bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A survey of spatial deformation from a user-centered perspective
Authors: Gain James , Bechmann Dominique 
Published: November 2008

The spatial deformation methods are a family of modeling and animation techniques for indirectly reshaping an object by warping the surrounding space, with results that are similar to molding a highly malleable substance. They have the virtue of being computationally efficient (and hence interactive) and applicable to a variety of object representations.
In this article we survey the state of the art in spatial deformation. Since manipulating ambient space directly is infeasible, deformations are controlled by tools of varying dimension—points, curves, surfaces and volumes—and it is on this basis that we classify them. Unlike previous surveys that concentrate on providing a single underlying mathematical formalism, we use the user-centered criteria of versatility, ease of use, efficiency and correctness to compare techniques.
GridCast
Authors: Cheng Bin , Stein Lex , Jin Hai , Liao Xiaofei , Zhang Zheng 
Published: November 2008

Video-on-Demand (VoD) is a compelling application, but costly. VoD is costly due to the load it places on video source servers. Many have proposed using peer-to-peer (P2P) techniques to shift load from servers to peers. Yet, nobody has implemented and deployed a system to openly and systematically evaluate how these techniques work.
This article describes the design, implementation and evaluation of GridCast, a real deployed P2P VoD system. GridCast has been live on CERNET since May of 2006. It provides seek, pause, and play operations, and employs peer sharing to improve system scalability. In peak months, GridCast has served videos to 23,000 unique users. From the first deployment, we have gathered information to understand the system and evaluate how to further improve peer sharing through caching and replication.
We first show that GridCast with single video caching (SVC) can decrease load on source servers by an average of 22% from a client-server architecture. We analyze the net effect on system resources and determine that peer upload is largely idle. This leads us to changing the caching algorithm to cache multiple videos (MVC). MVC decreases source load by an average of 51% over the client-server. The improvement is greater as user load increases. This bodes well for peer-assistance at larger scales.
A detailed analysis of MVC shows that departure misses become a major issue in a P2P VoD system with caching optimization. Motivated by this observation, we examine how to use replication to eliminate departure misses and further reduce server load. A framework for lazy replication is presented and evaluated in this article. In this framework, two predictors are plugged in to create the working replication algorithm. With these two simple predictors, lazy replication can decrease server load by 15% from MVC with only a minor increase in network traffic.
Neighborhood Composition and Cancer among Hispanics: Tumor Stage and Size at Time of Diagnosis
Authors: Reyes-Ortiz Carlos A. , Eschbach Karl , Zhang Dong D. , Goodwin James S. 
Published: November 2008

Abstract
Background: We have previously reported that cancer incidence for lung, female breast, and colon and rectum for Hispanics decreases with increasing percentage of Hispanics at the census tract. In contrast, cervical cancer incidence increases with increasing percentage of Hispanics at the census tract.
Methods: In this study, we investigate the hypothesis that Hispanics living in census tracts with high percentages of Hispanics are diagnosed with more advanced cancer, with respect to tumor size and stage of diagnosis. Data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registry and the U.S. Census Bureau were used to estimate the odds of diagnosis at a “late” stage (II, III, IV) versus “early” stage (I) and breast cancer tumor size among Hispanics as a function of census tract percent Hispanic. Hispanic ethnicity in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registry was identified by medical record review and Hispanic surname lists. The study also used income of Hispanics living in the census tract and controlled for age at diagnosis and gender.
Results: We found that Hispanics living in neighborhoods with higher density of Hispanic populations were more likely to be diagnosed with late-stage breast, cervical, or colorectal cancer, and to have a larger tumor size of breast cancer.
Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the benefits of lower cancer incidence in high tract percent Hispanics are partially offset by poorer access and reduced use of screening in conjunction with lower income, poorer health insurance coverage, and language barriers typical of these communities. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2008;17(11):2931–6)
Glutathione Transferases and Glutathionylated Hemoglobin in Workers Exposed to Low Doses of 1,3-Butadiene
Authors: Primavera Alessandra , Fustinoni Silvia , Biroccio Antonino , Ballerini Sabrina , Urbani Andrea , Bernardini Sergio , Federici Giorgio , Capucci Enrico , Manno Maurizio , Lo Bello Mario 
Published: November 2008

Abstract
We evaluated glutathione transferase (GST) activities and the levels of glutathionylated hemoglobin in the RBC of 42 workers exposed to 1,3-butadiene in a petrochemical plant, using 43 workers not exposed to 1,3-butadiene and 82 foresters as internal and external controls, respectively. Median 1,3-butadiene exposure levels were 1.5, 0.4, and 0.1 μg/m3 in 1,3-butadiene-exposed workers, in workers not directly exposed to 1,3-butadiene, and in foresters, respectively. In addition, we determined in the peripheral blood lymphocytes of the same individuals the presence of GST polymorphic genes GSTT1 and GSTM1 and the distribution of GSTP1 allelic variants. Comparing the mean values observed in petrochemical workers with those of control foresters, we found a marked decrease of GST enzymatic activity and a significant increase of glutathionylated hemoglobin in the petrochemical workers. A weak but significant negative correlation was found between levels of 1,3-butadiene exposure and GST activity, whereas a positive correlation was found between 1,3-butadiene exposure and glutathionylated hemoglobin. A negative correlation was also observed between GST activity and glutathionylated hemoglobin. No influence of confounders was observed. Using a multiple linear regression model, up to 50.6% and 41.9% of the variability observed in glutathionylated hemoglobin and GST activity, respectively, were explained by 1,3-butadiene exposure, working setting, and GSTT1 genotype. These results indicate that occupational exposure to 1,3-butadiene induces an oxidative stress that impairs the GST balance in RBC, and suggest that GST activity and glutathionylated hemoglobin could be recommended as promising biomarkers of effect in petrochemical workers. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2008;17(11):3004–12)
Systems Epidemiology in Cancer
Authors: Lund Eiliv , Dumeaux Vanessa 
Published: November 2008

AbstractProspective studies in cancer epidemiology have conserved their study design over the last decades. In this context, current epidemiologic studies investigating gene-environment interactions are based on biobank for the analysis of genetic variation and biomarkers, using notified cancer as outcome. These studies result from the use of high-throughput technologies rather than from the development of novel design strategies. In this article, we propose the globolomic design to run integrated analyses of cancer risk covering the major -omics in blood and tumor tissue. We defined this design as an extension of the existing prospective design by collecting tissue and blood samples at time of diagnosis, including biological material suitable for transcriptome analysis. The globolomic design opens up for several new analytic strategies and, where gene expression profiles could be used to verify mechanistic information from experimental biology, adds a new dimension to causality in epidemiology. This could improve, for example, the interpretation of risk estimates related to single nucleotide polymorphisms in gene-environment studies by changing the criterion of biological plausibility from a subjective discussion of in vitro information to observational data of human in vivo gene expression. This ambitious design should consider the complexity of the multistage carcinogenic process, the latency time, and the changing lifestyle of the cohort members. This design could open the new research discipline of systems epidemiology, defined in this article as a counterpart to systems biology. Systems epidemiology with a focus on gene functions challenges the current concept of biobanking, which focuses mainly on DNA analyses. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2008;17(11):2954–7)
Survival After Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis Is Associated with Colorectal Cancer Family History
Authors: Zell Jason A. , Honda Jane , Ziogas Argyrios , Anton-Culver Hoda 
Published: November 2008

Abstract
Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) family history is a known risk factor for CRC development; however, effects of CRC family history on survival after CRC diagnosis are less well-defined. Our population-based analysis investigates whether familial CRC cases exhibit improved survival compared with sporadic CRC cases.
Methods: Cases enrolled in the University of California Irvine Gene-Environment Study of Familial Colorectal Cancer from 1994 to 1996 were analyzed, with follow-up through December 2006. Cases were categorized as familial or sporadic based on self-reported CRC family history in a first-degree relative. Univariate and multivariate survival analyses with Cox proportional hazards ratios were done for overall survival (OS) and CRC-SS (CRC-SS).
Results: One thousand one hundred fifty-four CRC cases were analyzed, including 781 colon cancer and 373 rectal cancer cases. Nineteen percent of colon cases had family history of CRC in a first-degree relative, compared with 16% of rectal cancer cases. No statistically significant differences between familial and sporadic colon or rectal cancer cases were detected for age, gender, ethnicity, stage, tumor location, histology, tumor grade, or stage-specific treatment rendered. Among colon cancer cases, family history of CRC (versus no family history as a reference group) was associated with improved OS (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.760; 95% confidence interval, 0.580-0.997), but not with CRC-SS (hazard ratio, 0.880; 95% confidence interval, 0.621-1.246). No OS or CRC-SS differences were detected for rectal cancer cases.
Conclusions: CRC cases with family history of the disease have improved overall survival compared with sporadic CRC cases, a finding that is independent of other relevant clinical factors. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2008;17(11):3134–40)
Association Study of the G-Protein β3 Subunit C825T Polymorphism with Disease Progression an Overall Survival in Patients with Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Lehnerdt Goetz F. , Franz Peter , Bankfalvi Agnes , Grehl Sara , Jahnke Klaus , Lang Stephan , Schmid Kurt W. , Siffert Winfried , Frey Ulrich H. 
Published: November 2008

Abstract
The T-allele of a common C825T single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the gene GNB3, encoding the G3 subunit of heterotrimeric G-proteins, is associated with a truncated form of the G3 protein that imparts a greater signaling capacity than the alternative C-allele encoding a nontruncated protein. We analyzed the C825T-allele status with regard to disease progression in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The prognostic value of the SNP was evaluated in an unselected series of 341 patients treated with curative intent for HNSCC including all tumor stages with different therapeutic regimens. Genotype analysis was done by Pyrosequencing using DNA from paraffin-embedded tissue samples. Genotypes were correlated with relapse-free and overall survival. Proportions of 5-year relapse-free intervals were 62% for CC, 60% for TC, and 42% for TT genotypes. Kaplan-Meier curves revealed a significant genotype-dependent relapse-free interval (P = 0.036). In multivariate analysis with stage, localization, grade, gender, and smoking habits as covariates, GNB3 825T homozygous patients displayed a higher risk for relapse than C825 homozygous patients (TT versus CC, hazard ratio; 95% confidence interval, 1.4-4.8; P = 0.002). The same genotype effect was found for overall survival, TT genotypes were at higher risk for death compared with CC genotypes (hazard ratio, 2.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.6-4.3; P &lt; 0.001), and 5-year survival proportions were 60% for CC, 52% for TC, and 33% for TT. The GNB3 C825T SNP thus represents a host derived prognostic marker in HNSCC, which allows identifying high-risk patients, which could benefit from novel and/or more aggressive therapeutic regimes. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2008;17(11):3203–7)
Prevalence and Age Distribution of Human Papillomavirus Infection in a Population of Inuit Women in Nunavik, Quebec
Authors: Hamlin-Douglas Lauren Kay , Coutlée François , Roger Michel , Franco Eduardo L. , Brassard Paul 
Published: November 2008

Abstract
Objectives: Our aim was to study the prevalence and age distribution of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection among Inuit women in Nunavik, northern Quebec, a population at high risk of cervical cancer.
Methods: We recruited a cohort of Inuit women seeking routine care and living primarily in four communities of the Nunavik region. Pap smears were done and cervical specimens were tested for HPV-DNA using the PGMY-Line blot assay.
Results: From January 2002 until December 2007, 629 women were recruited into the study and had their cervical specimens tested. Of 554 women with complete results, the overall and high-risk HPV prevalence were 28.9% and 20.4%, respectively. Multiple-type infections were observed in 40% of HPV-positive subjects. The most common HPV type was HPV-16 (n = 31), and other common high-risk types included HPV-31, HPV-58, and HPV-52. The most prevalent papillomavirus species were α-9 (60% of infections), α-3 (44%), and α-7 (31%). Age-specific prevalence of low-risk HPV, high-risk HPV, and overall HPV showed a U-shaped curve. Of women with baseline cytology, 6.5% had an abnormal result, either atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance, low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL), or high-grade intraepithelial lesion (HSIL). HPV-16, HPV-31, and HPV-58 were some of the most common high-risk types detected in both LSIL and HSIL specimens.
Conclusions: Overall and high-risk HPV prevalence was elevated in this population of Quebec Inuit women when compared with other populations that have been studied in Canada. Different HPV types seem to be important as contributors to the overall burden of infection and to the presence of cervical abnormalities, which may have implications for developing cervical screening and vaccination programs. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2008;17(11):3141–9)
Validation of Tissue Microarray Technology in Ovarian Cancer: Results from the Nurses' Health Study
Authors: Hecht Jonathan L. , Kotsopoulos Joanne , Gates Margaret A. , Hankinson Susan E. , Tworoger Shelley S. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractBackground: Tissue microarrays (TMAs) allow high-throughput evaluation of protein expression from archived tissue samples. We identified characteristics specific to ovarian cancer that may influence TMA interpretation.Methods: TMAs were constructed using triplicate core samples from 174 epithelial ovarian cancers. Stains for p53, Ki-67, estrogen receptor-α, progesterone receptor, Her-2, WT-1, cytokeratin 7, and cytokeratin 20 were evaluated by intraclass correlation coefficients, Spearman correlation coefficients, the effect of sample age, and tumor histology on the ability to score the cores, and inter-rater reliability.Results: The interclass correlation coefficient and the mean Spearman correlation coefficients among 3 cores were ≥0.91 and 0.87, respectively. Tissue age and tumor histology were not predictive of an inability to evaluate stains, but borderline tumors had a 2 to 4-fold increase in the risk of having uninterpretable cores over invasive tumors. There was moderate to substantial concordance between the two pathologists for estrogen receptor-α [Cohen's Kappa (κ), 0.79] and Ki-67 (κ, 0.52). The prevalence of positive staining cells by histologic type was comparable with previous studies.Conclusion: TMA is a valid method for evaluating antigen expression in invasive ovarian cancer but should be used with caution for borderline tumors. We suggest several methods of quality control based on intercore comparisons and show that some antigens may be affected by age of the samples. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2008;17(11):3043–50)
Pre-negotiation and its Limits in Ethno-National Conflicts: A Systematic Analysis of Process and Outcomes in the Cyprus Negotiations
Authors: Schiff Amira 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThe repeated failures of negotiation in ethno-national conflicts highlight the importance of studying the relationship between the pre-negotiation process and the results of the subsequent formal negotiations. This study examines various factors that contributed to a decision by adversaries to initiate official negotiations, and how these factors affected the prospects for a negotiated agreement. Furthermore, it suggests that certain elements in the pre-negotiation process portend the nature of the changes in the parties' political positions (tactical or strategic) and the parties' readiness to reach an agreement. An exploration is presented using a case study of the negotiations over the Cyprus conflict in 2004 which resulted in the ultimate rejection by the negotiating parties of the Annan Plan in late March of 2004. We examine the connection between the pre-negotiation process, from the end of 2003 until February 13, 2004, and the failure of the formal negotiations in March 2004. The analysis indicates that the deficient method and process of the pre-negotiations that took place regarding the Cyprus conflict determined the subsequent failure of the negotiations. The early detection of such factors in other negotiations over ethno-national conflicts may mitigate the causes that lead to failure, or perhaps assist in managing the process differently, so as to facilitate a more positive outcome.
The Universal and the Particular Christian Unity in a Post-Modern World
Authors: Gros Jeffrey 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThe Netherlands' Catholic Reformed text on the Church, local and universal, is an important contribution to international ecumenical discussions, informed by the particular context of the history of these churches in the low countries. This essay focuses on the importance of the theme and the method of this dialogue, and its contribution to understanding how the ecumenical movement is contextualized and communicated through the educational priorities of the churches. The essay relates this text, from a particular national dialogue, to the international Reformed Catholic dialogue and to issues of the wider ecumenical movement.
A Reformed Response to Local and Universal Dimensions of the Church
Authors: Janssen Allan 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThis article begins by reviewing ways in which Reformed churches have given expression to the universal dimension of the church within its preference for the church's local expression. The marks of the church, the confession of the church, its church order and its understanding of office all give expression to the universal dimension of the church. The proposal that the universal dimension be more strongly emphasized at the 'intermediate level' will be received gladly by Reformed churches but it also challenges Reformed churches to consider the personal dimension of universality as well as to re-emphasize the universal dimension both in congregational life and at a supra-national level.
The Church as Sacrament of the Kingdom: A Reformed Commentary
Authors: Brinkman Martien 
Published: November 2008

AbstractOne of the most promising aspects of the text of the third phase of the International Roman-Catholic-Reformed Dialogue might be the suggestion to reflect upon the idea of the church as 'sacrament of the kingdom' (no.231). In this contribution, I shall take up that suggestion and develop a fourfold approach of the sacraments in which the interconnectedness of church and kingdom plays a crucial role. I shall deal with the soteriological, the ecclesiological, the eschatological and the symbolic aspect respectively. Deliberately, I begin with the soteriological aspect because the first and main thing sacraments do is to point to our salvation. Salvation implies, however, a mediation of salvation and hence the ecclesiological aspect follows the soteriological aspect. The mediation of the church always points beyond itself to the kingdom of God. That is the eschatological aspect. And every reference to the eschaton always has the form of the symbol as the focal point of the 'already' and 'not yet' character of the kingdom of God. We label that as the symbolic aspect. My conclusion will be that the fruitfulness of the suggestion to speak about the church as 'sacrament of the kingdom' depends on the preparedness to reap the results of the ecumenical discussions since Vatican II.
Religious Rights for Minorities in a Policy of Recognition
Authors: van der Ven Johannes 
Published: November 2008

AbstractReligion plays an important role in today's multicultural society, especially when it comes to religious rights for minorities. Granting these rights stems from an endeavour to transcend a politics of tolerance, even a politics of respect, and to treat them in terms of a politics of recognition. Assigning these rights implies that some principles need to be critically reflected upon: the individualistic interpretation of minority rights, the separationist interpretation of the separation between church and state, the secularist interpretation of religious freedom, and the uniformistic interpretation of the state's legal unity. In granting minorities religious rights, one comes across the importance of their personal law, including marriage law and family law. To incorporate such personal law into the legal systems of Western society, one could apply the distinction between the domains of status demarcation, that refers to entering and belonging to a community, and property distribution, that relates to the rights and duties implicit in these social bonds. The former may be provided for by religious law, the later, by secular law. However, the question is whether marriage under religious law, and rights and duties under secular law can solve the problems women suffer from, especially in the case of polygyny.
High-Speed Real-Time Simulation for Power Electronic Systems
Authors: Word Dale , Bednar Richard , Zenor John J. , Hingorani Nari G. 
Published: November 2008

Real-time simulators have been used as an aid to power system design for many years. Over time, scaled-down physical models and analog computer-based simulators have given way to real-time simulators based on digital technology. Another trend has been the need for shorter and shorter frame times for these digital real-time simulators. Modern power electronic systems use highfrequency Pulse-Width Modulated (PWM) controllers. Indications are that frame times of 2 μS are needed for PWM switching frequencies of 10 KHz. As frequencies increase further it is possible that frame times of less than 1 μS may be required. In order to achieve these very short frame times, the implementation of this type of simulator requires careful selection of the methods and technologies used. The first involves thorough analysis of the integration method chosen, to ensure that it provides the performance, stability and accuracy required. Additionally, the choice of computing platform is crucial to provide the computational support to meet these very aggressive timing requirements.