Field Of Medical Physics Research Articles

The COVID-19 Pandemic-Can open access modeling give us better answers more quickly?

The COVID-19 Pandemic-Can open access modeling give us better answers more quickly?

Low-Energy Physics Profiling of the Geant4 Simulation Tool Kit on Evolving Computing Architectures

Recent efforts on searching for new physics span a wide range of fields from high-energy particle physics to low-energy physics. These efforts require an increasingly large volume of data and utilize cutting-edge evolving computing architectures in medical physics. Therefore, the development of a simulation tool kit to accommodate the evolving computing architectures is required. In Geant4, a typical simulation tool kit for medical physics as well as particle physics, a profiling system is already well developed. To study the evolving computing architecture, we used the KISTI-4 and the KISTI-5 supercomputers to perform Geant4 simulations and brachytherapy profiling for low-energy physics. The results enable the optimization of high performance computing with Geant4 in the evolving computing architecture. This will also provide brachytherapy users of high performance computing (HPC) with references. It will also be used at the High Luminosity Large Hardon Collider (HL-LHC) for experiments beyond the field of medical physics.

Influence of 3D-printed collimator thickness on near-the-edge scattering of high-energy electrons

In this research, we study how the thickness of a 3D-printed collimator affects high-energy electron scattering. As part of this work, an ABS plastic absorber was produced by fused deposition modeling. Dose distributions at the boundary of the plastic absorber were experimentally observed for 6, 12, and 20 MeV electron beams. For plastic absorber thicknesses of up to 3 cm, dose “hot spots” are observed at the boundary between the primary beam and the beam that has passed through the absorber for 12 and 20 MeV electrons. However, no additional scattering is observed at the absorber edges for the thicknesses of plastic collimators above the minimum thickness providing the total absorption of electron beams (≥4 cm for 6 MeV electrons, ≥8 cm for 12 MeV electrons, and ≥10 cm for 20 MeV electrons). The experiments show that 3D printing is a useful tool for modulating high energy electron beams, for example, in the field of medical physics.

The state of gender diversity in medical physics.

The purpose of this study was to quantify gender diversity in leadership positions within the field of medical physics, as well as within award categories and other recognitions by the American Association of Physicists in Medicine. The April 2019 PDF version of the AAPM membership directory was searched for all users self‐reporting as holding a leadership position at their place of employment, those elected to leadership positions within the AAPM, those serving as chair of an AAPM council, and those listed as having received an award or other such recognition from AAPM (beginning in 1972 with the William D. Coolidge Award). Historical data for these categories were obtained from archived membership directories on the AAPM website. The AAPM website was also used to identify members who have served on the Medical Physics Editorial Board. The Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Education Programs (CAMPEP) website was used to identify the current directors of graduate and residency programs (as of July 2019). Because gender was not a reported field in any of these categories, gender was assigned by reviewing names and photographs. Percentage representation in these respects was compared to the overall percentage of women in the AAPM in 2019 (23.3%) and reported the number of women working as medical physicists globally (29.8%). Within the AAPM, the percentage of women reporting clinical leadership roles is 12.0% within the US, 13.6% in Canada, and 18.0% in all other countries combined. Women comprise only 7.5% of CAMPEP graduate program directors and 21.5% of residency program directors. The percentage of female presidents in AAPM is 8.1%. A woman has never served as Editor‐in‐Chief of Medical Physics, and the average for the past 10 yr for female board membership is 13.6%. With the exception of the John R. Cameron Young Investigators Symposium Award, the percentage of all female AAPM awardees is less than the percentage of women AAPM members. The lowest percentage of female representation within AAPM is among council chairs with only one woman having held a chair position out of 42 positions (2.4%) from 1970 to July 2019. Similar to the traditional discipline of physics, medical physics displays a clear gender disparity with regard to leadership positions, both within educational training programs and the AAPM. Further investigation into the demographics of the field and psychosocial factors affecting medical physicists may help to elucidate the origin of these disparities and inform strategies to address them.

Development of a hybrid magnetic resonance/computed tomography-compatible phantom for magnetic resonance guided radiotherapy.

ABSTRACTThe purpose of the present study was to develop a hybrid magnetic resonance/computed tomography (MR/CT)-compatible phantom and tissue-equivalent materials for each MR and CT image. Therefore, the essential requirements necessary for the development of a hybrid MR/CT-compatible phantom were determined and the development process is described. A total of 12 different tissue-equivalent materials for each MR and CT image were developed from chemical components. The uniformity of each sample was calculated. The developed phantom was designed to use 14 plugs that contained various tissue-equivalent materials. Measurement using the developed phantom was performed using a 3.0-T scanner with 32 channels and a Somatom Sensation 64. The maximum percentage difference of the signal intensity (SI) value on MR images after adding K2CO3 was 3.31%. Additionally, the uniformity of each tissue was evaluated by calculating the percent image uniformity (%PIU) of the MR image, which was 82.18 ±1.87% with 83% acceptance, and the average circular-shaped regions of interest (ROIs) on CT images for all samples were within ±5 Hounsfield units (HU). Also, dosimetric evaluation was performed. The percentage differences of each tissue-equivalent sample for average dose ranged from −0.76 to 0.21%. A hybrid MR/CT-compatible phantom for MR and CT was investigated as the first trial in this field of radiation oncology and medical physics.

Low-Cost, Compact, and Rapid Bio-Impedance Spectrometer with Real-Time Bode and Nyquist Plots

Bioelectric impedance spectroscopy (BIS) has been widely used to study the electrical properties of biological tissue based on the characteristics of the complex electrical impedance dispersions. One of the problems in using the BIS method is the length of time required for the data acquisition process and possibly data analysis as well. In this research, a compact and work rapidly BIS instrumentation system has been developed at a low cost. It is designed to work in the frequency range of 100 Hz to 100 kHz, which is generally used in the fields of biophysics and medical physics. The BIS instrumentation system is built using several integrated modules. The modules are an AC current source to produce a selectable injection current; a data acquisition system to measure voltage, current, and phase difference rapidly and simultaneously; and software to calculate and display measurement results in the form of Bode and Nyquist plots in real time. The developed BIS system has been validated using a simple RC circuit as the sample being tested. The average time needed in the process of data acquisition and analysis until the formation of impedance dispersion curves in the form of Bode and Nyquist plots, for 54 sample frequencies, is less than one minute. The system is able to identify R and C values of the sample with a maximum error of 1.5%. In addition, some simple application examples are also presented in this paper.

Experimental time resolution limits of modern SiPMs and TOF-PET detectors exploring different scintillators and Cherenkov emission

Solid state photodetectors like silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) are playing an important role in several fields of medical imaging, life sciences and high energy physics. They are able to sense optical photons with a single photon detection time precision below 100 ps, making them ideal candidates to read the photons generated by fast scintillators in time of flight positron emission tomography (TOF-PET). By implementing novel high-frequency readout electronics, it is possible to perform a completely new evaluation of the best timing performance achievable with state-of-the-art analog-SiPMs and scintillation materials. The intrinsic SiPM single photon time resolution (SPTR) was measured with Ketek, HPK, FBK, SensL and Broadcom devices. Also, the best achieved coincidence time resolution (CTR) for these devices was measured with LSO:Ce:Ca of mm3 and mm3 size crystals. The intrinsic SPTR for all devices ranges between 70 ps and 135 ps FWHM when illuminating the entire mm2 or mm2 area. The obtained CTR with LSO:Ce:Ca of mm3 size ranges between 58 ps and 76 ps FWHM for the SiPMs evaluated. Bismuth Germanate (BGO), read out with state of-the-art NUV-HD SiPMs from FBK, achieved a CTR of 158 ps and 277 ps FWHM for mm3 and mm3 crystals, respectively. Other BGO geometries yielded 167 3 ps FWHM for mm3 and 235 5 ps FWHM for mm3 also coupled with Meltmount (n = 1.582) and wrapped in Teflon. Additionally, the average number of Cherenkov photons produced by BGO in each 511 keV event was measured to be 17 3 photons. Based on this measurement, we predict the limits of BGO for ultrafast timing in TOF-PET with Monte Carlo simulations. Plastic scintillators (BC422, BC418), BaF2, GAGG:Ce codoped with Mg and CsI:undoped were also tested for TOF performance. Indeed, BC422 can achieve a CTR of 35 2 ps FWHM using only Compton interactions in the detector with a maximum deposited energy of 340 keV. BaF2 with its fast cross-luminescence enables a CTR of 51 5 ps FWHM when coupled to VUV-HD SiPMs from FBK, with only ∼22% photon detection efficiency (PDE). We summarize the measured CTR of the various scintillators and discuss their intrinsic timing performance.

Application of OSL dosimetry and 3D printed phantom for comparison of calculation algorithms for VMAT treatment planning

The application of new commercial and industrial technologies in the fields of dosimetry and medical physics is of great interest to the scientific community, both to validate existing protocols and to develop new methodologies. The popularization of 3D printing techniques has been analyzed as a great advantage in quality control in complex treatment techniques, such as radiotherapy and the development of patient simulators. Portable dosimetry systems such as Landauer MicroStar OSL system are versatile and their use in quality control is of great importance. The aim of this paper is to compare two of the most used dose calculation algorithms used in Varian Eclipse TPS – AAA and Acuros XB – for treatment planning of multiple brain metastases using a 3D printed anthropomorphic phantom and the OSL InLight system for experimental dosimetry validation. A 3D printed anthropomorphic skull phantom was submitted to a CT scan and planed five target volumes. In order of comparison, two dose calculations were performed in the Varian Eclipse 13.6 TPS with "Alabama technique", using the Varian’s AAA and AXB algorithms, and treatment delivered with 6 MV photon beam of a Varian TrueBeam linear accelerator. Landauer nanoDot dosimeters were positioned inside each of the five target volumes planned and the experimental dosimetric results were compared with the algorithms’ calculated doses. The findings of this work indicate that ACUROS XB calculates more accurate doses compared with AAA, with all the experimental agreements better than 96.0 %, probably because of the heterogeneity corrections. The uncertainty analysis of the InLight system device is enough to sustain the dosimetric uncertainties below 3.0 %, validating the results.

IBIC microscopy – The powerful tool for testing micron – Sized sensitive volumes in segmented radiation detectors used in synchrotron microbeam radiation and hadron therapies

Ion Beam Induced Charge (IBIC) microscopy performed using highly tuned microbeams of accelerated ions with energies in the MeV range is the powerful tool for analysis of charge carrier transport properties in semiconductor devices based on semiconductor hetero-junction, metal-on-semiconductor and semiconductor-on-insulator configurations. Here we present two cases of recent applications of the IBIC microscopy in the field of medical radiation physics. The reduced-rate ion microbeams with energies in the MeV range and sub-micrometer spot-sizes have been used for the investigations of the charge collection efficiency (CCE) in sensitive volumes of segmented radiation detectors in order to measure the spatial distribution and uniformity of CCE in different polarization conditions. This information allows the determination of the charge carrier transport properties in selected substructures of a particular device and to quantify its ability to accurately determine the energy deposited by incident ionizing radiation - two fundamental requirements of any microdosimeter or detector of ionizing radiation.

Mass attenuation coefficient of olive peat material for absorbing gamma ray energy

The mass attenuation coefficients (μ/ρ) of a natural material, i.e., olive peat, were measured at photon energies of 0.059, 0.356, 0.662, 1.17, and 1.332 MeV and compared with those of concrete and Pb. The experimental samples were irradiated with 214Am, 133Ba, 137Cs, and 60Co point sources using a transmission arrangement. The olive peat samples were obtained from different areas in Jordan, namely Mafraq (sample M), Kerak (sample K), Ajloun (sample A), and Irbid (sample I), and photon energies were measured using a NaI(Tl) scintillation detector with an energy resolution of 7.6% at 662 keV. The differences in the µ/ρ of olive peat samples and the calculated µ/ρ of concrete were consistently within 0.7% at photon energies of 0.356–1.332 MeV. This finding indicates that olive peat can be used in radiation applications in the field of medical physics. Finally, the half-value layer (HVL) of the experimental samples was measured, and results were compared with those of concrete and Pb. Pb and concrete exhibited minimal HVL values due to their high density, and the HVL of olive peat revealed lower shielding effectiveness than that of concrete.

Issues on VMAT QA Program with EBT3 Radiochromic Films: An improvement proposal

EBT3 radiochromic film is renowned in medical physics field due its dose verification for Quality Assurance (QA) program in intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). However, it is known that QA programs, which include these films, are expensive and relatively time-consuming. Furthermore, it was noted that dosimetry with EBT3 film has been suffering with lack of accuracy. In that way, it was evaluated its possible dosimetric inaccuracy, the time expenditure in the whole QA process, as well as the cost-benefit of such a program and it is suggested efforts to improve this process based on our institution expertise. A retrospective study was performed on VMATplans, rating how many cases got success by absolute dosimetric Gamma analysis. Furthermore, in order to verify the film intra-lot aging, the calibration curves were compared to the lot fabrication date. On the other hand, with single- and multi-channel dosimetric analyses, further trials were performed over the post-irradiationsaturation curves up to 35 h after irradiation. The retrospective Gamma analyses exhibited that about 23% of the total VMAT cases did not passed by absolute Gamma evaluation. It was seen that the fabrication date influences the dose response, which prerequisites a calibration curve for each film box. For the multichannelanalyses, as excepted, the red channel sensitivity was the highest for doses up to 5 Gy. Moreover, it was reinforced that the dose response is a direct function of dose level for both types of analyses. In that way, it was chosen a post-irradiation time interval of 12h-16h, with dose response variation criteria less than 2%. Finally, it was verified, based on our routine, that there were about 23h/month expended in a film QA program and directly costs bordering US$20,000.00/year.

Channelized Hotelling Observers and their application in measuring human performance

The main goal of this work is to demonstrate how a Channelized Hotelling Observer works, to show its application and value in the field of medical physics and also, to highlight its advantages over other observers. Channelized Hotelling Observers are a variation of the Model Observers, which are applicable with 3D tomography for detection of masses. During image quality assessment, the classifier needs to make a decision concerning that specific image. This decision can be most likely one of two possible cases – “signal absent” and “signal present”. These decisions represent the result, generated as a response to the input image. For this purpose, the widely used 4-Alternative Four Choice (4AFC) algorithm is applied, where one trial consists of a batch of four images – one from “signal present” and three more from “signal absent”. If the system has correctly classified the image as “present”, this is counted as a “hit”, otherwise it is a “miss”. This way, the final success rate of the observer is computed as the number of hits over the number of trials. These observers also have a channel mechanism, which reduces the dimensionality of the explored images. However, there is a need to be a tuning phase for the channels, with regard to the task. The next phase of the implementation is training. Here, an expected signal is compared to the covariance of the images, which results in a signal template. Due to the lack of a sufficient number of images, often they are used in both training and evaluation phases. The final “reading” phase (evaluation) involves two main features – observer reproducibility for various lesions and dose level estimation. Acknowledgements This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 692097.

Criteria for acquiring and maintaining the title “Medical Physics Expert” in Bulgaria

The Council Directive 2013/59/EURATOM requires medical physics experts (MPE) to be recognized at governmental level and their continuity of expertise to be ensured. In 2014 European Guidelines on Medical Physics Expert, Radiation Protection No 174 (RP174) was published. This document provides comprehensive description of educational and training schemes, as well as knowledge, skills and competences that should be possessed by MPE. As of 2005 Bulgarian ordinance was issued, harmonizing Bulgarian legislation with the requirements of the European Union, stating the role of MPE in medical practice. According to this document a physicist should have Medical Radiological Physics specialty and five years of professional experience in some of the fields of medical physics, in order to become MPE. In 2018 modification of the ordinance required implementation of a scheme for continuous professional development (CPD) of MPE. The Bulgarian Society of Biomedical Physics and Engineering is responsible to elaborate guidelines for CPD. A working group (WG) with representatives from all areas (radiation therapy, diagnostic radiology and nuclear medicine) and with experience in education and training was created for that purpose. The WG prepared a draft of guidelines for CPD based on RP174 and EFOMP Policy Statement No. 10.1: Recommended Guidelines on National Schemes for Continuing Professional Development of Medical Physicists. According to the prepared guidelines the MPE is recognized separately in each of the three fields. Credit points are assigned for activities related to education, practical or scientific activities, lecturing and publications. Educational activities include participation in courses, lectures, conferences, defense of PhD, etc. Practical or scientific activities are participation in projects, introduction of new technologies, development of new methods, elaboration of technical protocols, conduction of educational activities at the working place, visits of other hospitals and others. A total of 250 credit points must be collected for a 5 years period.

66 EFOMP: A global Player in the Education and Training of Medical Physics Experts

Introduction Promoting of education and training programmes is one of the columns of the mission of EFOMP. In this paper, I will briefly outline the initiatives taken from EFOMP in this field, namely: -The European School for medical Physics Experts (ESMPE) -The European Examination Board (EEB) - The participation of EFOMP in the EUTEMPE-RX network. ESMPE EFOMP organized in 2013 the first module which was targeted towards Medical Physicists who would like to achieve Medical Physics Expert status in the Nuclear Medicine subspecialty. Since then, nine editions of the school have been completed with more than 400 participants coming from all European countries (see Fig. 1). Download : Download high-res image (219KB) Download : Download full-size image The geographical distribution of participants demonstrate that this is perceived by participants as a European forum where state of the art information regarding technologies, methods and novelties in the field of medical Physics can be efficiently gathered and shared (see Fig. 2). Download : Download high-res image (270KB) Download : Download full-size image A distinctive tract of the school is to provide subsidized fees for a certain number of participants coming from low income European countries. ESMPE at the second European Congress of Medical Physics – August 22, 2018, Copenhagen, Denmark The main congress (ECMP2018) will take place from 23 to 25 August 2018 in Copenhagen. Satellite meetings will be held in conjunction with the ECMP2018 on the 22 of August. Among them, ESMPE organized three satellite meetings. 1. Statistics in Medical Physics 2. Fundamentals of Nuclear Medicine Dosimetry 3. IMRT&VMAT planning in practice EEB In many of EFOMP’s NMOs a local examination board has not been established. Currently medical physicists from such countries face difficulties in providing the necessary qualification evidence when they seek employment in other EU Member States. The EEB has been established to facilitate the harmonization of medical physics standards throughout Europe, so facilitating the mobility of medical physicists The EEB main aims are to introduce 2 European Diplomas in Medical Physics: • EDMP (European Diploma for Medical Physics) • EACMPE (European Accreditation Certificate for Medical Physics Experts) The first round of EEB exams for Diagnostic and Interventional radiology took place in Prague July 6 and 7 2017. The second EEB round of examinations will took place August 21 and 22 2018 in all three fields of Medical Physics and will be held in conjunction with the 2nd ECMP 2018 in Copenhagen. EUTEMPE-RX Eutempe-RX is a Network of excellent teaching centers, which provides dedicated courses at EQF level8. The course contents are driven by the ”Guidelines of the MPE project” with the support of a Scientific Advisory Board and they consist in balanced e-learning (40 hours workload) done through a Multicampus Educational and Training platform and face-to-face sessions (40 hours workload). The educational tools and methods includes: • Creation of ”groups of learners” and guided tasks prior to the face-to-face moments • Online communication & feedback between teachers and learners • Interactive self-assessment test • Up-to-date multimedia material • Solutions for practical training • Interactive exercises • Databases of Material

I001] The role of the MPE in risk management

Purpose In many sectors, for example in aviation, risk management and the associated processes and requirements have become indispensable. In medicine, where there is a significant risk of harm to life, risk management is still not available in some disciplines. Most of the persons in charge are directly involved in the processes and it is difficult to objectively demand causes, consequences and improvement ideas and to evaluate them. Methods Risk management involves all the professions. Additionally coordinating and organizational activities must be taken over. In radiotherapy, that could be the radiation-oncologist, the radiation-technologist or the medical physicist, because of their integration into the work processes. Why medical physicists are particularly suitable in risk management? • Medical physicists are physicists from heart and characterized by high and having a great affinity to logical thinking. They are usually successful at implementing projects, both in terms of planning and practical implementation. • MPE’s often work as link between the prescribing (radiation oncologist) and the executing (radiation technologist). Most errors or near-misses occur in prescription or in execution. So the MPE holds a very neutral position. • Already in physics study at university error calculation and tolerance limits are central topics and are major prerequisite in risk management. Why are medical physicists not likely to be involved in risk management? • Physicists are told to be not communicative • Formalities are a little suspect to a physicist, but indispensable in risk management. Training for the physicist to become a MPE includes not only the appropriation on medical and health technological knowledge but also the development of a structured personality. So the MPE shows ideal prerequisites to play a leading and driving role in. Conclusions Of course, good risk management requires the cooperation of all professional groups on an appreciative and respectful approach, but experience shows that at least in radiotherapy, medical physicists are often chosen to take a lead. This makes sense but we encounter the problem that this fact has to be taken into account in the framework conditions or regulatory requirements and additional staff in the field of medical physics is required.

PLUNC 3D Radiation Treatment Planning System (TPS): An Educational Platform for Medical Physics Students

Technological innovations with modern planning and treatment techniques have transformed the way of radiation treatment for cancer patients. A tremendous evolution in radiation treatment process occurred in recent years. This allowed the delivery of the desired radiation dose distribution to target tissue, while delivering an acceptable radia­tion dose to the surrounding normal tissues with greater dose gradients and tighter margins. Evolution of the computers and computerized systems enabled the possibility to improve the basic two-dimensional (2D) radiotherapy treatment planning to a more accurate and more visualised three-dimensional (3D) treatment planning systems. Today there is now several commercialized planning system competitors used for external beam radiation therapy. PLUNC was one of the first operating 3D radiation treatment planning (RTP) systems’. This RTP system has been developed in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of North Carolina (UNC) since 1985 for research and educational purposes. PLUNC is freely distributed to the field of radiation oncology for research and educational use under special license agreement. In this study, PLUNC 3D treatment planning system has been installed and implemented for research and educational purpose in the field of medical physics. A 3D treatment plan has been created and analyzed in a typical patient CT image for educational demonstration purpose. Based on this analysis, it is concluded that the PLUNC 3D TPS could be successfully used for research and education purposes in M Sc/PhD thesis works of students from medical physics discipline.
 Bangladesh J. Nuclear Med. 21(1): 35-42, January 2018

Fluorescence-guided surgery and intervention - An AAPM emerging technology blue paper.

Fluorescence-guided surgery (FGS) and other interventions are rapidly evolving as a class of technologically driven interventional approaches in which many surgical specialties visualize fluorescent molecular tracers or biomarkers through associated cameras or oculars to guide clinical decisions on pathological lesion detection and excision/ablation. The technology has been commercialized for some specific applications, but also presents technical challenges unique to optical imaging that could confound the utility of some interventional procedures where real-time decisions must be made. Accordingly, the AAPM has initiated the publication of this Blue Paper of The Emerging Technology Working Group (TETAWG) and the creation of a Task Group from the Therapy Physics Committee within the Treatment Delivery Subcommittee. In describing the relevant issues, this document outlines the key parameters, stakeholders, impacts, and outcomes of clinical FGS technology and its applications. The presentation is not intended to be conclusive, but rather to inform the field of medical physics and stimulate the discussions needed in the field with respect to a seemingly low-risk imaging technology that has high potential for significant therapeutic impact. This AAPM Task Group is working toward consensus around guidelines and standards for advancing the field safely and effectively.

Development of a portable quality control application using a tablet-type electronic device.

Our aim was to develop a portable quality control (QC) application using a thermometer, a barometer, an angle gauge, and a range finder implemented in a tablet-type consumer electronic device (CED) and to assess the accuracies of the measurements made. The QC application was programmed using Java and OpenCV libraries. First, temperature and atmospheric pressure were measured over 30days using the temperature and pressure sensors of the CED and compared with those measured by a double-tube thermometer and a digital barometer. Second, the angle gauge was developed using the accelerometer of the CED. The roll and pitch angles of the CED were measured from 0 to 90° at intervals of 10° in the clockwise (CW) and counterclockwise (CCW) directions. The values were compared with those measured by a digital angle gauge. Third, a range finder was developed using the tablet's built-in camera and image-processing capacities. Surrogate markers were detected by the camera and their positions converted to actual positions using a homographic transformation method. Fiducial markers were placed on a treatment couch and moved 100mm in 10-mm steps in both the lateral and longitudinal directions. The values were compared with those measured by the digital output of the treatment couch. The differences between CED values and those of other devices were compared by calculating means±standard deviations (SDs). The means±SDs of differences in temperature and atmospheric pressure were -0.07±0.25°C and 0.05±0.10hPa, respectively. The means±SDs of the difference in angle was -0.17±0.87° (0.15±0.23° degrees excluding the 90° angle). The means±SDs of distances were 0.01±0.07mm in both the lateral and longitudinal directions. Our portable QC application was accurate and may be used instead of standard measuring devices. Our portable CED is efficient and simple when used in the field of medical physics.

Participation of women medical Physicists in European scientific events: The European experience

PurposeThough the number of women scientists is increasing over the years, studies show that they are still under-represented in leadership roles. The purpose of this work is to establish the percentage of women Medical Physicists (wMPs) that have participated in European scientific events and evaluate it as an indication of the current position of women in the field of Medical Physics in Europe and to propose possible ways to encourage their participation. Materials and MethodsData regarding the participants in European scientific events of Medical Physics were collected. The participants were divided into categories according to the program of the events and their gender was identified. The percentage of wMPs in each category was evaluated. ResultsThe participation of wMPs attending courses is greater than 50%. The categories with the greatest participation are “Organizing Committees”, “Chairpersons-Moderators” and “Oral Presentations”. The categories with the lower participation of wMPs are “Scientific Committee”, “Symposiums” and “Invited Speakers”. None of wMPs were represented as “Course Directors”. ConclusionsThe attendance of wMPs in courses is slightly greater than average. However, wMPs do not have an equally important recognition in special invited roles in conferences. They are still under-represented in “Scientific Committees”, “Invited Speakers”, “Symposiums” and “Course directors”. wMPs should be encouraged to participate even more actively in European conferences and the organizing committees should invite more wMPs in special roles. More studies concerning the status of female MPs in each country separately should be encouraged as they will help in understanding the position of wMPS in Europe.

Applying the FAST Standard for TG-51 Spreadsheet Design

Similar to the financial modeling industry, the medical physics community is heavily reliant upon spreadsheets to perform complex calculations. Based on a survey performed as part of the current study, 95% of the respondent clinics calibrated the output of their linear accelerator (via the TG-51 protocol) using spreadsheets. With accuracy being paramount in financial modeling, the industry implemented the FAST Standard (Flexible, Appropriate, Structured, and Transparent) to specifically address the concern with good spreadsheet design and error mitigation. No such standard has been applied in the field of medical physics, in fact, of the clinics surveyed, 50% did not perform second checks of the results returned from their spreadsheets. In the current study, medical physics-applicable aspects of the FAST Standard are introduced, and the behavior concerning these aspects evaluated following completion of surveys. By highlighting these aspects of the FAST Standard, as well as the current deficiencies regarding its use, clinics can reduce the introduction of error associated with the use of spreadsheets. Two surveys were distributed to the medical physics community. The first survey accessed the general process for performing a TG-51 calibration, including the use of spreadsheets and the process of second checking. The second survey addressed the use of spreadsheets with specific emphasis placed on principles of the FAST Standard. Based on FAST principles, it is recommended that all factors be calculated only once, that a normally-positive convention be used on working sheets, that a separation be made between interface and presentation sheets, that links between sheets be minimized, that cells are not hidden, that presentation sheets are used to present results, that formulas or kept short, that formulas do not embed constants, that parenthetic separation not be used in formulas, and that changes of the spreadsheet be documented via version control. Currently, only 12% of clinics surveyed comply with at least 75% of the FAST Standards presented here, and 32% of clinics are in compliance with at least 50% of the FAST Standards presented herein. Notable deficiencies include a lack of version control, the use of linked sheets, the non-use of a normally positive convention, the lack of presentation sheets, and the lack of an instruction sheet. By following the lead of the financial modeling industry, the implementation of the FAST Standard within the medical physics community can have the effect of error reduction in processes which rely on accurate and well-designed spreadsheet design.