Micro-imaging of implanted scaffolds using combined MRI and micro-CT.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: Thanks to the advanced studies in biomaterial engineering a panoply of polymers can be used to manufacture porous scaffolds for bone tissue regeneration. Suitability of the scaffold for its purpose is determined by factors like size of the pores, its orientation and shape, as well as biocompatibility of the material. Even though a variety of analysis methods is available for in vitro studies, investigating the process of bone reconstruction on implanted scaffold meets with difficulties. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Polylactide porous sponges imbued in hydroxyapatite were implanted into long bones of white New Zealand rabbits for 3 months. The bones obtained from the animals were subjected to MRI and µCT imaging. The obtained images were subsequently fused together. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Combined MRI and µCT resulted in high resolution diagnostic images which allow for: implant positioning, inflammation divulgement, rating degree of implant resorption, observation of newly formed trabeculae, texture analysis and other quantitative measurements.

Short-term evaluation of visible implant alpha tags in juveniles of three fish species under laboratory conditions.

Visible implant alpha (VI alpha) tag-induced changes in mortality and condition, as well as tag retention and readability, were examined during a 4-week period for juveniles of three fish species: tiger muskellunge Esox masquinongy × Esox lucius (91 ± 7 mm total length, L(T), mean ± s.d.), Snake River cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarki behnkei (84 ± 8 mm) and rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (85 ± 5 mm). Mortality and condition did not differ between tagged fish and control fish for any species and overall tag retention rates were high (92% for E. masquinongy × E. lucius, 91% for O. c. behnkei and 100% for O. mykiss). Short-term readability of VI alpha tags was low in juvenile E. masquinongy × E. lucius and juvenile O. c. behnkei. Therefore, it is not recommend to use VI alpha tags in juvenile E. masquinongy × E. lucius or juvenile O. c. behnkei for periods >2 weeks, but VI alpha tags seem to be suitable for juvenile O. mykiss for a period of at least 4 weeks.

Efficient neutron production from a novel configuration of deuterium gas-puff z-pinch.

A novel configuration of a deuterium z pinch has been used to generate fusion neutrons. Injecting an outer hollow cylindrical plasma shell around an inner deuterium gas puff, neutron yields from DD reactions reached Y(n)=(2.9 ± 0.3) × 10(12) at 700 ns implosion time and 2.7 MA current. Such a neutron yield means a tenfold increase in comparison with previous deuterium gas puff experiments at the same current generator. The increase of beam-target yields was obtained by a larger amount of current assembled on the z-pinch axis, and subsequently by higher induced voltage and higher energies of deuterons. A stack of CR-39 track detectors on the z-pinch axis showed hydrogen ions up to 38 MeV. Maximum neutron energies of 15 and 22 MeV were observed by radial and axial time-of-flight detectors, respectively. The number of DD neutrons per one joule of stored plasma energy approached 5 × 10(7). This implies that deuterium gas puff z pinches belong to the most efficient plasma-based sources of DD neutrons.

Microtron MT 25 as a source of neutrons.

The objective was to describe Microtron MT25 as a source of neutrons generated by bremsstrahlung induced photonuclear reactions in U and Pb targets. Bremsstrahlung photons were produced by electrons accelerated at energy 21.6 MeV. Spectral fluence of the generated neutrons was calculated with MCNPX code and then experimentally determined at two positions by means of a Bonner spheres spectrometer in which the detector of thermal neutrons was replaced by activation Mn tablets or track detectors CR-39 with a (10)B radiator. The measured neutron spectral fluence and the calculated anisotropy served for the estimation of neutron yield from the targets and for the determination of ambient dose equivalent rate at the place of measurement. Microtron MT25 is intended as one of the sources for testing neutron sensitive devices which will be sent into the space.

Spectra of photoneutrons produced by high-energy X-ray radiotherapy linacs.

Spectral fluence of photoneutrons generated in the head of the radiotherapeutic linac Varian 2100 C/D was measured by means of the Bonner spheres spectrometer whose active detector of thermal neutrons was replaced by a track detector, i.e. a sandwich of four CR-39s with the boron radiator inserted between them. Measurements with different collimator settings showed that the fluence of photoneutrons was higher for the more open collimator.

Aircrew dosimetry by means of experimental measurements and calculations: results obtained during the year 2003.

The results of measurements performed during the year 2003 onboard aircraft, mostly during regular commercial flights of the Czech Airlines (CSA) are presented. The studies were performed during more than 30 individual flights, several dosemeters and equipments were used for both neutron and non-neutron components of the onboard radiation field. CSA colleagues submitted us for all flights with navigation data necessary for the calculation of onboard aircraft crew exposure with transport codes EPCARD and CARI. Direct readings of experimental equipments were corrected on the base of the calibration in CERN high-energy radiation fields. A reasonable agreement of measured and calculated data was observed. During one of the flights, a very deep Forbush decrease occurred. The experimental results confronted with calculation permitted to obtain new view on the influence of such events on aircraft crew exposure.

Aircrew exposure monitoring: results of 2001 to 2003 studies.

Aircrew exposure represents one of the recent subjects of occupational individual dosimetry. Since 1991 many new results have been found; there is however a need to gather further data on this exposure and its variation with geomagnetic position, solar activity and flight route parameters. Since 2001, many individual and six long-term monitoring programmes have been conducted onboard aircraft of Czech Airlines (CSA). In these programmes, a Si-diode spectrometer was fixed in an aircraft. Together with it, passive dosemeters thermoluminescent detector, track-etch based neutron dosemeter linear energy transfer and spectrometer) were exposed. More than 700 regular commercial flights were monitored in this manner. CSA supplied us also with full navigation data, which allowed us to calculate the exposure levels using EPCARD 3.2 and CARI6 codes. Direct experimental readings obtained with the detectors mentioned above were interpreted on the basis of calibrations in on-Earth reference fields and compared with calculated data. A satisfactory correlation between all sets of data was observed.

Investigations of doses on board commercial passenger aircraft using CR-39 and thermoluminescent detectors.

Measurements of cosmic radiation dose rates (from the neutron and the non-neutron components) on board passenger aircraft were performed using environmental packages with thermoluminescent TL and CR-39 etched track detectors. The packages were calibrated at the CERN-EU high-energy Reference Field Facility and evaluated at the Institute of Nuclear Physics in Krakow (TL + CR-39) and at the German Aerospace Centre in Cologne (CR-39). Detector packages were exposed on board passenger aircraft operated by LOT Polish Airlines, flown between February and May 2001. The values of effective dose rate determined, averaged over the measuring period, ranged between 2.9 and 4.4 microSv h(-1). The results of environmental measurements agreed to within 10% with values calculated from the CARI-6 code.

Characterisation of neutron fields around high-energy x-ray radiotherapy machines.

Photoneutron spectra around the treatment bed of a Varian Clinac 2100C machine were measured using a Bonner sphere spectrometer. To overcome problems with pulse pile-up and detection of non-neutron-induced events, the active detector of thermal neutrons normally used at the centre of the spheres was replaced by a sandwich of four CR-39 track detectors interleaved with 10B radiators. Track densities measured for the CR-39 detectors in Bonner spheres were used for the unfolding of neutron spectra. Neutron fluence and ambient dose equivalent for the whole energy range and partial energy intervals were derived from the neutron spectra.

Track-etched detectors for the dosimetry of the radiation of cosmic origin.

Cosmic rays contribute to the exposure on the Earth's surface as well as in its surroundings. At the surface and/or at aviation altitudes, there are mostly secondary particles created through the cosmic rays interaction in the atmosphere, which contribute to this type of exposure. Onboard a spacecraft, the exposure comes mostly from primary cosmic rays. Track-etched detectors (TED) are able to characterise both these types of exposure. The contribution of neutrons, of cosmic origin, on the Earth's surface was studied at altitudes from few hundreds to 3000 m using TED in a moderator sphere. The results obtained are compared with other data on this type of natural radiation background. The results of studies performed onboard aircraft and/or spacecraft are presented afterwards. We used TED-based neutron dosemeter, as well as a spectrometer of linear energy transfer based on a chemically etched TED. The results of studies performed onboard aircraft, as well as spacecraft, are presented and discussed, including an attempt to estimate a neutron component onboard the spacecraft. It was found that they correlate with the results of other independent investigations.

A radon 222 traceability chain from primary standard to field detectors.

The development of a primary standard from a method for measuring the absolute activity of 222Rn has also made it possible to establish secondary standards. Detailed procedures to obtain these secondary standards are given. These standards are, in particular, adapted to the requirements of laboratories that have developed equipment for the calibration and comparison of instruments measuring the concentration of radon and its daughters. An example of the implementation of these new resources applied to the qualification of field detectors is given. The propagation of measurement uncertainties at each level (primary, secondary, test radon chamber) is described.

The contribution of secondary heavy particles to the absorbed dose from high-energy photon beams.

High-energy photon radiotherapy sources produce non-negligible numbers of secondary heavy particles (neutrons, protons and alphas) which contribute to the dose in a patient. They also present a radiation protection problem. The contribution of such particles to the absorbed dose in a tissue-like medium and to the equivalent dose is considered in this study experimentally. Track etch detectors were chosen as a basic type of measuring instrument: cellulose nitrate Kodak LR115 and polyallyldiglycol carbonate CR39 were used as detectors. Several methods of directly read datum (track density, track parameter, LET spectrum etc) interpretation have been analysed. It has been ascertained that the contribution of secondary heavy particles represents approximately 0.002 of the photon dose and 0.02 of the equivalent dose, both at 50 MeV as maximum photon energy. The contribution of a 20 MV bremsstrahlung beam is roughly one-fifth of that at 50 MV.