11′6.9756’’N, 29°58′5.5704″E, xi.2014, ix.–xi.2015, iii.–viii.2016, 55 spec., ex Cydonia sp., Juglans sp., Malus sp., Medicago sp., Morus sp., Phaseolus sp., Prunus sp., weeds, insidebuildings, D. Şenal leg.et det.; Osmaneli District, Sarıyazı village, 40°27′19.188″N, 29°56′22.56″E, xi.2014, xi.2015, vi.2016, 10 spec., ex Abelmoschus sp., Cydonia sp., Paliurus sp., Solanum sp., Triticum sp., D. Şenal leg.et det.; Yenipazar District, 2.5 km NWYenipazar, Gölpazarı Yenipazar Yolu, 40°11′30.048″N, 30°30′5.184″E, vi.–xi.2015, vi.–x.2016, 46 spec., ex Helianthus sp., Medicago sp., Paliurus sp., Prunus sp., Pyrus sp., Triticum sp., Vitis sp., D. Şenal leg. et det.; Söğüt District, Küre, 40°5′14.892″N, 30°9′2.7936″E, vii.–xi.2015, vi.–viii.2016, 20 spec., ex Abelmoschus sp., Capsicum sp., Cucurbita sp., Juglans sp., Medicago sp., Mentha sp., Phaseolus sp., Prunus sp., Solanum sp., weeds, D. Şenal leg.et det.; Pazaryeri District, Arapdede, 39°59′40.92″N, 29°52′44.328″E, viii.–xi.2015, vi.–viii.2016, 25 spec., ex Humulus sp., Juglans sp., Malus sp., Medicago sp., Pinus sp., D.Şenal leg.et det.; Bozüyük District, 1.6 km NW Çokçapınar, Çokçapınar Eceköy Yolu, 39°46′19.2″N, 29°58′3.9″E, ix.2015, viii.2016, 4 spec., ex Medicago sp., Quercus sp., D. Şenal leg. et det.; Gölpazarı District, 4.2 km SW Gölpazarı, Reşadiye Mahallesi, 40°15′53.2764″N, 30°16′26.5044″E, viii.–xi.2015, vii.2016, 25 spec., ex Helianthus sp., Malus sp., Prunus sp., weeds, D. Şenal leg. et det.; İnhisar District, Karaağaç Mahallesi, Mihalgazi – İnhisar Yolu, 40°2′42.36″N, 30°24′9.684″E, vii.–xi.2015, vi.2016, 67 spec., ex Capsicum sp., Paliurus sp., Punica sp., Solanum sp., weeds, D. Şenal leg. et det. Notes. The specimen of H. axyridis from Saudi Arabia was already collected in 2005 but remained unidentified until now. As a result, this is the first formal report of H. axyridis from Saudi Arabia. The first publishedreports of this species in Turkey were from 2011, collected in the European part of the country, in Tekirdağ Province (AYSAL & KIVAN 2014). Other recent collections were made in several localities in the provinces of Bartın (TOPER KAYGIN & SOBUTAY KAPTAN 2017), Çanakkale (BAŞTUĞ & KASAP 2015), Düzce (ÖZTEMIZ & YAYLA 2018), Isparta (OĞUZOĞLU 2017), Tekirdağ (AYSAL & KIVAN 2014), and Yozgat (TIFTIKÇI 2017). Asingle specimen has been found in Nevşehir Province, in the vicinityof Göreme (BUKEJS & TELNOV 2015). This was suggested to be the first report of H. axyridis for Turkey but it was only collected in July 2013, whereas several specimens from Tekirdağ Province were collected in 2011–2012 (AYSAL & KIVAN 2014). In Iran, H. axyridis was for the first time collected in April 2016, from the city of Rasht in Gilan Province (MARDANI-TALAEE et al. 2019). Similar to what these authors found, we collected many adults from various host plants. Moreover, H. axyridis was reported from Israel based on a single specimen (forma succinea) collected in 2017 from Kibbutz Netzer Sereni (MIENIS 2017). All known records of H. axyridis from the Middle East are summarized in Fig. 20.Published as part of Biranvand, Amir, Nedvěd, Oldřich, Tomaszewska, Wioletta, Al Ansi, Amin N., Fekrat, Lida, Haghghadam, Zahra Mojib, Khormizi, Mehdi Zare, Noorinahad, Sara, Şenal, Derya, Shakarami, Jahanshir & Haelewaters, Danny, 2019, The genus Harmonia (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) in the Middle East region, pp. 163-170 in Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 59 (1) on pages 165-166, DOI: 10.2478/aemnp-2019-0014, http://zenodo.org/record/455274

Harmonia Mulsant 1846

Key to species of Harmonia in the Middle East 1 Body strongly convex. Pronotum white with 4 or 5 black dots in M shape, or with large trapezoid black patch in center leaving only lateral margins white. Elytra black, each elytron with 2 or 4 yellow-reddish spots; or elytra yellow to red, each elytron with maximum 10 black spots in 4 rows (2½–3–3–1) (Figs 1–4). Prosternal process carinate (Fig. 6). Male genitalia as in Figs 14–16. Penis with tip afler constriction about two times longer than wide. Penis guide from lateral view with apex clearly bent upwards. Body length 6.5– 7.2 mm.................................. H. axyridis (Pallas, 1773) – Body slightly convex. Pronotum white to yellowish, with 11 black dots; 5 large in Mshape in center, 6 small laterally. Elytra yellow, each elytron with maximum 8 black spots in 4 rows (1–3–3–1) (Fig. 5). Prosternal process without carinae (Fig. 7). Male genitalia as in Figs 17–19. Penis with tip afler constriction about four times longer than wide. Penis guide from lateral view straight. Body length 5.1–6.6 mm.................................................... H. quadripunctata (Pontoppidan, 1763) *Published as part of Biranvand, Amir, Nedvěd, Oldřich, Tomaszewska, Wioletta, Al Ansi, Amin N., Fekrat, Lida, Haghghadam, Zahra Mojib, Khormizi, Mehdi Zare, Noorinahad, Sara, Şenal, Derya, Shakarami, Jahanshir & Haelewaters, Danny, 2019, The genus Harmonia (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) in the Middle East region, pp. 163-170 in Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 59 (1) on page 164, DOI: 10.2478/aemnp-2019-0014, http://zenodo.org/record/455274

Harmonia quadripunctata

Harmonia quadripunctata (Pontoppidan, 1763) Figs 5, 7–13, 17–19 Coccinella quadripunctata Pontoppidan, 1763; C. albida Gmelin, 1790; C. marginella Müller, 1776; C. marginepunctata Schaller, 1783; C. notata Olivier, 1791; C. sedecimpunctata Fabricius, 1781. Material examined. IRAN: NORTH KHORASAN PROVINCE: Bojnord County, Bojnurd, Baba Aman Park, 37°29.338′N, 57°26.123′E, vi.2013, 4 ♂♂ 4 ♀♀, (3 ♂♂ 2 ♀♀ ex Hordeum sp.), E. Hamidi leg., O. Nedvěd & C. Canepari det. SEMNAN PROVINCE: Shahrud County, Bastam, 36°30.314′N, 55°00.290′E, v.2014, 2 ♂♂ 1♀, M. Toozandejani leg., A. Biranvand det. TURKEY: BILECIK PROVINCE: Bilecik Central District, Pelitözü, 40°11′06.9756″N, 29°58′05.5704″E, iv.–xi.2015, vii.2016, 31 spec., ex Malus sp., Pinus sp., Prunus sp., weeds, D. Şenal leg. et det.; Osmaneli District, 2.6 km NE Düzmeşe, 40°23′55.5″N, 29°56′40.092″E, vi.–ix.2015, vi.–viii.2016, 5 spec., ex Olea sp., Paliurus sp., Prunus spp., D. Şenal leg.et det.; İnhisar District, Güner Orbay Mahallesi, 1.9 km NW İnhisar, 40°03′37.116″N, 30°22′5.088″E, vi.2016, 1 spec., ex Paliurus sp., D. Şenal leg. et det. Notes. Harmonia quadripunctata was originally described from Denmark (PONTOPPIDAN 1763). It is native to the Palearctic Region, distributed especially in Europe and eastern Asia – Russia, China, and Korea (BIELAWSKI 1963, 1980; VANDENBERG 1990; PANG et al. 2004; KOVÁŘ 2007). However, there aresome reports of thisspecies from other countries of the Palearctic Regionincluding Syria (KHALIL & MOURAD 2006), Israel (HALPERIN et al. 1995), Lebanon and Turkey (GÜNTHER 1958, BIELAWSKI 1963). Harmonia quadripunctata was introduced into the USA and reported there since 1924 (VANDENBERG 1990). In southern America, introduced populations have only been reported from Argentina and Chile so far (GONZÁLEZ 2006). The earliest record of H. quadripunctata in Turkey was provided by GÜNTHER (1958). Since then, many studies reported H. quadripunctata in 22 of Turkey’s 81 provinces: Ankara (GÜNTHER 1958, UYGUN 1981, ÜLGENTÜRK & TOROS 2000), Kayseri (GÜNTHER 1958), Konya (GÜNTHER 1958, ŞAHBAZ & UYSAL 2006), Adana, Afyon, Bursa, Denizli (UYGUN 1981), Isparta (UYGUN, 1981, ASLAN & KARACA 2005, KARACA et al. 2006, KAYA BAŞAR & YAŞAR 2011, OĞUZOĞLU 2017), Amasya, Samsun, Tokat (KILIÇ & AYKAÇ 1989), Erzurum (ÖZBEK & ÇETIN 1991), İzmir, Manisa (TEZCAN & UYGUN 2003), Kahramanmaraş (ASLAN & UYGUN 2005), Balıkesir (VURAL VARLI et al. 2013), Artvin (PORTAKALDALI & SATAR 2010), Çanakkale (BAŞTUĞ & KASAP 2015), Bartın (TOPER KAYGIN & SOBUTAY KAPTAN 2017), Yozgat (TIFTIKÇI 2017), Düzce (ÖZTEMIZ & YAYLA 2018), and Bilecik (this study). In Iran, H. quadripunctata was first reportedfrom North Khorasan Province in 2013 (BIRANVAND et al. 2017). It was subsequently reported from Mazandaran Province, in northern Iran (PAHLAVAN YALI et al. 2017). Here, wepresent the first report from Semnan Province.Published as part of Biranvand, Amir, Nedvěd, Oldřich, Tomaszewska, Wioletta, Al Ansi, Amin N., Fekrat, Lida, Haghghadam, Zahra Mojib, Khormizi, Mehdi Zare, Noorinahad, Sara, Şenal, Derya, Shakarami, Jahanshir & Haelewaters, Danny, 2019, The genus Harmonia (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) in the Middle East region, pp. 163-170 in Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 59 (1) on pages 166-167, DOI: 10.2478/aemnp-2019-0014, http://zenodo.org/record/455274