Treatment patterns and clinical outcomes in elderly patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer from the registHER observational study.

Limited data exist regarding treatment patterns and outcomes in elderly patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC). registHER is an observational study of patients (N = 1,001) with HER2-positive MBC diagnosed within 6 months of enrollment and followed until death, disenrollment, or June 2009 (median follow-up 27 months). Outcomes were analyzed by age at MBC diagnosis: younger (<65 years), older (65-74 years), elderly (≥75 years). For progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) analyses of first-line trastuzumab versus nontrastuzumab, older and elderly patients were combined. Cox regression analyses were adjusted for baseline characteristics and treatments. Estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor status was similar across age groups. Underlying cardiovascular disease was most common in elderly patients. In patients receiving trastuzumab-based first-line treatment, elderly patients were less likely to receive chemotherapy. In trastuzumab-treated patients, incidence of left ventricular dysfunction (LVD) and congestive heart failure (CHF) (grades ≥ 3) were highest in elderly patients (LVD: elderly 4.8 %, younger 2.8 %, older 1.5 %; CHF: elderly 3.2 %, younger 1.9 %, older 1.5 %). Unadjusted median PFS (months) was significantly higher in patients treated with first-line trastuzumab than those who were not (<65 years: 11.0 vs. 3.4, respectively; ≥65 years: 11.7 vs. 4.8, respectively). In patients <65 years, unadjusted median OS (months) was significantly higher in trastuzumab-treated patients; in patients ≥65 years, median OS was similar (<65 years: 40.4 vs. 25.9; ≥65 years: 31.2 vs. 28.5). In multivariate analyses, first-line trastuzumab use was associated with significant improvement in PFS across age. For OS, significant improvement was observed for patients <65 years and nonsignificant improvement for patients ≥65 years. Elderly patients with HER2-positive MBC had higher rates of underlying cardiovascular disease than their younger counterparts and received less aggressive treatment, including less first-line trastuzumab. These real-world data suggest improved PFS across all age groups and similar trends for OS

Pengiraan Persentil Taburan Panjang Larian bagi Carta Kawalan Purata Bergerak Berpemberat Eksponen Multivariat

Prabhu dan Runger (1997) telah mengemukakan cadangan dalam pemilihan parameter-parameter untuk skema carta kawalan purata bergerak berpemberat eksponen multivariat (MEWMA). Walau bagaimanapun, cadangan tersebut hanya berdasarkan prestasi panjang larian purata (average run length - ARL). Oleh itu, dalam makalah ini, kami akan mengira nilai-nilai persentil untuk taburan panjang larian bagi pelbagai skema carta kawalan MEWMA yang dikemukakan oleh Prabhu dan Runger (1997). Persentil-persentil yang dikira akan membekalkan maklumat tambahan seperti kekerapan isyarat luar kawalan palsu yang awal (early false out of control signals), panjang larian median (median run length - MRL) dan kepencongan taburan panjang larian untuk sesuatu skema tertentu. Maklumat-maklumat tambahan ini mungkin berguna dalam membekalkan jurutera kawalan mutu pengetahuan mendalam dan lengkap tentang sesuatu skema carta kawalan MEWMA yang dipilih berdasarkan cadangan Prabhu dan Runger (1997)

Variation of cultivated mungbean and wild vigna as revealed by random amplified polymorphic DNA markers

The genetic variation of nine varieties of cultivated mungbean (Vigna radiata) and three local populations of wild Vigna (V. trinervia) were evaluated in this study using RAPD markers. A total of 65 scorable DNA fragments ranging in size from 173-1,500 bp were obtained from the PCR amplification usingfive RAPD primers of which 95.38% were polymorphic. Cluster analysis revealed two major groups in which the first group consists of the nine varieties ofV. radiata, while the second group includes the three populations ofV. trinervia. This information is useful for plant breeders to make informed decisions in an effort to devise breeding or crossbreeding programmes for the development of the crop

Intelligent Financial Fraud Detection Practices: An Investigation

Financial fraud is an issue with far reaching consequences in the finance industry, government, corporate sectors, and for ordinary consumers. Increasing dependence on new technologies such as cloud and mobile computing in recent years has compounded the problem. Traditional methods of detection involve extensive use of auditing, where a trained individual manually observes reports or transactions in an attempt to discover fraudulent behaviour. This method is not only time consuming, expensive and inaccurate, but in the age of big data it is also impractical. Not surprisingly, financial institutions have turned to automated processes using statistical and computational methods. This paper presents a comprehensive investigation on financial fraud detection practices using such data mining methods, with a particular focus on computational intelligence-based techniques. Classification of the practices based on key aspects such as detection algorithm used, fraud type investigated, and success rate have been covered. Issues and challenges associated with the current practices and potential future direction of research have also been identified.Comment: Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Security and Privacy in Communication Networks (SecureComm 2014

A finite element formulation of the Boltzmann transport equation

Imperial Users onl

Finite element investigation of the effect of spina bifida on loading of the vertebral isthmus

Background: Spondylolysis (SL) of the lower lumbar spine is frequently associated with spina bifida occulta (SBO). There has not been any study that has demonstrated biomechanical or genetic predispositions to explain the coexistence of these two pathologies. In axial rotation, the intact vertebral arch allows torsional load to be shared between the facet joints. In SBO, the load cannot be shared across the arch, theoretically increasing the mechanical demand of the vertebral isthmus during combined axial loading and rotation when compared to the normal state. Purpose: To test the hypothesis that fatigue failure limits will be exceeded in the case of a bifid arch, but not in the intact case, when the segment is subjected to complex loading corresponding to normal sporting activities. Study Design: Descriptive Laboratory Study. Methods: Finite element models of natural and SBO (L4-S1) including ligaments were loaded axially to 1kN and were combined with axial rotation of 3°. Bilateral stresses, alternating stresses and shear fatigue failure on intact and SBO L5 isthmus were assessed and compared. Results: Under 1kN axial load, the von Mises stresses observed in SBO and in the intact cases were very similar (differences <5MPa) having a maximum at the ventral end of the isthmus that decreases monotonically to the dorsal end. However, under 1kN axial load and rotation, the maximum von Mises stresses observed in the ipsilateral L5 isthmus in the SBO case (31MPa) was much higher than the intact case (24.2MPa) indicating a lack of load sharing across the vertebral arch in SBO. When assessing the equivalent alternating shear stress amplitude, this was found to be 22.6 MPa for the SBO case and 13.6 MPa for the intact case. From this it is estimated that shear fatigue failure will occur in less than 70,000 cycles, under repetitive axial load & rotation conditions in the SBO case, while for the intact case, fatigue failure will occur only over 10 million cycles. Conclusion: SBO predisposes spondylolysis by generating increased stresses across the inferior isthmus of the inferior articular process, specifically in combined axial rotation and anteroposterior shear. Clinical Relevance: Athletes with SBO who participate in sports that require repetitive lumbar rotation, hyperextension and/or axial loading are at a higher risk of developing spondylolysis compared to athletes with an intact spine

Three closely related (2E,200E)-3,300-(1,4-phenylene)- bis[1-(methoxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-ones]: supramolecular assemblies in one dimension mediated by hydrogen bonding and C—Hp interactions

In the title compounds, (2E,20E)-3,30-(1,4-phenylene)bis[1-(2-methoxyphenyl)- prop-2-en-1-one], C26H22O4 (I), (2E,20E)-3,30-(1,4-phenylene)bis[1-(3-methoxyphenyl) prop-2-en-1-one], C26H22O4 (II) and (2E,20E)-3,30-(1,4-phenylene)bis[1- (3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-one], C28H26O6 (III), the asymmetric unit consists of a half-molecule, completed by crystallographic inversion symmetry. The dihedral angles between the central and terminal benzene rings are 56.98 (8), 7.74 (7) and 7.73 (7) for (I), (II) and (III), respectively. In the crystal of (I), molecules are linked by pairs of C—H interactions into chains running parallel to [101]. The packing for (II) and (III), features inversion dimers linked by pairs of C—HO hydrogen bonds, forming R2 2(16) and R2 2(14) ring motifs, respectively, as parts of [201] and [101] chains, respectively

Cluster Performance reconsidered: Structure, Linkages and Paths in the German Biotechnology Industry, 1996-2003

This paper addresses the evolution of biotechnology clusters in Germany between 1996 and 2003, paying particular attention to their respective composition in terms of venture capital, basic science institutions and biotechnology firms. Drawing upon the significance of co-location of "money and ideas", the literature stressing the importance of a cluster's openness and external linkages, and the path dependency debate, the paper aims to analyse how certain cluster characteristics correspond with its overall performance. After identifying different cluster types, we investigate their internal and external interconnectivity in comparative manner and draw on changes in cluster composition. Our results indicate that the structure, i.e. to which group the cluster belongs, and the openness towards external knowledge flows deliver merely unsystematic indications with regard to a cluster's overall success. Its ability to change composition towards a more balanced ratio of science and capital over time, on the other hand, turns out as a key explanatory factor. Hence, the dynamic perspective proves effective illuminating cluster growth and performance, where our explorative findings provide a promising avenue for further evolutionary research

Article Heteroaryl Chalcones: Design, Synthesis, X-ray Crystal Structures and Biological Evaluation

molecule

Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of (2E,20E)-3,30-(1,4-phenylene)bis[1-(2,4-difluorophenyl) prop-2-en-1-one]

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C24H14F4O2, comprises of one and a half molecules; the half-molecule is completed by crystallographic inversion symmetry. In the crystal, molecules are linked into a three-dimensional network by C—H� � �F and C—H� � �O hydrogen bonds. Some of the C—H� � �F links are unusually short (< 2.20 A ° ). Hirshfeld surface analyses (dnorm surfaces and twodimensional fingerprint plots) for the title compound are presented and discussed