Biomedical subjects

R T Lopes

Publications and source records attributed to R T Lopes.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Gamma shielding factor for typical houses in Brazil.

The housing features in a country depend much on its climate. Dwellings in warm countries are much lighter constructions than in cold ones, which will reflect on the amount of shielding against radiation they provide. In addition to that, wealth is another factor that influences the building's finishing. Great effort has been taken to determine parameters to more accurately estimate dose to a population in case of a radioactive or nuclear accident. Nevertheless, most available data are concerned with typical housing in cold climate countries. This study aims to determine shielding factors for typical building materials used in the southeast of Brazil, a warm area, due to radioactive material deposited on the surrounding field, walls and ceiling of the external surfaces. The shielding factors determination was performed by simulation with the MCNP5 Monte Carlo computer code. The air kerma indoors for the 300, 662 and 3000 keV photon energies have been determined for three different housing patterns, ranging from the very simple to a very complex structure. The shielding factor, defined as the ratio of the air kerma indoor to the air kerma in open field, for the most simple house type and 300 keV photon energy was found to be twice of the best finished one for the same energy.

Air Pollution, Indoor↗

PubMed2006

Standardization and decay data determinations of 125I, 54Mn and 203Hg.

The absolute 4pi-betagamma coincidence counting has been used to measure the activity concentrations of 54Mn and 203Hg, and the Sum-Peak method was used for 125I. 54Mn and 125I radionuclides have been part of international key-comparisons coordinated by the Bureau International des Poids et Measures (BIPM) in 2003/2004, while 203Hg is part of the traceability programme of the National Laboratory for Ionizing Radiation Metrology (LNMRI)/Brazil. Three different detectors were used for the Sum-Peak method: 3''x3'' NaI(Tl) and 5''x5'' well NaI(Tl) scintillation detectors and a planar germanium detector. Direct measurements were made of the photon emission probabilities of the 35.5-, 834.8- and 279.2-keV gamma-rays of 125I, 54Mn and 203Hg to give values of (0.0667+/-0.0014), (0.9997+/-0.0055) and (0.8161+/-0.0005), respectively. The half-lives of 203Hg and 54Mn were also determined by means of a 4pigamma ionization chamber (203Hg) and by the reference source method using a HPGe detector (54Mn) to give values of (46.639+/-0.023) days and (312.1+/-0.9) days, respectively.

Brazil↗

PubMed2006

Effective density and mass attenuation coefficient for building material in Brazil.

This paper presents values for density and mass attenuation coefficient of building materials commonly used in Brazil. Transmission measurements were performed to provide input information for simulations with MCNP4B code. The structure for the clay bricks was simulated as a mix of all material layers and an effective density determined. The mass attenuation coefficients were determined for the 50-3,000 keV gamma-ray energy range. A comparison with results for similar materials found in the literature showed good agreement.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2003

First experiments on diffraction-enhanced imaging at LNLS.

Diffraction-enhanced images have been obtained using two silicon crystals in a non-dispersive set-up at the XRD2 beamline at the Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory (LNLS). A first asymmetrically cut silicon crystal using the (333) reflection vertically expanded the monochromated beam from 1 mm to 20 mm allowing the imaging of the whole sample without movements. A symmetrically cut Si(333) second crystal was used as a Bragg analyzer. Images of biological samples including human tissue were recorded using a direct-conversion CCD detector resulting in enhancement of the contrast compared with absorption-contrast images.

Brazil↗

PubMed2002

The influence of unstable signals for electron spin resonance dosimetry with synthetic A-type carbonated apatite.

Synthetic A-type carbonated apatite prepared in controlled conditions was irradiated at room temperature with 60Co gamma rays. The ESR spectrum was associated to axial CO2- and orthorhombic CO3- species. Radicals used as dose markers in biological apatites are long-lived paramagnetic species. The stability of the post-irradiation signal of A-type apatite was investigated for almost 2 years. Measurements showed variations in the spectra attributed to unstable CO3- species, which can be eliminated by thermal treatments at 100 degrees C for 24 h. Results indicated the potential use of an A-type carbonated apatite as a dosemeter.

Apatites↗

PubMed2002

Electron spin resonance evaluation of pure CaSO4 and as a phosphor doped with P and Dy.

Polycrystalline CaSO4 powder, doped with different elements but mainly rare earths, is one of the most interesting thermoluminescent (TL) materials. Although many electron spin resonance (ESR) analyses have been reported for these materials few studies have been published about the potential of CaSO4 for ESR dosimetry; almost all studies used CaSO4:Dy with a very low Dy concentration as the material for TL measurements. Pure CaSO4 from Merck was used to prepare CaSO4:Dy and CaSO4:P:Dy with different Dy concentrations. Samples were annealed at 600 degrees C for 1 h before irradiation in a Gammacell 220 irradiator with a 60Co gamma source at a dose rate of 100 Gy x min(-1). The ESR spectra of the pure CaSO4 and CaSO4 doped with P and Dy show the lines usually observed with these types of material, with the factor g around 2.036 and an intense line at g = 2.0011 found only in the pure material. This line, probably an axial SO4-, grows linearly with absorbed dose until 1.0 kGy and shows good stability with time. The line should be stabilized by matrix impurities because it can be removed by a simple treatment with hot sulphuric acid.

Calcium Sulfate↗

PubMed2001

Absolute measurements of photon emission probabilities of 169Yb.

A solution of 169Yb was absolutely standardized by the 4pi(EC,X)-gamma coincidence counting method and the result was used to obtain direct measurements of gamma-ray emission probabilities with a coaxial HPGe detector. The empirical relation proposed by (Vaño, F., Gonzalez, L., Gaeta R., Gonzalez, J.A., 1975. An empirical function which relates the slope of the Ge efficiency curves and the active volume Nucl. Instr. Meth. 123, 573) was tested using the gamma spectral response above 200 keV. The half-life of 169Yb was also measured with a 4pi gamma ionization chamber.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2001

Intercomparison of 131I and 99mTc activity measurements in Brazilian nuclear medicine services.

This work outlines the quality assurance program for the activity measurements of the most used radionuclides at Brazilian Nuclear Medicine Services (NMS). The program aims to guarantee that the patient is given the correct prescribed amount of activity in diagnostic or therapeutic applications. This accurate administration depends upon proper use and calibration of the activity meters by the NMS. Underestimation of administered activity in diagnostic practices could delay correct diagnosis disturbing the value of the investigation. On the other hand, the overestimation would be worse, mainly in therapeutic applications, because an unnecessarily high absorbed dose would be delivered to the patient. The preliminary results of intercomparison for 131I and 99mTc showed that many activity meters used at NMS's present problems giving results up to 41% greater than the reference values determined at the National Metrology Laboratory for Ionizing Radiation (LNMRI) which is recognized as the Brazilian authorized metrology laboratory for ionizing radiation. These results have demonstrated that the NMS should improve the accuracy of the activity measurements of the radionuclides administered to the patients and establish the traceability to the national standards of measurements. These standards are based on a pressurized well-type ionization chamber installed at LNMRI and calibrated with reference sources standardized by absolute methods. The protocol of the intercomparison and recommendations made in order to minimize errors in measuring procedures are described and results are discussed.

Brazil↗

PubMed2000

Gamma dose response of synthetic A-type carbonated apatite in comparison with the response of tooth enamel.

Synthetic A-type carbonated apatite samples were irradiated at room temperature with 60Co gamma rays. Their ESR spectra consist of the lines of CO2- and CO3- radicals of orthorhombic and axial symmetry. The measurements carried out immediately after sample irradiation showed that CO2- species are produced by decomposition of CO3- radicals. Intensity of the CO2- lines in the synthetic and enamel samples increases during the first 400 and 200 h after irradiation, respectively. The dependence of the EPR signal on the dose varies with carbonate content of the sample. The dose response curve for tooth enamel is steeper for the synthetic material.

Apatites↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Angle-dispersive diffraction with synchrotron radiation at Laboratório Nacional de Luz Síncrotron (Brazil): potential for use in biomedical imaging.

At low angles the scattering of X-rays in the diagnostic energy range (low-momentum transfer), it is probable that the scattering interaction will be coherent. This coherence gives rise to interference effects resulting in X-ray diffraction patterns that are characteristic of the scattering material. The usefulness of coherent scattering is not limited to crystallography. It can provide information about biological material as well. The interatomic and intermolecular co-operative effects which modify the free-atom coherent scattering process are well known for highly ordered structures such as crystalline materials but are important for amorphous solids and liquids where short-range ordering occurs. X-ray diffraction using synchrotron radiation has became a well established technique. This work introduces a non-destructive synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction imaging technique. The feasibility of the X-ray diffraction computed microtomography using synchrotron radiation has been investigated. This research was carried out at the X-ray diffraction beam line of the National Synchrotron Light Laboratory supported by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (LNLS/CNPq) in Brazil. These experimental patterns were carried out with a 500 microm slit in front of the detector and an 11.101 keV beam (lambda = 1.117 A) monochromatic beam from the double crystal monochromator. The diffracted beam was detected by a fast scintillation detector (10(6) counts s(-1)) designed specifically to meet the needs of high quality X-ray diffraction and synchrotron radiation experiments. The data were recorded at rates of one second per degree of 2theta (angular steps equal to 0.05 +/- 0.01 degrees) and registered by a multichannel analyzer. These experimental data could be used to evaluate the scattering properties of different tissue-substitute (water, lucite, nylon, plastic and polystyrene) and bone-substitute (hydroxyapatite and aluminum) materials. The data are in good agreement with those obtained by other authors, indicating the feasibility of the imaging technique.

Aluminum↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Performance of dose calibrators in Brazilian hospitals for activity measurements.

In order to obtain information on the accuracy of activity measurements in Brazilian hospitals, several intercomparison exercises have been organized since 1998. The first exercise consisted of two intercomparison runs of 131I and 99mTc and had the participation of 21 hospitals localized in Rio de Janeiro city and surroundings. The second, with 131I (47 hospitals) and 123I (12 hospitals), had the participation of hospitals localized in the whole country. The results were analyzed under the statistical point of view and conformity to the norms of Regulatory Authority. These results have shown that such exercises are necessary to improve the quality of the measurements and to identify those instruments that are producing incorrect values.

Brazil↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Influence of sample treatment on ESR signal of irradiated citrus.

ESR spectra of the hard seed cover and kernel coating of irradiated orange and tangerine fruits were obtained under different sample drying conditions to analyze the effect of treatment on ESR line at g = 2.0033 (line A). The spectra shows almost the same lines that appear in stalks, achenes, seeds and skins of fresh fruit. The peak-to-peak intensity of the line A of the spectra shows a linear variation with dose in the range studied (up to 5 kGy) under controlled sample preparation. Q-band ESR spectra shows that this line is composed for three different lines from different species. A1, A2 and A3. The A2 and A3 lines are associated with dose but grow also during drying of the sample and are probably due to 'cellulosic' components of the seed cover. The A1 line appears only when sample is dried and is probably associated with the quinones of the internal kernel coat.

Citrus↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Evaluation of a microtomography system with an X-ray microfocus tube.

The microfocus radiography system has been realized by means of a microfocus X-ray tube (maximum 160 kV), an image intensifier data collector and a five degree of freedom manipulation table. An 8-bit image acquisition PC-card and software were included to compose the microtomography system. To assemble the system, an image quantitative analysis was carried out by evaluation of the focal spot size, modulation transfer function of the system, and the 'defect discernibility curves'. The 2D microtomographies were carried out using the mean of 10 image central lines in each projection. Image processing techniques were also used to obtain better results. The image reconstruction program is based on a filtered backprojection algorithm using a special window. Images of various types of samples were carried out in order to verify the performance of the system.

Image Processing, Computer-Assisted↗