Water Equivalence Research Articles

SU‐C‐213‐05: Evaluation of a Composite Copper‐Plastic Material for a 3D Printed Radiation Therapy Bolus

Purpose:To evaluate a novel 3D printed bolus fabricated from a copper‐plastic composite as a thin flexible, custom fitting device that can replicate doses achieved with conventional bolus techniques.Methods:Two models of bolus were created on a 3D printer using a composite copper‐PLA/PHA. Firstly, boluses were constructed at thicknesses of 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8 mm. Relative dose measurements were performed under the bolus with an Attix Chamber as well as with radiochromic film. Results were compared to superficial Attix Chamber measurements in a water equivalent material to determine the dosimetric water equivalence of the copper‐PLA/PHA plastic. Secondly, CT images of a RANDO phantom were used to create a custom fitting bolus across the anterolateral scalp. Surface dose with the bolus placed on the RANDO phantom was measured with radiochromic film at tangential angles with 6, 10, 10 flattening filter free (FFF) and 18 MV photon beams.Results:Mean surface doses for 6, 10, 10FFF and 18 MV were measured as a percent of Dmax for the flat bolus devices of each thickness. The 0.4 mm thickness bolus was determined to be near equivalent to 2.5 mm depth in water for all four energies. Surface doses ranged from 59–63% without bolus and 85–90% with the custom 0.4 mm copper‐plastic bolus relative to the prescribed dose for an oblique tangential beam arrangement on the RANDO phantom.Conclusion:Sub‐millimeter thickness, 3D printed composite copper‐PLA/PHA bolus can provide a build‐up effect equivalent to conventional bolus. At this thickness, the 3D printed bolus allows a level of flexure that may provide more patient comfort than current 3D printing materials used in bolus fabrication while still retaining the CT based custom patient shape.Funding provided by an intra‐department grant of the University of Minnesota Department of Radiation Oncology

SU‐E‐T‐161: Characterization and Validation of CT Simulator Hounsfield Units to Relative Stopping Power Values for Proton Treatment Planning

Purpose:To develop a calibration curve that includes and minimizes the variations of Hounsfield Unit (HU) from a CT scanner to Relative Stopping Power (RSP) of tissues along the proton beam path. The variations are due to scanner and proton energy, technique, phantom size and placement, and tissue arrangement.Methods:A CIRS 062 M phantom with 10 plugs of known relative electron density (RED) was scanned through a 16 slice GE Discovery CT Simulator scanner. Three setup combinations of plug distributions and techniques clinically implemented for five treatment regions were scanned with energies of 100, 120, and 140 kV. Volumetric HU values were measured for each plug and scan. The RSP values derived through the Bethe‐Bloch formula are currently being verified with parallel‐plate ionization chamber measurements in water using 80, 150, and 225 MeV proton beam. Typical treatment plans for treatment regions of brain, head‐&‐neck, chest, abdomen, and pelvis are being planned and dose delivered will be compared with film and Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) measurements.Results:Percentage variations were determined for each variable. For tissues close to water, variations were <1% from any given parameter. Tissues far from water equivalence (lung and bone) showed the greatest sensitivity to change (7.4% maximum) with scanner energy and up to 5.3% with positioning of the phantom. No major variations were observed for proton energies within the treatment range.Conclusion:When deriving a calibration curve, attention should be placed to low and high HU values. A thorough verification process of calculated vs. water‐phantom measured RSP values at different proton energies, followed by dose validation of planned vs. measured doses in phantom with film and OSL detectors are currently being undertaken.

SU‐E‐T‐606: Performance of MR‐Based 3D FXG Dosimetry for Preclinical Irradiation

Purpose:Technological advances have revolutionized preclinical radiation research to enable precise radiation delivery in preclinical models. Kilovoltage x‐rays and complex geometries in preclinical radiation studies challenge conventional dosimetry methods. Previously developed gel‐based dosimetry provides a viable means of accommodating complex geometries and accurately reporting dose at kV energies. This paper will describe the development and evaluation of gel‐based ferrous xylenol‐orange (FXG) dosimetry using a 7T preclinical imaging system.Methods:To confirm water equivalence, Zeff values were calculated for the FXG material, water and ICRU defined soft tissue. Proton T1 relaxivity response in FXG was measured using a preclinical 7T MR and a small animal irradiator for a dose range of 1–22 Gy. FXG was contained in 50 ml centrifuge tubes and irradiated with a 225 kVp x‐ray beam at a nominal dose rate of 2.3 Gy/min. Pre and post irradiation maps of the T1 relaxivity were collected using variable TR spin‐echo imaging (TE 6.65 ms; TR 500, 750, 1000, 1500, 2000, 3000 and 5000 ms) with 2 mm thick slices, 0.325 mm/pixel, 3 averages and an acquisition time of 26 minutes. A linear fit to the change in relaxation rate (1/T1) for the delivered doses reported the gel sensitivity in units of ms‐1Gy‐1. Irradiation and imaging studies were repeated using three batches of gel over 72 hrs.Results:FXG has a Zeff of 3.8 for the 225 kVp spectrum used; differing from water and ICRU defined soft tissue by 0.5% and 2.5%, respectively. The average sensitivity for the FXG dosimeter was 31.5 ± 0.7 ms‐1Gy‐1 (R2 = 0.9957) with a y‐intercept of −29.4 ± 9.0 ms‐1.Conclusion:Preliminary results for the FXG dosimeter properties, sensitivity, and dose linearity at preclinical energies is promising. Future work will explore anatomically relevant tissue inclusions to test MR performance.Student funding provided by The Terry Fox Foundation Strategic Initiative for Excellence in Radiation Research for the 21st Century at CIHR and the Gifford Ontario Student Opportunity Trust Fund.

SU-D-213-06: Dosimetry of Modulated Electron Radiation Therapy Using Fricke Gel Dosimeter

Purpose: Modulated electron radiation therapy (MERT) has been proposed as an effective modality for treatment of superficial targets. MERT utilizes multiple beams of different energies which are intensity modulated to deliver optimized dose distribution. Energy independent dosimeters are thus needed for quantitative evaluations of MERT dose distributions and measurements of absolute doses delivered to patients. Thus in the current work we study the feasibility of Fricke gel dosimeters in MERT dosimetry. Methods: Batches of radiation sensitive Fricke gel is fabricated and poured into polymethyl methacrylate cuvettes. The samples were irradiated in solid water phantom and a thick layer of bolus was used as a buildup. A spectrophotometer system was used for measuring the color changes (the absorbance) before and after irradiation and then we calculate net absorbance. We constructed calibration curves to relate the measured absorbance in terms of absorbed dose for all available electron energies. Dosimetric measurements were performed for mixed electron beam delivery and we also performed measurement for segmented field delivery with the dosimeter placed at the junction of two adjacent electron beams of different energies. Dose measured by our gel dosimetry is compared to that calculation from our precise treatment planning system. We also initiated a Monte Carlo study to evaluate the water equivalence of our dosimeters. MCBEAM and MCSIM codes were used for treatment head simulation and phantom dose calculation. PDDs and profiles were calculated for electron beams incident on a phantom designed with 1cm slab of Fricke gel. Results: The calibration curves showed no observed energy dependence with all studied electron beam energies. Good agreement was obtained between dose calculated and that obtained by gel dosimetry. Monte Carlo results illustrated the tissue equivalency of our Gel dosimeters. Conclusion: Fricke Gel dosimeters represent a good option for the dosimetric quality assurance prior to MERT application.

Neutron kerma factors and water equivalence of some tissue substitutes

The Kerma factors and Kerma relative to the air and water of 24 compounds that are used as tissue substitutes were calculated for neutron energies ranging from 2.53×10−8 to 29MeV. The Kerma ratios of the tissue substitutes relative to air and water were calculated. The water equivalence of the selected tissue substitutes was observed above neutron energies of 100eV. The Kerma ratio relative to the air for poly-vinylidene fluoride and Teflon were nearest to unity at very low energy (up to 1eV) and above 63eV, respectively. It was found that the natural rubber was a water-equivalent tissue substitute compound. The results of the Kerma factors in our investigation show good agreement with those published in ICRU-44. We found that at higher neutron energies, the Kerma factors and Kerma ratios of the selected tissue substitute compounds were approximately the same, but though the differences were large for energies below 100eV.

The Practice of Green Cane Trash Blanketing in the Irrigated Zone of Mauritius: Effects on Soil Moisture and Water Use Efficiency of Sugarcane

Sugarcane growers in Mauritius are using mechanized harvesting to reduce costs. This practice results in a trash blanket which contributes to conserve soil moisture, but potential savings in irrigation water have yet to be quantified. An on-farm study was undertaken at three sites in the irrigated coastal zone of Mauritius under sub-humid to humid mega-thermal climate and soils that were oxisol or inceptisol. Trials were conducted in ratoon crops under centre pivot irrigation and treatments with or without trash blanket, as well as different irrigation regimes. Sensors were used to log soil moisture data at 20, 40 and 60 cm depths. Increased drainage was observed under trash blanket during rainfall events and cumulative drainage for a 4-month wet period amounted to 43 and 240 mm for no-trash and trash blanket treatments respectively. Daily crop water use was higher with trash blanket, consumption being 4.9 and 5.1 mm day−1 compared to 4.2 and 4.6 mm day−1 for no-trash during peak growth at Savannah and Medine. Sugarcane yield was higher by 7.2 and 6.6 t ha−1 year−1 with trash blanket compared to no-trash, whereas water use efficiency increased by 8 and 9 kg ha−1 mm−1. At Saint Antoine, trash blanket increased the yield difference between irrigated and rainfed crops by 8.6 t ha−1 and improved water use efficiency by 7 kg ha−1 mm−1 when irrigated. Seasonal water equivalence of the trash blanket amounted to 62, 54 and 72 mm water at Savannah, Medine and Saint Antoine, a potential saving of 10–15 % in irrigation water.

Characterization of novel water-equivalent PRESAGE® dosimeters for megavoltage and kilovoltage x-ray beam dosimetry

In this paper we introduce three novel PRESAGE® dosimeters referred to as metal optimized dosimeters (MODs) 1, 2 and 3, and determine their sensitivity, as well as their water equivalency. All three formulations contained very small concentrations (0.01 wt%) of metal compounds. The radiological properties were key factors that were considered when designing and formulating the new dosimeters. The dosimeters were prepared in spectrophotometric cuvettes, irradiated with a 6 MV X-ray beam, and the change in optical density of each dosimeter was measured using a spectrophotometer. Results show that all three MOD formulations exhibit radiological properties closer to water than the recently introduced PRESAGE® dosimeter formulation referred to as formulation A, with mass densities of the novel formulations varying by only 3.9% from that of water, as compared to 5.3% for the commercial formulation. Whereas the novel formulations have almost identical Zeff values to that of water (Zeff = 7.42), the Zeff for the commercial formulation was 3.7% higher than that of water. Comparison of mass energy coefficients for all MOD formulations showed a maximum variation of approximately 0.6 times closer to water especially MOD 3 whereas commercial formulation was 1.23 times larger than water at approximately 40 keV. The same effect was observed for mass attenuation coefficients comparison. MOD 3 was also more sensitive to radiation than MOD 1 and 2 as a result of the inclusion of bromine-based halocarbons in the formulation. All novel MOD formulations were comparable to commercial formulation in terms of probability of Compton scatter and pair production compared to water. However, the probability of photoelectric absorption in the three novel MOD formulations varied significantly less (1.3 times greater) from that of water as compared to the commercial formulation (1.8 times greater). Given that all three novel MOD formulations displayed improved radiological properties over any of the currently available PRESAGE® dosimeter formulations makes them ideal candidates for tissue mimics in dosimetry of clinical megavoltage and kilovoltage x-ray beams.

Rock Glaciers as Water Stores in the Bolivian Andes: An Assessment of Their Hydrological Importance

Water scarcity is a growing issue for high altitude arid countries like Bolivia, where serious water resource concerns exist because of climate change and population growth. In this study we use a recent Bolivian rock glacier inventory (Rangecroft et al., 2014) to estimate the water equivalent storage of these understudied cryospheric reserves. This paper shows that Bolivian rock glaciers currently store between 11.7 and 137 million cubic meters of water. Rock glacier water equivalents are compared to corresponding ice glacier water equivalent to allow an assessment of the hydrological importance of rock glaciers as water stores in this water scarce region. It can be seen that in the densely glaciated Cordillera Real (15°–16°S) rock glaciers form a small component of mountain water stores; however, along the Cordillera Occidental (17°–22°S), where ice glaciers are absent, rock glaciers are a more important part of the cryospheric water store, suggesting that they could be important for local water management. This is the first time that the water equivalence of the Bolivian rock glacier store has been quantified and is a first step toward assessing the contribution and importance of alternative high altitude water sources.

Calculations and measurements of the scintillator-to-water stopping power ratio of liquid scintillators for use in proton radiotherapy

Liquid scintillators are a promising detector for high-resolution three-dimensional proton therapy dosimetry. Because the scintillator comprises both the active volume of the detector and the phantom material, an ideal scintillator will exhibit water equivalence in its radiological properties. One of the most fundamental of these is the scintillator’s stopping power. The objective of this study was to compare calculations and measurements of scintillator-to-water stopping power ratios to evaluate the suitability of the liquid scintillators BC-531 and OptiPhase HiSafe 3 for proton dosimetry. We also measured the relative scintillation output of the two scintillators. Both calculations and measurements show that the linear stopping power of OptiPhase is significantly closer to water than that of BC-531. BC-531 has a somewhat higher scintillation output. OptiPhase can be mixed with water at high concentrations, which further improves its scintillator-to-water stopping power ratio. However, this causes the solution to become cloudy, which has a negative impact on the scintillation output and spatial resolution of the detector. OptiPhase is preferred over BC-531 for proton dosimetry because its density and scintillator-to-water stopping power ratio are more water equivalent.

Energy dependency of a water-equivalent fibre-coupled beryllium oxide (BeO) dosimetry system

Here we investigate the energy dependency of the radioluminescence (RL) and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) of near water equivalent beryllium oxide (BeO) ceramics. The BeO ceramic is coupled to an optical fibre. We investigate the water equivalence of BeO ceramics by comparing the mass attenuation coefficients and mass stopping powers of BeO ceramic to those of water. We also compare the results to other common dosimeter materials; polyvinyl toluene (PVT) based plastic scintillators, lithium fluoride (LiF) and aluminium oxide (Al2O3:C). Results show that while PVT based plastic scintillators are the most water equivalent material investigated, the mass attenuation coefficients and mass stopping power ratios of BeO and water vary the least with energy. We also investigate the x-ray energy dependence of BeO ceramic for a range of energies produced by a superficial x-ray unit (SXR), an Iridium-192 source and a high energy linear accelerator. Results indicate a significant under response of the BeO ceramic RL and OSL signals for lower x-ray energies, up to 55% for the lower SXR beams. The RL signal from BeO ceramics shows a constant response for x-ray energies above a 50 kVp SXR beam.

Preclinical Evaluation of Bioabsorbable Polyglycolic Acid Spacer for Particle Therapy

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a polyglycolic acid (PGA) spacer through physical and animal experiments. The spacer was produced with surgical suture material made of PGA, forming a 3-dimensional nonwoven fabric. For evaluation or physical experiments, 150-MeV proton or 320-MeV carbon-ion beams were used to generate 60-mm width of spread-out Bragg peak. For animal experiments, the abdomens of C57BL/6 mice, with or without the inserted PGA spacers, were irradiated with 20 Gy of carbon-ion beam (290 MeV) using the spread-out Bragg peak. Body weight changes over time were scored, and radiation damage to the intestine was investigated using hematoxylin and eosin stain. Blood samples were also evaluated 24 days after the irradiation. Long-term thickness retention and safety were evaluated using crab-eating macaques. No chemical or structural changes after 100 Gy of proton or carbon-ion irradiation were observed in the PGA spacer. Water equivalency of the PGA spacer was equal to the water thickness under wet condition. During 24 days' observation after 20 Gy of carbon-ion irradiation, the body weights of mice with the PGA spacer were relatively unchanged, whereas significant weight loss was observed in those mice without the PGA spacer (P<.05). In mice with the PGA spacer, villus and crypt structure were preserved after irradiation. No inflammatory reactions or liver or renal dysfunctions due to placement of the PGA spacer were observed. In the abdomen of crab-eating macaques, thickness of the PGA spacer was maintained 8 weeks after placement. The absorbable PGA spacer had water-equivalent, bio-compatible, and thickness-retaining properties. Although further evaluation is warranted in a clinical setting, the PGA spacer may be effective to stop proton or carbon-ion beams and to separate normal tissues from the radiation field.

A water balance approach for reconstructing streamflow using tree-ring proxy records

• Seasonal water balance models performed well in reproducing instrumental streamflow. • Seasonal PRISM and proxy precipitation and temperature inputs were used with models. • Annual reconstructions did not reproduce observations as well as seasonal ones. • The method also enabled reconstruction of streamflows, SWE and evapotranspiration. • A water balance method is useful for assessing uncertainty in proxy reconstructions. Tree-ring data have been used to augment limited instrumental records of climate and provide a longer view of past variability, thus improving assessments of future scenarios. For streamflow reconstructions, traditional regression-based approaches cannot examine factors that may alter streamflow independently of climate, such as changes in land use or land cover. In this study, seasonal water balance models were used as a mechanistic approach to reconstruct streamflow with proxy inputs of precipitation and air temperature. We examined a Thornthwaite water balance model modified to have seasonal components and a simple water balance model with a snow component. These two models were calibrated with a shuffled complex evolution approach using PRISM and proxy seasonal temperature and precipitation to reconstruct streamflow for the upper reaches of the West Walker River basin at Coleville, CA. Overall, the modified Thornthwaite model performed best during calibration, with R 2 values of 0.96 and 0.80 using PRISM and proxy inputs, respectively. The modified Thornthwaite model was then used to reconstruct streamflow during AD 1500–1980 for the West Walker River basin. The reconstruction included similar wet and dry episodes as other regression-based records for the Great Basin, and provided estimates of actual evapotranspiration and of April 1 snow water equivalence. Given its limited input requirements, this approach is suitable in areas where sparse instrumental data are available to improve proxy-based streamflow reconstructions and to explore non-climatic reasons for streamflow variability during the reconstruction period.

Design and experimental testing of air slab caps which convert commercial electron diodes into dual purpose, correction-free diodes for small field dosimetry.

Two diodes which do not require correction factors for small field relative output measurements are designed and validated using experimental methodology. This was achieved by adding an air layer above the active volume of the diode detectors, which canceled out the increase in response of the diodes in small fields relative to standard field sizes. Due to the increased density of silicon and other components within a diode, additional electrons are created. In very small fields, a very small air gap acts as an effective filter of electrons with a high angle of incidence. The aim was to design a diode that balanced these perturbations to give a response similar to a water-only geometry. Three thicknesses of air were placed at the proximal end of a PTW 60017 electron diode (PTWe) using an adjustable "air cap". A set of output ratios (ORDet (fclin) ) for square field sizes of side length down to 5 mm was measured using each air thickness and compared to ORDet (fclin) measured using an IBA stereotactic field diode (SFD). kQclin,Qmsr (fclin,fmsr) was transferred from the SFD to the PTWe diode and plotted as a function of air gap thickness for each field size. This enabled the optimal air gap thickness to be obtained by observing which thickness of air was required such that kQclin,Qmsr (fclin,fmsr) was equal to 1.00 at all field sizes. A similar procedure was used to find the optimal air thickness required to make a modified Sun Nuclear EDGE detector (EDGEe) which is "correction-free" in small field relative dosimetry. In addition, the feasibility of experimentally transferring kQclin,Qmsr (fclin,fmsr) values from the SFD to unknown diodes was tested by comparing the experimentally transferred kQclin,Qmsr (fclin,fmsr) values for unmodified PTWe and EDGEe diodes to Monte Carlo simulated values. 1.0 mm of air was required to make the PTWe diode correction-free. This modified diode (PTWeair) produced output factors equivalent to those in water at all field sizes (5-50 mm). The optimal air thickness required for the EDGEe diode was found to be 0.6 mm. The modified diode (EDGEeair) produced output factors equivalent to those in water, except at field sizes of 8 and 10 mm where it measured approximately 2% greater than the relative dose to water. The experimentally calculated kQclin,Qmsr (fclin,fmsr) for both the PTWe and the EDGEe diodes (without air) matched Monte Carlo simulated results, thus proving that it is feasible to transfer kQclin,Qmsr (fclin,fmsr) from one commercially available detector to another using experimental methods and the recommended experimental setup. It is possible to create a diode which does not require corrections for small field output factor measurements. This has been performed and verified experimentally. The ability of a detector to be "correction-free" depends strongly on its design and composition. A nonwater-equivalent detector can only be "correction-free" if competing perturbations of the beam cancel out at all field sizes. This should not be confused with true water equivalency of a detector.

Effective atomic numbers, water and tissue equivalence properties of human tissues, tissue equivalents and dosimetric materials for total electron interaction in the energy region 10 keV–1 GeV

Effective atomic numbers (Zeff) of 107 different materials of dosimetric interest have been calculated for total electron interactions in the wide energy region 10keV–1GeV. The stopping cross sections of elements and dosimetric materials were used to calculate Zeff of the materials. Differences (%) in Zeff relative to water have been calculated in the entire energy region to evaluate the water equivalency of the used materials. Moreover, the tissue equivalent materials have been compared with the tissues and dosimetric materials in terms of Zeff to reveal their ability to use as tissue substitutes. Possible conclusions were drawn based on the variation of Zeff through the entire energy region and water and tissue equivalency comparisons in terms of Zeff.

SU-E-T-411: Characterization of Novel Water-Equivalent PRESAGE for Megavoltage and Kilovoltage X-Ray Beam Dosimetry

Purpose: To introduce and characterize novel water-equivalent PRESAGE dosimeters for megavoltage and kilovoltage X-ray beam dosimetry. Methods: Three novel metal-optimized PRESAGE dosimeters referred to as MO-PRESAGE 1, 2 and 3 were formulated. The radiological properties were key factors that were considered when formulating the new dosimeters. All formulations were prepared in spectrophotometric cuvettes, irradiated with a 6 MV X-ray beam, and the change in optical density was measured using a spectrophotometer. Their sensitivity, post-response stability, and water equivalency were investigated. Results: The results showed that all three formulations exhibited radiological properties closer to water than any of the commercially available PRESAGE formulations. For example, the novel MO-PRESAGE 1, 2 and 3 have mass densities only 3.9-4.4% higher than that of water, whereas the mass density for the commercial formulation is 5.3% higher. The novel formulations have almost identical Zeff values to that of water (7.42), while the Zeff for the commercial formulation was 3.7% higher than that of water. In addition, the MO-PRESAGE 3 formulation showed mass and energy attenuation coefficients that deviated from those of water by less than 50% relative to the commercial formulation. Furthermore, the reduced Zeff of the three different MOPRESAGE formulations resulted in a maximum variation in the probability of photoelectric absorption of 1.3 times than of water, compared to 1.8 times that of water for the commercial formulation. MO-PRESAGE 3 was also more sensitive to radiation than the other two new formulations introduced in this work due to the presence of alkylbromide radical initiators in the MO-PRESAGE 3 formulation. Conclusion: All three novel MOPRESAGE dosimeter formulations displayed excellent radiological properties, superior to any of the commercially available PRESAGE formulations and thus can be used for the dosimetry of clinical megavoltage and kilovoltage X-ray beams.

TH-C-19A-12: Two-Dimensional High Spatial-Resolution Dosimeter Using Europium Doped Potassium Chloride

Purpose: Recent research has shown that KCl:Eu2+ has great potential for use in megavoltage radiation therapy dosimetry because this material exhibits excellent storage performance and is reusable due to strong radiation hardness. This work reports our attempts to fabricate 2D KCl:Eu2+ storage phosphor films (SPFs) using both a physical vapor deposition (PVD) method and a tape casting method. Methods: A thin layer of KCl:Eu2+ was deposited on a substrate of borosilicate glass (e.g., laboratory slides) with a PVD system. For tape casting, a homogenous suspension containing storage phosphor particles, liquid vehicle and polymer binder was formed and subsequently cast by doctor-blade onto a polyethylene terephthalate substrate to form a 150 μm thick SPF. Results: X ray diffraction analysis showed that a 10 μm thick PVD sample was composed of highly crystalline KCl. No additional phases were observed, suggesting that the europium activator had completed been incorporated into the KCl matrix. Photostimulated luminescence and photoluminescence spectra suggested that F (Cl−) centers were the electron storage centers post x ray irradiation and that Eu2+ cations acted as luminescence centers in the photostimulation process. The 150 μm thick casted KCl:Eu2+ SPF showed sub-millimeter spatial resolution. Monte Carlo simulations further demonstrated that the admixture of 20% KCl:Eu2+ and 80% low Z polymer binder exhibited almost no energy dependence in a 6 MV beam. KCl:Eu2+ pellet samples showed a large dynamic range from 0.01 cGy to 60 Gy dose-to-water, and saturated at approximately 500 Gy as a Result of its intrinsic high radiation hardness. Conclusions: This discovery research provides strong evidence that KCl:Eu2+ based SPF with associated readout apparatus could Result in a novel electronic film system that has all the desirable features associated with classic radiographic film and, importantly, water equivalence and the capability of permanent identification of each detector. This work was supported in part by NIH Grant No. R01CA148853. The authors would like to thank Paul Leblans (AGFA Healthcare, Belgium) for many helpful discussions on this topic.

WE-F-16A-01: Commissioning and Clinical Use of PC-ISO for Customized, 3D Printed, Gynecological Brachytherapy Applicators

Purpose: (1) Evaluate the safety and radiation attenuation properties of PCISO, a bio-compatible, sterilizable 3D printing material by Stratasys, (2) establish a method for commissioning customized multi- and single-use 3D printed applicators, (3) report on use of customized vaginal cylinders used to treat a series of serous endometrial cancer patient. Methods: A custom film dosimetry apparatus was designed to hold a Gafchromic radio film segment between two blocks of PC-ISO and 3D-printed using a Fortus 400mc (StrataSys). A dose plan was computed using 13 dwell positions at 2.5 mm spacing and normalized to 1500 cGy at 1 cm. Film exposure was compared to control tests in only air and only water. The average Hounsfield Unit (HU) was computed and used to verify water equivalency. For the clinical use cases, the physician specifies the dimensions and geometry of a custom applicator from which a CAD model is designed and printed. Results: The doses measured from the PC-ISO Gafchromic film test were within 1% of the dose measured in only water between 1cm and 6cm from the channel. Doses increased 7–4% measured in only air. HU range was 11–43. The applicators were sterilized using the Sterrad system multiple times without damage. As of submission 3 unique cylinders have been designed, printed, and used in the clinic. A standardizable workflow for commissioning custom 3D printed applicators was codified and will be reported. Conclusions: Quality assurance (QA) evaluation of the PC-ISO 3D-printing material showed that PC-ISO is a suitable material for a gynecological brachytherapy vaginal cylinder in a clinical setting. With the material commissioning completed, if the physician determines that a better treatment would Result, a customized design is fabricated with limited additional QA necessary. Although this study was specific to PC-ISO, the same setup can be used to evaluate other 3D-printing materials.

Comprehensive study on energy absorption buildup factors and exposure buildup factors for photon energy 0.015 to 15 MeV up to 40 mfp penetration depth for gel dosimeters

The gel dosimeter comprises of phantom, dosimetric material and three-D spatial dose distribution has advantages over one- and two-D dosimeters. Energy absorption buildup factor (EABF) and exposure buildup factor (EBF) values of sixteen gel dosimeters have been computed for photon energy 0.015 to 15MeV up to 40mfp (mean free path) penetration depths. Kerma of the gel dosimeters were computed for photon energy 1keV to 20MeV. The water and PMMA phantom equivalence of the gel dosimeters was evaluated using EABF, and large difference was noted below 1MeV photon energy. This study should be useful for estimation of effective dose to the human organs and simulation of the dose for radiation therapy and various medical applications.

Two-dimensional high spatial-resolution dosimeter using europium doped potassium chloride: a feasibility study

Recent research has shown that KCl:Eu2+ has great potential for use in megavoltage radiation therapy dosimetry because this material exhibits excellent storage performance and is reusable due to strong radiation hardness. This work reports the authors’ attempts to fabricate 2D KCl:Eu2+ storage phosphor films (SPFs) using both a physical vapor deposition (PVD) method and a tape casting method. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that a 10 µm thick PVD sample was composed of highly crystalline KCl. No additional phases were observed, suggesting that the europium activator had been completely incorporated into the KCl matrix. Photostimulated luminescence and photoluminescence spectra suggested that F (Cl−) centers were the electron storage centers post x-ray irradiation and that Eu2+ cations acted as luminescence centers in the photostimulation process. The 150 µm thick casted KCl:Eu2+ SPF showed sub-millimeter spatial-resolution. Monte Carlo simulations further demonstrated that the admixture of 20% KCl:Eu2+ and 80% low Z polymer binder exhibited almost no energy-dependence in a 6 MV beam. KCl:Eu2+ pellet samples showed a large dynamic range from 0.01 cGy to 60 Gy dose-to-water, and saturated at approximately 500 Gy as a result of KCl's intrinsic high radiation hardness. Taken together, this work provides strong evidence that KCl:Eu2+-based SPF with associated readout apparatus could result in a novel electronic film system that has all the desirable features associated with classic radiographic film and, importantly, water equivalence and the capability of permanent identification of each detector.

Correlation of foodstuffs with ethanol–water mixtures with regard to the solubility of migrants from food contact materials

Today most foods are available in a packed form. During storage, the migration of chemical substances from food packaging materials into food may occur and may therefore be a potential source of consumer exposure. To protect the consumer, standard migration tests are laid down in Regulation (EU) No. 10/2011. When using those migration tests and applying additional conservative conventions, estimated exposure is linked with large uncertainties including a certain margin of safety. Thus the research project FACET was initiated within the 7th Framework Programme of the European Commission with the aim of developing a probabilistic migration modelling framework which allows one (1) to calculate migration into foods under real conditions of use; and (2) to deliver realistic concentration estimates for consumer exposure modelling for complex packaging materials (including multi-material multilayer structures). The aim was to carry out within the framework of the FACET project a comprehensive systematic study on the solubility behaviour of foodstuffs for potentially migrating organic chemicals. Therefore a rapid and convenient method was established to obtain partition coefficients between polymer and food, KP/F. With this method approximately 700 time-dependent kinetic experiments from spiked polyethylene films were performed using model migrants, foods and ethanol–water mixtures. The partition coefficients of migrants between polymer and food (KP/F) were compared with those obtained using ethanol–water mixtures (KP/F’s) to investigate whether an allocation of food groups with common migration behaviour to certain ethanol–water mixtures could be made. These studies have confirmed that the solubility of a migrant is mainly dependent on the fat content in the food and on the ethanol concentration of ethanol–water mixtures. Therefore dissolution properties of generic food groups for migrants can be assigned to those of ethanol–water mixtures. All foodstuffs (including dry foods) when allocated to FACET model food group codes can be classified into a reduced number of food categories each represented by a corresponding ethanol–water equivalency.