Estudo da contribuição do espalhamento nuclear não elástico de prótons na dose depositada em alvos com composição homogênea

Due the differences between interaction physics process with matter for protons and photons, the proton beam tomography (pCT) has some vantages to comparison with conventional tomography. Also it is confirmed that usually pCT has better dose distribution and highest contrast resolution. The pCT allow not only view the internal structure of an object without destroying it, but also directly measure of volume density of electrons. Also it is confirmed that usually pCT has better dose distribution and highest contrast resolution. At the same time, there are many scientific and technical aspects to a detailed study: the capacity and limitations of the pCT methods are not well clarified. Through computations, based on Monte Carlo Method was carried out a detailed study of the contribution of non-elastic nuclear spreading, and together was compared with an analytical model for the deflection angle and the lateral deflection of protons in the target volume. The programs used were SRIM 2006 code and MCNPX v.2.50 code

Estudo teórico da contribuição a dose de partículas secundárias geradas por prótons de energias entre 100-200 MeV num phantom de músculo estriado

In the treatment plans in conventional Proton therapy are considered only the elastic interactions of protons with electrons and/or nuclei, it means, mainly ionization and coulomb excitation processes. As the energy needed to reach the deep tumors should be of several hundred of MeVs, certainly the nuclear inelastic channels are open. Only some previous studies of the contribution of these processes in the full dose have been made towards targets composed of water. In this study will be presented the results of the simulation of the processes of interaction of beams of protons in the range of 100-200 MeV of energy with a cylindrical phantom composed by striated muscle (ICRU), emphasizing in the contribution to total dose due to the deposition of energy by secondary particles alpha (α), deuterium (2H), tritium (3H), neutron (n) and hélio3 (3He), originated by nuclear inelastic processes. The simulations were performed by using the method of Monte Carlo, via the computer code MCNPX v2.50 (Monte Carlo N-Particle eXtended). The results will be shown demonstrated through the graphics of the deposited dose with or without nuclear interaction, the percentual of dose deposited by secondary particles, the radial dispersion of neutrons, as well as the multiplicity of secondary particles

Estudo teórico da contribuição à dose de partículas secundárias geradas por Prótons de energias entre 100 e 200 MeV num Phantom de osso cortical

In proton therapy, the deposition of secondary particles energy originated by nuclear inelastic process (n, 2H, 3H, 3He and α) has a contribution in the total dose that deserves to be discussed. In calculations of plans implemented for routine treatment, the paid dose is calculated whereas the proton loses energy by ionization and or coulomb excitement. The contribution of inelastic processes associated with nuclear reactions is not considered. There are only estimates for pure materials or simple composition (water, for example), because of the difficulty of processing targets consisting of different materials. For this project, we use the Monte Carlo method employing the code MCNPX v2.50 (Monte Carlo N-Particle eXtended) to present results of the contribution to the total dose of secondary particles. In this work, it was implemented a cylindrical phantom composed by cortical bone, for proton beams between 100 and 200 MeV. With the results obtained, it was possible to generate graphics to analyze: the dose deposition relation with and without nuclear interaction, the multiplicity and percentage of deposited dose for each secondary particle and a radial dispersion of neutrons in the material

Análise de algoritmos computacionais utilizados em sistemas de planejamento de braquiterapia de alta taxa de dose: estudo comparativo com o Código MCNP-5C

In radiotherapy, computational systems are used for radiation dose determination in the treatment’s volume and radiometric parameters quality analysis of equipment and field irradiated. Due to the increasing technological advancement, several research has been performed in brachytherapy for different computational algorithms development which may be incorporated to treatment planning systems, providing greater accuracy and confidence in the dose calculation. Informatics and information technology fields undergo constant updating and refinement, allowing the use Monte Carlo Method to simulate brachytherapy source dose distribution. The methodology formalization employed to dosimetric analysis is based mainly in the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) studies, by Task Group nº 43 (TG-43) and protocols aimed at dosimetry of these radiation sources types. This work aims to analyze the feasibility of using the MCNP-5C (Monte Carlo N-Particle) code to obtain radiometric parameters of brachytherapy sources and so to study the radiation dose variation in the treatment planning. Simulations were performed for the radiation dose variation in the source plan and determined the dosimetric parameters required by TG-43 formalism for the characterization of the two high dose rate iridium-192 sources. The calculated values were compared with the presents in the literature, which were obtained with different Monte Carlo simulations codes. The results showed excellent consistency with the compared codes, enhancing MCNP-5C code the capacity and viability in the sources dosimetry employed in HDR brachytherapy. The method employed may suggest a possible incorporation of this code in the treatment planning systems provided by manufactures together with the equipment, since besides reducing acquisition cost, it can also make the used computational routines more comprehensive, facilitating the brachytherapy ...

Avaliação teórico-experimental da distribuição de dose absorvida em radioterapia em tumores de pele

O trabalho propõe rotinas computacionais usando o Método de Monte Carlo com o Código MCNP-5, para analisar os perfis de dose de radiação liberada nos tratamentos de tumores de pele e otimizar os cálculos radiométricos dos feixes de radiação estudados. Foram realizadas medidas dosimétricas do feixe de radiação, comparando os resultados obtidos com os respectivos valores fornecidos pelo serviço de física médica das instituições, com resultados informados pelo fabricante do equipamento e com as simulações computacionais efetuadas com o Código MCNP-5. A quantificação dos erros relativos percentual entre os resultados simulados e os fornecidos pelo Serviço de Radioterapia (E1), os informados pelo fabricante (E2) e os medidos experimentalmente (E3) são inferiores a 4,0% e validam a metodologia computacional proposta para avaliação do comportamento do feixe de raios-X superficial e do feixe de raios γ da unidade de Cobaltoterapia. A metodologia de análise do espectro energético e da curva de porcentagem de dose profunda (PDP) desenvolvida neste trabalho pode ser estendida para estudos de outros feixes clínicos e subsidiar os dados radiométricos utilizados nos planejamentos e cálculos de dose realizados pelo profissional da física médica na sua rotina nos Serviços de Radioterapia

Estudo teórico da contribuição do espalhamento nuclear não elástico na trajetória de prótons de energias entre 50 e 250 MeV em materiais de interesse em radiologia: aplicação em tomografia com prótons

The goal of this work is to study the process of interaction of protons with matter through Monte Carlo simulation. For this purpose, it was employed the SRIM program (Stopping and Range of Ions in Matter ) and MCNPX (Monte Carlo N-Particle eXtended) v2.50. This work is going to support the development of a tomography system with protons. It was studied the interaction of proton with the follow materials: Polimethyl Mehacralate (PMMA), MS20 Tissue Substitute and water. This work employed energies in range of 50 MeV and 250 MeV, that is the range of clinical interest. The energy loss of proton after cross a material layer, the decreasing of its intensity, the angular and lateral de ection of incident beam, including and excluding nuclear interactions. This work is related with Medical Physics and Material Physics, like interaction of radiation with matter, particle transport phenomena, and the experimental methods in Nuclear Physics like simulation and computational by Monte Carlo method

Calibração do Modelo de TBC para cálculos de espectros de raios-X

As normas nacionais e internacionais prevêem que a manutenção dos níveis de radiação deve estar abaixo do permitido. Sendo assim, a ICRP [1] (International Commission on Radiological Protection) exige métodos de otimização para garantir que o público esteja exposto aos menores níveis de radiação possíveis. Como método de otimização, aproximações teóricas e semi-empiricas podem realizar uma determinação do espectro de raios-X, sendo fundamental para o diagnóstico de energia, estimando a dose de radiações em pacientes e formulando modelos de blindagem. Métodos adequados de radioproteção foram desenvolvidos na física médica como a medicina nuclear, a radioterapia e a radiologia diagnóstica. Um dos métodos semi-empiricos utilizados é o modelo de TBC que é capaz de reproduzir e calcular os espectros gerados pelo anodo de tungstênio. Com o modelo de TBC modificado é possível também obedecer às exigências das barreiras protetoras presentes na radiologia, levando em conta a forma de onda arbitrária e a filtração adicional na geração do espectro não presente no modelo original. Além disso, realiza-se a calibração do espectro gerado para que o modelo de TBC represente a quantidade e comportamento de radiações típicas. Dessa forma, realiza-se uma revisão do modelo de TBC implementando-o ao programa matemático Matlab e comparando-o com os resultados adquiridos pelo Código MCNP-5 no Método de Monte Carlo. Os resultados encontrados são bastante satisfatórios, tanto em termos quantitativos quanto qualitativos dos feixes. Para a calibração, desenvolve-se uma análise dos espectros gerados pelo TBC Modificado aplicado ao programa Mathcad e Matlab sob as mesmas condições. Os espectros gerados apresentam o mesmo comportamento, diferindo em até 12% nos valores encontrados para camadas semi-redutoras, coeficiente de homogeneidade e energia efetiva

Modelagem matemática aplicada a precificação de opções

The mathematical models are critical to determine theoretical prices of options and analyze whether they are overrated or underrated. This information strongly influence in operations carried out by the investor. Therefore, it is necessary that the employee model present high degree of reliability and be consistent with the reality of investment to which it is intended. In this sense, this dissertation aims to apply the steps of mathematical modeling in the Pricing of options for decision making in the investment of a hydroelectric power plant. Was used a Monte Carlo simulation, with the Latin Hypercube Method, to determine the volatility of returns of the project. In order to validate the proposed model, compared to the results found by the Binomial Model, which is one of the models most used in this type of investment. The results reinforce the hypothesis that the mathematical modeling with the Binomial Model is critical to investment decision-making in hydroelectric power

Produção de partículas secundárias em reações de “spallation” induzidas por prótons

Cosmic radiation has been identi ed as one of the main hazard to crew, aircraft and sensitive equipments involved in long-term missions and even high-altitude commercial ights. Generally, shields are used in spatial units to avoid excessive exposure, by holding the incident radiation. Unfortunatelly, shielding in space is problematic, especially when high-energy cosmic particles are considered, due to the production of large number of secondary particles, mainly neutrons, protons and alpha particles, caused by spallation reactions and quasi-elastic processes of the corpuscular radiation with the shield. Good parameters for checking the secondary particle production at target material are diferential cross section and energy deposited in the shield. Addition experiments, some computer codes based on Monte Carlo method show themselves a suitable tool to calculate shield parameters, due to have evaluated nuclear data libraries implemented on the algorithm. In view of this, the aim of this work is determining the parameters evaluated in shielding materials, by using MCNPX code, who shows good agreement with experimental data from literature. Among the materials, Aluminium had lower emission and production of secondary particles

Estudo teórico da contribuição a dose de partículas secundárias geradas por prótons de energias entre 100-200 MeV num phantom de osso compacto

The contribution of the total dose due to deposition of secondary energy particles caused by nuclear inelastic processes (n, 2H, 3H, 3He and  ) in proton therapy is an opened problem and in discussion. In the calculations of plans implemented for routine treatment, the paid dose is calculated whereas that the proton loses energy by ionization and or coulomb excitement. The contribution of inelastic processes associated with nuclear reactions is not considered, mainly due to the difficulty of processing targets consisting of various materials. In this sense, there are only estimates for pure materials or simple composition (water, for example).This work presents the results of simulations by the Monte Carlo method employing the code MCNPX v2.50 (Monte Carlo N-Particle eXtended) of the contribution to the total dose of secondary particles. The study was implemented in a cylindrical phantom composed by compact bone, for monochromatic beams of protons between 100 and 200 MeV with pencil beam form

Métodos de Calibração e Dosimetria de Aplicadores de Betaterapia

The sources of betatherapy for clinical use in Brazil are, the vast majority of strontium-90, radioactive element that is not produced in the country, and therefore requires importation of international laboratories accredited by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).The use of these resources is always limited the crediting of characteristic values supplied by the manufacturer tables that provide the nominal value of activity and dose distribution to determine the irradiation time of the injury. The Institute of Nuclear Energy Research (IPEN / CNEN-SP) has recently researching the emission profile of these types of radiation sources, and some jobs are being developed with ionization chambers extrapolation for the purpose of standardizing a systematic calibration sources betatherapy. Other studies using parallel measures dosimeters (TLD's) and simulations with the Monte Carlo method. Radiological films have also been used in studies of applicators dosimetric analysis of strontium-90. This paper seeks to analyze the different methods for calibration of applicators betatherapy, already consolidated in studies by examining the advantages and disadvantages of each procedure

Análise espacial do potencial fotovoltaico em telhados de residências usando modelagem hierárquica bayesiana

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Viabilidade econômica da venda de energia elétrica em cogeração sob condições de risco: um estudo de caso

The availability of the electrical energy, in sufficient quantities and in competitive prices is a crucial factor to the economic development. The trade-in of the excess electrical energy produced in a system of cogeneration can be seen as an alternative to the creation of an additional source of revenues for ethanol power plants sector, besides contributing to the complementation of the Brazilian electrical headquarter with renewable sources. The objective of this study was to evaluate the economic feasibility of the implementation of a cogeneration electrical central using the excess of sugar cane bagasse and selling the excess of electrical energy with prices of the market. An ethanol power plant located in the state of Sao Paulo was used to this study. It was used the case study methodology, evaluating the potential of the investment under the viewpoint of the Net Present Value (NPV), Payback and Internal Rate of Return (IRR), and complementing the results of the Accounting Results (AC). It was created three alternative scenarios to reflect the level of the risk of every studied situation: the most likely, an optimistic and a pessimistic, each one with its assumptions. The Monte Carlo Simulations was used to insert the elements of risk to each scenario. The results showed that the project is feasible in all NPV scenarios. And the Payback and IRR analysis confirmed these evidences. The valuation with the AR showed that the project is most risky at the pessimistic scenario, but is feasibly in the most likely and the optimistic scenarios. It was concluded that the project is economic viable. However, the economic viability shown in the results is based on the maintenance of the future prices on the levels of the historical prices used in the analysis.

Rentabilidade e Risco da Produção de Milho Safrinha Geneticamente Modificado e Convencional na Região de Guaíra/sp

The objective of this study was to dimension the economic risks and returns on adopters of genetically modified (GM) maize in one of the major corn producing regions of São Paulo state. We performed analysis of variation of the quantities and prices of insecticides used, productivity gains, and variation in the price differentials between GM maize and conventional hybrids seeds, according to account to the maize prices oscillation during the period studied. The net benefits methodology was used, in other words, the economic gains minus the costs of GM technology under risk conditions were calculated. The net benefits was calculated as a function of four critical variables: 1) GM maize productivity; 2) costs of pest control; 3) maize price; 4) GM seeds cost. The probability distribution functions of these critical variables were estimated and included in the net benefit equation. Using the Monte Carlo simulation methodology, the following indicator sets were estimated: central tendency measurements, variability in net benefits (total benefits minus total costs), sensitivity analysis of the net benefits in relation to the critical variables, and finally, a map of the risk to GM technology adopters. These indicators allow one to design economic scenarios associated with their probability of occurring. The results showed probability of 85% to positive gains to the farmers who adopted the transgenic maize seed cultivation. The variable with the greatest impact on the farmers' income was the reduction in productivity loss, that means, as higher is the maize productivity, higher will be the net income. The average gain was US$ 137,41 (R$ 2.45/US$)per hectare with the adoption of transgenic maize seed when compared to conventional maize seed.

Eficiência energética de sistemas de produção de mamona no Estado de Minas Gerais

The objective of this study is to determine the economical and energetic efficiency of the castor bean culture in "Zona da Mata" and South of Minas Gerais. Through the method of simulation "Monte Carlo", we verified the probabilities of occurrence of the economical, cultural and energetic efficiency indexes. In relation to the production systems of castor bean in Minas Gerais in the season 2005/2006, we established that the variables price and productivity were the most noticeable for the producers from "Zona da Mata", while in the South of Minas it was productivity. We verified that the probability of the economical efficiency index to be lower than one was 43,26% for the producers from "Zona da Mata" and 39,57% for the ones from the South of Minas. The medium price received covered the medium costs of production. However, we observed that the medium costs in these regions of Minas Gerais, were over the minimum price. Regarding the energetic analysis, the results showed that the systems in the regions studied in Minas Gerasi, presented average of cultural efficiency indexes of 8,26 and 18,89. We concluded that despite the result being favorable from the energetic point of view, from the economical sustainability point of view there is the need of a more effective support policy for the castor bean, taking into consideration that the expectations of the producers with PNPB were not confirmed.