bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Abstract B64: Pleomorphic lobular carcinoma in situ shows a consistent ER-positive, CK5/6- and CK14-negative phenotype: Biologic, diagnostic, and therapeutic implications
Authors: Ho Bernard C. , Lee Andrew H.S. , Ellis Ian O.
Published: May 2012

Introduction: Pleomorphic lobular carcinoma in situ (PLCIS), a rare variant of LCIS depicting a more aggressive morphology, has been recognized, for which controversy exists as to its biology, classification and management. In this study, we aimed to compare the immunophenotypic features of PLCIS with classical LCIS (CLCIS) and determine if PLCIS exhibits characteristics more closely associated with some forms of high grade ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) e.g. basal and HER2+ types.

Methods: A total of 46 lesions of in situ lobular neoplasia {23 PLCIS and 23 classical lobular neoplasia (CLN)} from 42 women (4 had both CLCIS and PLCIS) diagnosed in consultation from January 2005 to September 2009 were studied. A diagnosis of PLCIS required acinar distension by dyscohesive tumor cells with nuclear pleomorphism score 3 using the Nottingham grading system for invasive breast cancer. Immunohistochemistry for estrogen receptor (ER) (n=33), CK5/6 (n=34), CK14 (n=30), GCDFP-15 (n=2), E-cadherin (EC) (n=44), keratin 34BE12 (n=4) and HER2 (n=2) was performed with the biotin-avidin method, and results were assessed with the H-scoring system.

Results: PLCIS lesions were largely (16/17, 94%) and intensely ER positive {H-score distribution:0–9 (n=1),10–49 (n=3), 50–99 (n=0), 100–199 (n=2), 200–300 (n=11)}. One PLCIS lesion was both ER (H-score 225) and HER2 (H-score 300) positive. The single ER negative case (H-score=0) was GCDFP-15 positive (H-score 270) with overt apocrine histology. PLCIS lesions were uniformly negative (H-scores=0) for CK5/6 (n=17) and CK14 (n=15). 18/23 (78%) PLCIS lesions were EC negative, while five disclosed patchy, attenuated EC reactivity (1+ intensity, H-scores 10–50). In comparison, all lesions of CLN were ER positive (16/16) {H-score distribution: 0–49 (n=0), 50–99 (n=1), 100–199 (n=3), 200–300 (n=12)}. They were similarly negative for CK5/6 (n=17) and CK14 (n=15) (H-scores=0). 19/21(90%) CLN lesions were non-reactive for EC, while two were weakly EC reactive (1+ intensity, H-scores 10–50). CLN lesions were HER2 negative (n=1, H score 0), GCDFP-15 negative (n=1) and keratin 34BE12 positive (n=4, H-scores 200–300).

Conclusions: PLCIS exhibits a similar immunoprofile to CLN, a finding in keeping with recent molecular data, implying that it is more closely related to the LN family, rather than a variant of E-cadherin negative high grade DCIS. Furthermore, PLCIS, despite expression of keratin 34BE12, exhibits consistent ER positivity with CK5/6 and CK14 negativity and therefore appears an unlikely precursor of basal-like breast cancer. Like CLN, PLCIS may be amenable to therapeutic hormonal intervention.

Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2010;3(1 Suppl):B64.
Abstract B72: Citrus secondary metabolites: Potential natural compounds inhibiting human cancer cells
Authors: Patil Bhimanagouda S. , Jayaprakasha G. K. , Chidambara Murthy Kotamballi N.
Published: May 2012

Citrus provide protection against certain types of cancer due to the presence of specific bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, carotenoids and tri-terpenoids (mainly limonoids). Limonoids are known to inhibit number of human cancer cells through altering various biochemical pathways. Limonoids have shown induction of Phase II enzymes (both GST and QR) in mice suggesting their potential role in cancer prevention detoxification. Research form our laboratory has shown limonoids can induce apoptosis in colon, breast carcinoma and neuroblastom cells. Certain limonoids and flavonoids have shown induction of caspase mediated apoptosis and our recent in vivo study has shown inhibition of inflammatory proteins expression in Azoxymethane induced rats. Limonin and its glucoside have shown induction of intrinsic apoptosis, though involvement of Ca++ in SW-480 cells. These limonoids were non-toxic against 112CoN and NIH3T3 cells. Nomilin, one of the abundant limonoids found in citrus, has shown to arrest cell cycle of colon cancer cells when treated at 200µM. On the other hand, flavonoids of citrus demonstrated structure-related inhibition of colon cancer cells. Among the eight major flavonoids of citrus (which includes flavone, flavonols and flavanones), molecules with double bond at carbon 2nd and 3rd position have shown potential inhibition. Furthermore, the flavonoids, with higher number of hydroxyl groups, have shown significant induction of apoptosis. Apigenin and Quercetagetin have shown significant induction of apoptosis in colon cancer cells. The results of these findings will be discussed in detail. These results are based on the work supported by the USDA-CSREES # 2009-34402-19831 “Designing Foods for Health” through the Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center.

Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2010;3(1 Suppl):B72.
Abstract B73: Chemopreventive effect of Streblus asper, a bonsai plant, on osteosarcoma cells: A preliminary study
Authors: Seeni Azman , Wahab Ridhwan Abdul , Zulkepli Nur Ayunie , Sulaiman Wan Nur Hidayati Wan , Yahya Muhammad Zuhaili Nor , Hamdan Mohammad Razak
Published: May 2012

Epidemiological studies have demonstrated a positive correlation between consumption of vegetables, fruits and beverages with reduced risk of cancer. It is estimated there are around 8,100 plant species in the Malaysian rain forests, with 10% of them reported to have some medicinal value. However, to date in Malaysia, not much investigation has been done on chemopreventive activities on cancer although Malaysian plants are an exclusive source of effective chemopreventive agents and therefore, this background leads to the premise that our local plants such as Streblus asper could have greater potential for the chemoprevention activities. Streblus asper is well known as an expensive bonsai plant which is indigenous to tropical countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka and India. It is used traditionally in leprosy, piles, diarrhea, dysentery, elephantiasis and cancer. It finds place in Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India and also been described in some monographs, but none have reported its activity as chemopreventive agents and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In the present study, we try to identify its biological properties and the cytotoxicity effect on normal liver and kidney cells. Using the osteosarcoma cells as our in vitro model, the IC50 of Streblus asper root extract was determined and observed its effect on the osteosarcoma cells morphology that changes within time, the anti-proliferative pattern and live-death analysis under confocal microscope analysis. The results showed that the root extracts did not contained any heavy metals compound such as mercury and cadmium and with less arsenic (0.02 ppm) and plumbum (0.07 ppm) and showing non-cytotoxic effect on vero cells (normal kidney cells) and WRL-68 cells (normal liver cells). Our HPLC profiling analysis also revealed antioxidants compounds exist in the Streblus asper root extracts such as caffeic acid which has been shown to act as a carcinogenic inhibitor. Although the low-level of anti-oxidants been found from the extracts but it still can inhibit the growth of the osteosarcoma cells which also exert apoptosis features like cell shrinkage (atrophy) and vocalization in time and dose-dependent manner. The plant extracts IC50 doses was at 0.05% of root extracts and it also demonstrated the anti-proliferative effect by suppressed the cells growth as early as 12 hours of treatment and marked cell death till day 6. On live-death analysis under confocal microscope using Calcein and Ethidium staining confirmed that Streblus asper root extract exert cell death to osteosarsoma cells. This study is just a preliminary study as to identify its pharmacological properties on carcinogenesis and further investigation is still on-going to develop it as the chemopreventive agent especially to determine the signaling pathway involved.

Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2010;3(1 Suppl):B73.
Abstract CN02-03: Hopes and challenges for early detection of ovarian cancer
Authors: Helzlsouer Kathy J.
Published: May 2012

Ovarian cancer has a low survival rate with the disease most often detected in advanced stages. Women at high risk may choose risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy with its associated clinical costs, because of the lack of known effective screening. The optimum screening test to improve the early detection of ovarian cancer and hopefully reduce mortality is an area of active research. Screening for the early detection of ovarian cancer presents challenges. The validity of the test is critical and requires high sensitivity and specificity to be effective, especially when applying the testing the general population. The low prevalence in the general population results in low positive predictive values even for tests with high sensitivity and specificity. Applying to high risk populations improves the predictive value, but reduces the overall sensitivity of any overall screening program. The recent developments in biomarkers for ovarian cancer will be reviewed and their potential applications in screening programs.

Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2010;3(1 Suppl):CN02-03.
Abstract CN05-03: Energy balance in cancer patients: Are we ready to intervene?
Authors: Goodwin Pamela J.
Published: May 2012

There is growing evidence that aspects of energy balance, including overweight/obesity and physical inactivity are associated with poor outcomes in some cancers, notably breast and colorectal. In breast cancer, evidence is strongest for overweight/obesity; recent evidence suggests physical activity may have important independent associations with outcomes. In colorectal cancer, evidence is strongest for physical activity. Clinical mechanisms that have been postulated for these associations include presentation of cancer at a more advanced stage or receipt of less than optimal therapy in overweight or obese individuals. Potential biologic mechanisms have included sex hormones, insulin and related IGFs, adipocytokines and inflammatory markers. In breast cancer there is growing evidence that insulin (and associated insulin resistance) may play a key role in mediating these prognostic associations - high insulin levels have been associated with increased risk of breast cancer recurrence or death. Breast cancer cells commonly overexpress insulin receptors (frequently a fetal form of the receptor that may hybridize with the IGF-1 receptor) that are not downregulated by circulating insulin; as a result, cancer cell growth may be stimulated by high circulating insulin levels. Observational clinical studies linking energy balance to prognosis of breast and colorectal cancer will be reviewed, along with early intervention work demonstrating the feasibility, short-term benefits (e.g. on QOL) and biologic (mechanistic) changes associated with lifestyle interventions in breast and colon cancer survivors. The impact of the available evidence on clinical practice and the role of large scale clinical trials of energy balance modification with recurrence or survival endpoints (completed, ongoing and planned) will be reviewed, with an emphasis on issues relating to feasibility, cost and the need for embedded correlative research to investigate biologic mechanisms for any survival effects that are identified. Related metformin trials (which target insulin and AMPK/mTOR signaling), notably NCIC MA.32, an adjuvant trial in early breast cancer that will be activated early in 2010, will also be reviewed.

Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2010;3(1 Suppl):CN05-03.
Abstract CN06-04: Optical coherence tomography imaging of preneoplastic lung lesion
Authors: Lam Stephen , Lee Anthony , Lane Pierre , MacAulay Calum , Yang Victor
Published: May 2012

Although autofluorescence bronchoscopy improves the detection rate of high grade dysplasia and carcinoma in-situ compares to white-light examination, the natural history of preneoplastic bronchial lesions is still poorly understood because the biopsy procedure for histological confirmation can mechanically remove these small lesions. The lack of accurate information regarding the spontaneous progression and regression rates of preneoplastic lesions make if difficult to assess the effect of chemoprevention agents. It is therefore important to develop non-biopsy methods that can characterize preneoplastic lesions in the bronchial epithelium.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an optical imaging method that can visualize cellular and extra-cellular structures at and below tissue surface. In principle, it is similar to B-type ultrasound. Instead of using sound waves, a low coherence near infra-red light such as from a broadband 1300 nm superluminescent diode source is passed into the tissue. By detecting the reflected light as it interacts with tissue structures as a function of depth, a cross sectional image is created through optical interferometry. Its contrast is the backscattered light from interfaces at different depths in the tissue, due to the heterogeneity of optical refractive indices from different tissue compositions and densities. Changes in the extracellular matrix can be readily seen due to the strong back-scattering properties of collagen and elastin. OCT provides cross-sectional tomographic images about anatomic layered structures of tissues with a large field-of-view, a spatial resolution of 3 to 16 microns and a depth penetration of 2 – 3 mm to provide near-histological images. The imaging procedure is performed using fiber optic probes that can be miniaturized to enable imaging of airways down to the terminal bronchiole. Unlike ultrasound, light waves do not require liquid based coupling medium and thus are more compatible with airway imaging. There are no associated risks from the weak near infrared light. OCT has distinct advantages over CT and MRI for imaging small airways in-vivo in that it has superior resolution approaching near-microscopic resolution and requires no ionizing radiation. It has advantages over confocal microscopy in that it can penetrate tissue three times deeper, does not require contact with the tissue surface and is less susceptible to motion artifacts due to real-time image acquisition. In addition to morphometric information, functional OCT, such as Doppler OCT, can also provide quantitative information on blood flow of blood vessels and micro-vasculature. OCT imaging has been applied to study bronchial and lung tissues and has been shown to be promising in the detection and characterization of preneoplastic lesions tumor in central and peripheral airways.

Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2010;3(1 Suppl):CN06-04.
Abstract ED05-03: Global tobacco control: Preventing 10 million cancer deaths by 2030
Authors: Cummings K. Michael
Published: May 2012

Tobacco use is responsible for one in three cancer-related deaths. Thanks to 50 years of aggressive public education efforts, tobacco use is declining in most industrialized countries. However, worldwide, tobacco consumption is actually increasing, driven in part by population growth and economic development in China, India, Indonesia, and parts of Africa and the Middle East. There are now approximately 1.3 billion smokers in the world, and 84% of them reside in the developing world. Tobacco use is the world's leading cause of preventable death, directly causing 30% of the 11.5 million annual cancer predicted by 2030 deaths. In recognition of this enormous threat, the member countries of the WHO adopted the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control [FCTC], the first international treaty devoted to health. The FCTC has been ratified by over 160 countries, but some large countries such as the United States and Russia have yet to ratify the treaty. Ratification obligates countries to implement a comprehensive set of common sense policies intended to reduce the demand for tobacco use. These policies include measures to: keep the price of tobacco high; protect nonsmokers from exposure to tobacco smoke; regulate products; control packaging and labeling of tobacco products; ban tobacco product marketing; educate the public; promote and assist tobacco cessation and prevention; prevent sales to minors; and promote alternative uses for tobacco croplands. Estimates indicate that aggressive implementation of FCTC policies could prevent 10 million excess cancer deaths anticipated over the next 20 years. The policies included in the FCTC were selected on the basis of scientific evidence. However, as the FCTC continues with its critical implementation phase in the next 5 years, and as nations that have ratified the treaty decide what specific policies will be implemented to meet their treaty obligations, it will become increasingly important that scientific evidence continue to guide the adoption of policies that will work effectively. There is already evidence that the tobacco industry is working to undermine the FCTC by encouraging countries to adopt policies that, although compliant with the FCTC, are suboptimal. As in clinical medicine, good public health practice demands that rigorously evaluated evidence guide the adoption of new tobacco control interventions. Thus, in the next few years, amassing a strong body of evidence from a methodologically sound evaluation of FCTC policies will be critical. This can then be used to guide governmental policymakers in the future.

Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2010;3(1 Suppl):ED05-03.
Abstract PL02-05: Aberrant crypt foci as surrogate markers for chemoprevention
Authors: Rosenberg Daniel W.
Published: May 2012

Aberrant crypt foci (ACF) are putative preneoplastic lesions that occur in the colons of rodent tumor models and are abundant in the colorectum of humans. Although their presence within the colonic mucosa is incontrovertible, their clinical significance remains a source of controversy. In the following presentation, we will review the history of ACF from their first identification in rodent carcinogen models to their identification and characterization in human colons. In order to better define ACF, one must consider their histopathology, and, here, the difference between rodent and human is striking. Whereas in the rodent a single crypt can acquire dysplastic features, such is not the case in human where ACF as large as 50–100 crypts across are rarely dysplastic. In over 1500 lesions we have examined from approximately 500 patients, we observe that if endoscopic criteria are strictly adhered to, ACF are almost always hyperplastic lesions, with either a “distended” or “serrated” appearance when studied en face. We and others have clearly identified a number of colon cancer risk factors that also associate with at least the density of ACF in the distal 20 cm of colorectum. These risk factors include central obesity, increased bioavailability of IGF-1, prior or synchronous colon neoplasia, family history of colonic neoplasia and cigarette smoking. In fact, a history of 20 pack-years or more of smoking is associated with an increased likelihood (adjusted OR=3.45; 95% CI 1.93–6.18) of having more than the median number of ACF (≥ 15) compared to non-smokers (Anderson et al., under review). Considering their prevalence in the colons of cancer patients, their corresponding association with a panel of key colon cancer risk factors and their cancer-related molecular aberrations, we argue that these lesions may provide an important signal of one or more risk factors, and are likely part of the ‘field effect’ within the colonic mucosa. If a clearer association can be established with high-grade adenomas, we believe ACF will ultimately be of great utility as surrogate markers for cancer prevention studies.

Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2010;3(1 Suppl):PL02-05.
Abstract PL03-04: Challenges in using genetic information and family history in primary care
Authors: Ramsey Scott D.
Published: May 2012

Several expert groups now advocate family history screening (FHS) as an approach to identify persons at increased risk for disease, but the clinical and economic implications of programs to improve FHS have not been established. The economic implications of implementing population-wide family history assessment programs are likely to be substantial. Although the costs of assessing family history will be small at the individual level, the societal costs of assessing millions of individuals could potentially be very large. Moreover, the initial family history screen could result in a number of downstream interventions, with potentially high costs. Because the impact of FHS and FHS-based care on outcomes are at present uncertain, understanding the economic costs involved with FHS is an important endeavor. In this presentation, I will outline the conceptual issues involved in economic evaluation of FHS, and some challenges to measuring the economic impact of family history screening.

Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2010;3(1 Suppl):PL03-04.
Abstract PL04-05: Vitamin D: Panacea or a Pandora's box for prevention?
Authors: Helzlsouer Kathy J. ,   Steering Committee Vitamin D Pooling Project of Rarer Cancers
Published: May 2012

Widespread interest in the possible preventive role of vitamin D against cancer emerged from ecological studies of the association between latitude and cancer mortality, in-vitro studies of the effects of vitamin D on proliferation and apoptosis, and presence of vitamin D receptors in many tissues. Observational studies of colorectal cancer provide the most promising data supporting a potential preventive benefit for vitamin D but this effect, so far, is not supported by results from randomized trials. Observational studies for other common cancers such as prostate and breast provide little support for a significant preventive effect of vitamin D. The Cohort Consortium Vitamin D Pooling Project of Rarer Cancers (VDPP) is a consortial effort including 10 prospective cohorts from the United States, Finland and China to examine the association between concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and risk of seven types of rarer cancers: endometrial, esophageal, gastric, kidney, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, pancreatic and ovarian. No associated benefit, and potential harms, were observed including confirmation of prior reports of an increased risk of pancreatic cancer with higher concentrations of 25(OH)D. The association between mortality and 25(OH)D concentrations was examined in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III). The mortality rate ratio was statistically significantly higher for those with vitamin D concentrations in the deficient range, defined as <45nmol/L. Among women, an increased rate of mortality was observed both for deficient concentrations and very high concentrations (>124nmol/L). Results suggest that caution should be exercised in using very high dose vitamin D supplementation in prevention trials that may result in high concentrations of vitamin D (>100nmol/L).

Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2010;3(1 Suppl):PL04-05.
Abstract SS01-05: Designing useful cost-effectiveness research in cancer prevention
Authors: Lairson David R.
Published: May 2012

Introduction: While there are several excellent manuscripts on how to design and carry out economic evaluations of health program alternatives, researchers often fail to consider practical issues useful to the decision-makers. These issues will become increasingly important as we use comparative effectiveness research and cost-effectiveness analysis to assess and improve healthcare delivery in the U.S. healthcare system.

Objective: Identify and describe key research design and methods issues that facilitate decision-makers' use of economic evaluations of cancer prevention.

Methods: Assume the perspective of a health plan or provider group interested in selecting and providing the most cost-effective cancer prevention services. Examine the economic evaluation literature to identify and describe issues that are important to decision-makers' selection, planning and execution of prevention strategies, that may be unexamined and/or underreported. Explain the importance of these issues for translating research into practice.

Results and Conclusion: Key limitations include 1) designing overly restrictive trials that fail to represent the target population, 2) excluding cost of identifying and recruiting the target populations, 3) not providing separate unit cost from quantity of resources, 4) understating labor cost, 5) not providing a budget impact analysis, 6) not separating fixed from variable cost. The primary purpose of economic evaluation studies is to inform decision-makers about the relative costs and effects of program or treatment alternatives, but this falls short of what is needed to accurately plan and implement changes in health plans and healthcare organizations.

Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2010;3(1 Suppl):SS01-05.
Development of New Ensemble Methods Based on the Performance Skills of Regional Climate Models over South Korea
Authors: Suh M.-S. , Oh S.-G. , Lee D.-K. , Cha D.-H. , Choi S.-J. , Jin C.-S. , Hong S.-Y.
Published: May 2012

In this paper, the prediction skills of five ensemble methods for temperature and precipitation are discussed by considering 20 yr of simulation results (from 1989 to 2008) for four regional climate models (RCMs) driven by NCEP–Department of Energy and ECMWF Interim Re-Analysis (ERA-Interim) boundary conditions. The simulation domain is the Coordinated Regional Downscaling Experiment (CORDEX) for East Asia, and the number of grid points is 197 × 233 with a 50-km horizontal resolution. Three new performance-based ensemble averaging (PEA) methods are developed in this study using 1) bias, root-mean-square errors (RMSEs) and absolute correlation (PEA_BRC), RMSE and absolute correlation (PEA_RAC), and RMSE and original correlation (PEA_ROC). The other two ensemble methods are equal-weighted averaging (EWA) and multivariate linear regression (Mul_Reg). To derive the weighting coefficients and cross validate the prediction skills of the five ensemble methods, the authors considered 15-yr and 5-yr data, respectively, from the 20-yr simulation data. Among the five ensemble methods, the Mul_Reg (EWA) method shows the best (worst) skill during the training period. The PEA_RAC and PEA_ROC methods show skills that are similar to those of Mul_Reg during the training period. However, the skills and stabilities of Mul_Reg were drastically reduced when this method was applied to the prediction period. But, the skills and stabilities of PEA_RAC were only slightly reduced in this case. As a result, PEA_RAC shows the best skill, irrespective of the seasons and variables, during the prediction period. This result confirms that the new ensemble method developed in this study, PEA_RAC, can be used for the prediction of regional climate.
Using High-Resolution Altimetry to Observe Mesoscale Signals
Authors: Pujol M.-I. , Dibarboure G. , Le Traon P.-Y. , Klein P.
Published: May 2012

An Ocean System Simulation Experiment is used to quantify the observing capability of the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission and its contribution to higher-quality reconstructed sea level anomaly (SLA) fields using optimal interpolation. The paper focuses on the potential of SWOT for mesoscale observation (wavelengths larger than 100 km and time periods larger than 10 days) and its ability to replace or complement altimetry for classical mesoscale applications. For mesoscale variability, the wide swath from SWOT provides an unprecedented sampling capability. SWOT alone would enable the regional surface signal reconstruction as precisely as a four-altimeter constellation would, in regions where temporal sampling is optimum. For some specifics latitudes, where swath sampling is degraded, SWOT capabilities are reduced and show performances equivalent to the historical two-altimeter constellation. In this case, merging SWOT with the two-altimeter constellation stabilizes the global sampling and fully compensates the swath time sampling limitations. Benefits of SWOT measurement are more important within the swath. It would allow a precise local reconstruction of mesoscale structures. Errors of surface signal reconstruction within the swath represent less than 1% (SLA) to 5% (geostrophic velocities reconstruction) of the signal variance in a pessimistic roll error reduction. The errors are slightly reduced by merging swath measurements with the conventional nadir measurements.
Forecasting Tornado Pathlengths Using a Three-Dimensional Object Identification Algorithm Applied to Convection-Allowing Forecasts
Authors: Clark Adam J. , Kain John S. , Marsh Patrick T. , Correia James , Xue Ming , Kong Fanyou
Published: May 2012

A three-dimensional (in space and time) object identification algorithm is applied to high-resolution forecasts of hourly maximum updraft helicity (UH)—a diagnostic that identifies simulated rotating storms—with the goal of diagnosing the relationship between forecast UH objects and observed tornado pathlengths. UH objects are contiguous swaths of UH exceeding a specified threshold. Including time allows tracks to span multiple hours and entire life cycles of simulated rotating storms. The object algorithm is applied to 3 yr of 36-h forecasts initialized daily from a 4-km grid-spacing version of the Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRF) run in real time at the National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL), and forecasts from the Storm Scale Ensemble Forecast (SSEF) system run by the Center for Analysis and Prediction of Storms for the 2010 NOAA Hazardous Weather Testbed Spring Forecasting Experiment. Methods for visualizing UH object attributes are presented, and the relationship between pathlengths of UH objects and tornadoes for corresponding 18- or 24-h periods is examined. For deterministic NSSL-WRF UH forecasts, the relationship of UH pathlengths to tornadoes was much stronger during spring (March–May) than in summer (June–August). Filtering UH track segments produced by high-based and/or elevated storms improved the UH–tornado pathlength correlations. The best ensemble results were obtained after filtering high-based and/or elevated UH track segments for the 20 cases in April–May 2010, during which correlation coefficients were as high as 0.91. The results indicate that forecast UH pathlengths during spring could be a very skillful predictor for the severity of tornado outbreaks as measured by total pathlength.
Two Sides of the Same Coin
Authors: Pontikes Elizabeth G.
Published: April 2012

This paper questions findings indicating that when organizations are hard to classify they will suffer in terms of external evaluations. Here, I suggest this depends on the audience evaluating the organization. Audiences that are “market-takers” consume or evaluate goods and use market labels to find and assess organizations; for them, ambiguous labels make organizations unclear and therefore less appealing. “Market-makers” are interested in redefining the market structure, and as a result, this type of audience sees the same ambiguity as flexible and therefore more appealing. I tested these ideas in a longitudinal analysis of U.S. software organizations between 1990 and 2002. As predicted, organizations that claim ambiguous labels are less appealing to consumers, an audience of market-takers, but more appealing to venture capitalists, who are market-makers. Further, when labels are ambiguous, aversion to or preference for ambiguity arises from the label itself. Identifying with multiple ambiguous labels does not make an organization even less appealing to a consumer or more appealing to a venture capitalist. Finally, all types of venture capitalists are not alike in how they react to a label’s ambiguity. Independent venture capitalists act as market-makers and prefer organizations with ambiguous labels, while corporate venture capitalists act as market-takers and avoid them.
Borders as a Space of Interaction
Authors: Hovdal-Moan Marit
Published: April 2012

It seems a common view in European political practice that the state’s broad sovereign right to exclude noncitizens from its territory at the border releases it from any special obligations toward irregular immigrants, who reside on its territory without its consent. In this article the author reflects on the validity of that view. In so doing, she begins with the common-sense doctrine that special obligations are generated by significant interactions. On conventional accounts of special obligations, a significant interaction between the state and immigrants arises if and only if (a) the state enters into a formal relationship with them, by issuing, for instance, a residence permit, or (b) the state can be blamed or held liable for harm that they have suffered. Contrary to this account, the author argues that the state inevitably interacts with immigrants through the process of enforcing its borders. This presumes a relational account of borders as a space of interaction rather than as a fixed line of separation that divides a domestic realm of state action from an international realm. In the process of enforcing its borders, the state necessarily interacts with immigrant in this space, and thereby assumes special obligations to them.
Prevalence of Unrecognized Diabetes Mellitus in Patients Admitted With Acute Coronary Syndrome
Authors: Abdullatef W.K. , Al-Aqeedi R.F. , Dabdoob W. , Hajar H.A. , Bener A. , Gehani A.A.
Published: May 2012

We assessed the prevalence of unrecognized diabetes mellitus (DM) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) as determined by elevated glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and random plasma glucose (RPG) levels. This prospective study recruited 583 patients admitted with ACS without previous diagnosis of DM during 1-year period. Glycosylated hemoglobin was checked for most patients especially those with high values of FPG and or RPG. Patients were classified according to their glycemic state into 123 (21.1%) with DM, 82 (14.1%) with prediabetes, and 57(9.8%) with stress hyperglycemia, while 321 (55%) were classified as nondiabetics. Glycosylated hemoglobin estimation in the setting of ACS was helpful in the diagnosis of DM to eliminate the effect of stress-induced hyperglycemia that might accompany this condition.
Towards an Intellectual History of Possession: Reading “la crise” as a Textual Space in Vodou and André Breton’s Haitian Lectures and Nadja
Authors: Benedicty Alessandra
Published: May 2012

This article focuses mainly on what are known as André Breton’s “Haitian Conferences” (1945–1946) and his 1928 novel Nadja, along with the embedded topic of spirit possession in Haitian Vodou. My proposition is to show how both the vocabulary and the theory that come to be associated with what I will call the “act of possession” in Breton’s work engages a reflection that accounts for fragmented notions of identity. I draw on anthropological theories of subjectivity to put the accent on the destabilizing experience of the contemporary, globalized human subject. To do so, I look at two aspects of Breton’s writing: first, how both before and during his first contact with Haiti, he was interested in alternative states of being; and second, how these states related to the disintegration of identity. I will also consider possession, and its associated lexica, as an intellectual notion, a trope that appears in the discourse of European intellectuals during and after the World Wars. I compare it to the considerations of possession within the context of a Vodou Weltanschauung.

Cet article se propose d’explorer les conférences qu’André Breton a données en Haïti en 1945-1946 d’une part, et son roman Nadja (1928) dans le cadre de la possession dans le Vaudou haïtien d’autre part. Mon objectif est de montrer comment le vocabulaire et la théorie associés à ce que nous nommerons “l’acte de possession” dans l’œuvre de Breton implique une réflexion qui prend compte des notions de l’identité humaine contemporaine. Je ferai appel à des théories de la subjectivité qui mettent l’accent sur l’expérience déstabilisante du sujet humain mondialisé. Deux aspects de l’œuvre de Breton m’intéressent particulièrement : premièrement, comment avant et pendant son premier contact avec Haïti, il s’est intéressé aux états d’esprit alternatifs ; ensuite, comment ces états reflètent une désintégration de l’unité identitaire. Partant du postulat que la crise identitaire trouve un écho dans l’œuvre de Breton dans le contexte d’un Weltanschauung vaudou, je montrerai que la possession et son lexique constituent un trope récurrent dans le discours des intellectuels européens de l’entre-deux guerres et de l’après guerre.
Transgender Emotional and Coping Processes
Authors: Budge Stephanie L. , Katz-Wise Sabra L. , Tebbe Esther N. , Howard Kimberly A. S. , Schneider Carrie L. , Rodriguez Adriana
Published: May 2012

Eighteen transgender-identified individuals participated in semi-structured interviews regarding emotional and coping processes throughout their gender transition. The authors used grounded theory to conceptualize and analyze the data. There were three distinct phases through which the participants described emotional and coping experiences: (a) pretransition, (b) during the transition, and (c) posttransition. Five separate themes emerged, including descriptions of coping mechanisms, emotional hardship, lack of support, positive social support, and affirmative emotional experiences. The authors developed a model to describe the role of coping mechanisms and support experienced throughout the transition process. As participants continued through their transitions, emotional hardships lessened and they used facilitative coping mechanisms that in turn led to affirmative emotional experiences. The results of this study are indicative of the importance of guiding transgender individuals through facilitative coping experiences and providing social support throughout the transition process. Implications for counselors and for future research are discussed.
Secession – the Last Resort for Minority Protection
Authors: de Villiers Bertus
Published: May 2012

‘Secession’ is a word that brings fear to nations. It reeks of conflict, violence and instability. It is also a measure of last resort. It sometimes brings hope to minorities that are in despair and who feel permanently excluded from policy making. This article looks at some of the faces of secession. It investigates how international law is vague on the one hand and pragmatic on the other hand when it comes to secession. It shows how, in recent times, secession has been endorsed by the international community in cases such as East Timor, Eritrea and Kosovo while in Ethiopia and Canada legal mechanisms exist for managing demands for secession. Consideration is given to some of the pre-requisites for secession. Finally general observations are made about secession as a mechanism to protect minorities.
A Vintage Model of Terrorist Organizations
Authors: Faria João Ricardo , Arce Daniel
Published: May 2012

A dynamic model of a terrorist organization is presented with the defining feature being that a succession of operatives is recruited at different points in time. Consequently, a government’s counterterror policy must be tailored according to the vintage structure of the terrorist group that it faces. This implies that past history of counterterror policy and attacks matter for the formulation of current and future policy. The authors present the necessary steps to formulate and solve a vintage model, and to deal with the delay differential equations that naturally arise from the vintage structure. The resulting analysis captures the implications of a diverse set of phenomena such as Internet recruiting, training delays for logistically complex plots, age distribution of operatives, and the sensitivity of government impatience/cabinet composition to terrorist events for the inner dynamics of terrorist organizations and counterterror policy. Directions for future research are also suggested.
Predicting the intra-yarn porosity by image analysis method
Authors: Turan R Befru , Okur Ayşe , Deveci Remziye , Açikel Merve
Published: May 2012

The flow mechanism that is realized in 3-D depending on the fabric’s porosity structure determines the fabric’s permeability performance. During the flow movement that happens both in the in-plane and through-plane directions, not only the inter-yarn pore properties but inter-fiber pore properties play a significant role as well. The aim of this study is to offer a new method to identify intra-yarn porosity, which has mostly been neglected during the theoretical studies. In this method, initially the cross-sectional images of the cotton yarn in the fabric were achieved, and then the intra-yarn porosity was predicted via image processing and analysis steps. Besides, intra-yarn porosity was calculated theoretically depending on fiber and yarn parameters. The results that were obtained through the image analysis method and theoretical approaches were compared with the experimental data achieved by using Stereo Investigator. As a result, it was observed that the image analysis method was giving fast, objective, successful and expected results while predicting the intra-yarn porosity.
Effect of cotton pectin content and bioscouring on alkyl-dimethyl-benzyl-ammonium chloride adsorption
Authors: Slopek Ryan , Condon Brian , Sawhney Paul , Reynolds Michael , Allen Chuck
Published: May 2012

Previous research has shown that both the rate and the total amount of alkyl-dimethyl-benzyl-ammonium chloride (ADBAC) exhausted from a bulk solution of ADBAC are significantly greater for greige cotton nonwovens than cotton nonwovens that have been both scoured and bleached. The presence of pectin in greige cotton samples was offered as one of the possible explanations for this observed phenomenon. To elucidate the effect of pectin and cotton’s natural waxes on the adsorption of ADBAC on greige cotton nonwovens, low-weight greige nonwovens were bioscoured with a pectate lyase prior to being immersed in aqueous solutions of ADBAC. The eco-friendly scouring process was optimized for greige cotton nonwovens and the optimal process parameters were as follows: pH of 8.5, temperature of 55°C, and an incubation time of 90 minutes. Under these conditions, the amount of pectin removed from the fabrics was equivalent to that removed by traditional scouring and bleaching procedures. Pretreatment of greige cotton nonwovens with pectate lyase was found to significantly reduce the amount of ADBAC exhausted from the bulk solution. Through partial scouring via traditional and pectinase-based methods, the adsorption of ADBAC onto cotton nonwovens was found to be linearly dependent on the amount of pectin present in the fabric. Both waxes and pectin were found to play an important role in ADBAC adsorption; however, the observed effect of pectin was significantly greater than cotton’s natural waxes.
Influence of hydroentangling variables on the properties of bi-layer polyethylene terephthalate–glass fabrics
Authors: Tausif Muhammad , Russell Stephen J
Published: May 2012

Two webs, the first containing 100% polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and the second 80% glass/20% PET, were integrated by hydroentangling to produce a coherent bi-layer fabric. A full-factorial experimental study at two levels was conducted to determine the influence of four hydroentangling variables (water pressure, conveyor speed, nozzle diameter and number of injectors) on the dimensional and mechanical properties of the fabrics. Each variable was known to contribute to the specific energy. Statistical analysis was conducted using analysis of variance and analysis of covariance to determine the main effects and interactions. In terms of fabric tensile strength, a significant interaction was found between the conveyor speed and nozzle diameter and also between the water jet pressure and the number of injectors. Statistical analysis enabled the levels of each variable to be selected to minimize the specific energy consumption, as it was found that fabrics produced using the same specific energy can exhibit significantly different properties. Scanning Electron Microscopy and X-ray microtomography confirmed the migration of fiber segments between the two web layers and revealed the nature of fiber interactions in the interface.
The Benefits of Youth Engagement in HIV-Preventive Structural Change Interventions
Authors: Reed Sarah J. , Miller Robin Lin ,   the Adolescent Medicine Trials Network for HIV/AIDS Interventions
Published: May 2012

Youth are infrequently included in planning the health promotion projects designed to benefit them as many of the factors infringing upon youth’s health and well-being also limit their engagement in community-based public health promotion projects. This article explores youth engagement in 13 coalitions implementing structural changes meant to reduce HIV transmission among adolescents. There was wide variation of youth membership and involvement across coalitions. Using analytic induction, the authors show that youth engagement was associated with the successful completion of structural change efforts. The authors also describe how youth engagement indirectly facilitated coalitions’ success. The authors suggest that youth engagement in planning and conducting structural interventions is itself a valuable structural change.
Glutamine Prevents Apoptosis in Intestinal Epithelial Cells and Induces Differential Protective Pathways in Heat and Oxidant Injury Models
Authors: Kallweit Alyssa R. , Baird Christine Hamiel , Stutzman Diana K. , Wischmeyer Paul E.
Published: April 2012

Background:

Glutamine (GLN) can decrease mortality and length of hospital stay in the critically ill. GLN protects via enhancing protective heat shock proteins (HSPs) in heat stress (HS). GLN's effect on HSPs in oxidant injury and apoptosis remains to be elucidated. The purpose of this study was to determine if GLN protects via decreasing apoptosis during both heat and oxidative stress.

Methods:

IEC‐18 cells were treated (15 minutes) with 0 mM GLN (control cells [CTs]) or 8 mM GLN and exposed to either lethal injury (44°C for 50 minutes or 4 mM H2O2 for 30 minutes) or nonlethal injury (43°C for 45 minutes or 600 µM H2O2 for 30 minutes). Survival was determined via MTS assay. Injured groups were normalized to noninjured controls. HSPs and cleaved caspase‐3 (CC3), a key mediator for apoptosis, were evaluated via Western blot following a 3‐hour recovery.

Results:

MTS assays showed GLN increased survival 4‐ to 5‐fold (P < .001 vs HS CT or H2O2). Western blot showed GLN increased all 3 HSPs in HS (P < .001 vs HS CTs) but only HSP32 during oxidant injury (P < .02 vs H2O2 only). GLN decreased CC3 in both injuries (P < .03 vs non‐GLN‐treated cells).

Conclusions:

GLN protects intestinal cells from both heat and oxidant injury. HSP25, 32, and 70 levels increased with GLN during HS, but in oxidant injury, only HSP32 increased, suggesting GLN's mechanism of protection may vary in different models of injury. In both injuries, GLN lowered the expression of CC3, indicating prevention of apoptosis may be a key mechanism by which GLN protects.