Computer Physics Communications Program Library

Programs in Physics & Physical Chemistry



Manuscript Title: The STATFLUX code: a statistical method for calculation of flow and set of parameters, based on the Multiple-Compartment Biokinetical Model
Authors: F. Garcia, J. Mesa, J.D.T. Arruda-Neto, O. Helene, V. Vanin, F. Milian, A. Deppman, T.E. Rodrigues, O. Rodriguez
Program title: STATFLUX
Catalogue identifier: ADYS_v1_0 Distribution format: tar.gz
Journal reference: Comput. Phys. Commun. 176(2007)347
Programming language: Fortran-77 as implemented in Microsoft Fortran 4.0 NOTE: Microsoft Fortran includes non-standard features which are used in this program. Standard fortran compilers such as, g77, f77, ifort and NAG95, are not able to compile the code and therefore it has not been possible for the CPC Program Library to test the program.
Computer: Micro-computer with Intel Pentium III, 3.0 GHz.
Operating system: Windows 2000 and Windows XP.
RAM: 8 Mbytes of RAM memory and 100 MB of Hard disk memory
Word size: 16 bits
Keywords: Biokinetics, Compartment model, Least square method.
PACS: 87.10.+e, 87.66.-a, 87.80.Vt, 89.20.-a.
Classification: 21.2.
Nature of problem: The investigation of transport mechanisms for radioactive substances, through environmental pathways, is very important for radiological protection of populations. One such pathway, associated with the food chain, is the grass animal man sequence. The distribution of trace elements in humans and laboratory animals has been intensively studied over the past 60 years [1]. In addition, investigations on the incidence of cancer in humans, and a possible causal relationship to radioactive fallout, have been undertaken [2]. From the pathways of entry of radionuclides in the human (or animal) body, ingestion is the most important because it is closely related to life-long alimentary (or dietary) habits. Those radionuclides which are able to enter the living cells by either metabolic or other processes give rise to localized doses which can be very high. The evaluation of these internally localized doses is of paramount importance for the assessment of radiobiological risks and radiological protection. The time behavior of trace concentration in organs is the principal input for prediction of internal doses after acute or chronic exposure. The General Multiple-Compartment Model (GMCM) is the powerful and more accepted method for biokinetical studies, which allows the calculation of concentration of trace elements in organs as a function of time, when the flow parameters of the model are known. However, few biokinetics data exist in the literature, and the determination of flow and transfer parameters by statistical fitting for each system is an open problem.
Restrictions: This version of the code works with the constant volume approximation, which is valid for many situations where the biological half-live of a trace is lower than the volume rise time. Another restriction is related to the central flux model. The model considered in the code assumes that exist one central compartment (e.g., blood) that connect the flow with all compartments, and the flow between other compartments is not included.
Running time: Depends on the choice for calculations. Using the Derivative Method the time is very short (a few minutes) for any number of compartments considered. When the Gauss Marquardt iterative method is used the calculation time can be approximately 5-6 hours when ~15 compartments are considered.
References:
[1]	R.C. Pendlenton, C.W. Mays, R.D. Lloyd, A.L. Brooks, Differential accumulation of iodine-131 from local fallout in people and milk, Health Phys. 9 (1963) 1253 1262
[2]	E.S. Weiss, M.L. Rallison, W.T. London, W.T. Carlyle Thompson, Thyroid nodularity in southwestern Utah school children exposed to fallout radiation, Amer. J. Public Health 61 (1971) 241 249; M.L. Rallison, B.M. Dobyns, F.R. Keating, J.E. Rall, F.H. Tyler, Thyroid diseases in children, Amer. J. Med. 56 (1974) 457 463; J.L. Lyon, M.R. Klauber, J.W. Gardner, K.S. Udall, Childhood leukemia associated with fallout from nuclear testing, N. Engl. J. Med. 300 (1979) 397 402