Multileaf Collimator Modeling and Commissioning for Complex Radiation Treatment Plans Using 2-Dimensional (2D) Diode Array MapCHECK2.

Purpose: This study aims to develop a data-collecting package ExpressMLC and investigate the applicability of MapCHECK2 for multileaf collimator (MLC) modeling and commissioning for complex radiation treatment plans. Materials and methods: The MLC model incorporates realistic parameters to account for sophisticated MLC features. A set of 8 single-beam plans, denoted by ExpressMLC, is created for the determination of parameters. For the commissioning of the MLC model, 4 intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) plans specified by the AAPM TG 119 report were transferred to a computed tomography study of MapCHECK2, recalculated, and compared to measurements on a Varian accelerator. Both per-beam and composite-beam dose verification were conducted. Results: Through sufficient characterization of the MLC model, under 3%/2 mm and 2%/2 mm criteria, MapCHECK2 can be used to accurately verify per beam dose with gamma passing rate better than 90.9% and 89.3%, respectively, while the Gafchromic EBT3 films can achieve gamma passing rate better than 89.3% and 85.7%, respectively. Under the same criteria, MapCHECK2 can achieve composite beam dose verification with a gamma passing rate better than 95.9% and 90.3%, while the Gafchromic EBT3 films can achieve a gamma passing rate better than 96.1% and 91.8%; the p-value from the Mann Whitney test between gamma passing rates of the per beam dose verification using full MapCHECK2 package calibrated MLC model and film calibrated MLC model is .44 and .47, respectively; the p-value between those of the true composite beam dose verification is .62 and .36, respectively. Conclusion: It is confirmed that the 2-dimensional (2D) diode array MapCHECK2 can be used for data collection for MLC modeling with the combination of the ExpressMLC package of plans, whose doses are sufficient for the determination of MLC parameters. It could be a fitting alternative to films to boost the efficiency of MLC modeling and commissioning without sacrificing accuracy.

Anharmonic overtone and combination states of glycine and two model peptides examined by vibrational self-consistent field theory.

In this paper, the application of the vibrational self-consistent field (VSCF) and correction-corrected VSCF methods for calculating anharmonic parameters, including transition frequency, transition intensity and dipole, and vibrational anharmonicity of 3N-6 normal modes for formamide, glycine, N-methylacetamide and their deuterated derivatives are explored mainly at the level of density functional theory. The computed fundamental anharmonic frequencies are found to be in reasonable agreement with experimental results. Diagonal anharmonicities of the second overtone states were examined for multiple normal modes, whose magnitudes were found to correlate well with those of the first overtone states in the three small molecules. The results show that the VSCF-based approach can be utilized to predict anharmonic parameters of higher vibrational states that are essential to understanding multi-pulse infrared nonlinear experiments of peptides.

[Application of the wavelet transform in terahertz time-domain spectroscopy].

With the development of ultrafast laser technique and deeper understanding of the terahertz (THz)electromagnetic wave, THz time domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS)has become a novel and rapidly developed technique. It has been applied in many fields such as biomedical diagnostics, semiconductor wafer diagnostics, and inspection of artwork However, the achieved spectrum will exhibit strong oscillations when it is measured in air environment due to the absorption of water vapor. In the present paper, spectra in the range of 0.2-1.9 THz for seven kinds of samples were measured by THz-TDs in both nitrogen and air environment. The wavelet transform was used to process the data measured in the air environment to eliminate the influence of water vapor. The feasibility of this method was demonstrated by the experimental results.