Beam Delivery Systems for Particle Radiation Therapy: Current Status and Recent Developments

2009 ◽  
Vol 02 (01) ◽  
pp. 179-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Schippers
Keyword(s):  
Particle Therapy ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Dose Delivery ◽  
Particle Radiation ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Future Developments ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Beam Delivery ◽  
Beam Delivery System ◽  
Accelerator System

An overview is given of different techniques of dose delivery applied in currently operating and planned particle therapy systems. Their advantages and disadvantages will be compared and consequences of the methods for the rest of the instrumentation will be discussed. The interrelationship between beam delivery at the patient and the accelerator system is shown by means of several concrete examples. Apart from a description of several subsystems in a particle therapy facility, design rules for optimizing the reliability of an accelerator and beam delivery system will be discussed, as well as some remarks concerning how to deal with future developments.

scholarly journals Future Developments in Charged Particle Therapy: Improving Beam Delivery for Efficiency and Efficacy

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacinta Yap ◽  
Andrea De Franco ◽  
Suzie Sheehy
Keyword(s):  
Charged Particle ◽  
Particle Therapy ◽  
Treatment Efficiency ◽  
Treatment Indications ◽  
Charged Particle Therapy ◽  
Clinical Benefits ◽  
Accelerator Technology ◽  
Beam Delivery ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Beam Delivery System

The physical and clinical benefits of charged particle therapy (CPT) are well recognized. However, the availability of CPT and complete exploitation of dosimetric advantages are still limited by high facility costs and technological challenges. There are extensive ongoing efforts to improve upon these, which will lead to greater accessibility, superior delivery, and therefore better treatment outcomes. Yet, the issue of cost remains a primary hurdle as utility of CPT is largely driven by the affordability, complexity and performance of current technology. Modern delivery techniques are necessary but limited by extended treatment times. Several of these aspects can be addressed by developments in the beam delivery system (BDS) which determines the overall shaping and timing capabilities enabling high quality treatments. The energy layer switching time (ELST) is a limiting constraint of the BDS and a determinant of the beam delivery time (BDT), along with the accelerator and other factors. This review evaluates the delivery process in detail, presenting the limitations and developments for the BDS and related accelerator technology, toward decreasing the BDT. As extended BDT impacts motion and has dosimetric implications for treatment, we discuss avenues to minimize the ELST and overview the clinical benefits and feasibility of a large energy acceptance BDS. These developments support the possibility of advanced modalities and faster delivery for a greater range of treatment indications which could also further reduce costs. Further work to realize methodologies such as volumetric rescanning, FLASH, arc, multi-ion and online image guided therapies are discussed. In this review we examine how increased treatment efficiency and efficacy could be achieved with improvements in beam delivery and how this could lead to faster and higher quality treatments for the future of CPT.

Current Status of and Recent Results on Group 2 Source Compounds for Vapor Phase Epitaxy of Ferroelectric Thin Films

1993 ◽  
Vol 310 ◽  
Author(s):  
William S. Rees ◽  
Henry A. Luten ◽  
Michael W. Carris ◽  
Celia R. Caballero ◽  
Werner Hesse ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thin Films ◽  
Ferroelectric Thin Films ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Central Metal Atom ◽  
Central Metal ◽  
Coordination Environment ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
High Vapor ◽  
Group 2

AbstractMuch interest in the area of ferroelectric thin films has been generated by the recent developments in unique property observation for these materials. As deposition methods move toward potential commercialization, the importance of chemically and thermally stable at use temperature, high vapor pressure and purity, readily available and economically competitive sources for the requisite group 2 elements will emerge. This presentation entails an initial overview of the presently utilized compounds, their advantages and disadvantages. New group 2 CVD precursors have been developed based both on inter- and intramolecular stabilization of cyclopentadienides, alkoxides and β-diketonates. Recent results on the coordination environment around the central metal atom have offered insight into the next generation of polydentate, monoanionic ligand design. Specific details are discussed for the metal complexes of “scorpion-tail” β-diketoethers. Results of comparison studies between these new precursors and earlier compounds are presented as a model for designing future sources.

Recent Developments in the Downstream Processing of Phycobiliproteins from Algae: A Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 06 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayekpam Chandralekha Devi ◽  
G. K. Hamsavi ◽  
Simran Sahota ◽  
Rochak Mittal ◽  
Hrishikesh A. Tavanandi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Downstream Processing ◽  
Review Article ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Wall Structure ◽  
Scale Production ◽  
Cell Wall Disruption ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Macro Algae

Abstract: Algae (both micro and macro) have gained huge attention in the recent past for their high commercial value products. They are the source of various biomolecules of commercial applications ranging from nutraceuticals to fuels. Phycobiliproteins are one such high value low volume compounds which are mainly obtained from micro and macro algae. In order to tap the bioresource, a significant amount of work has been carried out for large scale production of algal biomass. However, work on downstream processing aspects of phycobiliproteins (PBPs) from algae is scarce, especially in case of macroalgae. There are several difficulties in cell wall disruption of both micro and macro algae because of their cell wall structure and compositions. At the same time, there are several challenges in the purification of phycobiliproteins. The current review article focuses on the recent developments in downstream processing of phycobiliproteins (mainly phycocyanins and phycoerythrins) from micro and macroalgae. The current status, the recent advancements and potential technologies (that are under development) are summarised in this review article besides providing future directions for the present research area.

scholarly journals Machine Learning Quantitation of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease: A Systematic Review of Clinical Applications

Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 551
Author(s):  
Chris Boyd ◽  
Greg Brown ◽  
Timothy Kleinig ◽  
Joseph Dawson ◽  
Mark D. McDonnell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Machine Learning ◽  
Coronary Artery Disease ◽  
Coronary Artery ◽  
Model Comparison ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Imaging Modalities ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Body Regions ◽  
Artery Disease

Research into machine learning (ML) for clinical vascular analysis, such as those useful for stroke and coronary artery disease, varies greatly between imaging modalities and vascular regions. Limited accessibility to large diverse patient imaging datasets, as well as a lack of transparency in specific methods, are obstacles to further development. This paper reviews the current status of quantitative vascular ML, identifying advantages and disadvantages common to all imaging modalities. Literature from the past 8 years was systematically collected from MEDLINE® and Scopus database searches in January 2021. Papers satisfying all search criteria, including a minimum of 50 patients, were further analysed and extracted of relevant data, for a total of 47 publications. Current ML image segmentation, disease risk prediction, and pathology quantitation methods have shown sensitivities and specificities over 70%, compared to expert manual analysis or invasive quantitation. Despite this, inconsistencies in methodology and the reporting of results have prevented inter-model comparison, impeding the identification of approaches with the greatest potential. The clinical potential of this technology has been well demonstrated in Computed Tomography of coronary artery disease, but remains practically limited in other modalities and body regions, particularly due to a lack of routine invasive reference measurements and patient datasets.

Dysphagia: implications for older people

2013 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
N Miller ◽  
J Patterson
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Health Economic ◽  
Older People ◽  
Legal Issues ◽  
Validity And Reliability ◽  
Future Developments ◽  
Ongoing Work ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Management Of Dysphagia

SummaryDysphagia represents a salient concern in many conditions prevalent in older people. There are direct implications for morbidity and mortality. The importance of recognizing and managing dysphagia in hospital and the community also extends to psychosocial impact and quality of life, as well as health, economic and ethical-legal issues. This review outlines reasons for the importance of recognizing and treating dysphagia. It then proceeds to look at recent developments in our understanding of the nature, assessment and management of dysphagia in older people. Whilst there are well-established practices in assessment and management, ongoing work continues to challenge the validity and reliability of many methods. These concerns are covered and directions for future developments highlighted.

MicroRNA annotation in plants: current status and challenges

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yongxin Zhao ◽  
Zheng Kuang ◽  
Ying Wang ◽  
Lei Li ◽  
Xiaozeng Yang
Keyword(s):  
Small Rna ◽  
Signal To Noise Ratio ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Mirna Biogenesis ◽  
Plant Mirnas ◽  
Signal To Noise ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Plant Mirna ◽  
History Of ◽  
Mirna Biogenesis Pathway

Abstract Last two decades, the studies on microRNAs (miRNAs) and the numbers of annotated miRNAs in plants and animals have surged. Herein, we reviewed the current progress and challenges of miRNA annotation in plants. Via the comparison of plant and animal miRNAs, we pinpointed out the difficulties on plant miRNA annotation and proposed potential solutions. In terms of recalling the history of methods and criteria in plant miRNA annotation, we detailed how the major progresses made and evolved. By collecting and categorizing bioinformatics tools for plant miRNA annotation, we surveyed their advantages and disadvantages, especially for ones with the principle of mimicking the miRNA biogenesis pathway by parsing deeply sequenced small RNA (sRNA) libraries. In addition, we summarized all available databases hosting plant miRNAs, and posted the potential optimization solutions such as how to increase the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in these databases. Finally, we discussed the challenges and perspectives of plant miRNA annotations, and indicated the possibilities offered by an all-in-one tool and platform according to the integration of artificial intelligence.

scholarly journals Developments in the production of economics PhDs at four research-intensive universities in South Africa

2017 ◽  
Vol Volume 113 (Number 3/4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Phillip de Jager ◽  
Liezel Frick ◽  
Pieter van der Spuy ◽  
◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Doctoral Education ◽  
Academic Departments ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Pedagogical Practice ◽  
Data Set ◽  
International Trends ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Notable Increase

Abstract There is a national drive to increase PhD production, yet we know little about how this imperative takes shape within different disciplines. We therefore set out to explore recent developments and the current status of the PhD in economics at four South African research-intensive universities. A data set of all economics PhDs produced in these commerce faculties during the period 2008–2014 was analysed to determine whether the departments of economics responded to the call for increased doctoral production, and the role the PhD by publication might have played in the process. How an increase in quantity might influence doctoral education in the respective academic departments was also considered by supplementing the quantitative data with perspectives from heads of department at the four institutions. The notable increase in doctoral production over the time period studied shows that national and international trends have influenced doctoral education in economics departments within South African research-intensive universities. Increased usage of the PhD by publication has implications for policy and pedagogical practice within these departments, especially as there seems to be limited available supervisory capacity. Other changes in departmental practices, such as the entrenchment of a research culture and the promotion of collaborative research amongst students and staff, also contributed to maintain quality in doctoral education.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document