A review of kilovoltage radiotherapy treatment in the United Kingdom: quality control, radiation dosimetry, treatment equipment, and workload.

Objectives: To survey kilovoltage (kV) radiotherapy in the United Kingdom, updating a 2016 study, focussing on radiotherapy physics, including equipment quality control (QC) and radiation dosimetry, with information on installed equipment and clinical activity.

Methods: All UK radiotherapy physics departments (n = 68) were invited to complete a comprehensive survey. An analysis of the installed equipment base, patient numbers, clinical activity, QC testing, and radiation dosimetry processes were undertaken.

Kinetic Analysis, Potentiation, and Fatigue During Vertical and Horizontal Plyometric Training: An In-Depth Investigation Into Session Volume.

Unlabelled: Despite previous support for plyometric training, optimal dosing strategies remain unclear.

Purpose: To investigate vertical and horizontal jump kinetic performance following a low-volume plyometric stimulus with progressively increased session jump volume.

Methods: Sixteen academy rugby players (20.

Horizontal Force-Velocity-Power Profiling of Rugby Players: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Competition-Level and Position-Specific Movement Demands.

Watkins, CM, Storey, A, McGuigan, MR, Downes, P, and Gill, ND. Horizontal force-velocity-power profiling of rugby players: A cross-sectional analysis of competition-level and position-specific movement demands. J Strength Cond Res 35(6): 1576-1585, 2021-Speed and acceleration are crucial to competitive success in all levels of rugby union.

The Effect of Low-Volume Preseason Plyometric Training on Force-Velocity Profiles in Semiprofessional Rugby Union Players.

Watkins, CM, Gill, ND, Maunder, E, Downes, P, Young, JD, McGuigan, MR, and Storey, AG. The effect of low-volume preseason plyometric training on force-velocity profiles in semiprofessional rugby union players. J Strength Cond Res 35(3): 604-615, 2021-Rugby union is a physically demanding and complex team sport requiring athletes across all positions to express speed and acceleration.

Referents or role models? The self-efficacy and job performance effects of perceiving higher performing peers.

What are the effects of perceiving peers' higher performance? Social-cognitive theory emphasizes the positive influence that perceiving higher performers can have on observer task and job performance (because observational learning from role models enhances self-efficacy). Social comparison theory emphasizes the negative self-evaluations that accompany perceiving higher performers, which should under many circumstances reduce self-efficacy and subsequent task and job performance. To more fully understand the effects of perceiving higher performance, we argue the effects of perceived higher performers on observer task and job performance depend on individuals' disposition in how they cognitively process coworkers' performance.

A proposal for changes to the European Union syphilis surveillance case definition using evidence from evaluations in Ireland.

Syphilis remains a disease of public health importance, with considerable health effects if not treated. Concurrent infection with syphilis and untreated HIV facilitates HIV transmission. The incidence of syphilis in Europe has been increasing, particularly among men who have sex with men (MSM) and in MSM with HIV.

The heterogeneity problem in meta-analytic structural equation modeling (MASEM) revisited: A reply to Cheung.

Yu, Downes, Carter, and O'Boyle (2016) introduce a new technique to incorporate effect size heterogeneity into meta-analytic structural equation modeling (MASEM) labeled full information meta-analytical structural equation modeling (FIMASEM). Cheung's (2018) commentary raises concerns about the viability of FIMASEM and provides its initial validation. In this reply, we briefly respond to those concerns noting how they relate to Yu et al.

Molecular epidemiology of multi- and extensively-drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Ireland, 2001-2014.

Objectives: The primary objective of this work was to examine the acquisition and spread of multi-drug resistant (MDR) tuberculosis (TB) in Ireland.

Methods: All available Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) isolates (n = 42), from MDR-TB cases diagnosed in Ireland between 2001 and 2014, were analysed using phenotypic drug-susceptibility testing, Mycobacterial-Interspersed-Repetitive-Units Variable-Number Tandem-Repeat (MIRU-VNTR) genotyping, and whole-genome sequencing (WGS).

Results: The lineage distribution of the MDR-TB isolates comprised 54.

The problem of effect size heterogeneity in meta-analytic structural equation modeling.

Scholars increasingly recognize the potential of meta-analytic structural equation modeling (MASEM) as a way to build and test theory (Bergh et al., 2016). Yet, 1 of the greatest challenges facing MASEM researchers is how to incorporate and model meaningful effect size heterogeneity identified in the bivariate meta-analysis into MASEM.

Electrostimulation's enhancement of recovery during a rugby preseason.

Unlabelled: Rugby preseason training involves high-volume strength and conditioning training, necessitating effective management of the recovery-stress state to avoid overtraining and maximize adaptive gains.

Purpose: Compression garments and an electrostimulation device have been proposed to improve recovery by increasing venous blood flow. These devices were assessed using salivary testosterone and cortisol, plasma creatine kinase, and player questionnaires to determine sleep quality, energy level, mood, and enthusiasm.

Patient-specific three-dimensional concomitant dose from cone beam computed tomography exposure in image-guided radiotherapy.

Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to quantify the concomitant dose received by patients undergoing cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scanning in different clinical scenarios as a part of image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) procedures.

Methods And Materials: We calculated the three-dimensional concomitant dose received as a result of CBCT scans in 6 patients representing different clinical scenarios: two pelvis, two head and neck, and two chest. We assessed the effect that a daily on-line IGRT strategy would have on the patient dose distribution, assuming 40 CBCT scans throughout the treatment course.

Monte Carlo simulation and patient dosimetry for a kilovoltage cone-beam CT unit.

Purpose: The purpose of this work is to characterize the x-ray volume imager (XVI), the cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) unit mounted on the Elekta Synergy linac, with F1 bowtie filter and to calculate the three-dimensional dose delivered to patients using volumetric acquisition.

Methods: The XVI is modeled in detail using a new Monte Carlo (MC) code, BEAMPP, under development at the National Research Council Canada. In this investigation, a new component module is developed to accurately model the unit's bowtie filter used in conjunction with the available beam collimators at the clinical energy of 120 kV.

High-performance computing for Monte Carlo radiotherapy calculations.

We report on the RTGrid project, which investigates approaches for using high-performance computing infrastructures, such as the grid, in order to reduce the turnaround time of Monte Carlo (MC) simulation-based radiotherapy treatment planning. The main aim of this project is to render accurate dose calculations using MC simulations clinically feasible. To this end, we have successfully implemented and deployed the RTGrid distributed simulation framework for MC dose calculations.

Simulating oblique incident irradiation using the BEAMnrc Monte Carlo code.

A new source for the simulation of oblique incident irradiation has been developed for the BEAMnrc Monte Carlo code. In this work, we describe a method for the simulation of any component that is rotated at some angle relative to the central axis of the modelled radiation unit. The performance of the new BEAMnrc source was validated against experimental measurements.

Monte Carlo simulation of an x-ray volume imaging cone beam CT unit.

In this work the authors characterized the radiation field produced by a kilovolt cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) unit integrated in the Elekta Synergy linear accelerator. The x-ray volume imaging (XVI) radiation unit was modeled in detail using the BEAMNRC Monte Carlo (MC) code system. The simulations of eight collimator cassettes and the neutral filter F0 were successfully carried out.

Electron beam therapy at extended source-to-surface distance: a Monte Carlo investigation.

Electron-beam therapy is used to treat superficial tumors at a standard 100 cm source-to-surface distance (SSD). However, certain clinical situations require the use of an extended SSD. In the present study, Monte Carlo methods were used to investigate clinical electron beams, at standard and non-standard SSDs, from a Siemens Oncor Avant Garde (Siemens Healthcare, Erlangen, Germany) linear accelerator (LINAC).

Putting it all together; dentistry and the Internet.

This last chapter in the series looks at how the Internet, 'warts and all', can be used in the practice setting. The web in particular has changed dramatically in the last three or four years, and the phrase 'Web 2.0' was coined to reflect this perceived change in the way that the web was being used.

Safe and efficient use of the Internet.

A minority of people abuse the freedom of the Internet to the detriment of the vast majority. Many people feel that the Internet requires more regulation to reduce the burden of hackers, viruses, hoaxes, adverts and spam that continue to proliferate unabated. Until this ever happens, it is down to the individual person or business to protect themselves against malicious attacks and to use the Internet in a safe and efficient manner.

Power searching.

The true power and value of the World Wide Web only becomes apparent once a user has learnt how to quickly and effectively find the information that they are seeking. Until then, searching the Internet can be an arduous and fruitless task. Knowing which website to use to start the hunt and how to select the most appropriate search words are only half the story.

Creating a practice website.

A website is a window to the outside world. For a dental practice, it may be the first point of contact for a prospective new patient and will therefore provide them with their 'first impression'; this may be days or weeks before actually visiting the practice. This section considers the different ways of creating a dental practice website and lists some of the main dental website design companies.

Introduction to the world wide web.

The World Wide Web used to be nicknamed the 'World Wide Wait'. Now, thanks to high speed broadband connections, browsing the web has become a much more enjoyable and productive activity. Computers need to know where web pages are stored on the Internet, in just the same way as we need to know where someone lives in order to post them a letter.

Effective use of email.

Email is a crucial communication tool and everyone who uses it should have a good understanding of the email program that they use to send and receive email. In some cases this will be built into their dental system software and for others it may be a web-based email account using the Internet Explorer web browser. In this section we look at the workings of the most popular stand-alone program, Outlook Express, and discuss good email practice for home and work.

Introduction to email.

Email is a computer based method of sending messages from one computer to another. From its humble beginnings 40 years, it has matured to become a crucial tool in utilising the power of the Internet. More people have access to email than to any other Internet application, and despite the problems with spam email and viruses, email remains popular because of its low cost, universality and ease of use.

Connecting to the internet.

There are many and varied ways of connecting to the Internet. For the vast majority of the Internet's existence, most people connected using the maddeningly slow click-and-wait experience of a dial-up connection. By June 2005, the number of the newer and faster broadband connections in the UK exceeded dial-up connections for the first time (approximately 1/3 broadband cable and 2/3 broadband ADSL).