A Catalog of Hydroclimatological Data for Alaska's Coastal Zone

In order to perceive a better understanding of the interrelationships of the coastal zone water we proposed a research project which was to sort out many of the complex variables. The project was not begun due to the lack of sufficient funds. We did, however, begin a limited literature search and listing of hydroclimatological data sources of Alaska's coastal zone. We felt this would be a modest but useful start towards the larger study. It should also have some practical usefulness to others. This data catalog is a result of this initial study. Because of the wide variety of types of agency which collect data and the literally hundreds of sources through which they are reported, it is often quite bewildering for even experienced investigators to sort out what can be found and where. Although we are sure that the catalog is far from complete, we feel that it is a useful beginning towards an attempt to better understand the hydroclimatological processes in Alaska's coastal zone. We wish to invite contributions and criticisms which could lead to an improved and more comprehensive version at some future date.We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Sea Grant Program of the University of Alaska and the support and encouragement of its Director, David Hickok. The project also received support from the Office of Water Resources Research and the State of Alaska through the Institute of Water Resources at the University of Alaska

Anastrozole versus tamoxifen for the prevention of locoregional and contralateral breast cancer in postmenopausal women with locally excised ductal carcinoma in situ (IBIS-II DCIS): a double-blind, randomised controlled trial

Background Third-generation aromatase inhibitors are more effective than tamoxifen for preventing recurrence in postmenopausal women with hormone-receptor-positive invasive breast cancer. However, it is not known whether anastrozole is more effective than tamoxifen for women with hormone-receptor-positive ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Here, we compare the efficacy of anastrozole with that of tamoxifen in postmenopausal women with hormone-receptor-positive DCIS. Methods In a double-blind, multicentre, randomised placebo-controlled trial, we recruited women who had been diagnosed with locally excised, hormone-receptor-positive DCIS. Eligible women were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio by central computer allocation to receive 1 mg oral anastrozole or 20 mg oral tamoxifen every day for 5 years. Randomisation was stratified by major centre or hub and was done in blocks (six, eight, or ten). All trial personnel, participants, and clinicians were masked to treatment allocation and only the trial statistician had access to treatment allocation. The primary endpoint was all recurrence, including recurrent DCIS and new contralateral tumours. All analyses were done on a modified intention-to-treat basis (in all women who were randomised and did not revoke consent for their data to be included) and proportional hazard models were used to compute hazard ratios and corresponding confidence intervals. This trial is registered at the ISRCTN registry, number ISRCTN37546358. Results Between March 3, 2003, and Feb 8, 2012, we enrolled 2980 postmenopausal women from 236 centres in 14 countries and randomly assigned them to receive anastrozole (1449 analysed) or tamoxifen (1489 analysed). Median follow-up was 7·2 years (IQR 5·6–8·9), and 144 breast cancer recurrences were recorded. We noted no statistically significant difference in overall recurrence (67 recurrences for anastrozole vs 77 for tamoxifen; HR 0·89 [95% CI 0·64–1·23]). The non-inferiority of anastrozole was established (upper 95% CI <1·25), but its superiority to tamoxifen was not (p=0·49). A total of 69 deaths were recorded (33 for anastrozole vs 36 for tamoxifen; HR 0·93 [95% CI 0·58–1·50], p=0·78), and no specific cause was more common in one group than the other. The number of women reporting any adverse event was similar between anastrozole (1323 women, 91%) and tamoxifen (1379 women, 93%); the side-effect profiles of the two drugs differed, with more fractures, musculoskeletal events, hypercholesterolaemia, and strokes with anastrozole and more muscle spasm, gynaecological cancers and symptoms, vasomotor symptoms, and deep vein thromboses with tamoxifen. Conclusions No clear efficacy differences were seen between the two treatments. Anastrozole offers another treatment option for postmenopausal women with hormone-receptor-positive DCIS, which may be be more appropriate for some women with contraindications for tamoxifen. Longer follow-up will be necessary to fully evaluate treatment differences

Climate change and its impacts on the arctic environment (scientific paper)

Regional assessments of climate change and its impacts are a high priority in the international programs on global change research. In the Arctic, climate models indicate an amplification of the global greenhouse warming, but the observed high-latitude climate trends over the last few decades are much more regional and patchy than predicted by the models. While considerable uncertainties remain in the long-term prediction of change there is some agreement between model results and observed trends by season on shorter time scales. The warming observed over the landmasses of the Arctic over the last few decades is matched by corresponding observed decreases in snow cover and glacier mass balances, by thawing of the permafrost, and by reductions in sea ice extent and thickness. The available evidence strongly suggests that the observed decrease in Northern Hemisphere sea ice extent is related to anthropogenic global warming. While uncertainties exist about the future, climate change in the Arctic during the past few decades can be shown to have had major impacts already on the arctic environment which will become much more pronounced if present trends continue

The aim of the symposium

The polar regions play a crucial role in global climate change. They are sensitive indicators of change and their snow and ice features are good integrators of change. They store long-term climatic records in their ice sheets, such as the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets. They also affect the global climate directly through interactions between their atmospheres, ice cover, and oceans, and through feedback processes. Practically all climate models predict an amplification of the global greenhouse effect at high latitudes, but models as well as observations have produced results that are not easily interpreted