A Monte Carlo-Based Fiber Tracking Algorithm using Diffusion Tensor MRI

Diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging, which measures directional information of water diffusion in the brain, has emerged as a powerful tool for human brain studies. In this paper, we introduce a new Monte Carlo-based fiber tracking approach to estimate brain connectivity. One of the main characteristics of this approach is that all parameters of the algorithm are automatically determined at each point using the entropy of the eigenvalues of the diffusion tensor. Experimental results show the good performance of the proposed approach

Error and complexity of random walk Monte Carlo radiosity

The author studies the error and complexity of the discrete random walk Monte Carlo technique for radiosity, using both the shooting and gathering methods. The author shows that the shooting method exhibits a lower complexity than the gathering one, and under some constraints, it has a linear complexity. This is an improvement over a previous result that pointed to an O(n log n) complexity. The author gives and compares three unbiased estimators for each method, and obtains closed forms and bounds for their variances. The author also bounds the expected value of the mean square error (MSE). Some of the results obtained are also shown

Parallel Monte Carlo approach for integration of the rendering equation

This paper is addressed to the numerical solving of the rendering equation in realistic image creation. The rendering equation is integral equation describing the light propagation in a scene accordingly to a given illumination model. The used illumination model determines the kernel of the equation under consideration. Nowadays, widely used are the Monte Carlo methods for solving the rendering equation in order to create photorealistic images. In this work we consider the Monte Carlo solving of the rendering equation in the context of the parallel sampling scheme for hemisphere. Our aim is to apply this sampling scheme to stratified Monte Carlo integration method for parallel solving of the rendering equation. The domain for integration of the rendering equation is a hemisphere. We divide the hemispherical domain into a number of equal sub-domains of orthogonal spherical triangles. This domain partitioning allows to solve the rendering equation in parallel. It is known that the Neumann series represent the solution of the integral equation as a infinity sum of integrals. We approximate this sum with a desired truncation error (systematic error) receiving the fixed number of iteration. Then the rendering equation is solved iteratively using Monte Carlo approach. At each iteration we solve multi-dimensional integrals using uniform hemisphere partitioning scheme. An estimate of the rate of convergence is obtained using the stratified Monte Carlo method. This domain partitioning allows easy parallel realization and leads to convergence improvement of the Monte Carlo method. The high performance and Grid computing of the corresponding Monte Carlo scheme are discussed.

Uso do método de Monte Carlo para simulação e detecção do espectro de raios-X gerado com feixes de elétrons em alvo de Molibdênio, utilizando o Geant4

The huge demand for procedures involving ionizing radiation promotes the need for safe methods of experimentation considering the danger of their biological e ects with consequent risk to humans. Brazilian's legislation prohibits experiments involving this type of radiation in humans through Decree 453 of Ministry of Health with determines that such procedures comply with the principles of justi cation, optimization and dose limitation. In this line, concurrently with the advancement of available computer processing power, computing simulations have become relevant in those situations where experimental procedures are too cost or impractical. The Monte Carlo method, created along the Manhattan Project duringWorldWar II, is a powerful strategy to simulations in computational physics. In medical physics, this technique has been extensively used with applications in diagnostics and cancer treatment. The objective of this work is to simulate the production and detection of X-rays for the energy range of diagnostic radiology, for molybdenum target, using the Geant4 toolkit. X-ray tubes with this kind of target material are used in diagnostic radiology, speci cally in mammography, one of the most used techniques for screening of breast cancer in women. During the simulations, we used di erent models for bremsstrahlung available in physical models for low energy, in situations already covered by the literature in earlier versions of Geant4. Our results show that although the physical situations seems qualitatively adequate, quantitative comparisons to available analytical data shows aws in the code of Geant4 Low Energy source

Simulação de Monte Carlo: de modelos de spin à teoria de campos na rede

Pós-graduação em Física - IFT

Relating in situ gas measurements to the surface outgassing properties of cometary nuclei

The sensitivity of the gas flow field to changes in different initial conditions has been studied for the case of a highly simplified cometary nucleus model. The nucleus model simulated a homogeneously outgassing sphere with a more active ring around an axis of symmetry. The varied initial conditions were the number density of the homogeneous region, the surface temperature, and the composition of the flow (varying amounts of H2O and CO2) from the active ring. The sensitivity analysis was performed using the Polynomial Chaos Expansion (PCE) method. Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) was used for the flow, thereby allowing strong deviations from local thermal equilibrium. The PCE approach can be used to produce a sensitivity analysis with only four runs per modified input parameter and allows one to study and quantify non-linear responses of measurable parameters to linear changes in the input over a wide range. Hence the PCE allows one to obtain a functional relationship between the flow field properties at every point in the inner coma and the input conditions. It is for example shown that the velocity and the temperature of the background gas are not simply linear functions of the initial number density at the source. As probably expected, the main influence on the resulting flow field parameter is the corresponding initial parameter (i.e. the initial number density determines the background number density, the temperature of the surface determines the flow field temperature, etc.). However, the velocity of the flow field is also influenced by the surface temperature while the number density is not sensitive to the surface temperature at all in our model set-up. Another example is the change in the composition of the flow over the active area. Such changes can be seen in the velocity but again not in the number density. Although this study uses only a simple test case, we suggest that the approach, when applied to a real case in 3D, should assist in identifying the sensitivity of gas parameters measured in situ by, for example, the Rosetta spacecraft to the surface boundary conditions and vice versa.

Estudo dos parâmetros dosimétricos de sementes de Iodo-125 desenvolvidas pelo IPEN-CNEN/SP utilizadas em braquiterapia por simulação computacional pelo método de Monte Carlo

As expectativas da Organização Mundial de Saúde para o ano de 2030 são que o número de mortes por câncer seja de aproximadamente 13,2 milhões, evidenciando a elevada parcela desta doença no problema de saúde mundial. Com relação ao câncer de próstata, de acordo com o Instituto Nacional do Câncer, o número de casos diagnosticados no mundo em 2012 foi de aproximadamente 1,1 milhão, enquanto que no Brasil os dados indicam a incidência de 68 mil novos casos. O tratamento deste tipo de neoplasia pode ser realizado com cirurgia (prostatectomia) ou radioterapia. Dentre a radioterapia, podemos destacar a técnica de braquiterapia, a qual consiste na introdução (implante) de pequenas fontes radioativas (sementes) no interior da próstata, onde será entregue um valor elevado de dose no volume de tratamento e baixa dose nos tecidos ao redor. No Brasil, a classe médica estima uma demanda de aproximadamente 8000 sementes/mês, sendo o custo unitário de cada semente de pelo menos U$ 26,00. A Associação Americana de Físicos na Medicina publicou alguns documentos descrevendo quais parâmetros e análises devem ser realizadas para avaliações da distribuição de dose, como por exemplo, os parâmetros Constante de taxa de dose, Função radial e Função de anisotropia. Estes parâmetros podem ser obtidos através de medidas experimentais da distribuição de dose ou por simulações computacionais. Neste trabalho foram determinados os parâmetros dosimétricos da semente OncoSeed-6711 da empresa Oncura-GEHealthcare e da semente desenvolvida pelo Grupo de Dosimetria de Fontes de Braquiterapia do Centro de Tecnologia das Radiações (CTR IPEN-CNEN/SP) por simulação computacional da distribuição de dose utilizando o código MCNP5, baseado no Método de Monte Carlo. A semente 6711 foi modelada, assim como um sistema dosimétrico constituído por um objeto simulador cúbico de 30x30x30 cm3 preenchido com água. Os valores obtidos da semente 6711 foram comparados com alguns apresentados na literatura, onde o parâmetro Constante de taxa de dose apresentou erro relativo em relação ao valor publicado no TG- 43 de 0,1%, sendo que os outros parâmetros analisados também apresentaram boa concordância com os valores publicados na literatura. Deste modo, pode-se considerar que os parâmetros utilizados nas simulações (espectro, modelagem geométrica e avaliação de resultados) estão compatíveis com outros estudos, sendo estes parâmetros também utilizados nas simulações da semente do IPEN. Considerando as análises de incerteza estatística, os valores obtidos da semente do IPEN são semelhantes aos valores da semente 6711.

Application of Monte Carlo techniques to insolation characterization and prediction : status report, October 1, 1978-June 1, 1979 /

"July 1979."

Monte Carlo calculations of gamma ray penetration /

"Task No. 70717"

Methods in Monte Carlo solution of the radiation transport equation /

"UNC-5014 (Volume A) Final Report covering the period 20 March 1961 - 31 May 1962."

Monte Carlo Bayesian system reliability and MTBF-confidence assessment : report for period March, 1974 - August, 1975 /

"Performing organization: Oklahoma State University, College of Business Administration , Stillwater."

Using Monte Carlo Methods to Evaluate Sub-Optimal Exercise Policies for American Options

∗This research, which was funded by a grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, formed part of G.A.’s Ph.D. thesis [1].

Comparative Analysis of the Opposite Rotating Cylinders Impact over Couette Flow for Rarefied Gas

Петър Господинов, Добри Данков, Владимир Русинов, Стефан Стефанов - Иследвано е цилиндрично течение на Кует на разреден газ в случая на въртене на два коаксиални цилиндъра с еднакви по големина скорости, но в различни посоки. Целта на изследването е да се установи влиянието на малки скорости на въртене върху макрохарактеристиките – ρ, V , . Числените резултати са получени чрез използване на DSMC и числено решение на уравненията на Навие-Стокс за относително малки (дозвукови) скорости на въртене. Установено е добро съвпадение на резултатите получени по двата метода за Kn = 0.02. Установено е, че съществува “стационарна” точка за плътността и скоростта. Получените резултати са важни при решаването на неравнини, задачи от микрофлуидиката с отчитане на ефектите на кривината. Ключови думи: Механика на флуидите, Кинетична теория, Разреден газ, DSMC

Monte Carlo Algorithms for Linear Problems

MSC Subject Classification: 65C05, 65U05.