Comparison of Tumor Shrinkage and Cumulative Dose Distribution for Lung Cancers

Background: The physical characteristic of protons is that they deliver most of their radiation dose to the target volume and deliver no dose to the normal tissue distal to the tumor. Previously, numerous studies have shown unique advantages of proton therapy over intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) in conforming dose to the tumor and sparing dose to the surrounding normal tissues and the critical structures in many clinical sites. However, proton therapy is known to be more sensitive to treatment uncertainties such as inter- and intra-fractional variations in patient anatomy. To date, no study has clearly demonstrated the effectiveness of proton therapy compared with the conventional IMRT under the consideration of both respiratory motion and tumor shrinkage in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Purpose: This thesis investigated two questions for establishing a clinically relevant comparison of the two different modalities (IMRT and proton therapy). The first question was whether or not there are any differences in tumor shrinkage between patients randomized to IMRT versus passively scattered proton therapy (PSPT). Tumor shrinkage is considered a standard measure of radiation therapy response that has been widely used to gauge a short-term progression of radiation therapy. The second question was whether or not there are any differences between the planned dose and 5D dose under the influence of inter- and intra-fractional variations in the patient anatomy for both modalities. Methods: A total of 45 patients (25 IMRT patients and 20 PSPT patients) were used to quantify the tumor shrinkage in terms of the change of the primary gross tumor volume (GTVp). All patients were randomized to receive either IMRT or PSPT for NSCLC. Treatment planning goals were identical for both groups. All patients received 5 to 8 weekly repeated 4-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) scans during the course of radiation treatments. The original GTVp contours were propagated to T50 of weekly 4DCT images using deformable image registration and their absolute volumes were measured. Statistical analysis was performed to compare the distribution of tumor shrinkage between the two population groups. In order to investigate the difference between the planned dose and the 5D dose with consideration of both breathing motion and anatomical change, we re-calculated new dose distributions at every phase of the breathing cycle for all available weekly 4DCT data sets which resulted 50 to 80 individual dose calculations for each of the 7 patients presented in this thesis. The newly calculated dose distributions were then deformed and accumulated to T50 of the planning 4DCT for comparison with the planned dose distribution. Results: At the end of the treatment, both IMRT and PSPT groups showed mean tumor volume reductions of 23.6% ( 19.2%) and 20.9% ( 17.0 %) respectively. Moreover, the mean difference in tumor shrinkage between two groups is 3% along with the corresponding 95% confidence interval, [-8%, 14%]. The rate of tumor shrinkage was highly correlated with the initial tumor volume size. For the planning dose and 5D dose comparison study, all 7 patients showed a mean difference of 1 % in terms of target coverage for both IMRT and PSPT treatment plans. Conclusions: The results of the tumor shrinkage investigation showed no statistically significant difference in tumor shrinkage between the IMRT and PSPT patients, and the tumor shrinkage between the two modalities is similar based on the 95% confidence interval. From the pilot study of comparing the planned dose with the 5D dose, we found the difference to be only 1%. Overall impression of the two modalities in terms of treatment response as measured by the tumor shrinkage and 5D dose under the influence of anatomical change that were designed under the same protocol (i.e. randomized trial) showed similar result.

Síndrome del respirador bucal : caracterización de un grupo de pacientes mendocinos

Mendoza es, por sus condiciones climáticas, una zona de muchos alérgenos. Esto determina que de los niños y adolescentes que llegan a nuestro consultorio con distintas maloclusiones, un gran porcentaje de ellos sea portador del Síndrome de Respiración Bucal (SRB). Nuestro objetivo fue caracterizar al paciente portador de ese síndrome en nuestra provincia. El estudio realizado fue del tipo descriptivo correlacional, estudiando a 150 pacientes portadores del SRB entre los 7 y 17 años. Se llevó a cabo la anamnesis, un exhaustivo examen clínico facial, bucal y funcional y se estudiaron los trazados cefalométricos. Los datos obtenidos fueron analizados para obtener una caracterización completa. Se determinaron los rasgos clínicos que más caracterizan a estos pacientes. Se considera beneficiario al grupo de profesionales del área salud y a la población en general, ya que el SRB es una de las disfunciones más frecuentes en nuestro medio.

La laringe y la ejecución de instrumentos de viento : rutinas de calentamiento y enfriamiento laríngeo

Se evaluó la función laríngea de oboístas, saxofonistas y trompetistas antes e inmediatamente después de la ejecución del instrumento. La evaluación consistió en examen ORL, acústico y electroglotográfico de laringe. Los resultados mostraron que son los oboístas los que afectan más su laringe y su tracto vocal por acción del uso del instrumento. Desarrollan, en general cuadros de esfuerzo a nivel del tracto vocal e inestabilidad a nivel de cuerdas vocales. Los saxofonistas evidencian una mejoría de la voz como resultado de la acción de descenso laríngeo en el momento de la ejecución del instrumento. Los trompetistas evidencian una recomposición vocal luego de la ejecución del instrumento debido a la calidad de columna de aire que forman, que produce también descenso laríngeo. A partir de los hallazgos encontrados se presentan ejercicios de calentamiento y enfriamiento laríngeo con la finalidad de ser incorporados a la ejecución de los instrumentos de viento.

(Table 1) White ice and melt pond characteristics in Darnley and Franklin Bay, Canada

Melt pond covered sea ice is a ubiquitous feature of the summertime Arctic Ocean when meltwater collects in lower-lying areas of ice surfaces. Horizontal transects were conducted during June 2008 above and below landfast sea ice with melt ponds to characterize surface and bottom topography together with variations in transmitted spectral irradiance. We captured a rapid progression from a highly flooded sea ice surface with lateral drainage toward flaws and seal breathing holes to the formation of distinct melt ponds with steep edges. As the mass of the ice cover decreased due to meltwater drainage and rose upward with respect to the seawater level, the high-scattering properties of ice above the water level (i.e., white ice) were continuously regenerated, while pond waters remained transparent compared to underlying ice. The relatively stable albedos observed throughout the study, even as ice thickness decreased, were directly related to these surface processes. Transmission through the ice cover of incident irradiance in the 400-700 nm wave band ranged from 38% to 67% and from 5% to 16% beneath ponded and white ice, respectively. Our results show that this transmission varied not only as a function of surface type (melt ponds or white ice) areal coverage but also in relation to ice thickness and proximity to other surface types through the influence of horizontal spreading of light. Thus, in contrast to albedo, this implies that regional transmittance estimates need to consider melt pond size and shape distributions and variations in optical properties and thickness of the ice cover.

El cambio de cuerpo estresado a cuerpo relajado, a través de la respiración, la visualización y la danza en un ambiente de protección acompañada

Este trabajo muestra varias formas de conocer y relajar el cuerpo a través de técnicas de conocimiento personal y reencuentro con la naturaleza. La vida moderna y rápida, las presiones constantes desde la niñez hasta la adultez, en los diferentes medios de interrelación entre personas y grupos, acarrean la construcción de cuerpos que reflejan una anatomía emocional visible con pérdida de balance, contracturas, inflamaciones, desequilibrios múltiples por falta de conocimiento y sobre todo conciencia del ser en el mundo de manera plena, la persona se ha alejado de su relación ecológica consigo misma y el medio. Se muestran métodos para cambiar positivamente una condición de estrés constante y malestar crónico, a una condición aprendida de bienestar corporal y psicológico, con una serie de movimientos, recuperando al cuerpo a través de ejercicios, para tender hacia equilibrio personal, obteniendo una relación positiva con el medio y las personas con las que frecuenta. La propuesta se inicia promoviendo hábitos nuevos que se pueden guardar en la conciencia. Parte, fundamentalmente de la respiración, la armonización con la música y el medio ambiente y el trabajo personal y grupal

Dive depth and dive duration data of subadult and adult, male and female southern elephant seals from Marion Island between 2004 and 2008 with links to datasets

Although numerous studies have addressed the migration and dive behaviour of southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina), questions remain about their habitat use in the marine environment. We report on the vertical use of the water column in the species and the potential lifetime implications for southern elephant seals from Marion Island. Long-term mark-resight data were used to complement vertical habitat use for 35 known individuals tagged with satellite-relay data loggers, resulting in cumulative depth use extrapolated for each individual over its estimated lifespan. Seals spent on average 77.59% of their lives diving at sea, 7.06% at the sea surface, and 15.35% hauled out on land. Some segregation was observed in maximum dive depths and depth use between male and female animals-males evidently being physiologically more capable of exploiting increased depths. Females and males spent 86.98 and 80.89% of their lives at sea, respectively. While at sea, all animals spent more time between 300 and 400 m depth, than any other depth category. Males and females spent comparable percentages of their lifetimes below 100 m depth (males: 65.54%; females: 68.92%), though males spent 8.98% of their lives at depths in excess of 700 m, compared to females' 1.84% at such depths. Adult males often performed benthic dives in excess of 2,000 m, including the deepest known recorded dive of any air-breathing vertebrate (>2,133 m). Our results provide a close approximation of vertical habitat use by southern elephant seals, extrapolated over their lifespans, and we discuss some physiological and developmental implications of their variable depth use.

El cambio de cuerpo estresado a cuerpo relajado, a través de la respiración, la visualización y la danza en un ambiente de protección acompañada

Este trabajo muestra varias formas de conocer y relajar el cuerpo a través de técnicas de conocimiento personal y reencuentro con la naturaleza. La vida moderna y rápida, las presiones constantes desde la niñez hasta la adultez, en los diferentes medios de interrelación entre personas y grupos, acarrean la construcción de cuerpos que reflejan una anatomía emocional visible con pérdida de balance, contracturas, inflamaciones, desequilibrios múltiples por falta de conocimiento y sobre todo conciencia del ser en el mundo de manera plena, la persona se ha alejado de su relación ecológica consigo misma y el medio. Se muestran métodos para cambiar positivamente una condición de estrés constante y malestar crónico, a una condición aprendida de bienestar corporal y psicológico, con una serie de movimientos, recuperando al cuerpo a través de ejercicios, para tender hacia equilibrio personal, obteniendo una relación positiva con el medio y las personas con las que frecuenta. La propuesta se inicia promoviendo hábitos nuevos que se pueden guardar en la conciencia. Parte, fundamentalmente de la respiración, la armonización con la música y el medio ambiente y el trabajo personal y grupal

El cambio de cuerpo estresado a cuerpo relajado, a través de la respiración, la visualización y la danza en un ambiente de protección acompañada

Este trabajo muestra varias formas de conocer y relajar el cuerpo a través de técnicas de conocimiento personal y reencuentro con la naturaleza. La vida moderna y rápida, las presiones constantes desde la niñez hasta la adultez, en los diferentes medios de interrelación entre personas y grupos, acarrean la construcción de cuerpos que reflejan una anatomía emocional visible con pérdida de balance, contracturas, inflamaciones, desequilibrios múltiples por falta de conocimiento y sobre todo conciencia del ser en el mundo de manera plena, la persona se ha alejado de su relación ecológica consigo misma y el medio. Se muestran métodos para cambiar positivamente una condición de estrés constante y malestar crónico, a una condición aprendida de bienestar corporal y psicológico, con una serie de movimientos, recuperando al cuerpo a través de ejercicios, para tender hacia equilibrio personal, obteniendo una relación positiva con el medio y las personas con las que frecuenta. La propuesta se inicia promoviendo hábitos nuevos que se pueden guardar en la conciencia. Parte, fundamentalmente de la respiración, la armonización con la música y el medio ambiente y el trabajo personal y grupal

Species abundance and water and sediment characteristics for three ANDEEP stations on Maud Rise and the Weddell Sea

The benthic fauna was investigated during the expedition ANT-XXIV/2 (2007/08) in relation to oceanographic features, biogeochemical properties and sediment characteristics, as well as the benthic, pelagic and air-breathing fauna. The results document that Maud Rise (MR) differs distinctly from surrounding deep-sea basins investigated during previous Southern Ocean expeditions (ANDEEP 2002, 2005). Considering all taxa, the overall similarity between MR and adjacent stations was low (~20% Bray-Curtis-Similarity), and analyses of single taxa show obvious differences in species composition, abundances and densities. The composition and diversity of bivalves of MR are characterised by extremely high abundances of three species, especially the small sized Vesicomya spp. Exceptionally high gastropod abundance at MR is due to the single species Onoba subantarctica wilkesiana, a small brooder that may prey upon abundant benthic foraminiferas. The abundance and diversity of isopods also show that one family, Haplomunnidae, occurs with a surprisingly high number of individuals at MR while this family was not found at any of the 40 bathyal and abyssal ANDEEP stations. Similarly, polychaetes, especially the tube-dwelling, suspension-feeder fraction, are represented by species not found at the comparison stations. Sponges comprise almost exclusively small specimens in relatively high numbers, especially a few species of Polymastiidae. Water-column sampling from the surface to the seafloor, including observations of top predators, indicate the existence of a prospering pelagic food web. Local concentrations of top predators and zooplankton are associated with a rich ice-edge bloom located over the northern slope of MR. There the sea ice melts, which is probably accelerated by the advection of warm water at intermediate depth. Over the southern slope, high concentrations of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) occur under dense sea ice and attract Antarctic Minke Whales (Balaenoptera bonaerensis) and several seabird species. These findings suggest that biological prosperity over MR is related to both oceanographic and sea-ice processes. Downward transport of the organic matter produced in the pelagic realm may be more constant than elsewhere due to low lateral drift over MR.

Archive of the PASATA (PASsive Acoustic Tracking of Antarctic marine mammals) field documentation

Recordings from the PerenniAL Acoustic Observatory in the Antarctic ocean (PALAOA) show seasonal acoustic presence of 4 Antarctic ice-breeding seal species (Ross seal, Ommatophoca rossii, Weddell seal, Leptonychotes weddellii, crabeater, Lobodon carcinophaga, and leopard seal, Hydrurga leptonyx). Apart from Weddell seals, inhabiting the fast-ice in Atka Bay, the other three (pack-ice) species however have to date never (Ross and leopard seal) or only very rarely (crabeater seals) been sighted in the Atka Bay region. The aim of the PASATA project is twofold: the large passive acoustic hydrophone array (hereafter referred to as large array) aims to localize calling pack-ice pinniped species to obtain information on their location and hence the ice habitat they occupy. This large array consists of four autonomous passive acoustic recorders with a hydrophone sensor deployed through a drilled hole in the sea ice. The PASATA recordings are time-stamped and can therefore be coupled to the PALAOA recordings so that the hydrophone array spans the bay almost entirely from east to west. The second, smaller hydrophone array (hereafter referred to as small array), also consists of four autonomous passive acoustic recorders with hydrophone sensors deployed through drilled holes in the sea ice. The smaller array was deployed within a Weddell seal breeding colony, located further south in the bay, just off the ice shelf. Male Weddell seals are thought to defend underwater territories around or near tide cracks and breathing holes used by females. Vocal activity increases strongly during the breeding season and vocalizations are thought to be used underwater by males for the purpose of territorial defense and advertisement. With the smaller hydrophone array we aim to investigate underwater behaviour of vocalizing male and female Weddell seals to provide further information on underwater movement patterns in relation to the location of tide cracks and breathing holes. As a pilot project, one on-ice and three underwater camera systems have been deployed near breathing holes to obtain additional visual information on Weddell seal behavioural activity. Upon each visit in the breeding colony, a census of colony composition on the ice (number of animals, sex, presence of dependent pups, presence and severity of injuries-indicative of competition intensity) as well as GPS readings of breathing holes and positions of hauled out Weddell seals are taken.

Mathematical model for manoeuvrability of a riverine support patrol vessel with a pump-jet propulsion system

A study on the manoeuvrability of a riverine support patrol vessel is made to derive a mathematical model and simulate maneuvers with this ship. The vessel is mainly characterized by both its wide-beam and the unconventional propulsion system, that is, a pump-jet type azimuthal propulsion. By processing experimental data and the ship characteristics with diverse formulae to find the proper hydrodynamic coefficients and propulsion forces, a system of three differential equations is completed and tuned to carry out simulations of the turning test. The simulation is able to accept variable speed, jet angle and water depth as input parameters and its output consists of time series of the state variables and a plot of the simulated path and heading of the ship during the maneuver. Thanks to the data of full-scale trials previously performed with the studied vessel, a process of validation was made, which shows a good fit between simulated and full-scale experimental results, especially on the turning diameter