Patient preferences for adjuvant radiotherapy in early breast cancer are strongly influenced by treatment received through random assignment

Objective: TARGIT‐A randomised women with early breast cancer to receive external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) or intraoperative radiotherapy (TARGIT‐IORT). This study aimed to identify what extra risk of recurrence patients would accept for per‐ ceived benefits and risks of different radiotherapy treatments. Methods: Patient preferences were determined by self‐rated trade‐off question‐ naires in two studies: Stage (1) 209 TARGIT‐A participants (TARGIT‐IORT n = 108, EBRT n = 101); Stage (2) 123 non‐trial patients yet to receive radiotherapy (pre‐treat‐ ment group), with 85 also surveyed post‐radiotherapy. Patients traded‐off risks of local recurrence in preference selection between TARGIT‐IORT and EBRT. Results: TARGIT‐IORT patients were more accepting of IORT than EBRT patients with 60% accepting the highest increased risk presented (4%–6%) compared to 12% of EBRT patients, and 2% not accepting IORT at all compared to 43% of EBRT pa‐ tients. Pre‐treatment patients were more accepting of IORT than post‐treatment pa‐ tients with 23% accepting the highest increased risk presented compared to 15% of post‐treatment patients, and 15% not accepting IORT at all compared to 41% of pre‐ treatment patients. Conclusions: Breast cancer patients yet to receive radiotherapy accept a higher recurrence risk than the actual risk found in TARGIT‐A. Measured patient preferences are highly influenced by experience of treatment received. This finding challenges the validity of post‐treatment preference studies

HST NICMOS imaging of z~2, 24 micron-selected Ultraluminous Infrared Galaxies

We present Hubble Space Telescope NICMOS H-band imaging of 33 Ultraluminous Infrared Galaxies (ULIRGs) at z~2 that were selected from the 24 micron catalog of the Spitzer Extragalactic First Look Survey. The images reveal that at least 17 of the 33 objects are associated with interactions. Up to one fifth of the sources in our sample could be minor mergers whereas only 2 systems are merging binaries with luminosity ratio <=3:1, which is characteristic of local ULIRGs. The rest-frame optical luminosities of the sources are of the order 10^10-10^11 L_sun and their effective radii range from 1.4 to 4.9 kpc. The most compact sources are either those with a strong active nucleus continuum or those with a heavy obscuration in the mid-infrared regime, as determined from Spitzer Infra-Red Spectrograph data. The luminosity of the 7.7 micron feature produced by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon molecules varies significantly among compact systems whereas it is typically large for extended systems. A bulge-to-disk decomposition performed for the 6 brightest (m_H<20) sources in our sample indicates that they are best fit by disk-like profiles with small or negligible bulges, unlike the bulge-dominated remnants of local ULIRGs. Our results provide evidence that the interactions associated with ultraluminous infrared activity at z~2 can differ from those at z~0.Comment: ApJ, in press. Document revised to match the journal versio

Do Strict Regulators Increase the Transparency of Banks?

We investigate the role that regulatory strictness plays on the enforcement of financial reporting transparency in the U.S. banking industry. Using a novel measure of regulatory strictness in the enforcement of capital adequacy, we show that strict regulators are more likely to enforce restatements of banks’ call reports. Further, we find that the effect of regulatory strictness on accounting enforcement is strongest in periods leading up to economic downturns and for banks with riskier asset portfolios. Overall, the results from our study indicate that regulatory oversight plays an important role in enforcing financial reporting transparency, particularly in periods leading up to economic crises. We interpret this evidence as inconsistent with the idea that strict bank regulators put significant weight on concerns about the potential destabilizing effects of accounting transparency.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/149564/1/joar12255_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/149564/2/joar12255.pd

CrY2H-seq: a massively multiplexed assay for deep-coverage interactome mapping.

Broad-scale protein-protein interaction mapping is a major challenge given the cost, time, and sensitivity constraints of existing technologies. Here, we present a massively multiplexed yeast two-hybrid method, CrY2H-seq, which uses a Cre recombinase interaction reporter to intracellularly fuse the coding sequences of two interacting proteins and next-generation DNA sequencing to identify these interactions en masse. We applied CrY2H-seq to investigate sparsely annotated Arabidopsis thaliana transcription factors interactions. By performing ten independent screens testing a total of 36 million binary interaction combinations, and uncovering a network of 8,577 interactions among 1,453 transcription factors, we demonstrate CrY2H-seq's improved screening capacity, efficiency, and sensitivity over those of existing technologies. The deep-coverage network resource we call AtTFIN-1 recapitulates one-third of previously reported interactions derived from diverse methods, expands the number of known plant transcription factor interactions by three-fold, and reveals previously unknown family-specific interaction module associations with plant reproductive development, root architecture, and circadian coordination

UR-363 Quantum Machine Learning Applied to Cybersecurity

We propose the development of a system that uses the TensorFlow Quantum and PennyLane packages and applies quantum machine learning (QML) algorithms to process various security and malicious data sets and compares the performance with classical machine learning (CML) algorithms. One of the most important applications of QML is for cybersecurity. This project will begin with research of quantum computing and machine learning, then followed by the development of a system that uses the TensorFlow Quantum and PennyLane packages and applies quantum machine learning (QML) algorithms to process various security and malicious data sets and compares the performance with classical machine learning (CML) algorithms.The data sets for our modules include DDoS prevention, malware detection, user behavior anomaly detection, and spam email filtering. We provide detailed instructions for program implementation on our project website in order to better proliferate quantum programming in order to encourage others to explore quantum algorithms

Beta-Adrenergic Receptors in the Lateral Nucleus of the Amygdala Contribute to the Acquisition but Not the Consolidation of Auditory Fear Conditioning

Beta-adrenergic receptors (βARs) have long been associated with fear disorders and with learning and memory. However, the contribution of these receptors to Pavlovian fear conditioning, a leading behavioral model for studying fear learning and memory, is still poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the involvement of βAR activation in the acquisition, consolidation and expression of fear conditioning. We focused on manipulations of βARs in the lateral nucleus of the amygdala (LA) because of the well-established contribution of this area to fear conditioning. Specifically, we tested the effects of intra-LA microinfusions of the βAR antagonist, propranolol, on learning and memory for auditory Pavlovian fear conditioning in rats. Pre-training propranolol infusions disrupted the initial acquisition, short-term memory (STM), and long-term memory (LTM) for fear conditioning, but infusions immediately after training had no effect. Further, infusion of propranolol prior to testing fear responses did not affect fear memory expression. These findings indicate that amygdala βARs are important for the acquisition but not the consolidation of fear conditioning

Australia's arid-adapted butcherbirds experienced range expansions during Pleistocene glacial maxima

A model of range expansions during glacial maxima (GM) for cold-adapted species is generally accepted for the Northern Hemisphere. Given that GM in Australia largely resulted in the expansion of arid zones, rather than glaciation, it could be expected that arid-adapted species might have had expanded ranges at GM, as cold-adapted species did in the Northern Hemisphere. For Australian biota, however, it remains paradigmatic that arid-adapted species contracted to refugia at GM. Here we use multilocus data and ecological niche models (ENMs) to test alternative GM models for butcherbirds. ENMs, mtDNA and estimates of nuclear introgression and past population sizes support a model of GM expansion in the arid-tolerant Grey Butcherbird that resulted in secondary contact with its close relative - the savanna-inhabiting Silver-backed Butcherbird - whose contemporary distribution is widely separated. Together, these data reject the universal use of a GM contraction model for Australia's dry woodland and arid biota

Application of Photovoice with Focus Groups to Explore Dietary Behaviors of Older Filipino Adults with Cardiovascular Disease

Filipino Americans have high rates of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). This study explored the dietary behaviors, a modifiable risk factor, of Filipinos with CVD. Filipinos with CVD were recruited and trained to do Photovoice. Participants took photos to depict their “food experience,” defined as their daily dietary activities. Participants then shared their photos during focus groups. Focus group transcripts were analyzed using an iterative, grounded theory approach. Among 38 Filipino participants, the mean age was 70 years old and all were foreign-born. Major themes included efforts to retain connection to Filipino culture through food, and dietary habits shaped by cultural health beliefs. Many believed that traditional dietary practices increased CVD risk. Receiving a CVD diagnosis and clinician advice changed their dietary behaviors. Household members, the physical environment, and economic constraints also influenced dietary behaviors. Photovoice is feasible among older Filipinos and may enhance understanding of drivers of dietary behaviors

A study on the histopathological pattern of thyroid lesions in a tertiary care hospital

Background: Thyroid diseases are one of the most common endocrine disorders affecting the general population. They range from non-neoplastic to neoplastic lesions. The prevalence and pattern of these disorders depend on various factors including sex, age, ethnic and geographical patterns. The aim of the present study was to determine the pattern of thyroid lesions in thyroidectomy specimens received in the pathology department of MOSC Medical College Hospital, Kolenchery, Kerala, India.Methods: It was a 6 year retrospective study (January 2010 to December 2015) of all thyroidectomy specimens received in the Pathology department. All the biopsy reports were reviewed and different lesions were categorized according to age and gender distribution.Results: There were a total of 801 specimens, of which 716 were females and 85 were males. Maximum number of thyroid lesions were seen in the age group 41-50 yrs. Multinodular goiter was the most common non-neoplastic thyroid lesion (71.5%) followed by thyroiditis. There were 151 carcinomas (18.8%). Maximum numbers of carcinomas were seen in age group 31-40 (28.8%).The frequency of carcinomas among the total thyroid lesions was almost same for both males and females (18.82% and 18.85%). Papillary carcinoma was the most frequent malignancy, out of which half were of the micro papillary subtype.Conclusions: Multinodular goiter was found to be the most common thyroid lesion in this study. The percentage of malignant thyroid tumors was high compared to other studies done in Kerala. Papillary carcinoma was the most common malignant neoplasm. The micropapillary variant comprised 50% of the papillary carcinoma

Protein Electrophoresis Across Phase Boundaries in a U-Tube

Numerical and experimental investigations of electrophoresis of bovine hemoglobin in a two-phase system were conducted. The numerical model was generated in COMSOL 3.5 as a 2-D representation of a U-tube, assuming equilibrium at the phase interface, using electro-kinetic flow and conductive media DC equations. The experimental separation of the protein was conducted in a PEG-dextran two-phase solution in a U-tube, using an induced current up to 3kV. Both methods resulted in a successful migration of the protein across the interphase