A magnetoencephalography study of first-time mothers listening to infant cries.

Studies using magnetoencephalography (MEG) have identified the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) to be an important early hub for a "parental instinct" in the brain. This complements the finding from functional magnetic resonance imaging studies linking reward, emotion regulation, empathy, and mentalization networks to the "parental brain." Here, we used MEG in 43 first-time mothers listening to infant and adult cry vocalizations to investigate the link with mother-infant postpartum bonding scores and their level of sleep deprivation (assessed using both actigraphy and sleep logs). When comparing brain responses to infant versus adult cry vocalizations, we found significant differences at around 800-1,000 ms after stimuli onset in the primary auditory cortex, superior temporal gyrus, hippocampal areas, insula, precuneus supramarginal gyrus, postcentral gyrus, and posterior cingulate gyrus. Importantly, mothers with weaker bonding scores showed decreased brain responses to infant cries in the auditory cortex, middle and superior temporal gyrus, OFC, hippocampal areas, supramarginal gyrus, and inferior frontal gyrus at around 100-300 ms after the stimulus onset. In contrast, we did not find correlations with sleep deprivation scores. The significant decreases in brain processing of an infant's distress signals could potentially be a novel signature of weaker infant bonding in new mothers and should be investigated in vulnerable populations.

Accumulated dose implications from systematic dose-rate transients in gated treatments with Viewray MRIdian accelerators.

The combination of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and linear accelerators (linacs) into MR-Linacs enables continuous MR imaging and advanced gated treatments of patients. Previously, a dose-rate transient (∼8% reduced dose rate during the initial 0.5 s of each beam) was identified for a Viewray MRIdian MR-Linac (Klavsenet al2022Radiation Measurement106759). Here, the dose-rate transient is studied in more detail at four linacs of the same type at different hospitals. The implications of dose-rate transients were examined for gated treatments. The dose-rate transients were investigated using dose-per pulse measurements with organic plastic scintillators in three experiments: (i) A gated treatment with the scintillator placed in a moving target in a dynamic phantom, (ii) a gated treatment with the same dynamic conditions but with the scintillator placed in a stationary target, and (iii) measurements in a water-equivalent material to examine beam quality deviations at a dose-per-pulse basis. Gated treatments (i) compared with non-gated treatments with a static target in the same setup showed a broadening of accumulated dose profiles due to motion (dose smearing). The linac with the largest dose-rate transient had a reduced accumulated dose of up to (3.1 ± 0.65) % in the center of the PTV due to the combined dose smearing and dose-rate transient effect. Dose-rate transients were found to vary between different machines. Two MR-Linacs showed initial dose-rate transients that could not be identified from conventional linearity tests. The source of the transients includes an initial change in photon fluence rate and an initial change in x-ray beam quality. For gated treatments, this caused a reduction of more than 1% dose delivered at the central part of the beam for the studied, cyclic-motion treatment plan. Quality assurance of this effect should be considered when gated treatment with the Viewray MRIdian is implemented clinically.

Determination of consensus k Q values for megavoltage photon beams for the update of IAEA TRS-398.

The IAEA is currently coordinating a multi-year project to update the TRS-398 Code of Practice for the dosimetry of external beam radiotherapy based on standards of absorbed dose to water. One major aspect of the project is the determination of new beam quality correction factors, k Q , for megavoltage photon beams consistent with developments in radiotherapy dosimetry and technology since the publication of TRS-398 in 2000. Specifically, all values must be based on, or consistent with, the key data of ICRU Report 90. Data sets obtained from Monte Carlo (MC) calculations by advanced users and measurements at primary standards laboratories have been compiled for 23 cylindrical ionization chamber types, consisting of 725 MC-calculated and 179 experimental data points. These have been used to derive consensus k Q values as a function of the beam quality index TPR20,10 with a combined standard uncertainty of 0.6%. Mean values of MC-derived chamber-specific [Formula: see text] factors for cylindrical and plane-parallel chamber types in 60Co beams have also been obtained with an estimated uncertainty of 0.4%.

RADIATION PROTECTION MEASUREMENTS WITH THE VARIANCE-COVARIANCE METHOD IN THE STRAY RADIATION FIELDS FROM PHOTON AND PROTON THERAPY FACILITIES.

The microdosimetric variance-covariance method was used to study the stray radiation fields from the photon therapy facility at the Technical University of Denmark and the scanned proton therapy beam at the Skandion Clinic in Uppsala, Sweden. Two TEPCs were used to determine the absorbed dose, the dose-average lineal energy, the dose-average quality factor and the dose equivalent. The neutron component measured by the detectors at the proton beam was studied through Monte Carlo simulations using the code MCNP6. In the photon beam the stray absorbed dose ranged between 0.3 and 2.4 µGy per monitor unit, and the dose equivalent between 0.4 and 9 µSv per monitor unit, depending on beam energy and measurement position. In the proton beam the stray absorbed dose ranged between 3 and 135 µGy per prescribed Gy, depending on detector position and primary proton energy.

An algorithm for real-time dosimetry in intensity-modulated radiation therapy using the radioluminescence signal from Al2O3:C.

Although the radioluminescence (RL) signal from optical fibre Al(2)O(3):C dosemeters used in medical applications is essentially proportional to dose rate, the crystals used so far are imperfect in the sense that their RL sensitivity changes with accumulated dose. A computational algorithm has been developed that corrects for these sensitivity changes. We further report on a new system that effectively separates the RL signal generated in the crystal from fluorescence and Cerenkov emission generated in the optical fibre cable using a gating technique in connection with pulsed linear accelerator radiation beams. The dosimetry system has been used for dose measurements in a phantom during an intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) treatment with 6 MV photons. The RL measurement results are in excellent agreement (i.e. within 1%) with both the OSL results and the dose delivered according to the treatment planning system. RL signals from Al(2)O(3):C can be used for real-time dose rate measurements with a time resolution of approximately 0.1 s and a spatial resolution only limited by the size of the detector (<0.5 mm).

CW-OSL measurement protocols using optical fibre Al2O3:C dosemeters.

A new system for in vivo dosimetry during radiotherapy has been introduced. Luminescence signals from a small crystal of carbon-doped aluminium oxide (Al2O3:C) are transmitted through an optical fibre cable to an instrument that contains optical filters, a photomultiplier tube and a green (532 nm) laser. The prime output is continuous wave optically stimulated luminescence (CW-OSL) used for the measurement of the integrated dose. We demonstrate a measurement protocol with high reproducibility and improved linearity, which is suitable for clinical dosimetry. A crystal-specific minimum pre-dose is necessary for signal stabilisation. Simple background subtraction only partially removes the residual signal present at long integration times. Instead, the measurement protocol separates the decay curve into three individual components and only the fast and medium components were used.

In vivo absorbed dose measurements in mammography using a new real-time luminescence technique.

A dosimetry system based on radioluminescence (RL) and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) from carbon doped aluminium oxide (Al2O3:C) crystals was developed for in vivo absorbed dose measurements in mammography. A small cylindrical crystal of Al2O3:C (diameter 0.48 mm and length 2 mm) was coupled to the end of a 1 mm diameter optical fibre cable. Owing to their small size and characteristic shape, these probes can be placed on the body surface in the field of view during the examination, without compromising the reading of the mammogram. Our new technique was tested with a mammography unit (Siemens Mammomat 3000) and screen-film technique over a range of clinically relevant X-ray energies. The results were compared with those obtained from an ionization chamber usually used for the determination of absorbed dose in mammography. The reproducibility of measurements was around 3% (1 standard deviation) at 4.5 mGy for both RL and OSL data. The dose response was found to be linear between 4.5 mGy and 30 mGy. The energy dependence of the system is around 18% between 23 kV and 35 kV. In vivo measurements were performed during three patient examinations. It was shown that entrance and exit doses could be measured. The presence of the small probes did not significantly interfere with the diagnostic quality of the images. Entrance doses estimated by RL/OSL results agreed within 3% with entrance surface dose values calculated from the ionization chamber measurements. These results indicate a considerable potential for use in routine control and in vivo dose measurements in mammography.

Use of novel fibre-coupled radioluminescence and RADPOS dosimetry systems for total scatter factor measurements in small fields.

A dosimetry system based on Al2O3:C radioluminescence (RL), and RADPOS, a novel 4D dosimetry system using microMOSFETs, were used to measure total scatter factors, (S(c,p))(f(clin))(det), for the CyberKnife robotic radiosugery system. New Monte Carlo calculated correction factors are presented and applied for the RL detector response for the 5, 7.5 and 10 mm collimators in order to correct for the detector geometry and increased photoelectric cross section of Al2O3:C relative to water. For comparison, measurements were also carried out using a micro MOSFET, PTW60012 diode and GAFCHROMIC(®) film (EBT and EBT2). Uncorrected (S(c,p))(f(clin))(det) were obtained by taking the ratio of the detector response for each collimator to that for the 60 mm diameter reference field. Published Monte Carlo calculated correction factors were applied to the RADPOS, microMOSFET and diode detector measurements to yield corrected field factors, Ω(f(clin),f(msr))(Q(clin),Q(msr)), following the terminology of a recent formalism introduced for small and composite field relative dosimetry. With corrections, the RL measured Ω(f(clin),f(msr))(Q(clin),Q(msr)) were 0.656 ± 0.002, 0.815 ± 0.002 and 0.865 ± 0.003 for the 5, 7.5 and 10 mm collimators, respectively. This was in good agreement with RADPOS corrected field factors of 0.650 ± 0.010, 0.816 ± 0.024 and 0.867 ± 0.010 for the 5, 7.5 and 10 mm collimators, respectively. Both RL and RADPOS total scatter factors agreed within approximately two standard deviations of the GAFCHROMIC film values (average of EBT and EBT2) of 0.640 ± 0.006, 0.806 ± 0.007 and 0.859 ± 0.09. Corrected total scatter factors for all dosimetry systems agreed within one standard deviation for collimator sizes 10-60 mm. Our study suggests that the microMOSFET/RADPOS and optical fibre-coupled RL dosimetry system are well suited for total scatter factor measurements over the entire range of field sizes, provided that appropriate correction factors are applied for the collimator diameters smaller than 10 mm.

Numerical modelling of radon-222 entry into houses: an outline of techniques and results.

Numerical modelling is a powerful tool for studies of soil gas and radon-222 entry into houses. It is the purpose of this paper to review some main techniques and results. In the past, modelling has focused on Darcy flow of soil gas (driven by indoor-outdoor pressure differences) and combined diffusive and advective transport of radon. Models of different complexity have been used. The simpler ones are finite-difference models with one or two spatial dimensions. The more complex models allow for full three-dimensional and time dependency. Advanced features include: soil heterogeneity, anisotropy, fractures, moisture, non-uniform soil temperature, non-Darcy flow of gas, and flow caused by changes in the atmospheric pressure. Numerical models can be used to estimate the importance of specific factors for radon entry. Models are also helpful when results obtained in special laboratory or test structure experiments need to be extrapolated to more general situations (e.g. to real houses or even to other soil-gas pollutants). Finally, models provide a cost-effective test bench for improved designs of radon prevention systems. The paper includes a summary of transport equations and boundary conditions. As an illustrative example, radon entry is calculated for a standard slab-on-grade house.

Mapping indoor radon-222 in Denmark: design and test of the statistical model used in the second nationwide survey.

In Denmark, a new survey of indoor radon-222 has been carried out, 1-year alpha track measurements (CR-39) have been made in 3019 single-family houses. There are from 3 to 23 house measurements in each of the 275 municipalities. Within each municipality, houses have been selected randomly. One important outcome of the survey is the prediction of the fraction of houses in each municipality with an annual average radon concentration above 200 Bq m(-3). To obtain the most accurate estimate and to assess the associated uncertainties, a statistical model has been developed. The purpose of this paper is to describe the design of this model, and to report results of model tests. The model is based on a transformation of the data to normality and on analytical (conditionally) unbiased estimators of the quantities of interest. Bayesian statistics are used to minimize the effect of small sample size. In each municipality, the correction is dependent on the fraction of area where sand and gravel is a dominating surface geology. The uncertainty analysis is done with a Monte-Carlo technique. It is demonstrated that the weighted sum of all municipality model estimates of fractions above 200 Bq m(-3) (3.9% with 95%-confidence interval = [3.4,4.5]) is consistent with the weighted sum of the observations for Denmark taken as a whole (4.6% with 95%-confidence interval = [3.8,5.6]). The total number of single-family houses within each municipality is used as weight. Model estimates are also found to be consistent with observations at the level of individual counties. These typically include a few hundred house measurements. These tests indicate that the model is well suited for its purpose.

Incisor stability in patients with anterior rotational mandibular growth.

The aim of this study was to investigate stability and patterns of relapse tendency in 42 children in whom mandibular incisors had been proclined as part of orthodontic treatment. All patients were selected on the basis of their predicted anterior rotational mandibular growth pattern. Results were based on study casts and standardized cephalometric profile radiographs, registered before and after active treatment as well as after a postretention period. Results demonstrate the clinical acceptability of the treatment principle employed in that the majority of the treatment changes were maintained well after the cessation of retention. There was, however, a general tendency to slight crowding in the mandibular incisor region in connection with bite deepening and reduction in intercanine distance. The reliability of prediction of mandibular rotation using the morphological criteria method is discussed.

Lessons learnt from an international intercomparison of national network systems used to provide early warning of a nuclear accident.

As part of the European Research Council's Fourth Framework Programme, the EURADOS Action Group on Monitoring of External Exposures held an intercomparison of national network systems. This took place during May/June 1999 at the Risø Natural Enviromental Radiation Measurement Station in Denmark and at the Underground Laboratory for Dosimetry and Spectrometry (UDO) of the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) in Germany. The network systems are used continuously to monitor radiation levels throughout a country in order to give early warning of nuclear accidents having transboundary implications. The radiation levels measured are used to estimate the radiation risks to people arising from the accident. Seven European countries participated in the intercomparison with detector systems used in their national network systems as well as with detectors being developed for future use. Since different radiation quantities were measured by the systems (namely exposure, air kerma and ambient dose equivalent), the initial analysis of the intercomparison results was made in terms of the quantity air kerma rate. This report completes the analysis of the results and these are given in terms of air kerma rate in order to be consistent with the preliminary report. In addition, in some cases the results are also given in terms of the quantity measured by each national network system. The experience gained from this intercomparison is used to help organise a follow-up intercomparison to be held at the PTB Braunschweig in September 2002 and in which a further seven or eight countries from Europe will participate.

Sci-Fri PM: Delivery - 07: Cyberknife relative output factor measurements using fiber-coupled luminescence, MOSFETS and RADPOS dosimetry system.

Novel dosimetry systems based on Al2 O3 :C radioluminescence (RL) and a 4D dosimetry system (RADPOS) from Best Medical Canada were used to measure the relative output factor (ROF) on Cyberknife. Measurements were performed in a solid water phantom at the depth of 1.5 cm and SSD = 78.5 cm for cones from 5 to 60 mm. ROFs were also measured using a mobileMOSFET system (Best Medical Canada) and EBT1 and EBT2 GAFCHROMIC® (ISP, Ashland) radiochromic films. For cone sizes 12.5-60 mm all detector results were in agreement within the measurement uncertainty. The microMOSFET/RADPOS measurements (published corrections applied) yielded ROFs of 0.650 ± 1.9%, 0.811 ± 0.9% and 0.843 ± 1.7% for the 5, 7.5 and 10 mm cones, respectively, and were in excellent agreement with radiochromic film values (averaged for EBT1 and EBT2) of 0.645 ± 1.4%, 0.806 ± 1.1% and 0.859 ± 1.1%. Monte-Carlo calculated correction factors were applied to the RL readings to correct for excessive scatter due to the relatively high effective atomic number of Al2 O3 (Z=10.2) compared to water for the 5, 7.5 and 10 mm cones. When these corrections are applied to our RL detector measurements, we obtain ROFs of 0.656 ± 0.3% and 0.815 ± 0.3% and 0.865 ± 0.3% for 5, 7.5 and 10 mm cones. Our study shows that the microMOSFET/RADPOS and optical fiber-coupled RL dosimetry system are well suited for Cyberknife cone output factors measurements over the entire range of field sizes, provided that appropriate correction factors are applied for the smallest cone sizes (5, 7.5 and 10 mm).

The morphology of the potential Class III skeletal pattern in the growing child.

The aim of the present article was to identify morphologic characteristics in the craniofacial skeleton of the 11-year-old child that could indicate potential development of a Class III skeletal pattern. A radiographic material consisting of 24 children (13 girls, 11 boys) at an average age of 11 years 0 months, who in adulthood demonstrated a Class III skeletal pattern, was compared with a control group of 33 children (16 boys, 17 girls, average age 11 years 6 months) chosen retrospectively on the basis of Class I occlusion. The analysis was performed by means of both linear and angular variables and results are reported both as group means and individual analyses. No one morphologic trait indicative of potential Class III development could be isolated because the study clearly demonstrated the existence of different skeletal combinations. The development of the maxilla, both in size and position, was clearly demonstrated by the linear analysis to be an etiologic factor in Class III development. However, maxillary retrognathism was usually masked in the angular analysis because a reduction in length of the anterior base with subsequent effect on the position of point nasion was often seen in these cases. Mandibular prognathism was a frequent observation, although a true macrognathia was uncommon. In the majority of cases, mandibular prognathism was the result of an increase in the ratio between mandibular length and dorsal position of the glenoid fossa (articulare). The relative merits of angular and linear analyses are discussed in relation to the results presented.

The allergy pricker. Qualitative aspects of skin prick testing using a precision needle.

Skin prick test has advantages over other diagnostic tests in allergy, and attempts to increase the reproducibility are warranted. A standardised disposable precision needle with a needle point of 1.0 mm has recently become available. Based on 960 tests with histamine and grass pollen (Phleum pratense) the reproducibility of the skin prick weal area was calculated. Using histamine 10 mg/ml and grass pollen (1000 and 5000 PNU) a significantly lower coefficient of variation was found compared with a standard blood lancet with a point of 4 mm. The mean weal reaction is reduced to about 80% of the size obtained with the blood lancet. Testing with the precision needle resulted in a significantly reduced incidence of bleedings. The precision needle simplifies the skin test and does not require as much skill as other needles, and is recommended for both routine tests and the biological standardization of allergen extracts.