bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Favourable humoral but reduced cellular immune response to COVID-19 mRNA BNT162b2 vaccine in patients with childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Karabag Yilmaz Esra , Agbas Ayse , Canpolat Nur , Gunalp Aybuke , Sahin Sezgin , Ozbey Dogukan , Gulmez Ruveyda , Saygili Seha Kamil , Kocazeybek Bekir , Kasapcopur Ozgur , Caliskan Salim
Published: September 2024

Objective

To evaluate both humoral and cellular immune responses to the COVID-19 messenger RNA (mRNA; BNT162b2) vaccine in patients with childhood-onset SLE (cSLE) compared with healthy controls and patient controls (kidney transplant (KTx) recipients).

Methods

This single-centre, cross-sectional and case–control study included 16 patients with cSLE, 19 healthy controls and 19 KTx recipients. We assessed SARS-CoV-2-specific humoral (anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG, neutralising antibody (nAb)) and cellular (interferon gamma release assay (IGRA)) immune responses at least 1 month after administration of two doses of the mRNA vaccine.

Results

Humoral immune response rates (anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG and nAb seropositivity) in patients with cSLE were comparable to healthy controls (100% vs 100% and 100% vs 95%, respectively) but significantly higher than in KTx recipients (74% and 42%, p<0.05 for both). Cellular immune response rate measured by IGRA was lower in patients with cSLE compared with healthy controls (56.3% vs 89.5%, p=0.050) and comparable to KTx recipients (63%). IGRA-negative patients with cSLE had significantly lower total leucocyte and lymphocyte counts at vaccination time as compared with their counterparts (p=0.008 and p=0.001, respectively). No differences were found in disease activity or immunosuppressive therapies between IGRA-negative and IGRA-positive patients with cSLE.

Conclusion

Patients with cSLE showed robust humoral but compromised cellular immune responses to the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine, associated with lower lymphocyte counts. These findings highlight the need for further research to enhance vaccine efficacy in this vulnerable group.
Autoantibodies, cutaneous subset and immunosuppressants contribute to the cancer risk in systemic sclerosis
Authors: Tonutti Antonio , Motta Francesca , Isailovic Natasa , Ceribelli Angela , Ragusa Rita , Nappi Emanuele , Bonovas Stefanos , Selmi Carlo , De Santis Maria
Published: September 2024

Objective

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is associated with an increased risk of cancer. We aimed to assess the prevalence of cancer in our cohort and to explore possible associations with clinical, immunological and treatment characteristics.

Methods

Our retrospective monocentric cohort study of patients with SSc recorded prevalent and incident cases of malignancy, including those diagnosed within 3 years of the SSc onset (defined as cancer-associated scleroderma) and sought associations with the clinical characteristics and the serum autoantibody profiling performed using RNA and protein immunoprecipitation, Western-blot, immunoblot and ELISA at the time of SSc diagnosis, prior to any specific treatment.

Results

Among 290 patients with SSc, the overall prevalence of cancer was 20%, with 8% of cases being cancer-associated scleroderma. Both conditions were more frequent in elderly patients and in patients with positive anti-Ro52 or anti-U3-RNP. Cancer-associated scleroderma was significantly more prevalent among patients negative for both anti-centromere (ACA) and anti-topoisomerase-1 (TOPO1) antibodies, especially in the case of diffuse SSc. Immunosuppressants were not significantly associated with cancer. Patients triple negative for ACA, TOPO1 and anti-RNA polymerase III antibodies had a significantly higher risk of breast cancer.

Conclusions

Cancer surveillance should be particularly careful in patients with diffuse SSc, increased age at disease onset and without classical SSc-related autoantibodies.
Improving Cross-lingual Aspect-based Sentiment Analysis with Sememe Bridge
Authors: Liu Yijiang , Li Fei , Ji Donghong
Published: September 2024

Aspect-based Sentiment Analysis (ABSA) comprises numerous subtasks including aspect term extraction (AE), opinion term extraction (OE), opinion pair extraction (PE), and triplet extraction (TE). Current research in Chinese ABSA primarily concentrates on aspect terms and sentiment polarity, with insufficient emphasis on opinion terms. This article aims to provide a viable solution for the unannotated Chinese ABSA subtasks such as OE, PE, and TE. First, we develop an English-Chinese parallel dataset for ABSA using a semi-automatic process involving machine translation and a word aligner. Second, we examine the efficacy of cross-lingual transfer methods. Third, we propose a plug-and-play transfer method based on sememe knowledge. Sememes are the language-independent smallest semantic units that encapsulate the components, commonalities, and attributes of things extracted from the real world, which can bridge the gap between English and Chinese. Experimental results show that our proposed method brings significant improvements for Chinese ABSA, and achieves a maximum increase of 8% on the F1 metric for model transfer and label transfer on OE, PE, and TE.
A Systematic Review on Fostering Appropriate Trust in Human-AI Interaction: Trends, Opportunities and Challenges
Authors: Mehrotra Siddharth , Degachi Chadha , Vereschak Oleksandra , Jonker Catholijn M. , Tielman Myrthe L.
Published: September 2024

Appropriate trust in Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems has rapidly become an important area of focus for both researchers and practitioners. Various approaches have been used to achieve it, such as confidence scores, explanations, trustworthiness cues, and uncertainty communication. However, a comprehensive understanding of the field is lacking due to the diversity of perspectives arising from various backgrounds that influence it and the lack of a single definition for appropriate trust. To investigate this topic, this article presents a systematic review to identify current practices in building appropriate trust, different ways to measure it, types of tasks used, and potential challenges associated with it. We also propose a Belief, Intentions, and Actions mapping to study commonalities and differences in the concepts related to appropriate trust by (a) describing the existing disagreements on defining appropriate trust, and (b) providing an overview of the concepts and definitions related to appropriate trust in AI from the existing literature. Finally, the challenges identified in studying appropriate trust are discussed, and observations are summarized as current trends, potential gaps, and research opportunities for future work. Overall, the article provides insights into the complex concept of appropriate trust in human-AI interaction and presents research opportunities to advance our understanding on this topic.
Personalized Federated Mutual Learning for Unsupervised Camera-Aware Person Re-Identification
Authors: Liu Jiabei , Zhuang Weiming , Liu Yuanyuan , Wen Yonggang , Huang Jun , Lin Wei
Published: September 2024

Person re-identification (ReID) is essential for enhancing security and tracking in multi-camera surveillance systems. To achieve effective ReID performance across diverse datasets, the Federated Unsupervised Person Re-identification via Camera-aware Clustering (FedUCA) approach has made strides in utilizing distributed datasets while ensuring data privacy. Nevertheless, its uniform model may not adequately cater to the specific characteristics of each participant’s data, given the diversity in camera perspectives and client-specific data variances, thus obtaining degraded results. To address this issue, we propose an advanced framework, Personalized Federated Dual-Model Learning for Camera-Aware Person Re-Identification (PerFedDual), which introduces knowledge-sharing techniques inherent to mutual learning for FedUCA with the camera-centric clustering process. PerFedDual supports a dual-model training approach that creates a cooperative learning space that improves both the global model and client-specific models by exchanging knowledge both ways. The methodology adopted is precisely adjusted to the distinctive data environment of each client, ensuring the protection of privacy while simultaneously enhancing the accuracy and flexibility of ReID models in diverse camera configurations. The empirical evaluation reveals that PerFedDual outperforms FedUCA and alternative federated learning strategies, highlighting the benefits of our technique that leverages collective intelligence to enhance unsupervised ReID.
A Survey of Protocol Fuzzing
Authors: Zhang Xiaohan , Zhang Cen , Li Xinghua , Du Zhengjie , Mao Bing , Li Yuekang , Zheng Yaowen , Li Yeting , Pan Li , Liu Yang , Deng Robert
Published: September 2024

Communication protocols form the bedrock of our interconnected world, yet vulnerabilities within their implementations pose significant security threats. Recent developments have seen a surge in fuzzing-based research dedicated to uncovering these vulnerabilities within protocol implementations. However, there still lacks a systematic overview of protocol fuzzing for answering the essential questions such as what the unique challenges are, how existing works solve them, and so on. To bridge this gap, we conducted a comprehensive investigation of related works from both academia and industry. Our study includes a detailed summary of the specific challenges in protocol fuzzing and provides a systematic categorization and overview of existing research efforts. Furthermore, we explore and discuss potential future research directions in protocol fuzzing.
Production of Composite Briquette Fuel from Brewery Wastewater Sludge and Spent Grains
Authors: Teshome Bontu , Assefa Berhanu , Angassa Kenatu
Published: September 2024

Biomass waste energy recovery is a significant method for recycling energy from waste and capturing it for use in renewable energy sources. The abundance of brewing byproducts, such as brewery spent grain (BSG) and brewery wastewater sludge (BWWS), as well as their high carbon concentrations gives these wastes energy potential. With 20% molasses utilized as a binding agent to maximize the high caloric value of the briquette, this study sought to examine the quality of mixed briquettes made from BSG and BWWS. In order to make composite briquettes with a maximum caloric content of 19.94 MJ/kg, the ideal conditions were chosen, which included a temperature of 350°C, a production period of 60 min, and a 75% BSG mixing ratio. It can be compared to sawdust briquettes, which have a calorific value of 22.88 MJ/kg, by looking at the calorific value of densified with pressure 100 bar for mixed carbonized briquettes vs mixed noncarbonized briquettes (21.13 MJ/kg). The value of R2 was 0.9607 and indicated that 96.07% of the total validation in the calorific value correlation between experimental and predicted values. The finding of the study showed that the efficiency of the quadratic model in fitting the data would be higher under the conditions of the experiment. Based on ISO 17225‐6 fuel quality classes and specifications for graded nonwoody pellets, the study concluded that using BSG and BWWS as alternative energy sources meets those requirements.
Assessing the Students’ Usability of e‐Learning Management System: Case in Hawassa University, Ethiopia
Authors: Tunsisa Bekele , Demissie Dereje
Published: September 2024

This study investigated the usability of an electronic learning administration system for learners, aiming to explore their perspectives on technology‐integrating teaching and learning at Hawassa University. The study employed both quantitative and subjective strategies. We collected quantitative data from 50 students using a Google survey. Additionally, we purposely selected two ICT professionals to participate in the interview. We used descriptive statistics (frequency count, percentage, mean, and standard deviation) to analyze quantitative data, as well as narration to qualitative data to identify the ease of use and extent of electronic learning management systems at Hawassa University. The study’s findings concluded that an e‐learning system is most useful for saving time because of its simplicity and ease of use, is available at any time and place, assists in obtaining knowledge from various sources, and provides assistance in obtaining course materials without time waste or cost. The university administration and teachers should play an important role in improving the e‐learning management system’s usability and conducting further advanced investigations in the area.
Stiffness Separation Method for Reducing Calculation Time of Truss Structure Damage Identification
Authors: Xiao Feng , Mao Yuxue , Sun Huimin , Chen Gang S. , Tian Geng
Published: September 2024

The inversion of a high‐dimensional stiffness matrix with unknown parameters is time‐consuming. In this study, a stiffness separation method is used to solve the large‐scale matrix inversion problem. Substructures are isolated from the overall structure by mapping the substructure‐related matrix, and the solvable equilibrium equations for the substructures can be established. This method divides the entire stiffness matrix into the sub‐stiffness matrices, and the size of the matrix is reduced, thus greatly reducing the stiffness matrix inversion workload. Meanwhile, this paper refines the formulation of the stiffness separation method and presents the compatibility of forces and displacements with the stiffness matrix. A space‐truss structure with different damage cases is studied to validate the effectiveness of the proposed method. The division of the structure into single and multi‐region scenarios is considered, and the effect of the size and number of substructures on the damage identification is analyzed. These results demonstrate that the stiffness separation method can reduce the computational effort required for analyzing large‐scale truss structures.
Teak‐Soil Interaction: Teak (Tectona grandis) Plantations Impact and are Impacted by Soil Properties and Fertility in Southwestern Ghana
Authors: Asigbaase Michael , Annan Michael , Adusu Daniel , Abugre Simon , Nsor Collins Ayine , Kumi Samuel , Acheamfour Selina Adutwumwaa
Published: September 2024

Teak (Tectona grandis) is one of the most widely established plantation species globally due to its potential for degraded forest restoration, timber supplementation, and easing pressure on natural forest resources. However, the extent to which plant‐soil interactions in teak plantations impact tree growth and productivity and soil nutrient dynamics is not well understood. This study assessed the impact of teak plantations on soil physicochemical properties as well as the influence of soil properties and fertility on teak growth. The study was conducted in teak plantations aged 5, 10, 15, 20, and over 20 years and an adjacent natural forest remnant. We established three 25 m × 25 m plots in each teak plantation and recorded the diameter at breast height (DBH), height, crown length, and depth of all trees. We collected 54 soil samples at 0–20 cm depth and analysed them for 29 soil parameters. The study revealed that teak plantations resulted in a decline in soil N (45%–81%) and available P (63%–98%) concentration, while soil pH improved by 0.41–0.64 units. However, soil organic carbon, K, Mg, Ca, and Na concentrations and their ratios were unaffected with teak plantations over time. Also, soil textural characteristics, acidity, and nutrient ratios were observed to influence tree‐related characteristics such as DBH and crown dimensions (crown, diameter, breadth, length, and volume). Three principal components (PC1, PC2, and PC3) explained 69% of the overall variability and were significantly related to tree crown parameters, height, and diameter at breast height. We concluded that site selection and tailored integrated soil fertility management for each plantation age are critical to sustainable teak production as teak plantations both affect and are affected by soil properties. The study recommends the adoption of management practices aimed at maintaining soil nutrient balance to ensure the long‐term growth and ecological sustainability of teak plantations.
The Use of Zein and Arabic Gum to Produce Cinnamon Bark Oil‐Loaded Pickering Emulsion with Improved Stability, Antioxidant, and Antibacterial Properties
Authors: Zhang Ruihan , Guo Xiaoxiao , Hu Jiajie , Chen Jing , Zheng Yan , Peng Siwei , Zhang Bin , Deng Shanggui , Yang HongLi
Published: September 2024

Cinnamon bark oil (CBO) is a natural plant bioactive molecule with antioxidant and antimicrobial activities because of its chemical instability and poor solubility in water, which limits its industrial applications. Herein, CBO‐loaded Pickering emulsion was produced using zein, the stabilizer, and arabic gum (AG) was used to modify the emulsifying ability of CBO. The stability, chromatic aberration, pH, particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), and zeta (ζ) potential of the CBO‐loaded Pickering emulsion were investigated. The results showed that the Zein‐AG‐CBO Pickering emulsion exhibited better stability at an added AG concentration of 0.8% (w/v) than the free CBO. The CBO‐loaded Pickering emulsion retained its antioxidant and antimicrobial capacity and exhibited higher functional potential than the free CBO. The findings demonstrated the potential of Zein‐0.8%AG‐CBO Pickering emulsion as a kind of promising alternative for the delivery of antimicrobial essential oils in the food, active packaging material, and other related industries.
Abstract A004: Validation of the PREDICT breast version 3.0 prognostic tool in the US breast cancer patients
Authors: Hsiao Yi-Wen , Pharaoh Paul , Peng Pei-Chen
Published: September 2024

PREDICT Breast v3 is the latest version of a prognostic tool designed to predict the treatment responses for early invasive breast cancer patients. It was developed using data from approximately 35,000 women diagnosed between 2000 and 2018 in the United Kingdom. However, its performance in the United States (US) population is unknown. This study aims to validate PREDICT Breast v3 using the newly released Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) outcome data for US breast cancer patients and to address potential health disparities. We selected over 860,000 female patients diagnosed with primary breast cancer between 2000 and 2021 and followed for at least 5 years from the SEER database. The model’s performance was measured by calibration and discrimination; comparing predicted and observed 5-, 10- and 15-year breast cancer-specific survival outcomes and determining discrimination through the area under the receiver-operator curves (AUC). PREDICT Breast v3 demonstrated good calibration and discrimination for both short- and long-term up breast cancer-specific mortality in US populations. The predicted 10-year breast cancer-specific mortality differed from observed by 11% in ER-positive and 6 % in ER-negative patients. The AUCs for 15-year breast cancer-specific mortality were 0.81 for ER-positive patients and 0.76 for ER-negative patients. When stratified by race and ethnicity, the model showed strong performance in Non-Hispanic Asians ER-positive patients, despite being originally developed based on the UK population. These results are consistent with previous validations in Malaysia, Japan, and other Asian countries for PREDICT Breast v2. However, the model poorly estimated the number of deaths in Non-Hispanic Black individuals for both ER-positive and ER-negative. In conclusion, this study marks the first validation of PREDICT Breast v3 in the US and demonstrates that it is a reliable and generalizable tool, capable of providing longer term follow-up time up to 15 years for a wide and diverse population.

Citation Format: Yi-Wen Hsiao, Paul Pharaoh, Pei-Chen Peng. Validation of the PREDICT breast version 3.0 prognostic tool in the US breast cancer patients [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr A004.
Abstract A017: Social, behavioral and clinical risk factors are associated with clonal hematopoiesis
Authors: Young Corey D. , Hubbard Aubrey K. , Saint-Maurice Pedro , Chan Irenaeus , Bolton Kelly L. , Chanock Stephen J. , Matthews Charles , Moore Steven C. , Loftfield Erikka , Machiela Mitchell J.
Published: September 2024

Risk factors including smoking, alcohol intake, physical activity (PA), and sleep patterns have been associated with cancer risk. Clonal hematopoiesis (CH), including mosaic chromosomal alterations (mCAs) and clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP), is linked to increased hematopoietic cancer risk, and could be used as common pre-clinical intermediates for better understanding associations of risk factors with rare hematologic malignancies. Understanding the interplay between these factors and preneoplastic hematopoietic expansion can provide insights into health disparities. Leveraging data from 485,028 UK Biobank participants without hematologic malignancies, our multivariable adjusted analyses reinforced smoking as a potent modifiable risk factor for multiple CH types where dose-dependent relationships with smoking-intensity and duration persisted post-cessation. Additionally, males in socially deprived areas of England had lower risk of mosaic loss of chromosome Y (mLOY) (OR = 0.997, 95%CI: [0.995-0.996], p = 4.88×10-7), females with moderate/high alcohol consumption (2-3 drinks/day) had increased mLOX risk (OR = 1.16, 95%CI: [1.086-1.24], p =1.21×10-5) compared to light drinkers, active males (moderate-high PA) had elevated risks of mLOY (PA Category 3: OR = 1.06, 95%CI: [1.03-1.088], p = 7.7×10-6) and men with high BMI (≥40) had reduced risk of mLOY (OR = 0.579, 95%CI: [0.515-0.65], p = 3.29×10-20). Sensitivity analyses with BMI adjustment attenuated the effect in the mLOY-PA associations (IPAQ2: OR = 1.037, 95%CI: [1.005-1.069], p = 2.13×10-2 and IPAQ3: OR = 1.036, 95%CI: [1.009-1.063], p = 7.77×10-3). Our study identified associations between CH, SD, smoking, alcohol consumption, and PA. As CH is an intermediate marker for hematologic cancer risk, our findings suggest social, behavioral and clinical exposures could contribute to common types of CH as well as potentially with rare hematologic cancers. Addressing these factors could be crucial in reducing hematologic cancer risk through clonal mechanisms and mitigating cancer disparities.

Citation Format: Corey D. Young, Aubrey K. Hubbard, Pedro Saint-Maurice, Irenaeus Chan, Kelly L. Bolton, Stephen J. Chanock, Charles Matthews, Steven C. Moore, Erikka Loftfield, Mitchell J. Machiela. Social, behavioral and clinical risk factors are associated with clonal hematopoiesis [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr A017.
Abstract A045: Pan-viral serological characterization in African Americans and European Americans with Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Ewa Theressa , Leet Whitney , Wang Limin , Forgues Marshonna , Wang Xin Wei
Published: September 2024

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is often diagnosed at late-stages, particularly among African Americans (AA). Poor screening and diagnosis are key factors that contribute to worse prognoses and disproportionately high mortality rates. We propose investigating viral exposure history as a potential useful screening method. Additionally, by accounting for neighborhood deprivation index (NDI), a metric for differences in socio-economic statuses, we can potentially mitigate this disparity. With NDI and viral exposure history, our study aims to assess HCC prognoses in racially disparate populations. We used a technique called VirScan, which conjugates Phage-Immunoprecipitation (PhIP) and DNA-sequencing, to profile the antibody repertoire against a viral epitope library. Analyzing serum and plasma samples from population controls (PC), individuals at high-risk for developing HCC (HR), and HCC cases, we performed VirScan on 524 AA (272 PC, 205 HR, and 47 HCC) and 342 European Americans (EA) (141 PC, 130 HR, and 71 HCC) participants from the NCI-UMD cohort between 2009-2020 from the greater Baltimore area (NCT00913757; clinicaltrials.gov). We used XGBoost, a machine- learning model, to classify viral features that can discriminate HCC cases from PC group. XGBoost predicted 31 important viral features which distinguish HCC from PC. Of the 31 viral features, 6 viruses were different between AA and EA (FDR < 0.05). To determine the extent to which socio-economic factors contribute to the cancer disparities, we gathered variables from the 1999 census tract as contributors to deprivation. We used Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to determine loadings of these contributor variables; composite of the final variables is derived as NDI. Comparing across groups, we find that average NDI is highest in HR group (x = 0.33), followed by HCC group (x = 0.21), then PC group (x = 0.19). We find that NDI for AA is significantly higher in HCC group (p = 1.3e-09), HR group (p < 2.2e-16), and PC group (p = 5.0e-10) when compared to that of EA. Thus, we demonstrate that both the viral exposure history and NDI of an individual might be useful in prognoses of HCC. This approach could be used to examine the disparities we see in both incidence and mortality of HCC between AA and EA.

Citation Format: Theressa Ewa, Whitney Leet, Limin Wang, Marshonna Forgues, Xin Wei Wang. Pan-viral serological characterization in African Americans and European Americans with Hepatocellular Carcinoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr A045.
Abstract A067: Increasing risk of prostate cancer with successive generations in the US among Latino men in the Multiethnic Cohort
Authors: Chen Fei , Paik Adelynn , Sheng Xin , Cheng Iona , Shariff-Marco Salma , Wilkens Lynn R. , Le Marchand Loïc , Conti David V. , Haiman Christopher A. , Setiawan Veronica Wendy
Published: September 2024

This abstract is being presented as a short talk in the scientific program. A full abstract is printed in the Proffered Abstracts section (PR014) of the Conference Program/Proceedings.

Citation Format: Fei Chen, Adelynn Paik, Xin Sheng, Iona Cheng, Salma Shariff-Marco, Lynn R. Wilkens, Loïc Le Marchand, David V. Conti, Christopher A. Haiman, Veronica Wendy Setiawan. Increasing risk of prostate cancer with successive generations in the US among Latino men in the Multiethnic Cohort [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr A067.
Abstract A072: Lung cancer survival disparities: A disaggregated AANHPI study of the SEER database
Authors: Doan Christopher Huy , Chen James , Wang Peter , Wang David , Mai Brian
Published: September 2024

Cancer is the overall leading cause of death in Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) populations, with lung cancer specifically being the leading cause of cancer- related mortality. The AANHPI population has historically been treated as a "monolith" in scientific literature. However, an accurate understanding of AANHPI communities is needed to address disparities in cancer outcomes. Thus, it is necessary to analyze disaggregated data to identify unique factors and barriers for each unique subpopulation. Our study aims to explore lung cancer survival disparities between Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) subpopulations and non-Hispanic Whites (NHW) using SEER Research Data from 2000-2020. Cohorts were developed in order to disaggregate the AANHPI population. Due to the small sample size between nationalities, cohorts were grouped by geographical similarity. Cox regression analysis revealed a generally lower risk of death for AANHPI individuals compared to NHW. However, notable differences were observed within AANHPI subpopulations. South Asians demonstrate a 34.2% lower likelihood of lung cancer mortality compared to NHW, while East Asians show an 18.3% reduced risk. Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders saw similar survival, though it was not statistically significant. These disparities could indicate the influence of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors and differences in offered treatment on lung cancer prognosis. Our study highlights the importance of recognizing the diversity within AANHPI groups when assessing cancer risk and survival and the necessity for further investigation into the specific factors influencing survival differences. A more nuanced understanding will facilitate more targeted healthcare strategies to address the unique needs of each subpopulation.

Citation Format: Christopher Huy Doan, James Chen, Peter Wang, David Wang, Brian Mai. Lung cancer survival disparities: A disaggregated AANHPI study of the SEER database [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr A072.
Abstract A073: Gut microbiome differences across race, ethnicity, and area level deprivation among patients undergoing colorectal cancer screening in Federally Qualified Health Centers
Authors: Hogue Stephanie , Gomez Maria F. , Xu Jin , Kim Youngchul , Veramendi Rosa , Fuentes Martha , Wetzler Carolina , Burns Jessica , Forsyth Sugriva , Abdulla Rania , Meade Cathy , Gwede Clement , Byrd Doratha A.
Published: September 2024

This abstract is being presented as a short talk in the scientific program. A full abstract is printed in the Proffered Abstracts section (PR009) of the Conference Program/Proceedings.

Citation Format: Stephanie Hogue, Maria F. Gomez, Jin Xu, Youngchul Kim, Rosa Veramendi, Martha Fuentes, Carolina Wetzler, Jessica Burns, Sugriva Forsyth, Rania Abdulla, Cathy Meade, Clement Gwede, Doratha A. Byrd. Gut microbiome differences across race, ethnicity, and area level deprivation among patients undergoing colorectal cancer screening in Federally Qualified Health Centers [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr A073.
Abstract A092: Tobacco use and prevalence of oral premalignant lesions, among Malayali tribes, Yelagiri Hills, Tamil nadu, India
Authors: Francis Delfin Lovelina
Published: September 2024

BACKGROUND: India has the second largest tribal population of the world next to the African countries. About half of the world’s autochthonous people live in India, thus making India home to many tribes which have an interesting and varied history of origins, customs and social practices. The present study was conducted to assess the tobacco use and prevalence of precancerous lesions and oral cancer among Malayali tribes, Yelagiri Hills, Tamil nadu, India. METHODOLOGY The inhabitants of the 14 villages of the Yelagiri hills, who have completed 18years and residing for more than 15years present on the day of examination and who were willing to participate in the study were included. Data was collected from a cross-sectional survey, using a Survey Proforma, clinical examination and a pre-tested questionnaire. An intra-oral examination was carried out by a single examiner using WHO Oral Health Surveys – Basic Methods Proforma (1997). ResultsThe overall prevalence of smokeless and smoking tobacco was 78.8% and 65.2% respectively among 1550 study population. Of those who had the habit of smoking, 26% smoked beedi, 10.9% smoked cigarette, 65% chewed raw tobacco, 18% chewed Hans and 28% had a combination of smoking and smokeless tobacco usage. Around 49.8% of samples were stained positive for precancerous and cancerous lesions of the oral cavity. The highest number of positive samples were from buccal mucosa with 46.2% subjects and 12% for labial mucosa. The reason for practicing these habits were as a measure to combat the cold, relieving stress and body pain after work, and the lack of awareness of the hazards of the materials used. Prevalence of oral mucosal lesions in the study population was due to tobacco usage and alcohol consumption and lack of awareness regarding the deleterious effects of the products used. CONCLUSION Oral cancer is highly prevalent in this Malayali tribes owing to high tobacco consumption rates and habits warranting the cessation center a priority. Also, early detection and screening are vital to attaining better outcomes.

Citation Format: Delfin Lovelina Francis. Tobacco use and prevalence of oral premalignant lesions, among Malayali tribes, Yelagiri Hills, Tamil nadu, India [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr A092.
Abstract A098: Lung cancer disparities among African Americans and other low-income communities in South Florida
Authors: Jordan Miles , Erwell Steven , Mwashote Ben , Mochona Bereket
Published: September 2024

Lung cancer is by far the leading cause of cancer death in the US, accounting for about 1 in 5 of all cancer deaths. Each year, more people die of lung cancer than of colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined. The American Cancer Society estimates that in the US, in 2024, there will be about 234,580 new cases of lung cancer (116,310 in men and 118,270 in women). It estimates there will be around 125,070 deaths from lung cancer (65,790 in men and 59,280 in women). Though these deaths can mainly be attributed to smoking, environmental factors have also had adverse effects on human health and lung cancer. We see an example of this in Florida with agricultural burning, specifically sugarcane burning. Sugarcane is one of the most important cash crops for Florida, around 10% of sugar produced in the United States comes from Florida. However, despite the economic importance of this crop, its harvesting process is controversial creating air pollution that is having adverse health effects on the surrounding communities. This review will discuss the impact of sugarcane burning on African Americans and other low-income communities, and how it’s exacerbating health issues, specifically lung cancer. As well as suggest better alternatives to sugarcane harvesting.

Citation Format: Miles Jordan, Steven Erwell, Ben Mwashote, Bereket Mochona. Lung cancer disparities among African Americans and other low-income communities in South Florida [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr A098.
Abstract A117: Cervical cancer screening rates among older Hispanic women living in Texas: results using the BRFSS 2018, 2020, and 2022 survey data
Authors: Vázquez-Otero Coralia , Elewonibi Bilikisu , Ankwe Adaobi , BeLue Rhonda
Published: September 2024

Background: Despite cancer risk increasing with age, older women are less likely to be up-to- date with cervical cancer screening (CCS). CCS is recommended up-to 65 years, absent history of abnormal results. CCS rates are significantly lower among Hispanic women, despite higher cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates compared to non-Hispanic white women. In Texas, women older than 50 years have lower odds of timely pap testing. We examined CCS rates among older Hispanic women in Texas using data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Methods: Our sample included 5,291 self-identified Hispanic women, ages 50-64. Outcome: receipt of pap smear within the last 3 years following the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force guidelines at the time each survey was conducted (years: 2018, 2020 and 2022). Descriptive analysis and chi-square tests were used to examine the proportion of women who reported receiving CCS within the recommended timeframe. Results: Only 63.75% (mean age = 56.4) reported getting a pap smear. Significant decreases were found among women who had a pap smear from 87.03% in 2018, 71.95% in 2020, and 43.24% in 2022 (p=0.00). Additional analyses will be conducted to test relationships with sociodemographic and healthcare variables. Conclusion: Older Hispanic women in Texas represented in this dataset are far from the 2030 Healthy People goal of 79% CCS. Decreases in CCS rates are possibly due to the COVID-19 pandemic impact on healthcare access. As the US population ages, research is needed to identify the potential systemic barriers this group is confronting to access preventive cancer care.

Citation Format: Coralia Vázquez-Otero, Bilikisu Elewonibi, Adaobi Ankwe, Rhonda BeLue. Cervical cancer screening rates among older Hispanic women living in Texas: results using the BRFSS 2018, 2020, and 2022 survey data [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr A117.
Abstract B003: Inclusion of deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing people in cancer clinical trials: Innovative accessible technologies
Authors: Kushalnagar Poorna , Kushalnagar Raja
Published: September 2024

We present an innovative informed consent app designed for deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing people who use sign language and wish to participate in clinical trial studies. The informed consent process on the accessible app displays each section of informed consent form in sign language and captures the participant’s signed responses through a mobile device camera. If the response in sign language is “yes” or “I consent”, the app captures the response and moves on to the next step. Participants can also respond in sign language with “no” or “repeat” if they did not understand the a specific section in the informed consent document on the app. The app also supports recording the participants’ signature in sign language instead of English if they desire to do so. Feedback from diverse deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing signers, including college students, senior citizens and people of color, showed that the app supporting the interactive informed consent process is culturally and linguistically appropriate for diverse people who have sensory disabilities and rely on primarily sign language. The accessible informed consent app also gives people with sensory disabilities greater autonomy as research participants in clinical trials as well as assists researchers in reducing the barriers that often prevent sign language users from participating in clinical trial studies. This study was funded by the National Library of Medicine/NIH.

Citation Format: Poorna Kushalnagar, Raja Kushalnagar. Inclusion of deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing people in cancer clinical trials: Innovative accessible technologies [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr B003.
Abstract B087: Inflammation and breast cancer: Understanding the interplay and implications for prevention and treatment
Authors: Ogungbola Opeyemi O. , Ejeh Samuel O. , Odeh Jane , Omoniyi Olajumoke R. , Akomolafe Abayomi A. , Abudu Emmanuel K.
Published: September 2024

Breast cancer continues to be a major global health issue, affecting millions and posing challenges for researchers and healthcare workers. Recent research has revealed the importance of inflammation in the development and progression of a variety of malignancies, including breast cancer. The aim of this study is to investigate the complex association between inflammation and breast cancer in order to improve treatment and preventative techniques. A mixed-methods approach was used, with both quantitative and qualitative studies. The study included 580 breast cancer patients and 2,573 control participants. Patient records, hospital databases, and publicly available datasets were all used as data sources. Statistical methods, including univariate and multivariate logistic regression models, were employed to discover breast cancer predictors associated with inflammation. Breast cancer growth is strongly linked to chronic inflammation and specific inflammatory markers (CRP, IL-6, and TNF-α). Breast cancer incidence is correlated with geographical, demographic, and lifestyle characteristics such as region, age, gender, race, education level, and overall health condition. Comorbidities like hypertension, diabetes, and arthritis, as well as BMI, smoking, and physical activity levels, all have a role in risk. Anti-inflammatory drugs and lifestyle changes show promise for lowering the risk of breast cancer and improving patient outcomes. The study reveals significant relationships between breast cancer incidence and a variety of demographic, lifestyle, and health-related variables. Chronic inflammation is important in the development of breast cancer; therefore, inflammatory indicators could be used as diagnostic or therapeutic tools. The study suggests that tailored anti-inflammatory medications and lifestyle changes could have a significant impact on breast cancer prevention and therapy. This study emphasizes the necessity of knowing the relationship between inflammation and breast cancer. The insights revealed can lead to novel methods for breast cancer management, stressing the importance of ongoing research to fully understand the connection between inflammation and breast cancer and to implement these discoveries in clinical practice.

Citation Format: Opeyemi O. Ogungbola, Samuel O. Ejeh, Jane Odeh, Olajumoke R. Omoniyi, Abayomi A. Akomolafe, Emmanuel K. Abudu. Inflammation and breast cancer: Understanding the interplay and implications for prevention and treatment [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr B087.
Abstract B093: Facilitating conversations on cancer genomic education: Development of a toolkit for community advisory boards
Authors: Whitted Calandra G.
Published: September 2024

Community Advisory Boards are representative groups of individuals that reside in a particular area and serve an important role in the research process. Often CABs are the voice of the community, rather it be key community stakeholders, business, or community organizations. The purpose of this project is to describe the development of a cancer genomic toolkit and initial introduction of the toolkit to local community advisory boards to CAB members interested in cancer genomic topics to increase inclusion and awareness of emerging topics and activities around cancer genomic research. Existing CAB members from the Meharry Medical College/Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center/Tennessee State University Cancer Partnership (MVTCP) and the Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) at Meharry Medical College were introduced to a cancer genomic toolkit that is in development. CAB members were presented the toolkit during a regularly scheduled CAB meeting for approximately 30 minutes and were allowed 10 minutes to answer questions. After the presentation of the cancer genomic toolkit, CAB members were sent a word document version of the toolkit to provide any feedback for improvement during the development stage. CAB members were allowed up to two months to review the cancer genomic toolkit. Directions for review were to use track changes and leave comments or provide direct feedback via email response. To date, one CAB member has provided individualized feedback. Group feedback included questions and open discussion around historic research participation. Next steps are to introduce the tool to a newly formed genomic community advisory board and begin to reiterate the toolkit for evaluation and implementation for other local CABs.

Citation Format: Calandra G. Whitted. Facilitating conversations on cancer genomic education: Development of a toolkit for community advisory boards [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr B093.
Abstract B105: Quality and Accessibility of Online Information Regarding CAR-T Therapy in Hematologic Malignancies
Authors: Garcia Luis C. , Velázquez Ana I.
Published: September 2024

Background Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapies have changed the treatment landscape for various hematologic malignancies and are currently under development and being tested in clinical trials for multiple solid tumors. Given that patients commonly use the internet as a source of health-related information, we sought to investigate the quality, understandability, and readability of online information regarding CAR-T therapy. Methods We conducted a search in a commonly used search engine (Google) of five pre-determined search terms to identify 100 unique web pages regarding CAR-T therapy. Scientific publications were excluded. Validated instruments were used to ascertain health information quality (DISCERN), understandability (Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool; PEMAT), and readability (Flesch-Kincaid, Gunning Fog, and SMOG indices). Results were summarized using descriptive statistics. Results Among the 100 web pages reviewed, 68% originated from academic medical centers, and 64% included links to clinical trials. Only 11% of the web pages included references to primary literature. 17% of web pages were available in a language other than English, with Spanish (15%) and Arabic (7%) being the most common. Moderate-to-high quality information (DISCERN ≥ 3) was presented by 47% of web pages, and only 31% of web pages were considered understandable (PEMAT ≥ 70%). Average readability scores were 10.6 (SD = 2.09), 12.6 (SD = 2.3), and 13.1 (SD = 1.7) using the Flesch-Kincaid, Gunning Fog, and SMOG indices, respectively. Conclusion Our study highlights that online information for CAR-T therapies commonly features low-quality health information that is typically not understandable to the general population. Further, contrary to recommendations from federal agencies and medical societies, available online information requires, on average, high school reading comprehension. Healthcare teams and stakeholders should strive to improve existing content and ensure patients have access to trusted, high-quality information given the unique complexities, processes, and toxicities associated with receiving CAR-T therapy.

Citation Format: Luis C. Garcia, Ana I. Velázquez. Quality and Accessibility of Online Information Regarding CAR-T Therapy in Hematologic Malignancies [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr B105.