Irradiation test and hardness design for mobile rescue robot in nuclear environment

Author(s):  
Wenrui Gao ◽  
Weidong Wang ◽  
Hongbiao Zhu ◽  
Shunping Zhao ◽  
Guofu Huang ◽  
...  

Purpose The paper aims to improve the radiation-proof capability of the self-designed mobile robot with a 7-DOF manipulator, enabling the long-playing inspection and intervention under high-dose radiation environment. In this context, gamma-ray irradiation test for electronic components and specific hardness design have also been specifically presented and discussed. Design/methodology/approach The study’s hardness design mainly focuses on shielding protection, distance protection and time protection. Irradiation test is first carried out to investigate irradiation resistance of each electronic module. Then, modular deployment and shielding calculation are completed for the point-type nuclear accidents, respectively, to achieve a robust anti-radiation design scheme. Finally, the field experiment is conducted to validate system effectiveness and good mobility, and operational practices are acquired for the realization of time protection. Findings Coupled with modular redeployment and shielding design, irradiation results illustrate the effectiveness of robotic anti-radiation design. Meanwhile, experiences and reformed measures from the field exercise implement efficient operation and radiological time protection. Research limitations/implications Considering the huge risks of high-dose source exposure, the radiation-resistance of the overall system cannot be verified in the field experiment. Fortunately, irradiation test and modular shielding calculation are conducted as a minimal validation. Practical implications The proposed anti-radiation design methods and the irradiated results can be applied to many other nuclear vehicles and manipulators for the feasible multi-layer protection and excellent mobility. Originality/value A nuclear intervention robot with specific hardness design is presented in detail in this paper. Enlightened by the idea of shielding and distance protection, a large number of electronic modules with multiple types and structures are treated and compared in irradiation experiments, while modular redeployment and retrofitting are completed to reduce irradiated damages. To achieve the effect of time protection, mobility performance and operational practices are discussed and validated in the field experiment based on the mobile system.

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Awad AL Zahrany ◽  
Khalid Rabaeh ◽  
Molham Eyadeh ◽  
Ahmed Basfar

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present a radiochromic film dosimeter containing polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix and various concentrations of methyl red (MR) dye for high dose measurements. Design/methodology/approach The MR-PVA films were exposed to irradiation up to 60 kGy using 60Co source of gamma ray. The ultraviolet and visible regions (UV/VIS) spectrophotometry were used to examine the optical density of pre-and post-irradiated dosimeters at 424 nm. Findings The dose sensitivity of MR-PVA films increases significantly with increasing MR dye concentrations in the dose range of 5 to 60 kGy. The impact of relative humidity, irradiation temperature, dose rate and the stability of the films has been analyzed. The overall uncertainty of the MR-PVA film dosimeter is 6.12% (Double Standard-deviation, 95% confidence level). Practical implications It was found that the MR-PVA films may be used as high dose dosimeter with an acceptable overall uncertainty in routine industrial radiation processing. Originality/value The color bleaching of irradiated MR-PVA films in terms of specific absorbance curves increases significantly with increasing absorbed dose up to 60 kGy.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jai Wan Cho ◽  
Kyung Min Jeong

We describe the performance of a notebook PC under a high dose-rate gamma ray irradiation test. A notebook PC, which is small and light weight, is generally used as the control unit of a robot system and loaded onto the robot body. Using TEPCO’s CAMS (containment atmospheric monitoring system) data, the gamma ray dose rate before and after a hydrogen explosion in reactor units 1–3 of the Fukushima nuclear power plant was more than 150 Gy/h. To use a notebook PC as the control unit of a robot system entering a reactor building to mitigate the severe accident situation of a nuclear power plant, the performance of the notebook PC under such intense gamma-irradiation fields should be evaluated. Under a similar dose-rate (150 Gy/h) gamma ray environment, the performances of different notebook PCs were evaluated. In addition, a simple method for a performance evaluation of a notebook PC under a high dose-rate gamma ray irradiation test is proposed. Three notebook PCs were tested to verify the method proposed in this paper.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (02) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amal Kamil Abdul Sada ◽  
Amany Mohamed Al-Kaysi

This is an experimental trial to prepare a vaccine from gamma-irradiated Giardia lamblia which is evaluated in experimental animals. The study was conducted from December 2015 to April 2016. The field survey of the parasite was conducted from those patients attending the laboratories of the Alawi Children's Hospital in Rusafa and the Al-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital in Karkh, through which 1250 stool samples of different age groups were examined. Five groups of mice were used in the study; the first was injected with normal saline and considered as a negative control group, the second was injected with cystic form of non-irradiated Giardia lamblia and considered as a positive control group, whereas the other three groups were injected with gamma irradiated Giardia lamblia at three different doses 10, 15 and 25 rad respectively. Giardia lamblia was primarily cultivated in liver infusion agar for ten days to obtain the active phase. On the sixth day, the cystic phase was purified and standardized to be used in the infection of mice with or without the exposure of gamma rays. Mice showed high sensitivity to parasitic infestation, in the gamma non-irradiated and the irradiated with gamma 10 rad, and 15 rad irradiated groups which was 100%. The results expressed an excystation process of the depleted phases and the release of the feeder phases. The results of the three irradiated groups consisted of histopathological changes of the small, and the rectum by dissection after two weeks of infection, with intestine amputation lesions, as well as ulceration and inflammation of the inflammatory cells represented in small numbers of neutrophil, lymphocytes, and eosinophils. The presence of ulceration and fall of epithelial cells in the intestinal cavity has been shown, and different forms of the parasite have been observed. Mice which was injected with irradiated G lamblia at high dose (25 rad), not show and sensitivity to the challenge infection and no excystation of thy parasite had been done. After 2 wreaks, a comparison was achieved between all study groups in which no histopathological changes were noticed in the mice irradiated with dose of25 rad. After another two weeks, a challenge dose was given (un-attenuated G lamblia) and mice were dissected after another two weeks, no changes on the level of histopathology of intestinal tissue were noticed the results suggested that mice acquire an immunity against the parasite infection.


1998 ◽  
Vol 89 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard B. Schwartz ◽  
B. Leonard Holman ◽  
Joseph F. Polak ◽  
Basem M. Garada ◽  
Marc S. Schwartz ◽  
...  

Object. The study was conducted to determine the association between dual-isotope single-photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) scanning and histopathological findings of tumor recurrence and survival in patients treated with high-dose radiotherapy for glioblastoma multiforme. Methods. Studies in which SPECT with 201Tl and 99mTc-hexamethypropyleneamine oxime (HMPAO) were used were performed 1 day before reoperation in 47 patients with glioblastoma multiforme who had previously been treated by surgery and high-dose radiotherapy. Maximum uptake of 201Tl in the lesion was expressed as a ratio to that in the contralateral scalp, and uptake of 99mTc-HMPAO was expressed as a ratio to that in the cerebellar cortex. Patients were stratified into groups based on the maximum radioisotope uptake values in their tumor beds. The significance of differences in patient gender, histological characteristics of tissue at reoperation, and SPECT uptake group with respect to 1-year survival was elucidated by using the chi-square statistic. Comparisons of patient ages and time to tumor recurrence as functions of 1-year survival were made using the t-test. Survival data at 1 year were presented according to the Kaplan—Meier method, and the significance of potential differences was evaluated using the log-rank method. The effects of different variables (tumor type, time to recurrence, and SPECT grouping) on long-term survival were evaluated using Cox proportional models that controlled for age and gender. All patients in Group I (201Tl ratio < 2 and 99mTc-HMPAO ratio < 0.5) showed radiation changes in their biopsy specimens: they had an 83.3% 1-year survival rate. Group II patients (201T1 ratio < 2 and 99mTc-HMPAO ratio of ≥ 0.5 or 201Tl ratio between 2 and 3.5 regardless of 99mTc-HMPAO ratio) had predominantly infiltrating tumor (66.6%); they had a 29.2% 1-year survival rate. Almost all of the patients in Group III (201Tl ratio > 3.5 and 99mTc-HMPAO ratio ≥ 0.5) had solid tumor (88.2%) and they had a 6.7% 1-year survival rate. Histological data were associated with 1-year survival (p < 0.01); however, SPECT grouping was more closely associated with 1-year survival (p < 0.001) and was the only variable significantly associated with long-term survival (p < 0.005). Conclusions. Dual-isotope SPECT data correlate with histopathological findings made at reoperation and with survival in patients with malignant gliomas after surgical and high-dose radiation therapy.


2002 ◽  
Vol 97 ◽  
pp. 663-665 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth J. Levin ◽  
Emad F. Youssef ◽  
Andrew E. Sloan ◽  
Rajiv Patel ◽  
Rana K. Zabad ◽  
...  

Object. Recent studies have suggested a high incidence of cognitive deficits in patients undergoing high-dose chemotherapy, which appears to be dose related. Whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) has previously been associated with cognitive impairment. The authors attempted to use gamma knife radiosurgery (GKS) to delay or avoid WBRT in patients with advanced breast cancer treated with high-dose chemotherapy and autologous bone marrow transplantation (HDC/ABMT) in whom brain metastases were diagnosed. Methods. A retrospective review of our experience from 1996 to 2001 was performed to identify patients who underwent HDC/ABMT for advanced breast cancer and brain metastasis. They were able to conduct GKS as initial management to avoid or delay WBRT in 12 patients following HDC/ABMT. All patients were women. The median age was 48 years (range 30–58 years). The Karnofsky Performance Scale score was 70 (range 60–90). All lesions were treated with a median prescription dose of 17 Gy (range 15–18 Gy) prescribed to the 50% isodose. Median survival was 11.5 months. Five patients (42%) had no evidence of central nervous system disease progression and no further treatment was given. Four patients were retreated with GKS and three of them eventually received WBRT as well. Two patients were treated with WBRT as the primary salvage therapy. The median time to retreatment with WBRT was 8 months after the initial GKS. Conclusions. Gamma knife radiosurgery can be effectively used for the initial management of brain metastases to avoid or delay WBRT in patients treated previously with HDC, with acceptable survival and preserved cognitive function.


2011 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 148-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marisa H. Miceli ◽  
Stella M. Bernardo ◽  
T. S. Neil Ku ◽  
Carla Walraven ◽  
Samuel A. Lee

ABSTRACTInfections and thromboses are the most common complications associated with central venous catheters. Suggested strategies for prevention and management of these complications include the use of heparin-coated catheters, heparin locks, and antimicrobial lock therapy. However, the effects of heparin onCandida albicansbiofilms and planktonic cells have not been previously studied. Therefore, we sought to determine thein vitroeffect of a heparin sodium preparation (HP) on biofilms and planktonic cells ofC. albicans. Because HP contains two preservatives, methyl paraben (MP) and propyl paraben (PP), these compounds and heparin sodium without preservatives (Pure-H) were also tested individually. The metabolic activity of the mature biofilm after treatment was assessed using XTT [2,3-bis-(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide] reduction and microscopy. Pure-H, MP, and PP caused up to 75, 85, and 60% reductions of metabolic activity of the mature preformedC. albicansbiofilms, respectively. Maximal efficacy against the mature biofilm was observed with HP (up to 90%) compared to the individual compounds (P< 0.0001). Pure-H, MP, and PP each inhibitedC. albicansbiofilm formation up to 90%. A complete inhibition of biofilm formation was observed with HP at 5,000 U/ml and higher. When tested against planktonic cells, each compound inhibited growth in a dose-dependent manner. These data indicated that HP, MP, PP, and Pure-H havein vitroantifungal activity againstC. albicansmature biofilms, formation of biofilms, and planktonic cells. Investigation of high-dose heparin-based strategies (e.g., heparin locks) in combination with traditional antifungal agents for the treatment and/or prevention ofC. albicansbiofilms is warranted.


2011 ◽  
Vol 55 (12) ◽  
pp. 5480-5484 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuhan Chang ◽  
Wen-Chien Chen ◽  
Pang-Hsin Hsieh ◽  
Dave W. Chen ◽  
Mel S. Lee ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTThe objective of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial effects of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) bone cements loaded with daptomycin, vancomycin, and teicoplanin against methicillin-susceptibleStaphylococcus aureus(MSSA), methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA), and vancomycin-intermediateStaphylococcus aureus(VISA) strains. Standardized cement specimens made from 40 g PMMA loaded with 1 g (low-dose), 4 g (middle-dose) or 8 g (high-dose) antibiotics were tested for elution characteristics and antibacterial activities. The patterns of release of antibiotics from the cement specimens were evaluated usingin vitrobroth elution assay with high-performance liquid chromatography. The activities of broth elution fluid against differentStaphylococcus aureusstrains (MSSA, MRSA, and VISA) were then determined. The antibacterial activities of all the tested antibiotics were maintained after being mixed with PMMA. The cements loaded with higher dosages of antibiotics showed longer elution periods. Regardless of the antibiotic loading dose, the teicoplanin-loaded cements showed better elution efficacy and provided longer inhibitory periods against MSSA, MRSA, and VISA than cements loaded with the same dose of vancomycin or daptomycin. Regarding the choice of antibiotics for cement loading in the treatment ofStaphylococcus aureusinfection, teicoplanin was superior in terms of antibacterial effects.


2016 ◽  
Vol 60 (10) ◽  
pp. 6326-6332 ◽  
Author(s):  
David C. Griffith ◽  
Jeffery S. Loutit ◽  
Elizabeth E. Morgan ◽  
Stephanie Durso ◽  
Michael N. Dudley

ABSTRACTVaborbactam (formerly RPX7009) is a member of a new class of β-lactamase inhibitor with pharmacokinetic properties similar to those of many β-lactams, including carbapenems. The pharmacokinetics and safety of vaborbactam were evaluated in 80 healthy adult subjects in a first-in-human randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, sequential single- and multiple-ascending-dose study. A total of 10 dose cohorts were enrolled in the study, with 6 subjects randomized to receive 250 to 2,000 mg of vaborbactam and 2 subjects randomized to receive placebo in each cohort. Maximum concentrations for vaborbactam were achieved at the end of the 3-h infusion. Vaborbactam exposure (Cmaxand area under the concentration-time curve [AUC]) increased in a dose-proportional manner following multiple doses. There was no evidence of accumulation with multiple doses, consistent with the terminal half-life of ∼2 h. Both the volume of distribution (Vss) and plasma clearance were independent of dose. For the 2,000-mg dose, the plasma clearance was 0.17 ± 0.03 liters/h, the AUC from 0 h to infinity (AUC0–∞) was 144.00 ± 13.90 mg · h/liter, and theVsswas 21.80 ± 2.26 mg · h/liter. Urinary recovery was 80% or greater over 48 h across all dose groups. No subjects discontinued the study due to adverse events (AEs), and no serious AEs (SAEs) were observed. All AEs were mild to moderate and similar among the vaborbactam- and placebo-treated subjects, with mild lethargy as the only unique AE reported with the high dose of vaborbactam. Overall, this study revealed the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetic profile of vaborbactam and formed the basis for advancement into patient studies in combination with meropenem, including treatment of patients with carbapenem-resistantEnterobacteriaceae(CRE) infections. (This study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under identifier NCT01751269.)


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nehad Magdy ◽  
Sameh Gafar

Purpose The purpose of this research paper is to study a comparison between two dosimetry systems, both of them based on basic violet dye (BV). Design/methodology/approach The first system depends on (BV) (incorporating polyvinyl alcohol) as a thin-film dosimeter. The second system also relies on (BV) as a solution dosimeter, which is more sensitive to gamma rays. The two prepared film/solutions have a considerable signal that decreases upon irradiation and the strength of the signal decreases with increasing radiation dose. Findings The gamma ray absorbed dose for these dosimeters was found to be up to 35 kGy for films and 1 kGy for the liquid phase. All dosimetric characteristics as radiation chemical yield, additive substance, dose-response function, radiation sensitivity, also before and after-irradiation stability under various conditions were considered. Practical implications It is expected the vital role of gamma radiation on this dye in its two forms or two media. This reveals their wide applications in the field of gamma irradiation processing. Originality/value These two dosimetry systems which depend upon the same dye are safe to handle, inexpensive, available raw materials and can be applied in various dosimetry applications as mentioned above.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. T12005
Author(s):  
J. Nagata ◽  
S. Yamamoto ◽  
Y. Noguchi ◽  
T. Nakaya ◽  
K. Okudaira ◽  
...  

Abstract In high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy, verification of the Ir-192 source's position during treatment is needed because such a source is extremely radioactive. One of the methods used to measure the source position is based on imaging the gamma rays from the source, but the absolute position in a patient cannot be confirmed. To confirm the absolute position, it is necessary to acquire an optical image in addition to the gamma ray image at the same time as well as the same position. To simultaneously image the gamma ray and optical images, we developed an imaging system composed of a low-sensitivity, high-resolution gamma camera integrated with a CMOS camera. The gamma camera has a 1-mm-thick cerium-doped yttrium aluminum perovskite (YAIO3: YAP(Ce)) scintillator plate optically coupled to a position-sensitive photomultiplier (PSPMT), and a 0.1-mm-diameter pinhole collimator was mounted in front of the camera to improve spatial resolution and reduce sensitivity. We employed the concept of a periscope by placing two mirrors tilted at 45 degrees facing each other in front of the gamma camera to image the same field of view (FOV) for the gamma camera and the CMOS camera. The spatial resolution of the imaging system without the mirrors at 100 mm from the Ir-192 source was 3.2 mm FWHM, and the sensitivity was 0.283 cps/MBq. There was almost no performance degradation observed when the mirrors were positioned in front of the gamma camera. The developed system could measure the Ir-192 source positions in optical and gamma ray images. We conclude that the developed imaging system has the potential to measure the absolute position of an Ir-192 source in real-time clinical measurements.


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