title: The feasibility of accelerator-based in vivo neutron activation analysis of nitrogen.
abstract: The feasibility of accelerator-based in vivo neutron activation analysis of nitrogen has been investigated. It was found that a moderated neutron flux from approximately 10 microA of 2.5 MeV protons on a 9Be target performed as well as, and possibly slightly better than the existing isotope-based approach in terms of net counts per unit subject dose. Such a system may be an attractive alternative to the widespread use of (238,239)Pu/Be or 252Cf neutron sources, since there is more flexibility in the energy spectrum generated by accelerator-based neutron sources. From a radiation safety standpoint, accelerators have the advantage in that they only produce radiation when in operation. Furthermore, an accelerator beam can be pulsed, to reduce background detected in the prompt-gamma measurement, and such a device has a wide range of additional biological and medical applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge 02139, USA. jomeara@mit.edu
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: O'Meara
authors.forename: B W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Blackburn
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Chichester
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Gierga
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Yanch
mesh_terms: D001823:Body Composition; D006801:Humans; D009501:Neutron Activation Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis*; D010315:Particle Accelerators / Q000295:instrumentation; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D009584:Nitrogen