ABSTRACT
Nucleus ruber is known as an important supraspinal center that controls forelimb movements in tetrapods, and the rubral homologue may serve similar functions in fishes (motor control of pectoral fin). However, two apparently different structures have been identified as 'nucleus ruber' in actinopterygians. One is nucleus ruber of Goldstein (1905) (NRg), and the other nucleus ruber of Nieuwenhuys and Pouwels (1983) (NRnp). It remains unclear whether one of these nuclei (or perhaps both) is homologous to tetrapod nucleus ruber. To resolve this issue from a phylogenetic point of view, we have investigated the distribution of tegmental neurons retrogradely labeled from the spinal cord in eight actinopterygian species. We also investigated the presence/absence of the two nuclei with Nissl- or Bodian-stained brain section series of an additional 28 actinopterygian species by comparing the morphological features of candidate rubral neurons with those of neurons revealed by the tracer studies. Based on these analyses, the NRg was identified in all actinopterygians investigated in the present study, while the NRnp appears to be absent in basal actinopterygians. The phylogenetic distribution pattern indicates that the NRg is the more likely homologue of nucleus ruber, and the NRnp may be a derived nucleus that emerged during the course of actinopterygian evolution.
Subject(s)
Animal Fins/physiology , Fishes/physiology , Motor Activity/physiology , Neural Pathways/physiology , Red Nucleus/anatomy & histology , Red Nucleus/physiology , Animals , Fishes/anatomy & histology , Neural Pathways/anatomy & histology , Neuroanatomical Tract-Tracing Techniques , Phylogeny , Spinal Cord/anatomy & histology , Spinal Cord/physiology , Staining and LabelingABSTRACT
A new treatment planning system (TPS) was designed and developed for a new treatment system, which consisted of a micro-beam-enabled linac with robotics and a real-time tracking system. We also evaluated the effectiveness of the implemented algorithms of optimization and dose calculations in the TPS for the new treatment system. In the TPS, the optimization procedure consisted of the pseudo Beam's-Eye-View method for finding the optimized beam directions and the steepest-descent method for determination of beam intensities. We used the superposition-/convolution-based (SC-based) algorithm and Monte Carlo-based (MC-based) algorithm to calculate dose distributions using CT image data sets. In the SC-based algorithm, dose density scaling was applied for the calculation of inhomogeneous corrections. The MC-based algorithm was implemented with Geant4 toolkit and a phase-based approach using a network-parallel computing. From the evaluation of the TPS, the system can optimize the direction and intensity of individual beams. The accuracy of the dose calculated by the SC-based algorithm was less than 1% on average with the calculation time of 15 s for one beam. However, the MC-based algorithm needed 72 min for one beam using the phase-based approach, even though the MC-based algorithm with the parallel computing could decrease multiple beam calculations and had 18.4 times faster calculation speed using the parallel computing. The SC-based algorithm could be practically acceptable for the dose calculation in terms of the accuracy and computation time. Additionally, we have found a dosimetric advantage of proton Bragg peak-like dose distribution in micro-beam treatment.
Subject(s)
Algorithms , Radiation Dosage , Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted/methods , Monte Carlo Method , Radiotherapy DosageABSTRACT
The results of Monte Carlo calculated dose distributions of proton treatment of ocular melanoma are presented. An efficient spot scanning method utilizing active energy modulation, which also minimizes the number of target spots was developed. We simulated various parameter values for the particle energy spread and the pencil beam diameter in order to determine values suitable for medical treatment. We found that a 2.5-mm-diameter proton beam with a 5% Gaussian energy spread was suitable for treatment of ocular melanoma while preserving vision for the typical case that we simulated. The energy spectra and the required proton current were also calculated and are reported. The results are intended to serve as a guideline for a new class of low-cost, compact accelerators.
Subject(s)
Eye Neoplasms/radiotherapy , Melanoma/radiotherapy , Proton Therapy , Radiation Dosage , Eye Neoplasms/pathology , Humans , Lasers , Melanoma/pathology , Monte Carlo Method , Organs at Risk/radiation effects , Radiotherapy Dosage , Tumor BurdenABSTRACT
A CdTe Schottky diode detector of 1 mm thickness was employed in diagnostic x-ray spectroscopy. The detector response to monoenergetic photons was investigated with gamma rays from the calibration sources (241Am and 133Ba). As spectral distortion due to carrier trapping, known as tailing, was small in gamma-ray spectra, the effects of carrier trapping were not taken into account in the calculation of response functions. The distortion due to the transmission of primary x rays and the escape of secondary x rays (K-fluorescent x rays and Compton-scattered x rays) from the crystal was included in the calculated response functions. X-ray spectra corrected using the response functions were in good agreement with the reference spectra obtained with a high-purity germanium detector. The results indicated that correction for the distortion due to carrier trapping is not necessary when using a thin CdTe detector in diagnostic x-ray spectroscopy.
Subject(s)
Cadmium Compounds/chemistry , Cadmium Compounds/radiation effects , Radiometry/instrumentation , Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission/instrumentation , Tellurium/chemistry , Tellurium/radiation effects , Equipment Design , Equipment Failure Analysis , Radiation Dosage , Reproducibility of Results , Semiconductors , Sensitivity and SpecificityABSTRACT
A CdZnTe (CZT) detector was utilized in mammographic x-ray spectroscopy under clinical conditions. First, the detector response was investigated using y-rays from 241Am. The escape of secondary (Compton scattered and K fluorescent) x-rays and tailing due to carrier trapping were minor in the mammographic energy range. In addition, the transmission of primary x-rays was minimal from the results calculated using the mass attenuation coefficients of CZT. Therefore, spectral distortion in this energy range was expected to be negligible. Secondly, x-ray spectroscopy was carried out with the CZT detector. The measured spectra were in good agreement with the spectra obtained with the Compton-scatter method with a high-purity germanium detector. Moreover, the half-value layers (HVLs) calculated from the CZT spectra were consistent with the HVLs measured with an ionization chamber. The results indicate that a CZT detector can be utilized in mammographic x-ray spectroscopy without any corrections.
Subject(s)
Cadmium , Mammography/instrumentation , Radiographic Image Enhancement/instrumentation , Radiometry/instrumentation , Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission/instrumentation , Tellurium , Zinc , Isotopes , Mammography/methods , Phantoms, Imaging , Radiation Dosage , Radiometry/methods , Reproducibility of Results , Sensitivity and Specificity , X-RaysABSTRACT
A method to utilize CdZnTe (CZT) detectors in diagnostic x-ray spectroscopy is described in this article. Spectral distortion due to transmission of primary x rays, the escape of cadmium- and tellurium-K fluorescent x rays, and tailing was severe in measured x-ray spectra. Therefore, correction for the distortion was performed with the stripping method using response functions. The response functions were calculated with the Monte Carlo method. The Hecht equation was employed to approximate the effects of carrier trapping in the calculations. The parameters in the Hecht equation, the mean-free path (lambda) of electrons and holes, were determined such that the tailing in calculated response functions fit that in measured gamma-ray spectra. Corrected x-ray spectra agreed well with the reference spectra measured with an HPGe detector. The results indicate that CZT detectors are suitable for diagnostic x-ray spectroscopy with appropriate corrections.
Subject(s)
Cadmium/chemistry , Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission/methods , Tellurium/chemistry , Zinc/chemistry , Algorithms , Humans , Monte Carlo Method , PhotonsABSTRACT
PURPOSE: A Monte Carlo (MC) model of CyberKnife was developed as a quality assurance tool. The percentage depth dose (%dd) was verified by using this model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An MC model was developed with Electron Gamma Shower version 4 (EGS4) in two steps: (1) a model of the CyberKnife treatment head and (2) a model of the collimator and phantom. The bremsstrahlung spectrum was calculated using the first model, and this spectrum was then used to calculate %dds with the second model. The calculated %dds for a large field (60 mm diameter) and three small fields (30, 15, and 5 mm diameter) were compared with those measured with a diamond detector. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The MC-calculated and measured %dd-curves for the 60 mm diameter field were in excellent agreement (<1.85%), thus confirming the validity of the model. Discrepancies between the calculated and measured %dd-curves increased with decreasing field size, with considerable discrepancy (11.62%) for the 5 mm diameter field due to lateral electron disequilibrium. Accurate dose can be determined with MC even in small fields. CONCLUSION: The MC technique can provide reliable standard data for accurate dose delivery with high-technology radiotherapies using small beams.
