bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
How consistent is breast boost radiotherapy practice across the United Kingdom?
Authors: Magwaro Sophia 
Published: December 2016

AbstractPurposeThe aims of this project were to identify the national range of breast boost radiotherapy doses and variations in treatment practice; determine the factors that potentially cause variations; and examine whether differences between regions are based on clinical evidence or access to technical and financial resources by surveying Therapeutic Radiographers across the United Kingdom to determine current radiotherapy boost practice.MethodsA cross-sectional study design was selected. An electronic questionnaire using the website Survey Monkey® tool was utilised to collect categorical data from practicing Therapeutic Radiographers within the United Kingdom.SettingParticipants were invited to participate from radiotherapy departments across the four countries of the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland). There are 52 radiotherapy departments across 12 regions of the United Kingdom.ResultsIn total, 34 Therapeutic Radiographers participated. Their responses were grouped according to their region of practice. Results indicated that there are ten different dose schedules offered to patients nationally for the treatment of breast boost, with 77% of respondents using electrons to deliver boost radiotherapy.ConclusionsThere is no general consensus among Therapeutic Radiographers about whether factors such as age, tumour size, tumour grade or the presence of negative or positive margins, influence the therapeutic doses prescribed for different patients. This may be attributed to the absence of clinical research evidence to support evidence-based practice.
Review of the clinical benefits and implementation of peer review of treatment plans in undergraduate medical dosimetry and radiation therapy training
Authors: Chamunyonga Crispen , Crowe Scott , Burbery Julie 
Published: December 2016

AbstractPurposePeer review of treatment plans has been used to improve planning consistency, decrease the need for replanning and improve quality of care through the safe delivery of high-quality radiotherapy plans. This narrative review summarises the clinical benefits and addresses the implementation of peer review of treatment plans in undergraduate medical dosimetry and radiation therapy training.DiscussionThere are encouraging results of peer review for advanced treatment planning techniques such as Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy techniques in clinical practice. Peer review can be used as a tool to improve students’ knowledge of organ-at-risk contouring, treatment plan critique and quality assurance. These desirable treatment planning skills can be easily transferred to clinical settings. Moreover, there are several potential pedagogical benefits such as improvement in student engagement, better communication skills and provision of synchronous and asynchronous feedback that can positively impact student success and future employment. However, there are several challenges in facilitating its implementation in university settings.ConclusionEmbedding skills in peer review of treatment plans at undergraduate teaching level can be a powerful tool to impart clinical treatment planning knowledge. This narrative review provides a basis on which to develop an exploratory study of structured peer review activities in a training environment.
The mighty metaphor: a collection of therapists’ favourite metaphors and analogies
Authors: Killick Steve , Curry Vicki , Myles Pamela 
Published: December 2016

AbstractMetaphor is a central tool of the therapist of many therapeutic modalities, and they are a particular feature of CBT. Metaphors can be essential tools in the therapeutic process; providing the therapist with a means of communicating potentially complex psychological concepts and theory to clients, and also being part of the process of change. This paper presents a series of metaphors that some of the most experienced and innovative practitioners in the world of CBT have found to be helpful. Each practitioner describes how to utilize the metaphor skilfully and effectively: providing some tips for facilitating both the presentation of metaphors to, and eliciting of metaphors from the client; and demonstrating how the use of metaphor can facilitate therapeutic change. Overall, the small selection of metaphors presented here demonstrate the great versatility of metaphor to address all kinds of issues in therapy, with a range of client groups and presenting difficulties; and how the shared exploration and collaboration of both client- and therapist-generated metaphors can be an important addition to the therapist's toolbox.
The Collective Action Framing of Conservative Christian Groups in Britain
Authors: Kettell Steven 
Published: December 2016

AbstractConservative Christian groups in Britain have been involved in a number of high profile and controversial policy issues. Scholarly research into the political activities of such groups, however, remains limited. This article addresses this lacuna by exploring the collective action frames deployed by conservative Christian groups in their attempts to influence national level policies and debates. Drawing on elite interviews with group representatives, it argues that these frames have been constructed largely in response to the pressures of secularization, but have, in many respects, become secularized themselves.
hvTRA, a novel TRAIL receptor agonist, induces apoptosis and sustained growth retardation in melanoma
Authors: Fleten Karianne G , Flørenes Vivi Ann , Prasmickaite Lina , Hill Oliver , Sykora Jaromir , Mælandsmo Gunhild M , Engesæter Birgit 
Published: December 2016

AbstractIn recent years, new treatment options for malignant melanoma patients have enhanced the overall survival for selected patients. Despite new hope, most melanoma patients still relapse with drug-resistant tumors or experience intrinsic resistance to the therapy. Therefore, novel treatment modalities beneficial for subgroups of patients are needed. TRAIL receptor agonists have been suggested as promising candidates for use in cancer treatment as they preferentially induce apoptosis in cancer cells. Unfortunately, the first generation of TRAIL receptor agonists showed poor clinical efficacy. hvTRA is a second-generation TRAIL receptor agonist with improved composition giving increased potency, and in the present study, we showed hvTRA-induced activation of apoptosis leading to an efficient and sustained reduction in melanoma cell growth in cell lines and xenograft models. Furthermore, the potential of hvTRA in a clinical setting was demonstrated by showing efficacy on tumor cells harvested from melanoma patients with lymph node metastasis in an ex vivo drug sensitivity assay. Inhibition of mutated BRAF has been shown to regulate proteins in the intrinsic apoptotic pathway, making the cells more susceptible for apoptosis induction. In an attempt to increase the efficacy of hvTRA, combination treatment with the mutated BRAF inhibitor vemurafenib was investigated. A synergistic effect by the combination was observed for several cell lines in vitro, and an initial cytotoxic effect was observed in vivo. Unfortunately, the initial increased reduction in tumor growth compared with hvTRA mono treatment was not sustained, and this was related to downregulation of the DR5 level by vemurafenib. Altogether, the presented data imply that hvTRA efficiently induce apoptosis and growth delay in melanoma models and patient material, and the potential of this TRAIL receptor agonist should be further evaluated for treatment of subgroups of melanoma patients.
Granzymes A and K differentially potentiate LPS-induced cytokine response
Authors: Wensink Annette C , Kok Helena M , Meeldijk Jan , Fermie Job , Froelich Christopher J , Hack C Erik , Bovenschen Niels 
Published: December 2016

AbstractGranzymes are serine proteases that, upon release from cytotoxic cells, induce apoptosis in tumor cells and virally infected cells. In addition, a role of granzymes in inflammation is emerging. Recently, we have demonstrated that extracellular granzyme K (GrK) potentiates lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cytokine response from monocytes. GrK interacts with LPS, disaggregates LPS micelles, and stimulates LPS-CD14 binding and Toll-like receptor signaling. Here we show that human GrA also potentiates cytokine responses in human monocytes initiated by LPS or Gram-negative bacteria. Similar to GrK, this effect is independent of GrA catalytic activity. Unlike GrK, however, GrA does not bind to LPS, has little influence on LPS micelle disaggregation, and does not augment LPS-CD14 complex formation. We conclude that GrA and GrK differentially modulate LPS-Toll-like receptor signaling in monocytes, suggesting functional redundancy among cytotoxic lymphocyte proteases in the anti-bacterial innate immune response.
Co-axial heterostructures integrating palladium/titanium dioxide with carbon nanotubes for efficient electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution
Authors: Valenti Giovanni , Boni Alessandro , Melchionna Michele , Cargnello Matteo , Nasi Lucia , Bertoni Giovanni , Gorte Raymond J. , Marcaccio Massimo , Rapino Stefania , Bonchio Marcella , Fornasiero Paolo , Prato Maurizio , Paolucci Francesco 
Published: December 2016

AbstractConsidering the depletion of fossil-fuel reserves and their negative environmental impact, new energy schemes must point towards alternative ecological processes. Efficient hydrogen evolution from water is one promising route towards a renewable energy economy and sustainable development. Here we show a tridimensional electrocatalytic interface, featuring a hierarchical, co-axial arrangement of a palladium/titanium dioxide layer on functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes. The resulting morphology leads to a merging of the conductive nanocarbon core with the active inorganic phase. A mechanistic synergy is envisioned by a cascade of catalytic events promoting water dissociation, hydride formation and hydrogen evolution. The nanohybrid exhibits a performance exceeding that of state-of-the-art electrocatalysts (turnover frequency of 15000 H2 per hour at 50 mV overpotential). The Tafel slope of ∼130 mV per decade points to a rate-determining step comprised of water dissociation and formation of hydride. Comparative activities of the isolated components or their physical mixtures demonstrate that the good performance evolves from the synergistic hierarchical structure.
Achieving ZT=2.2 with Bi-doped n-type SnSe single crystals
Authors: Duong Anh Tuan , Nguyen Van Quang , Duvjir Ganbat , Duong Van Thiet , Kwon Suyong , Song Jae Yong , Lee Jae Ki , Lee Ji Eun , Park SuDong , Min Taewon , Lee Jaekwang , Kim Jungdae , Cho Sunglae 
Published: December 2016

AbstractRecently SnSe, a layered chalcogenide material, has attracted a great deal of attention for its excellent p-type thermoelectric property showing a remarkable ZT value of 2.6 at 923 K. For thermoelectric device applications, it is necessary to have n-type materials with comparable ZT value. Here, we report that n-type SnSe single crystals were successfully synthesized by substituting Bi at Sn sites. In addition, it was found that the carrier concentration increases with Bi content, which has a great influence on the thermoelectric properties of n-type SnSe single crystals. Indeed, we achieved the maximum ZT value of 2.2 along b axis at 733 K in the most highly doped n-type SnSe with a carrier density of −2.1 × 1019 cm−3 at 773 K.
A programmable DNA origami nanospring that reveals force-induced adjacent binding of myosin VI heads
Authors: Iwaki M. , Wickham S. F. , Ikezaki K. , Yanagida T. , Shih W. M. 
Published: December 2016

AbstractMechanosensitive biological nanomachines such as motor proteins and ion channels regulate diverse cellular behaviour. Combined optical trapping with single-molecule fluorescence imaging provides a powerful methodology to clearly characterize the mechanoresponse, structural dynamics and stability of such nanomachines. However, this system requires complicated experimental geometry, preparation and optics, and is limited by low data-acquisition efficiency. Here we develop a programmable DNA origami nanospring that overcomes these issues. We apply our nanospring to human myosin VI, a mechanosensory motor protein, and demonstrate nanometre-precision single-molecule fluorescence imaging of the individual motor domains (heads) under force. We observe force-induced transitions of myosin VI heads from non-adjacent to adjacent binding, which correspond to adapted roles for low-load and high-load transport, respectively. Our technique extends single-molecule studies under force and clarifies the effect of force on biological processes.
Spin doping using transition metal phthalocyanine molecules
Authors: Atxabal A. , Ribeiro M. , Parui S. , Urreta L. , Sagasta E. , Sun X. , Llopis R. , Casanova F. , Hueso L. E. 
Published: December 2016

AbstractMolecular spins have become key enablers for exploring magnetic interactions, quantum information processes and many-body effects in metals. Metal-organic molecules, in particular, let the spin state of the core metal ion to be modified according to its organic environment, allowing localized magnetic moments to emerge as functional entities with radically different properties from its simple atomic counterparts. Here, using and preserving the integrity of transition metal phthalocyanine high-spin complexes, we demonstrate the magnetic doping of gold thin films, effectively creating a new ground state. We demonstrate it by electrical transport measurements that are sensitive to the scattering of itinerant electrons with magnetic impurities, such as Kondo effect and weak antilocalization. Our work expands in a simple and powerful way the classes of materials that can be used as magnetic dopants, opening a new channel to couple the wide range of molecular properties with spin phenomena at a functional scale.
Suppressing photochemical reactions with quantized light fields
Authors: Galego Javier , Garcia-Vidal Francisco J. , Feist Johannes 
Published: December 2016

AbstractPhotoisomerization, that is, a photochemical reaction leading to a change of molecular structure after absorption of a photon, can have detrimental effects such as leading to DNA damage under solar irradiation, or as a limiting factor for the efficiency of solar cells. Here, we show that strong coupling of organic molecules to a confined light mode can be used to strongly suppress photoisomerization, as well as other photochemical reactions, and thus convert molecules that normally show fast photodegradation into photostable forms. We find this to be especially efficient in the case of collective strong coupling, where the distribution of a single excitation over many molecules and the light mode leads to a collective protection effect that almost completely suppresses the photochemical reaction.
Elevated Type II Secretory Phospholipase A2 Increases the Risk of Early Atherosclerosis in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Metabolic Syndrome
Authors: Sun Chang-Qing , Zhong Chun-Yan , Sun Wei-Wei , Xiao Hua , Zhu Ping , Lin Yi-Zhang , Zhang Chen-Liang , Gao Hao , Song Zhi-Yuan 
Published: December 2016

AbstractA critical association between type II secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2-IIa) and established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease has been demonstrated. However, the contribution of sPLA2-IIa to early atherosclerosis remains unknown. This study investigated the association between early-stage atherosclerosis and sPLA2-IIa in metabolic syndrome (MetS) patients. One hundred and thirty-six MetS patients and 120 age- and gender-matched subjects without MetS were included. Serum sPLA2-IIa protein levels and activity were measured using commercial kits. Circulating endothelial activation molecules (vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), E-selectin, and P-selectin), and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), were measured as parameters of vascular endothelial dysfunction and early atherosclerosis. MetS patients exhibited significantly higher sPLA2-IIa protein and activity levels than the controls. Both correlated positively with fasting blood glucose and waist circumference in MetS patients. Additionally, MetS patients exhibited strikingly higher levels of endothelial activation molecules and increased cIMT than controls. These levels correlated positively with serum sPLA2-IIa protein levels and activity. Moreover, multivariate analysis showed that high sPLA2-IIa protein and activity levels were independent risk factors of early atherosclerosis in MetS patients. This study demonstrates an independent association between early-stage atherosclerosis and increased levels of sPLA2-IIa, implying that increased sPLA2-IIa may predict early-stage atherosclerosis in MetS patients.
Boron doped graphene wrapped silver nanowires as an efficient electrocatalyst for molecular oxygen reduction
Authors: Nair Anju K. , Thazhe veettil Vineesh , Kalarikkal Nandakumar , Thomas Sabu , Kala M. S. , Sahajwalla Veena , Joshi Rakesh K. , Alwarappan Subbiah 
Published: December 2016

AbstractMetal nanowires exhibit unusually high catalytic activity towards oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) due to their inherent electronic structures. However, controllable synthesis of stable nanowires still remains as a daunting challenge. Herein, we report the in situ synthesis of silver nanowires (AgNWs) over boron doped graphene sheets (BG) and demonstrated its efficient electrocatalytic activity towards ORR for the first time. The electrocatalytic ORR efficacy of BG-AgNW is studied using various voltammetric techniques. The BG wrapped AgNWs shows excellent ORR activity, with very high onset potential and current density and it followed four electron transfer mechanism with high methanol tolerance and stability towards ORR. The results are comparable to the commercially available 20% Pt/C in terms of performance.
Defect-free high Sn-content GeSn on insulator grown by rapid melting growth
Authors: Liu Zhi , Cong Hui , Yang Fan , Li Chuanbo , Zheng Jun , Xue Chunlai , Zuo Yuhua , Cheng Buwen , Wang Qiming 
Published: December 2016

AbstractGeSn is an attractive semiconductor material for Si-based photonics. However, large lattice mismatch between GeSn and Si and the low solubility of Sn in Ge limit its development. In order to obtain high Sn-content GeSn on Si, it is normally grown at low temperature, which would lead to inevitable dislocations. Here, we reported a single-crystal defect-free graded GeSn on insulator (GSOI) stripes laterally grown by rapid melting growth (RMG). The Sn-content reaches to 14.2% at the end of the GSOI stripe. Transmission electron microscopy observation shows the GSOI stripe without stacking fault and dislocations. P-channel pseudo metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) and metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) Schottky junction photodetectors were fabricated on these GSOIs. Good transistor performance with a low field peak hole mobility of 402 cm2/Vs is obtained, which indicates a high-quality of this GSOI structure. Strong near-infrared and short-wave infrared optical absorption of the MSM photodetectors at 1550 nm and 2000 nm were observed. Owing to high Sn-content and defect-free, responsivity of 236 mA/W@-1.5 V is achieved at 1550 nm wavelength. In addition, responsivity reaches 154 mA/W@-1.5 V at 2000 nm with the optical absorption layer only 200 nm-thick, which is the highest value reported for GeSn junction photodetectors until now.
Isolated pores dissected from human two-pore channel 2 are functional
Authors: Penny Christopher J. , Rahman Taufiq , Sula Altin , Miles Andrew J. , Wallace B. A. , Patel Sandip 
Published: December 2016

AbstractMulti-domain voltage-gated ion channels appear to have evolved through sequential rounds of intragenic duplication from a primordial one-domain precursor. Whereas modularity within one-domain symmetrical channels is established, little is known about the roles of individual regions within more complex asymmetrical channels where the domains have undergone substantial divergence. Here we isolated and characterised both of the divergent pore regions from human TPC2, a two-domain channel that holds a key intermediate position in the evolution of voltage-gated ion channels. In HeLa cells, each pore localised to the ER and caused Ca2+ depletion, whereas an ER-targeted pore mutated at a residue that inactivates full-length TPC2 did not. Additionally, one of the pores expressed at high levels in E. coli. When purified, it formed a stable, folded tetramer. Liposomes reconstituted with the pore supported Ca2+ and Na+ uptake that was inhibited by known blockers of full-length channels. Computational modelling of the pore corroborated cationic permeability and drug interaction. Therefore, despite divergence, both pores are constitutively active in the absence of their partners and retain several properties of the wild-type pore. Such symmetrical ‘pore-only’ proteins derived from divergent channel domains may therefore provide tractable tools for probing the functional architecture of complex ion channels.
MHC-dependent mate choice is linked to a trace-amine-associated receptor gene in a mammal
Authors: Santos Pablo S. C. , Courtiol Alexandre , Heidel Andrew J. , Höner Oliver P. , Heckmann Ilja , Nagy Martina , Mayer Frieder , Platzer Matthias , Voigt Christian C. , Sommer Simone 
Published: December 2016

AbstractMajor histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes play a pivotal role in vertebrate self/nonself recognition, parasite resistance and life history decisions. In evolutionary terms, the MHC’s exceptional diversity is likely maintained by sexual and pathogen-driven selection. Even though MHC-dependent mating preferences have been confirmed for many species, the sensory and genetic mechanisms underlying mate recognition remain cryptic. Since olfaction is crucial for social communication in vertebrates, variation in chemosensory receptor genes could explain MHC-dependent mating patterns. Here, we investigated whether female mate choice is based on MHC alleles and linked to variation in chemosensory trace amine-associated receptors (TAARs) in the greater sac-winged bat (Saccopteryx bilineata). We sequenced several MHC and TAAR genes and related their variation to mating and paternity data. We found strong evidence for MHC class I-dependent female choice for genetically diverse and dissimilar males. We also detected a significant interaction between mate choice and the female TAAR3 genotype, with TAAR3-heterozygous females being more likely to choose MHC-diverse males. These results suggest that TAARs and olfactory cues may be key mediators in mammalian MHC-dependent mate choice. Our study may help identify the ligands involved in the chemical communication between potential mates.