Characterization of a novel proton-CT scanner based on Silicon and LaBr3_3(Ce) detectors

Treatment planning systems at proton-therapy centres generally use X-ray computed tomography (CT) as primary imaging technique to infer the proton treatment doses to tumour and healthy tissues. However, proton stopping powers in the body, as derived from X-ray images, suffer from important proton-range uncertainties. In order to reduce this uncertainty in range, one could use proton-CT images instead. The main goal of this work is to test the capabilities of a newly-developed proton-CT scanner, based on the use of a set of tracking detectors and a high energy resolution scintillator for the residual energy of the protons. Different custom-made phantoms were positioned at the field of view of the scanner and were irradiated with protons at the CCB proton-therapy center in Krakow. We measured with the phantoms at different angles and produced sinograms that were used to obtain reconstructed images by Filtered Back-Projection (FBP). The obtained images were used to determine the capabilities of our scanner in terms of spatial resolution and proton Relative Stopping Power mapping and validate its use as proton-CT scanner. The results show that the scanner can produce medium-high quality images, with spatial resolution better than 2 mm in radiography, below 3 mm in tomography and resolving power in the RSP comparable to other state of the art pCT cameras

Proton radiographs using position-sensitive silicon detectors and high-resolution scintillators

Proton therapy is a cancer treatment technique currently in growth worldwide. It offers advantages with respect to conventional X-ray and $\gamma$-ray radiotherapy, in particular, a better control of the dose deposition allowing to reach a higher conformity in the treatments. Therefore, it causes less damage to the surrounding healthy tissue and less secondary effects. However, in order to take full advantage of its potential, improvements in treatment planning and dose verification are required. A new prototype of proton Computed Tomography scanner is proposed to design more accurate and precise treatment plans for proton therapy. Here, results obtained from an experiment performed using a 100-MeV proton beam at the CCB facility in Krakow (Poland) are presented. Proton radiographs of PMMA samples of 50-mm thickness with spatial patterns in aluminum were taken. Their properties were studied, including reproduction of the dimensions, spatial resolution and sensitivity to different materials. They demonstrate the capabilities of the system to produce images with protons. Structures of up to 2 mm are nicely resolved and the sensitivity of the system was enough to distinguish thicknesses of 10 mm of aluminum or PMMA. This constitutes a first step to validate the device as a proton radiography scanner previous to the future tests as a proton CT scanner.Comment: 7 pages, 11 figures, submitted to IEEE TNS ANIMMA 2021 Conference Proceeding

Água salina nos atributos químicos do solo e no estado nutricional da mandioqueira Saline water on chemical properties of soil and nutritional status of Cassava

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi verificar a influência do uso de água salina nos atributos químicos do solo e no estado nutricional da mandioqueira. O trabalho foi conduzido na área experimental de Irrigação e Drenagem do IF Baiano, Campus de Senhor do Bonfim, BA (10o 28’S, 40o 11’W e 550 m). O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado constando de sete tratamentos e três repetições. Os tratamentos consistiram de uma testemunha (sequeiro), um tratamento irrigado com água potável (100% da ETc) e cinco tratamentos irrigados com água salina com CE de 3 dS m-1 variando as lâminas aplicadas: 110, 120, 130, 140 e 150% da ETc. O uso de água salina aumentou a percentagem de sódio trocável, a razão de adsorção de sódio e a condutividade elétrica do solo, tanto na 0-0,20 como na 0,20-0,40 m de profundidade. Quanto ao estado nutricional foliar da mandioqueira, os tratamentos influenciaram apenas nos teores de cálcio, magnésio e cloro.<br>The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of saline water on chemical properties of the soil and nutritional attributes of cassava. The work was conducted in the area of Irrigation and Drainage of IF Baiano, Campus de Senhor do Bonfim, BA (10° 28’S, 40° 11’W and 550 m). The experimental design was completely randomized, consisting of seven treatments and three replicates. The treatments consisted of control (rainfed), a treatment irrigated with drinking water (100% of ETc) and five treatments irrigated with saline water of 3 dS m-1 with varying water depths: 110, 120, 130, 140 and 150% of ETc. The use of saline water increased the exchangeable sodium percentage, the sodium adsortion ratio and the electrical conductivity of the soil in both 0-0.20 and 0.20-0.40 m dephts. Regarding the leaf nutritional status of cassava, the treatments influenced only the contents of calcium, magnesium and chlorine

Identification of mimotopes of <it>Mycobacterium leprae</it> as potential diagnostic reagents

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>An early diagnostic test for detecting infection in leprosy is fundamental for reducing patients’ sequelae. The currently used lepromin is not adequate for disease diagnosis and, so far, no antigen to be used in intradermoreaction has proved to be sensitive and specific for that purpose. Aiming at identifying new reagents to be used in skin tests, candidate antigens were investigated.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Random peptide phage display libraries were screened by using antibodies from leprosy patients in order to identify peptides as diagnostic reagents.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Seven different phage clones were identified using purified antibodies pooled from sera of leprosy patients. When the clones were tested with serum samples by ELISA, three of them, 5A, 6A and 1B, allowed detecting a larger number of leprosy patients when compared to controls. The corresponding peptides expressed by selected phage clones were chemically synthesized. A pilot study was undertaken to assess the use of peptides in skin tests. The intradermal challenge with peptides in animals previously sensitized with <it>Mycobacterium leprae</it> induced a delayed-type hypersensitivity with peptide 5A (2/5) and peptide 1B (1/5). In positive controls, there was a 3/5 reactivity for lepromin and a 4/5 reactivity of the sensitized animals with soluble extract of <it>M. leprae.</it></p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The preliminary data suggest that may be possible to develop reagents with diagnostic potential based on peptide mimotopes selected by phage display using polyclonal human antibodies.</p