bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interactive Tele-Radiological Segmentation Systems for Treatment and Diagnosis
Authors: Zimeras S. , Gortzis L. G.
Published: May 2012

Telehealth is the exchange of health information and the provision of health care services through electronic information and communications technology, where participants are separated by geographic, time, social and cultural barriers. The shift of telemedicine from desktop platforms to wireless and mobile technologies is likely to have a significant impact on healthcare in the future. It is therefore crucial to develop a general information exchange e-medical system to enables its users to perform online and offline medical consultations through diagnosis. During the medical diagnosis, image analysis techniques combined with doctor’s opinions could be useful for final medical decisions. Quantitative analysis of digital images requires detection and segmentation of the borders of the object of interest. In medical images, segmentation has traditionally been done by human experts. Even with the aid of image processing software (computer-assisted segmentation tools), manual segmentation of 2D and 3D CT images is tedious, time-consuming, and thus impractical, especially in cases where a large number of objects must be specified. Substantial computational and storage requirements become especially acute when object orientation and scale have to be considered. Therefore automated or semi-automated segmentation techniques are essential if these software applications are ever to gain widespread clinical use. The main purpose of this work is to analyze segmentation techniques for the definition of anatomical structures under telemedical systems.
TREM-1 Promotes Pancreatitis-Associated Intestinal Barrier Dysfunction
Authors: Dang Shengchun , Shen Yao , Yin Kai , Zhang Jianxin
Published: May 2012

Severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) can cause intestinal barrier dysfunction (IBD), which significantly increases the disease severity and risk of mortality. We hypothesized that the innate immunity- and inflammatory-related protein-triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (TREM-1) contributes to this complication of SAP. Thus, we investigated the effect of TREM-1 pathway modulation on a rat model of pancreatitis-associated IBD. In this study we sought to clarify the role of TREM-1 in the pathophysiology of intestinal barrier dysfunction in SAP. Specifically, we evaluated levels of serum TREM-1 and membrane-bound TREM-1 in the intestine and pancreas from an animal model of experimentally induced SAP. TREM-1 pathway blockade by LP17 treatment may suppress pancreatitis-associated IBD and ameliorate the damage to the intestinal mucosa barrier.
Racial Differences by Ischemic Stroke Subtype: A Comprehensive Diagnostic Approach
Authors: Song Sarah , Burgess Richard E. , Kidwell Chelsea S.
Published: May 2012

Background. Previous studies have suggested that black populations have more small-vessel and fewer cardioembolic strokes. We sought to analyze racial differences in ischemic stroke subtype employing a comprehensive diagnostic workup with magnetic resonance-imaging-(MRI-) based evaluation including diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI).Methods. 350 acute ischemic stroke patients admitted to an urban hospital with standardized comprehensive diagnostic evaluations were retrospectively analyzed. Ischemic stroke subtype was determined by three Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment (TOAST) classification systems.Results. We found similar proportions of cardioembolic and lacunar strokes in the black and white cohort. The only subtype category with a significant difference by race was “stroke of other etiology,” more common in whites. Black stroke patients were more likely to have an incomplete evaluation, but this did not reach significance.Conclusions. We found similar proportions by race of cardioembolic and lacunar strokes when employing a full diagnostic evaluation including DWI MRI. The relatively high rate of cardioembolism may have been underappreciated in black stroke patients when employing a CT approach to stroke subtype diagnosis. Further research is required to better understand the racial differences in frequency of “stroke of other etiology” and explore disparities in the extent of diagnostic evaluations.
A Large-Scale Space-Time Stochastic Simulation Tool of Rain Attenuation for the Design and Optimization of Adaptive Satellite Communication Systems Operating between 10 and 50 GHz
Authors: Jeannin Nicolas , Féral Laurent , Sauvageot Henri , Castanet Laurent , Lacoste Frédéric
Published: May 2012

The design and optimization of propagation impairment techniques for space telecommunication systems operating at frequencies above 20 GHz require a precise knowledge of the propagation channel both in space and time. For that purpose, space-time channel models have to be developed. In this paper the description of a model for the simulation of long-term rain attenuation time series correlated both in space and time is described. It relies on the definition of a stochastic rain field simulator constrained by the rain amount outputs of the ERA-40 reanalysis meteorological database. With this methodology, realistic propagation conditions can be generated at the scale of satellite coverage (i.e., over Europe or USA) for many years. To increase the temporal resolution, a stochastic interpolation algorithm is used to generate spatially correlated time series sampled at 1 Hz, providing that way valuable inputs for the study of the performances of propagation impairment techniques required for adaptive SatCom systems operating at Ka band and above.
Role of Long-Acting Injectable Second-Generation Antipsychotics in the Treatment of First-Episode Schizophrenia: A Clinical Perspective
Authors: Přikryl Radovan , Přikrylová Kučerová Hana , Vrzalová Michaela , Češková Eva
Published: May 2012

Approximately 80% of patients with the first-episode schizophrenia reach symptomatic remission after antipsychotic therapy. However, within two years most of them relapse, mainly due to low levels of insight into the illness and nonadherence to their oral medication. Therefore, although the formal data available is limited, many experts recommend prescribing long-acting injectable second-generation antipsychotics (mostly risperidone or alternatively paliperidone) in the early stages of schizophrenia, particularly in patients who have benefited from the original oral molecule in the past and agree to receive long-term injectable treatment. Early application of long-acting injectable second-generation antipsychotics can significantly reduce the risk of relapse in the future and thus improve not only the social and working potential of patients with schizophrenia but also their quality of life.
Decision Aiding to Overcome Biases in Object Identification
Authors: Fendley Mary , Narayanan S.
Published: May 2012

Human decision makers typically use heuristics under time-pressured situations. These heuristics can potentially degrade task performance through the impact of their associated biases. Using object identification in image analysis as the context, this paper identifies cognitive biases that play a role in decision making. We propose a decision support system to help overcome these biases in this context. Results show that the decision support system improved human decision making in object identification, including metrics such as time taken to identify targets in an image set, accuracy of target identification, accuracy of target classification, and quantity of false positive identification.
Hospitalisation Utilisation and Costs in Schizophrenia Patients in Finland before and after Initiation of Risperidone Long-Acting Injection
Authors: Asseburg Christian , Willis Michael , Löthgren Mickael , Seppälä Niko , Hakala Mika , Persson Ulf
Published: May 2012

Objectives. Quantify changes in hospital resource use in Finland following initiation of risperidone long-acting injection (RLAI).Materials and Methods. A retrospective multi-center chart review (naturalistic setting) was used to compare annual hospital bed-days and hospital episodes for 177 schizophrenia patients (mean age 47.1 years, 52% female, 72% hospitalized) before and after initiation of RLAI (between January 2004 and June 2005) using the within-patient “mirror-image” study design. The base case analytical approach allocated hospital episodes overlapping the start date entirely to the preinitiation period. In order to investigate the impact of inpatient care ongoing at baseline, the change in bed-days was also estimated using an alternative analytical approached related to economic modelling.Results. In the conventional analysis, the mean annual hospitalisation costs declined by €11,900 and the number of bed-days was reduced by 40%, corresponding to 0.19 fewer hospital episodes per year. The reductions in bed-days per patient-year were similar for patients switched to RLAI as inpatients and as outpatients. In the modelling-based analysis, an 8% reduction in bed-days per year was observed.Conclusion. Despite uncertainty in the choice of analytic approach for allocating inpatient episodes that overlapping this initiation, consistent reductions in resource use are associated with the initiation of RLAI in Finland.
Clustering of X-Ray-Selected AGN
Authors: Cappelluti N. , Allevato V. , Finoguenov A.
Published: May 2012

The study of the angular and spatial structure of the X-ray sky has been under investigation since the times of theEinsteinX-ray Observatory. This topic has fascinated more than two generations of scientists and slowly unveiled an unexpected scenario regarding the consequences of the angular and spatial distribution of X-ray sources. It was first established from the clustering of sources making the CXB that the source spatial distribution resembles that of optical QSO. It then became evident that the distribution of X-ray AGN in the Universe was strongly reflecting that of Dark Matter. In particular, one of the key results is that X-ray AGNs are hosted by dark matter halos of mass similar to that of galaxy groups. This result, together with model predictions, has lead to the hypothesis that galaxy mergers may constitute the main AGN-triggering mechanism. However, detailed analysis of observational data, acquired with modern telescopes, and the use of the new halo occupation formalism has revealed that the triggering of an AGN could also be attributed to phenomena-like tidal disruption or disk instability and to galaxy evolution. This paper reviews results from 1988 to 2011 in the field of X-ray-selected AGN clustering.
Successful Management of a Recurrent Supralevator Abscess: A Case Report
Authors: Sanyal S. , Khan F. , Ramachandra Prashanth
Published: May 2012

Anorectal abscesses are commonly encountered in clinical surgical practice. These abscesses require surgical management. Supralevator abscesses are thought to originate either from an ischiorectal or intersphincteric abscess extension or from an intraperitoneal source. These abscesses are quite uncommon and present a difficult surgical problem. We present a case here of a 42-year-old female with a recurrent supralevator abscess requiring multiple surgical procedures for adequate drainage and care of her abscess.
Robotics Middleware: A Comprehensive Literature Survey and Attribute-Based Bibliography
Authors: Elkady Ayssam , Sobh Tarek
Published: May 2012

Autonomous robots are complex systems that require the interaction between numerous heterogeneous components (software and hardware). Because of the increase in complexity of robotic applications and the diverse range of hardware, robotic middleware is designed to manage the complexity and heterogeneity of the hardware and applications, promote the integration of new technologies, simplify software design, hide the complexity of low-level communication and the sensor heterogeneity of the sensors, improve software quality, reuse robotic software infrastructure across multiple research efforts, and to reduce production costs. This paper presents a literature survey and attribute-based bibliography of the current state of the art in robotic middleware design. The main aim of the survey is to assist robotic middleware researchers in evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of current approaches and their appropriateness for their applications. Furthermore, we provide a comprehensive set of appropriate bibliographic references that are classified based on middleware attributes.
Designing Gold Nanoparticle-Ensembles as Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering Tags inside Human Retinal Cells
Authors: Boca Sanda , Rugina Dumitrita , Pintea Adela , Leopold Nicolae , Astilean Simion
Published: May 2012

Apart from the traditional development of surface-enhanced raman scattering (SERS) substrates for ultrasensitive spectroscopic analysis, an increasing interest is given nowadays to the design of the so-called SERS nanotags which integrate multiple SERS applications into single plasmonic nanoparticles. The fabrication of SERS tags is still a challenging task due to the complicated fabrication process. Typically, SERS tags are hybrid nanoconstructs consisting in a unique plasmonic nanoobject encoded with specific reporter molecules and enveloped in a protective shell that provides both biocompatibility and targeting function. Herein, we produce effective SERS tags consisting in small aggregates of gold nanoparticles (mainly dimers and trimers) which are captured from solution and then transferred into cells to perform as individual plasmonic nanostructures. Actually the small aggregates formed under controlled conditions are stabilized in solution by interlocking into a polymeric envelope made of thiol-modified poly(ethylene) glycol (PEG-SH). No further encoding operation is necessary in our case since part of ascorbic acid used as reducing agent remains attached in the interparticle junctions, providing persistent and strong SERS signal when the fabricated tags are internalized by human retinal cells. Our studies demonstrate a promising potential of new SERS-active nanoparticles to serve as effective reporters for biomedical tracing and imaging.
Added Value of a Serum Proteomic Signature in the Diagnostic Evaluation of Lung Nodules
Authors: Pecot Chad V. , Li Ming , Zhang Xueqiong J. , Rajanbabu Rama , Calitri Ciara , Bungum Aaron , Jett James R. , Putnam Joe B. , Callaway-Lane Carol , Deppen Steve , Grogan Eric L. , Carbone David P. , Worrell John A. , Moons Karel G.M. , Shyr Yu , Massion Pierre P.
Published: May 2012

Background: Current management of lung nodules is complicated by nontherapeutic resections and missed chances for cure. We hypothesized that a serum proteomic signature may add diagnostic information beyond that provided by combined clinical and radiographic data.

Methods: Cohort A included 265 and cohort B 114 patients. Using multivariable logistic regression analysis we calculated the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and quantified the added value of a previously described serum proteomic signature beyond clinical and radiographic risk factors for predicting lung cancer using the integration discrimination improvement (IDI) index.

Results: The average computed tomography (CT) measured nodule size in cohorts A and B was 37.83 versus 23.15 mm among patients with lung cancer and 15.82 versus 17.18 mm among those without, respectively. In cohort A, the AUC increased from 0.68 to 0.86 after adding chest CT imaging variables to the clinical results, but the proteomic signature did not provide meaningful added value. In contrast, in cohort B, the AUC improved from 0.46 with clinical data alone to 0.61 when combined with chest CT imaging data and to 0.69 after adding the proteomic signature (IDI of 20% P = 0.0003). In addition, in a subgroup of 100 nodules between 5 and 20 mm in diameter, the proteomic signature added value with an IDI of 15% (P ≤ 0.0001).

Conclusions: The results show that this serum proteomic biomarker signature may add value to the clinical and chest CT evaluation of indeterminate lung nodules.

Impact: This study suggests a possible role of a blood biomarker in the evaluation of indeterminate lung nodules. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 21(5); 786–92. ©2012 AACR.
Effectiveness of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance in Patients with Cirrhosis
Authors: Singal Amit G. , Conjeevaram Hari S. , Volk Michael L. , Fu Sherry , Fontana Robert J. , Askari Fred , Su Grace L. , Lok Anna S. , Marrero Jorge A.
Published: May 2012

Background: Surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is recommended in patients with cirrhosis, but the effectiveness of a surveillance program in clinical practice has yet to be established.

Aims: To evaluate the effectiveness of a surveillance program with ultrasound and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) to detect early HCCs.

Methods: Four hundred and forty-six patients with Child A/B cirrhosis were prospectively enrolled between January 2004 and September 2006 and followed until July 2010. HCC surveillance using ultrasound and AFP was conducted per the treating hepatologist, although the standard was every 6 to 12 months. HCC was diagnosed using American Association for the Study of Liver Disease (AASLD) guidelines and early HCC defined by Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging. Performance characteristics were determined for surveillance using AFP, ultrasound, or the combination.

Results: After a median follow-up of 3.5 years, 41 patients developed HCCs, of whom 30 (73.2%) had early HCCs. The annual incidence of HCC was 2.8%, with cumulative 3- and 5-year incidence rates of 5.7% and 9.1%, respectively. Surveillance ultrasound and AFP had sensitivities of 44% and 66% and specificities of 92% and 91%, respectively, for the detection of HCCs. Sensitivity significantly improved to 90%, with minimal loss in specificity (83%) when these tests were used in combination.

Conclusions: When used as a surveillance program in a real-world clinical setting, combination of ultrasound and AFP is the most effective strategy to detect HCC at an early stage.

Impact: Our results differ from the guidelines of the AASLD. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 21(5); 793–9. ©2012 AACR.
Screening Mammography Use among Current, Former, and Never Hormone Therapy Users May Not Explain Recent Declines in Breast Cancer Incidence
Authors: Buist Diana S.M. , Walker Rod , Bowles Erin J. Aiello , Carney Patricia A. , Taplin Stephen H. , Onega Tracy , Kerlikowske Karla , Clinton Walter , Miglioretti Diana L.
Published: May 2012

Background: Screening mammography and invasive breast cancer and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) rates recently declined in the United States; screening mammography declines among former hormone therapy (HT) users may be an important contributor. We longitudinally examined women and compared mammography use and cancer rates by HT use [current, former, and never users of estrogen + progestin (EPT) and estrogen only (ET)].

Methods: We studied 163,490 unique women aged 50–79 years enrolled in Group Health (Washington State) between 1994–2009. Electronic data identified HT dispensing, mammography use and incident breast cancer diagnosis. We calculated age-adjusted screening compliance as a time-varying variable (screened-within-the-past-26 months, yes/no).

Results: Before 2002, screening compliance differed significantly by HT with current EPT users having the highest rates (83%) followed by former EPT (77%), current ET (77%), former ET (72%), and never users (56%). After 2002, screening was high (∼81%) among current and former EPT and ET users and significantly increased among never users (∼62%). Invasive breast cancer rates significantly decreased over the whole study period (Ptrend ≤ 0.05) for all HT users, except EPT current users (Ptrend = 0.68); DCIS rates did not change in any group.

Conclusions: Differential screening mammography rates by HT use do not explain invasive breast cancer incidence declines. Our data suggest discontinuing HT has an immediate effect on breast cancer rates, lending support to the mechanism that cessation leads to tumor regression.

Impact: Studies examining the influence of a changing exposure in relation to outcomes should account for varying exposures, individuals' characteristics, as well as screening methods and frequency. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 21(5); 720–7. ©2012 AACR.
Patient, Hospital, and Neighborhood Factors Associated with Treatment of Early-Stage Breast Cancer among Asian American Women in California
Authors: Gomez Scarlett Lin , Press David J. , Lichtensztajn Daphne , Keegan Theresa H.M. , Shema Sarah J. , Le Gem M. , Kurian Allison W.
Published: May 2012

Background: Clinical guidelines recommend breast-conserving surgery (BCS) with radiation as a viable alternative to mastectomy for treatment of early-stage breast cancer. Yet, Asian Americans are more likely than other groups to have mastectomy or omit radiation after BCS.

Methods: We applied polytomous logistic regression and recursive partitioning to analyze factors associated with mastectomy, or BCS without radiation, among 20,987 California Asian Americans diagnosed with stage 0 to II breast cancer from 1990 to 2007.

Results: The percentage receiving mastectomy ranged from 40% among U.S.-born Chinese to 58% among foreign-born Vietnamese. Factors associated with mastectomy included tumor characteristics such as larger tumor size, patient characteristics such as older age and foreign birthplace among some Asian Americans ethnicities, and additional factors including hospital [smaller hospital size, not National Cancer Institute cancer center, low socioeconomic status (SES) patient composition, and high hospital Asian Americans patient composition] and neighborhood characteristics (ethnic enclaves of low SES). These hospital and neighborhood characteristics were also associated with BCS without radiation. Through recursive partitioning, the highest mastectomy subgroups were defined by tumor characteristics such as size and anatomic location, in combination with diagnosis year and nativity.

Conclusions: Tumor characteristics and, secondarily, patient, hospital, and neighborhood factors are predictors of mastectomy and omission of radiation following BCS among Asian Americans.

Impact: By focusing on interactions among patient, hospital, and neighborhood factors in the differential receipt of breast cancer treatment, our study identifies subgroups of interest for further study and translation into public health and patient-focused initiatives to ensure that all women are fully informed about treatment options. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 21(5); 821–34. ©2012 AACR.
Human Papillomavirus Infection and Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Case–Control Study
Authors: Guo Fangcen , Liu Ying , Wang Xueqian , He Zhonghu , Weiss Noel S. , Madeleine Margaret M. , Liu Fangfang , Tian Xiuyun , Song Yuqin , Pan Yaqi , Ning Tao , Yang Haijun , Shi Xiaotian , Lu Changdong , Cai Hong , Ke Yang
Published: May 2012

Background: The risk factors for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in the high-incidence areas of China remain unclear.

Methods: A total of 300 patients with ESCC and 900 controls matched for age and sex were enrolled in Anyang (China), a high-risk area for ESCC in China. In tumor tissue of the cases and in esophageal biopsies of controls, the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA was assessed by an SPF1/GP6+-mediated PCR followed by sequencing. The presence of serum antibody against the HPV-16 E7 oncoprotein was assessed by use of the ELISA. ORs with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated via unconditional logistic regression models.

Results: The presence of HPV in the esophagus (OR, 6.4; 95% CI, 4.4–9.2) was associated with increased risk of ESCC. Moreover, infection with “oncogenic” types of HPV (OR, 10.3; 95% CI, 6.3–16.8) was more strongly associated with ESCC than other types of HPV (OR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.4–4.2). The presence of HPV-16 (OR, 12.8; 95% CI, 7.6–21.7) was particularly strongly associated with ESCC. In addition, a higher proportion of cases than controls had serum antibodies against HPV-16 E7 (OR, 6.1; 95% CI, 3.7–10.0).

Conclusion and Impact: This study provides the strongest epidemiologic evidence to date in support of the important role of HPV in the development of ESCC in high-incidence areas of China. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 21(5); 780–5. ©2012 AACR.
Gastric Cancer Incidence among Hispanics in California: Patterns by Time, Nativity, and Neighborhood Characteristics
Authors: Chang Ellen T. , Gomez Scarlett Lin , Fish Kari , Schupp Clayton W. , Parsonnet Julie , DeRouen Mindy C. , Keegan Theresa H. M. , Clarke Christina A. , Glaser Sally L.
Published: May 2012

Background: Better understanding about gastric cancer incidence patterns among Hispanics by birthplace, socioeconomic status (SES), and acculturation can improve preventive strategies and disease models.

Methods: Incidence rates, rate ratios, and estimated annual percent change (EAPC) in rates of anatomic and histologic subtype-specific gastric cancer were calculated by age, sex, and nativity among Hispanics using California Cancer Registry data from 1988 through 2004. Incidence rates in 1998 to 2002 were compared by neighborhood SES and Hispanic enclave status according to 2000 US Census data.

Results: Incidence rates of diffuse gastric cancer increased from 1988 through 2004 among foreign-born Hispanic men (EAPC: 3.5%, 95% CI: 1.5%–5.5%) and U.S.-born Hispanic women (EAPC: 3.0%, 95% CI: 0.7%–5.3%). During the same time period, incidence rates of intestinal gastric cancer declined significantly and both cardia and noncardia gastric cancer were steady or declined among foreign-born and U.S.-born Hispanic men and women. Noncardia and both intestinal and diffuse gastric cancer were more common in foreign-born than U.S.-born Hispanic men and women, and in those from lower SES, higher enclave neighborhoods. By contrast, among younger and middle-aged Hispanic men, cardia tumors were more common in the U.S.-born than the foreign-born, and in higher SES, lower enclave neighborhoods.

Conclusions: Varying gastric cancer risk factors among Hispanic subgroups and increasing rates of diffuse gastric cancer in foreign-born Hispanic men and U.S.-born Hispanic women merit further investigation to identify separate disease etiologies.

Impact: Age, sex, birthplace, SES, and acculturation modify gastric cancer incidence in Hispanics and should be considered when examining disease risk and prevention. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 21(5); 709–19. ©2012 AACR.
Weight Cycling and Risk of Endometrial Cancer
Authors: Stevens Victoria L. , Jacobs Eric J. , Sun Juzhong , McCullough Marjorie L. , Patel Alpa V. , Gaudet Mia M. , Teras Lauren R. , Gapstur Susan M.
Published: May 2012

Background: Obesity, as measured by body mass index (BMI), is an established risk factor for endometrial cancer in postmenopausal women. Weight cycling, which consists of repeated cycles of weight loss followed by regain, occurs frequently in overweight and obese women. It is unclear whether weight cycling is associated with risk of endometrial cancer independent of BMI.

Methods: This analysis included 38,148 postmenopausal women enrolled in the Cancer Prevention Study II Nutrition Cohort, of whom 559 were diagnosed with endometrial cancer between enrollment in 1992 and June 30, 2007. Number of lifetime weight cycles was determined from questions on the baseline questionnaire asking how many times 10 or more pounds were intentionally lost and later regained. Multivariable-adjusted hazard rate ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using Cox proportional hazards regression.

Results: Weight cycling was positively associated with endometrial cancer incidence (RR, 2.13; 95% CI, 1.63–2.78 for 10+ weight cycles vs. no weight cycles; Ptrend < 0.0001). However, after adjustment for BMI in 1992, this association was null (RR, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.77–1.42; Ptrend = 0.82). Weight cycling was not associated with endometrial cancer in analyses stratified by BMI or by weight change after adjustment for BMI.

Conclusions: After adjustment for BMI, weight cycling was not associated with the risk of endometrial cancer.

Impact: These findings suggest that weight loss with subsequent regain is unlikely to increase risk of endometrial cancer. Therefore, weight loss for better health should be encouraged. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 21(5); 747–52. ©2012 AACR.
Central Adiposity and Prostate Cancer in a Black Population
Authors: Nemesure Barbara , Wu Suh-Yuh , Hennis Anselm , Leske M. Cristina
Published: May 2012

Background: The relationship between central adiposity and prostate cancer remains unclear.

Methods: This report includes 963 newly diagnosed cases of histologically confirmed prostate cancer and 941 randomly selected age-matched controls ascertained from the population-based Prostate Cancer in a Black Population study conducted between July 2002 and January 2011 in Barbados, West Indies. Trained nurse interviewers obtained data on height, weight, waist and hip circumferences, family and medical history, and lifestyle factors. ORs and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to assess associations between anthropometric measures and prostate cancer.

Results: A two-fold increased risk of prostate cancer was found among men in the highest quartile of waist–hip ratio compared with those in the lowest quartile (OR = 2.11, 95% CI, 1.54–2.88). Similarly, men with the largest waist circumferences had an OR of 1.84 (95% CI, 1.19–2.85) compared with those with the smallest waist sizes.

Conclusions: These results suggest that measures of central rather than global adiposity may be more predictive of prostate cancer, especially in westernized African populations, where patterns of visceral fat distribution are different than other groups.

Impact: The findings highlight the need to further elucidate the mechanisms underlying the relationship between central adiposity and prostate cancer in populations of predominantly African descent. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 21(5); 851–8. ©2012 AACR.
Circulating Biomarkers of Iron Storage and Clearance of Incident Human Papillomavirus Infection
Authors: Siegel Erin M. , Patel Nitin , Lu Beibei , Lee Ji-Hyun , Nyitray Alan G. , Huang Xi , Villa Luisa L. , Franco Eduardo L. , Giuliano Anna R.
Published: May 2012

Background: Iron is an essential mineral for both cellular and pathogen survival and is essential for viral replication. In turn, iron metabolism has been shown to be altered by several viral infections. However, little is known about the association between iron status and human papillomavirus (HPV) natural history. We hypothesize iron to be an HPV cofactor that is associated with longer duration of infection.

Methods: Ferritin and soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) were measured in baseline serum samples from 327 women enrolled in the Ludwig–McGill cohort. Incident HPV clearance rates (any-type, oncogenic HPV, nononcogenic HPV, and HPV-16) over a 3 year time period were estimated from Cox proportional hazard models accounting for correlations between multiple infections.

Results: Women with ferritin levels above the median were less likely to clear incident oncogenic HPV [adjusted hazard ratio (AHR), 0.73; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.55–0.96] and HPV-16 infections (AHR, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.11–0.73). Using physiologic cutoff points, women with enriched iron stores (>120 μg/L) were less likely to clear incident oncogenic HPV infections than those with low levels of iron (<20 μg/L; AHR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.15–0.81).

Conclusion: This study observed that women with the highest ferritin levels were less likely to clear incident oncogenic and HPV-16 infections than women with low ferritin. Rising iron stores may decrease probability of clearing new HPV infection, possibly by promoting viral activity and contributing to oxidative DNA damage.

Impact: This novel study suggests that elevated iron stores may put women at risk for persistent HPV infection, an early event in cervical carcinogenesis. Further examination of the association between iron status and HPV natural history is warranted. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 21(5); 859–65. ©2012 AACR.
Factors Associated with Severe Skin Infections in Patients Treated with Biologic Therapies for Inflammatory Rheumatic Diseases
Authors: Régnier-Rosencher E. , Farhi D. , Lebrun A. , Salliot C. , Dougados M. , Dupin N.
Published: May 2012

Background: The incidence of severe infections is increased under biologic therapies and the skin is the second localization. Objective: To appraise the factors associated with severe skin infections (SSI) in patients under biologic therapies for inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRD). Methods: We performed a case-control (ratio 1:3) study nested in a prospective cohort of patients with IRD. SSI was defined as requiring hospitalization or intravenous anti-infectious therapy. We defined two imbedded periods: period A was the time window between the first biologic therapy and the SSI; period B was the last 3 or 12 months (for tumor necrosis factor blockers or rituximab, respectively) before the SSI. Results: Among 4,361 patients with IRD, 29 had a SSI under biologic therapy. In multivariate analyses, SSI were significantly associated with smoking, baseline C-reactive protein and gammaglobulinemia, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs before biologic therapy, cumulative dose of steroids, concomitant steroids during period A, number of different biologic therapies during period A, treatment with infliximab during period A, period B or as first biologic therapy and treatment at high dose during period B. Conclusion: In patients under biologic therapies for IRD, the risk of SSI is associated with several factors including tobacco, treatment with infliximab or high dose range.
Full-Field Optical Coherence Tomography: A New Technology for 3D High-Resolution Skin Imaging
Authors: Dalimier Eugénie , Salomon Denis
Published: May 2012

Background/Aims: Full-field optical coherence tomography (FFOCT) is a new imaging technology that can provide 3D micron-level resolution and is suited for high-resolution imaging of biological tissue. The aim of this study was to evaluate its capacity and potential for imaging human epidermis and dermis and various skin pathologies in ex vivo and in vivo conditions. Methods: Non-fixed and fixed samples of normal and pathological skin and normal in vivo skin were imaged with a FFOCT system and compared to histological slides. Results: The epidermis and adnexae, the collagen bundles of the dermis and the hypodermis could be identified through architectural and cellular details. The pathological structures were distinguished from the normal structures and corresponded to their histopathological organization. Conclusion: FFOCT is a novel technology in the field of skin imaging that has the potential to be a relevant complement to existing non-invasive imaging modalities for clinical and cosmetic applications.
Complete Regression of a Melanocytic Nevus under Intense Pulsed Light Therapy for Axillary Hair Removal in a Cosmetic Center
Authors: Martín José M. , Monteagudo Carlos , Bella Rebeca , Reig Irela , Jordá Esperanza
Published: May 2012

Intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy using noncoherent broad-spectrum light has been reported to be effective for hair removal, and also for treating superficial pigmented lesions like ephelides and solar lentigines. We report complete regression of a pigmented melanocytic nevus, histologically confirmed, after hair removal treatment with IPL. The use of lasers and IPL is a common procedure used by dermatologists and even other professions for the treatment of cosmetically troubling skin conditions. The main advantage of such treatment is a reduction of surgical scars, thus producing a favorable cosmetic outcome, but a major limitation is that histopathologic diagnosis is not usually obtained prior to treatment. Such devices should be carefully used in patients with potentially dangerous melanocytic lesions. We also review the recent literature regarding inadequate treatment of melanocytic lesions with lasers.
Dynamical Genetic Programming in XCSF
Authors: Preen Richard J. , Bull Larry
Published: May 2012

A number of representation schemes have been presented for use within learning classifier systems, ranging from binary encodings to artificial neural networks. This paper presents results from an investigation into using a temporally dynamic symbolic representation within the XCSF learning classifier system. In particular, dynamical arithmetic networks are used to represent the traditional condition-action production system rules to solve continuous-valued reinforcement learning problems and to perform symbolic regression, finding competitive performance with traditional genetic programming on a number of composite polynomial tasks. In addition, the network outputs are later repeatedly sampled at varying temporal intervals to perform multistep-ahead predictions of a financial time series.
“Hack, Pack, Sack”: Occupational Structure, Status, and Mobility of Jews in Amsterdam 1851–1941
Authors: Tammes Peter
Published: May 2012

Until the start of the twentieth century, the occupational structure of Jews in Amsterdam can be described as an ethnic-enclave economy, heavily concentrated in the trading and diamond industries. By 1941, however, Jews had taken advantage of other occupational opportunities, increasing their presence significantly within the new middle class that had begun to emerge during the Industrial Revolution. Analysis of the careers of 336 males of Jewish origin shows that those who became religiously unaffiliated were more likely to experience upward mobility than those who remained members of a Jewish congregation. The results also indicate that, despite their gains, Jews who remained in their religion did not attain equal access to the upper-middle and elite classes in 1941.
Better Disaster Statistics: The Lisbon Earthquake
Authors: Aguirre Benigno E.
Published: May 2012

Inaccurate published statistics are often due to faulty information about a disaster, to the different accounting methods used by organizations, and to the lack of consensus among researchers and agencies about how to define key terms. Until recently, damage estimates for the 1755 Lisbon earthquake steadily increased due to the influence of ideological and emotional factors, as well as to the geographical/temporal distance from the event. New calculations, based in part on the death rate of Catholic Church personnel in Lisbon, suggests that falling debris killed between 5,000 to 8,700 people, a range that is close to initial claims. Roughly the same number of people died as a result of the subsequent tsunamis, fires, and civil unrest.
Cognitive Bias: Interracial Homicide in New Orleans, 1921–1945
Authors: Adler Jeffrey S.
Published: May 2012

White killers of African Americans in New Orleans between 1921 and 1945, nearly half of whom were policemen, insisted that they acted in self-defense, only after their victims had threatened them, often by reaching for weapons. But many of their victims were unarmed. The conventional interpretation is that white residents invoked a formulaic justification of self-defense to mask their real intention, to uphold the city's racial hierarchy. Recent studies by cognition researchers, however, suggest a more complicated interpretation—that endemic racism can influence how the brain processes information, even to the extent of causing people to see a weapon where none exists.
Planetary History, Wallace, and Natural Selection
Authors: Flannery Michael A.
Published: May 2012

Concerns about the anthropogenic ecological degradation of the planet—deforestation, species endangerment, pollution, and an increasing carbon footprint—have prompted numerous studies calling for wide-ranging, comprehensive global programs. In this regard, Tim Flannery's effort in Here on Earth to enlist Alfred Russel Wallace, a nineteenth-century naturalist, in the service of a twentieth-century idea falls prey to presentism on the grounds of a conceptual misunderstanding and incomplete or interpolated primary data.
A New Parallel to the Jewish Babylonian Aramaic Magic Bowl IM 76106 (Nippur 11 N78)
Authors: Ford J.N.
Published: May 2012

This study comprises a new edition of the Jewish Babylonian Aramaic magic bowl IM 76106, first published in 1975 by S.A. Kaufman (as Nippur 11 N 78) and recently re-edited by A.H. Faraj, together with an edition of a new parallel bowl in a private collection. The bowls contain a number of new additions to the JBA lexicon, namely, (var.) 'hemorrhoids'; 'languor'; 'aches' // 'afflictions'; the cognate verbs and; and possibly 'rot/weakness'. Almost all the new words have cognates in Mandaic and/or Syriac. In addition, IM 76106 proves to be the most important source for the phonetic spelling of the subordinating particle (relative pronoun) as discovered to date. In an appendix the meanings of 'periodic fever' and other terms for types of fever are discussed.
Some Lexicographic and Etymological Notes on 'A Jewish Neo-Aramaic Dictionary'
Authors: Mutzafi Hezy
Published: May 2012

The present article refers to several selected lexical oddities which appear in Yona Sabar's A Jewish Neo-Aramaic Dictionary. The article seeks to clarify the etymologies of these lexical items, to refine their definitions whenever necessary, and to offer extensive comparative data related to cognates and missing links in various other Neo-Aramaic varieties, in particular North-Eastern Neo-Aramaic (NENA) dialects. All lexical items in question are proven to be inherited from pre-modern Aramaic, and five of them appear to be part of the inventory of Akkadian loanwords in NENA and other Aramaic languages. Mere recourse to Classical Aramaic is inadequate for uncovering the origins of most of these lexical items due to far-reaching semantic, phonological and morphological changes that have distanced them from their precursors. In most cases, therefore, a comparative inter-dialectal study is crucial for securing well-founded etyma for these puzzling words. Each etymological discussion specifies the diachronic processes involved in the development of the lexical item under consideration.
A Biblical Aramaic Pastiche from the Cairo Geniza
Authors: Smelik Willem
Published: May 2012

Two fragments in the Cambridge Genizah Collections preserve an odd specimen of Aramaic liturgical poetry in two copies. The poem is a pastiche from Biblical Aramaic phrases, recycled with occasional later Aramaic or Hebrew supplements and supplemented with Biblical Hebrew citations. The biblical lexemes were lifted out of their original co-text and rearranged as an acrostic. The poem celebrates the reconstruction of the Temple and the city walls in the face of fierce opposition, a theme markedly enriched with eschatological motifs. It is quite difficult to date this specimen of mixed Aramaic poetry, but the dialect admixture and some dialect features suggest a relative date in the last quarter of the second millennium CE.
From Joseph to Moses: The Narratives of Exodus 1-2
Authors: Baden Joel S.
Published: May 2012

Abstract

In this paper it is argued that the canonical text of Exodus 1-2 is a compilation of three originally independent narratives belonging to the pentateuchal sources J, E, and P. The text of Exodus 1-2 is divided source-critically, and each individual narrative analyzed on its own terms. Each of these stories contains specific narrative claims that are distinct from that of the canonical text as a whole, and each represents a continuation of the patriarchal narratives into the Exodus account.
Phinehas’ Zeal and the Death of Cozbi: Unearthing a Human Scapegoat Tradition in Numbers 25:1-18
Authors: Monroe Lauren A. S.
Published: May 2012

Abstract

Scholars have long noted that Numbers 25, the story of Phinehas’ murder of Cozbi the Midianite and her Israelite partner in crime, contains inconsistencies and tensions that reflect a complicated history of composition and transmission. This paper offers new perspective on the evolution of this text by comparing it with two Hittite military ritual texts (CTH 407 and 394) that describe the selection and sacrifice of human, female scapegoats. Scholars have discussed these texts as they relate to biblical rites for the Day of Atonement; however, the Hittite evidence has never been considered systematically in relation to Numbers 25. Such a comparison illuminates unrecognized sacrificial dynamics operative in Numbers 25, and clarifies certain inherent ambiguities in the biblical text. Parallels with the Hittite evidence point to Numbers 25 as an additional witness to the way scapegoat rituals operated within the ancient Israelite literary imagination, if not in actual practice.
Sounds of Silence in Biblical Hebrew: A Lexical Study
Authors: Eidevall Göran
Published: May 2012

Abstract

This article explores the semantic resources of biblical Hebrew, when it comes to speaking about silence. The aim is to reach more clarity concerning the sense and function of pertinent lexemes, and to contribute to a better understanding of the “semantic field” of silence. It is demonstrated that biblical Hebrew had several verbs with the sense “to be silent” (= abstain from speech), but no noun corresponding to the English word “silence” (denoting a situation characterized by the absence of speech or by the complete lack of audible sounds). However, the domains of silence and stillness overlap. Thus, when the biblical writers wanted to describe a situation of “silence”, they could choose one of several words associated with the wider concept of stillness.
Un triptyque au cœur du livre de Michée (Mi 4-5)
Authors: Richelle Matthieu
Published: May 2012

Abstract

Many contradictory proposals have been made with regard to the literary structure of Micah 4-5. This study shows that three coherent units (4:1-7; 4:8-14; 5:1-14) can be distinguished and that they form a triptych, each panel of which uses the same major themes.
Les deux « pentateuques » d’Esdras
Authors: Vermeylen Jacques
Published: May 2012

Abstract

When Ezra was sent to Jerusalem by the Persian authorities, he brought about a kind of revolution: he broke with Samaria after a century of good relationships and declared the Samarian wives of Jews to be pagans and therefore unclean. His new political and religious line must have provoked major resistance among Yehud’s elite. As was often the practice in such circumstances, he therefore produced propaganda documents, in order to convince opinion leaders to rally to his cause. His scribes composed the Pentateuch, using a number of existing documents: an older story already including dtr and P components in the books of Genesis, Exodus and Numbers; ritual laws; and Deuteronomy, separated from the rest of the Deuteronomistic History. Leviticus and, within Leviticus, the expulsion of the scapegoat were put at the center of this literary construction, mirroring the expulsion of the “pagan” wives. The remaining parts of the Deuteronomistic History were edited at the same occasion and with a similar goal, forming a second “Pentateuch”.
Another Look at Biblical Hebrew bm ‘High Place’1
Authors: Thomas Benjamin D. , Hardy Humphrey H.
Published: May 2012

Abstract

This study presents a solution for morphological and lexical problems that remain outstanding concerningbɔmɔ. Two distinct Semitic nouns are identified as the derivational basis for the attested forms and meanings in biblical Hebrew.
Le souffle du jour et la fuite des ombres en Ct 2:17 (4:6) : matin ou soir?
Authors: Van de Sande Axel
Published: May 2012

Abstract

The paper examines the beginning of Cant 2:17 (4:6), and tries to know exactly the moment of the day that is evoked: Is it the morning or the evening?
The Descriptive Phenomenological Psychological Method
Authors: Giorgi Amedeo
Published: May 2012

Abstract

The author explains that his background was in experimental psychology but that he wanted to study the whole person and not fragmented psychological processes. He also desired a non-reductionistic method for studying humans. Fortunately he came across the work of Edmund Husserl and discovered in the latter’s thought a way of researching humans that met the criteria he was seeking. Eventually he developed a phenomenological method for researching humans in a psychological way based upon the work of Husserl and Merleau-Ponty. This article briefly describes the method.