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Background: The present study is aimed at calculating relative absorbed-dose energy response correction ( R ) of commonly used thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) such as LiF, Li 2 B 4 O 7 , and Al 2 O 3 as a function of depth in water for protons (50-250 MeV/n) and carbon ion (80-480 MeV/n) beams using Monte Carlo-based FLUKA code., Materials and Methods: On-axis depth-dose profiles in water are calculated for protons (50-250 MeV/n) and carbon ion (80-480 MeV/n) beams using FLUKA code. For the calculation of R , selective depths are chosen based on the depth-dose profiles. In the simulations, the TLDs of dimensions 1 mm × 1 mm × 1 mm are positioned at the flat, dose gradient, and Bragg peak regions of the depth-dose profile. Absorbed dose to detector was calculated within the TLD material. In the second step, TLD voxels were replaced by water voxel of similar dimension and absorbed dose to water was scored., Results: The study reveals that for both proton and carbon ion beams, the value of R differs from unity significantly at the Bragg peak position and is close to unity at the flat region for the investigated TLDs. The calculated R value is sensitive to depth in water, beam energy, type of ion beam, and type of TLD., Discussion: For accurate dosimetry of protons and carbon ion beams using TLDs, the response of the TLD should be corrected to account for its absorbed-dose energy dependence., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2024 Journal of Medical Physics.)

Introduction: As per the recommendations of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine Task Group 43, Monte Carlo (MC) investigators should reproduce previously published dose distributions whenever new features of the code are explored. The purpose of the present study is to benchmark the TG-43 dosimetric parameters calculated using the new MC user-code egs_brachy of EGSnrc code system for three different radionuclides 192 Ir, 169 Yb, and 125 I which represent high-, intermediate-, and low-energy sources, respectively., Materials and Methods: Brachytherapy sources investigated in this study are high-dose rate (HDR) 192 Ir VariSource (Model VS2000), 169 Yb HDR (Model 4140), and 125 I -low-dose-rate (LDR) (Model OcuProsta). The TG-43 dosimetric parameters such as air-kerma strength, S k , dose rate constant, Λ, radial dose function, g(r) and anisotropy function, F(r, θ ) and two-dimensional (2D) absorbed dose rate data (along-away table) are calculated in a cylindrical water phantom of mass density 0.998 g/cm 3 using the MC code egs_brachy. Dimensions of phantom considered for 192 Ir VS2000 and 169 Yb sources are 80 cm diameter ×80 cm height, whereas for 125 I OcuProsta source, 30 cm diameter ×30 cm height cylindrical water phantom is considered for MC calculations., Results: The dosimetric parameters calculated using egs_brachy are compared against the values published in the literature. The calculated values of dose rate constants from this study agree with the published values within statistical uncertainties for all investigated sources. Good agreement is found between the egs_brachy calculated radial dose functions, g(r), anisotropy functions, and 2D dose rate data with the published values (within 2%) for the same phantom dimensions. For 192 Ir VS2000 source, difference of about 28% is observed in g(r) value at 18 cm from the source which is due to differences in the phantom dimensions., Conclusion: The study validates TG-43 dose parameters calculated using egs_brachy for 192 Ir, 169 Yb, and 125 I brachytherapy sources with the values published in the literature., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2022 Journal of Medical Physics.)

Purpose: Monte Carlo simulation was carried out for a 6 MV flattening filter-free (FFF) indigenously developed linear accelerator (linac) using the BEAMnrc user-code of the EGSnrc code system. The model was benchmarked against the measurements. A Gaussian distributed electron beam of kinetic energy 6.2 MeV with full-width half maximum of 1 mm was used in this study., Methods: The simulation of indigenously developed linac unit has been carried out by using the Monte Carlo-based BEAMnrc user-code of the EGSnrc code system. Using the simulated model, depth and lateral dose profiles were studied using the DOSXYZnrc user-code. The calculated dose data were compared against the measurements using an RFA dosimertic system made by PTW, Germany (water tank MP3-M and 0.125 cm 3 ion chamber)., Results: The BEAMDP code was used to analyze photon fluence spectra, mean energy distribution, and electron contamination fluence spectra. Percentage depth dose (PDD) and beam profiles (along both X and Y directions) were calculated for the field sizes 5 cm × 5 cm - 25 cm × 25 cm. The dose difference between the calculated and measured PDD and profile values were under 1%, except for the penumbra region where the maximum deviation was found to be around 3%., Conclusions: A Monte Carlo model of indigenous FFF linac (6 MV) has been developed and benchmarked against the measured data., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest.

Purpose: A Monte Carlo model of a 6 MV medical linear accelerator (linac) unit built indigenously was developed using the BEAMnrc user code of the EGSnrc code system. The model was benchmarked against the measurements. Monte Carlo simulations were carried out for different incident electron beam parameters in the study., Materials and Methods: Simulation of indigenously developed linac unit has been carried out using the Monte Carlo based BEAMnrc user-code of the EGSnrc code system. Using the model, percentage depth dose (PDD), and lateral dose profiles were studied using the DOSXYZnrc user code. To identify appropriate electron parameters, three different distributions of electron beam intensity were investigated. For each case, the kinetic energy of the incident electron was varied from 6 to 6.5 MeV (0.1 MeV increment). The calculated dose data were compared against the measurements using the PTW, Germany make RFA dosimetric system (water tank MP3-M and 0.125 cm 3 ion chamber)., Results: The best fit of incident electron beam parameter was found for the combination of beam energy of 6.2 MeV and circular Gaussian distributed source in X and Y with FWHM of 1.0 mm. PDD and beam profiles (along both X and Y directions) were calculated for the field sizes from 5 cm × 5 cm to 25 cm × 25 cm. The dose difference between the calculated and measured PDD and profile values were under 1%, except for the penumbra region where the maximum deviation was found to be around 2%., Conclusions: A Monte Carlo model of indigenous linac (6 MV) has been developed and benchmarked against the measured data., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest.

Purpose: To investigate beam quality correction, K QQ0 ( r ) and phantom scatter correction, K phan ( r ) for lithium formate dosimeter as a function of distance r along the transverse axis of the high-energy brachytherapy sources 60 Co, 137 Cs, 192 Ir and 169 Yb using the Monte Carlo-based EGSnrc code system., Materials and Methods: The brachytherapy sources investigated in this study are BEBIG High Dose Rate (HDR) 60 Co (model Co0.A86), 137 Cs (model RTR), HDR 192 Ir (model Microselectron) and HDR 169 Yb (model 4140). The solid phantom materials investigated are PMMA, polystyrene, solid water, virtual water, plastic water, RW1, RW3, A150 and WE210., Result: K QQ0 ( r ) is about unity and distance independent fo 60 Co, 137 Cs and 192 Ir brachytherapy sources, whereas for the 169 Yb source, K QQ0 ( r ) increases gradually to about 4 % larger than unity at a distance of 15 cm along the transverse axis of the source. For 60 Co source, phantoms such as polystyrene, plastic water, solid water, virtual water, RW1, RW3 and WE210 are water-equivalent but PMMA and A150 phantoms show distance-dependent K phan ( r ) values. For 137 Cs and 192 Ir sources, phantoms such as solid water, virtual water, RW1, RW3 and WE210 are water-equivalent. However, phantoms such as PMMA, plastic water, polystyrene and A150 showed distance-dependent K phan ( r ) values, for these sources. For 169 Yb source, all the investigated phantoms show distance-dependent K phan ( r ) values., Conclusion: K QQ0 ( r ) is about unity and distance independent for 60 Co, 137 Cs and 192 Ir brachytherapy sources. Phantoms such as solid water, virtual water, RW1, RW3 and WE210 are water-equivalent for 60 Co, 137 Cs and 192 Ir brachytherapy sources. For 169 Yb source, all the investigated phantoms show distance-dependent K phan ( r ) values., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest.

A comprehensive measurement of radioactivity concentrations of the primordial radionuclides 238 U, 232 Th and 40 K and their decay products in the soil samples collected from the sites of Indian research stations, Bharati and Maitri, at Antarctica was carried out using gamma spectrometric method. The activity concentrations in the soil samples of Bharati site were observed to be few times higher than of Maitri site. The major contributor to radioactivity content in the soil at Bharati site is 232 Th radionuclide in higher concentration. The gamma radiation levels based on the measured radioactivity of soil samples were calculated using the equation given in UNSCEAR 2000. The calculated radiation levels were compared with the measured values and found to correlate reasonably well. The study could be useful for the scientists working at Antarctica especially those at Indian station to take decision to avoid areas with higher radioactivity before erecting any facility for long term experiment or use., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Detailed structural shielding of primary and secondary barriers for a 6 MV medical linear accelerator (LINAC) operated with flattening filter (FF) and flattening filter free (FFF) modes are calculated. The calculations have been carried out by two methods, one using the approach given in National Council on Radiation Protection (NCRP) Report No. 151 and the other based on the monitor units (MUs) delivered in clinical practice. Radiation survey of the installations was also carried out. NCRP approach suggests that the primary and secondary barrier thicknesses are higher by 24% and 26%. respectively, for a LINAC operated in FF mode to that of a LINAC operated in both FF and FFF modes with an assumption that only 20% of the workload is shared in FFF mode. Primary and secondary barrier thicknesses calculated from MUs delivered on clinical practice method also show the same trend and are higher by 20% and 19%, respectively, for a LINAC operated in FF mode to that of a LINAC operated in both FF and FFF modes. Overall, the barrier thickness for a LINAC operated in FF mode is higher about 20% to that of a LINAC operated in both FF and FFF modes., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest.

Aim of Study: The photo-neutron dose equivalents of 15 MV Elekta precise accelerators were measured for different depths in phantom, for various field sizes, at different distances from the isocenter in the patient plane and for various wedged fields., Materials and Methods: Fast and thermal neutrons are measured using passive detectors such as Columbia Resin-39 and pair of thermoluminescent dosimetry (TLD) 600 and TLD 700 detector from Elekta medical linear accelerator., Results: It is found that fast photo-neutron dose rate decreases as the depth increases, with a maximum of 0.57 ± 0.08 mSv/Gy photon dose at surface and minimum of 0.09 ± 0.02 mSv/Gy photon dose at 15 cm depth of water equivalent phantom with 10 cm backscatter. Photo neutrons decreases from 1.28 ± 0.03 mSv/Gy to 0.063 ± 0.032 when measured at isocenter and at 100 cm far from the field edge along the longitudinal direction in the patient plane. Fast and thermal neutron doses increases from 0.65 ± 0.05 mSv/Gy to 1.08 ± 0.07 mSv/Gy as the field size increases; from 5 cm × 5 cm to 30 cm × 30 cm for fast neutrons. With increase in wedge field angle from 0° to 60°, it is observed that the fast neutron dose increases from 0.42 ± 0.03 mSv/Gy to 0.95 ± 0.05 mSv/Gy.s, Conclusions: Measurements indicate the photo-neutrons at few field sizes are slightly higher than the International Electrotechnical Commission standard specifications. Photo-neutrons from Omni wedged fields are studied in details. These studies of the photo-neutron energy response will enlighten the neutron dose to radiation therapy patients and are expected to further improve radiation protection guidelines.

Clinical application using high-dose rate (HDR) (192)Ir sources in remote afterloading technique is a well-established treatment method. In this direction, Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology (BRIT) and Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, India, jointly indigenously developed a remote afterloading machine and (192)Ir HDR source. The two-dimensional (2D) dose distribution and dosimetric parameters of the BRIT (192)Ir HDR source are generated using EGSnrc Monte Carlo code system in a 40 cm dia × 40 cm height cylindrical water phantom. The values of air-kerma strength and dose rate constant for BRIT (192)Ir HDR source are 9.894 × 10(-8) ± 0.06% UBq(-1) and 1.112 ± 0.11% cGyh(-1)U(-1), respectively. The values of radial dose function (gL(r)) of this source compare well with the corresponding values of BEBIG, Flexisource, and GammaMed 12i source models. This is because of identical active lengths of the sources (3.5 mm) and the comparable phantom dimensions. A comparison of gL(r) values of BRIT source with microSelectron-v1 show differences about 2% at r = 6 cm and up to 13% at r = 12 cm, which is due to differences in phantom dimensions involved in the calculations. The anisotropy function of BRIT (192)Ir HDR source is comparable with the corresponding values of microSelectron-v1 (classic) HDR source.

Beam quality correction, kQQ0(r), for solid-state detectors diamond, LiF, Li2B4O7, Al2O3, and plastic scintillator are calculated as a function of distance, r, along the transverse axis of the 60Co and 192Ir brachytherapy sources using the Monte Carlo- based EGSnrc code system. This study also includes calculation of detector-specific phantom scatter correction, kphan(r), for solid phantoms such as PMMA, polysty- rene, solid water, virtual water, plastic water, RW1, RW3, A150, and WE210. For 60Co source, kQQ0(r) is about unity and distance-independent for diamond, plastic scintillator, Li2B4O7 and LiF detectors. For this source, kQQ0(r) decreases gradually with r for Al2O3 detector (about 6% smaller than unity at 15 cm). For 192Ir source, kQQ0(r) is about unity and distance-independent for Li2B4O7 detector (overall variation is about 1% in the distance range of 1-15 cm). For this source, kQQ0(r) increases with r for diamond and plastic scintillator (about 6% and 8% larger than unity at 15 cm, respectively). Whereas kQQ0(r) decreases with r gradually for LiF (about 4% smaller than unity at 15 cm) and steeply for Al2O3 (about 25% smaller than unity at 15 cm). For 60Co source, solid water, virtual water, RW1, RW3, and WE210 phantoms are water-equivalent for all the investigated solid-state detectors. Whereas polystyrene and plastic water phantoms are water-equivalent for diamond, plastic scintillator, Li2B4O7 and LiF detectors, but show distance-dependent kphan(r) values for Al2O3 detector. PMMA phantom is water-equivalent at all distances for Al2O3 detector, but shows distance-dependent kphan(r) values for remaining detec- tors. A150 phantom shows distance-dependent kphan(r) values for all the investigated detector materials. For 192Ir source, solid water, virtual water, RW3, and WE210 phantoms are water-equivalent for diamond, plastic scintillator, Li2B4O7 and LiF detectors, but show distance-dependent kphan(r) values for Al2O3 detector. All other phantoms show distance-dependent kphan(r) values for all the detector materials.

Aim: A novel series of ethyl 5-(4-substituted phenyl)-3-methyl-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-thiazolo[2,3-b] quinazoline-2-carboxylate 3a-3j, were synthesized, characterized by spectral, elemental analyses and screened for their in vitro antibacterial and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) activities., Materials and Methods: The in vitro antibacterial and antifungal activities were determined by agar well-diffusion and cup-plate agar diffusion methods and the anti-tuberculosis (TB) screening for test compounds were evaluated against MTB H37Rv strain by Resazurin assay., Results: Among the derivatives tested, most of the compounds were found to have potent activity against microbial strains. The structure-activity relationship point of view, introduced group that enhance the lipophilicity as well ester, substituted aromatic ring at thiazole quinazoline nucleus showed increasing antimicrobial and anti TB activity. The high level of activity shown by the compounds with electron withdrawing groups in the para position on the benzene ring (3 g) suggests that these compounds could serve as leads for development of novel synthetic compounds with enhanced antibacterial and anti TB activities., Conclusion: These results provide a further insight into the structural requirements for targeting thiazolo quinazoline carboxylate to develop potential new agents to combat TB treatment.

Relative absorbed dose energy response correction, R, for various radiochromic films in water phantom is calculated by the use of the Monte Carlo-based EGSnrc code system for high energy brachytherapy sources 60Co, 137Cs, 192Ir and 169Yb. The corrections are calculated along the transverse axis of the sources (1-15 cm). The radiochromic films investigated are EBT, EBT2 (lot 020609 and lot 031109), RTQA, XRT, XRQA, and HS. For the 60Co source, the value of R is about unity and is independent of distance in the water phantom for films other than XRT and XRQA. The XRT and XRQA films showed distance dependent R values for this source (the values of R at 15 cm from the source in water are 1.845 and 2.495 for the films XRT and XRQA, respectively). In the case of 137Cs and 192Ir sources, XRT, XRQA, EBT2 (lot 031109), and HS films showed distant-dependent R values. The rest of the films showed no energy dependence (HS film showed R values less than unity by about 5%, whereas the other films showed R values higher than unity). In the case of 169Yb source, the EBT film showed no energy dependence and EBT2 film (lot 031109) showed a distance-independent R value of 1.041. The rest of the films showed distance-dependent R values (increases with distance for the films other than HS). The solid phantoms PMMA and polystyrene enhance the R values for some films when compared the same in the water phantom.

Beam quality correction kQQo (r), which reflects the absorbed energy dependence of the detector, is calculated for solid state detector materials diamond, LiF, Li2B4O7 and Al2O3 for the 137Cs RTR brachytherapy source using the Monte Carlo-based EGSnrc code system. The study also includes calculation of detector-specific phantom scatter corrections kphant (r) for solid phantoms such as PMMA, polystyrene, RW1, solid water, virtual water and plastic water. Above corrections are calculated as a function of distance r along the transverse axis of the source. kQQo (r) is about unity for the Li2B4O7 detector. LiF detector shows a gradual decrease in kQQo (r) with r (decrease is about 2% over the distance range of 1 - 15 cm). Diamond detector shows a gradual increase in kQQo (r)with r (about 3% larger than unity at 15 cm). In the case of Al2O3 detector, kQQo (r)decreases with r steeply (about 14% over the distance range of 1 - 15 cm). The study shows that some solid state detectors demonstrate distance-dependent kphant (r)values, but the degree deviation from unity depends on the type of solid phantom and the detector.

Absorbed dose rate to water at 0.2 cm and 1 cm due to a point isotropic photon source as a function of photon energy is calculated using the EDKnrc user-code of the EGSnrc Monte Carlo system. This code system utilized widely used XCOM photon cross-section dataset for the calculation of absorbed dose to water. Using the above dose rates, dose rate constants are calculated. Air-kerma strength Sk needed for deriving dose rate constant is based on the mass-energy absorption coefficient compilations of Hubbell and Seltzer published in the year 1995. A comparison of absorbed dose rates in water at the above distances to the published values reflects the differences in photon cross-section dataset in the low-energy region (difference is up to 2% in dose rate values at 1 cm in the energy range 30-50 keV and up to 4% at 0.2 cm at 30 keV). A maximum difference of about 8% is observed in the dose rate value at 0.2 cm at 1.75 MeV when compared to the published value. Sk calculations based on the compilation of Hubbell and Seltzer show a difference of up to 2.5% in the low-energy region (20-50 keV) when compared to the published values. The deviations observed in the values of dose rate and Sk affect the values of dose rate constants up to 3%.

Investigation of solid phantom materials such as solid water, virtual water, plastic water, RW1, polystyrene, and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) for their equivalence to liquid water at (137)Cs energy (photon energy of 662 keV) under full scatter conditions is carried out using the EGSnrc Monte Carlo code system. Monte Carlo-based EGSnrc code system was used in the work to calculate distance-dependent phantom scatter corrections. The study also includes separation of primary and scattered dose components. Monte Carlo simulations are carried out using primary particle histories up to 5 × 10(9) to attain less than 0.3% statistical uncertainties in the estimation of dose. Water equivalence of various solid phantoms such as solid water, virtual water, RW1, PMMA, polystyrene, and plastic water materials are investigated at (137)Cs energy under full scatter conditions. The investigation reveals that solid water, virtual water, and RW1 phantoms are water equivalent up to 15 cm from the source. Phantom materials such as plastic water, PMMA, and polystyrene phantom materials are water equivalent up to 10 cm. At 15 cm from the source, the phantom scatter corrections are 1.035, 1.050, and 0.949 for the phantoms PMMA, plastic water, and polystyrene, respectively.

We present a simple analytic tool for calculating the dose rate distribution in water for a new BEBIG high-dose-rate (HDR) (60)Co brachytherapy source. In the analytic tool, we consider the active source as a point located at the geometric center of the (60)Co material. The influence of the activity distribution in the active volume of the source is taken into account separately by use of the line source-based geometric function. The exponential attenuation of primary (60)Co photons by the source materials ((60)Co and stainless-steel) is included in the model. The model utilizes the point-source-based function, f(r) that represents the combined effect of the exponential attenuation and scattered photons in water. We derived this function by using the published radial dose function for a point (60)Co source in an unbounded water medium of radius 50 cm. The attenuation coefficients for (60)Co and the stainless-steel encapsulation materials are deduced as best-fit parameters that minimize the different.

The series of 6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-5-(2'-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(4'-substituted benzylidine)thiazolo(2,3-b)quinazolin-3(2H)-ones (4a-j) and 6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-5-(2'-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(4'-substituted benzylidine)-3-(4-nitrophenyl amino)thiazoloquinazolines (5a-j) were synthesized by the reported method and evaluated for their phosphodiesterase inhibitory activity. All test compounds exhibited good activity. The structure-activity relationships were also studied. In both series of compounds, electron-withdrawing substitutions showed higher activity. Among the tested compounds, 6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-5-(2'-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(4'-fluorobenzylidine)-3-(4-nitrophenylamino)thiazoloquinazoline (5e), 6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-5-(2'-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(4'-nitrobenzylidine)-3-(4-nitrophenylamino)thiazoloquinazoline (5j) and 6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-5-(2'-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(4'-chlorobenzylidine)-3-(4-nitrophenylamino)thiazoloquinazoline (5f) were found to be more potent than theophylline (IC50 in mmol L-1 of 1.34 ± 0.09 for 5f, 1.44 ± 0.02 for 5e, 1.52 ± 0.05 for 5jvs. 1.72 ± 0.09 for theophylline).

Relative absorbed-dose energy response correction R for different detector materials in water, PMMA and polystyrene phantoms are calculated using Monte Carlo-based EGSnrc code system for ¹²⁵I and ¹⁶⁹Yb brachytherapy sources. The values of R obtained for ¹²⁵I source are 1.41, 0.92, 3.97, 0.47, 8.32 and 1.10, respectively, for detector materials LiF, Li₂B₄O₇ , A1₂O₃, diamond, silicon diode and air. These values are insensitive to source-to-detector distance and phantom material. For ¹⁶⁹Yb source, R is sensitive to source-to-detector distance for detector materials other than air and Li₂B₄O₇. For silicon, R increases from 3 to 4.23 when depth in water is increased from 0.5 cm to 15 cm. For ¹⁶⁹Yb source, the values of R obtained for air and Li₂B₄O₇ in PMMA and polystyrene phantoms are comparable to that obtained in water. However, LiF, Si and A1₂O₃ show enhanced response and diamond shows decreased response in PMMA and polystyrene phantoms than in water.

The reference medium for brachytherapy dose measurements is water. Accuracy of dose measurements of brachytherapy sources is critically dependent on precise measurement of the source-detector distance. A solid phantom can be precisely machined and hence source-detector distances can be accurately determined. In the present study, four different solid phantom materials such as polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polystyrene, Solid Water, and RW1 are modeled using the Monte Carlo methods to investigate the influence of phantom material on dose rate distributions of the new model of BEBIG (60)Co brachytherapy source. The calculated dose rate constant is 1.086 +/- 0.06% cGy h(-1) U(-1) for water, PMMA, polystyrene, Solid Water, and RW1. The investigation suggests that the phantom materials RW1 and Solid Water represent water-equivalent up to 20 cm from the source. PMMA and polystyrene are water-equivalent up to 10 cm and 15 cm from the source, respectively, as the differences in the dose data obtained in these phantom materials are not significantly different from the corresponding data obtained in liquid water phantom. At a radial distance of 20 cm from the source, polystyrene overestimates the dose by 3% and PMMA underestimates it by about 8% when compared to the corresponding data obtained in water phantom.