Unique contributions to the scalar bispectrum in `just enough inflation'

A scalar field rolling down a potential with a large initial velocity results in inflation of a finite duration. Such a scenario suppresses the scalar power on large scales improving the fit to the cosmological data. We find that the scenario leads to a hitherto unexplored situation wherein the boundary terms dominate the contributions to the scalar bispectrum over the bulk terms. We show that the consistency relation governing the non-Gaussianity parameter $f_{_{\rm NL}}$ is violated on large scales and that the contributions at the initial time can substantially enhance the value of $f_{_{\rm NL}}$.Comment: v1: 5 pages, 4 figure

Gene therapy for carcinoma of the breast: Therapeutic genetic correction strategies

Gene therapy is a therapeutic approach that is designed to correct specific molecular defects that contribute to the cause or progression of cancer. Genes that are mutated or deleted in cancers include the cancer susceptibility genes p53 and BRCA1. Because mutational inactivation of gene function is specific to tumor cells in these settings, cancer gene correction strategies may provide an opportunity for selective targeting without significant toxicity for normal nontumor cells. Both p53 and BRCA1 appear to inhibit cancer cells that lack mutations in these genes, suggesting that the so-called gene correction strategies may have broader potential than initially believed. Increasing knowledge of cancer genetics has identified these and other genes as potential targets for gene replacement therapy. Initial patient trials of p53 and BRCA1 gene therapy have provided some indications of potential efficacy, but have also identified areas of basic and clinical research that are needed before these approaches may be widely used in patient care

Regulation of BRCA1 expression and its relationship to sporadic breast cancer

Germ-line mutations in the BRCA1 tumour suppressor gene contribute to familial breast tumour formation, but there is no evidence for direct mutation of the BRCA1 gene in the sporadic form of the disease. In contrast, decreased expression of the BRCA1 gene has been shown to be common in sporadic tumours, and the magnitude of the decrease correlates with disease progression. BRCA1 expression is also tightly regulated during normal breast development. Determining how these developmental regulators of BRCA1 expression are co-opted during breast tumourigenesis could lead to a better understanding of sporadic breast cancer aetiology and the generation of novel therapeutic strategies aimed at preventing sporadic breast tumour progression

Expression of the BRCA1 complex member BRE predicts disease free survival in breast cancer.

Item does not contain fulltextBreast cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer mortality in women. Recent advances in gene expression profiling have indicated that breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease and the current prognostication using clinico-pathological features is not sufficient to fully predict therapy response and disease outcome. In this retrospective study, we show that expression levels of BRE, which encodes a member of the BRCA1 DNA damage repair complex, predicted disease-free survival (DFS) in non-familial breast cancer patients. The predictive value of BRE expression depended on whether patients received radiotherapy as a part of their primary treatment. In radiotherapy-treated patients, high BRE expression predicted a favorable DFS (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.47, 95 % confidence interval (CI) = 0.28-0.78, p = 0.004), while in non-treated patients, high BRE expression predicted an adverse prognosis (HR = 2.59, 95 % CI = 1.00-6.75, p = 0.05). Among radiotherapy-treated patients, the prognostic impact of BRE expression was confined to patients with smaller tumors (HR = 0.23, 95 % CI = 0.068-0.75, p = 0.015) and it remained an independent factor after correction for the other prognostic factors age, tumor size, lymph node involvement, and histological grade (HR = 0.50, CI = 0.27-0.90, p = 0.021). In addition, high BRE expression predicted a favorable relapse-free survival in a publicly available dataset of 2,324 breast cancer patients (HR = 0.59, CI = 0.51-0.68, p < 0.001). These data indicate that BRE is an interesting candidate for future functional studies aimed at developing targeted therapies.1 augustus 201

Status stress: Explaining defensiveness to the resolution of social inequality in members of dominant groups

This chapter examines an important barrier to achieving more equality in society: the resilience of dominant group members to social change initiatives. We build on relevant theory and research to examine structural and psychological factors that contribute to the emergence of “status stress,” that is, the threat among those high in status due to shifting inter-group status relations. We describe psychophysiological research revealing that as long as status differences are stable, members of lower status (disadvantaged or subordinate) groups show cardiovascular responses indicative of threat (high vascular resistance, low cardiac performance, high blood pressure). However, when status differences become unstable, this cardiovascular threat response emerges among members of higher status (privileged, dominant) groups. Importantly, these responses occur autonomously, implying both that they are relatively uncontrollable and that they may not show up in self-reports. Nevertheless, research shows that the emergence of status stress has a clear and predictable impact on behavior. We discuss the implications of these insights for interventions that seek to overcome defensiveness against social change among members of dominant groups.Social decision makin