D.R. horton rides the housing boom

This work project "Equity Research -Valuation of D.R. Horton's (DHI)" depicts DHI's business within the US homebuilding industry. Given a current 5.3 million shortage of homes in the US market (driven by the emergence of the Millennials demographic group in the housing market and the rapid growth of US "Sun Belt" region where DHI has a strong position), we expect homebuilding revenues to have an average annual growth rate of 8% until 2030. However, an uncertain mortgage rates environment and the possibility of additional inflationary pressure of house prices can pose some risks to DHI. Our DCF valuation yields a price target of $139.30 for FY22, resulting in a 31$0.9 dividend and hence, a BUY recommendation

Should Peak Dose Be Used to Prescribe Spatially Fractionated Radiation Therapy?-A Review of Preclinical Studies.

Spatially fractionated radiotherapy (SFRT) is characterized by the coexistence of multiple hot and cold dose subregions throughout the treatment volume. In preclinical studies using single-fraction treatment, SFRT can achieve a significantly higher therapeutic index than conventional radiotherapy (RT). Published clinical studies of SFRT followed by RT have reported promising results for bulky tumors. Several clinical trials are currently underway to further explore the clinical benefits of SFRT. However, we lack the important understanding of the correlation between dosimetric parameters and treatment response that we have in RT. In this work, we reviewed and analyzed this important correlation from previous preclinical SFRT studies. We reviewed studies prior to 2022 that treated animal-bearing tumors with minibeam radiotherapy (MBRT) or microbeam radiotherapy (MRT). Eighteen studies met our selection criteria. Increased lifespan (ILS) relative to control was used as the treatment response. The preclinical SFRT dosimetric parameters analyzed were peak dose, valley dose, average dose, beam width, and beam spacing. We found that valley dose was the dosimetric parameter with the strongest correlation with ILS (p-value < 0.01). For studies using MRT, average dose and peak dose were also significantly correlated with ILS (p-value < 0.05). This first comprehensive review of preclinical SFRT studies shows that the valley dose (rather than the peak dose) correlates best with treatment outcome (ILS)

A criação sonora do filme que conjuga o live action e a animação: a rapariga que imaginou um conto

Partindo da premissa de que o som influência o conteúdo dramático e emocional da narrativa de um filme, este ensaio pretende estabelecer uma aproximação entre o enquadramento teórico e de investigação, com a aplicação prática dos temas estudados através da criação sonora da curta-metragem híbrida desenvolvida. Assim, o trabalho proposto irá assentar no estudo e análise da linguagem e da criação sonora de personagens animadas e de como esta vertente se interliga com o live action. A abordagem tomada foi por isso tanto tecnológica como criativa. Através do sound design da curta-metragem que conjuga o live action e a animação “A rapariga que imaginou um conto”, propunha-se a realização de uma criação sonora criativa que imergisse o público. Para isso, de forma a auxiliar o trabalho criativo do sound design, foi explorado um formato de reprodução surround 7.1 como meio de criatividade, pois este permite “mergulhar” o espetador na história através da “dimensão sonora 3D”. Para tal, foi necessário perceber como tirar partido deste formato na criação e reprodução dos elementos sonoros. Desta forma, foram elaborados estudos de caso onde são analisados filmes e explorados os conceitos estudados.Considering that sound affects the dramatic and emotional content of the narrative of a film, the present essay aims to establish an association between a theoretical and research background with practical elements applied during the sound design of a hybrid short film. In particular, the language and sound creation of animated characters and how it integrates with live action will be studied. This will include the selection of a few case studies from the film industry which were analyzed and all the studied concepts explored. The research carried will provide both background for the sound design of the hybrid short film “A rapariga que imaginou um conto” and the development of a 7.1 surround system mixture for the movie as a mean of creativity. This will allow the spectator to dive into a 3D sound dimension and enrich the emotional content of the film

A ansiedade em doentes submetidos a exame de ressonância magnética

A Ressonância Magnética (RM) é uma técnica capaz de obter informação relativa à anatomia, fisiologia e fisiopatologia de órgãos internos de um modo não invasivo, permitindo a deteção precoce e caracterização das doenças, contribuindo para a decisão terapêutica. As suas características podem causar ansiedade nos pacientes, levando a uma diminuição da qualidade das imagens radiológicas, resultados falaciosos/inconclusivos e desistência dos pacientes. Neste âmbito, foram realizados dois estudos. O primeiro para validar os instrumentos utilizados. O segundo, exploratório, procurou aprofundar conhecimento sobre a ansiedade associada à realização de RM, relacionando-a com variáveis como o número de vezes que o paciente realizou o exame, as diferentes categorias do exame e o conhecimento prévio do doente sobre este. No primeiro estudo, demonstrou-se a validade dos instrumentos aplicados. No segundo, corroboram-se algumas hipóteses e foi possível compreender o funcionamento das variáveis na presente amostra, demonstrando que são necessários estudos mais aprofundados sobre o tema; ABSTRACT: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a technique to obtain information about the anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology of internal organs of a noninvasively way, allowing the early detection and characterization of the diseases, contributing to the therapeutic decision. The characteristics of this exam may cause anxiety in patients, leading to a decrease in radiological images quality, fallacious/inconclusive results and patient withdrawal. In this context, two studies were conducted. The first to validate the instruments used. The second, exploratory, sought to deepen knowledge about the anxiety associated with MRI, relating it to variables such as the number of times the patient underwent the examination, the different categories of MRI, and previous knowledge about the MRI. In the first study, the validity of the applied instruments was demonstrated. In the second, some hypotheses were corroborated and allowed us to understand the functioning of the variables in the present sample, demonstrating the need for more in-depth studies on the subject

Monte Carlo dosimetry for forthcoming clinical trials in x-ray microbeam radiation therapy

The purpose of this work is to define safe irradiation protocols in microbeam radiation therapy. The intense synchrotron-generated x-ray beam used for the treatment is collimated and delivered in an array of 50 μm-sized rectangular fields with a centre-to-centre distance between microplanes of 400 μm. The absorbed doses received by the tumour and the healthy tissues in a human head phantom have been assessed by means of Monte Carlo simulations. The identification of safe dose limits is carried out by evaluating the maximum peak and valley doses achievable in the tumour while keeping the valley doses in the healthy tissues under tolerances. As the skull receives a significant fraction of the dose, the dose limits are referred to this tissue. Dose distributions with high spatial resolution are presented for various tumour positions, skull thicknesses and interbeam separations. Considering a unidirectional irradiation (field size of 2×2 cm2) and a centrally located tumour, the largest peak and valley doses achievable in the tumour are 55Gy and 2.6Gy, respectively. The corresponding maximum valley doses received by the skin, bone and healthy brain are 4 Gy, 14 Gy and 7 Gy (doses in one fraction), respectively, i.e. within tolerances (5% probability of complication within 5 years).Postprint (published version

Clarification of the low-lying states of Be-9

5 pages, 1 table, 2 figures.-- Presented at the International Conference on Finite Fermionic Systems: Nilsson Model 50 years (Lund University, Sweden, June 14–18, 2005).-- PACS nrs.: 23.40.Hc, 27.20.+n, 24.80.+y.A newly developed technique for dealing with three-body decays of broad isolated levels is extended to deal with the broad, overlapping levels found at 2-9 MeV excitation energy in Be-9. The levels are populated through beta-decay of Li-9. The method gives firm evidence for the existence of several levels. Angular correlation studies allow spin values to be assigned.Peer reviewe

Clarification of the low-lying states of Be-9

5 pages, 1 table, 2 figures.-- Presented at the International Conference on Finite Fermionic Systems: Nilsson Model 50 years (Lund University, Sweden, June 14–18, 2005).-- PACS nrs.: 23.40.Hc, 27.20.+n, 24.80.+y.A newly developed technique for dealing with three-body decays of broad isolated levels is extended to deal with the broad, overlapping levels found at 2-9 MeV excitation energy in Be-9. The levels are populated through beta-decay of Li-9. The method gives firm evidence for the existence of several levels. Angular correlation studies allow spin values to be assigned.Peer reviewe