The Stratified Structure of Spaces of Smooth Orbifold Mappings

We consider four notions of maps between smooth C^r orbifolds O, P with O compact (without boundary). We show that one of these notions is natural and necessary in order to uniquely define the notion of orbibundle pullback. For the notion of complete orbifold map, we show that the corresponding set of C^r maps between O and P with the C^r topology carries the structure of a smooth C^\infty Banach (r finite)/Frechet (r=infty) manifold. For the notion of complete reduced orbifold map, the corresponding set of C^r maps between O and P with the C^r topology carries the structure of a smooth C^\infty Banach (r finite)/Frechet (r=infty) orbifold. The remaining two notions carry a stratified structure: The C^r orbifold maps between O and P is locally a stratified space with strata modeled on smooth C^\infty Banach (r finite)/Frechet (r=infty) manifolds while the set of C^r reduced orbifold maps between O and P locally has the structure of a stratified space with strata modeled on smooth C^\infty Banach (r finite)/Frechet (r=infty) orbifolds. Furthermore, we give the explicit relationship between these notions of orbifold map. Applying our results to the special case of orbifold diffeomorphism groups, we show they inherit the structure of C^\infty Banach (r finite)/Frechet (r=infty) manifolds. In fact, for r finite they are topological groups, and for r=infty they are convenient Frechet Lie groups.Comment: 31 pages, 2 figures; corrected and expande

A striking correspondence between the dynamics generated by the vector fields and by the scalar parabolic equations

The purpose of this paper is to enhance a correspondence between the dynamics of the differential equations $\dot y(t)=g(y(t))$ on $\mathbb{R}^d$ and those of the parabolic equations $\dot u=\Delta u +f(x,u,\nabla u)$ on a bounded domain $\Omega$. We give details on the similarities of these dynamics in the cases $d=1$, $d=2$ and $d\geq 3$ and in the corresponding cases $\Omega=(0,1)$, $\Omega=\mathbb{T}^1$ and dim($\Omega$)$\geq 2$ respectively. In addition to the beauty of such a correspondence, this could serve as a guideline for future research on the dynamics of parabolic equations

Disparities in the use of assisted reproductive technologies after breast cancer: a population-based study

Purpose: Equitable access to oncofertility services is a key component of cancer survivorship care, but factors affecting access and use remain understudied. Methods: To describe disparities in assisted reproductive technology (ART) use among women with breast cancer in California, we conducted a population-based cohort study using linked oncology, ART, and demographic data. We identified women age 18–45 years diagnosed with invasive breast cancer between 2000 and 2015. The primary outcome was ART use—including oocyte/embryo cryopreservation or embryo transfer—after cancer diagnosis. We used log-binomial regression to estimate prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to identify factors associated with ART use. Results: Among 36,468 women with invasive breast cancer, 206 (0.56%) used ART. Women significantly less likely to use ART were age 36–45 years at diagnosis (vs. 18–35 years: PR = 0.17, 95% CI 0.13–0.22); non-Hispanic Black or Hispanic (vs. non-Hispanic White: PR = 0.31, 95% CI 0.21–0.46); had at least one child (vs. no children: adjusted PR [aPR] = 0.39, 95% CI 0.25–0.60); or lived in non-urban areas (vs. urban: aPR = 0.28, 95% CI 0.10–0.75), whereas women more likely to use ART lived in high-SES areas (vs. low-/middle-SES areas: aPR = 2.93, 95% CI 2.04–4.20) or had private insurance (vs. public/other insurance: aPR = 2.95, 95% CI 1.59–5.49). Conclusion: Women with breast cancer who are socially or economically disadvantaged, or who already had a child, are substantially less likely to use ART after diagnosis. The implementation of policies or programs targeting more equitable access to fertility services for women with cancer is warranted

Disparities in Fertility-Sparing Treatment and Use of Assisted Reproductive Technology After a Diagnosis of Cervical, Ovarian, or Endometrial Cancer

Objective: To assess the presence of sociodemographic and clinical disparities in fertility-sparing treatment and assisted reproductive technology (ART) use among patients with a history of cervical, endometrial, or ovarian cancer. Methods: We conducted a population-based cohort study of patients aged 18-45 years who were diagnosed with cervical cancer (stage IA, IB), endometrial cancer (grade 1, stage IA, IB), or ovarian cancer (stage IA, IC) between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2015, using linked data from the CCR (California Cancer Registry), the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development, and the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology. The primary outcome was receipt of fertility-sparing treatment, defined as surgical or medical treatment to preserve the uterus and at least one ovary. The secondary outcome was fertility preservation, defined as ART use after cancer diagnosis. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to estimate odds ratios and 95% CIs for the association between fertility-sparing treatment and exposures of interest: age at diagnosis, race and ethnicity, health insurance, socioeconomic status, rurality, and parity. Results: We identified 7,736 patients who were diagnosed with cervical, endometrial, or ovarian cancer with eligible histology. There were 850 (18.8%) fertility-sparing procedures among 4,521 cases of cervical cancer, 108 (7.2%) among 1,504 cases of endometrial cancer, and 741 (43.3%) among 1,711 cases of ovarian cancer. Analyses demonstrated nonuniform patterns of sociodemographic disparities by cancer type for fertility-sparing treatment, and ART. Fertility-sparing treatment was more likely among young patients, overall, and of those in racial and ethnic minority groups among survivors of cervical and ovarian cancer. Use of ART was low (n=52) and was associated with a non-Hispanic White race and ethnicity designation, being of younger age (18-35 years), and having private insurance. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that clinical and sociodemographic disparities exist in the receipt of fertility-sparing treatment and ART use among patients with a history of cervical, endometrial, or ovarian cancer

Obstetric and Neonatal Outcomes 1 or More Years After a Diagnosis of Breast Cancer

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate obstetric and neonatal outcomes of the first live birth conceived 1 or more years after breast cancer diagnosis.METHODS:We performed a population-based study to compare live births between women with a history of breast cancer (case group) and matched women with no cancer history (control group). Individuals in the case and control groups were identified using linked data from the California Cancer Registry and California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development data sets. Individuals in the case group were diagnosed with stage I-III breast cancer at age 18-45 years between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2012, and conceived 12 or more months after breast cancer diagnosis. Individuals in the control group were covariate-matched women without a history of breast cancer who delivered during 2000-2012. The primary outcome was preterm birth at less than 37 weeks of gestation. Secondary outcomes were preterm birth at less than 32 weeks of gestation, small for gestational age (SGA), cesarean delivery, severe maternal morbidity, and neonatal morbidity. Subgroup analyses were used to assess the effect of time from initial treatment to fertilization and receipt of additional adjuvant therapy before pregnancy on outcomes of interest.RESULTS:Of 30,021 women aged 18-45 years diagnosed with stage I-III breast cancer during 2000-2012, 553 met the study inclusion criteria. Those with a history of breast cancer and matched women in the control group had similar odds of preterm birth at less than 37 weeks of gestation (odds ratio [OR], 1.29; 95% CI 0.95-1.74), preterm birth at less than 32 weeks of gestation (OR 0.77; 95% CI 0.34-1.79), delivering an SGA neonate (less than the 5th percentile: OR 0.60; 95% CI 0.35-1.03; less than the 10th percentile: OR 0.94; 95% CI 0.68-1.30), and experiencing severe maternal morbidity (OR 1.61; 95% CI 0.74-3.50). Patients with a history of breast cancer had higher odds of undergoing cesarean delivery (OR 1.25; 95% CI 1.03-1.53); however, their offspring did not have increased odds of neonatal morbidity compared with women in the control group (OR 1.15; 95% CI 0.81-1.62).CONCLUSION:Breast cancer 1 or more years before fertilization was not strongly associated with obstetric and neonatal complications

Information-seeking behavior of catalog users

This study is based on the data from a survey of catalog use at three university libraries and one public library. Both "known-item" searches and "subject" searches were analyzed. The characteristics of the user population were examined and methodological problems of the survey were discussed. A relation was found between the academic rank of the catalog users and type of search that they carry out. Some of the factors influencing the success or failure of the search were analyzed, and the meaning of "success" for the two types of search was discussed. The study investigated trends in search strategies as well as degree of perseverance of catalog searchers. Implications for the design of modern information retrieval systems were pointed out.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/32647/1/0000010.pd

Nuclear and cytoplasmic expression of survivin in 67 surgically resected pancreatic cancer patients

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive gastrointestinal cancer with less than 10% long-term survivors. The apoptotic pathway deregulation is a postulated mechanism of carcinogenesis of this tumour. The present study investigated the prognostic role of apoptosis and apoptosis-involved proteins in a series of surgically resected pancreatic cancer patients. All patients affected by pancreatic adenocarcinoma and treated with surgical resection from 1988 to 2003 were considered for the study. Patients' clinical data and pathological tumour features were recorded. Survivin and Cox-2 expression were evaluated by immunohistochemical staining. Apoptotic cells were identified using the TUNEL method. Tumour specimen of 67 resected patients was included in the study. By univariate analysis, survival was influenced by Survivin overexpression. The nuclear Survivin overexpression was associated with better prognosis (P=0.0009), while its cytoplasmic overexpression resulted a negative prognostic factor (P=0.0127). Also, the apoptotic index was a statistically significant prognostic factor in a univariate model (P=0.0142). By a multivariate Cox regression analysis, both the nuclear (P=0.002) and cytoplasmic (P=0.040) Survivin overexpression maintained the prognostic statistical value. This is the first study reporting a statistical significant prognostic relevance of nuclear and cytoplasmic Survivin overexpression in pancreatic cancer. In particular, patients with high nuclear Survivin staining showed a longer survival, whereas patients with high cytoplasmic Survivin staining had a shorter overall survival