An in vivo dosimetry system, using p-type diode dosimeters, was characterized for clinical applications of treatment machines ranging in megavoltage energies. This paper investigates two different models of diodes for externally wedged beams and explains a new algorithm for the calculation of the target dose at various tissue depths in external radiotherapy. The values of off-axis wedge correction factors were determined at two different positions in the wedged (toward the thick and thin edges) and in the non-wedged directions on entrance and exit surfaces of a polystyrene phantom in 60Co and 6 MV photon beams. Depth transmission was defined on the entrance and exit surfaces to obtain the off-axis wedge correction factor at any depth. As the sensitivity of the diodes depends on physical characteristics [field size, source–skin distance (SSD), thickness, backscatter], correction factors were applied to the diode reading when measuring conditions different from calibration situations. The results indicate that needful correction factors for 60Co wedged photons are usually larger than those for 6 MV wedged photon beams. In vivo dosimetry performed with the proposed algorithms at externally wedged beams has negligible probable errors (less than 0.5&) and is a reliable method for patient dose control.

Total Body Irradiation (TBI) is a form of radiotherapy used for patients prior to bone marrow or stem cell transplant to destroy any undetectable cancer cells. The dosimetry characteristics of a 60Co unit for TBI were studied and a simple method for the calculation of the prescribed dose for TBI is presented. Dose homogeneity was verified in a human phantom. Dose measurements were made in water phantom (30 × 30 × 30 cm3), using farmer ionization chamber (0.6 cc, TM30010, PTW) and a parallel plate ionization chamber (TM23343, PTW). Point dose measurements for AP/PA irradiation were measured in a human phantom using silicon diodes (T60010L, PTW). The lung dose was measured with an ionization chamber (0.3 cc, TM31013). The validity of the proposed algorithm was checked at TBI distance using the human phantom. The accuracy of the proposed algorithm was within 3.5%. The dose delivered to the mid-lobe of the lung was 14.14 Gy and it has been reduced to 8.16 Gy by applying the proper shield. Dose homogeneity was within ±7% for all measured points. The results indicate that a good agreement between the total prescribed and calculated midplane doses can be achieved using this method. Therefore, it could be possible to use calculated data for TBI treatments.

In the present study, the effect of size distribution of magnetite nanoparticles in a PVDF matrix on the magnetic properties of PVDF ? Fe 3 O 4 nanocomposites was experimentally and theoretically investigated. The size distribution of nanoparticles in polymer matrix and morphology of the nanocomposites were studied by the means of scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. It was found that when the Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles are introduced into the polymer matrix, their coagulation takes place. The increase in the size of the particles depends on their concentration in the polymer matrix, the type of polymer (polar, non-polar, its viscosity, etc.), reaction temperatures, etc. In addition, when Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles are introduced into the polymer network, the oxidation of the surface layer of particles occurs and the magnetic size decreases. Consequently, the reduced magnetic properties may also be observed. The hysteresis loops have been recorded in small magnetic field range. It was found that the magnetic hysteresis parameters depend on the size and concentration of Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles. Theoretical calculations were compared with experimental results obtained from M(H) measurements. The reasons of differences between theoretical and experimental results have been explained.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence of short-term atherosclerosis in the common carotid arteries following radiotherapy.Methods: The mean radiation dose to the arteries was 49.30±15.83 Gy. A computational ultrasound method was introduced to investigate the elastic modulus. Ultrasonography was performed 2-3 cm inferior to the bifurcation region before and after radiotherapy, and sequential images were extracted from a video of each artery. Instantaneous movement of the arterial wall in the radial and longitudinal directions was extracted by implementing the maximum gradient and block matching algorithms, respectively.Results: There was a significant change in systolic blood pressure after radiotherapy (P=0.008). Irradiated arteries had significantly smaller systolic and end-diastolic diameters than non-irradiated arteries (P<0.001). The shear modulus was significantly different between irradiated and non-irradiated arteries (3.10±2.03 kPa vs. 1.38±0.98 kPa, P<0.001). The shear and Young moduli of radiation-induced arteries were 2.25±1.50 and 1.57±0.59 times higher than those of the pre-irradiation arteries.Conclusion: The arterial shear modulus can be considered as a new biomarker of radiationinduced atherosclerosis in the common carotid artery.