Nanoinformatics: developing new computing applications for nanomedicine

Nanoinformatics has recently emerged to address the need of computing applications at the nano level. In this regard, the authors have participated in various initiatives to identify its concepts, foundations and challenges. While nanomaterials open up the possibility for developing new devices in many industrial and scientific areas, they also offer breakthrough perspectives for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases. In this paper, we analyze the different aspects of nanoinformatics and suggest five research topics to help catalyze new research and development in the area, particularly focused on nanomedicine. We also encompass the use of informatics to further the biological and clinical applications of basic research in nanoscience and nanotechnology, and the related concept of an extended ?nanotype? to coalesce information related to nanoparticles. We suggest how nanoinformatics could accelerate developments in nanomedicine, similarly to what happened with the Human Genome and other -omics projects, on issues like exchanging modeling and simulation methods and tools, linking toxicity information to clinical and personal databases or developing new approaches for scientific ontologies, among many others

Improving interinstitutional and intertechnology consistency of pulmonary SBRT by dose prescription to the mean internal target volume dose.

Dose, fractionation, normalization and the dose profile inside the target volume vary substantially in pulmonary stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) between different institutions and SBRT technologies. Published planning studies have shown large variations of the mean dose in planning target volume (PTV) and gross tumor volume (GTV) or internal target volume (ITV) when dose prescription is performed to the PTV covering isodose. This planning study investigated whether dose prescription to the mean dose of the ITV improves consistency in pulmonary SBRT dose distributions. This was a multi-institutional planning study by the German Society of Radiation Oncology (DEGRO) working group Radiosurgery and Stereotactic Radiotherapy. CT images and structures of ITV, PTV and all relevant organs at risk (OAR) for two patients with early stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were distributed to all participating institutions. Each institute created a treatment plan with the technique commonly used in the institute for lung SBRT. The specified dose fractionation was 3 × 21.5 Gy normalized to the mean ITV dose. Additional dose objectives for target volumes and OAR were provided. In all, 52 plans from 25 institutions were included in this analysis: 8 robotic radiosurgery (RRS), 34 intensity-modulated (MOD), and 10 3D-conformal (3D) radiation therapy plans. The distribution of the mean dose in the PTV did not differ significantly between the two patients (median 56.9 Gy vs 56.6 Gy). There was only a small difference between the techniques, with RRS having the lowest mean PTV dose with a median of 55.9 Gy followed by MOD plans with 56.7 Gy and 3D plans with 57.4 Gy having the highest. For the different organs at risk no significant difference between the techniques could be found. This planning study pointed out that multiparameter dose prescription including normalization on the mean ITV dose in combination with detailed objectives for the PTV and ITV achieve consistent dose distributions for peripheral lung tumors in combination with an ITV concept between different delivery techniques and across institutions

Strength in numbers : patient experiences of group exercise within hospice palliative care

Background: Exercise is increasingly recognized as a core component of palliative rehabilitation. The group exercise model is often adopted as a means of reaching more patients with limited resource. Despite the growth of quantitative research examining this area of practice, few qualitative studies have looked at the patient experience of participating in group exercise in a palliative setting, and most exclude patients with a non-cancer diagnosis. Methods: The aim of this study was to explore patients’ experiences of participating in group exercise classes in a hospice setting. In this qualitative, phenomenological study, nine patients participating in a group exercise programme at a South London hospice completed semi-structured interviews. Participants were purposively sampled by gender, age, ethnicity and diagnosis; to include diagnoses across cancer, respiratory and neurological conditions. Transcripts were interpreted using thematic analysis. Results: All patients reported positive experiences of participating in group exercise classes. Improvements reported in physical function had a positive effect on ability to complete activities of daily living and enhanced patient mood. Other reported psychosocial benefits included: promotion of self-management; space and opportunity for reflection; supportive relationships; sharing of information; and a deeper appreciation of patients’ own abilities. Conclusion: This study highlights the positive experiences and value of group exercise classes to groups of people with diverse cancer and non-cancer conditions. The physical, emotional and psychosocial benefits suggest hospices and other palliative services should explore similar programmes as part of their rehabilitation services. The recognition that exercise groups can be mixed and need not be bespoke to one condition has positive cost and staff resource ramifications

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Shop Talk by Frank Santos (page 1) You\u27ve Come a Long Way, Lawn-Mower Pusher by Alan B. Albin (2) In The Eyes of the Laymen by Eugene P. Elcik (2) The Importance of Water Management by Fred V. Grau (A-1) Automatic Irrigation Systems Integrated with Pumping Systems by Michael O. Mattwell (A-5) Installation of a Complete Water Source and Automatic System by Richard C. Blake (A-19) How the Soil Conservation Service Can Help in Golf Course Management by Christopher G. Mousitakis (A-22) Our Shrinking Environment by Haim B. Gunner (A-24) Pesticides\u27 Dilemma - Emotion vs. Science by Allen H. Morgan (A-28) Effects of Turf Grasses and Trees in Neutralizing Waste Water by William E. Sopper (A-34) Unsolved and New Problems Developing in Golf Course Management by Alexander M. Radko (A-44) Coming of the Conglomerate Director of Golf Courses by Edmund B. Ault (A-48) Aquatic Weed Control by John E. Gallagher (A-52) What Project Apollo Has Done for Golf and Golf Course Architecture by Mal Purdy (A-54) Maintenance of Grass Tennis Courts by Wayne Zoppo (A-59) Diseases of Ornametnals Growing in Turf Areas by R.E. Partyka (A-62) Control of Turf Insects by John C. Schread (A-65) Lime for Turf by Henry W. Indyk (A-68) How to Stop Guessing When You Buy Seed by Dale Kern (A-71) Broad Aspects of Turf Grass Culture Other Than Golf Courses by Geoffrey S. Cornish (A-79) Establishing and Maintaining Turf int he national Capitol Parks by Alton E. Rabbitt (A-81) Preventive Maintenance on Small One Cylinder Air Cooled Engine by F. W. Hazle (A-85) Top Fairway Mower Performance by James R. Maloney (A-95) Grinding Reel Type Mowers by Ray Christopherson (A-99

Interobserver agreement on definition of the target volume in stereotactic radiotherapy for pancreatic adenocarcinoma using different imaging modalities

PURPOSE The aim of this study was to evaluate interobserver agreement (IOA) on target volume definition for pancreatic cancer (PACA) within the Radiosurgery and Stereotactic Radiotherapy Working Group of the German Society of Radiation Oncology (DEGRO) and to identify the influence of imaging modalities on the definition of the target volumes. METHODS Two cases of locally advanced PACA and one local recurrence were selected from a large SBRT database. Delineation was based on either a planning 4D CT with or without (w/wo) IV contrast, w/wo PET/CT, and w/wo diagnostic MRI. Novel compared to other studies, a combination of four metrics was used to integrate several aspects of target volume segmentation: the Dice coefficient (DSC), the Hausdorff distance (HD), the probabilistic distance (PBD), and the volumetric similarity (VS). RESULTS For all three GTVs, the median DSC was 0.75 (range 0.17-0.95), the median HD 15 (range 3.22-67.11) mm, the median PBD 0.33 (range 0.06-4.86), and the median VS was 0.88 (range 0.31-1). For ITVs and PTVs the results were similar. When comparing the imaging modalities for delineation, the best agreement for the GTV was achieved using PET/CT, and for the ITV and PTV using 4D PET/CT, in treatment position with abdominal compression. CONCLUSION Overall, there was good GTV agreement (DSC). Combined metrics appeared to allow a more valid detection of interobserver variation. For SBRT, either 4D PET/CT or 3D PET/CT in treatment position with abdominal compression leads to better agreement and should be considered as a very useful imaging modality for the definition of treatment volumes in pancreatic SBRT. Contouring does not appear to be the weakest link in the treatment planning chain of SBRT for PACA

Creativity and entrepreneurial intention in young people: empirical insights from business school students

The authors examine the link between creativity and entrepreneurial intention in young people and the roles that family and education may play in encouraging this link. The results from a survey of 180 undergraduate business school students show that the more creative young people consider themselves to be, the higher are their entrepreneurial intentions. Students' creativity also fully mediates the effect of family support for creativity on their entrepreneurial intention. Support for creativity in the university is found to have no effect on their creativity or on their entrepreneurial intention. Entrepreneurship course attendance moderates the effect of individual creativity on entrepreneurial intention