A Bayesian Inverse Approach to Proton Therapy Dose Delivery Verification

This study presents a proof-of-concept for a novel Bayesian inverse method in a one-dimensional setting, aimed at proton beam therapy treatment verification. Our methodology is predicated on a hypothetical scenario wherein strategically positioned sensors detect prompt-{\gamma}'s emitted from a proton beam when it interacts with defined layers of tissue. Using this data, we employ a Bayesian framework to estimate the proton beam's energy deposition profile. We validate our Bayesian inverse estimations against a closed-form approximation of the Bragg Peak in a uniform medium and a layered lung tumour

A Bayesian Inverse Approach to Proton Therapy Dose Delivery Verification

This study presents a proof-of-concept for a novel Bayesian inverse method in a one-dimensional setting, aimed at proton beam therapy treatment verification. Our methodology is predicated on a hypothetical scenario wherein strategically positioned sensors detect prompt-{\gamma}'s emitted from a proton beam when it interacts with defined layers of tissue. Using this data, we employ a Bayesian framework to estimate the proton beam's energy deposition profile. We validate our Bayesian inverse estimations against a closed-form approximation of the Bragg Peak in a uniform medium and a layered lung tumour

A Bayesian Inverse Approach to Proton Therapy Dose Delivery Verification

This study presents a proof-of-concept for a novel Bayesian inverse method in a one-dimensional setting, aimed at proton beam therapy treatment verification. Our methodology is predicated on a hypothetical scenario wherein strategically positioned sensors detect prompt-{\gamma}'s emitted from a proton beam when it interacts with defined layers of tissue. Using this data, we employ a Bayesian framework to estimate the proton beam's energy deposition profile. We validate our Bayesian inverse estimations against a closed-form approximation of the Bragg Peak in a uniform medium and a layered lung tumour.Comment: 22 pages, 12 figure

Winning and losing: differences in reward and punishment sensitivity between smokers and nonsmokers

Background: Smokers show increased brain activation in reward processing regions in response to smoking-related cues, yet few studies have examined secondary rewards not associated with smoking (i.e., money). Inconsistencies exist in the studies that do examine secondary rewards with some studies showing increased brain activation in reward processing brain regions, while others show decreased activation or no difference in activation between smokers and nonsmokers. Aims: The goal of the current study is to see if smokers process the evaluation and delivery of equally salient real world rewards similarly or differently than nonsmokers. Methods: The current study employed functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine brain responses in smokers and nonsmokers during the evaluation and delivery of monetary gains and losses. Results: In comparison to nonsmokers, smokers showed increased activation in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex to the evaluation of anticipated monetary losses and the brain response. Moreover, smokers compared to nonsmokers showed decreased activation in the inferior frontal gyrus to the delivery of expected monetary gains. Brain activations to both the evaluation of anticipated monetary losses and the delivery of expected monetary gains correlated with increased self-reported smoking craving to relieve negative withdrawal symptoms and craving related to positive aspects of smoking, respectively. Discussion: Together these results indicate that smokers are hyperresponsive to the evaluation of anticipated punishment and hyporesponsive to the delivery of expected rewards. Although further research is needed, this hypersensitivity to punishments coupled with increased craving may negatively impact quit attempts as smokers anticipate the negative withdrawal symptoms associated with quitting

Mutations in CHMP2B in lower motor neuron predominant amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

Background: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a common late-onset neurodegenerative disease, is associated with fronto-temporal dementia (FTD) in 3-10% of patients. A mutation in CHMP2B was recently identified in a Danish pedigree with autosomal dominant FTD. Subsequently, two unrelated patients with familial ALS, one of whom also showed features of FTD, were shown to carry missense mutations in CHMP2B. The initial aim of this study was to determine whether mutations in CHMP2B contribute more broadly to ALS pathogenesis. Methodology/Principal Findings: Sequencing of CHMP2B in 433 ALS cases from the North of England identified 4 cases carrying 3 missense mutations, including one novel mutation, p. Thr104Asn, none of which were present in 500 neurologically normal controls. Analysis of clinical and neuropathological data of these 4 cases showed a phenotype consistent with the lower motor neuron predominant (progressive muscular atrophy (PMA)) variant of ALS. Only one had a recognised family history of ALS and none had clinically apparent dementia. Microarray analysis of motor neurons from CHMP2B cases, compared to controls, showed a distinct gene expression signature with significant differential expression predicting disassembly of cell structure; increased calcium concentration in the ER lumen; decrease in the availability of ATP; down-regulation of the classical and p38 MAPK signalling pathways, reduction in autophagy initiation and a global repression of translation. Transfection of mutant CHMP2B into HEK-293 and COS-7 cells resulted in the formation of large cytoplasmic vacuoles, aberrant lysosomal localisation demonstrated by CD63 staining and impairment of autophagy indicated by increased levels of LC3-II protein. These changes were absent in control cells transfected with wild-type CHMP2B. Conclusions/Significance: We conclude that in a population drawn from North of England pathogenic CHMP2B mutations are found in approximately 1% of cases of ALS and 10% of those with lower motor neuron predominant ALS. We provide a body of evidence indicating the likely pathogenicity of the reported gene alterations. However, absolute confirmation of pathogenicity requires further evidence, including documentation of familial transmission in ALS pedigrees which might be most fruitfully explored in cases with a LMN predominant phenotype

Exploring Touch as a Positive Workplace Behavior

Whereas most research has focused on the negative aspects of touch in the workplace (i.e. sexual harassment), this study focuses upon the positive use of touch. In an effort to explain individual differences in the use of workplace touch, three sequential studies are used to introduce the concepts of workplace touch self-efficacy and workplace touch initiation anxiety. In Study 1 we develop scales to assess the constructs. Study 2 provides an initial examination of the construct validity of the measures developed in Study 1. Results of Study 3 indicate that supervisor reports of touch self-efficacy and physiological touch anxiety are related to subordinate reports of supervisor touch. Additionally, results show that supervisor use of touch is related to several indicators of supervisor social effectiveness. Finally, sex of the supervisor appears to play a role in workplace touch as female supervisors report less touch anxiety, greater touch self-efficacy and more use of touch than male supervisors

A qualitative study of single-trauma and dual-trauma military couples

Trauma survivors and their partners may experience unique dynamics due to the ongoing effects of previous trauma exposure and current trauma symptoms. The current qualitative study attempted to compare and contrast single-trauma couples (one partner reports a trauma history or high traumatic load) with dual-trauma couples (both partners report a trauma history or high traumatic load) to further understand the systemic effects on couple functioning in a sample of military couples. Overall, both positive and negative effects from previous trauma on the couple relationship were reported by participants, including increased awareness, communication, support, coping strategies, and trauma-related triggers, with dual-trauma couples reporting more trauma-related triggers and communication problems. Clinical and research implications for further study are described

Effect of Palliative Care–Led Meetings for Families of Patients With Chronic Critical Illness: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Family caregivers of patients with chronic critical illness experience significant psychological distress

The Impact of Demographic Factors and News Exposure of Child Sexual Abuse in the Mass Media Toward Communication Quality of Parents in Providing Sex Education for Children

Many cases of child sexual abuse become media spotlight, such as print media, TV, and online. However, not all the audience watch the news. They are motivated by differences in demographic factors, such as gender, age, education level, and income level. The cases spread in the mass media should be concern of many parents to pay more attention to the patterns of communication as a way of parents to control the safety of their children. Sex education is considered to be an appropriate way to provide sexual knownledge to children who are vulnerable from the damage of sexual crimes. However, not all parents are willing to deliver sex education to their children.This study employed the theory of social categories explain the difference between social categories can affect the audience\u27s response when receiving message from mass media (Rakhmat, 2011) and media functionalist theory that explain how media exposure can affect their communication activities that occur between the audience (Mc Quail, 1972). The population of this study were the parents of SD Negeri Padangsari 02 Semarang, who have child 10-12 years old. Sampling was done by simple random technique with a number of 63 respondents.The first hypothesis test indicate that the demographic factors of the three variables, those are gender, age, and educational level when calculated simultaneously using regression analysis techniques, do not affect the news exposure of child sexual abuse in the mass media. While the variable of income level has an impact to the news exposure of child sexual abuse in mass media with significance value of 0,011. The second hypothesis test prove that the news exposure of child sexual abuse in the mass media affects the communication quality of parents in providing sex education with a significance value of 0,001.Advice can be given from this study is that parents should pay more attention to their way to communicate with children, especially regarding sex education. Sex education can be good when it is given according to the child\u27s age and their understanding level considering the number of cases of sexual abuse is increase as in the media