Advantages of mesh tallying in MCNPX for 3D dose calculations in radiotherapy

The energy deposition mesh tally option of MCNPX Monte Carlo code is very useful for 3-Dimentional (3D) dose calculations. In this study, the 3D dose calculation was done for CT-based Monte Carlo treatment planning in which the energy deposition mesh tally were superimposed on merged voxel model. The results were compared with those of obtained from the common energy deposition (*F8) tally method for all cells of non-merged voxel model. The results of these two tallies and their respective computational times are compared, and the advantages of the proposed method are discussed. For this purpose, a graphical user interface (GUI) application was developed for reading CT slice data of patient, creating voxelized model of patient, optionally merging adjacent cells with the same material to reduce the total number of cells, reading beam configuration from commercial treatment planning system transferred in DICOM-RT format, and showing the isodose distribution on the CT images. To compare the results of Monte Carlo calculated and TiGRT planning system (LinaTech LLC, USA), treatment head of the Siemens ONCOR Impression accelerator was also simulated and the phase-space data on the scoring plane just above the Y-jaws was created and used. The results for a real prostate intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) plan showed that the proposed method was fivefold faster while the precision was almost the same.     

Analysis of reliability systems via Gini-type index

Different strategies of reliability theory for the analysis of coherent systems have been studied by various researchers. Here, the Gini-type index is utilized as an applicable tool for the study and comparison of the ageing properties of complex systems. A new stochastic order in terms of Gini-type index is introduced to compare the speed of ageing of components and systems. The parallel-series and series-parallel systems with shared components are studied by their corresponding Gini-type indexes. Also, the generalization of Gini-type index for the multidimensional case is discussed, and is used to compare components lifetimes properties in the presence of other dependent components. It is shown that the ageing properties of a component lifetime can differ when the other components are working or have already failed. Numerous illustrative examples are given for better intuition of Gini-type and generalized Gini-type indexes throughout the paper.     

On a problem concerning the Banach algebra generated by the maps n\mapsto\lambda^{\binom{n}{k}}

In Jabbari and Namioka (Milan J. Math. 78:503?C522, 2010), the authors characterized the spectrum M(W) of the Weyl algebra W, i.e. the norm closure of the algebra generated by the family of functions $\{n\mapsto x^{n^{k}}; x\in\mathbb{T}, k\in\mathbb{N}\}$ , ( $\mathbb{T}$ the unit circle), with a closed subgroup of $E(\mathbb{T})^{\mathbb{N}}$ where $E(\mathbb{T})$ denotes the family of the endomorphisms of the multiplicative group $\mathbb{T}$ . But the size of M(W) in $E(\mathbb{T})^{\mathbb{N}}$ as well as the induced group operation were left as a problem. In this paper, we will give a solution to this problem.     

Hetero-cope rearrangements of nitrosobutenes. DFT studies of thermal and acid-catalyzed reactions

[Structure: see text] Density functional theory studies of the hetero-Cope reactions of 4-nitroso-1-butenes and nitrosobicyclo[2.2.2]hexenes are reported. The reactions proceed via concerted mechanisms. The electron-withdrawing methoxycarbonyl group alpha- to the nitroso group decreases the activation barrier. Lewis acids such as SbF5 and TiCl4 accelerate the reactions, as has been found experimentally by Zakarian and Lu.     

The topological centre of skew product dynamical systems

We continue our work (Jabbari and Vishki in Bull. Aust. Math. Soc. 79: 129–145, 2009) to give a more explicit characterization of the topological centre of the Ellis groups corresponding to the so-called skew product dynamical systems on the finite dimensional tori.     

Spider-web-like chitosan/MIL-68(Al) composite nanofibers for high-efficient solid phase extraction of Pb(II) and Cd(II)

Microchimica Acta - The authors describe the synthesis of spider-web-like chitosan/MIL-68(Al) composite nanofibers, their application to fast solid phase extraction (SPE) of trace levels...     

Dependence structure and test of independence for some well-known bivariate distributions

In this paper, we study the dependence structure of some bivariate distribution functions based on dependence measures of Kochar and Gupta (Biometrika 74(3):664–666, 1987) and Shetty and Pandit (Stat Methods Appl 12:5–17, 2003) and then compare these measures with Spearman’s rho and Kendall’s tau. Moreover, the empirical power of the class of distribution-free tests introduced by Kochar and Gupta (1987) and Shetty and Pandit (2003) is computed based on exact and asymptotic distribution of U-statistics. Our results are obtained from simulation work in some continuous bivariate distributions for the sample of sizes \(n=6,8,15,20\) and 50. Also, we apply some examples to illustrate the results. Finally, we compare the common estimators of dependence parameter based on empirical MSE.     

Dispersive solid‐phase extraction adsorbent of methamphetamine using in‐situ synthesized carbon‐based conductive polypyrrole nanocomposite: focus on clinical applications in human urine

Determination of methamphetamine is of great importance in clinical and forensic laboratories because there are low dosages of drugs in the biological media and social problems created due to the methamphetamine consumption. Polymeric carbon based‐nano composites are reasonable candidates for dispersive solid phase extraction method due to facial and affordable synthesis process and high selectivity and sensitivity. Nano graphene oxide polypyrolle composite was synthesized and employed as dispersive solid‐phase extraction adsorbent for methamphetamine extraction from complex urine matrix. Full characterization of the prepared nano graphene oxide polypyrolle composite was completed and the influential extraction parameters were investigated through one‐parameter‐at‐a‐time method. High‐performance liquid chromatography detectors were applied as detection and quantification instrument. The optimized extraction parameters included 300 µL of methanol, 10 min of extraction and desorption time, 6000 stirring rate, urine pH value of 10, 60 mg of adsorbent, and 6 mL of urine volume. After outlining the calibration curve, the linear range of the method was considered as 30–800 ng/mL. The detection limit for the suggested method was 9 ng/mL. The analysis of addicted subjects with the proposed method confirmed the utility of the method in different analytical and clinical laboratories.     

An electrochemical study of safranin O binding to DNA at the surface

The interaction of safranin O (SO) with double-stranded calf thymus DNA was investigated electrochemically, using a DNA-modified glassy carbon (GC-DNA) electrode. The results were compared with those obtained using a bare GC electrode. The formal potential of SO was more negative when using the GC-DNA electrode, although the rate of heterogeneous electron transfer was not altered. The GC-DNA electrode enabled preconcentration of the SO on the electrode surface, despite the fact that the mass transfer effects in the thin DNA layer adsorbed on the surface were still observed. The diffusion coefficient of SO and the binding ratio for the oxidized and reduced forms of the bound species were obtained. A binding isotherm for SO at the GC-DNA electrode was plotted from coulometric titrations, giving a binding constant of 5.8×10⁴ L mol⁻¹.