It is reported the study of the heat transfer through a homogeneous and isotropic solid exited by square periodic light beam on its front surface. For this, we use the Infrared Photothermal Radiometry in order to obtain the evolution of the temperature difference on the rear surface of three samples, silicon, copper and wood, as a function of the exposure time. Also, we solved the heat transport equation for this problem with the boundary conditions congruent with the physical situation, by means of numerical simulation based in finite element analysis. Our results show a good agreement between the experimental and numerical simulated results, which demonstrate the utility of this methodology for the study of the thermal response of solids.

Radiometric and photometric quantities rely on a geometric description of the beam subtended by a source and a receptor. In this paper, a generalization of this description is proposed as the product of the apparent size of the source times the receptor angular extent, whatever the natures of these elements: point, line, surface, or volume. The obtained flux density per geometric extent expressions are then applied to the determination of the irradiances induced in the near field and far field by a rectilinear source represented as a point source, a line source, and a surface source.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the dosimetric impact of the active breathing control-moderate deep inspiration breath-hold (ABC-mDIBH) technique on normal tissue sparing in locally advanced left-sided breast cancer radiotherapy.Twenty-seven consecutive patients with left-sided locally advanced breast cancer referred to our department for adjuvant radiotherapy were enrolled in the study. Each patient was scanned at free breathing and ABC-mDIBH for radiation treatment planning. Two separate radiotherapy treatment plans were generated with and without ABC-mDIBH to investigate the dosimetric impact of ABC-mDIBH in breast cancer radiotherapy.Between June 2011 and February 2012, 27 consecutive patients with left-sided locally advanced breast cancer referred to our department for adjuvant radiotherapy were enrolled in the study. Dose-volume parameters of left anterior descending coronary artery, lungs, heart, contralateral breast, esophagus and spinal cord were significantly reduced with the use of ABC-mDIBH (P <0.001).Our study revealed that the use of ABC-mDIBH in the practice of locally advanced mastectomized left-sided breast cancer radiotherapy improves normal tissue sparing with the expected potential of decreasing treatment-related morbidity and mortality. Moreover, the resultant reduction achieved with ABC in doses to the left anterior descending coronary artery, which plays a central role in cardiac perfusion, may have implications for decreasing the potential of radiation-induced cardiac morbidity and mortality.

Epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFRs) belong to the ErbB family of receptor tyrosine kinases (TKs) involved in the proliferation of normal and malignant cells. As mutations and overexpression of ErbB TKs are implicated in carcinoma and glioblastoma and are related to both a very strong resistance to chemotherapy and a poor survival means that ErbB receptors are targets of considerable importance for anti-cancer drug design. Besides using monoclonal antibodies for anti-EGFR-related cancer therapeutics, small molecules - tyrosine kinase inhibitors are being considered as well. Some of these therapies have entered clinical trials or have been approved for clinical use. Based on experimental methods (radiometry, immunofluoroscence or luminescence, electrophoresis) that are mainly employed for measuring and interpreting the selectivity of protein kinase inhibitors, routine accomplishment of selectivity of small molecules for particular protein kinases is a substantial challenge. In light of this, we herein elaborate a computer-based protein engineering approach demonstrating its potential to be a viable supplement to experiment in modulating the affinity of ligand molecules for EGFR in an efficient manner. The structural basis of the remarkable strategy is also elucidated using our recent results obtained by means of molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations. A few critical implications for successful structure-based design of prospective drug candidates against EGFR-related cancers are consequently discussed.

The purpose of this study was to measure mass and activity distributions from the aerosols generated during the demolition of surface contaminated concrete. Air samples were collected using a cascade impactor during the mechanical hammering and dismantlement of radiologically contaminated high level waste process vaults from which the piping and components had been previously removed. The experimentally determined distribution parameters were compared with the 5.0-μm particle size referenced in the U.S. Department of Energy (U.S. DOE) regulations pertaining to internal deposition (10CFR835 and ICRP66). Mass distribution parameters were compared with their activity distribution counterparts. The Mass Median Aerodynamic Diameter (MMAD) was determined to be 4.2 μm with a Mass Geometric Standard Deviation (GSDM) of 2.3 μm, and the Co Activity Median Aerodynamic Diameter (AMAD) was determined to be 3.9 μm with an Activity Geometric Standard Deviation (GSDA) of 2.3 μm. These results are consistent with the ICRP66 5.0-μm reference particle size and the Derived Air Concentration (DAC) values referenced in 10CFR835 and utilized throughout the U.S. DOE complex.

Clearance monitoring includes all measures taken and measurements performed to ensure that all pertinent regulatory conditions are met for clearance of waste material. For bulk material, only a limited number of monitoring techniques are feasible for providing the necessary proof of compliance in the time frames and at costs commensurate with operator and regulator expectations for decommissioning projects. Operationally, measurements using hand-held devices, such as contamination monitors using scintillator or proportional counter technology, might provide sufficiently short response times at acceptable accuracies to segregate the waste streams according to their level of contamination and allowing for a decision on their further processing. Recognizing the various limitations hand-held devices might display in bulk material screening during clearance monitoring measurements, the detection limits with respect to material self-attenuation and non-homogenous activity distributions have been investigated.