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A Retrospective Analysis Of Paramedic Student Performance Under Simulated Stress, Nicholas Franklin Miller

Online Theses and Dissertations

The paramedic profession is an inherently difficult, dangerous and stressful profession. The paramedic is constantly barraged with acute stressors during the performance of his duties. These stressors have predictable, documented, negative effects on performance. The acute and chronic exposure to stress can negatively impact the safety and the well being of the paramedic. These stressors, if not successfully managed, can also result in negative effects to patients. Despite the overwhelming presence of stress in the paramedic environment, most paramedics receive little or no training to successfully perform under stress. One exception was a program called Trauma Lanes that was held …

Survivorship Analysis For Osteosarcoma And Ewing’S Sarcoma In Children And Adolescents At A Single Pediatric Institution: Comparison To Seer Data, Chittalsinh M. Raulji, Hope Pritchett, Matthew Stark, Kenneth Ward, Velasco Cruz, Jaime Morales

Journal Articles: Pediatrics

Primary malignant bone tumors account for approximately 6% of all childhood malignancies. Osteosarcoma (OS) and Ewing’s sarcoma (ES) are the most common and have an annual incidence of 8.7 per million under the age of 20 years. The mean 5-year survival for OS and ES has been 61% and 60% respectively. The survival for OS and ES has not significantly improved for past 20 years.

We examined the cases of OS and ES, treated at Children’s Hospital of New Orleans (CHNOLA) from 1999-2012. Comparison to national survival data from the Survival, Epidemiological and End Results (SEER) study was done. The …

Community-Based Interventions For The Prevention And Control Of Helmintic Neglected Tropical Diseases, Rehana A. Salam, Hasina Maredia, Jai K. Das, Zohra S. Lassi, Zulfiqar A. Bhutta

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

In this paper, we aim to systematically analyze the effectiveness of community-based interventions (CBIs) for the prevention and control of helminthiasis including soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) (ascariasis, hookworms, and trichuriasis), lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, dracunculiasis, and schistosomiasis. We systematically reviewed literature published before May 2013 and included 32 studies in this review. Findings from the meta-analysis suggest that CBIs are effective in reducing the prevalence of STH (RR: 0.45, 95% CI: 0.38, 0.54), schistosomiasis (RR: 0.40, 95% CI: 0.33, 0.50), and STH intensity (SMD: -3.16, 95 CI: -4.28, -2.04). They are also effective in improving mean hemoglobin (SMD: 0.34, 95% CI: 0.20, …

Pneumococcal Serotypes And Serogroups Causing Invasive Disease In Pakistan, 2005-2013, Sadia Shakoor, Furqan Kabir, Asif R. Khowaja, Shahida M. Qureshi, Fyezah Jehan, Farah Qamar, Cynthia G. Whitney, Anita K M Zaidi

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

While pneumococcal conjugate vaccines have been implemented in most countries worldwide, use in Asia has lagged in part because of a lack of data on the amount of disease that is vaccine preventable in the region. We describe pneumococcal serotypes elicited from 111 episodes of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) from 2005 to 2013 among children and adults in Pakistan. Seventy-three percent (n = 81) of 111 IPD episodes were cases of meningitis (n = 76 in children 0-15 years and n = 5 among adults). Serotypes were determined by target amplification of DNA extracted from pneumococcal isolates (n = 52) …

Structure-Functional Prediction And Analysis Of Cancer Mutation Effects In Protein Kinases, Anshuman Dixit, Gennady M. Verkhivker

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

A central goal of cancer research is to discover and characterize the functional effects of mutated genes that contribute to tumorigenesis. In this study, we provide a detailed structural classification and analysis of functional dynamics for members of protein kinase families that are known to harbor cancer mutations. We also present a systematic computational analysis that combines sequence and structure-based prediction models to characterize the effect of cancer mutations in protein kinases. We focus on the differential effects of activating point mutations that increase protein kinase activity and kinase-inactivating mutations that decrease activity. Mapping of cancer mutations onto the conformational …

Inflammatory Cytokine Gene Expression In Mesenteric Adipose Tissue During Acute Experimental Colitis, William Conan Mustain, Marlene E. Starr, Joseph Daniel Valentino, Donald A. Cohen, Daiki Okamura, Chi Wang, B. Mark Evers, Hiroshi Saito

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Production of inflammatory cytokines by mesenteric adipose tissue (MAT) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Animal models of colitis have demonstrated inflammatory changes within MAT, but it is unclear if these changes occur in isolation or as part of a systemic adipose tissue response. It is also unknown what cell types are responsible for cytokine production within MAT. The present study was designed to determine whether cytokine production by MAT during experimental colitis is depot-specific, and also to identify the source of cytokine production within MAT.

METHODS: Experimental colitis was induced in 6-month-old C57BL/6 …

Using Expression Profiling To Understand The Effects Of Chronic Cadmium Exposure On Mcf-7 Breast Cancer Cells, Zelmina Lubovac-Pilav, Daniel M. Borras, Esmeralda Ponce, Maggie Louie

Collected Faculty Scholarship

Cadmium is a metalloestrogen known to activate the estrogen receptor and promote breast cancer cell growth. Previous studies have implicated cadmium in the development of more malignant tumors; however the molecular mechanisms behind this cadmium-induced malignancy remain elusive. Using clonal cell lines derived from exposing breast cancer cells to cadmium for over 6 months (MCF-7-Cd4, -Cd6, -Cd7, -Cd8 and -Cd12), this study aims to identify gene expression signatures associated with chronic cadmium exposure. Our results demonstrate that prolonged cadmium exposure does not merely result in the deregulation of genes but actually leads to a distinctive expression profile. The genes deregulated …

A Review Of “An Ethical Market In Human Organs,” By Charles A. Erin And John Harris, And A Proposed Solution To The Current Organ Shortage, Rachel Rattenni Fcrh '14

The Fordham Undergraduate Research Journal

In 2005, an Israeli man named Nick Rosen answered an ad in his local Tel Aviv newspaper searching for someone interested in selling a kidney. Through funding from the broker who placed the ad, Rosen was flown to New York and set up with a dialysis patient from Brooklyn. After Rosen and the dialysis patient passed a simple procedure for the screening of illegal organ sales by saying the two were old friends, the successful transplant surgery was performed at the esteemed Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York. The Brooklyn resident walked away never again needing to go on …

Divergent Antibody Subclass And Specificity Profiles But Not Protective Hla-B Alleles Are Associated With Variable Antibody Effector Function Among Hiv-1 Controllers, Jennifer I. Lai, Anna F. Licht, Anne-Sophie Dugast, Todd Suscovich, Ickwon Choi, Chris Bailey-Kellogg, Galit Alter, Margaret E. Ackerman

Dartmouth Scholarship

Understanding the coordination between humoral and cellular immune responses may be the key to developing protective vaccines, and because genetic studies of long-term HIV-1 nonprogressors have associated specific HLA-B alleles with spontaneous control of viral replication, this subject group presents an opportunity to investigate relationships between arms of the adaptive immune system. Given evidence suggesting that cellular immunity may play a role in viral suppression, we sought to determine whether and how the humoral immune response might vary among controllers. Significantly, Fc-mediated antibody effector functions have likewise been associated with durable viral control. In this study, we compared the effector …

Ewing's Sarcoma Arising From The Adrenal Gland In A Young Male: A Case Report, Muhammad Nauman Zahir, Tayyaba Zehra Ansari, Tariq Moatter, Wasim Memon, Shahid Pervez

Section of Haematology/Oncology

Background: Ewing's sarcoma uncommonly arises from extraosseous soft tissue or parenchymal organs. Primary adrenal Ewing's Sarcoma, although very rare, is extremely aggressive and commonly fatal.

CASE PRESENTATION: A 17 year old Pakistani male was referred to the outpatient oncology clinic at our center with a three month history of concomitant pain, swelling and dragging sensation in the right hypochondrium. Abdominal examination revealed a large, firm mass in the right hypochondrium extending into the right lumbar region and epigastrium. His genital exam was unremarkable and there were no stigmata of hepatic or adrenal disease.Computed tomography scans revealed a large peripherally …

Sevoflurane Induces Cardioprotection Through Reactive Oxygen Species-Mediated Upregulation Of Autophagy In Isolated Guinea Pig Hearts., Mayumi Shiomi, Masami Miyamae, Genzou Takemura, Kazuhiro Kaneda, Yoshitaka Inamura, Anna Onishi, Shizuka Koshinuma, Yoshihiro Momota, Toshiaki Minami, Vincent M. Figueredo

Division of Cardiology Faculty Papers

PURPOSE: Sevoflurane increases reactive oxygen species (ROS), which mediate cardioprotection against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. Emerging evidence suggests that autophagy is involved in cardioprotection. We examined whether reactive oxygen species mediate sevoflurane preconditioning through autophagy.

METHODS: Isolated guinea pigs hearts were subjected to 30 min ischemia followed by 120 min reperfusion (control). Anesthetic preconditioning was elicited with 2 % sevoflurane for 10 min before ischemia (SEVO). The ROS-scavenger, N-(2-mercaptopropionyl) glycine (MPG, 1 mmol/l), was administered starting 30 min before ischemia to sevoflurane-treated (SEVO + MPG) or non-sevoflurane-treated (MPG) hearts. Infarct size was determined by triphenyltetrazolium chloride stain. Tissue samples were obtained …

The Ciliary Protein Cystin Forms A Regulatory Complex With Necdin To Modulate Myc Expression, Maoqing Wu, Chaozhe Yang, Binli Tao, Su Bu, Lisa Guay-Woodford

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

Cystin is a novel cilia-associated protein that is disrupted in the cpk mouse, a well-characterized mouse model of autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD). Interestingly, overexpression of the Myc gene is evident in animal models of ARPKD and is thought to contribute to the renal cystic phenotype. Using a yeast two-hybrid approach, the growth suppressor protein necdin, known to modulate Myc expression, was found as an interacting partner of cystin. Deletion mapping demonstrated that the C-terminus of cystin and both termini of necdin are required for their mutual interaction. Speculating that these two proteins may function to regulate gene expression, …

Can Experienced Observers Differentiate Between Lipoma And Well-Differentiated Liposarcoma Using Only Mri?, Patrick W. O'Donnell, Anthony M. Griffin, William C. Eward, Amir Sternheim, Lawrence M. White, Jay S. Wunder, Peter C. Ferguson

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Well-differentiated liposarcoma represents a radiographic diagnostic dilemma. To determine the accuracy, interrater reliability, and relationship of stranding, nodularity, and size in the MRI differentiation of lipoma and well-differentiated liposarcoma, MRI scans of 60 patients with large (>5 cm), deep, pathologically proven lipomas or well-differentiated liposarcomas were examined by 10 observers with subspecialty training blinded to diagnosis. Observers indicated whether the amount of stranding, nodularity, and size of each tumor suggested a benign or malignant diagnosis and rendered a diagnosis of lipoma or well-differentiated liposarcoma. The accuracy, reliability, and relationship of stranding, nodularity, and size to diagnosis were calculated for …

Grant Application: Randomized Comparison Of Two Internet-Supported Natural Family Planning Methods, Richard J. Fehring

Randomized Comparison of Two Internet-Supported Methods of Natural Family Planning

No abstract provided.

Comparison Of Abstinence And Coital Frequency Between Two Natural Methods Of Family Planning, Richard J. Fehring, Thomas Bouchard, Mary Schneider

Randomized Comparison of Two Internet-Supported Methods of Natural Family Planning

Problem Statement: The length of periodic abstinence, due to overestimation of the fertile phase of the menstrual cycle is often a reason for dissatisfaction, discontinuation, and user error with natural family planning (NFP) methods. The objective of this research was to compare the length of required abstinence (i.e., estimated fertility) and coital frequency between two NFP methods.

Study Design: Analysis of existing data from a 12 month prospective comparison study in which participants were randomized into either an electronic hormonal fertility monitor (EHFM) group or a cervical mucus monitoring (CMM) group, both of which included a fertility algorithm as …

Clinically Relevant Intronic Splicing Enhancer Mutation In Myelin Proteolipid Protein Leads To Progressive Microglia And Astrocyte Activation In White And Gray Matter Regions Of The Brain, Adam D. Bachstetter, Scott J. Webster, Linda J. Van Eldik, Franca Cambi

Sanders-Brown Center on Aging Faculty Publications

INTRODUCTION: Mutations in proteolipid protein (PLP), the most abundant myelin protein in the CNS, cause the X-linked dysmyelinating leukodystrophies, Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease (PMD) and spastic paraplegia type 2 (SPG2). Point mutations, deletion, and duplication of the PLP1 gene cause PMD/SPG2 with varying clinical presentation. Deletion of an intronic splicing enhancer (ISEdel) within intron 3 of the PLP1 gene is associated with a mild form of PMD. Clinical and preclinical studies have indicated that mutations in myelin proteins, including PLP, can induce neuroinflammation, but the temporal and spatial onset of the reactive glia response in a clinically relevant mild form of PMD …

Situational Awareness/Triage Tool For Use In A Chemical, Biological, Radiological Nuclear Explosive (Cbrne) Environment, John N. Scarlett, Heather L. Gallup, David A. Smith

AFIT Patents

A method of managing patient care and emergency response following a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, or Nuclear Explosive (CBRNE) attack and maintaining compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). The method including identifying each patient with a unique patient identifier, the identifier based upon the geospatial location of the patient, the geospatial location including at least the latitude and longitude of the patient when first treated, the unique patient identifier being part of patient data. Providing a collection point of patient data to form a patient data database where in the patient location data may be used to …

Layered Long Term Co-Culture Of Hepatocytes And Endothelial Cells On A Transwell Membrane: Toward Engineering The Liver Sinusoid, Young Bok (Abraham) Kang, Siddhartha Rawat, Joseph Cirillo, Michael Bouchard, Hongseok (Moses) Noh

Faculty Publications - Biomedical, Mechanical, and Civil Engineering

This paper presents a novel liver model that mimics the liver sinusoid where most liver activities occur. A key aspect of our current liver model is a layered co-culture of primary rat hepatocytes (PRHs) and primary rat liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) or bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs) on a transwell membrane. When a layered co-culture was attempted with a thin matrigel layer placed between hepatocytes and endothelial cells to mimic the Space of Disse, the cells did not form completely separated monolayers. However, when hepatocytes and endothelial cells were cultured on the opposite sides of a transwell membrane, PRHs …

Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms Linked To Essential Hypertension In Kasigau, Kenya, Julia Carol Freeman

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Hypertension, or high blood pressure (BP), is an ever-growing epidemic in the developing world. Understanding the genetics behind essential hypertension (EH), or hypertension with no known cause, is especially important. In this study, three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) known to be linked to an increase in susceptibility to EH were quantified from a cohort of Kenyans living in the Kasigau region. The SNPs are located in three genes that are part of the renin angiotensin system, the primary regulatory pathway in humans controlling BP. They include: AGT (rs699), AGTR1 (rs5186), and HSD11β2 (rs5479). Overall, by using a fluorescent-based RT-PCR technique, …

Racial Differences In Human Platelet Par4 Reactivity Reflect Expression Of Pctp And Mir-376c., Leonard Edelstein, Lukas M Simon, Raúl Teruel Montoya, Michael Holinstat, Edward S Chen, Angela Bergeron, Xianguo Kong, Srikanth Nagalla, Narla Mohandas, David E Cohen, Jing-Fei Dong, Chad Shaw, Paul Bray

Cardeza Foundation for Hematologic Research

Racial differences in the pathophysiology of atherothrombosis are poorly understood. We explored the function and transcriptome of platelets in healthy black (n = 70) and white (n = 84) subjects. Platelet aggregation and calcium mobilization induced by the PAR4 thrombin receptor were significantly greater in black subjects. Numerous differentially expressed RNAs were associated with both race and PAR4 reactivity, including PCTP (encoding phosphatidylcholine transfer protein), and platelets from black subjects expressed higher levels of PC-TP protein. PC-TP inhibition or depletion blocked PAR4- but not PAR1-mediated activation of platelets and megakaryocytic cell lines. miR-376c levels were differentially expressed by race and …

Electrotransfer Of Single-Stranded Or Double-Stranded Dna Induces Complete Regression Of Palpable B16.F10 Mouse Melanomas, Loree Heller, Vesba Todorovic, Maja Cemazar

Bioelectrics Publications

Enhanced tumor delivery of plasmid DNA with electric pulses in vivo has been confirmed in many preclinical models. Intratumor electrotransfer of plasmids encoding therapeutic molecules has reached Phase II clinical trials. In multiple preclinical studies, a reduction in tumor growth, increased survival or complete tumor regression have been observed in control groups in which vector or backbone plasmid DNA electrotransfer was performed. This study explores factors that could produce this antitumor effect. The specific electrotransfer pulse protocol employed significantly potentiated the regression. Tumor regression was observed after delivery of single-stranded or double-stranded DNA with or without CpG motifs in both …

Labrad : Vol 39, Issue 2 - December 2013, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi

LABRAD - Departments of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine and Radiology Archives

• Diagnosis of Inborn Errors of Metabolism in Pakistan
• Inherited Metabolic Disorders-Presenting as Metabolic Emergencies
• Role of Biochemical Genetics Laboratary in Evaluation of IEM
• Amino Acid Chromatography for the Diagnosis of Inborn Error of Metabolism
• Polymorphism in Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR) Gene
• Diagnosis of Tyrosinemia Type I
• Congential Hypothyroidism
• Congential Adrenal Hyperplasia, An Insight of Laboratory
• Inaugration Ceremony of Section of biochemical Genetics Laboratory

Cxcr2 Expression In Tumor Cells Is A Poor Prognostic Factor And Promotes Invasion And Metastasis In Lung Adenocarcinoma, Erminia Massarelli

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

CXC chemokine receptor 2 (CXCR2) is a G-protein coupled receptor which mediates signaling by binding to CXC chemokines CXCL1-3 and 5-8. In non-small cell lung cancer CXCR2 has been studied mainly in stromal cells and is known to increase tumor inflammation and angiogenesis. However, there is controversial data in the literature about CXCR2 expression in tumor cells and its role in the tumor microenvironment. We hypothesized that tumoral expression of CXCR2 and its ligands promote tumor invasion and metastasis in non-small cell lung cancer. The effect of CXCR2 expression on tumor cells was studied using stable knockdown clones derived from …

Locking Compression Plate In Musculoskeletal Oncology'a Nriend In Need', Masood Umer, Kashif Abbas, Shahid Khan, Haroon Ur Rashid

Department of Surgery Docs

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

We are presenting our experience in the use of locking compression plate (LCP) after juxta-articular oncological resections in addition to its use in pathologic fracture.

METHODS:

A retrospective audit of skeletal reconstruction using LCP in 25 cases of long bone tumors was performed from 2008 to 2010. Reconstruction following limb salvage surgery was done in 17 patients and internal fixation of pathological fracture was done in 8 patients. All patients were available for > 12 months of follow-up, and thus assessed for union at the resected ends.

RESULTS:

There were 8 males and 17 females in the study. The …

Synthesis Of Novel Ciprofloxacin Analogues And Evaluation Of Their Anti-Proliferative Effect On Human Cancer Cell Lines, Narva Suresh, Hunsur Nagendra Nagesh, Kondapalli Venkata Govri Chandra Sekhar, Anil Kumar, Amir Nasrolahi Shirazi, Keykavous Parang

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

A series of twenty two novel 1-cyclopropyl-6-fluoro-4-oxo-7-(4-substitutedpiperazin-1-yl)-1,4-dihydroquinoline-3-carboxylic acid analogues have been synthesized, characterized (1H NMR, 13C NMR and LCMS) and evaluated for their inhibitory activity on the proliferation of human caucasian acute lymphoblastic leukemiacells (CCRF-CEM), breast adenocarcinoma cells (MDA-MB-468) and human colon carcinoma cells (HCT-116). Among all the synthesized ciprofloxacin analogues 3t at 50 µM showed comparable potency to doxorubicin (10mol) in all three cell lines and 3j inhibited proliferation of MDA-MB-468 up to 35% selectively over other two cell lines. Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. It is a group of diseases characterized by uncontrolled growth. Cancer …

Sex Determination Using Discriminant Function Analysis In Hispanic Children And Adolescents: A Lateral Cephalometric Study, Alyssa E. Sprowl

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Lateral cephalometric radiographs have been used for years to help diagnose skeletal and dental patterns in Orthodontics. Within the last decade, these radiographs have caught the interest of the department of Anthropology for the identification of gender within the adult and adolescent population. Numerous publications have been made but failed to identify sexual dimorphism in the pre-adolescent population. 303 lateral cephalograms of pre and post Latino adolescence age ranging from 6.5 to 17.9 years old were obtained from University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) digital database. 25 variables were identified and plotted with all linear and angular measurements transferred into …

Effect Of Functional Starch In Brown Rice And Grain Sorghum On Plasma Glucose And Insulin Responses In Humans, Nicole Marie Poquette

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Diabetes and obesity are chronic illnesses increasing at dramatic rates in the U.S. and around the world. Research has looked to prevent or control diabetes and obesity through functional ingredients such as healthy-dietary carbohydrates to control blood glucose levels. Starch is a principle carbohydrate, which influences blood glucose levels, and measuring starch digestibility fractions can help predict the glucose response in the body. The objectives of this study were to investigate the functional starch content of parboiled brown rice flour and grain sorghum flour, and measure the effects on postprandial plasma glucose and insulin levels of 14 and 10 healthy …

Sympathetic Nerve Modulation Of Joint Pathology In Adjuvant-Induced Arthritis, Carlo Anthony Wood

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Background: There is increasing data suggesting a net increase in sympathetic tone plays an important role in rheumatoid arthritis. Several studies have reported altered distribution and density of autonomic nerves in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and animal models for the disease. This provides anatomical evidence that supports a neurally-mediated drive in inflammation and joint destruction. Methods: Adult rats were injected with complete Freund’s adjuvant. At 12 days post immunization, animals were randomly placed into a drug treatment group (SH1293, which interacts with - and ß2-ARs), an adjuvant arthritic group, or a control group. These animals were sacrificed at 14, 21, …

Radiosensitization Of Head & Neck Carcinoma Cells By Linifanib, A Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor, Heng-Wei Hsu

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Tumor angiogenesis is a hallmark of advanced cancers and promotes invasion and metastasis. Over 90% of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) express angiogenic factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Since radiotherapy is one of the most commonly used treatments for HNSCC, it is imperative to identify the interactions between antiangiogenic therapy and radiotherapy, and to develop combination therapy to improve clinical outcome. The mechanisms between antiangiogenic agents and ionizing radiation are complicated and involve many interactions between the vasculature, tumor stroma and tumor cells. The proliferation and metastasis of tumor cells rely on angiogenesis/blood vessel formation. …

Scanned Ion Beam Therapy For Thoracic Tumors, John Gordon Eley

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Although frequently cured of Hodgkin lymphoma, adolescents and young adults can develop radiation induced second cancers. These patients could potentially benefit from scanned ion radiotherapy yet likely would require motion mitigation strategies. In theory, four-dimensional (4D) optimization of ion beam fields for individual motion states of respiration can enable superior sparing of healthy tissue near moving targets, compared to other motion mitigation strategies. Furthermore, carbon-ion therapy can sometimes provide greater relative biological effectiveness (RBE) for cell sterilization in a target but nearly equivalent RBE in tissue upstream of the target, compared to proton therapy. Thus, we expected that for some …