Label-free detection of single nanoparticles with disordered nanoisland surface plasmon sensor

We report sensing of single nanoparticles using disordered metallic nanoisland substrates supporting surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs). Speckle patterns arising from leakage radiation of elastically scattered SPPs provides a unique fingerprint of the scattering microstructure at the sensor surface. Experimental measurements of the speckle decorrelation are presented and shown to enable detection of sorption of individual gold nanoparticles and polystyrene beads. Our approach is verified through bright-field and fluorescence imaging of particles adhering to the nanoisland substrate.

11-year workload and barrier analysis for a high-energy linear accelerator

The formalism used for barriers calculations is based on a conservative estimation of workload, use factor, and occupancy factor. IMRT techniques (Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy) and VMAT (Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy) are known for being superior to conventional techniques, but costly from the shielding standpoint, as they increase the number of monitor units used to deliver the same dose to the patient, increasing the leakage radiation produced and, consequently, the thickness of the secondary barriers. At InRad (Radiology Institute of HC-FMUSP) a 2100CD LINAC already installed was upgraded to perform IMRT/VMAT techniques, and the existing barrier was reassessed. The present study proposes a methodology for acquiring real workload data from the institution's management software (MOSAIQ®) to replace the initially estimated data and recalculate the thickness of the barriers, assessing the impact of the introduction of these techniques and understanding the profile of the treatments carried out at the institution over the years of 2010 to 2020. Through this methodology, a decrease in the workload of 15 MV was observed as the technique of modulated intensity with 6 MV was introduced, reducing the thicknesses calculated for primary barriers. However, no significant changes were observed in the thicknesses calculated for the secondary barriers, because despite the increase in the leakage workload of 6 MV, the total workload of 15 MV decreased. There was also a trend towards an increase in the number of patients treated with modulated intensity year after year, which went from 5% in 2016 to 67% in 2020.

Development of clinical application program for radiotherapy induced cancer risk calculation using Monte Carlo engine in volumetric-modulated arc therapy

Background The purpose of this study is to develop a clinical application program that automatically calculates the effect for secondary cancer risk (SCR) of individual patient. The program was designed based on accurate dose calculations using patient computed tomography (CT) data and Monte Carlo engine. Automated patient-specific evaluation program was configured to calculate SCR. Methods The application program is designed to re-calculate the beam sequence of treatment plan using the Monte Carlo engine and patient CT data, so it is possible to accurately calculate and evaluate scatter and leakage radiation, difficult to calculate in TPS. The Monte Carlo dose calculation system was performed through stoichiometric calibration using patient CT data. The automatic SCR evaluation program in application program created with a MATLAB was set to analyze the results to calculate SCR. The SCR for organ of patient was calculated based on Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation (BEIR) VII models. The program is designed to sequentially calculate organ equivalent dose (OED), excess absolute risk (EAR), excess relative risk (ERR), and the lifetime attributable risk (LAR) in consideration of 3D dose distribution analysis. In order to confirm the usefulness of the developed clinical application program, the result values from clinical application program were compared with the manual calculation method used in the previous study. Results The OED values calculated in program were calculated to be at most approximately 13.3% higher than results in TPS. The SCR result calculated by the developed clinical application program showed a maximum difference of 1.24% compared to the result of the conventional manual calculation method. And it was confirmed that EAR, ERR and LAR values can be easily calculated by changing the biological parameters. Conclusions We have developed a patient-specific SCR evaluation program that can be used conveniently in the clinic. The program consists of a Monte Carlo dose calculation system for accurate calculation of scatter and leakage radiation and a patient-specific automatic SCR evaluation program using 3D dose distribution. The clinical application program that improved the disadvantages of the existing process can be used as an index for evaluating a patient treatment plan.

Best Practice Keselamatan Radiasi di Rumah Sakit Hermina Karawang

Radiation safety is an action taken to protect workers, community members, and the environment from radiation hazards. The purpose of writing is to realize the best practice of radiation safety culture at Hermina Hospital Karawang. This descriptive study conducted interviews, observations, discussions, and direct measurements from 2020 to 2021. Using the Thermoluminescence Dosemeter (TLD) badge for radiation workers in 2020, 80% of all radiation workers used the TLD badge, and 20% did not because officers forgot and limited use when working in the covid room area. Radiation danger signs have been posted at all examination doors and radiology registration windows. Radiologists always turn on the lights every time they do an X-ray examination. All radiology employees at Hermina Hospital have performed routine health checks at least once a year. The test results of the apron pass fit for use; there is no visible damage in the form of tears, waves, or other damage. The results of the radiation exposure test in the conventional radiology room in the operator's room were 0.063µSv/h, behind the operator's door 0.143 Sv/h, in the administration room 0.087 Sv/h, at the radiology entrance 0.057 Sv/h, the medical gas room and parking area of 0.029 Sv/h and 0.08 Sv/h. The results of radiation exposure test in the area for the CT Scan, namely in the operator's room of 0.046 Sv/h, behind the operator's door 0.118 Sv/h, the entrance to the CT Scan room 0.204 Sv/h, in the poly room and parking area of 0.125 Sv/h, and 0.041 Sv/ h. The results of the exposure test were declared safe from radiation leakage. Radiation Protection Officer (RPO) Hermina Karawang Hospital has participated in online PPR requalification in 2021. The local Diagnostic Reference Level (DRL) value of Hermina Karawang Hospital for non-contrast head CT, namely with CTDIvol = 38.26 mGy and DLP = 777.29 mGy.cm. The implementation of radiation safety best practices at Hermina Hospital has been carried out routinely following applicable regulations regarding radiation safety. It takes consistency and high discipline for radiation workers and hospital management in maintaining the quality of hospital radiation safety. Keywords: Radiation safety, best practice, Diagnostic Reference Level (DRL)

Measurement with electret ion chambers of absorbed dose outside the treated volume, during external-photon radiation therapy

The capabilities of electret ion chambers to measure non-target absorbed dose for distances greater than 20 cm from the irradiated volume during radiotherapy treatment was investigated for the first time. During radiotherapy, nontarget doses can be classified as one of three approximate dose levels: high doses, intermediate doses and low doses. Low doses (<5 % of the prescription dose) are not generally considered during treatment planning, due to the fact that is difficult to measure, characterize, or model them in the planning system. In this work were performed measurements with electret ion chambers of absorbed dose outside the treated volume (<5 % of the prescription dose), during external photon radiation therapy in an Elekta Infinity Linear Accelerator of ?Theagenio? Cancer Hospital of Thessaloniki, Greece. The absorbed dose values for distances greater than 20 cm from the irradiated volume varied from 0.3 to 17 mGy which corresponds to 0.01% up to 0.6% of the prescription dose (2660 mGy). Near the irradiation volume the absorbed dose values were greater than the upper detection limit of the electret ion chambers (threshold 40 mGy). The results are compared with the calculated ones by the Monaco Treatment Planning System (Elekta Monaco 5.11.03). In the non-target radiation region where Monaco Treatment Planning System calculates rather precisely (within uncertainties of less than 10%) the absorbed dose, measured and calculated doses are the same within experimental uncertainties. On the contrary, when leakage radiation becomes the dominant source of out-of-field dose the differences are up to 31%.

Directional launching of surface plasmon polaritons by electrically driven aperiodic groove array reflectors

Access to surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) with directional control excited by electrical means is important for applications in (on-chip) nano-optoelectronic devices and to circumvent limitations inherent to approaches where SPPs are excited by optical means (e.g., diffraction limit). This paper describes directional excitation of surface plasmon polaritons propagating along a plasmonic strip waveguide integrated with an aperiodic groove array electrically driven by an Al–Al2O3–Au tunnel junction. The aperiodic groove array consists of six grooves and is optimized to specifically reflect the SPPs by 180° in the desired direction (+x or −x) along the plasmonic strip waveguide. We used constrained nonlinear optimization of the groove array based on the sequential quadratic programming algorithms coupled with finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations to achieve the optimal structures. Leakage radiation microscopy (Fourier and real plane imaging) shows that the propagation direction of selectively only one SPP mode (propagating along the metal–substrate interface) is controlled. In our experiments, we achieved a directionality (i.e., +x/−x ratio) of close to 8, and all of our experimental findings are supported by detailed theoretical simulations.

Label-Free Imaging of Single Nanoparticles Using Total Internal Reflection-Based Leakage Radiation Microscopy

Label-free, fast, and single nanoparticle detection is demanded for the in situ monitoring of nano-pollutants in the environment, which have potential toxic effects on human health. We present the label-free imaging of single nanoparticles by using total internal reflection (TIR)-based leakage radiation microscopy. We illustrate the imaging of both single polystyrene (PS) and Au nanospheres with diameters as low as 100 and 30 nm, respectively. As both far-field imaging and simulated near-field electric field intensity distribution at the interface showed the same characteristics, i.e., the localized enhancement and interference of TIR evanescent waves, we confirmed the leakage radiation, transforming the near-field distribution to far-field for fast imaging. The localized enhancement of single PS and Au nanospheres were compared. We also illustrate the TIR-based leakage radiation imaging of single polystyrene nanospheres with different incident polarizations. The TIR-based leakage radiation microscopy method is a competitive alternative for the fast, in situ, label-free imaging of nano-pollutants.