Preoperative versus Post-operative Radiotherapy for Extremity Soft tissue Sarcoma: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Long-term Survival.

Background: The role of perioperative radiotherapy in the management of resectable extremity soft tissue sarcoma (ESTS) is widely recognised for local tumour control, wound complications (WC) and long-term function. However, debate continues regarding its implications on long-term survival. This study aimed to determine whether the timing of perioperative radiotherapy affects long-term survival outcomes in adults with ESTS.

Multidimensional indicators of scholarly impact in the skin oncology literature: is there a correlation between bibliometric and altmetric profiles?

Bibliometric and altmetric analyses are used to identify landmark publications in their respective research field. We hypothesised that highly cited skin oncology articles correlate positively with the Oxford Evidence Based Medicine scoring level, altmetric score (AS) and rank within the top 100 manuscripts. Thomson Reuter's Web of Science citation indexing database was searched to identify all English-language skin oncology full-text articles in the last 75 years.

Impact of blood group on survival following critical illness: a single-centre retrospective observational study.

Background: Predicting patient outcomes following critical illness is challenging. Recent evidence has suggested that patients with blood group AB are more likely to survive following major cardiac surgery, and this is associated with a reduced number of blood transfusions. However, there are no current data to indicate whether a patient's blood group affects general intensive care outcomes.

Electron Communication of Bacillus subtilis in Harsh Environments.

Elucidating the effect of harsh environments on the activities of microorganisms is important in revealing how microbes withstand unfavorable conditions or evolve mechanisms to counteract those effects, many of which involve electron transfer phenomena. Here we show that the non-acidophilic and non-thermophilic Bacillus subtilis is able to maintain activity after being subjected to extreme temperatures (100°C for up to 8 h) and acidic environments (pH = 1.50 for over 2 years).

A behavioural dose-response model for migrating humpback whales and seismic air gun noise.

The behavioural responses of migrating humpback whales to an air gun, a small clustered seismic array and a commercial array were used to develop a dose-response model, accounting for the presence of the vessel, array towpath relative to the migration and social and environmental parameters. Whale groups were more likely to show an avoidance response (increasing their distance from the source) when the received sound exposure level was over 130 dB re 1 μPa·s and they were within 4 km of the source. The 50% probability of response occurred where received levels were 150-155 dB re 1 μPa·s and they were within 2.

The Use of Keystone Flaps in Periarticular Wound Closure: A Case Series.

The Keystone perforator island flap (Keystone flap), is a Type A fasciocutaneous advancement flap, consisting of two V to Y advancement flaps. Skin cancer excision around joints presents a number of reconstructive challenges. Owing to the mobile nature of joints, the optimal periarticular reconstructive option should possess the ability to provide adequate tissue coverage and withstand regional changes in tensile pressures.

The behavioural response of migrating humpback whales to a full seismic airgun array.

Despite concerns on the effects of noise from seismic survey airguns on marine organisms, there remains uncertainty as to the biological significance of any response. This study quantifies and interprets the response of migrating humpback whales () to a 3130 in (51.3l) commercial airgun array.

Determining the behavioural dose-response relationship of marine mammals to air gun noise and source proximity.

The effect of various anthropogenic sources of noise (e.g. sonar, seismic surveys) on the behaviour of marine mammals is sometimes quantified as a dose-response relationship, where the probability of an animal behaviourally 'responding' (e.

Core-Shell Co/CoO Integrated on 3D Nitrogen Doped Reduced Graphene Oxide Aerogel as an Enhanced Electrocatalyst for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction.

Here, we demonstrate that Cobalt/cobalt oxide core-shell nanoparticles integrated on nitrogen-doped (N-doped) three-dimensional reduced graphene oxide aerogel-based architecture (Co/CoO-NGA) were synthesized through a facile hydrothermal method followed by annealing treatment. The unique endurable porous structure could provide sufficient mass transfer channels and ample active sites on Co/CoO-NGA to facilitate the catalytic reaction. The synthesized Co/CoO-NGA was explored as an electrocatalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction, showing comparable oxygen reduction performance with excellent methanol resistance and better durability compared with Pt/C.

Response of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) to ramp-up of a small experimental air gun array.

'Ramp-up', or 'soft start', is a mitigation measure used in seismic surveys and involves increasing the radiated sound level over 20-40 min. This study compared the behavioural response in migrating humpback whales to the first stages of ramp-up with the response to a 'constant' source, 'controls' (in which the array was towed but not operated) with groups in the absence of the source vessel used as the 'baseline'. Although the behavioural response, in most groups, resulted in an increase in distance from the source (potential avoidance), there was no evidence that either 'ramp-up' or the constant source at a higher level was superior for triggering whales to move away from the source vessel.

Stathmin is enriched in the developing corticospinal tract.

Understanding the intra- and extracellular proteins involved in the development of the corticospinal tract (CST) may offer insights into how the pathway could be regenerated following traumatic spinal cord injury. Currently, however, little is known about the proteome of the developing corticospinal system. The present study, therefore, has used quantitative proteomics and bioinformatics to detail the protein profile of the rat CST during its formation in the spinal cord.

N-doped crumpled graphene derived from vapor phase deposition of PPy on graphene aerogel as an efficient oxygen reduction reaction electrocatalyst.

Nitrogen-doped crumpled graphene (NCG) is successfully synthesized via vapor phase deposition of polypyrrole onto graphene aerogel followed by thermal treatment. The NCG was explored as an electrocatalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction, showing comparable electrocatalytic performance with the commercial Pt/C in alkaline membrane exchange fuel cells because of the well-regulated nitrogen doping and the robust micro-3D crumpled porous nanostructure.

Anodic microbial community diversity as a predictor of the power output of microbial fuel cells.

The relationship between the diversity of mixed-species microbial consortia and their electrogenic potential in the anodes of microbial fuel cells was examined using different diversity measures as predictors. Identical microbial fuel cells were sampled at multiple time-points. Biofilm and suspension communities were analysed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis to calculate the number and relative abundance of species.

PdNi hollow nanoparticles for improved electrocatalytic oxygen reduction in alkaline environments.

Palladium-nickel (PdNi) hollow nanoparticles were synthesized via a modified galvanic replacement method using Ni nanoparticles as sacrificial templates in an aqueous medium. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy show that the as-synthesized nanoparticles are alloyed nanostructures and have hollow interiors with an average particle size of 30 nm and shell thickness of 5 nm. Compared with the commercially available Pt/C or Pd/C catalysts, the synthesized PdNi/C has superior electrocatalytic performance towards the oxygen reduction reaction, which makes it a promising electrocatalyst for alkaline anion exchange membrane fuel cells and alkali-based air-batteries.

Bilirubin oxidase bioelectrocatalytic cathodes: the impact of hydrogen peroxide.

Mediator-less, direct electro-catalytic reduction of oxygen to water by bilirubin oxidase (Myrothecium sp.) was obtained on anthracene-modified, multi-walled carbon nanotubes. H2O2 was found to significantly and irreversibly affect the electro-catalytic activity of bilirubin oxidase, whereas similar electrodes comprised of laccase (Trametes versicolor) were reversibly inhibited.

Hydrogen peroxide produced by glucose oxidase affects the performance of laccase cathodes in glucose/oxygen fuel cells: FAD-dependent glucose dehydrogenase as a replacement.

Hydrogen peroxide production by glucose oxidase (GOx) and its negative effect on laccase performance have been studied. Simultaneously, FAD-dependent glucose dehydrogenase (FAD-GDH), an O2-insensitive enzyme, has been evaluated as a substitute. Experiments focused on determining the effect of the side reaction of GOx between its natural electron acceptor O2 (consumed) and hydrogen peroxide (produced) in the electrolyte.

Low temperature water based electrolytes for MnO2/carbon supercapacitors.

Birnessite nanotubes and activated carbon electrodes have been used in supercapacitor cells to assess the performance of new aqueous based electrolyte systems at temperatures as low as -30 °C. The addition of ethylene glycol to aqueous sodium, lithium, potassium and ammonium sulfates has resulted in electrolytes that are still in liquid phase at such low temperatures. Extensive electrochemical testing showed that in such systems, operation of these aqueous based supercapacitors is possible at -30 °C with a specific capacitance of over 30 F g(-1) and good cycleability.

An optimised glucose oxidase bioelectrode exhibiting high performance direct electron transfer.

A glucose oxidase (GOd) bioelectrode exhibiting high performance, direct electron transfer (DET) has been prepared. Unprecedented redox peak current densities of 1 mA cm(-2) were observed alongside a clear electrochemical response to glucose. This system shows potential as a low cost, high performance enzymatic bioelectrode.

Dynamic changes in the microbial community composition in microbial fuel cells fed with sucrose.

The performance and dynamics of the bacterial communities in the biofilm and suspended culture in the anode chamber of sucrose-fed microbial fuel cells (MFCs) were studied by using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of PCR-amplified partial 16S rRNA genes followed by species identification by sequencing. The power density of MFCs was correlated to the relative proportions of species obtained from DGGE analysis in order to detect bacterial species or taxonomic classes with important functional role in electricity production. Although replicate MFCs showed similarity in performance, cluster analysis of DGGE profiles revealed differences in the evolution of bacterial communities between replicate MFCs.

Spatiotemporal development of the bacterial community in a tubular longitudinal microbial fuel cell.

The spatiotemporal development of a bacterial community in an exoelectrogenic biofilm was investigated in sucrose-fed longitudinal tubular microbial fuel cell reactors, consisting of two serially connected modules. The proportional changes in the microbial community composition were assessed by polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and DNA sequencing in order to relate them to the performance and stability of the bioelectrochemical system. The reproducibility of duplicated reactors, evaluated by cluster analysis and Jaccard's coefficient, shows 80-90% similarity in species composition.

A one-compartment fructose/air biological fuel cell based on direct electron transfer.

The construction and characterization of a one-compartment fructose/air biological fuel cell (BFC) based on direct electron transfer is reported. The BFC employs bilirubin oxidase and d-fructose dehydrogenase adsorbed on a cellulose-multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) matrix, reconstituted with an ionic liquid, as the biocathode and the bioanode for oxygen reduction and fructose oxidation reactions, respectively. The performance of the bioelectrode was investigated by chronoamperometric and cyclic voltammetric techniques in a standard three-electrode cell, and the polarization and long-term stability of the BFC was tested by potentiostatic discharge.

Techniques for the study and development of microbial fuel cells: an electrochemical perspective.

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) represent a clean and renewable energy resource. To date, power generation in MFCs is severely limited. In order to improve performance, a wide range of techniques have been utilised for a fundamental scientific understanding of the components and processes and also to investigate MFC performance bottlenecks.

Direct electron transfer of glucose oxidase immobilized in an ionic liquid reconstituted cellulose-carbon nanotube matrix.

Conductive cellulose-multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) matrix with a porous structure and good biocompatibility has been prepared using a room temperature ionic liquid (1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate) as solvent. Glucose oxidase (GOx) was encapsulated in this matrix and thereby immobilized on a glassy carbon surface. The direct electron transfer and electrocatalysis of the encapsulated GOx has been investigated using cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry.