We investigate the difference between surface matching and target matching for pelvic radiation image guidance. The uniqueness of our study is that all patients have multiple CT-on-rails (CTOR) scans to compare to corresponding AlignRT images. Ten patients receiving pelvic radiation were enrolled in this study. Two simulation CT scans were performed in supine and prone positions for each patient. Body surface contours were generated in treatment planning system and exported to AlignRT to serve as reference images. During treatment day, the patient was aligned to treatment isocenter with room lasers, and then scanned with both CTOR and AlignRT. Image-guidance shifts were calculated for both modalities by comparison to the simulation CT and the differences between them were analyzed for both supine and prone positions, respectively. These procedures were performed for each patient once per week for five weeks. The difference of patient displacement between AlignRT and CTOR was analyzed. For supine position, five patients had an average difference of displacement between AlignRT and CTOR along any direction (vertical, longitudinal, and lateral) greater than 0.5 cm, and one patient greater than 1 cm. Four patients had a maximum difference greater than 1 cm. For prone position, seven patients had an average difference greater than 0.5 cm, and three patients greater than 1 cm. Nine patients had a maximum difference greater than 1 cm. The difference of displacement between AlignRT and CTOR was greater for the prone position than for the supine position. For the patients studied here, surface matching does not appear to be an advisable image-guidance approach for pelvic radiation therapy for patients with either supine or prone position. There appears to be a potential for large alignment discrepancies (up to 2.25 cm) between surface matching and target matching.

Texte remanié de: Diss.--Bamberg--Otto-Friedrich-Universität, 1999. / Bibliogr. p. 507-524. Notes bibliogr. Index.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Illinois, 1942. / Reproduced from typewritten copy. Bibliography: leaves 128-131.

Thesis (doctoral)--Technische Universiteit Delft, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (p. [173]-176).

Thesis (doctoral)--Technische Universiteit Delft, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (p. [173]-176).

Doktorarbeit--Fakultät für Maschinenbau--Ruhr-Universität Bochum, 1989.

The State of Illinois and Federal government have designated one of three major rail corridors bisecting Springfield, Illinois, to be retrofitted to accommodate future high-speed rail traffic. The three corridors that bisect the city are known as the 3rd Street, 10th Street, and 19th Street corridors, each running north to south through the central city area. The approved plan completely decommissions the 3rd Street Corridor while expanding the 10th Street corridor to serve rail traffic currently using both of these corridors. Traffic to run along the expanded 10th Street corridor will include Amtrak's high-speed rail passenger service between St. Louis, Missouri, and Chicago, Illinois. The decommissioning of the 3rd Street Corridor in Springfield presents an opportunity for green infrastructure development in the form of a linear park. More broadly, this report argues that increasing quality of life amenities via the redevelopment of rail infrastructure provides a viable alternative economic development strategy for cities facing stagnant growth. / text

This study was an evaluation of thermite rail welding with the goal of the development of welds with improved mechanical properties. The first part of the study involved an in-depth evaluation of 14 thermite rail welds produced by the Department of Transportation using current production practices. These welds were produced using CrMo, CrV and Cr alloy rails, AREA CC rails (i.e., standard rails) and head-hardened rails which were welded with weld metal produced by the aluminothermic reaction of "standard" and "alloy" thermite charges. Temperature at various locations was measured during welding for both the rails and the weld metal. After welding, mechanical properties, macro- and microstructure, inclusion levels and residual stresses induced by the welding operation were all determined. Low impact properties and ductility (2-6 percent reduction in area) were observed in the thermite rail weld metal. These low properties were attributed to microstructure and, to a lesser extent, inclusion content. In order to improve the process by reducing the inclusion content, attempts were made to filter the molten thermite steel by passing it through zirconia/mullite filters. This was included in the second part of the study in which 9 plate welds we made using "standard" thermite charges. Filtering, at best, was only partly successful. However, it was observed that a 30 percent increase in yield strength and hardness was achieved in weld metal containing approximately 0.55 percent carbon and 0.06 percent vanadium. Normalization of the plate welds resulted in a significant improvement in the tensile ductility of as-cast weld metal. Weld metal of 0.55 percent carbon and 0.06 percent vanadium had ductilities in the range of 10-20 percent when the cooling rate exceeded 37 K(DEGREES)/min. through the transformation range. At cooling rates of four times this level, tensile properties equivalent to those of the "alloy" weld metal were obtained along with the enhanced tensile ductility. It was concluded that it is possible to produce a thermite weld with both improved strength and ductility by the judicious control of composition, the addition of microalloying elements and the application of an appropriate post-weld heat treatment, such as normalization.

No description available.

The distribution, status, biology and ecology of four flufftail species were investigated in South Africa and Zimbabwe. The Redchested Flufftail is a successful and widely distributed species, occupying a wide range of dense vegetation, from seasonally wet grassland and sedges to permanently shallowly flooded reedbeds. It colonizes artificially created wetland patches and occupies very small patches of suitable habitat. Redchested Flufftails maintain a permanent pair bond and are permanently territorial and entirely sedentary. Their habitat is relatively stable but unpredictable catastrophic events such as burning may force temporary emigration in winter or spring. Displaced birds move a short distance, occupy often marginally suitable habitat and recolonize burned areas as soon as vegetation cover becomes adequate. Periodic burning improves habitat quality, and recommendations are formulated for the management of wetland habitats by burning. The size of the winter territory is larger than the minimum required for survival and provides an insurance against forced emigration, while immatures often share parental territories in winter. The Striped Flufftail's grassland habitats in Natal are decreasing and its numbers are declining. Striped Flufftails are sedentary in low-altitude grassland habitats, but in high-altitude sourveld the decrease in invertebrate food forces emigration in April-June, when the birds move to unknown wintering destinations (movements are possibly altitudinal). Return time to unburned vegetation is dependent upon invertebrate food availability. Return time to burned vegetation is governed by the development of suitable cover, which may occur too late in the breeding season to permit occupation. The species is well adapted to frequent burning of its habitats, which serves to maintain suitable fire-climax grassland, but is also adapted to post-fire-climax vegetation types. The Whitewinged Flufftail is rare but its occurrence was regularly noted during the summer at four sites in Natal and the Transvaal. Habitat preferences and movement patterns were clarified, as was the bird's ecological segregation from the Redchested Flufftail. No conclusive evidence was found for breeding in South Africa and it is suggested that lack of suitable breeding habitat (possibly as a result of its being occupied by breeding Redchested Flufftails) may account for this. Some aspects of the bird's behaviour and calling were investigated. In view of this bird's threatened status and the continuing destruction of its wetland habitats, further surveys are urgently required to clarify the bird's status and the full extent of suitable habitat in South Africa, while a captive breeding programme is recommended to study breeding behaviour. The Buffspotted Flufftail inhabits a wide variety of forested and bushed habitats, and in Natal is a successful colonist of exotic vegetation in gardens. Its breeding biology, territorial and aggressive behaviour, and feeding ecology, were investigated in detail. It has regular seasonal movements in Natal, probably both altitudinal and coastal, although birds may remain throughout the year in areas where conditions are suitable. Seasonal departures are correlated with decreasing invertebrate food availability, while return time is largely governed by food availability, although cover development in exotic vegetation delayed recolonization at one site. The pair bond and the territory are maintained throughout the breeding season, and possibly throughout the year under suitable conditions. Adult mortality is probably high and the species' breeding strategy emphasises fecundity, this being achieved by a large clutch size, a very restricted period of parental care and rapid re-nesting. Juvenile mortality is high. The plumage, behavioural and vocal development of the young were studied in detail. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1994.