MCHP (Monte Carlo + Human Phantom): Platform to facilitate teaching nuclear radiation physics.

Some concepts in nuclear radiation physics are abstract and intellectually demanding. In the present paper, an "MCHP platform" (MCHP was an acronym for Monte Carlo simulations + Human Phantoms) was proposed to provide assistance to the students through visualization. The platform involved Monte Carlo simulations of interactions between ionizing radiations and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) adult male human phantom. As an example to demonstrate the benefits of the proposed MCHP platform, the present paper investigated the variation of the absorbed photon dose per photon from a 137Cs source in three selected organs, namely, brain, spine and thyroid of an adult male for concrete and lead shields with varying thicknesses. The results were interesting but not readily comprehensible without direct visualization. Graphical visualization snapshots as well as video clips of real time interactions between the photons and the human phantom were presented for the involved cases, and the results were explained with the help of such snapshots and video clips. It is envisaged that, if the platform is found useful and effective by the readers, the readers can also propose examples to be gradually added onto this platform in future, with the ultimate goal of enhancing students' understanding and learning the concepts in an undergraduate nuclear radiation physics course or a related course.

Medical use of byproduct material--authorized user clarification. Direct final rule.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is amending its regulations to clarify that individuals who do not need to comply with the training and experience requirements as described in the applicable regulations for the medical use of byproduct material (i.e., are "grandfathered") may serve as preceptors and work experience supervisors for individuals seeking recognition on NRC licenses for the same medical uses of byproduct material. The regulations that govern the medical use of byproduct material were amended in their entirety in 2002 and again in 2005. Currently, individuals who were identified on an NRC or Agreement State license or permit before the regulations were amended do not need to requalify by meeting the training and experience (T&E) requirements of the applicable regulations. When the regulations were revised, the NRC intended that those authorized individuals would also be able to serve as preceptors and work experience supervisors. However, the regulations as they are currently written do not specifically state that grandfathered individuals can be work experience supervisors and preceptors. This direct final rule amends the regulations to clarify that all individuals grandfathered under the applicable regulations may serve as preceptors and work experience supervisors for individuals seeking recognition on an NRC license for the same uses. Additionally, several minor administrative changes are included in this rulemaking.

The image of the atomic bomb in Japan before Hiroshima.

This paper traces the roots of the image of the atomic bomb in Japan by investigating the various discourses on atomic energy and atomic weapons in Japanese literature prior to the bombing of Hiroshima in August 1945. Japan is a country that suffered an atomic attack and, at the same time, one of the countries that was engaged in atomic weapons research during the Second World War. During the war, the discourses on atomic weapons were not limited to the military or scientific communities, but included the general public, thus facilitating the creation of a shared image of the atomic bomb as an ultimate weapon. This paper examines how this image was created. This special issue deals with the comparison among different countries, but the purpose of my paper is to deepen this subject by illustrating the differences within a single country in different periods. This research aims to extend the historical perspective concerning the atomic bomb in Japan, and offers another way of looking at this both historical and contemporary issue.

A model for online interactive remote education for medical physics using the Internet.

BACKGROUND: Medical physics is a relatively small community but it spans great geographical distances, usually with a scarcity of experts whose expertise could greatly benefit students entering into the field. In addition there are many software systems for which an interactive education method would be most advantageous. OBJECTIVE: To develop a process to optimally use the Internet for real-time interactive remote education of medical physics and to present the experience of the study. METHODS: The project is a collaboration of the Department of Medical Physics at the Toronto-Sunnybrook Regional Cancer Centre in Canada and the Department of Radiology at the University of Malaya in Malaysia. A class of medical-physics graduate students at the University of Malaya attended lectures provided by lecturers in Toronto, using the Internet as the main tool of communication. RESULTS: The different methods that can be used to provide the real-time interactive remote education were explored, and various topics-including traditional classroom lectures as well as hands-on workshops-were also delivered. CONCLUSIONS: The concept of real-time interactive remote education is viable and holds promise for providing economical and practical tele-education to the medical physics community, but depends heavily on the availability of the Internet in many developing countries.