Birthplace Information Research Articles

Abstract A008: Proof-of-Concept: A machine learning classifier to impute nativity status in Hispanic/Latino/a/x cancer patients in the California Cancer Registry

Abstract Background: Cancer disparities exist within the Hispanic/Latino/a/x (H/L) population by nativity status. Non-US born H/L colorectal cancer (CRC) patients and Prostate Cancer (PCa) patients in California have a statistically significant lower risk of cancer-specific survival when compared to Non-Hispanic White patients after controlling for confounders. However, birthplace information is largely incomplete in population-based cancer registries. For example, more than 40% of H/L patients have missing information on nativity in the California Cancer Registry (CCR) database. With the goal of better imputing missing birthplace, we built a Machine Learning (ML) model to predict nativity among CCR H/L cancer patients. Methods: H/L cases with primary invasive CRC (n = 75,613) and PCa (n = 93,042) at least 18 years old, diagnosed between 1988 and 2021 contained in the CCR research file were analyzed (46.36% had missing birthplace). A binary indicator variable assigning cases with known birthplace to US-born vs. Non-US born was constructed as the target for prediction. A stratified split by levels of the outcome was used to generate training (70%, n = 63,323) and testing (30%, n = 27,139) datasets. We used a pruned classification tree to perform feature selection, with the 10 features with the highest importance (measured by the overall reduction in impurity for any split containing each feature) used to predict nativity. Missing observations of the quantitative and qualitative features were mean, or mode imputed, respectively. The classification methods considered were classification trees, Random Forest (RF), and Boosting. Model performance was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, and the rate of correctly classified observations. Results: The top three features with the highest importance were the NHIA (NAACCR Hispanic/Latino Identification Algorithm) label, the Hispanic/Spanish identity, and the year of social security number issuance (SSN); the latter is part of a current SSN-based algorithm used to impute nativity status in this population. Classification models showed similar prediction performance. The highest AUC was reported by the RF (AUC = 0.9822), followed by Boosting (AUC = 0.9785), and the pruned classification tree (AUC = 0.9647). A similar rate of correctly classified observations was reported for the Boosting and RF models (∼94%). The RF model ranked feature importance in a similar order as the pruned classification tree. Ultimately, the RF model was the best performing classifier with a sensitivity and specificity of 0.61 and 0.90, respectively. This classifier substantially outperforms the SSN-based algorithm, which reported a correct classification rate of 81%, a sensitivity = 0.54, and a specificity = 0.41 in this dataset. Conclusions: This proof-of-concept analysis showcases a potential for developing a ML model to overcome missing nativity status in H/L cancer patients to enable more accurate classification by nativity in future research using CCR data. Citation Format: Proof-of-Concept: A machine learning classifier to impute nativity status in Hispanic/Latino/a/x cancer patients in the California Cancer Registry. Joel Sanchez Mendez, Lihua Liu, Juan P. Lewinger, Laura Fejerman, Mariana C. Stern [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 A008.

Dialect connectedness and tunneling: evidence from China

PurposeThis study aims to examine the effects of dialect connectedness between the chairman and the chief executive officer (CEO) (DCCC) on the tunneling activities of controlling shareholders.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses abnormal related-party transactions (ARPT) as a proxy for tunneling activities and traces dialects of chairmen and CEOs based on the respective birthplace information. Baseline results are examined using a fixed-effects model. The results remain robust when using the instrumental variable approach, propensity score matching (PSM) technique, changing the measurement of tunneling and Heckman two-step selection model.FindingsThe results show that DCCC reduces tunneling activities. This negative association is more pronounced for non-state-owned enterprises and firms whose chairmen and CEOs work in the respective hometowns. DCCC restrains tunneling activities through mechanisms by establishing an informal supervisory effect on CEOs because the CEOs fear reputational damage and strengthening cooperation between chairmen and CEOs. Further analyses suggest that this negative association is more significant when chairmen and CEOs are non-controlling shareholders, but the association is weakened during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis.Originality/valueAs dialect is a carrier of culture, this study's results imply that cultural proximity can replace formal mechanisms to enhance corporate governance.

Effect of agricultural fiscal expenditures on agricultural carbon intensity in China.

Few studies provide direct evidences that agricultural fiscal affectsagricultural carbon intensity.This study tries to fill this gap. Using panel data of 30 provinces in China from 2005 to 2019, we conclude that agricultural fiscal expenditures significantly reduce agricultural carbon intensity. The result is still robust after employing the provincial agricultural leaders' birthplace information as an instrumental variable. Further study shows that the negative effect of agricultural fiscal expenditures on agricultural carbon intensity is more pronounced in regions with less corruption and is also more visible in central, western, and inland regions than other areas. For this effect, agricultural technological improvement and structure optimization are possible channels, but not operation scale expansion. Interestingly, although agricultural fiscal expenditures reduce the local agricultural carbon intensity, neighbor regions' carbon intensities are increased due to fiscal rivalry.

Disparities in Early-Stage Breast Cancer and Survival-Letter.

We commend Primm and colleagues for performing an analysis of ethnoracial disparities in outcomes in women with early-stage breast cancer (1). As the authors note, aggregating race/ethnicity into broad categories may mask important differences between different ethnoracial subgroups. This study was more comprehensive than prior studies in that individuals who identified as Pacific Islander had their own category. In addition, the authors disaggregated those identifying as Asian into four distinct subgroups.With respect to ethnicity, the Hispanic population is an extremely diverse ethnoracial group that represents the fastest growing demographic in the United States. Therefore, while we completely agree with Primm and colleagues about the disaggregation of Asian people we would argue those of Hispanic ethnicity also warrant the same level of ethnoracial granularity. Studies in patients with breast cancer have demonstrated that disaggregating Hispanic ethnicity by race captures ethnoracial (Hispanic White, Hispanic Black, etc.) differences in stage, treatment, and survival not elucidated by aggregating Hispanic individuals into one group (2, 3). Consequently, we encourage the authors to conduct further analysis examining the study endpoints with the disaggregation of the Hispanic population by race. We anticipate this approach will help delineate the influence of race and ethnicity on the trend towards worse survival outcomes seen in Hispanic people with early-stage disease and across subtypes (except triple-negative disease). With respect to triple-negative disease, it would be particularly interesting to see if there are survival differences in Black people based on Hispanic ethnicity. Paradoxically, Hispanic individuals with stage IIIB-IV disease had improved survival relative to non-Hispanic White individuals, but again, it is critical to understand if this disparity is driven by ethnoracial differences in Hispanic patients. Of note, prior studies using SEER have successfully disaggregated Hispanic ethnicity by race (4).In addition to disaggregating ethnicity by race, categorizing Hispanic people by country of origin is also important when possible. SEER does collect birthplace information, but there is a high level of missing data and the veracity of the datapoint is in question (5). While acknowledging that Hispanic people were not differentiated further as a limitation, the authors do not provide contextual information for readers as to why this limitation is important. For example, in patients with pancreatic cancer, investigators have shown that among Hispanic individuals, Dominicans and South/Central Americans had the best survival rates (6).In summary, we agree that contemporary analyses of race and ethnicity needs improvement with as many distinct categories as possible to reflect the diversity of the patient population. We believe that Hispanic patients should be categorized by both race and ethnicity. When feasible, investigators should also report country origin for foreign born individuals of any race and/or ethnicity. Granular ethnoracial categories will help improve our understanding of the independent and synergistic effects of ethnicity and race on cancer outcomes.See the Response, p. 1868No disclosures were reported.

Ministers Engage in Favoritism Too

To study favoritism by cabinet members in 36 African countries, we hand-collect birthplace information for all cabinet members (2001–2015). Focusing on health outcomes, we provide causal evidence of favoritism by health ministers and, less so, key ministers. Neonates’ and infants’ mortality is lower when the current health minister originates from their region, especially for children of vulnerable (rural-based or uneducated) mothers. Co-regional health ministers also increase healthcare access at birth, particularly for vulnerable mothers. Thus, healthcare access likely explains part of the mortality-lowering effects. We find evidence for ethnic motives playing a role in favoritism but not (short-run) electoral motives.

Variation in Cancer Incidence Rates Among Non-Hispanic Black Individuals Disaggregated by Nativity and Birthplace, 2005-2017: A Population-Based Cancer Registry Analysis.

ObjectivesCompared to other racial and ethnic groups, little to no disaggregated cancer incidence data exist for subgroups of non-Hispanic Blacks (NHBs), despite heterogeneity in sociodemographic characteristics and cancer risk factors within this group. Our objective was to examine age-adjusted cancer incidence by nativity and birthplace among NHB cancer cases diagnosed in New Jersey.MethodsRace, ethnicity, and birthplace data from the New Jersey State Cancer Registry were used to classify NHB cancer cases diagnosed between 2005-2017. Thirteen waves of population estimates (by county, nativity, gender, age-group) were derived from the American Community Survey using Integrated Public-Use Microdata to approximate yearly demographics. Age-adjusted cancer incidence rates (overall and by site) by birthplace were generated using SEER*Stat 8.3.8. Bivariate associations were assessed using chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests. Trend analyses were performed using Joinpoint 4.7.ResultsBirthplace was available for 62.3% of the 71,019 NHB cancer cases. Immigrants represented 12.3%, with African-born, Haitian-born, Jamaican-born, ‘other-Caribbean-born’, and ‘other-non-American-born’ accounting for 18.5%, 17.7%, 16.5%, 10.6%, and 36.8%, respectively. Overall, age-adjusted cancer incidence rates were lower for NHB immigrants for all sites combined and for several of the top five cancers, relative to American-born NHBs. Age-adjusted cancer incidence was lower among immigrant than American-born males (271.6 vs. 406.8 per 100,000) and females (191.9 vs. 299.2 per 100,000). Age-adjusted cancer incidence was lower for Jamaican-born (114.6 per 100,000) and other-Caribbean-born females (128.8 per 100,000) than African-born (139.4 per 100,000) and Haitian-born females (149.9 per 100,000). No significant differences in age-adjusted cancer incidence were observed by birthplace among NHB males. Age-adjusted cancer incidence decreased for all sites combined from 2005-2017 among American-born males, immigrant males, and American-born females, while NHB immigrant female rates remained relatively stable.ConclusionsThere is variation in age-adjusted cancer incidence rates across NHB subgroups, highlighting the need for more complete birthplace information in population-based registries to facilitate generating disaggregated cancer surveillance statistics by birthplace. This study fills a knowledge gap of critical importance for understanding and ultimately addressing cancer inequities.

Clan culture and family ownership concentration: Evidence from China

This study explores a cultural determinant of family ownership concentration of a corporate. Using hand-collected Chinese genealogy information and a panel of Chinese listed family firms, we find robust evidence that clan culture influences are associated with a significantly higher family ownership concentration. By taking advantage of firm owner birthplace information, we are able to separate the impact of inherited clan culture from that of external environmental factors. To further establish causality, we also employ an instrumental variable (IV) regression strategy and explore the underlying mechanisms.

PD47-04 NATIVITY AND BLADDER CANCER OUTCOMES IN MULTI-ETHNIC POPULATIONS: A CALIFORNIA CANCER REGISTRY ANALYSIS

You have accessJournal of UrologyBladder Cancer: Epidemiology & Evaluation II (PD47)1 Sep 2021PD47-04 NATIVITY AND BLADDER CANCER OUTCOMES IN MULTI-ETHNIC POPULATIONS: A CALIFORNIA CANCER REGISTRY ANALYSIS Sumeet Bhanvadia, Unwanaobong Nseyo, Sidney Roberts, Ziwei Song, Lihua Liu, Inderbir Gill, Siamak Daneshmand, and Mariana C. Stern Sumeet BhanvadiaSumeet Bhanvadia More articles by this author , Unwanaobong NseyoUnwanaobong Nseyo More articles by this author , Sidney RobertsSidney Roberts More articles by this author , Ziwei SongZiwei Song More articles by this author , Lihua LiuLihua Liu More articles by this author , Inderbir GillInderbir Gill More articles by this author , Siamak DaneshmandSiamak Daneshmand More articles by this author , and Mariana C. SternMariana C. Stern More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000002069.04AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: While racial disparities in bladder cancer (BC) outcomes have been described, it is unclear to what degree foreign-born status contributes to disparities among racial/ethnic minorities. We investigated clinical characteristics and survival patterns for bladder cancer (BC) among various racial/ethnic groups, factoring in nativity as compared to non-Latino Whites (NLW). METHODS: We used data from the California Cancer Registry (1995-2017) to identify BC cases among California residents diagnosed between January 1, 1977 and December 31, 2017. Latino status and country of origin were identified by the NAACCR Hispanic Identification Algorithm (NHIA) and birthplace variable. Nativity (US-born versus foreign-born) was defined based on birthplace information. Cox regression modeling was performed to determine overall cancer-specific mortality (CSM) adjusting for sex, age, stage, treatment, SES, nativity and insurance type, using non-Latino white (NLW) as the reference. RESULTS: We identified a total of 141,083 cases of all stages/grades of BC: 113461 NLW (80.4%), 13,310 Latinos (9.4%), 8529 Asians (6.0%), and 5783 non-Latino Blacks (NLB) (4.1%). Foreign-born (FB) Asians and Latinos represented 81.1% and 52.6% of their total populations, respectively. Relative to NLW, Latinos and Asians had worse clinical characteristics in terms of higher stage at presentation, tumor size, and longer time interval before treatment. FB members of both racial/’ethnic groups were more likely to be of low SES, uninsured, married, and older at diagnosis. FB Asians had higher rates of nodal and metastatic disease at presentation compared to US-born Asians. While FB Latinos (10.3%) presented at a higher stage relative to US Latinos (9.1%), there was a greater frequency of FB Latinos receiving no treatment. On adjusted regression analysis, US Latinos had the highest risk of dying of BC and FB individuals fared better than their US-born counterparts. CONCLUSIONS: Differences in BC incidence, treatment patterns and surgical outcomes were observed between FB and US-born populations among Latinos and Asians. Despite higher prevalence of adverse characteristics among FB Latinos, US-born Latinos had the worst survival outcomes. This study highlights the need for more in-depth study of outcomes within racial/ethnic subgroups. Source of Funding: None © 2021 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 206Issue Supplement 3September 2021Page: e833-e834 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2021 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Sumeet Bhanvadia More articles by this author Unwanaobong Nseyo More articles by this author Sidney Roberts More articles by this author Ziwei Song More articles by this author Lihua Liu More articles by this author Inderbir Gill More articles by this author Siamak Daneshmand More articles by this author Mariana C. Stern More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement Loading ...

‘Birthplace unknown’: on the symbolic value of the passport for identity-construction among naturalised citizens

ABSTRACT When naturalised citizens receive their passport, it is material and symbolic proof of membership in the nation-state, tying the individual to the nation and providing mobility resources. For naturalised Norwegian citizens, their birthplace appears in the passport. What might be the implications of removing this information? In 2016, the Norwegian government replaced birthplace details with ‘birthplace unknown’ in the passports of naturalised citizens from 31 Asian and African countries. Drawing on this case and 41 in-depth interviews with people of different citizenship-statuses, we analyse the role of the passport and birthplace information in it for naturalised citizens’ identity-construction. The procedural change led to an experience of devalued citizenship in practical, emotional, and symbolic ways, by those directly affected and others, showing the precariousness of identity for naturalised citizens. We find that the passport matters for identity-construction, as a symbol of national belonging, and suggests more-than-instrumental approaches to citizenship among immigrant populations.

Born in the Right Place? Ministers' Favoritism and Infant Mortality

We study favoritism by cabinet members in 36 African countries and hand-collect birthplace information for all cabinet members (2001-2015). We focus on health outcomes and provide causal evidence of favoritism by health ministers and, to a lower degree, key ministers. Neonates' and infants' mortality is lower when the current health minister originates from their region. Increased healthcare access can partly explain this effect. Moreover, we find some evidence that health aid flows to ministers' regions increase. However, our results imply that health ministers also channel other resources to their region. We conclude that ministers' favoritism manifests itself in diverse ways.

Abstract B114: Impact of nativity on survival among blacks with hepatocellular carcinoma in California (1988-2016)

Abstract Introduction/Objective The most striking racial/ethnic disparity among those with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the United States (US) is worse survival among black Americans. However, existing literature does not consider birthplace among blacks. Differences in risk factors for HCC between US-born (USB) and foreign-born (FB) blacks may influence the natural history of the disease. Our objective was to examine impact of nativity on survival among blacks with HCC utilizing a population-based cohort from California. Methods We identified cases of HCC (ICD-O-3: C220 and 8170) diagnosed between 1988 and 2016 in the statewide California Cancer Registry (CCR). Non-Hispanic black HCC cases with available birthplace information were included in this study (9.7% unknown excluded). Cases were identified as foreign-born if reported or estimated birthplace was outside of the US or its territories. Primary outcome was overall survival after HCC diagnosis. We examined distributions of sociodemographic and tumor characteristics by nativity including disease stage at diagnosis (localized, regional, or distant) and type of therapy received (none, surgical, or non-surgical). The association between nativity and survival was examined using Kaplan-Meier survival curves and multivariable Cox regression. Other factors associated with survival were also evaluated. Results A total of 4019 non-Hispanic black HCC cases were identified in CCR, of which 254 (12.6%) were FB. FB were more likely than USB to be female (30 vs 24%, p=0.02) and more likely to be diagnosed under the age of 40 (10 vs 1%) or between ages 40-50 (15 vs 7%, p<0.001). FB were also more likely to be of higher socioeconomic status (SES) (30 vs 21%, p<0.001). No obvious differences in stage distribution were noted between USB and FB with ~40% localized, ~25% regional, and ~24% distant disease. Nearly half of those in both groups received no treatment. Among those that received treatment, 19% of FB versus 24% of USB received surgical treatment (p=0.54). Overall 75% (191/253) of FB and 90% (3386/3761) of USB died, with median survival of 6 months (IQR 1-32) and 5 months (IQR 1-19), respectively. In multivariable analysis adjusting for age, sex, marital status, SES, tumor stage, and treatment type, FB had improved survival compared to USB (HR 0.8, p=0.006). For both FB and USB, localized stage of disease and receipt of any therapy type were associated with improved survival (p<0.001). Female sex and higher SES were associated with improved survival among USB (p<0.01). No association between age at diagnosis and survival was found for either group. Conclusion FB blacks in California more commonly present with HCC at younger age (<50) than USB. Overall survival was significantly better in FB than USB blacks, though remains low for both groups, and those diagnosed at younger age did not demonstrate improved survival. This study highlights the need to enhance our understanding of factors that contribute to poor outcomes among blacks with HCC. Citation Format: Kali Zhou, Ziwei Song, Norah A Terrault, Lihua Liu. Impact of nativity on survival among blacks with hepatocellular carcinoma in California (1988-2016) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Twelfth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2019 Sep 20-23; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl_2):Abstract nr B114.

Time Encoding in Languages and Investment Efficiency

Linguistics research shows that languages differ as to how they differentiate future from present events. Economics research finds that when the grammatical structure of a language disassociates the future from the present, speakers of the language also disassociate the future from the present in their behaviors. This study examines how linguistically induced time perception relates to cross-country variation in investment efficiency. We find that underinvestment is less prevalent in countries where there is a weaker time disassociation in the language. The results from both a within-country analysis based on firms headquartered in different regions of Switzerland and an analysis based on the birthplace information of U.S. firms’ chief executive officers confirm the relation between languages and investment efficiency. Collectively, the results suggest that time encoding in languages influences speakers’ cognition and their investment decisions. This paper was accepted by Shivaram Rajgopal, accounting.

Immigrant business proprietors in England and Wales (1851–1911)

AbstractThis article examines the history of immigrant business proprietors in England and Wales between 1851 and 1911. The newly available electronic version of the Census (I-CeM) allows all business proprietors in each Census year to be identified, and provides birthplace information that allows entrepreneurs from different countries to be compared to each other and to business proprietors born in the United Kingdom. Immigrant populations had higher rates of business proprietorship than the English and Welsh-born population. This article argues that this was caused by labour market structure and demography rather than cultural differences between English- and foreign-born business proprietors.

Abstract A82: Disparities in prostate cancer incidence, patient and clinical characteristics among Latino subpopulations defined by country of origin in California: Findings from the California Cancer Registry

Abstract Introduction and Objective: Latinos constitute a significantly heterogeneous population with unique national identities, sociodemographic characteristics, and ancestry. The prostate cancer (PC) incidence patterns and clinical characteristics are poorly characterized among U.S. Latinos. This gap of knowledge hinders adequate risk-stratification strategies. Particularly lacking are studies that consider Latino subpopulations defined by country of origin. We investigated sociodemographic and clinical characteristics and outcomes of 321,433 men diagnosed with PC in California from 1988-2012, accounting for ethnicity and country of origin using data from the California Cancer Registry. Materials and Methods: Latino status and country of origin were identified by the NAACCR Hispanic Identification. We grouped Latinos (15.9% of all cases) into the following origins: Mexico (MEX, 26.3%), Central/South America (CSA, 6.9%), Cuba (1.3%), Puerto Rico (PR, 0.8%), and unspecified (64.6%). Non-Latino white (NLW, 73.4%) and non-Latino Blacks (NLB, 10.4%) were used for comparison. Nativity (U.S.-born versus foreign-born Latinos) was defined based on birthplace information available in the cancer registry records. SES was based on the geocoding of the participants' residential address at diagnosis at the census block group level, using a well-established methodology. Annual age-adjusted incidence rates (AAIRs) were calculated. Pearson's Chi-square was used to test differences among ethnicities and subgroups. Logistic regression was used to test the relationship between changes in Gleason score from biopsy to surgery among all ethnicities and subgroups. Results: Among known LAT subpopulations, Mexicans had the lowest AAIR (44 per 100,000) and Central/South American LAT had the highest (90 per 100,000), followed by Cubans (85 per 100,000) and Puerto Ricans (52 per 100,000). Latinos had a slightly higher proportion of younger diagnoses than NLW, with central/south Americans having the greatest proportion. LAT were more likely to have lower SES than NLW, and more likely to be uninsured. NLB were more likely to have elevated PSA (94.2%) vs NLW (89.0%) and LAT (91.8%, p<0.001). Latinos had the highest proportion of nonlocalized PC relative to NLW and NLB (18.3% vs 15.6% vs 18.1%, p<0.001), among them MEX having the highest proportion (22.5%). MEX also had the longest time from diagnosis to treatment relative to other Latino subgroups. Among all men, surgery and radiation were the most-used treatments followed by no treatment. Cubans had the lowest receipt of treatment. Fewer Latinos reported receiving radiation therapy (28.5%) than NLB or NLW (31.8% and 32.2%, p<0.001), and among them PR had the highest proportion of radiation treatment whereas CSA had a greater proportion of surgery. Latinos had a greater proportion of cases with no treatment reported (15.3%) vs NLW and NLB. There were no differences among NLB, NLW, and Latinos for Gleason change from biopsy to surgery among surgical patients. Logistic regression analysis showed that among all ethnicities and subgroups, time from diagnosis to treatment had a protective effect on the risk of Gleason score change from biopsy to surgery. Among all Latinos by nativity status, foreign born were older, mainly came from MEX, of low SES, and were uninsured. Foreign-born Latinos had a higher percentage of nonlocalized PC, more cores positive for PC on biopsy, and had more cases treated with radiation. Conclusion: We observed differences in PC incidence patterns and patient and clinical characteristics among Latino men in California. This highlights the importance of considering the heterogeneity in this minority population in understanding the cancer determinants and patterns of care for PC among Latinos. Citation Format: Alexis R. Freedland, Andre E. Kim, Juanjuan Zhang, Ann Hamilton, Dennis Deapen, Lihua Liu, Inderbir S. Gill, Mariana C. Stern. Disparities in prostate cancer incidence, patient and clinical characteristics among Latino subpopulations defined by country of origin in California: Findings from the California Cancer Registry [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Tenth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2017 Sep 25-28; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2018;27(7 Suppl):Abstract nr A82.

Languages and Earnings Management

We predict that managers of firms in countries where languages do not require speakers to grammatically mark future events perceive future consequences of earnings management to be more imminent, and therefore, they are less likely to engage in earnings management. Using data from 38 countries where languages differ on how they encode time, we find that accrual-based earnings management and real earnings management are less prevalent where there is weaker time disassociation in the language. Our analysis based on the birthplace information of U.S. firms’ CEOs confirms the relation between languages and earnings management. Our study is the first to examine the relation between the grammatical structure of languages and financial reporting characteristics, and it extends the literature on the effect of informal institutions on corporate actions.

Breast Cancer Incidence Patterns among California Hispanic Women: Differences by Nativity and Residence in an Enclave

Breast cancer incidence is higher in U.S.-born Hispanic women than foreign-born Hispanics, but no studies have examined how these rates have changed over time. To better inform cancer control efforts, we examined incidence trends by nativity and incidence patterns by neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES) and Hispanic enclave (neighborhoods with high proportions of Hispanics or Hispanic immigrants). Information about all Hispanic women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer between 1988 and 2004 was obtained from the California Cancer Registry. Nativity was imputed from Social Security number for the 27% of cases with missing birthplace information. Neighborhood variables were developed from Census data. From 1988 to 2004, incidence rates for U.S.-born Hispanics were parallel but lower than those of non-Hispanic whites, showing an annual 6% decline from 2002 to 2004. Foreign-born Hispanics had an annual 4% increase in incidence rates from 1995 to 1998 and a 1.4% decline thereafter. Rates were 38% higher for U.S.- than foreign-born Hispanics, with elevations more pronounced for localized than regional/distant disease, and for women>50 years of age. Residence in higher SES and lower Hispanic enclave neighborhoods were independently associated with higher incidence, with Hispanic enclave having a stronger association than SES. Compared with foreign-born, U.S.-born Hispanic women in California had higher prevalence of breast cancer risk factors, suggesting that incidence patterns largely reflect these differences in risk factors. Further research is needed to separate the effects of individual- and neighborhood-level factors that affect incidence in this large and growing population.

Hidden breast cancer disparities in Asian women: disaggregating incidence rates by ethnicity and migrant status.

We estimated trends in breast cancer incidence rates for specific Asian populations in California to determine if disparities exist by immigrant status and age. To calculate rates by ethnicity and immigrant status, we obtained data for 1998 through 2004 cancer diagnoses from the California Cancer Registry and imputed immigrant status from Social Security Numbers for the 26% of cases with missing birthplace information. Population estimates were obtained from the 1990 and 2000 US Censuses. Breast cancer rates were higher among US- than among foreign-born Chinese (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 1.84; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.72, 1.96) and Filipina women (IRR = 1.32; 95% CI = 1.20, 1.44), but similar between US- and foreign-born Japanese women. US-born Chinese and Filipina women who were younger than 55 years had higher rates than did White women of the same age. Rates increased over time in most groups, as high as 4% per year among foreign-born Korean and US-born Filipina women. From 2000-2004, the rate among US-born Filipina women exceeded that of White women. These findings challenge the notion that breast cancer rates are uniformly low across Asians and therefore suggest a need for increased awareness, targeted cancer control, and research to better understand underlying factors.

Genome-wide Association Study in a High-Risk Isolate for Multiple Sclerosis Reveals Associated Variants in STAT3 Gene

Genetic risk for multiple sclerosis (MS) is thought to involve both common and rare risk alleles. Recent GWAS and subsequent meta-analysis have established the critical role of the HLA locus and identified new common variants associated to MS. These variants have small odds ratios (ORs) and explain only a fraction of the genetic risk. To expose potentially rare, high-impact alleles, we conducted a GWAS of 68 distantly related cases and 136 controls from a high-risk internal isolate of Finland with increased prevalence and familial occurrence of MS. The top 27 loci with p < 10(-4) were tested in 711 cases and 1029 controls from Finland, and the top two findings were validated in 3859 cases and 9110 controls from more heterogeneous populations. SNP (rs744166) within the STAT3 gene was associated to MS (p = 2.75 x 10(-10), OR 0.87, confidence interval 0.83-0.91). The protective haplotype for MS in STAT3 is a risk allele for Crohn disease, implying that STAT3 represents a shared risk locus for at least two autoimmune diseases. This study also demonstrates the potential of special isolated populations in search for variants contributing to complex traits.

Ascertainment of Hispanic ethnicity on California death certificates: implications for the explanation of the Hispanic mortality advantage.

We determined the size and correlates of underascertainment of Hispanic ethnicity on California death certificates. We used 1999 to 2000 vital registration data. We compared Hispanic ethnicity reported on the death certificate to Hispanic ethnicity derived from birthplace for the foreign-born and an algorithm that used first and last name and percentage of Hispanics in the county of residence for the US-born. We validated death certificate nativity by comparing data with that in linked Social Security Administration records. Ethnicity and birthplace information was concordant for foreign-born Hispanics, who have mortality rates that are 25% to 30% lower than those of non-Hispanic Whites. Death certificates likely underascertain deaths of US-born Hispanics, particularly at older ages, for persons with more education, and in census tracts with lower percentages of Hispanics. Conservative correction for under-ascertainment eliminates the Hispanic mortality advantage for US-born men. Hispanic ethnicity is accurately ascertained on the California death certificate for immigrants. Immigrant Hispanics have lower age-adjusted mortality rates than do non-Hispanic Whites. For US-born Hispanics, the mortality advantage compared with non-Hispanic Whites is smaller and may be explained by underreporting of Hispanic ethnicity on the death certificate.

Quality of cancer registry birthplace data for Hispanics living in the United States

Patient birthplace from the SEER population-based cancer registries is potentially useful for identifying disparities in cancer occurrence and for studying cancer etiology. However, for Hispanics, completeness and accuracy of registry birthplace is unknown. By comparing registry birthplace to self-reported birthplace from 13 interview studies, we determined the completeness and accuracy of this variable and the associations of these measures with patient and hospital characteristics in the Greater Bay Area. Registry birthplace was unrecorded for 46% of 1277 Hispanic cancer cases, and unrecorded birthplace (i.e., incompleteness) was associated with younger age, higher education, English language preference, US birthplace, and admission at certain hospitals. For 691 Hispanics with available registry birthplace, sensitivity and positive predictive value compared to self-report (i.e., accuracy) were 96.3 and 97.3 among foreign-born, and 96.8 and 95.6 among US-born. US-born Hispanics misclassified in the registry as foreign-born were more likely to have unavailable education information, be deceased, prefer a language besides English, and be diagnosed at a smaller hospital or before 1996. Among self-reported foreign-born Hispanics, those misclassified as US-born were less likely to have been diagnosed at an HMO. Although the completeness and accuracy of birthplace information may vary across registries, this variable appears to be limited for analyses involving Hispanics.