bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Turkish Adaptation of the Early Learning Observation and Rating Scale—Teacher’s Form: Validity and Reliability Study and Path Analysis for a Turkey Sample
Authors: Babaroğlu Ayhan , Koçak Cem
Published: September 2020

Acquiring information on the complete development of children during their early childhood, observing their development, and identifying the domains in which they need support have always been very important. There is a parallelism between development in the early period and learning, and development learning is best achieved by learning in children. Children have very different development patterns. As development occurs simultaneously on a broad spectrum of domains, progress in one domain affects the progress in another domain also. Thus, identification of problems in early childhood is important in terms of assessment of child’s development and learning. The purpose of th study is adaptation of the early learning observation and rating scale—teacher’s form, developed by Coleman, West, and Gillis, to Turkish and the Turkish culture and evaluation of the causality relations between the learning domains through Path analysis in the Turkish sample. Methodologic descriptive and model testing design methods have been used. The study sample consisted of 166 children in the 4-5-year-old group, receiving education in 59 preschool education institutions, and 20 teachers. Simple random sampling method was used in sample selection. Following the Turkish adaptation processes, the validity and reliability of the scale were examined with a pilot study. It was observed that the scale had high appearance-social and scope-construct validity, and the results obtained were coherent with the usefulness and contribution results obtained in the original study. Strong linear relationships were found between each of the seven learning domains in the scale. The early learning observation and rating scale—teacher’s form, which was adapted to Turkish, was suitable for use in the Turkish sample and revealed the competence or incompetence condition of children in the learning domains of children correctly and realistically.
Magnitude of Episiotomy and Associated Factors among Mothers Who Give Birth in Arba Minch General Hospital, Southern Ethiopia: Observation-Based Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Fikadu Kassahun , Boti Negussie , Tadesse Birtukan , Mesele Dureti , Aschenaki Emenet , Toka Etenesh , Arega Fistum , Girma Tsehaynesh , Paulos Abebech
Published: September 2020

Background. Episiotomy is the most common obstetric procedure, performed when the clinical circumstances place the patient at a high risk of high-degree laceration. However, episiotomy should be done with judicious indication to lower perineal laceration with fewer complications. Despite its adverse effects, the magnitude of episiotomy is increasing due to different factors. Therefore, this study is aimed at determining the recent magnitude of episiotomy and at identifying associated factors among women who gave delivery in Arba Minch General Hospital, Southern Ethiopia. Methods. An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from December 15, 2018, to January 30, 2019. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select study participants. A semistructured questionnaire was used to collect data. This was supplemented with a review of the labor and delivery records. Binary and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with the magnitude of episiotomy. P value ≤ 0.05 was used to determine the level of statistically significant variables. Results. The magnitude of episiotomy was found to be 272 (68.0%) with 95%CI=64.0‐72.5. Women who attended secondary education [AOR=10.24, 95%CI=2.81‐37.34], women who attended college and above [AOR=4.61, 95%CI=1.27‐16.71], birth weight≥3000 g [AOR=4.84, 95%CI=2.66‐8.82], primipara [AOR=4.13, 95%CI=2.40‐7.12], being housewife occupants [AOR=3.43, 95%CI=1.20‐9.98], married women [AOR=2.86, 95%CI=1.40‐5.84], and body mass index<25 kg/m2 [AOR=2.85, 95%CI=1.50‐5.44] were independent variables found to have significant association with episiotomy. Conclusion. The magnitude of episiotomy was 68.0% which is higher than the recommended practice by WHO (10%). The study participants’ occupational status, marital status, educational status, parity, birth weight, and BMI were significantly associated with the magnitude of episiotomy in the study area. Therefore, to reduce the rate of episiotomy, it is better to have periodic training for birth attendants regarding the indication of episiotomy.
Analysis of Economic-Biological Traits of Hull-Less Barley and Creation of Source Material for Resistance to Environmental Stress Factors
Authors: Tokhetova L. A. , Umirzakov S. I. , Nurymova R. D. , Baizhanova B. K. , Akhmedova G. B.
Published: September 2020

The paper summarizes the experimental data from field and laboratory experiments on the study of the collection material of hull-less barley from ICARDA (Hordeum vulgare L.) on saline soils of the Kyzylorda region. The influence of the type of ripening of the variety and weather conditions of vegetation on the formation and variability of the grain yield of spring hull-less barley is shown. Traits less affected by external factors, such as plant height, spike length, number of spikelets per spike, and number of productive spikes per 1 m2, are determined. It has been established that during the selection, stabilization on such traits occurs in early generations, which increases the efficiency of selection of adaptive varieties. At the present stage, using in hybridization the best hull-less forms ICNBF8-611/Aths, DeirAlla106/Strain205//Rhn-03/3/BF891M-582, Atahualpa/4/Avt/Attiki//Aths/3/Giza121/Pue, Atahualpa/4/Harrington/3/WI2291/Roho//WI2269, and HIGO/LINO with local recognized varieties, 20 hybrid populations have been obtained, and 150 lines selected from them, identified that donors of valuable traits are of particular interest for creating productive cereal varieties.
Effect of Soil Management Practices and Slope on Soil Fertility of Cultivated Lands in Mawula Watershed, Loma District, Southern Ethiopia
Authors: Gadana Damte Balcha , Sharma Parshotam Datt , Selfeko Dereje Tsegaye
Published: September 2020

Soil degradation is a serious problem challenging food security in Ethiopia. To halt degradation and restore impoverished soils, the government has initiated soil management practices in the affected areas. Still, there is little information on the impact of these practices in terms of improvement in soil fertility of cultivated lands under different soil and climatic conditions. Accordingly, the study was carried out to study the effect of soil management practices, viz, soil bund (SB), application of farm yard manure (FYM), soil bund integrated with FYM (SBFYM), and vis-a-vis no management practice (NM), on soil fertility under upper (20%–30%) and lower (2%–10%) slope ranges at Mawula watershed, Loma district, Southern Ethiopia. Twenty-four composite soil samples (4 practices × 2 slope ranges × 3 sites) drawn from the surface layer (0–20 cm) were analysed for different physical and chemical properties indicative of soil fertility. The data were analysed statistically in a randomized complete block design. All the soil management practices improved significantly the different aspects of physical and chemical fertility (soil texture, bulk density, total porosity, moisture content, organic carbon, and contents of macro and micronutrients, viz, N, P, K, Na, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu). The practice SBFYM was significantly superior to FYM and SB. The order of performance was SBFYM > FYM > SB > NM. The usefulness of soil management practices was further corroborated by the farmers’ response (based on semistructured questionnaires), as 83% of them perceived the practices well and opted for their adoption. As such, the soil management practices, notably SBFYM, merit their implementation on a large scale to improve fertility and productivity of degraded lands.
Robust Image Hashing with Low-Rank Representation and Ring Partition
Authors: Tang Zhenjun , Yu Zixuan , Li Zhixin , Yu Chunqiang , Zhang Xianquan
Published: September 2020

Image hashing has attracted much attention of the community of multimedia security in the past years. It has been successfully used in social event detection, image authentication, copy detection, image quality assessment, and so on. This paper presents a novel image hashing with low-rank representation (LRR) and ring partition. The proposed hashing finds the saliency map by the spectral residual model and exploits it to construct the visual representation of the preprocessed image. Next, the proposed hashing calculates the low-rank recovery of the visual representation by LRR and extracts the rotation-invariant hash from the low-rank recovery by ring partition. Hash similarity is finally determined by L2 norm. Extensive experiments are done to validate effectiveness of the proposed hashing. The results demonstrate that the proposed hashing can reach a good balance between robustness and discrimination and is superior to some state-of-the-art hashing algorithms in terms of the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve.
Study on the Characteristics of Top-Coal Caving and Optimization of Recovery Ratio in Steeply Inclined Residual High Sectional Coal Pillar
Authors: Yang Wenhua , Lai Xingping , Shan Pengfei , Cui Feng , Yang Yiran
Published: September 2020

This paper is aimed at solving the technical problems such as low recovery ratio and frequent disasters in steeply inclined and extrathick coal seams at residual high sectional coal pillar. It takes the Wudong Coal Mine as an engineering background, a typical mine of steeply inclined and extrathick coal seams; the structural features of the top-coal caving at the steeply inclined residual high sectional coal pillar were analyzed using methods such as field monitoring and numerical simulation; a mechanical model of the top-coal arch structure was constructed, and the calculation method of top-coal caving height and related influencing factors was obtained. The results showed that the top-coal caving in the steeply inclined residual high sectional coal pillar was characterized as arch. Due to the existence of arch structure, the smooth caving of the top coal was hindered, resulting in a low top-coal recovery ratio, low support pressure at the working face, and differences detected by borehole television on the distribution of the top-coal cracks. With the advancement of the working face, the top-coal arch structure was in the process of dynamic evolution, as the old arch balance system was continuously replaced by the new arch balance system, and it continuously moved towards the upper top coal. The top-coal caving height was affected by factors such as length of the working face, bulk density of overlying coal rock, and cohesion of the top coal. The top-coal caving height increased with the length of the working face and the bulk density of the overlying coal rock mass but was inversely proportional to the cohesion of the top coal. Under the current mining conditions, the top-coal caving height was 39.8 m, which was much lower than the residual high sectional coal pillar height (71 m); the top coal cannot collapse completely. Based on the characteristics of the top-coal caving structure, the technology of sublevel advanced presplitting blasting was adopted to weaken the top coal in engineering practice, so that the top-coal caving structure moved up naturally. The daily coal production in the working face has increased by an average of 2419.6 tons, which has significantly improved the top-coal recovery ratio and production efficiency. The result provided a theoretical basis and application reference for similar residual high sectional coal pillar recovery.
Enhancing Transaction Security for Handling Accountability in Electronic Health Records
Authors: Techapanupreed Chian , Kurutach Werasak
Published: September 2020

Electronic healthcare systems have received extensive attention during the last decade due to the advancement of digital technology. Using these systems in the healthcare industry can improve the quality of healthcare services tremendously. However, a major issue that needs to be concerned, when utilizing this kind of system, is accountability. Employments of electronic health records, the core of the systems, without accountability can be a big risk to both patients and service personals and, consequently, to the entire society. Accountability in electronic health records is essential to creating trust among parties. Many researchers have been introduced to the accountability protocol. However, most of them still lack some essential security property that is mutual authentication. This leads to both information traceability and nonrepudiation which are necessary for resolving any conflict that may arise. In this paper, we propose accountability protocol for electronic health records; the protocol employs both asymmetric and symmetric encryptions to ensure that the electronic health records are having confidentiality, integrity, authentication, and authorization. The accountability analysis and performance analysis show that the proposed protocol is more capable and effective than others. The novel aspect of this idea lies in the inclusion of certain forms of security that are necessary to protect the patient’s electronic health records. To the best of our knowledge, the proposed protocol consumes less cost, energy, and time compared with the existing protocols. A proof of concept of our protocol is also presented in this paper by using BAN logic, an automated security protocol proof tool named Scyther, and AVISPA
Wide Bezel Televisions Decrease Immersive Experiences
Authors: Kong Hwayeon
Published: September 2020

This study explored how telepresence could be affected by stimuli from reality that distracts people while they are watching television. The sample comprised of 36 undergraduate and graduate students from a university in South Korea (age range: 18–38 years, M = 22.61, and SD = 4.12). A between-subjects experimental design was employed with two types of viewing equipment (a television screen vs. a television screen with side screens that act as stimuli from reality) and two bezel widths (2 cm vs. 10 cm) to examine how each condition influenced the viewers’ perceived telepresence. The results revealed that participants’ perception of telepresence was not affected by the type of viewing equipment. However, the level of telepresence was affected by the bezel width: the thinner the bezel, the more telepresence felt by the viewers. These findings provide important insights that can guide the future designs of screen bezels for televisions and other devices in order to more effectively create immersive virtual worlds. Future studies are needed to examine the relationship between central vision and telepresence.
Abstract A028: Perceptions of the nursing role in cancer survivorship among aging African American cancer survivors and caregivers
Authors: Cobb Sharon , Ume Ebere
Published: September 2020

Introduction: Oncology nurses are recognized globally for enhancing health outcomes, improving care coordination, and providing quality care. However, few studies have addressed the role expectations of a nurse among underserved cancer survivors and caregivers (CSCs), especially those who belong to a minority group. The purpose of this study was to explore the role expectations of nurses among aging African American cancer survivors and caregivers. Methods: A qualitative approach was utilized, using purposeful and theoretical sampling. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 40 aging and community-dwelling African American cancer survivors and caregivers. Data was analyzed using a descriptive approach and thematic content analysis. Results: The results suggest that nurses should have a greater awareness of life events and challenges that can affect cancer survivorship, such as body image issues, financial hardship, and low social support. The following three themes that emerged that describe the perception of the nursing role and minority CSCs include: (1) adequate health education and nursing skill demonstration related to CSC, (2) increased advocacy for the underserved cancer survivors and caregivers, including resource identification and sharing, and (3) assessment and management of the biopsychosocial needs of CSCs. Implications: The role of nurses in these communities managing cancer survivorship among both survivors and caregivers is critical as these specific populations may have unique care needs. The results can be used to inform the development of culturally relevant and nursing-led interventions targeted towards CSCs to improve the cancer survivorship experience for aging minority populations.

Citation Format: Sharon Cobb, Ebere Ume. Perceptions of the nursing role in cancer survivorship among aging African American cancer survivors and caregivers [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Twelfth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2019 Sep 20-23; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl_2):Abstract nr A028.
Abstract A031: Karmanos Cancer Institute Prostate Cancer Advocacy Program
Authors: Hardy Fred
Published: September 2020

A multifaceted training expanding the realm and scope of the meaning of advocacy and what advocacy can be.

Citation Format: Fred Hardy. Karmanos Cancer Institute Prostate Cancer Advocacy Program [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Twelfth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2019 Sep 20-23; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl_2):Abstract nr A031.
Abstract A049: Socioeconomic disparities in treatment delays and survival for anal cancer patients
Authors: Ahmad Tessnim R , Susko Matthew , Lindquist Karla , Anwar Mekhail
Published: September 2020

Background: Socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with treatment delays and survival in multiple cancers, but less data exist for anal squamous cell carcinoma (ASCC). This study investigated the association between SES and outcomes for patients undergoing definitive chemoradiation therapy for ASCC. Methods: Patients diagnosed with non-metastatic ASCC between 2005 and 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Socioeconomic predictor variables included primary payer, race, income, employment, and partnership status. Outcomes included tumor-node (TN) stage at diagnosis, the interval from diagnosis to treatment initiation, relapse-free survival (RFS), and overall survival (OS). Age, gender, TN stage, and HIV status were analyzed as covariates in survival analysis. Results: Over the study period, 111 patients met inclusion criteria. SES was not associated with the TN stage at diagnosis. SES factors associated with treatment delays were Medicaid payer (p = 0.016) and single partnership status (p = 0.016). Compared to privately insured patients, Medicaid patients had lower two-year RFS (64.4% vs. 93.8%, p = 0.021) and OS (82.9% vs. 93.5%, p = 0.038). Similarly, relative to patients in the racial majority, racial minority patients had lower two-year RFS (53.3% vs. 93.5%, p = 0.001) and OS (73.7% vs. 92.6%, p = 0.008). Race was an independent predictor for both RFS (p = 0.027) and OS (p = 0.047). Conclusions: These results highlight the impact of social contextual factors on health. Interventions targeted at socioeconomically vulnerable populations are needed to reduce disparities in ASCC outcomes.

Citation Format: Tessnim R Ahmad, Matthew Susko, Karla Lindquist, Mekhail Anwar. Socioeconomic disparities in treatment delays and survival for anal cancer patients [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Twelfth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2019 Sep 20-23; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl_2):Abstract nr A049.
Abstract A056: A study of race and socioeconomic status impacting therapeutic clinical trial enrollment in adult gliomas patients
Authors: Reihl Sheantel J , Morshed Ramin A , Kakaizada Sofia , Zhang Eric , Young Jacob S , Clarke Jennifer , Butowski Nicholas , Taylor Jennie , Bush Nancy Ann , Aghi Manish K , Berger Mitchel S , Chang Susan , Hervey-Jumper Shawn L
Published: September 2020

Introduction: Under-enrollment in clinical trials significantly limits valid analyses of clinical interventions and generalizability of findings. It can also result in premature study termination, with estimates of 22% to 50% of clinical trials being terminated due to poor accrual. Currently, there are limited reports addressing the influence of race, ethnicity and socioeconomic status on clinical trial enrollment in patients with adult glioma. The goal of this study was to determine if race and socioeconomic status impacts clinical trial participation for glioma patients. Methods: A search within the UCSF Tumor Board Registry identified 852 adult patients discussed over a 2-year period. This cohort was analyzed to determine the rate of therapeutic clinical trial consideration, tumor board recommendation, and study enrollment based on clinical reports available through the electronic medical record. Results: At the time of initial diagnosis, 30.7% and 18.0% of glioma patients were recommended and enrolled in a therapeutic clinical trial, respectively. At the time of recurrence, 38.7% and 25.3% of patient were recommended and enrolled in a clinical trial, respectively. Nineteen percent of the study population belonged to a NIH designated underrepresented minority group, with Asian/Pacific Islander patients comprising 10.3% of the total patient cohort. Percentage of patients who enrolled in a clinical trial was comparable between subgroups. On univariate analysis, only in-state location, distance to the hospital, and WHO grade were associated with consideration, recommendation, and enrollment at initial diagnosis and recurrence. Minority status, insurance type, median household income, and percent below poverty line based on county of residence were not associated with clinical trial recommendation or enrollment. Conclusion: Race and socioeconomic status did not impact clinical trial consideration, tumor board recommendation, or study enrollment. Our results do not support the premise that provider decisions are impacted by biases based on minority or socioeconomic status.

Citation Format: Sheantel J Reihl, Ramin A Morshed, Sofia Kakaizada, Eric Zhang, Jacob S Young, Jennifer Clarke, Nicholas Butowski, Jennie Taylor, Nancy Ann Bush, Manish K Aghi, Mitchel S Berger, Susan Chang, Shawn L Hervey-Jumper. A study of race and socioeconomic status impacting therapeutic clinical trial enrollment in adult gliomas patients [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Twelfth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2019 Sep 20-23; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl_2):Abstract nr A056.
Abstract A127: Medicare restricts coverage of genetic testing
Authors: Hobbs Verinda
Published: September 2020

This poster will discuss the Medicare to National Coverage Determinations (NCD) for Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) for Medicare Beneficiaries with Advanced Cancer. The change to NCD will impact access to necessary screenings of people within specific communities most at risk for hereditary cancers; all age groups, men and women but specifically people of color with BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 gene mutations. Germline mutations are associated with increased risk of a variety of cancers and confer significant risk of increased morbidity and additional primary cancers. Without access to genetic testing, the possibility of identifying the “familial component” of cancer increases, resulting in late diagnoses, complicating and creating difficult treatment decisions and potentially affecting the prognosis. The NCD should strive to provide reasonable and necessary care that aligns with current evidence based guidelines and medicine. Germline tests should be covered, are important diagnostic tools that identify specific mutations’ this knowledge can provide physicians the benefit of clinically actionable interventions.

Citation Format: Verinda Hobbs. Medicare restricts coverage of genetic testing [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Twelfth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2019 Sep 20-23; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl_2):Abstract nr A127.
Abstract B063: Race-related LMO7 exon skipping enhances prostate tumor invasion
Authors: Al Abo Muthana , Jiang Alice , George Daniel J , Wang Zefeng , Patierno Steven R , Freedman Jennifer A
Published: September 2020

Prostate cancer (PCa) affects disproportionally African American (AA) men in comparison with white or Asian men. According to the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER), the mortality from PCa in black men is 2-5 times higher than in white or Asian men. In addition to differences in social determinants of health, differences in biological mechanisms contribute to the PCa disparity. We reported previously results from a comparative analysis of the transcriptomes of PCa specimens from 20 AA and 15 white patients, identifying 1,188 differentially expressed genes. In addition to the race-related aggregate gene expression differences, we also identified 2,520 differential RNA splicing events between these tumor specimens from AA and white patients. Among the 2,520 events, we prioritized 25 events, which had also been reported by Tsai et. al., 2015 to be differentially expressed between tumor and normal breast, lung and liver samples in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). To elucidate the function of these 25 events, we used Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)-CRISPR associated protein 9 (Cas9) methodology to generate PCa cells expressing each of the race-related alternative RNA splice variants. To date, we have generated DU145 PCa cells that express the following exon skipping events: LIM Domain 7 (LMO7) exon 12, Integrin Subunit Alpha 6 (ITGA6) exon 27 and Actin Binding LIM Protein Family Member 3 (ABLIM3) exon 14. The genotype of these cells was confirmed by PCR. Preliminary proliferation analysis demonstrated that skipping of ITGA6 exon 27 slowed doubling time of the cells compared with the parental cells. Interestingly, the cells expressing the LMO7 exon 12 skip appear more mesenchymal-like. Preliminary invasion analysis suggests that LMO7 exon 12 skipping increases (~ 4 times) the ability of the cells to pass through a Matrigel matrix, suggesting an increased invasive and metastatic potential of these cells. In conclusion, we have identified race-related RNA splicing events in PCa that function in processes relevant to oncogenesis. Further analysis of the biological significance of these race-related RNA splicing events in vitro and in vivo is underway. Our approach to analyze RNA splicing in the context of PCa disparity has the potential to uncover novel biological mechanisms underlying this disparity and to discover novel therapeutic targets.

Citation Format: Muthana Al Abo, Alice Jiang, Daniel J George, Zefeng Wang, Steven R Patierno, Jennifer A Freedman. Race-related LMO7 exon skipping enhances prostate tumor invasion [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Twelfth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2019 Sep 20-23; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl_2):Abstract nr B063.
Abstract B071: PVT1 regulation of claudin expression in triple-negative breast cancer
Authors: Levine Fayola , Ogunwobi Olorunseun
Published: September 2020

Breast cancer (BC) is a heterogeneous disease that is classically driven by the estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epithelial growth factor receptor 2 (EGFR2/HER2) signaling pathways. Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), is a lethal subtype of invasive BC tumors that are ER-, PR- and HER2-. A subtype of TNBC is claudin low (CL). Dysregulation of claudin proteins disrupts tight junctions, consequently inducing the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in cancers. This leads to enhanced motility and metastasis. Patients with CL TNBC have worse prognosis than patients with other BC subtypes. African American (AA) women with TNBC account for almost 20% of all BC cases and premenopausal African American (AA) women are more likely to die from the disease. PVT1 is a long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) transcribed from the 8q24 genomic locus that has been implicated in multiple cancers including BC. Amplification of the 8q24 gene locus is a common event in many malignant diseases and is associated with poor survival rate among patients. Although previous research demonstrates a critical functional role which PVT1 plays in BC, the underlying molecular mechanisms of PVT1 in CL TNBC was previously unknown. We assessed PVT1 expression in BC, and we observed that PVT1 exons 4A, 4B, and 9 are significantly upregulated in MDA MB 231 cells (claudin low) and significantly downregulated in MDA MB 468 cells (claudin high), in comparison to T47D (ER+). We have confirmed that claudin expression, specifically claudins 1, 3, 4 and 7, are higher in MDA MB 468 and lower in MDA MB 231. When PVT1 exon 9 expression is silenced in the MDA MB 231 CL TNBC cell line, we observed a significant reduction in migration when compared to cells transfected with a control scramble siRNA, suggesting that PVT1 exon 9 may be regulating migration in CL TNBC. Further investigation could lead to an understanding of the molecular mechanisms by which PVT1 exon 9 regulates claudin expression and consequently clinical outcome in TNBC.

Citation Format: Fayola Levine, Olorunseun Ogunwobi. PVT1 regulation of claudin expression in triple-negative breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Twelfth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2019 Sep 20-23; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl_2):Abstract nr B071.
Abstract B093: Upregulated and downregulated microRNA-signatures in thyroid cancer health disparities
Authors: Davis Ryan , Wongworawat Yan C , Perez Mia C , Santiago Krystal , Roy Saurav , Wang Charles , Simental Alfred A , Khan Salma
Published: September 2020

Filipino Americans (FA) are known to have a higher incidence, recurrence, and mortality of thyroid cancer (TC) than other Asians Americans or European Americans (EA). Understanding the molecular mechanisms that underpin the genetic defect in metabolism and their impact on thyroid cancer oncogenesis in FA are critical for addressing the health disparity. Mechanisms that link genetic defects and lifestyle factors to thyroid cancer progression have not been defined. Lifestyle and genetic variations among FA lead them to a higher risk of metabolic diseases but no study showed to elucidate the mechanism of thyroid health disparities cancer so far. Recent studies clearly demonstrate that miRNA plays an important role in carcinogenesis via targeting both oncogene and tumor suppressor gene and lifestyle changes may potentially alter miRNA signatures. Therefore, we hypothesize that miRNA expression contributes to tumor grade, prognosis, and thyroid cancer health disparities. We examined miRNA expression profiles in FA vs. EA. We analyzed miRNA-sequence (miRNA-seq) by next-generation sequencing (NGS). The pathways linked to miRNAs were analyzed by ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) software. Correlations between disease staging to miRNA upregulation and downregulation were elucidated. Both upregulated and downregulated miRNAs were validated by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) using miRNA extracted from paraffin-embedded thyroid tissues. We found hundreds of upregulated and downregulated miRNA and piRNA from this study. We chose 10 miRNA down-regulated, and 10 up-regulated miRNA FA compared to EA TC patients (p<0.05). Quantitative PCR (qPCR) was done to confirm our NGS data. Differential miRNA expressions between FA vs. EA patient tumor tissues were observed with advanced staging. Evolutionarily conserved miRNA clusters, which are known to initiate malignancy, were shown to be upregulated in FATC vs. EATC. While those miRNAs are known to regulate pathways involved in cancer invasion and metastasis, they were shown to be down-regulated in FATC patients vs. EATC. The significantly top ten down-regulated/upregulated miRNA-signature suggests that it can be a diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive biomarker in TC health disparities.

Citation Format: Ryan Davis, Yan C Wongworawat, Mia C Perez, Krystal Santiago, Saurav Roy, Charles Wang, Alfred A Simental, Salma Khan. Upregulated and downregulated microRNA-signatures in thyroid cancer health disparities [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Twelfth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2019 Sep 20-23; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl_2):Abstract nr B093.
Abstract C010: African Americans’ adherence to survivorship
Authors: Albany Roberta A.
Published: September 2020

Looking at data that support issues regarding African Americans not adhering to their taking prescribed medications and following up on their treatment care plans. There’s a need to understand the stigma and social economic/class with regards to poor follow-up on survivorship care plans and we can bridge the gap in the African American communities and health care providers.

Citation Format: Roberta A. Albany. African Americans’ adherence to survivorship [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Twelfth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2019 Sep 20-23; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl_2):Abstract nr C010.
Abstract C014: Questions I'd Wished I'd Asked: Cervical Cancer Survivors' Perceptions about Provider Education on Impact of Treatment on Sexual Health
Authors: Hock Gail Petersen
Published: September 2020

This poster shares perspectives of cervical cancer (CC) survivors related to the information they received about how their diagnosis and treatment may impact their sexual health. Mick, Hughes, & Cohen’s (2004) BETTER model was modified into an electronic survey format. The study (n = 89) had 15 variables and two open ended questions. Independent variables were: Age (current and at diagnosis); CC stage; Race; Ethnicity; Insurance status at diagnosis; Educational completion; and Urbanicity. Participants also reported independent variables related to provider gender and type. Dependent variables were five modified BETTER model questions and a question regarding the offer of fertility options following treatment. Open ended questions on the social/cultural impact of diagnosis and the opportunity to share any questions they wished they had asked were included adding depth to the closed ended questions. Outcomes revealed three significant findings. 1) Of respondents reporting that their provider did not explain that they could discuss any concerns during their treatment more than half, of respondents, fell at the lower end of the educational level. 2) There was an association between provider gender and offers of information about fertility preservation. 3) Female providers were 31% more likely to offer fertility information. Although not statistically significant, nearly 50% of the CC survivors reported that issues in the sexual domain were not introduced during discussion of treatment options. This study supports use of the BETTER model as a teaching tool in oncology practices facilitating quality patient centered care by reducing gaps in addressing sexual domain issues related to treatment options. Ultimately, participant perspectives’ will be used to modify public domain educational materials used in oncology practices and cancer support organizations to reflect a more patient centered approach to health in the sexual domain.

Citation Format: Gail Petersen Hock. Questions I'd Wished I'd Asked: Cervical Cancer Survivors' Perceptions about Provider Education on Impact of Treatment on Sexual Health [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Twelfth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2019 Sep 20-23; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl_2):Abstract nr C014.
Abstract C036: Disparities in dietary behavior in East Harlem, New York City
Authors: Zambrano Cristina , Lu Wenyue , Johnson Cicely , Beeber Maayan , Panitz April , Ibrahim Safa , Fraser Marilyn , Bhimla Aisha , Tan Yin , Ma Grace , Navder Khursheed , Yeh Ming-Chin , Ogunwobi Olorunseun
Published: September 2020

Cancer is the second most common cause of deaths in the United States, disproportionately affecting minority groups. A diet low in fruits and vegetables is associated with increased risk of cancer. In this multidisciplinary study, we assessed the dietary behaviors and the urinary concentrations of gallic acid, an antioxidant found in various fruits and vegetables, of minorities in New York City. Seventy-five (75) participants were recruited from a senior center in East Harlem, New York City, a racially diverse and underserved community. A National Institute of Health (NIH) - validated survey questionnaire was used to collect dietary behavior data. Demographic and cancer history information were also collected. All 75 participants completed the survey and forty-one (41) participants provided urine samples for urinary gallic acid content analysis. Associations between demographic factors and the intake of certain foods were observed. Specifically, age was negatively associated with the frequency of French fries/fried potatoes and white potatoes intake (p<0.05), while positively associated with frequency of fruit intake (p<0.05). Additionally, Asian race was associated with a higher frequency of fruit intake (p<0.05), compared to other races. Moreover, two male participants (1 Black/African American and 1 White) reported incidences of cancer. Although both individuals reported a college education or higher, they related an annual household income of less than $50,000. In addition, their intake of fruits and vegetables was lower (2.93±1.35) compared to the overall sample (3.38±5.07), along with a much lower detected urinary gallic acid mean concentration (1.78±0.77) compared to the total urinary gallic acid concentration sample mean (11.11±23.14). This study provides preliminary information about the dietary behavior of older adults in East Harlem, which will serve as a basis for a future larger study to investigate the effect of nutrition/dietary education intervention on cancer prevention among diverse groups in New York City.

Citation Format: Cristina Zambrano, Wenyue Lu, Cicely Johnson, Maayan Beeber, April Panitz, Safa Ibrahim, Marilyn Fraser, Aisha Bhimla, Yin Tan, Grace Ma, Khursheed Navder, Ming-Chin Yeh, Olorunseun Ogunwobi. Disparities in dietary behavior in East Harlem, New York City [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Twelfth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2019 Sep 20-23; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl_2):Abstract nr C036.
Abstract C037: Development of a physical activity intervention using the socioecological model framework: Formative evaluation among rural African American women
Authors: Hall Marla B. , Mwachofi Ari K. , Collier Caroline B. , Kerwin Kiana L.
Published: September 2020

Due to physical activity (PA) engagement disparities among African Americans (AA), individuals of this population are at increased prevalence for various chronic diseases. Moreover, research suggests that higher levels of PA are linked to lower risk of several cancers. However, within rural areas, locality challenges related to the built environment have been noted as a deterrent for engagement. The purpose of the study was to gather recommendations, using formative evaluation, to develop a physical activity (PA) program for older African American (AA) women (≥ 50 years of age) residing in eastern North Carolina. Focus group (FG) participants were recruited in partnership with local lay health advisors and other trusted community members. Utilizing the socioecological model as a framework, qualitative data were stratified and analyzed using SPSS and NVivo. Participants included a total of 46 women from a convenience sample which consisted of three FGs. At the intrapersonal level, respondents expressed interest in increasing their PA engagement through methods such as walking and/or dancing, and the incorporation of self-monitoring tools to track progress. Regarding interpersonal level suggestions, participants noted the inclusion of group-based approaches. In addition, community level guidance highlighted the scarcity of PA facilities for those residing outside of the county seat, and the necessity of partnering with pre-existing buildings. Lastly, policy level direction was related to environmental infrastructure (i.e., lack of street lights and sidewalks) and personal safety as attributes for inactivity. To circumvent this issue, respondents suggested that outdoor PA sources have consistent law enforcement presence. Data obtained will be used to guide the development of a culturally-tailored and community-advised multilevel PA intervention for older AA women of rural residence.

Citation Format: Marla B. Hall, Ari K. Mwachofi, Caroline B. Collier, Kiana L. Kerwin. Development of a physical activity intervention using the socioecological model framework: Formative evaluation among rural African American women [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Twelfth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2019 Sep 20-23; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl_2):Abstract nr C037.
Abstract D007: Mammographic breast density and acculturation: Longitudinal analysis in Chinese immigrants
Authors: Almeida Rebeca , Byrne Celia , Fang Carolyn Y. , Tseng Marilyn
Published: September 2020

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, regardless of race or ethnicity. Unlike other racial and ethnic groups, breast cancer rates in Asian American women have steadily increased over the past several decades. The increase among recent migrants might be partly due to the adoption of the behaviors and values of the mainstream culture. We tested the hypothesis that higher level of acculturation was associated with higher mammographic breast density (MBD), an indicator of breast cancer risk, using data from a 2006-2010 longitudinal study of 426 premenopausal Chinese immigrant women in Philadelphia. MBD, including dense area, non-dense area, and percent density, was calculated using a computer assisted method. An abridged version of the General Ethnicity Questionnaire – American version provided a measure of acculturation. We used generalized estimating equations (GEE) to account for repeated observations and adjusted for age, type of mammographic image (film or digital), body mass index, months of breastfeeding, number of live births, age at first birth, and menopausal stage (pre, early peri, late peri, and post). At baseline, the mean age of participants was 43.9 years (SD=4.5), mean length of U.S. residence was 7.5 years (SD=4.8), and mean age at migration was 36.4 years (SD=6.4). GEE models using 1,110 observations from the 426 participants showed no significant associations between acculturation and MBD (percent density β=0.32, p=0.54; dense area β=0.28, p=0.57; and non-dense area β=-0.42, p=0.60). Our findings are consistent with an emerging body of research suggesting that acculturation measures are insufficient to distinguish levels of breast cancer risk in immigrant women, given changes in immigration patterns and economic development in sending countries. Future work should consider other factors, including behavioral, environmental and epigenetic factors or changes in reproductive patterns, that may have a greater effect on MBD than acculturation-related behaviors in adulthood.

Citation Format: Rebeca Almeida, Celia Byrne, Carolyn Y. Fang, Marilyn Tseng. Mammographic breast density and acculturation: Longitudinal analysis in Chinese immigrants [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Twelfth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2019 Sep 20-23; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl_2):Abstract nr D007.
Abstract D036: Assessing underrepresented and health disparities investigators’ interests and needed research support in emerging areas of science
Authors: Fleisher Linda , Norbeck Carrie
Published: September 2020

Purpose: The Geographic Management of Cancer Health Disparities Program (GMaP), initiated 2009, is a national program funded by the National Cancer Institute’s Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities (CRCHD). GMaP Region 4 is a thirteen state region with over 800 members of underrepresented and health disparities investigators utilizing a multipronged engagement approach to support diverse investigators in their career trajectory including basic, clinical, population and translational research. Understanding how to support these investigators to be successful in new emerging areas of science is critical. Methods: Previous surveys focused on barriers to funding for diversity training awardees and feedback on the value of specific programs, such as travel scholarships supporting early stage investigators (ESI). This current survey focuses additionally on emerging areas of science, including: precision medicine, mHealth, implementation science and commercialization to better understand our members current research interest in these areas and the kinds of support investigators need as they compete in these arenas. This survey is being distributed and data collection and analysis will be completed this summer. Summary of Results: Our previous surveys indicated that ESI’s ranked the following services as “Most Beneficial.” Travel Scholarships – (95.5%); Pilot Funds (for feasibility data collection to support ongoing research) – (, 77.3%); E-blast with job/funding/training resources – (54.5%); Grant Review - (50.0%); and Introductions to CRCHD Program Officers in Training Navigation - (47.6%). We will compare findings from the current survey to determine the ongoing value of these programs as well as the scope of current research in these new emerging areas and the types of support and services required to build investigators research portfolios in these areas. Recommendations: Ongoing programmatic strategies utilized by GMaP Region 4 have been highly valued. The findings of this current survey will provide a deeper understanding of underrepresented and health disparities researchers’ interest in emerging areas of precision medicine, mHealth, implementation science and commercialization as well as recommendations on how to support their research in these areas particularly related to health disparities.

Citation Format: Linda Fleisher, Carrie Norbeck. Assessing underrepresented and health disparities investigators’ interests and needed research support in emerging areas of science [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Twelfth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2019 Sep 20-23; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl_2):Abstract nr D036.