bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Onyx embolization for the endovascular treatment of infectious and traumatic aneurysms involving the cranial and cerebral vasculature
Authors: Jadhav Ashutosh P , Pryor Johnny C , Nogueira Raul G
Published: November 2012

Background

Onyx is a liquid non-adhesive viscous embolic agent ideal for slow targeted injections which is currently approved for the treatment of intracranial aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations.

Methods

We performed a single-center retrospective analysis of consecutive patients who underwent off-label use of Onyx as the single embolic agent for the treatment of traumatic or infectious pseudoaneurysms involving the cerebral or cranial vasculature.

Results

A total of nine pseudoaneurysms treated by Onyx embolization were identified. Six of the pseudoaneurysms were post-surgical, one of the pseudoaneurysms was traumatic and two were infectious in nature. The mean pseudoaneurysm size was 5.9 mm (range 2–10 mm). Onyx-34 was used in all cases. Following treatment there was complete exclusion of all pseudoaneurysms including their inflow and outflow zones.

Conclusions

Our experience demonstrates the efficacy and applicability of the use of Onyx in the treatment of complex traumatic and mycotic pseudoaneurysms involving the cerebral and cranial vascular tree.
Comparison of estimators in one-phase two-stage Poisson sampling in forest inventories
Authors: Mandallaz Daniel , Massey Alexander
Published: November 2012

In the context of Poisson sampling, numerous adjustments to classical estimators have been proposed that are intended to compensate for inflated variance due to random sample size. However, such adjustments have never been applied to extensive forest inventories. This work investigates the performances of four estimators for the timber volume in one-phase two-stage forest inventories, where trees in the first stage are selected, at the plot level, by concentric circles or angle-count methods and a subset thereof are selected by Poisson sampling for further measurements to get a better estimation. The original two-stage estimator is the sum of two components: the first is the mean of Horwitz–Thompson estimators using simple volume approximations, based on diameter and species alone, of all first-stage trees in each inventory plot, and the second is the mean of Horwitz–Thompson estimators based on the differences between the simple volume approximations and refined volume determinations based on further diameter and height measurements on the second-stage trees within each inventory plot. This two-stage estimator is particularly useful because it provides unbiased estimates even if the simple prediction model is not correct, which is particularly important for small area estimation. The other three estimators rely on adjustments of the second component of the original estimator that are adapted from estimators proposed in the literature by L.R. Grosenbaugh and C.-E. Särndal. It turns out that these adjustments introduce a negligible bias and that the original simple estimator performs just as well or even better than the new estimators with respect to the variance.
Regeneration and stand development following a spruce budworm outbreak, spruce budworm inspired harvest, and salvage harvest
Authors: Spence C. Eiry , MacLean David A.
Published: November 2012

Spruce budworm ( Choristoneura fumiferana (Clemens)) (SBW) outbreaks are a major disturbance that influence stand dynamics and succession in balsam fir ( Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) dominated forests of eastern Canada. We used stand and regeneration data collected from five plots in each of one immature and five mature stands before, during, and 30 years following the last major SBW outbreak in the Cape Breton Highlands to examine the role of stand and regeneration characteristics in shaping future stand development. Comparisons were also made between regeneration in four SBW outbreak stands versus two SBW salvage stands, with and without a subsequent precommercial thinning, and with 25 plots that underwent SBW emulation harvest. In mature unharvested balsam fir stands, species composition 30 years following the SBW outbreak was closely related to predisturbance species composition, and in immature fir stands, hardwood composition increased from 0% to 4%–27%. Species composition in harvested stands varied depending on whether intolerant hardwoods had been precommercially thinned, where thinned stands had 30% less hardwood 30 years postdisturbance than unthinned stands. Seedling density decreased by 17%–85% from 1979 to 1989 in all SBW outbreak stands, but average seedling height increased by 17%–500% as live canopy cover decreased from an average of 50% to 4%. Results suggest that advanced regeneration should be protected during harvest of balsam fir dominated stands, post-outbreak precommercial thinning will increase tree growth, and live tree retention can help develop late-seral structural characteristics in second-growth stands.
Base cation distribution and requirement of three common forest ecosystems in eastern Canada based on site-specific and general allometric equations
Authors: Tremblay Sylvie , Ouimet Rock , Houle Daniel , Duchesne Louis
Published: November 2012

Base cations (Ca, Mg, and K) are essential nutrients for forest growth. Many studies have reported important decreases in the soils of several forests in eastern North America, partly because of atmospheric acid deposition and forest harvesting. To quantify the impacts of these perturbations on forest base cations, accurate estimation of tree biomass and nutrient content is needed. However, most of tree nutrient contents are calculated with general allometric equations, leading to inaccurate estimates. We thus calculated tree biomass and base cation content for three common forest types in eastern Canada using site-specific allometric equations and compared them with those calculated with general allometric equations and nutrient concentrations of tree compartments taken from the literature. General allometric equations resulted in above-ground tree biomass estimates in the same range as ours (±15%), but the use of nutrient concentrations taken from the literature resulted mainly in overestimation of above-ground tree nutrient content (–13% to +81%), leading to inaccurate wood requirement estimates (–63% to +86%). Therefore, the development of site-specific equations to estimate above-ground tree base cation content is recommended.
Effects of harvesting on nitrogen and phosphorus availability in riparian management zone soils in Minnesota, USA
Authors: Kastendick Douglas N. , Zenner Eric K. , Palik Brian J. , Kolka Randall K. , Blinn Charles R.
Published: November 2012

Riparian management zones (RMZs) protect streams from excess nutrients, yet few studies have looked at soil nutrients in forested RMZs or the impacts of partial harvesting on nutrient availability. We investigated the impacts of upland clearcutting in conjunction with uncut and partially harvested RMZs (40% basal area reduction) on soil nutrients in forests in Minnesota, USA. Nitrate, ammonium, and phosphorus were measured using exchange resins. Upland clearcutting increased dormant and growing season nitrate, ammonium, and total inorganic nitrogen in the upland 2 to 5 times compared with uncut upland. Upland clearcutting increased dormant and growing season nitrate and total inorganic nitrogen just inside the RMZ boundary 2 to 5 times compared with this location adjacent to uncut upland. Dormant season nitrate and total inorganic nitrogen were 2 times higher in the entire RMZ adjacent to upland clearcut. Phosphorus was not affected by treatment. Partial harvesting of the RMZ did not increase nutrients compared with the uncut RMZ. Results suggest that nitrate is transported into the RMZ from adjacent clearcuts but partial harvesting of the RMZ does not increase nitrate availability.
VERTEX FUNCTION OF VIRTUAL NEUTRINO AT SMALL MOMENTUM TRANSFERRED
Authors: DOBRYNINA A. A. , MIKHEEV N. V. , NARYNSKAYA E. N.
Published: November 2012

The vertex function at the limit of small momentum transferred of a virtual massive neutrino in ξ-gauge is calculated via neutrino self-energy operator in a constant electromagnetic field. The expressions for neutrino magnetic moment under various relations between masses of neutrino, W-boson and charged lepton are presented.
EINSTEIN'S REAL "BIGGEST BLUNDER"
Authors: ELLIS HOMER G.
Published: November 2012

Albert Einstein's real "biggest blunder" was not the 1917 introduction into his gravitational field equations of a cosmological constant term Λ, rather was his failure in 1916 to distinguish between the entirely different concepts of active gravitational mass and passive gravitational mass. Had he made the distinction, and followed David Hilbert's lead in deriving field equations from a variational principle, he might have discovered a true (not a cut and paste) Einstein–Rosen bridge and a cosmological model that would have allowed him to predict, long before such phenomena were imagined by others, inflation, a big bounce (not a big bang), an accelerating expansion of the universe, dark matter, and the existence of cosmic voids, walls, filaments and nodes.
DIELECTRIC AND INTERFACE STABILITY OF LaSmO3 FILMS
Authors: SU WEITAO , ZHUANG QIUHUI , HUO DEXUAN , LI BIN
Published: November 2012

The continuous downscaling of metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFET) on silicon, germanium, GaAs , etc. still demands the creation of new high-k dielectrics with even better material performance. In this research, a new ternary high-k dielectric film, LaSmO3 , is deposited using electron-beam evaporation. The structure and high temperature interfacial thermal stabilities are investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photon electronic spectra (XPS), infrared attenuated total reflection (ATR) and time of flight second ion mass spectroscopy (ToF-SIMS). The band gap and band offset are determined using the O 1s energy loss spectra and valence band difference between film and substrate, respectively, from the XPS spectra. Capacitance-voltage (CV) and current-voltage (IV) curves are measured to give an insight of the dielectric and leakage current of this material. It is found that crystallization temperature of LaSmO3 is >1000°C. The high dielectric constant (k) = 24.6, large band gap (Eg) > 7 eV and low leakage current (1.8 × 10-4 A/cm2, 1 MV/cm) make LaSmO3 to be a promising high-k candidate.
SOME EVOLUTION EQUATIONS FOR AN ORNSTEIN–UHLENBECK PROCESS-DRIVEN DYNAMICAL SYSTEM
Authors: PATEL HIREN G. , SHARMA SHAMBHU N.
Published: November 2012

The statistical properties of the Ornstein–Uhlenbeck (OU) process, a colored noise process, confirm the real noise statistics, since the real noise process has finite, nonzero correlation time. For this reason, it seems worthwhile to develop the estimation-theoretic scenarios of dynamical systems embedded in the colored noise environment as well. Importantly, the application of the Itô theory is not straightforward to the dynamical system in which the OU variable is a driving input. The augmented solution vector approach coupled with the Itô stochastic differential rule plays the pivotal role to develop the theory of the OU process-driven Duffing–van der Pol (DvdP) system of this paper. Notably, the noise analysis of the Duffing–van der Pol system, especially from the estimation-theoretic viewpoint, under the colored noise influence is not available yet in literature. Numerical experimentations with three different sets of data are demonstrated to examine the efficacy of analytical findings of this paper. The results of this paper will be of interest to noise scientists, especially research communities in systems and control, looking for the estimation-theoretic scenarios of the colored noise-driven "vector" stochastic differential system.
ON GENERATING RANDOM POTENTIALS
Authors: SIMON M. SUÑÉ , SANCHO J. M. , LACASTA A. M.
Published: November 2012

The study of transport and diffusion of Brownian particles in disorder media needs the generation of random potentials with well prescribed statistical properties. Here we present a straightforward method to build a Gaussian potential landscape with an arbitrary spatial correlation with the only requirement of isotropy. The method has the particularity that, although it uses the Fourier space, all its constraints and information are in real space. As practical applications we construct three types of Gaussian disordered correlations: Normal, exponential and power-law. These three cases cover a variety of physical situations.
QUASI-PERIODIC SOLUTIONS OF THE DISCRETE mKdV HIERARCHY
Authors: GENG XIANGUO , GONG DONG
Published: November 2012

On the basis of the theory of algebraic curves, the continuous flow related to the discrete mKdV hierarchy is straightened using the Abel–Jacobi coordinates. The meromorphic function and the Baker–Akhiezer function are introduced on the hyperelliptic curve. Quasi-periodic solutions of the discrete mKdV hierarchy are constructed with the help of the asymptotic properties and the algebro-geometric characters of the meromorphic function and the hyperelliptic curve.
A predictive speller controlled by a brain-computer interface based on motor imagery
Authors: D'albis Tiziano , Blatt Rossella , Tedesco Roberto , Sbattella Licia , Matteucci Matteo
Published: November 2012

Persons suffering from motor disorders have limited possibilities for communicating and normally require assistive technologies to fulfill this primary need. Promising means of providing basic communication abilities to subjects affected by severe motor impairments include brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), that is, systems that directly translate brain signals into device commands, bypassing any muscle or nerve mediation. To date, the use of BCIs for effective verbal communication is yet an open issue, primarily due to the low rates of information transfer that can be achieved with this technology. Still, performance of BCI spelling applications could be considerably improved by a smart user interface design and by the adoption of natural language processing (NLP) techniques for text prediction. The objective of this work is to suggest an approach and a user interface for BCI spelling applications combining state-of-the-art BCI and NLP techniques to maximize the overall communication rate of the system. The BCI paradigm adopted is motor imagery, that is, when the subject imagines moving a certain part of the body, he/she produces modifications to specific brain rhythms that are detected in real-time through an electroencephalogram and translated into commands for a spelling application. By maximizing the overall communication rate, our approach is twofold: on one hand, we maximize the information transfer rate from the control signal, on the other hand, we optimize the way this information is employed for the purpose of verbal communication. The achieved results are satisfactory and comparable with the latest works reported in literature on motor-imagery BCI spellers. For the three subjects tested, we obtained a spelling rate of respectively 3 char/min, 2.7 char/min, and 2 char/min.
Equivalence checking of static affine programs using widening to handle recurrences
Authors: Verdoolaege Sven , Janssens Gerda , Bruynooghe Maurice
Published: November 2012

Designers often apply manual or semi-automatic loop and data transformations on array- and loop-intensive programs to improve performance. It is crucial that such transformations preserve the functionality of the program. This article presents an automatic method for constructing equivalence proofs for the class of static affine programs. The equivalence checking is performed on a dependence graph abstraction and uses a new approach based on widening to find the proper induction hypotheses for reasoning about recurrences. Unlike transitive-closure-based approaches, this widening approach can also handle nonuniform recurrences. The implementation is publicly available and is the first of its kind to fully support commutative operations.
The Web Won’t Be Safe or Secure until We Break It
Authors: Grossman Jeremiah
Published: November 2012

The Internet was designed to deliver information, but few people envisioned the vast amounts of information that would be involved or the personal nature of that information. Similarly, few could have foreseen the potential flaws in the design of the Internet that would expose this personal information, compromising the data of individuals and companies.
Alcohol Consumption and Breast Cancer Risk Among Postmenopausal Women Following the Cessation of Hormone Therapy Use: The California Teachers Study
Authors: Horn-Ross Pamela L. , Canchola Alison J. , Bernstein Leslie , Clarke Christina A. , Lacey James V. , Neuhausen Susan L. , Reynolds Peggy , Ursin Giske
Published: November 2012

Background: Alcohol consumption increases breast cancer risk, but its effect may be modified by hormone therapy (HT) use, such that exposure to both may be synergistic. Because many women stopped taking HT after mid-2002, it is important to quantify risks associated with alcohol consumption in the context of HT cessation, as these risks may be more relevant to cancer prevention efforts today.

Methods: Among 40,680 eligible postmenopausal California Teachers Study cohort participants, 660 were diagnosed with invasive breast cancer before 2010. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results: Increased breast cancer risk associated with alcohol consumption was observed among postmenopausal women who were current HT users [RR, 1.60; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.13–2.26 and RR, 2.11; 95% CI, 1.41–3.15 for <20 and ≥20 g/d of alcohol], with risks being similar by HT preparation. Alcohol did not increase risk among women who had stopped using HT within 3 years or 3 to 4 years before completing the follow-up questionnaire or in the more distant past. Results were similar for estrogen receptor positive (ER+) and ER+PR+ progesterone receptors positive (PR+) tumors; while power was limited, no increase in risk was observed for ER− tumors.

Conclusions: Following the cessation of HT use, alcohol consumption is not significantly associated with breast cancer risk, although a nonsignificant increased risk was observed among women who never used HT.

Impact: Our findings confirm that concurrent exposure to HT and alcohol has a substantial adverse impact on breast cancer risk. However, after HT cessation, this risk is reduced. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 21(11); 2006–13. ©2012 AACR.
HPV in Female Partners Increases Risk of Incident HPV Infection Acquisition in Heterosexual Men in Rural Central Mexico
Authors: Morales Rosalba , Parada Rocio , Giuliano Anna R. , Cruz Aurelio , Castellsagué Xavier , Salmerón Jorge , Lazcano-Ponce Eduardo
Published: November 2012

Background: Knowledge about the incidence, clearance, and factors associated with human papilloma virus (HPV) infection in men is lacking, and much of what is available focuses on high-risk groups.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was carried out with 504 heterosexual males from Mexico State, Mexico. Participants were monitored for 4 years at intervals of approximately 4 months, with a median total duration of follow-up of 19.8 months. The presence of cervical HPV in female sexual partners was evaluated as a risk factor. HPV DNA testing was conducted using the polymerase chain reaction technique. Risk factors associated with the incidence and clearance of HPV infection were evaluated through survival analysis.

Results: The cumulative incidence of infection with any HPV type at 12 months was 15% [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.12–0.20]. About 72% of men with incident HPV cleared the infection by 12 months. The presence of cervical HPV in a man's female sex partner was the main determinant for males acquiring HPV infection of any type [adjusted HR (AHR), 2.1; 95% CI, 1.1–3.8] and oncogenic HPV infection (AHR, 4.1; 95% CI, 2.1–8.0), while having a history of anal sexual relations with women was statistically associated with acquiring nononcogenic HPV (AHR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.1–2.9).

Conclusions and Impact: The incidence of genital HPV infection in this population is relatively low, with relatively quick acquisition and clearance rates. Cervical HPV infection in men's female sexual partners was the main risk factor for genital HPV infection in men. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 21(11); 1956–65. ©2012 AACR.
High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein Levels and Cancer Mortality
Authors: Ko Young-Jin , Kwon Young-Min , Kim Kyae Hyung , Choi Ho-Chun , Chun So Hyun , Yoon Hyung-Jin , Goh Eurah , Cho Belong , Park Minseon
Published: November 2012

Background: High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) is an important inflammatory marker, and inflammation is known to be involved in the initiation and progression of cancer. We investigated the association between serum hs-CRP levels and all-cause mortality, cancer mortality, and site-specific cancer mortality in apparently cancer-free Koreans.

Methods: A total of 33,567 participants who underwent routine check-ups at a single tertiary hospital health-screening center between May 1995 and December 2006, and whose serum hs-CRP level data were available, were included in the study. Baseline serum hs-CRP levels were obtained and subjects were followed up for mortality from baseline examination until December 31, 2008.

Results: During an average follow-up of 9.4 years, 1,054 deaths, including 506 cancer deaths, were recorded. The adjusted HRs (aHR; 95% confidence interval [CI]) of subjects with hs-CRP ≥3 mg/L for all-cause and cancer-related mortality were 1.38 (1.15–1.66) and 1.61 (1.25–2.07) in men, and 1.29 (0.94–1.77) and 1.24 (0.75–2.06) in women, respectively, compared with subjects with hs-CRP ≤1 mg/L. Elevated hs-CRP was also associated with an increased risk of site-specific mortality from lung cancer for sexes combined (2.53 [1.57–4.06]).

Conclusions: This study suggests that elevated levels of hs-CRP in apparently cancer-free individuals may be associated with increased mortality from all-causes and cancer, in particular, lung cancer in men, but not in women.

Impact: As a marker for chronic inflammation, hs-CRP assists in the identification of subjects with an increased risk of cancer death. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 21(11); 2076–86. ©2012 AACR.
Time to First Cigarette and Upper Aerodigestive Tract Cancer Risk in Japan
Authors: Matsuo Keitaro , Gallus Silvano , Negri Eva , Kawakita Daisuke , Oze Isao , Hosono Satoyo , Ito Hidemi , Hatooka Shunzo , Hasegawa Yasuhisa , Shinoda Masayuki , Tajima Kazuo , La Vecchia Carlo , Tanaka Hideo
Published: November 2012

Background: Cigarette smoking is the major cause for upper aerodigestive tract (UADT) cancers. The time to first cigarette (TTFC) of the day is a distinct indicator of nicotine dependence, but scanty information is available on its possible relation with UADT cancers (oral, oropharyngeal, hypopharyngeal, laryngeal, nasopharyngeal, and esophageal cancers).

Methods: This case–control study includes a total of 1,009 incident UADT cancer cases and 3,027 age- and sex-matched noncancer controls admitted to the Aichi Cancer Center (Nagoya, Japan) between 2001 and 2005. We estimated OR and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for TTFC using logistic regression models after adjustment for several potential confounders.

Results: TTFC was inversely related to the risk of UADT cancer, and this association was consistent across subtypes of head and neck cancer and esophageal cancer. For all UADT cancers considered among ever smokers and after accurate allowance for smoking quantity and duration, besides other relevant covariates, compared with TTFC more than 60 minutes, the adjusted ORs were 1.40 (95% CI: 0.93–2.11) for 31 to 60 minutes, 1.76 (95% CI: 1.20–2.58) for 6 to 30 minutes, and 2.43 (95% CI: 1.64–3.61) for within 5 minutes. No significant heterogeneity was found in strata of sex, age, alcohol consumption, fruit and vegetable intake, and occupation for overall and site-specific analysis.

Conclusion: Nicotine dependence, as indicated by the TTFC, is associated with increased risk of UADT cancers and is therefore an independent marker of exposure to smoking.

Impact: Our result indicates more detailed risk evaluation of UADT cancers that is enabled by the TTFC. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 21(11); 1986–92. ©2012 AACR.
Risk for Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia Grade 3 or Worse in Relation to Smoking among Women with Persistent Human Papillomavirus Infection
Authors: Jensen Kirsten Egebjerg , Schmiedel Sven , Frederiksen Kirsten , Norrild Bodil , Iftner Thomas , Kjær Susanne K.
Published: November 2012

Background: Smoking has been associated with cervical cancer. We examined whether smoking increases the risk for high-grade cervical lesions in women with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.

Methods: In a population-based cohort study, 8,656 women underwent a structured interview, and subsequently cervical cells were obtained for HPV DNA testing. Women with high-risk HPV infection and no prevalent cervical disease at baseline (n = 1,353) were followed through the Pathology Data Bank for cervical lesions for up to 13 years. Separate analyses of women with persistent high-risk HPV infection (n = 312) were also conducted. HRs for a diagnosis of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 or worse/high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions or worse (CIN3+) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated in the two groups.

Results: Among high-risk HPV-positive women, an increased risk for CIN3+ was associated with long-term smoking (≥10 years) and heavy smoking (≥20 cigarettes/d). In the subgroup of women with persistent HPV infection, heavy smoking was also associated with a statistically significantly higher risk for CIN3+ than never smoking (HR, 1.85; 95% CI, 1.05–3.22, adjusted for length of schooling, parity, and HPV type at baseline). The average number of cervical cytology screening tests per year during follow-up did not explain the differences in risk in relation to smoking (P = 0.4).

Conclusions: Smoking is associated with an increased risk for subsequent high-grade cervical lesions in women with persistent high-risk HPV infection.

Impact: Our study adds to the understanding of the role of smoking in the natural history of HPV and cervical carcinogenesis. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 21(11); 1949–55. ©2012 AACR.
Telomere Length and Pancreatic Cancer: A Case–Control Study
Authors: Skinner Halcyon G. , Gangnon Ronald E. , Litzelman Kristin , Johnson Ruth A. , Chari Suresh T. , Petersen Gloria M. , Boardman Lisa A.
Published: November 2012

Background: Telomeres, the ends of chromosomes, are critical for maintaining genomic stability and grow shorter with age. Shortened telomeres in pancreatic tissue play a key role in the pathogenesis of pancreatic cancer, and shorter telomeres in peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) have been associated with increased risk for several cancer types. We hypothesized that shorter blood telomeres are associated with higher risk for pancreatic cancer.

Methods: Telomere length was measured in PBLs using quantitative real-time PCR in 499 cases with pancreatic cancer and 963 cancer-free controls from the Mayo Clinic. ORs and confidence intervals (CI) were computed using logistic generalized additive models (GAM) adjusting for multiple variables.

Results: In multivariable adjusted models, we observed a significant nonlinear association between telomere length in peripheral blood samples and the risk for pancreatic cancer. Risk was lower among those with longer telomeres compared with shorter telomeres across a range from the 1st percentile to 90th percentile of telomere length. There was also some evidence for higher risk among those with telomeres in the longest extreme.

Conclusions: Short telomeres in peripheral blood are associated with an increased risk for pancreatic cancer across most of the distribution of length, but extremely long telomeres may also be associated with higher risk.

Impact: Although the temporality of this relationship is unknown, telomere length may be useful as either a marker of pancreatic cancer risk or of the presence of undetected pancreatic cancer. If telomere shortening precedes cancer incidence, interventions to preserve telomere length may be an effective strategy to prevent pancreatic cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 21(11); 2095–100. ©2012 AACR.
Prospective Study of Genomic Hypomethylation of Leukocyte DNA and Colorectal Cancer Risk
Authors: Huang Wen-Yi , Su L. Joseph , Hayes Richard B. , Moore Lee E. , Katki Hormuzd A. , Berndt Sonja I. , Weissfeld Joel L. , Yegnasubramanian Srinivasan , Purdue Mark P.
Published: November 2012

Background: Systematic genome-wide reductions of methylated cytosine (5-mC) levels have been observed in colorectal cancer tissue and are suspected to play a role in carcinogenesis, possibly as a consequence of inadequate folate intake. Reduced 5-mC levels in peripheral blood leukocytes have been associated with increased risk of colorectal cancer and adenoma in cross-sectional studies.

Methods: To minimize disease- and/or treatment-related effects, we studied leukocyte 5-mC levels in prospectively collected blood specimens of 370 cases and 493 controls who were cancer-free at blood collection from the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial. Leukocyte 5-mC level was determined by a high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC)/tandem mass spectrometry method and expressed as the relative amount of methyl to total cytosine residues, or %5-mC. We estimated the association between colorectal cancer risk and %5-mC categories by computing ORs and 95% confidence intervals (CI) through logistic regression modeling.

Results: We observed no dose-dependent association between colorectal cancer and%5-mC categories (lowest vs. highest tertile: OR, 1.14; 95% CI, 0.80–1.63; Ptrend = 0.51). However, among subjects whose 5-mC levels were at the highest tertile, we observed an inverse association between natural folate intake and colorectal cancer (highest tertile of natural folate vs. lowest: OR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.17–0.71; Ptrend = 0.003; Pinteraction = 0.003).

Conclusions: This prospective investigation show no clear association between leukocyte 5-mC level and subsequent colorectal cancer risk but a suggestive risk modification between 5-mC level and natural folate intake.

Impact: Adequate folate status may protect against colorectal carcinogenesis through mechanisms involving adequate DNA methylation in the genome. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 21(11); 2014–21. ©2012 AACR.
Fine-Mapping of IL16 Gene and Prostate Cancer Risk in African Americans
Authors: Batai Ken , Shah Ebony , Murphy Adam B. , Newsome Jennifer , Ruden Maria , Ahaghotu Chiledum , Kittles Rick A.
Published: November 2012

Background: Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer among men in the United States, and its incidence and mortality rates are disproportionate among ethnic groups. Although genome-wide association studies of European descents have identified candidate loci associated with prostate cancer risk, including a variant in IL16, replication studies in African Americans (AA) have been inconsistent. Here we explore single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) variation in IL16 in AAs and test for association with prostate cancer.

Methods: Association tests were conducted for 2,257 genotyped and imputed SNPs spanning IL16 in 605 AA prostate cancer cases and controls from Washington, D.C. Eleven of them were also genotyped in a replication population of 1,093 AAs from Chicago. We tested for allelic association adjusting for age, global and local West African ancestry.

Results: Analyses of genotyped and imputed SNPs revealed that a cluster of IL16 SNPs were significantly associated with prostate cancer risk. The strongest association was found at rs7175701 (P = 9.8 × 10−8). In the Chicago population, another SNP (rs11556218) was associated with prostate cancer risk (P = 0.01). In the pooled analysis, we identified three independent loci within IL16 that were associated with prostate cancer risk. SNP expression quantitative trait loci analyses revealed that rs7175701 is predicted to influence the expression of IL16 and other cancer-related genes.

Conclusion: Our study provides evidence that IL16 polymorphisms play a role in prostate cancer susceptibility among AAs.

Impact: Our findings are significant given that there has been limited focus on the role of IL16 genetic polymorphisms on prostate cancer risk in AAs. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 21(11); 2059–68. ©2012 AACR.
Prediagnostic Plasma Pyridoxal 5′-Phosphate (Vitamin B6) Levels and Invasive Breast Carcinoma Risk: The Multiethnic Cohort
Authors: Lurie Galina , Wilkens Lynne R. , Shvetsov Yurii B. , Ollberding Nicholas J. , Franke Adrian A. , Henderson Brian E. , Kolonel Laurence N. , Goodman Marc T.
Published: November 2012

Background: Evidence from experimental and epidemiologic studies suggests that vitamin B6 may reduce the risk of breast cancer.

Methods: We examined the association of prediagnostic plasma concentrations of pyridoxal-5′-phosphate (PLP), an active form of vitamin B6, with postmenopausal breast cancer risk in a case–control study nested in the multiethnic cohort in Hawaii and Southern California, including 706 cases and 706 controls matched on date of birth, ethnicity, study site, date of blood draw, time of blood draw, hours of fasting before blood draw, and use of menopausal hormones. OR and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using conditional logistic regression models.

Results: Women with plasma PLP concentrations in the highest quartile had a 30% reduced risk of invasive breast cancer (CI: 0.50–0.98) as compared with the women in the lowest PLP quartile (P for trend = 0.02). The association seemed to be limited in cases with hormone receptor-positive tumors (P for heterogeneity = 0.04); and remained unchanged in the analysis restricted to women with blood samples collected more than one year before cancer diagnosis (OR = 0.69; CI: 0.48–0.99; P for trend = 0.03).

Conclusions: These data suggest that higher circulating levels of vitamin B6 are associated with a reduced risk of invasive postmenopausal breast cancer.

Impact: These results, in combination with information from two other prospective studies, suggest a role for vitamin B6 in the prevention of postmenopausal breast cancer. Additional studies are needed to further investigate potential heterogeneity of the vitamin B6 association with breast cancer risk by tumor hormone receptor status. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 21(11); 1942–8. ©2012 AACR.
Hormone Therapy, Estrogen Metabolism, and Risk of Breast Cancer in the Women's Health Initiative Hormone Therapy Trial
Authors: Mackey Rachel H. , Fanelli Theresa J. , Modugno Francesmary , Cauley Jane A. , McTigue Kathleen M. , Brooks Maria Mori , Chlebowski Rowan T. , Manson JoAnn E. , Klug Thomas L. , Kip Kevin E. , Curb J. David , Kuller Lewis H.
Published: November 2012

Background: In the Women's Health Initiative Hormone Trials (WHI-HT), breast cancer risk was increased with estrogen plus progestin (E+P) but not with unopposed estrogen (E-alone). We hypothesized that E+P would preferentially metabolize to 16α-hydroxyestrone (16α-OHE1) rather than 2-hydroxyestrone (2-OHE1), and that breast cancer risk would be associated with baseline and 1 year changes in estrogen metabolites: positively for 16α-OHE1 levels and negatively for levels of 2-OHE-1 and the 2:16 ratio.

Methods: In a prospective case-control study nested in the WHI-HT, 845 confirmed breast cancer cases were matched to 1,690 controls by age and ethnicity. Using stored serum, 2-OHE1 and 16α-OHE1 levels were measured by enzyme immunoassay at baseline, and for those randomized to active treatment (n = 1,259), at 1 year.

Results: The 1-year increase in 16α-OHE1 was greater with E+P than E-alone (median 55.5 pg/mL vs. 43.5 pg/mL, P < 0.001), but both increased 2-OHE1 by ∼300 pg/mL. Breast cancer risk was modestly associated with higher baseline levels of 2-OHE1 and the 2:16 ratio, and for estrogen receptor+/progesterone+ cases only, higher baseline 16α-OHE1 levels. For those randomized to active treatment, breast cancer risk was associated with greater increase in 2-OHE-1 and the 2:16 ratio, but associations were not significant.

Conclusions: Although E+P modestly increased 16α-OHE1 more than E-alone, increase in 16α-OHE1 was not associated with breast cancer.

Impact: Study results do not explain differences between the WHI E+P and WHI E-alone breast cancer results but metabolism of oral HT, which may explain smaller than expected increase in breast cancer compared with endogenous estrogens. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 21(11); 2022–32. ©2012 AACR.
Maternal Use of Folic Acid and Other Supplements and Risk of Childhood Brain Tumors
Authors: Milne Elizabeth , Greenop Kathryn R. , Bower Carol , Miller Margaret , van Bockxmeer Frank M. , Scott Rodney J. , de Klerk Nicholas H. , Ashton Lesley J. , Gottardo Nicholas G. , Armstrong Bruce K.
Published: November 2012

Background: Interest in a possible protective effect of maternal vitamin use before or during pregnancy against childhood brain tumors (CBT) and other childhood cancers has grown over the past decade. Our Australian study of CBTs, conducted between 2005 and 2011, investigated whether maternal use folic acid and other supplements was protective.

Methods: Case children were identified through the 10 Australian pediatric oncology centers and controls were recruited by national random digit dialing. Mothers of 327 cases and 867 control children provided information on supplement use before and during the index pregnancy, including brand name, dose, and timing. Data were analyzed using multivariable unconditional logistic regression.

Results: The OR for any maternal use of folic acid, use of folic acid without iron or vitamins B6, B12, C, or A, and any vitamin use before pregnancy, were: 0.68 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.46–1.00; 0.55 (95% CI, 0.32–0.93) and 0.68 (95% CI, 0.46–1.01), respectively. The ORs for use of these supplements during pregnancy were also below unity, but generally closer to the null than those for the prepregnancy period. There was some evidence of an inverse dose–response during each time period.

Conclusions: These results suggest that folic acid supplements before and possibly during pregnancy may protect against CBT. Such associations are biologically plausible through established mechanisms.

Impact: This study provides evidence of a specific protective effect of prenatal folic acid supplementation against the risk of CBT that is not attributable to the actions of the other micronutrients investigated. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 21(11); 1933–41. ©2012 AACR.
Type II Diabetes Mellitus and the Incidence of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer in the Cancer Prevention Study-II Nutrition Cohort
Authors: Gapstur Susan M. , Patel Alpa V. , Diver W. Ryan , Hildebrand Janet S. , Gaudet Mia M. , Jacobs Eric J. , Campbell Peter T.
Published: November 2012

Background: Despite consistent associations of type II diabetes mellitus with hormonally related cancers such as breast and endometrium, the relation between type II diabetes mellitus and ovarian cancer risk is unclear.

Methods: Associations of type II diabetes mellitus status, duration, and insulin use with epithelial ovarian cancer overall, and with serous and nonserous histologic subtypes were examined in the Cancer Prevention Study-II Nutrition Cohort, a prospective study of U.S. men and women predominantly aged 50 years and older. Between 1992 and 2007, 524 incident epithelial ovarian cancer cases were identified among 63,440 postmenopausal women. Multivariable-adjusted relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were computed using extended Cox regression to update diabetes status and bilateral oophorectomy status during follow-up.

Results: Type II diabetes mellitus status (RR = 1.05; 95% CI, 0.75–1.46) and duration were not associated with epithelial ovarian cancer risk. Although not statistically significantly different (Pdifference = 0.39), the RR was higher for type II diabetes mellitus with insulin use (RR = 1.28; 95% CI, 0.74–2.24) than for type II diabetes mellitus without insulin use (RR = 0.96; 95% CI, 0.64–1.43). Diabetes seemed to be more strongly associated with nonserous (RR = 1.41; 95% CI, 0.70–2.85) than serous (RR = 0.71; 95% CI, 0.41–1.23) histologic subtypes.

Conclusions: Type II diabetes mellitus was not associated with risk of epithelial ovarian cancer, although higher risks with nonserous subtypes and among insulin users cannot be ruled out.

Impact: Larger studies are needed to clarify associations of type II diabetes mellitus with or without insulin use with risk of ovarian cancer overall and by histologic subtypes. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 21(11); 2000–5. ©2012 AACR.
Genetic Ablation of the Tetraspanin CD151 Reduces Spontaneous Metastatic Spread of Prostate Cancer in the TRAMP Model
Authors: Copeland Ben T. , Bowman Matthew J. , Ashman Leonie K.
Published: November 2012

Tetraspanins are integral membrane proteins that associate with motility-related molecules such as integrins. Experimental studies have indicated that they may be important regulators of tumor invasion and metastasis, and high expression of the tetraspanin CD151 has been linked to poor prognosis in a number of cancers. Here, we show for the first time that genetic ablation of CD151 inhibits spontaneous metastasis in a transgenic mouse model of de novo tumorigenesis. To evaluate the effects of CD151 on de novo prostate cancer initiation and metastasis, a Cd151−/− (KO) murine model was crossed with the Transgenic Adenocarcinoma of Mouse Prostate (TRAMP) model. Mice were analyzed for initiation of prostate tumor by palpation and primary tumors were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Liver and lungs were examined for incidence and size of spontaneous metastatic lesions by histopathology. Knocking-out Cd151 had no significant effect on prostate cancer initiation or on expression of markers of proliferation, apoptosis, or angiogenesis in primary tumors. However, it did significantly decrease metastasis in a site-specific fashion, notably to the lungs but not the liver. Thus, CD151 acts principally as promoter of metastasis in this model. Prostate cancer is the second highest cause of cancer-related deaths in men in most Western countries, with the majority of deaths attributed to late-stage metastatic disease. CD151 may prove to be a valuable prognostic marker for treatment stratification and is a possible antimetastatic target. Mol Cancer Res; 11(1); 95–105. ©2012 AACR.
ATP-Binding Cassette G-Subfamily Transporter 2 Regulates Cell Cycle Progression and Asymmetric Division in Mouse Cardiac Side Population Progenitor Cells
Authors: Sereti Konstantina-Ioanna , Oikonomopoulos Angelos , Unno Kazumasa , Cao Xin , Qiu Yiling , Liao Ronglih
Published: November 2012

Rationale:

After cardiac injury, cardiac progenitor cells are acutely reduced and are replenished in part by regulated self-renewal and proliferation, which occurs through symmetric and asymmetric cellular division. Understanding the molecular cues controlling progenitor cell self-renewal and lineage commitment is critical for harnessing these cells for therapeutic regeneration. We previously have found that the cell surface ATP-binding cassette G-subfamily transporter 2 (Abcg2) influences the proliferation of cardiac side population (CSP) progenitor cells, but through unclear mechanisms.

Objective:

To determine the role of Abcg2 on cell cycle progression and mode of division in mouse CSP cells.

Methods and Results:

Herein, using CSP cells isolated from wild-type and Abcg2 knockout mice, we found that Abcg2 regulates G1-S cell cycle transition by fluorescence ubiquitination cell cycle indicators, cell cycle–focused gene expression arrays, and confocal live-cell fluorescent microscopy. Moreover, we found that modulation of cell cycle results in transition from symmetric to asymmetric cellular division in CSP cells lacking Abcg2.

Conclusions:

Abcg2 modulates CSP cell cycle progression and asymmetric cell division, establishing a mechanistic link between this surface transporter and cardiac progenitor cell function. Greater understanding of progenitor cell biology and, in particular, the regulation of resident progenitor cell homeostasis is vital for guiding the future development of cell-based therapies for cardiac regeneration.
Acoustics: Real Life, Real Time—Why the Flutist and Flute Had to Evolve
Authors: Dick Robert
Published: November 2012

The author describes a long-term process in which a growing awareness of acoustics led to a profound evolution of his conception of the flute. In turn, this reconception led to an evolution in the flute's design and ideas for further development of the instrument and its music.
Musical Robotics in a Loudspeaker World: Developments in Alternative Approaches to Localization and Spatialization
Authors: Murphy Jim , Kapur Ajay , Carnegie Dale
Published: November 2012

Musical robotics is a rapidly growing field, with dozens of new works appearing in the past half decade. This paper explores the foundations of the discipline and how, due to the ability of musical robots to serve as uniquely spatialized musical agents, it experienced a rebirth even in the face of loudspeaker technology's dominance. The growth of musical robotics is traced from its pre-computer roots through its 1970s renaissance and to contemporary installation-oriented sculptures and performance-oriented works. Major figures in the field are examined, including those who in recent years have introduced the world to human/musical robot interaction in a concert setting. The paper closes with a brief speculation on the field's future, with a focus on the increasing ease with which new artists may enter the field.
TAPIR Sound as a New Medium for Music
Authors: Yeo Woon Seung , Kim Keunhyoung , Kim Seunghun , Lee Jeong-seob
Published: November 2012

The Theoretically Audible, but Practically Inaudible Range (TAPIR) is sound in the highest bandwidth of human hearing; it is barely perceptible by most people but can be transmitted and received by stereotypical transducers. The authors suggest the potential of TAPIR sound as a new medium for music, sonic arts and mobile media.
The Silenced Listener: Architectural Acoustics, the Concert Hall and the Conditions of Audience
Authors: Kaye Lewis
Published: November 2012

The author considers the relationship between architecture, acoustics and audience. The author proposes we think of audience in a more active sense and attend to conditions of audience. This dynamic approach demonstrates how changes in architecture designed for sound both are related to social changes in practices of listening and influence how people come to experience sound. Such an approach reveals contemporary acoustic architecture as biased toward music as spectacle, with conditions of audience that demand a silenced and attentive listener.
Sonification and Acoustic Environments
Authors: Gresham-Lancaster Scot , Sinclair Peter
Published: November 2012

Sonification can allow us to connect sound and/or music via data to the environment; in another sense, by “displaying” data through sound, sonification participates in creating our acoustic environment. The authors consider here the significance of certain aspects of this relationship.
On the Conception and Measure of Consonance
Authors: Wand Alex
Published: November 2012

What makes a musical interval consonant? Since the early Greeks, there have been two contrasting views: an “objective” approach, focusing on the mathematical relationship of frequencies, and a “subjective” approach, emphasizing auditory perception. These approaches are reviewed, as are several proposed measures of consonance. The author then presents a composition that uses intervals that are rated highly by the measures of consonance but are outside the scales of Western music and so are subjectively unfamiliar. The goal is to see whether, via repetition and other devices for overcoming unfamiliarity, the consonance of these intervals can be conveyed.