Consolidation of Health Physics Computer Codes: Sustainable Gains in Efficiency, Innovation, and Collaboration.

A decade ago, the nuclear power industry in the United States was on the verge of a nuclear renaissance with the potential to create jobs, funding streams, and great demand for radiation protection personnel. However, based on the high capital investment cost of building and licensing nuclear reactors and declining fossil fuel prices, the renaissance did not reach its full potential. Radiation protection initiatives were developed to bring attention to the profession in order to increase funding for the health physics community during these times of declining resources.

Endoscopic capacity in West Africa.

Background: Levels of endoscopic demand and capacity in West Africa are unclear.

Objectives: This paper aims to: 1. describe the current labor and endoscopic capacity, 2.

Validation of the photon dose calculation model in the VARSKIN 4 skin dose computer code.

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.