The document is a tentative research proposal for a PhD program studying the use of MARS spectral X-ray scanning to determine human body fat content. The research aims to use MARS scanning, which collects spectral X-ray information, to quantify fat and other tissues in 3D images with improved diagnostic information over traditional X-rays. The goals are to develop methods to capture high-resolution spectral CT images of body parts and validate the accuracy of fat measurement against standard methods. The objectives are to study the image capture process using MARS scanning and analyze the quantitative images generated with software.

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UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO, CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND
DEPARTMENT OF RADIOLOGY
(Tentative Research Proposal for PhD Program)
1. Name of the Student: Shahajan Miah
2. Mailing Address: Assistant Professor, Bangladesh University of Business & Technology (BUBT),
Bangladesh, Cell:+8801734177219
3. Name of the Department: Dept. of Radiology Program: Ph.D.
4. Name of the Supervisor: Dr. Anthony Butler Designation: Professor
5. Name of the Co-Supervisor (if any): N/A
6. Tentative Title: Determine the amount of human body components fat by x-ray spectral
information using MARS spectral X-ray scanner and also, study of the x-ray
spectral information.
7. Introduction
Obesity is a complex disease involving an excessive amount of body fat. Obesity isn't just a cosmetic concern. It is a
medical problem that increases your risk of other diseases and health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes, high
blood pressure and certain cancers. Traditional black-and-white X-rays only allow measurement of the density and
shape of an object but color x-ray is where the energy of the x-rays that pass through the object is measured. MARS
spectral X-ray Scanner is a one type of color x-ray. Our body components fat will be determined by MARS spectral
X-ray Scanner. Computed tomography (CT) is a noninvasive medical examination or procedure that uses specialized
X-ray equipment to produce cross-sectional images of the body. Each cross-sectional image represents a “slice” of the
person being imaged, like the slices in a loaf of bread. These cross-sectional images are used for a variety of
diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. In my Ph.D. research, we will use the MARS spectral x-ray scanner for point out
the amount of fat in the human body. The MARS scanner uses Medipix3 technology developed at CERN to produce
multi-energy images with high spatial resolution and low noise. Medipix is a family of read-out chips originally
developed for the Large Hadron Collider and modified for medical applications. The Medipix3 detector measures the
energy of each X-ray photon as it is detected. This spectral information is used to produce 3D images that show the
individual constituents of the imaged tissue, providing significantly improved diagnostic information.
8. Goal
The prime focus of this Ph.D. research will be to enlarge the method and lab environments to captured images on
spectral CT for effective inspection of the human body parts fat. Suitable sensor layers from the MEDIPIX3 family
will be identified to meet the preclinical requirements. Energy calibrations and desired imaging resolution will be
identified and established. For the preclinical trials biomedical environment will be required to make heavy atom
pharmaceutical labels. MARS CT imaging will be used for investigation and preclinical results can be scrutinized. For
diagnostic accuracy, reliability and feasibility, validation procedure will be compared with the usual method.
9. Methods
MARS promises to revolutionize diagnostic imaging by quantifying the elements and compounds of a sample in a
single scan. It is the first commercially available 3D spectral (multi-energy) scanner to produce images with anatomic
and molecular quantification at a fraction of the cost, time, and radiation dose of traditional molecular imaging, such
as PET or SPECT. The methods are given below:
 Medpix3 detectors bonded to high-Z sensors at 110 micron pitch with 8 energy bins per pixel and
2 ms frame readout.
 120 kVp, 350 μA x-ray source with helical scan mode.

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 Precision horizontal sample stage with gas lines, monitoring inputs and temperature sensors.
 Iterative reconstruction and processing algorithms quantify the concentration of elements and
compounds in mg/mL.
 Visualization workstation with zSpace 3D virtual reality for image analysis.
The provocation and quality of the suggested scheme in contrast to conventional methods require justification to make
MARS spectral X-ray scanner is a successful healthcare tool in the next few years.
10. (a) Objectives with specific aims:
The objectives of this work are:
a. To study of the process of the taking images by MARS spectral x-ray scanner.
b. To study of the quantitative image analysis graphically by computer-aided software.
(b) Possible Outcome:
The possible outcome will be the graphical representation of the images as well as numerical value.
11. Journal Read out by me:
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nanoparticles, Nature Mater. 5 (2006)118.
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mice, Invest. Radiol. 42 (2007) 797.
[4] D. Kim et al., Antibiofouling polymer-coated gold nanoparticles as a contrast agent for in vivo X-ray computed
tomography imaging, J. Amer. Chem. Soc. 129 (2007) 7661.
[5] X. Qian et al., In vivo tumor targeting and spectroscopic detection with surface-enhanced raman nanoparticle tags,
Nature Biotechnol. 26 (2008) 83.
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Eur. Radiol. 20 (2010) 2126.