Publications by authors named "Joseph DeCicco"

Introduction: Osseointegration is an innovative procedure to attach an external prosthetic device directly to the skeleton. The technique has been shown to improve physical function and quality of life relative to conventional socket prosthetic devices. While much of the research in osseointegration has focused on functional outcomes, less is known regarding perioperative pain management.

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An updated version of the skin dose computer code VARSKIN, namely VARSKIN 4, was examined to determine the accuracy of the photon model in calculating dose rates with different combinations of source geometry and radionuclides. The reference data for this validation were obtained by means of Monte Carlo transport calculations using MCNP5. The geometries tested included the zero volume sources point and disc, as well as the volume sources sphere and cylinder.

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United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USNRC) regulations limit the dose to the skin to 500 mSv per year. This is also the dose limit recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). The operational quantity recommended by ICRP for quantifying dose to the skin is the personal dose equivalent, Hp(0.

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The computer code VARSKIN is used extensively to calculate dose to the skin resulting from contaminants on the skin or on protective clothing covering the skin. The code uses six pre-programmed source geometries, four of which are volume sources, and a wide range of user-selectable radionuclides. Some verification of this code had been carried out before the current version of the code, version 3.

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Members of the public visiting hospitalized patients undergoing nuclear medicine procedures or brachytherapy are exposed to radiation emanating from the patient. The radiation protection staff at the hospital is responsible for ensuring that the doses to these visitors are kept as low as is reasonably achievable and are maintained below applicable regulatory limits. These limits are normally expressed in terms of the effective dose to the visitor.

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The use of the personal dose equivalent Hp(10), as measured by one or more dosimeters, in estimating the effective dose equivalent H(E) and the effective dose E was examined for situations in which a protective apron is worn by the monitored person during medical procedures. The photon energy range considered was between 0.03-1.

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