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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 37 records · Page 2

SU-E-T-43: Analytical Model for Photon Peripheral Dose in Radiotherapy Treatments

Purpose: The higher survival rate of radiotherapy patients entails a growing concern on second cancers associated to peripheral doses. Currently, dosimetry of out-of field doses is still under development. Our group has developed a methodology to estimate neutron equivalent dose in organs (1,2). We aimed to propose a model to estimate out-of-field photon doses in isocentric treatments from basic clinical data. Methods: The proposed function models the dose as the sum of leakage and scatter terms. The latter is modeled as a virtual source at the collimator, which suffers from attenuation in air and tissue, corrected by the inverse-square-law. The model was parameterized using experimental measurements with TLD700 chips placed inside an anthropomorphic phantom (6–18MV) irradiated with conformal and modulated techniques in Elekta, Siemens and Varian linacs. This model provides photon dose at a point as a function of clinical parameters as prescription dose/UM, PTV volume, distance to the field edge, height of the MLC leaves and distance from the the MLC to the isocenter. Model was tested against independent measurements (TLD100) for a VMAT treatment on a Elekta. Dose to organs is modeled from dose to points along the head-to-feet axis of the organ of a “standard man” escalated by patient height. Results: Our semi-empirical model depends on 3 given parameters (leakage parameter can be individualized). A novelty of our model, over other models (e.g., PERIDOSE), arises from its applicability to any technique (independently of the number of MU needed to deliver a dose). Differences between predictions and measurements were < 0.005mSv/UM. Conclusion: We have proposed a unique model which successfully account for photon peripheral organ dose. This model can be applied in the day-to-day clinic as it only needs a few basic parameters which are readily accessible.1. Radiother. Oncol. 107:234–243, 2013. 2. Phys. Med. Biol. 57:6167–6191, 2012.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Ex vivo to in vivo model of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors for precision oncology

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST) are aggressive soft tissue sarcomas that often develop in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). To address the critical need for novel therapeutics in MPNST, we aimed to establish an ex vivo 3D platform that accurately captured the genomic diversity of MPNST and could be utilized in a medium-throughput manner for drug screening studies to be validated in vivo using patient-derived xenografts (PDX). Genomic analysis was performed on all PDX-tumor pairs. Selected PDX were harvested for assembly into 3D microtissues. Based on prior work in our labs, we evaluated drugs (trabectedin, olaparib, and mirdametinib) ex vivo and in vivo. For 3D microtissue studies, cell viability was the endpoint as assessed by Zeiss Axio Observer. For PDX drug studies, tumor volume was measured twice weekly. Bulk RNA sequencing was performed to identify pathways enriched in cells. We developed 13 NF1-associated MPNST-PDX and identified mutations or structural abnormalities in NF1 (100%), SUZ12 (85%), EED (15%), TP53 (15%), CDKN2A (85%), and chromosome 8 gain (77%). We successfully assembled PDX into 3D microtissues, categorized as robust (>90% viability at 48 h), good (>50%), or unusable (<50%). We evaluated drug response to “robust” or “good” microtissues, namely MN-2, JH-2-002, JH-2-079-c, and WU-225. Drug response ex vivo predicted drug response in vivo, and enhanced drug effects were observed in select models. These data support the successful establishment of a novel 3D platform for drug discovery and MPNST biology exploration in a system representative of the human condition.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Diffractive Dissociation into {pi}{sup -{pi}-{pi}+} Final States at COMPASS

QCD predicts gluonic excitations like hybrids to contribute to the meson spectrum in addition to qq-bar pair configurations. The most promising way to identify such states is the search for J{sup PC} quantum number combinations which are forbidden in the constituent quark model. The fixed target COMPASS experiment at CERN offers the opportunity to search for such states in the light quark sector with an unprecedented statistics.Diffractive reactions of 190 GeV/c pions on a lead target were studied by COMPASS during a pilot run in 2004. A Partial Wave Analysis (PWA) of the {pi}{sup -{pi}-{pi}+} final state with 42 waves including acceptance corrections through a phase-space Monte Carlo simulation of the spectrometer was performed. The exotic {pi}{sup 1}(1600) meson with quantum numbers J{sup PC} = 1{sup -+} has been clearly established in the rho-pi decay channel with a mass of 1660{+-}10(stat) MeV/c{sup 2} and a width of 269{+-}21(stat) MeV/c{sup 2}. The improved detector performance in 2008 allows us to study this channel with significantly higher statistics. First results of the ongoing analysis of the 2008 data taking period, using a 190 GeV/c pion beam on a liquid hydrogen target are presented in this paper.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Renormalization of one meson exchange potentials and their currents

The Nucleon-Nucleon One Meson Exchange Potential, its wave functions and related Meson Exchange Currents are analyzed for point-like nucleons. The leading N{sub c} contributions generate a local and energy independent potential which presents 1/r{sup 3} singularities, requiring renormalization. We show how invoking suitable boundary conditions, neutron-proton phase shifts and deuteron properties become largely insensitive to the nucleon substructure and to the vector mesons. Actually, reasonable agreement with low energy data for realistic values of the coupling constants (e.g. SU(3) values) is found. The analysis along similar lines for the Meson Exchange Currents suggests that this renormalization scheme implies tremendous simplifications while complying with exact gauge invariance at any stage of the calculation.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Meson-baryon interaction in the meson exchange picture

Elastic {pi}N scattering and the reaction {pi}{sup +}p{yields}K{sup +}{Sigma}{sup +} are described simultaneously in a unitary coupled-channels approach which respects analyticity. SU(3) flavor symmetry is used to relate the t- and u- channel exchanges that drive the meson-baryon interaction in the different channels. Angular distributions, polarizations, and spin-rotation parameters are compared with available experimental data. The pole structure of the amplitudes is extracted from the analytic continuation.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Possible {Lambda}{sub c}N molecular bound state

{Lambda}{sub c}N bound state problem is investigated in the one-meson-exchange potential model. The potentials are obtained from an effective Lagrangian reflecting the heavy quark symmetry, chiral symmetry, and hidden local symmetry. We also consider the contributions from the coupled channels of {Sigma}{sub c}N and {Sigma}{sub c}*N. It is found that the channel coupling is very important in binding the baryons. We find that the formation of the nearly degenerate J{sup P} = 0{sup +} and J{sup P} = 1{sup +} {Lambda}{sub c}N molecular bound states is plausible, although the results are sensitive to the cutoff parameters.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Nonequilibrium chiral fluid dynamics including dissipation and noise

We present a consistent theoretical approach for the study of nonequilibrium effects in chiral fluid dynamics within the framework of the linear {sigma} model with constituent quarks. Treating the quarks as an equilibrated heat bath, we use the influence functional formalism to obtain a Langevin equation for the {sigma} field. This allows us to calculate the explicit form of the damping coefficient and the noise correlators. For a self-consistent derivation of both the dynamics of the {sigma} field and the quark fluid, we have to employ the 2PI (two-particle irreducible) effective action formalism. The energy dissipation from the field to the fluid is treated in the exact formalism of the 2PI effective action where a conserved energy-momentum tensor can be constructed. We derive its form and comment on approximations generating additional terms in the energy-momentum balance of the entire system.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Modeled microgravity inhibits apoptosis in peripheral blood lymphocytes

Microgravity interferes with numerous lymphocyte functions (expression of cell surface molecules, locomotion, polyclonal and antigen-specific activation, and the protein kinase C activity in signal transduction). The latter suggests that gravity may also affect programmed cell death (PCD) in lymphocyte populations. To test this hypothesis, we investigated spontaneous, activation- and radiation-induced PCD in peripheral blood mononuclear cells exposed to modeled microgravity (MMG) using a rotating cell culture system. The results showed significant inhibition of radiation- and activation-induced apoptosis in MMG and provide insights into the potential mechanisms of this phenomenon.

NASA Discipline Cell Biology↗

Modeled Microgravity Inhibits Apoptosis in Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes

Microgravity interferes with numerous lymphocyte functions (expression of cell surface molecules, locomotion, polyclonal and antigen-specific activation, and the protein kinase C activity in signal transduction). The latter suggests that gravity may also affect programmed cell death (PCD) in lymphocyte populations. To test this hypothesis, we investigated spontaneous, activation- and radiation-induced PCD in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) exposed to modeled microgravity using a rotating cell culture system. The results showed significant inhibition of radiation- and activation-induced apoptosis in modeled microgravity and provide insights into the potential mechanisms of this phenomenon.

Risin, Diana↗

{gamma}Z exchange corrections in parity-violating electron scattering

I report on recent work on two-boson exchange contributions ({gamma}{gamma} and {gamma}Z) and their implications for parity-violating electron scattering measurements. These calculations are particularly relevant for high precision measurements of the strange electric and magnetic form factors, and the weak charge of the proton.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Two-Boson Exchange Corrections in PVES

I summarize the recent progress on the understanding of the two-boson exchange effect in the parity-violating scattering. I report the results obtained in a hadronic model and a model using Nucleon General Parton Distributions(GPDS), respectively. Both of calculations show that the approximation adopted by Marciano and Sirlin brings significant deviations.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Charged pion photoproduction with the {Delta}(1232) baryon beyond the resonance region

We investigate the charged pion photoproduction off the proton target with the {Delta}(1232) baryon, i.e., {gamma}p{yields}{pi}{sup -{Delta}++}(1232) and {gamma}p{yields}{pi}{sup +{Delta}0}(1232), based on the effective Lagrangian method, beyond the resonance region, {radical}(s) > or approx. 2 GeV. We employ the {pi}- and {rho}-meson Regge trajectories in the t channel, in addition to the proton and {Delta} pole, in the s and u channels, respectively, and the contact-interaction contributions. A specific scheme for the form factor which satisfies the Ward-Takahashi identity, crossing symmetry, and on-shell condition is taken into account. We also consider a smooth interpolation between the Regge and Feynman propagators for the t-channel meson exchanges as a function of the Mandelstam variable s. We present the numerical results for the energy and angular dependences of the cross sections and the double- and single-polarization observables. It turns out that the present framework reproduces the experimental data qualitatively very well. In particular, the interpolation between the two propagators plays a crucial role in reproducing the high-energy experimental data correctly. The {pi}{sup +} decay-angle distribution is also studied using the {Delta}{sup ++}-decay frame, i.e., the Gottfried-Jackson frame. The present results will be a useful guide for future high-energy photon-beam experiments.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

{pi}N transition distribution amplitudes: Their symmetries and constraints from chiral dynamics

Baryon to meson transition distribution amplitudes (TDAs) extend the concept of generalized parton distributions. Baryon to meson TDAs appear as building blocks in the collinear factorized description of amplitudes for a class of hard exclusive reactions, prominent examples of which being hard exclusive meson electroproduction off a nucleon in the backward region and baryon-antibaryon annihilation into a meson and a lepton pair. We study the general properties of these objects following the underlying symmetries of QCD. In particular, the Lorentz symmetry results in the polynomiality property of the Mellin moments in longitudinal momentum fractions. We present a detailed account of the isotopic and permutation symmetry properties of nucleon to pion ({pi}N) TDAs. This restricts the number of independent leading twist {pi}N TDAs to eight functions, providing description of all isotopic channels. Using chiral symmetry and the crossing relation between {pi}N TDAs and {pi}N generalized distribution amplitudes, we establish soft pion theorems for {pi}N TDAs, which determine the magnitude of {pi}N TDAs. Finally, we build a simple resonance exchange model for {pi}N TDAs considering N and {Delta}(1232) exchange contributions into the isospin-(1/2) and isospin-(3/2) {pi}N TDAs.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Kaon-nucleon scattering in three-dimensional technique

Kaon-nucleon (KN) scattering is formulated in the three-dimensional (3D) momentum space, in which the basis state is not expanded into partial waves. Based on this basis the Lippmann-Schwinger equation for the T-matrix is evaluated. We obtain as final equation for the T-matrix elements a set of two coupled integral equations in two variables, which are the momentum’s magnitude and the scattering angle. Calculations for the differential cross section and some spin observables are shown, for which we employ a hadrons exchange model with the second order contributions only.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Modeled Microgravity Inhibits Apoptosis in Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes

Impairment of the immunity in astronauts and cosmonauts even in short term flights is a recognized risk. Long term orbital space missions and anticipated interplanetary flights increase the concern for more pronounced effects on the immune system with potential clinical consequences. Impairment of the immunity in space may be due tonumerous physiological changes caused by space-related factors, which in turn affect the immune system, or alternatively, it may be due to direct effects of different factors encountered in space on lymphoid cells and their interactions. Indeed, in modeled microgravity (MMG) experiments on Earth we and others showed that microgravity directly affects multiple lymphocyte functions. It interferes with expression of cell surface molecules, causes inhibition of lymphocyte locomotion, suppresses polyclopal and antigen-specific lymphocyte activation, selectively inhibits protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms. Some of these effects were also confirmed in cell culture experiments in real space conditions during Spacelab, Biokosmos and Shuttle Missions. The results of these studies, taken together, strongly indicated that microgravity interferes with fundamental biological processes associated with functional and structural changes in cell surface membranes, cell surface molecules and in their interaction. Based on the data and on their interpretation, we hypothesized that microgravity in addition to observed functional changes affects programmed cell death (PCD) in lymphocyte populations and that this mechanism could contribute to the impairment of the immunity.

Risin, Diana↗

NMR relaxation of molecules confined inside the cement paste pores under partially saturated conditions

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) relaxation studies of liquids confined inside cement samples mostly refer to water molecules and saturated pores. Here we extend these studies to the ethanol and cyclohexane molecules partially saturating a white cement paste. The two filling liquids were selected as representatives of polar and nonpolar molecules which should experience different interactions with the surface containing OH groups. The results on these two molecules are compared with those obtained on water filled sample. The transverse relaxation measurements, performed at different saturation degrees, clearly revealed three pore reservoirs in cement paste: intra-C-S-H sheet pores, inter-C-S-H gel pores and capillary pores. A two phase exchange model, describing the effective relaxation rate under partially saturated conditions, is also considered. The model allows finding of a relationship between the relaxation time distribution, the filling degree of the pores and the liquid morphology inside these pores.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

A three-fluid model for the simulation of counter-current stratified flows in the hot leg of a pressurized water reactor

A three-fluid model of counter-current air-water flow is suggested. The accurate prediction of droplet entrainment in two-phase flows is relevant to calculate interfacial exchange between the fluids. The present study delivers a model based on the constitutive physics for droplet separation considering re-entrainment of the dispersed water droplets into the continuous water film. A monodisperse distribution of the droplets is taken into account by means of a transport equation for the droplet number density in order to determine the droplet size. (authors)

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗