The Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover Mast Camera Zoom (Mastcam-Z) Multispectral, Stereoscopic Imaging Investigation.

Mastcam-Z is a multispectral, stereoscopic imaging investigation on the Mars 2020 mission's Perseverance rover. Mastcam-Z consists of a pair of focusable, 4:1 zoomable cameras that provide broadband red/green/blue and narrowband 400-1000 nm color imaging with fields of view from 25.6° × 19.2° (26 mm focal length at 283 µrad/pixel) to 6.2° × 4.6° (110 mm focal length at 67.4 µrad/pixel). The cameras can resolve (≥ 5 pixels) ∼0.7 mm features at 2 m and ∼3.3 cm features at 100 m distance. Mastcam-Z shares significant heritage with the Mastcam instruments on the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover. Each Mastcam-Z camera consists of zoom, focus, and filter wheel mechanisms and a 1648 × 1214 pixel charge-coupled device detector and electronics. The two Mastcam-Z cameras are mounted with a 24.4 cm stereo baseline and 2.3° total toe-in on a camera plate ∼2 m above the surface on the rover's Remote Sensing Mast, which provides azimuth and elevation actuation. A separate digital electronics assembly inside the rover provides power, data processing and storage, and the interface to the rover computer. Primary and secondary Mastcam-Z calibration targets mounted on the rover top deck enable tactical reflectance calibration. Mastcam-Z multispectral, stereo, and panoramic images will be used to provide detailed morphology, topography, and geologic context along the rover's traverse; constrain mineralogic, photometric, and physical properties of surface materials; monitor and characterize atmospheric and astronomical phenomena; and document the rover's sample extraction and caching locations. Mastcam-Z images will also provide key engineering information to support sample selection and other rover driving and tool/instrument operations decisions.

Correction: 3D VMAT Verification Based on Monte Carlo Log File Simulation with Experimental Feedback from Film Dosimetry.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0166767.].

3D VMAT Verification Based on Monte Carlo Log File Simulation with Experimental Feedback from Film Dosimetry.

A model based on a specific phantom, called QuAArC, has been designed for the evaluation of planning and verification systems of complex radiotherapy treatments, such as volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT). This model uses the high accuracy provided by the Monte Carlo (MC) simulation of log files and allows the experimental feedback from the high spatial resolution of films hosted in QuAArC. This cylindrical phantom was specifically designed to host films rolled at different radial distances able to take into account the entrance fluence and the 3D dose distribution. Ionization chamber measurements are also included in the feedback process for absolute dose considerations. In this way, automated MC simulation of treatment log files is implemented to calculate the actual delivery geometries, while the monitor units are experimentally adjusted to reconstruct the dose-volume histogram (DVH) on the patient CT. Prostate and head and neck clinical cases, previously planned with Monaco and Pinnacle treatment planning systems and verified with two different commercial systems (Delta4 and COMPASS), were selected in order to test operational feasibility of the proposed model. The proper operation of the feedback procedure was proved through the achieved high agreement between reconstructed dose distributions and the film measurements (global gamma passing rates > 90% for the 2%/2 mm criteria). The necessary discretization level of the log file for dose calculation and the potential mismatching between calculated control points and detection grid in the verification process were discussed. Besides the effect of dose calculation accuracy of the analytic algorithm implemented in treatment planning systems for a dynamic technique, it was discussed the importance of the detection density level and its location in VMAT specific phantom to obtain a more reliable DVH in the patient CT. The proposed model also showed enough robustness and efficiency to be considered as a pre-treatment VMAT verification system.

MCTP system model based on linear programming optimization of apertures obtained from sequencing patient image data maps.

PURPOSE: The authors present a hybrid direct multileaf collimator (MLC) aperture optimization model exclusively based on sequencing of patient imaging data to be implemented on a Monte Carlo treatment planning system (MC-TPS) to allow the explicit radiation transport simulation of advanced radiotherapy treatments with optimal results in efficient times for clinical practice. METHODS: The planning system (called CARMEN) is a full MC-TPS, controlled through aMATLAB interface, which is based on the sequencing of a novel map, called "biophysical" map, which is generated from enhanced image data of patients to achieve a set of segments actually deliverable. In order to reduce the required computation time, the conventional fluence map has been replaced by the biophysical map which is sequenced to provide direct apertures that will later be weighted by means of an optimization algorithm based on linear programming. A ray-casting algorithm throughout the patient CT assembles information about the found structures, the mass thickness crossed, as well as PET values. Data are recorded to generate a biophysical map for each gantry angle. These maps are the input files for a home-made sequencer developed to take into account the interactions of photons and electrons with the MLC. For each linac (Axesse of Elekta and Primus of Siemens) and energy beam studied (6, 9, 12, 15 MeV and 6 MV), phase space files were simulated with the EGSnrc/BEAMnrc code. The dose calculation in patient was carried out with the BEAMDOSE code. This code is a modified version of EGSnrc/DOSXYZnrc able to calculate the beamlet dose in order to combine them with different weights during the optimization process. RESULTS: Three complex radiotherapy treatments were selected to check the reliability of CARMEN in situations where the MC calculation can offer an added value: A head-and-neck case (Case I) with three targets delineated on PET/CT images and a demanding dose-escalation; a partial breast irradiation case (Case II) solved with photon and electron modulated beams (IMRT + MERT); and a prostatic bed case (Case III) with a pronounced concave-shaped PTV by using volumetric modulated arc therapy. In the three cases, the required target prescription doses and constraints on organs at risk were fulfilled in a short enough time to allow routine clinical implementation. The quality assurance protocol followed to check CARMEN system showed a high agreement with the experimental measurements. CONCLUSIONS: A Monte Carlo treatment planning model exclusively based on maps performed from patient imaging data has been presented. The sequencing of these maps allows obtaining deliverable apertures which are weighted for modulation under a linear programming formulation. The model is able to solve complex radiotherapy treatments with high accuracy in an efficient computation time.

A comparison between radiochromic EBT2 film model and its predecessor EBT film model.

The manufacturer has introduced the new EBT2 film model so as to improve its predecessor, the EBT radiochromic film model. According to the manufacturer, some of its main advantages include a higher tolerance to light exposure and it can correct non-uniformity of the active layer thickness using a marker dye. However, the equivalence in uniformity between both models was questioned by some authors, and the asymmetrical configuration of layers of the EBT2 film model produces a new dependence on the film side being scanned (front and back orientation). In this study, the EBT2 radiochromic film model was compared with the EBT model and the new marker dye feature was assessed. We also compared this correction method with a pre-irradiated pixel value correction method. An Epson Expression 10000XL scanner in transmission mode was used to scan the films and the red channel response was analyzed. We confirmed the lower-measured signal dependence on the visible light exposure of the EBT2 film model. Differences in pixel values remained below 0.5% for a minimum of 15 days. In regard to the uniformity, similar results for EBT2 and EBT film models were obtained; in both cases inhomogeneity was found to be less than 1%, in relative pixel value from the mean. However, we found that the signal-to-noise ratio was reduced for low doses by 37% for old EBT2 batch and by 21% for new EBT2 batch compared to signal-to-noise ratio for EBT. The EBT2 film model's pixel value difference for the front and back orientation reached up to 1.0% in the red channel. Our results did not show a clear advantage between to use a pre-irradiated pixel value correction and to use the manufacturer's correction.

An outbreak of Mycobacterium fortuitum cutaneous infection associated with mesotherapy.

OBJECTIVE: We describe an outbreak of Mycobacterium fortuitum cutaneous infections associated with mesotherapy in La Rioja, Spain. DESIGN: Descriptive epidemiology. SETTING: Private practice. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Case subjects were customers of a single beauty salon who were treated with mesotherapy injections. INTERVENTION(S): Two skin biopsies were taken from each patient. RESULTS: Over the designated period, 138 women received mesotherapy. Of these women, 39, or 28.3%, developed lesions ultimately thought to be caused by Mycobacterium fortuitum infection. The number of lesions per patient varied from 3 to 20 in the most severe case. Most of the lesions were indurated, erythematous or violaceous papules, some progressing to become fluctuant boils with suppuration, fistulization and scarring. The individual lesions varied in diameter from 0.5 to 6 cm. Two patients (5.1%) developed inguinal or axillary adenopathy. Two others presented with fever. One reported muscular pain. In 12 of the 39 cases, M. fortuitum was isolated from the wound cultures. The patients were all successfully treated with clarithromycin and levofloxacin. CONCLUSIONS: We identified a large outbreak of rapidly growing mycobacterial lesions among women who received mesotherapy injections in a single beauty salon.

[Huntington's disease mortality in Spain in the period 1981-2004]. / Mortalidad por la enfermedad de Huntington en Espana en el periodo 1981-2004.

INTRODUCTION: Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomic dominant neurodegenerative disease characterized by neuromuscular, cognitive and psychiatric symptoms. AIM: To analyze the mortality trend for HD from 1981-2004 in Spain. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Both crude and specific rates adjusted to the European population were used to show the evolution of mortality. Rates are showed by age and gender per million of inhabitants. Joinpoint regression model was used to analyze mortality trends. RESULTS: 866 deaths under HD codes were recorded in Spain during the study period (452 males and 414 females). Adjusted rates ranged from 0.64 in 1981 to 1.65 in 2004 in males and from 0.40 in 1981 to 1.16 in 2004 in females. The trend of the mortality rates in both genders followed a slight and steady increase during the whole period and dramatic changes were not detected. The average yearly percentage of this increase was 3.76% in males and 3.67% in females. CONCLUSIONS: The study has showed a yearly age adjusted mortality rates increase close to 4%. No differences have been seen between males and females. The follow up of this trend should be monitored to test if it stabilizes or it rises.

Mortalidad por la enfermedad de Huntington en España en el período 1981-2004 / Huntington´s disease mortality in Spain in the period 1981-2004

Introducción. La enfermedad de Huntington (EH) es una enfermedad neurodegenerativa hereditaria autosómica dominante, caracterizada por síntomas motores, cognitivos y psiquiátricos. Objetivo. Analizar las tendencias en la mortalidad por EH en España en el período 1981 a 2004. Pacientes y métodos. Los datos de mortalidad proceden del Instituto Nacional de Estadística, código 333.4 de la CIE-9 para el período 1981 a 1998, y código G10 de la CIE-10 desde 1999. Se han calculado tasas brutas, tasas específicas por edad y tasas ajustadas según la población europea, según el método directo y expresadas por millón de habitantes. Para analizar la tendencia en las tasas de mortalidad se han empleado modelos de regresión de joinpoint. Resultados. En el período estudiado fallecieron 866 personas (452 varones y 414 mujeres) en España por EH. Las tasas ajustadas por millón de habitantes fueron de 0,64 (en 1981) y 1,65 (en 2004) en varones, y de 0,40 (en 1981) y 1,16 (en 2004) en mujeres. La evolución de las tasas de mortalidad ajustadas por edad ha sido monótonamente creciente, sin que se hayan identificado puntos de cambio en la tendencia. En promedio, el crecimiento estimado mediante el porcentaje anual de cambio ha sido de 3,76% en varones y de 3,67% en mujeres. Conclusiones. El estudio ha mostrado un incremento cercano al 4% anual en las tasas de mortalidad ajustadas por edad, similar en varones y en mujeres. Queda por evaluar si la tendencia creciente encontrada se mantiene en el futuro o si se estabiliza en las cifras de los últimos años

Introduction. Huntington’s disease (HD) is an autosomic dominant neurodegenerative disease characterized by neuromuscular, cognitive and psychiatric symptoms. Aim. To analyze the mortality trend for HD from 1981-2004 in Spain. Patients and methods. Both crude and specific rates adjusted to the European population were used to show the evolution of mortality. Rates are showed by age and gender per million of inhabitants. Joinpoint regression model was used to analyze mortality trends. Results. 866 deaths under HD codes were recorded in Spain during the study period (452 males and 414 females). Adjusted rates ranged from 0.64 in 1981 to 1.65 in 2004 in males and from 0.40 in 1981 to 1.16 in 2004 in females. The trend of the mortality rates in both genders followed a slight and steady increase during the whole period and dramatic changes were not detected. The average yearly percentage of this increase was 3.76% in males and 3.67% in females. Conclusions. The study has showed a yearly age adjusted mortality rates increase close to 4%. No differences have been seen between males and females. The follow up of this trend should be monitored to test if it stabilizes or it rises

A measles outbreak in children under 15 months of age in La Rioja, Spain, 2005-2006.

This paper describes a measles outbreak in La Rioja, Spain, which began in December 2005 and mainly affected children under 15 months of age who were not yet immunised with MMR vaccine. The measles cases were detected by the mandatory reporting system, under which laboratories must report every confirmed measles case. Cases were classified in accordance with the National Measles Elimination Plan: suspected and laboratory-confirmed. In the period 14 December 2005 to 19 February 2006, 29 suspected cases of measles were investigated, and 18 were confirmed. The mean incubation period was 13.8 days (range: 9 to 18). Of the 18 confirmed cases, only two were in adults. MMR vaccination was recommended for all household contacts, as well as for children aged 6 to 14 months who attended the daycare centres where the cases had appeared. At these centres, the second dose of MMR was administered ahead of schedule for children under three years of age. It was recommended that the first dose of MMR vaccine be administered ahead of schedule for all children aged 9 to 14 months. During an outbreak of measles, children aged 6 months or older, who have not previously been vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella, should receive a first dose as soon as possible, and those who have had a first dose should receive a second dose as soon as possible, provided that a minimum of one month has elapsed between the two doses.

[Present situation and future perspectives of the epidemic of HIV and AIDS in Spain]. / Situación actual y perspectivas futuras de la epidemia de VIH y sida en España.

Until 1997 Spain was the European country with the highest incidence of AIDS, due mainly to transmission between users of injected drugs. Since early 1990 there has been a fall in the rate of diagnoses of HIV infection in the Spanish autonomous communities where this information is available, and in 2004 this rate was situated below that of several western European countries. New infections in users of intravenous drugs have declined, and although heterosexual transmission has not undergone significant changes, it has become the prime cause of new HIV infections. The rate of diagnoses of HIV has fallen in both the indigenous population and immigrants; however, demographic changes have meant an increase in the percentage of HIV diagnoses in immigrants. In homosexual men there have been descriptions of a recent increase in the incidence of syphilis and gonococcus, which are a warning of possible increases in the transmission of HIV in this group. The number of people who live with HIV in Spain remains between 100,000 and 150,000 (2.4 to 3.6 per 1,000 inhabitants). In spite of the improvement in prognosis due to antiretroviral treatments, there are annually in Spain over 2,000 cases of AIDS (4.8 per 100,000 inhabitants) and over 1,600 deaths from AIDS (3.8 per 100,000). One third of the people who developed AIDS in 2004 had not until then been diagnosed with HIV, which prevented starting the antiretroviral treatment in time.

Situación actual y perspectivas futuras de la epidemia de VIH y sida en España / Present situation and future perspectives of the epidemic of HIV and AIDS in Spain

España fue hasta 1997 el país europeo con mayor incidencia de sida, debido principalmente a la transmisión entre usuarios de drogas inyectadas. Desde principios de 1990 ha disminuido la tasa de diagnósticos de infección por el VIH en las comunidades autónomas españolas que disponen de esta información, y en 2004 esta tasa se situó por debajo de la de varios países de Europa occidental. Han disminuido las nuevas infecciones en usuarios de drogas por vía parenteral, y aunque la transmisión heterosexual no ha sufrido cambios importantes, ha pasado a ser la primera causa de las nuevas infecciones por VIH. La tasa de diagnósticos de VIH ha disminuido tanto en población autóctona como en inmigrantes; no obstante, los cambios demográficos hacen que crezca el porcentaje de diagnósticos de VIH de inmigrantes. En hombres homosexuales se han descrito aumentos recientes en la incidencia de sífilis y gonococia que alertan sobre posibles ascensos en la transmisión del VIH en este colectivo. El número de personas que viven con el VIH en España se mantiene entre 100.000 y 150.000 (2,4 a 3,6 por 1.000 habitantes). A pesar de la mejora en el pronóstico debida a los tratamientos antirretrovirales, en España se producen todavía más de 2.000 casos de sida (4,8 por 100.000 habitantes) y más de 1.600 muertes por sida anuales (3,8 por 100.000 habitantes). Un tercio de las personas que debutaron con sida en 2004 no habían sido diagnosticadas de VIH hasta entonces, lo que impidió iniciar el tratamiento antirretroviral a tiempo

Until 1997 Spain was the European country with the highest incidence of AIDS, due mainly to transmission between users of injected drugs. Since early 1990 there has been a fall in the rate of diagnoses of HIV infection in the Spanish autonomous communities where this information is available, and in 2004 this rate was situated below that of several western European countries. New infections in users of intravenous drugs have declined, and although heterosexual transmission has not undergone significant changes, it has become the prime cause of new HIV infections. The rate of diagnoses of HIV has fallen in both the indigenous population and immigrants; however, demographic changes have meant an increase in the percentage of HIV diagnoses in immigrants. In homosexual men there have been descriptions of a recent increase in the incidence of syphilis and gonococcus, which are a warning of possible increases in the transmission of HIV in this group. ;;The number of people who live with HIV in Spain remains between 100,000 and 150,000 (2.4 to 3.6 per 1,000 inhabitants). In spite of the improvement in prognosis due to antiretroviral treatments, there are annually in Spain over 2,000 cases of AIDS (4.8 per 100,000 inhabitants) and over 1,600 deaths from AIDS (3.8 per 100,000). One third of the people who developed AIDS in 2004 had not until then been diagnosed with HIV, which prevented starting the antiretroviral treatment in time

A measles outbreak in children under 15 months of age in La Rioja, Spain, 2005-2006.

This paper describes a measles outbreak in La Rioja, Spain, which began in December 2005 and mainly affected children under 15 months of age who were not yet immunised with MMR vaccine. The measles cases were detected by the mandatory reporting system, under which laboratories must report every confirmed measles case. Cases were classified in accordance with the National Measles Elimination Plan: suspected and laboratory-confirmed. In the period 14 December 2005 to 19 February 2006, 29 suspected cases of measles were investigated, and 18 were confirmed. The mean incubation period was 13.8 days (range: 9 to 18). Of the 18 confirmed cases, only two were in adults. MMR vaccination was recommended for all household contacts, as well as for children aged 6 to 14 months who attended the daycare centres where the cases had appeared. At these centres, the second dose of MMR was administered ahead of schedule for children under three years of age. It was recommended that the first dose of MMR vaccine be administered ahead of schedule for all children aged 9 to 14 months. During an outbreak of measles, children aged 6 months or older, who have not previously been vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella, should receive a first dose as soon as possible, and those who have had a first dose should receive a second dose as soon as possible, provided that a minimum of one month has elapsed between the two doses.

Ionization chamber dosimetry of small photon fields: a Monte Carlo study on stopping-power ratios for radiosurgery and IMRT beams.

Absolute dosimetry with ionization chambers of the narrow photon fields used in stereotactic techniques and IMRT beamlets is constrained by lack of electron equilibrium in the radiation field. It is questionable that stopping-power ratio in dosimetry protocols, obtained for broad photon beams and quasi-electron equilibrium conditions, can be used in the dosimetry of narrow fields while keeping the uncertainty at the same level as for the broad beams used in accelerator calibrations. Monte Carlo simulations have been performed for two 6 MV clinical accelerators (Elekta SL-18 and Siemens Mevatron Primus), equipped with radiosurgery applicators and MLC. Narrow circular and Z-shaped on-axis and off-axis fields, as well as broad IMRT configured beams, have been simulated together with reference 10 x 10 cm2 beams. Phase-space data have been used to generate 3D dose distributions which have been compared satisfactorily with experimental profiles (ion chamber, diodes and film). Photon and electron spectra at various depths in water have been calculated, followed by Spencer-Attix (delta = 10 keV) stopping-power ratio calculations which have been compared to those used in the IAEA TRS-398 code of practice. For water/air and PMMA/air stopping-power ratios, agreements within 0.1% have been obtained for the 10 x 10 cm2 fields. For radiosurgery applicators and narrow MLC beams, the calculated s(w,air) values agree with the reference within +/-0.3%, well within the estimated standard uncertainty of the reference stopping-power ratios (0.5%). Ionization chamber dosimetry of narrow beams at the photon qualities used in this work (6 MV) can therefore be based on stopping-power ratios data in dosimetry protocols. For a modulated 6 MV broad beam used in clinical IMRT, s(w,air) agrees within 0.1% with the value for 10 x 10 cm2, confirming that at low energies IMRT absolute dosimetry can also be based on data for open reference fields. At higher energies (24 MV) the difference in s(w,air) was up to 1.1%, indicating that the use of protocol data for narrow beams in such cases is less accurate than at low energies, and detailed calculations of the dosimetry parameters involved should be performed if similar accuracy to that of 6 MV is sought.

A Monte Carlo approach for small electron beam dosimetry.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: In treatments where it is necessary to conform the field shape yielding a very small effective beam area, dosimetry and conventional treatment planning may be inaccurate. The Monte Carlo (MC) method can be an alternative to verify dose calculations. A conjunctival mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues lymphoma is presented, to show the importance of an independent assessment in critical situations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this work, the MC technique has been employed using the program BEAM (based on EGS4 code). Electron beam simulation has been performed and the results have been compared with those obtained with films. The patient dose distribution has been obtained by two methods: the full Monte Carlo (FMC) simulation and a conventional planning system (PLATO). RESULTS: Concerning dosimetry, some differences have been observed in the comparison of profiles obtained with film and those obtained with the MC method. Moreover, significant differences were found in the patient isodose distribution between both calculation methods. CONCLUSIONS: The results highlight that, in treatments where small beams are needed, conventional dosimetry and planning systems have some limitations. Therefore, an independent and more accurate assessment, such as MC, would be desirable.

A conformal technique for a ring shaped conjunctive lymphoma treatment.

Radiotherapy is commonly utilised as standard treatment in the so called mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues (MALT), due to the low probability of distant relapse. The particularities of the lesion, make necessary both energy degradation and beam conformation. To keep homogeneity within acceptable limits, a lengthener attached to the electron applicator has been devised to closely fit the anatomy of the patient. Considering the small area of the outcoming field, film dosimetry is preferred, since the dimensions of an ionisation chamber and even of a semiconductor probe might be comparable to the field size.

[A prevalence study of tuberculous infection in the schoolchild population in the 1st year of general basic education in Logroño]. / Estudio de prevalencia de infección tuberculosa en población escolar de 1. de EGB de Logroño.

OBJECTIVE: To find the extent and spread of endemic tuberculosis in La Rioja and assess its tuberculosis control programme. DESIGN: Prevalence study. SETTING: Both public and private EGB (general basic education) schools in Logroño. PATIENTS AND OTHERS PARTICIPANTS: All students registered for the first year of EGB. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A tuberculin test, consisting of two international units (IU) of PPD-23 with tween 80, was carried out. We obtained a prevalence of tubercular infection of 1.12 +/- 0.58%, with a 95% confidence interval and standard error calculated at 0.29%. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of prevalence of tubercular infection in children doing the first year of EGB in La Rioja is high, as seen in the high rates of incidence and carriers. The findings support the appropriateness of continuing with this type of study, for two reasons. The first is the need to establish the annual risk of infection (ARI) in order to monitor how endemic tuberculosis evolves in our community and assess the tuberculosis control programme. The second reason is that, by checking infected children, it becomes possible to prevent or treat new cases of tuberculosis and find possible unknown sources and future reservoirs of infection.

Outbreak of infection caused by Neisseria meningitidis group C type 2 in a nursery.

An outbreak of meningococcal infection which took place in a nursery in Rioja, Spain, is reported. Between November 1981 and February 1982, 11 patients had meningitis with or without septicaemia. Two died. Three meningococcal strains from the patients isolated were studied. All three were group C type 2 and were resistant to sulphadiazine (MIC 50 mg/l) but susceptible to penicillin, ampicillin, chloramphenicol, rifampicin and spiramycin. This outbreak took place during an epidemic in which serogroup B was the most prevalent in Spain. Two surveys before and after chemoprophylaxis were made to determine the carrier rate in the nursery population. The strain causing the outbreak was found in 2.5 and 4 per cent of persons respectively. Rifampicin was administered to all carriers after the first survey and to carriers of the virulent strain after the second survey. The remaining children were given polysaccharide C vaccine. No more cases arose after this last prophylactic measure.