Factors influencing pathological complete response and tumor regression in neoadjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy for high-risk breast cancer.

Background: Pathological complete response (pCR) is a well-established prognostic factor in breast cancer treated with neoadjuvant systemic therapy (naST). The determining factors of pCR are known to be intrinsic subtype, proliferation index, grading, clinical tumor and nodal stage as well as type of systemic therapy. The addition of neoadjuvant radiotherapy (naRT) to this paradigm might improve response, freedom from disease, toxicity and cosmetic outcome compared to adjuvant radiotherapy.

Determinants of physical activity during cancer treatment: a longitudinal exploration of psycho-cognitive variables and physician counseling.

Individuals with cancer are recommended to engage in regular physical activity (PA) even during cancer therapy. The aim of this study was to explore how patient-reported physician PA counseling influences their PA intention and behavior in addition to psycho-cognitive determinants derived from the theory of planned behavior (TPB). A longitudinal study during cancer treatment was conducted among N = 115 patients with breast, prostate, or colorectal cancer (M = 58.

What it takes to reduce sitting at work: a pilot study on the effectiveness and correlates of a multicomponent intervention.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the feasibility and effects of a simple-to-implement multicomponent intervention to reduce sedentary time of office workers.

Methods: Six groups of eight to ten office workers took part in the two-week Leicht Bewegt intervention. Participants completed questionnaires at baseline (T0, n = 52), after 2 weeks (T1, n = 46), and after 5 weeks (T2, n = 38), including subjective sedentary measures and social-cognitive variables based on the health action process approach (HAPA).

Providing the basis for a patient-centred and effective screening for cancer-related fatigue (MERLIN study): design of a longitudinal observational study.

Introduction: Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a frequent and burdensome sequela of cancer and cancer therapies. It can persist from months to years and has a substantial impact on patients' quality of life and functioning. CRF is often still not adequately diagnosed and insufficiently treated.

Whole Breast Irradiation in Comparison to Endocrine Therapy in Early Stage Breast Cancer-A Direct and Network Meta-Analysis of Published Randomized Trials.

Background: Multiple randomized trials have established adjuvant endocrine therapy (ET) and whole breast irradiation (WBI) as the standard approach after breast-conserving surgery (BCS) in early-stage breast cancer. The omission of WBI has been studied in multiple trials and resulted in reduced local control with maintained survival rates and has therefore been adapted as a treatment option in selected patients in several guidelines. Omitting ET instead of WBI might also be a valuable option as both treatments have distinctly different side effect profiles.

The Relationship between Exercise Self-Efficacy, Intention, and Structural Barriers for Physical Activity after a Cancer Diagnosis.

Previous research has shown that structural barriers negatively influence the physical activity (PA) behavior of cancer patients, but underlying mechanisms are unclear. The aim of the current study was to explore the potential mediating role of social-cognitive factors, namely PA self-efficacy and PA intention in this context. A total of 856 cancer patients completed a questionnaire on sociodemographic and medical characteristics, pre- and post-diagnosis PA, PA self-efficacy, PA intention, and PA impediment by structural barriers.

Better not resting: Carving out attitudes and their associations with physical activity in people with cancer.

Objective: Evidence on the benefits of physical activity (PA) during cancer has caused a paradigm shift from people with cancer being advised to save energy (rest paradigm) to guidelines recommending them to engage in regular PA (activity paradigm). This study examined the rest and the activity paradigm among people with cancer based on the theory of planned behaviour (TPB).

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was completed by N = 1244 people (58% women; M = 59.

Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials on Yoga, Psychosocial, and Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Cancer-Related Fatigue: What Intervention Characteristics Are Related to Higher Efficacy?

Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a burdensome sequela of cancer treatments. Besides exercise, recommended therapies for CRF include yoga, psychosocial, and mindfulness-based interventions. However, interventions conducted vary widely, and not all show a significant effect.

Impact and Determinants of Structural Barriers on Physical Activity in People with Cancer.

Background: A better understanding of the role of structural barriers for physical activity (PA) after a cancer diagnosis could help to increase PA among people with cancer. Thus, the present study aimed to identify determinants of structural barriers to PA in people with cancer and investigate the association between structural barriers and insufficient post-diagnosis PA, taking different PA change patterns into account.

Methods: A total of 1299 people with breast, prostate, or colorectal cancer completed a questionnaire assessing their socio-demographic and medical characteristics, pre- and post-diagnosis PA, and perceived PA impediment by seven structural barriers.

Physical activity counseling to cancer patients: How are patients addressed and who benefits most?

Objective: This study examined cancer patients' reporting on physicians' physical activity (PA) counseling, its associations with patients' PA, and comparisons of patients' and physicians' reports of the type(s) of PA counseling provided.

Methods: Patients with breast, colorectal, or prostate cancer (n = 1206) participated in a nationwide cross-sectional study. Cancer patients' sociodemographic and treatment-related characteristics as well as self-reported PA levels (pre- and post-diagnosis) were assessed.

What is the Image of the "Typical Cancer Patient"? The View of Physicians.

Former research has identified stigmatizing attitudes toward cancer patients in the general population. Little is known about (implicit) attitudes of physicians toward cancer patients. By using the prototype approach, the study investigated German physicians' prototypical perceptions of cancer patients.

The association between physicians' exercise counseling and physical activity in patients with cancer: Which roles do patients' satisfaction and previous physical activity levels play?

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between physicians' exercise counseling and post-diagnosis physical activity (PA) in patients with cancer by investigating the mediating role of patients' satisfaction with exercise counseling as well as the moderating role of patients' previous PA.

Methods: The study sample consisted of 1002 people with cancer (503 breast, 265 prostate, and 234 colorectal cancer). Participants reported their pre- and post-diagnosis moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) levels, indicated whether their physician had covered different steps of exercise counseling as defined by the 5A framework (Assess, Advise, Agree, Assist, and Arrange) and rated their satisfaction with exercise counseling.

Light and Color in Nature 2020: introduction to the feature issue.

This feature issue on Light and Color in Nature focuses on the interplay of light with the landscape and other naked-eye phenomena and describes a wide range of natural optical phenomena that can be seen in our natural environment. Results are reported on the experimental and theoretical investigations undertaken to improve understanding of these phenomena.

Dislocated spots and triple splittings of natural rainbows generated by large drop distortions, oscillations, and tilts.

For an accurate modeling of natural rainbows, it is necessary to take into account the flattened shape of falling raindrops. Larger drops do also oscillate, and their axes exhibit tilt angles with respect to the vertical. In this paper, I will discuss two rare rainbow phenomena that are influenced by these effects: bright spots belonging to various rainbow orders, but appearing at remarkable angular distances from their traditional locations, as well as triple-split primary rainbows.

The Influence of Cancer Patient Characteristics on the Recommendation of Physical Activity by Healthcare Professionals.

Background: Although physical activity (PA) is beneficial for patients with cancer, healthcare professionals (HCP) still scarcely recommend it. This study aimed to determine how HCP' sociodemographic and professional characteristics and their subjective assessments of patient characteristics are associated with their PA recommendations to patients with cancer.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey (paper-pencil or online) was completed by 929 HCP (159 general practitioners, 382 specialized physicians, and 388 oncology nurses).

Change patterns and determinants of physical activity differ between breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer patients.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine and compare pre- to post-diagnosis change patterns of physical activity (PA) among breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer patients. Moreover, the study aimed to investigate sociodemographic and medical determinants of post-diagnosis PA and to identify patient subgroups at increased risk of inactivity.

Methods: A total of 912 cancer patients (457 breast, 241 prostate, 214 colorectal cancer) completed a questionnaire assessing their pre- and post-diagnosis PA behavior, and sociodemographic and medical variables.

To rest or not to rest-Health care professionals' attitude toward recommending physical activity to their cancer patients.

Objective: While in the past cancer patients were advised to rest, recent research revealed various beneficial effects of physical activity, including increased treatment tolerability during cancer treatment and prolonged survival, which has led to a paradigm shift in relevant guidelines. This study examined if this paradigm shift from rest to activity has been consolidated in health care professionals' (HCP') attitude. It was investigated if the two dimensions of attitude (rest and activity) are endorsed empirically within the theory of planned behavior (TPB).

Which self-management strategies do health care professionals recommend to their cancer patients? An experimental investigation of patient age and treatment phase.

This vignette based study aimed to examine recommendations of health care professionals (HCPs) in promoting self-management strategies to cancer patients. Nine-hundred-forty-two physicians and nurses were asked to (1) indicate if they would recommend self-management strategies to a vignette cancer patient, and (2) to specify those in an open format. Vignettes included a manipulation of patient age (60 vs.

Are healthcare professionals being left in the lurch? The role of structural barriers and information resources to promote physical activity to cancer patients.

Purpose: Although many cancer patients benefit from physical activity (PA), healthcare professionals (HCP) still do not promote it routinely. Including different groups of HCP, this study aimed to examine how structural barriers are perceived as impeding by HCP for promoting PA to cancer patients, how the perceptions of structural barriers are associated with promoting PA, and how HCP react to information resources.

Methods: A total of 287 physicians in outpatient care, 242 physicians in inpatient care, and 388 oncology nurses completed our questionnaire (paper-pencil or online).

What hinders healthcare professionals in promoting physical activity towards cancer patients? The influencing role of healthcare professionals' concerns, perceived patient characteristics and perceived structural factors.

Despite a large body of evidence showing that physical activity (PA) is beneficial to patients with cancer, healthcare professionals (HCPs) are promoting it too scarcely. Factors that hinder HCPs from promoting PA have remained understudied so far. Using a qualitative approach, this study aimed at a comprehensive description of influencing factors for HCPs' PA promotion behaviour and at identifying the reasons and mechanisms behind them.

Health Care Professionals' Perception of Contraindications for Physical Activity During Cancer Treatment.

Introduction: Suggested medical contraindications for physical activity (PA) during cancer therapy might have an influence on PA recommendation behavior of Health Care Professionals (HCP). The purpose of the present study was to examine perceptions of physicians and oncology nurses (ON) toward specific medical conditions as contraindications for PA during cancer treatment.

Materials And Methods: A total of 539 physicians and 386 ON were enrolled in this cross-sectional survey.

Light scattering from sessile water drops and raindrop-shaped glass beads as a validation tool for rainbow simulations.

The shape deviation of falling raindrops from exact spheres is known to affect the appearance of natural rainbows, e.g., by enhancing the visibility of supernumerary arcs around the top or by creating branching effects known as "twinned rainbows.

Advanced analysis of domain walls in Mg doped LiNbO crystals with high resolution OCT.

The structure of domain walls (DW) in ferroelectric media is of great interest as this material is used for frequency doublers and other applications. We show that the structure of the DWs can nicely be visualized by high resolution optical coherence tomography (OCT). While the high group refractive index of lithium niobate allows a resolution much better than 1 µm, the large dispersion can blur the image and has to be compensated.

Enhancing the Domain Wall Conductivity in Lithium Niobate Single Crystals.

Domain walls (DWs) in ferroelectric/ferroic materials have been a central research focus for the last 50 years; DWs bear a multitude of extraordinary physical parameters within a unit-cell-sized lateral confinement. Especially, one outstanding feature has recently attracted a lot of attention for room-temperature applications, which is the potential to use DWs as two-dimensional (2D) conducting channels that completely penetrate bulk compounds. Domain wall currents in lithium niobate (LNO) so far lie in the lower pA regime.

Bottom-Up Assembly of Molecular Nanostructures by Means of Ferroelectric Lithography.

Here, we report on the photochemical deposition of Rhodamine 6G (Rh6G) and Alexa647 molecules from aqueous and methanolic solution along 180° ferroelectric (FE) domain walls (DWs) of z-cut lithium niobate (LNO) single crystals. Molecules and FE domains were investigated by means of dynamic-mode AFM, piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM), and confocal scanning fluorescence microscopy. A high deposition affinity for 180° DWs on the LNO surface is observed, leading to the formation of molecular nanowires.