Assessment of Quality Attributes of Banana Slices Dried by Different Drying Methods

In the present study, banana slices were dried and compared using electrohydrodynamic (EHD) drying method at 4.5, 6.5, and 8.5 kV/cm; oven at 50, 60, and 70°C; and hot-air drying at 50, 60, and 70°C at a constant air velocity of 1.5 m/s. ANOVA showed that drying method had a significant effect on drying time, rehydration capacity, shrinkage, color features (L*, a*, b*, and ∆E), and consumed energy. The values of consuming energy for EHD at 8.5 kV/cm, oven, and hot-air drying at 70°C were 2.99, 20.9, and 81.7 kJ/g run on full capacity of each dryer, respectively. Oven drying led to a greater color change than did hot-air. No significant difference was observed between the color change feature ∆E for EHD and hot-air dried samples in the orthogonal contrast analysis. The falling rate period for EHD moisture movement showed that diffusion was describing the moisture gradients and the internal moisture transfer was dominant. EHD is not fast; however, its advantages like less energy needed, lower shrinkage, and great rehydration capacity make it a good choice for combining with other convection drying methods.

Influence of different bonding agents and composite resins on fracture resistance of reattached incisal tooth fragment

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Reattachment of the fractured tooth fragment should be considered as a conservative treatment and valid alternative to a composite restoration.

PURPOSE

This in vitro study was to evaluate the influence of different adhesives and composite resins on fracture resistance of dental fragment reattached to the sectioned incisal edges.

MATERIALS AND METHOD

120 sound human maxillary central incisors were selected under standard conditions and randomly divided into 3 groups, 12 sound teeth were used as a control group and the remaining teeth were assigned to 3 groups (n=36) and each group into three subgroups (n=12). The incisal third of the samples was sectioned using a diamond disk and the respective fragments were then reattached utilizing different intermediate restorative materials, namely: i) adhesive materials alone (OptiBond S or OptiBond XTR or OptiBond All-in-One; ii) Premise flowable composite and iii) Point 4 composite in the one of the mentioned adhesive interface. After storage for two weeks at 37°C and 100% humidity and then thermocycling; shear bond strength (SBS) was recorded in kilogram force (kgf) by applying a load in the middle incisal third with a Zwick Universal Testing Machine at a cross-head speed of 1 mm/min. Data was analyzed with one-way ANOVA and Tukey HSD (p< 0.05).

RESULTS

The control group had a significantly higher SBS than other groups (p= 0.001); the highest SBS values were obtained using the Premise flowable composite and OptiBond S adhesive (112.44±30.46 MPa); and the lowest with OptiBond All-in-One alone (33.97± 15.63 MPa).

CONCLUSION

Although, none of the tested materials provided fracture resistance similar to that found with the intact maxillary central incisors; utilizing the Premise flowable composite and OptiBond S adhesive improved the SBS of the reattached fragment than other materials.

Impact of endoscopic sinus surgery on the quality of life of patients with nasal polyposis

OBJECTIVES

Chronic sinusitis with polyposis (CSWP) is associated with high direct and indirect annual costs. This condition affects several aspects of daily life, and CSWP patients usually suffer from decreased quality of life (QOL). Treatment with functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) is reported to improve the QOL of patients with CS. Here we evaluated the factors that affected QOL improvement in CSWP patients who were candidates for FESS.

METHODS

All patients with CSWP who were treated at the Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex in Tehan, Iran that were candidates for FESS were recruited. Patients with systemic or neurologic diseases that could affect their QOL were excluded. Clinical signs were recorded before and after FESS using the sinonasal outcome test (SNOT-22) and QOL questionnaires. The patient's history of allergic rhinitis, aspirin sensitivity, asthma and smoking was recorded. QOL and associations with clinical features were evaluated within twelve months after FESS.

RESULTS

The study included 47 patients with a mean age of 39.5 +/- 15.4 years (61.7% women). FESS resulted in significant improvements in QOL based on the SNOT-22 and QOL questionnaires (p = 0.0001 for both). Septal deviation was the only single characteristic that was significantly associated with QOL improvements.

CONCLUSION

FESS significantly improved the QOL of patients with CSWP. However, patients with septal deviation benefited the most from FESS.

A Comparison of Skin Dose Delivered with MammoSite and Multicatheter Breast Brachytherapy

BACKGROUND

Accelerated partial breast irradiation via interstitial balloon brachytherapy is a fast and effective treatment method for certain early stage breast cancers however skin, chest wall and Lung doses are correlated with toxicity in patients treated with breast brachytherapy.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the percentage of the dose received by critical organ (skin), thermoluminescence detector was used in MammoSite brachytherpy and the ability to control skin dose between MammoSite and MultiCatheter brachytherapy was compared with each other.

METHOD

Dosimetry is carried out using a female-equivalent mathematical chest phantom and Ir-192 source for brachytherapy application.

RESULTS

Our initial results has shown good agreement with surface doses between those calculated from the treatment planning results and those measured by the thermoluminescence detector. The mean skin dose for the experimental dosimetry in MammoSite was 2.3 Gy (56.76% of prescription dose).

CONCLUSION

The results show that the MultiCatheter method is associated with significantly lower mean skin and chest wall dose than is the MammoSite. The MultiCatheter technique is quite flexible and can be applied to any size of breast or lumpectomy cavity, But in MammoSite technique, verification of balloon symmetry, balloon/cavity conformance and overlying skin thickness is essential to assure target coverage and toxicity avoidance.

Ion-imprinted polymeric nanoparticles as a novel sorbent to separate radioyttrium from Sr target

Radioyttrium (containing 86Y, 87Y and 88Y) was produced by irradiating a natSrCO3 target with 15 MeV proton beam at a current of 30 µA for 12 min. A synthesized ion imprinted (IIP) and control polymer (CP) nanoparticles as sorbents were used for the separation of radioyttrium from strontium. The sorbents were characterized by Fourier Transform Infra-red spectroscopy (FT-IR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy-Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Surface area analysis. Effect of various parameters such as pH, mass sorbent, nature and volume of eluent were investigated on the percent extraction of radioyttrium ion using IIP and CP particles. Chemical and radionuclidic purity were determined by ICP-AES and HPGe detector gamma-ray spectrometry, respectively. The radioyttrium recovery yield was 99.5% and the stable Sr content in the final product was estimated to be 4.5 µg mL−1. In conclusion, the suggested method in this manuscript can be used for the production of other 86/87Y radionuclides.

Dosimetric aspects of 103Pd radioactive stent source

This study aims to determine AAPM TG-60 dosimetric quantities in regions surrounding the 103Pd stent wall by MCNP5 Monte Carlo code. The Palmaz-Schatz stent was modeled by a hollow cylinder of 17.89mm length (2mm diameter) with net surface very similar to real stent. The Dose deposited per photon (Gy), relative dose, Anisotropy function, F(r,θ), and radial dose function, gL(r), were described at AAPM TG-60 protocol were generated from these values and listed in tabular format. For benchmarking, the relative dose values were verified with TG-43 and EGS4 code results at identical conditions, relative to the radial distances from surface of the stent. There were noticeable results. These physical dosimetric parameters can be used in future treatment planning systems for IVBT.

Calculation of beta induced Bremsstrahlung exposure from therapeutic radionuclide 198Au in tissues, DNA and RNA

Gold-198 (βmax=0.96MeV (98.6%), γmax=0.412MeV (95.5%) and T1/2=2.7 days) is a well-known therapeutic beta emitter in the field of nuclear medicine, and is being used for the treatment of many different cancers. In the present study, the Bremsstrahlung exposure induced by 198Au in different human tissues, DNA and RNA has been calculated. The specific Bremsstrahlung constant (ΓBr), Probability of energy loss by beta during Bremsstrahlung emission (PBr) and Bremsstrahlung activity (Arelease)Br were estimated. We strongly recommend these parameters should be considered in absorbed dose calculations of radionuclide therapy via 198Au.

Nuclear data for cyclotron production of 114mIn/114In and 140Nd/140Pr used in gamma camera monitoring, RIT, ERT and PET

Aim of the presented study is to compare the calculated cross sections for the production of 140Nd/140Pr and 114mIn/114In via different reactions with incident particle energy up to 50 MeV as a part of systematic studies on particle-induced activations on metal target, theoretical calculation of production yield, calculation of target thickness requirement and suggestion for optimum reaction to produce Neodymium-140 and Indium-114m. 140Nd/140Pr and 114mIn/114In excitation functions via natCe(3He, xn)140Nd → 140Pr, 141Pr(p,2n)140Nd → 140Pr, 141Pr(d,3n)140Nd → 140Pr, 114Cd(p, n)114mIn → 114In, 114Cd(d,2n)114mIn → 114In and 116Cd(p,3n)114mIn → 114In reactions were calculated by ALICE/91, ALICE/ASH (GDH Model&Hybrid Model) and TALYS-1.2 (Equilibrium&Pre-Equilibrium) codes and compared to existing data.

Targetry of Y2O3 on a copper substrate for the non-carrier-added 89Zr production via 89Y(p, n)89Zr reaction

A thick layer of Yttrium oxide was deposited on cupper substrate via two special sedimentation methods for the production of 89Zr. For deposition of Y2O3 on cupper substrate, 435 mg of Y2O3, 152.25 mg of ethyl cellulose and 4 ml of acetone were used to prepare a Y2O3 layer of 11.69 cm2. Also, 435 mg of Y2O3, 174 mg of methyl cellulose and 7.25 ml of water were used. The targets were checked by SEM and thermal shock test. The deposited target was irradiated for 20 min at a current of 20 μA and a proton beam of 15 MeV.

Nuclear model calculation on charged particle induced reactions to produce 85Sr for diagnostic and endotherapy

85Sr, having a half-life of 64.8 d, is an important radionuclide in nuclear medicine diagnostic and endotherapy. The ALICE/ASH code was used to calculate excitation functions for proton, alpha and deuteron induced on various targets that lead to the production of 85Sr radioisotopes using intermediate energy accelerators. Recommended thickness of the targets according to SRIM code was premeditated. The application of those data, particularly in the calculation of integral yields, is discussed and theoretical integral yields for different reactions were computed. To consider precision of ALICE/ASH code calculations, experimental excitation functions in several decay channels was compared with ALICE/ASH code data. The 85Rb(p, n)85Sr process was determined as most interesting one due to radionuclidic purity. The ALICE/ASH code predicts a maximum cross-section of about 798 mb at 11 MeV for this reaction.

Novel dose calculation and characterization of 32P intravascular brachytherapy stent source

Derived from AAPM task group No. 60/149 protocol, applicable in treatment planning In this study, the two-dimensional dose distributions in water for a 32P intravascular brachytherapy stent have been calculated. The pure beta emitter source 32P which has been coated on Palmaz-Schatz stent is discussed. The dosimetric parameters required by the AAPM TG-60/149 formalism are discussed and calculated. Version 5 of the (MCNP) Monte Carlo radiation transport code was used to calculate the dosimetry parameters around the source. The Monte Carlo calculated dose rate at the reference point is found to be 2.8 Gy/μCi. Also in this study, the geometry function, G(r,θ), radial dose function, g(r), and the anisotropy function, F(r,θ), have been calculated at distances from 1.8 to 9 mm. The results of these calculations have been compared with other published calculated and measured values for an actual same source. High dose variants were visible near the 32P stent surface, but these values decreased with depth in water rapidly. There is an acceptable agreement between the calculated data in this study and other published data for the same source, which validate our simulations method.

Cyclotron production of 85Sr by proton irradiation of natRb

Excitation functions for protons induced on 85/natRb targets that lead to the production of 85Sr radioisotopes using TALYS 1.0 and ALICE/ASH codes were calculated. Rubidium chloride deposition on copper substrate was carried out via sedimentation method in order to produce Strontium-85. 520 mg RbCl, 208 mg ethyl cellulose (EC) and 4 mL acetone were used to prepare a layer of enriched rubidium chloride of 11.69 cm2 area and 62.2 mg · cm−2 thickness. The deposited target was irradiated at 20 A current and 15 MeV proton beam for 10 h and no degradation was observed. The 85Sr production yield was 1.4 MBq/mA · h. The target material was dissolved by 50 mL acetone. Dissolved Strontium-85 was separated from rubidium by Chelex 100 ion exchanger.