Ademir Xavier da Silva

Prediction of volume fractions in three-phase flows using nuclear technique and artificial neural network

This work presents methodology based on nuclear technique and artificial neural network for volume fraction predictions in annular, stratified and homogeneous oil-water-gas regimes. Using principles of gamma-ray absorption and scattering together with an appropriate geometry, comprised of three detectors and a dual-energy gamma-ray source, it was possible to obtain data, which could be adequately correlated to the volume fractions of each phase by means of neural network. The MCNP-X code was used in order to provide the training data for the network.

Methodology for digital radiography simulation using the Monte Carlo code MCNPX for industrial applications.

This work presents a methodology for digital radiography simulation for industrial applications using the MCNPX radiography tally. In order to perform the simulation, the energy-dependent response of a BaFBr imaging plate detector was modeled and introduced in the MCNPX radiography tally input. In addition, a post-processing program was used to convert the MCNPX radiography tally output into 16-bit digital images. Simulated and experimental images of a steel pipe containing corrosion alveoli and stress corrosion cracking were compared, and the results showed good agreement between both images.

Influence of the Presence of Tissue Expanders on Energy Deposition for Post-Mastectomy Radiotherapy

An increasing number of studies have shown that post-mastectomy radiotherapy presents benefits associated with the patients survival and a significant fraction of the treated patients makes use of tissue expanders for breast reconstruction. Some models of tissue expanders have a magnetic disk on their surface that constitutes heterogeneity in the radiation field, which can affect the dose distribution during the radiotherapy treatment. In this study, the influence of a metallic heterogeneity positioned in a breast tissue expander was evaluated by means of Monte Carlo simulations using the MCNPX code and using Eclipse treatment planning system. Deposited energy values were calculated in structures which have clinical importance for the treatment. Additionally, the effect in the absorbed energy due to backscattering and attenuation of the incident beam caused by the heterogeneity, as well as due to the expansion of the prosthesis, was evaluated in target structures for a 6 MV photon beam by simulations. The dose distributions for a breast treatment were calculated using a convolution/superposition algorithm from the Eclipse treatment planning system. When compared with the smallest breast expander volume, underdosage of 7% was found for the largest volume of breast implant, in the case of frontal irradiation of the chest wall, by Monte Carlo simulations. No significant changes were found in dose distributions for the presence of the heterogeneity during the treatment planning of irradiation with an opposed pair of beams. Even considering the limitation of the treatment planning system, the results obtained with its use confirm those ones found by Monte Carlo simulations for a tangent beam irradiation. The presence of a heterogeneity didńt alters the dose distributions on treatment structures. The underdosage of 7% observed with Monte Carlo simulations were found for irradiation at 0°, not used frequently in a clinical routine.

Computed radiography simulation using the Monte Carlo code MCNPX

Simulating X-ray images has been of great interest in recent years as it makes possible an analysis of how X-ray images are affected owing to relevant operating parameters. In this paper, a procedure for simulating computed radiographic images using the Monte Carlo code MCNPX is proposed. The sensitivity curve of the BaFBr image plate detector as well as the characteristic noise of a 16-bit computed radiography system were considered during the methodologys development. The results obtained confirm that the proposed procedure for simulating computed radiographic images is satisfactory, as it allows obtaining results comparable with experimental data.

Dose–image quality study in digital chest radiography using Monte Carlo simulation

One of the main preoccupations of diagnostic radiology is to guarantee a good image-sparing dose to the patient. In the present study, Monte Carlo simulations, with MCNPX code, coupled with an adult voxel female model (FAX) were performed to investigate how image quality and dose in digital chest radiography vary with tube voltage (80-150 kV) using air-gap technique and a computed radiography system. Calculated quantities were normalized to a fixed value of entrance skin exposure (ESE) of 0.0136 R. The results of the present analysis show that the image quality for chest radiography with imaging plate is improved and the dose reduced at lower tube voltage.

Gafchromic EBT2 dosimetry via robust optimization

Abstract An ‘in house’ software was developed with MATLAB in order to perform optimized dose calculations in radiotherapy. The aim of this work is to demonstrate an improvement on the Multichannel method using robust optimization that deals with optimization problems where robustness is sought against uncertainty. An optimization framework was developed in order to compare remaining error from optimization process of robust methods against the conventional triple-channel method. The proposed robust method minimizes the dose difference over all channels compared to the original triple-channel method, mainly over clinical dose range. Even if a Gafchromic EBT2 film irradiated by composite IMRT fields is analyzed, more consistent values than the ones obtained by the triple-channel method are found and Newton Rings patterns are minimized. When robust methods are applied, the difference between blue and red channel doses was found to be very small, about 10 4 times less than obtained by triple-channel optimization. It is well known that one outlier may cause a large error in a least squares estimator. The blue channel correction of non-uniformities may have best performance when robust optimization is used. A variety of anomalies (artifacts, Newton rings and other disturbances) behave differently from natural Gaussian random noise such as variations of the thickness. The use of robust optimization methods might be more realistic since this approach uses fatter tail distributions as the Laplace and could mitigate the Newton’s Rings Pattern.

Use of a bioindicator system in the study of the mutagenetical effects in the neighborhoods of deposits of radioactive waste

The purpose of the research described in this paper was to analyze the biological mutational effects caused by low doses of ionizing radiation on biological samples placed nearby and around deposits of radioactive waste, as a way of monitoring the environment close to them. In order to do this, the plant Tradescantia pallida was chosen, and through micronuclei tests the sensitivity of the dose/response to bio-monitoring could be observed. The plants were exposed for a period of 24h in previously chosen sites around Brazil, within the proximity of nuclear waste deposits. In each location, three points were chosen for bio-monitoring. The results obtained at these locations showed a small increment in the frequency of micronuclei per cell of the biosensor. From these data, a scale of mutagenesis effects due to low-dose radiation was built up. T. pallida is a good alternative for environmental bio-monitoring in tropical climates, as it is an excellent alternative tool in the studies of the effects of ionizing radiation on the environment.

Evaluation of the radiotherapy treatment planning in the presence of a magnetic valve tissue expander.

The combination of radiotherapy treatments and breast reconstruction, using temporary tissue expanders, generates several concerns due to the presence of a magnetic valve inside the radiation field. The objective of this work is to evaluate a radiotherapy treatment planning for a patient using a tissue expander. Isodose curve maps, obtained using radiochromic films, were compared to the ones calculated with two different dose calculation algorithms of the Eclipse radiotherapy Treatment Planning System (TPS), considering the presence or absence of the heterogeneity. The TPS calculation considering the presence of the heterogeneity shows changes around 5% in the isodose curves when they were compared with the calculation without heterogeneity correction. This calculation did not take in account the real density value of the heterogeneity. This limitation was quantified to be around 10% in comparison with the TPS calculation and experimental measurements using the radiochromic film. These results show that the magnetic valve should be taken in account in dose calculations of the TPS. With respect to the AAA and Pencil Beam Convolution algorithms, when the calculation is compared with the real distribution, AAA presents a distribution more similar to experimental dose distribution.

Assessment of weld thickness loss in offshore pipelines using computed radiography and computational modeling.

In order to guarantee the structural integrity of oil plants it is crucial to monitor the amount of weld thickness loss in offshore pipelines. However, in spite of its relevance, this parameter is very difficult to determine, due to both the large diameter of most pipes and the complexity of the multi-variable system involved. In this study, a computational modeling based on Monte Carlo MCNPX code is combined with computed radiography to estimate the weld thickness loss in large-diameter offshore pipelines. Results show that computational modeling is a powerful tool to estimate intensity variations in radiographic images generated by weld thickness variations, and it can be combined with computed radiography to assess weld thickness loss in offshore and subsea pipelines.

Spectrally average conversion coefficients for air kerma to ambient dose equivalent for clinical linear accelerator

This work aims to calculate the conversion coefficients from air kerma to ambient dose equivalent, H*(10)/K(air) for photon beams produced by linear accelerators, such as the Clinac-4, Clinac-6, Clinac-18 and Clinac-2500, after transmission through primary barriers of radiotherapy treatment rooms. Concrete walls of thickness 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0m were irradiated with 30cmx30cm primary beam spectra. The transmitted spectra were calculated to obtain the conversion coefficients for beams found in radiotherapy services. The calculations were done using the MCNP-4B Monte Carlo code. The results indicate the need to use a factor of about 1.20 to obtain the ambient dose equivalent for radiation surveys near primary barriers using instruments calibrated in air kerma.