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Purpose: Normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) models can be used to estimate the risk of radiation pneumonitis (RP). The aim of this study was to externally validate the most frequently used prediction models for RP, i.e., the QUANTEC and APPELT models, in a large cohort of lung cancer patients treated with IMRT or VMAT. [1-2] METHODS AND MATERIALS: This prospective cohort study, included lung cancer patients treated between 2013 and 2018. A closed testing procedure was performed to test the need for model updating. To improve model performance, modification or removal of variables was considered. Performance measures included tests for goodness of fit, discrimination, and calibration., Results: In this cohort of 612 patients, the incidence of RP ≥ grade 2 was 14.5%. For the QUANTEC-model, recalibration was recommended which resulted in a revised intercept and adjusted regression coefficient (from 0.126 to 0.224) of the mean lung dose (MLD),. The APPELT-model needed revision including model updating with modification and elimination of variables. After revision, the New RP-model included the following predictors (and regression coefficients): MLD (B = 0.250), age (B = 0.049, and smoking status (B = 0.902). The discrimination of the updated APPELT-model was higher compared to the recalibrated QUANTEC-model (AUC: 0.79 vs. 0.73)., Conclusions: This study demonstrated that both the QUANTEC- and APPELT-model needed revision. Next to changes of the intercept and regression coefficients, the APPELT model improved further by model updating and performed better than the recalibrated QUANTEC model. This New RP-model is widely applicable containing non-tumour site specific variables, which can easily be collected., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This feature issue highlights the latest developments in laser-based sensing and free space communications. In total, 15 papers were published in Applied Optics, including an invited review paper that celebrates the legacy of David L. Fried.

Background: In cases of terrorism, disasters, or mass casualty incidents, far-reaching life-and-death decisions about prioritizing patients are currently made using triage algorithms that focus solely on the patient's current health status rather than their prognosis, thus leaving a fatal gap of patients who are under- or overtriaged., Objective: The aim of this proof-of-concept study is to demonstrate a novel approach for triage that no longer classifies patients into triage categories but ranks their urgency according to the anticipated survival time without intervention. Using this approach, we aim to improve the prioritization of casualties by respecting individual injury patterns and vital signs, survival likelihoods, and the availability of rescue resources., Methods: We designed a mathematical model that allows dynamic simulation of the time course of a patient's vital parameters, depending on individual baseline vital signs and injury severity. The 2 variables were integrated using the well-established Revised Trauma Score (RTS) and the New Injury Severity Score (NISS). An artificial patient database of unique patients with trauma (N=82,277) was then generated and used for analysis of the time course modeling and triage classification. Comparative performance analysis of different triage algorithms was performed. In addition, we applied a sophisticated, state-of-the-art clustering method using the Gower distance to visualize patient cohorts at risk for mistriage., Results: The proposed triage algorithm realistically modeled the time course of a patient's life, depending on injury severity and current vital parameters. Different casualties were ranked by their anticipated time course, reflecting their priority for treatment. Regarding the identification of patients at risk for mistriage, the model outperformed the Simple Triage And Rapid Treatment's triage algorithm but also exclusive stratification by the RTS or the NISS. Multidimensional analysis separated patients with similar patterns of injuries and vital parameters into clusters with different triage classifications. In this large-scale analysis, our algorithm confirmed the previously mentioned conclusions during simulation and descriptive analysis and underlined the significance of this novel approach to triage., Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest the feasibility and relevance of our model, which is unique in terms of its ranking system, prognosis outline, and time course anticipation. The proposed triage-ranking algorithm could offer an innovative triage method with a wide range of applications in prehospital, disaster, and emergency medicine, as well as simulation and research., (©Manuel Sigle, Leon Berliner, Erich Richter, Mart van Iersel, Eleonora Gorgati, Ives Hubloue, Maximilian Bamberg, Christian Grasshoff, Peter Rosenberger, Robert Wunderlich. Originally published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (https://www.jmir.org), 15.06.2023.)

Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of a more 'community-oriented' baccalaureate nursing curriculum on students' intervention choice in community care., Background: Following a healthcare shift with increased chronic diseases in an ageing patient population receiving care at home, nursing education is revising its curricula with new themes (e.g., self-management) on community care. Although it seems obvious that students incorporate these themes in their nursing care interventions, this is unclear. This study investigates the effect of a redesigned curriculum on students' care intervention choice in community nursing., Design: A quasi-experimental quantitative study., Methods: This study with an historic control group (n = 328; study cohorts graduating in 2016 and 2017; response rate 83 %) and an intervention group n = 152; graduating in 2018; response rate 80 %) was performed at a University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands. The intervention group experienced a curriculum-redesign containing five new themes related to community care (e.g., enhancing self-management, collaboration with the patients' social network, shared decision making, using health technology and care allocation). The primary outcome 'intervention choice in community nursing' was assessed with a specially developed vignette instrument 'Assessment of Intervention choice in Community Nursing' (AICN). Through multiple regression analyses we investigated the effect of the curriculum-redesign on students' intervention choice (more 'traditional' interventions versus interventions related to the five new themes). The control and intervention groups were compared on the number of interventions per theme and on the number of students choosing a theme, with a chi-square or T-test., Results: Students who studied under the more community-oriented curriculum chose interventions related to the new themes significantly more often, F(1461) = 14.827, p = <0.001, R 2 = .031. However, more traditional interventions are still favourite (although less in the intervention group): 74.5 % of the chosen interventions in the historic control group had no relation with the new curriculum-themes, vs. 71.3 % in the intervention group; p = .055)., Conclusions: Students who experienced a more 'community-oriented' curriculum were more likely, albeit to a limited extent, to choose the new community care themes in their caregiving. Seeing this shift in choices as a step in the right direction, it can be expected that the community care field in the longer term will benefit from these better skilled graduates., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Laser based optical applications such as imaging, ranging, and wireless communications are susceptible to environmental distortions. Inferring the strength of these optical distortions is crucial to obtaining information about the environment in which the system is operating. Our technique of inferring environmental distortion strength leverages the spreading of light's orbital angular momentum (OAM) spectrum combined with heterodyne detection. A laser encoded with OAM can be decomposed into a basis set of helical modes that spreads upon interaction with optical distortions. This mode spreading is quantified using the OAM spectrum that can be measured using mode projection or mode sorting techniques. This new technique, to the best of our knowledge, provides benefits compared to the latter two OAM detection methods such as: low-frequency noise rejection, a simpler optical receiver, lower noise floor, and an inherent optical phase component. Central to the method is the heterodyne detection of the zeroth-order OAM coefficient of a superimposed two-beam, two-frequency, probe. The measured heterodyne signal power is seen to be proportional to the coupling power of each beam's OAM spectra. To test the idea, wave-optic simulations and experiments using spatial light modulators are implemented using a simplified optical turbulence model to represent the environment. The experimental implementation agrees well with simulated and theoretical results.

The study of beams carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM) has been of interest for its use in free-space optical communications (FSOC), directed energy applications, and remote sensing (RS). For FSOC and RS, it is necessary to measure the wavefront of the beam to recover transmitted or environmental information, respectively. In this computational study, common OAM beams such as the Laguerre-Gaussian (LG), Bessel-Gaussian (BG), and Bessel beams are propagated through atmospheric turbulence and compared to their Gaussian beam counterpart. The turbulence is simulated using multiple phase screens within the framework of a split-step method. Beam metrics used to quantify beam propagation will include the spatial coherence radius, OAM spectrum, on-axis intensity, spot size, divergence, and on-axis scintillation. Atmospheric turbulence along the path is limited to the weak scintillation limit, where beam parameters can be predicted analytically using the Rytov approximation. The results show that BG beams and multiplexed BG beams retain more OAM information than their LG and Bessel beam counterparts. The LG beam on-axis intensity and on-axis scintillation are seen to be independent of OAM mode. The scintillation of the LG beam is less than a BG, Bessel, and Gaussian beam across low- and high-order OAM modes. Insight into these results is discussed through studying the beam divergence, while the initial spot sizes of the Gaussian, LG, and BG beams are limited to the same spatial extent.

Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Background: Extramuralisation in healthcare has influenced medical and nursing curricula internationally with the incorporation of themes related to primary/ community care. Despite this, students do not easily change their career preferences. The hospital is still favourite, leading to labour market shortages in extramural care. This study investigates how baccalaureate nursing students' perceptions of community care and placement preferences develop over time in a more 'community-care-oriented' curriculum, to gain insights on which curriculum elements potentially influence career choices., Methods: A nursing student cohort of a University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands ( n  = 273) underwent a new four-year curriculum containing extended elements of community care. The primary outcome was assessed with the Scale on Community Care Perceptions (SCOPE). Data were collected each year of study. Descriptive statistics were used to investigate students' placement preferences and perceptions, and linear mixed model techniques (LMMs) for measuring how students' perceptions develop over time. Patterns of placement preferences at individual level were visualised., Results: Students' perceptions of community care, as measured with SCOPE, show a slight decrease between year 1 and 4, while items mutually differ substantially. In contrast, the preference of community care for a placement increases from 2.6% in year 1 tot 8.2% in year 4. The hospital is favourite in year 1 (79.8%), and remains most popular. At individual level, students often change placement preferences, although a preference for the hospital is more consistent. The LMMs indicates that, at the four time-points, the estimated marginal means of students' perceptions fluctuate between 6 and 7 (range 1-10). A placement in community care did not positively influence students' perceptions, and an intensive 1 week theoretical programme was only temporarily influential., Conclusions: Although interest for placement in community care increased substantially, it was not clear which curriculum elements stimulated this, nor did the curriculum positively influence students' perceptions. As most students do not look forward to the high responsibility of the field, other curricula with educational tracks for more mature students/ nurses with a vocational training may be an alternative contribution to solving the labour market problems in community care., Competing Interests: Competing interestsThe authors declare that they have no competing interests., (© The Author(s) 2020.)

Optical turbulence can have a severe effect on the propagation of laser beams through the atmosphere. In free space optics and directed energy applications, these laser beams quite often propagate along a slant or vertical path. In these cases, the refractive index structure function parameter cannot be assumed constant, since it varies with height. How it varies with height, especially in the first few meters above the ground, is not well behaved. Turbulence height profiles have been measured since the 1970s, mainly for astronomical observations. These profiles are usually measured for the atmospheric boundary layer (the layer of air from the ground up to approx. 1 km during day and 100 m during night) and some kilometers above it. We have measured the temperature fluctuations in the first few meters above ground level using a system containing eight resistance thermometer devices, mounted in a row at different spacings. Measurements were made flying this system under a tethered balloon or mounted on a telescoping mast. The temperature structure function parameter, CT2, can be estimated from the temperature fluctuations measured by the 28 different probe pairs and the unique distances between the two probes. Finally, Cn2 is estimated from this temperature structure function parameter and compared to values predicted by a turbulence profile model.

Background: The shift in healthcare to extramural leads to more patients with complex health problems receiving nursing care at home. However, the interest of baccalaureate nursing students for community nursing is moderate, which contributes to widespread labour-market shortages. This study investigates the effect of a more 'community-care-oriented' curriculum on nursing students' perceptions of community care., Methods: A quasi-experimental quantitative survey study with a historic control group (n = 477; study cohorts graduating in 2015, 2016, and 2017; response rate 90%) and an intervention group (n = 170; graduating in 2018; response rate 93%) was performed in nursing students of a University of Applied Sciences in a large city in the Netherlands. The intervention group underwent a new curriculum containing extended elements of community care. The primary outcome was assessed with the Scale on Community Care Perceptions (SCOPE). The control and intervention group were compared on demographics, placement preferences and perceptions with a chi-square or T-test. Multiple regression was used to investigate the effect of the curriculum-redesign on nursing students' perceptions of community care., Results: The comparison between the control and intervention group on students' perceptions of community care shows no significant differences (mean 6.18 vs 6.21 [range 1-10], respectively), nor does the curriculum-redesign have a positive effect on students' perceptions F (1,635) = .021, p = .884, R 2  = < .001. The comparison on placement preferences also shows no significant differences and confirms the hospital's popularity (72.7% vs 76.5%, respectively) while community care is less often preferred (9.2% vs 8.2%, respectively). The demographics 'working in community care' and 'belonging to a church/religious group' appear to be significant predictors of more positive perceptions of community care., Conclusions: Graduating students who experienced a more 'community-care-oriented' curriculum did not more often prefer community care placement, nor did their perceptions of community care change. Apparently, four years of education and placement experiences have only little impact and students' perceptions are relatively static. It would be worth a try to conduct a large-scale approach in combination with a carefully thought out strategy, based on and tying in with the language and culture of younger people.

Background: the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS-GMS) recommendations for training in Geriatric Medicine were published in 1993. The practice of Geriatric Medicine has developed considerably since then and it has therefore become necessary to update these recommendations., Methods: under the auspices of the UEMS-GMS, the European Geriatric Medicine Society (EuGMS) and the European Academy of Medicine of Ageing (EAMA), a group of experts, representing all member states of the respective bodies developed a new framework for education and training of specialists in Geriatric Medicine using a modified Delphi technique. Thirty-two expert panel members from 30 different countries participated in the process comprising three Delphi rounds for consensus. The process was led by five facilitators., Results: the final recommendations include four different domains: 'General Considerations' on the structure and aim of the syllabus as well as quality indicators for training (6 sub-items), 'Knowledge in patient care' (36 sub-items), 'Additional Skills and Attitude required for a Geriatrician' (9 sub-items) and a domain on 'Assessment of postgraduate education: which items are important for the transnational comparison process' (1 item)., Conclusion: the current publication describes the development of the new recommendations endorsed by UEMS-GMS, EuGMS and EAMA as minimum training requirements to become a geriatrician at specialist level in EU member states., (© The Author(s) (2019). Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Geriatrics Society.)

Small bowel obstruction is one of the most frequent emergencies in general surgery, commonly affecting elderly patients. Morbidity and mortality from small bowel obstruction in elderly is high. Significant progress has been made in the diagnosis and management of bowel obstruction in recent years. But little is known whether this progress has benefitted outcomes in elderly patients, particularly those who are frail or have a malignancy as cause of the obstruction, and when considering quality of life and functioning as outcomes. In this review, we discuss the specific challenges and needs of elderly in diagnosis and treatment of small bowel obstruction. We address quality of life aspects and explore how the concept of geriatric assessment can be utilized to improve decision-making and outcomes for elderly patients with a small bowel obstruction., Competing Interests: Not applicableNot applicableThe authors declare that they have no competing interests.Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Introduction: Surgical specialists and residents lack knowledge to adequately manage frail older patients. This study aims to evaluate the effects of an interactive online course regarding attitude, self-confidence and knowledge in perioperative management of the elderly patient., Methods: The six-weeks course consisted of expert videos, literature readings, quizzes and forum discussions. Surgical consultants with geriatric expertise and geriatricians moderated online discussions and stimulated interaction. Knowledge, self-confidence and attitude of course participants were compared at the beginning and end of the course., Results: 206 medical practitioners started the course. Knowledge scores improved significantly from 49% to 65% (p < 0.005). Participants felt more secure (p < 0.005) in the treatment of the older patient at the end of the course. A better attitude correlated with a higher total knowledge score in surgeons and surgical residents (p = 0.02)., Conclusion: A six-week interactive online course on perioperative management of elderly patients increases relevant geriatric knowledge and improves self-confidence of residents and faculty., (Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

The aim of this study was to develop a valid instrument to measure student nurses' perceptions of community care (SCOPE). DeVellis' staged model for instrument development and validation was used. Scale construction of SCOPE was based on existing literature. Evaluation of its psychometric properties included exploratory factor analysis and reliability analysis. After pilot-testing, 1062 bachelor nursing students from six institutions in the Netherlands (response rate 81%) took part in the study. SCOPE is a 35-item scale containing: background variables, 11 measuring the affective component, 5 measuring community care perception as a placement, 17 as a future profession, and 2 on the reasons underlying student preference. Principal axis factoring yielded two factors in the affective component scale reflecting 'enjoyment' and 'utility', two in the placement scale reflecting 'learning possibilities' and 'personal satisfaction', and four in the profession scale: 'professional development', 'collaboration', 'caregiving', and 'complexity and workload'. Cronbach's α of the complete scale was 0.892 and of the subscales 0.862, 0.696, and 0.810 respectively. SCOPE is a psychometrically sound instrument for measuring students' perceptions of community care. By determining these perceptions, it becomes possible to positively influence them with targeted curriculum redesign, eventually contributing to decreasing the workforce shortage in community nursing., (Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: Despite the increasing labour market shortage of well-educated community nurses, few baccalaureate nursing students choose for a career in community care. Obtaining knowledge of how students perceive healthcare areas early in their education is important to take meaningful steps in counteracting any existing misconceptions with targeted curriculum redesign., Objective: Determination of factors underlying perceptions of healthcare areas in first-year baccalaureate nursing students., Design: A descriptive qualitative study using focus group inquiry., Methods: This study follows up on a large-sample quantitative multicentre survey study. Fourteen first-year nursing students at a university of applied sciences in the Netherlands participated in focus group discussions in October 2014. Transcripts of the discussions were coded by two independent researchers at three levels - open, axial and selective coding - on the basis of two templates. The codes were sorted into categories and assigned to suitable main codes in the templates. The number of sub-codes per category and code were added together., Results: Eight main themes were formulated, to wit (1) variety and diversity, (2) challenges, (3) improving people's health, (4) collaboration, (5) role models, (6) patient- or environment-based perceptions, (7) self-efficacy and (8) immediate vicinity. Data suggest that first-year students have clear ideas about the characteristics which they consider important in professional practice. Their perceptions do not necessarily reflect the actual situation, as they expect the hospital to possess all desired characteristics while community nursing seems to be undervalued., Conclusion: To remedy students' misperceptions, four recommendations are formulated for curriculum redesign strategies deriving from the eight themes. These recommendations are based on collaboration between school and care organisations as well as on themes related to in-depth knowledge within the educational programme. The interventions will potentially help to strengthen the focus on community care, which will foster a more optimistic and realistic career outlook on this field., (Copyright © 2018 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: Despite increasing shortages of highly educated community nurses, far too few nursing students choose community care. This means that a strong societal problem is emerging that desperately needs resolution., Objectives: To acquire a solid understanding of the causes for the low popularity of community care by exploring first-year baccalaureate nursing students' perceptions of community care, their placement preferences, and the assumptions underlying these preferences., Design: A quantitative cross-sectional design., Settings: Six universities of applied sciences in the Netherlands., Participants: Nursing students in the first semester of their 4-year programme (n=1058)., Methods: Data were collected in September-December 2014. The students completed the 'Scale on Community Care Perceptions' (SCOPE), consisting of demographic data and three subscales measuring the affective component of community care perception, perceptions of a placement and a profession in community care, and students' current placement preferences. Descriptive statistics were used., Results: For a practice placement, 71.2% of first-year students prefer the general hospital and 5.4% community care, whereas 23.4% opt for another healthcare area. Students consider opportunities for advancement and enjoyable relationships with patients as most important for choosing a placement. Community care is perceived as a 'low-status-field' with many elderly patients, where students expect to find little variety in caregiving and few opportunities for advancement. Students' perceptions of the field are at odds with things they believe to be important for their placement., Conclusion: Due to misconceptions, students perceive community care as offering them few challenges. Strategies to positively influence students' perceptions of community nursing are urgently required to halt the dissonance between students' preference for the hospital and society's need for highly educated community nurses., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The latest criteria for delirium (DSM-5) still encompass a very heterogeneous group of patients, as both risk factors and causes differ greatly between patients. This makes it unlikely that a single biomarker (e.g. an EEG signal) can be a valid and reliable diagnostic tool in clinical practice. Researchers should be very aware of this heterogeneity, as striving for uniform biomarkers would otherwise result in a considerable waste of research effort. In clinical practice, the delineation of delirium syndrome from dementia and coma using these DSM-5 criteria remains challenging. We state that patient outcomes can probably be improved most by interprofessional, personalised management and the monitoring of vulnerable patients during their individual disease trajectories.

Objectives: To review recent literature on student nurses' perceptions of different areas of nursing practice, in particular community care. Healthcare is changing from care delivery in institutional settings to care to patients in their own homes. Problematic is that nursing students do not see community care as an attractive line of work, and their perceptions of community care do not reflect the realities of the profession. Understanding the factors influencing the perception of the professional field is important to positively influence students' willingness to see community nursing as a future profession., Design: Literature search with accompanying narrative synthesis of primary research., Data Sources: ERIC(®), PsycInfo(®), Pubmed(®), and CINAHL(®) (2004-2014) databases using the search terms: 'nursing student', 'student nurse', 'community care', 'community nurse', 'image', 'attitude', and 'perception'., Review Methods: After screening 522 retrieved article titles with abstracts, the number of articles was reduced based upon specified inclusion/exclusion criteria leading to inclusion of 34. Evaluation of the references in those articles yielded an additional 5 articles. A narrative synthesis of those articles was created to uncover students' perception of community care, other areas of professional practice, and the factors influencing those perceptions., Results: 39 articles were selected. Results show that many nursing students begin their education with a lay person's conception of the profession, shaped by media representations. Work placements in different settings offer clinical experience that helps students orient themselves towards a future profession. Students prefer hospitals as a place of work, because of the acute nature and technologically advanced level of care offered there. Few students perceive mental health and elderly care as appealing. Perceptions of community care can vary widely, the most prevalent view being that it is unattractive because of its chronic care profile, with little technical skill, untrained workers, and a high workload. However, another view is that it offers challenging and meaningful work because of the variety of caregiving roles and the opportunity to work independently., Conclusions: Few nursing students choose community nursing as a future profession. They have a limited and often mistaken view of community care, and they underestimate the field's complexity because it is less visible than in the environment of acute care. Providing students with specific curricular content and employing a structured approach to preparation for work placement could help build a more positive perception of community care, leading to more students seeing/choosing community care as a desirable field of work., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Temperature and drought are major abiotic limitations to crop productivity worldwide. While abiotic stress physiology research has focused primarily on fully expanded leaves, no studies have investigated photosynthetic tolerance to concurrent drought and high temperature during leaf ontogeny. To address this, Gossypium hirsutum plants were exposed to five irrigation treatments, and two different leaf stages were sampled on three dates during an abnormally dry summer. Early in the growing season, ontogenic PSII heat tolerance differences were observed. Photosystem II was more thermotolerant in young leaves than mature leaves. Later in the growing season, no decline in young leaf net photosynthesis (P N ) was observed as leaf temperature increased from 31 to 37°C, as average midday leaf water potential (Ψ MD ) declined from -1.25 to -2.03MPa. In contrast, mature leaf P N declined 66% under the same conditions. Stomatal conductance (g s ) accounted for 84-98% of variability in leaf temperature, and g s was strongly associated with Ψ MD in mature leaves but not in young leaves. We conclude that young leaves are more photosynthetically tolerant to heat and drought than mature leaves. Elucidating the mechanisms causing these ontogenic differences will likely help mitigate the negative impacts of abiotic stress in the future., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Background and Purpose: Radiotherapy plays a pivotal role in lung cancer treatment. Selection of patients for new (radio)therapeutic options aiming at improving outcomes requires reliable and validated prediction models. We present the implementation of a prospective platform for evaluation and development of lung radiotherapy (proPED-LUNG) as an instrument enabling multidimensional predictive modelling., Materials and Methods: ProPED-LUNG was designed to comprise relevant baseline and follow up data of patients receiving pulmonary radiotherapy with curative intent. Patient characteristics, diagnostic and staging information, treatment parameters including full dose-volume-histograms, tumour control, survival, and toxicity are scored. Besides physician-rated data, a range of patient-rated data regarding symptoms and health-related quality-of-life are collected., Results: After 18 months of accrual, 315 patients have been included (accrual rate, 18 per month). Of the first hundred patients included, 70 received conformal (chemo)radiotherapy and 30 underwent stereotactic radiotherapy. Compliance at 3 and 6 months follow-up was 96-100% for patient-rated, and 81-94% for physician-rated assessments. For data collection, 0.4 FTE were allocated in a 183 FTE department (0.2%)., Conclusions: ProPED-LUNG is feasible with high compliance rates and yields a large amount of high quality prospective disease-related, treatment-related, patient- and physician-rated data which can be used to evaluate new developments in pulmonary radiotherapy., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In 2002 the Group of Radiation Dosimetry and Calibration of the Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK•CEN) has developed an experimental device based on the optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) working with Al2O3:C detectors (TLD-500 and Luxel) stimulated with an argon laser. A set of devices made from different modules have been developed to permit external dosimetry measurements with thermoluminescence (TL) and OSL techniques under different conditions. This study describes these measurement devices that can be made with these modules and some of the characteristics of the different systems. These devices present several advantages in terms of measurement possibilities: a small number of modules allow the use of different detection materials (Al2O3:C, BeO, quartz electronic components and tiles) and different measurement methods (TL, CW-OSL and pulsed OSL). Some applications are commented., (© The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)