bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Teaching for Synthesis of Informational Texts With Read‐Alouds
Authors: Cummins Sunday , Stallmeyer‐Gerard Cate
Published: April 2011

The purpose of this article is to describe the assessment‐driven instruction that facilitated third graders' increased understanding of informational texts, as revealed in their written responses to texts during one school year. The key instructional practices included making transparent for students what it means to synthesize, engaging students in interactive read‐alouds, assessing students' written responses regularly, and using what was learned from the assessments to develop think‐aloud minilessons. The article includes analysis of students' written responses throughout the school year. The authors reveal how the majority of the students grew in their ability to synthesize the ideas relevant to the overall meaning of the text and to develop their thinking using details from the text.
Supporting Informational Writing in the Elementary Grades
Authors: Donovan Carol A. , Smolkin Laura B.
Published: April 2011

The greater emphasis on information books in elementary schools has led to an increased emphasis on informational writing as well. Although some have suggested utilizing mentor texts to engage children in informational writing, there has been little information about the developmental progression of children's ability to compose in this genre. What has been missing is advice on how to support children's approximations of the information report genre. This article aims to do precisely that by presenting a developmental framework of informational writing derived from a study of K–5 children's writing. We share the framework, provide examples of children's compositions at each developmental level, and demonstrate how teachers can use this continuum to support increasingly more mature forms of information text.
“That Sounded Good!”: Using Whole‐Class Choral Reading to Improve Fluency
Authors: Paige David D.
Published: April 2011

Whole‐class choral reading (WCCR) is an oral reading fluency strategy that can help older elementary students in need of fluency development. Implementation is simple and requires only a few minutes per day. WCCR can be easily adapted for use with narrative and expository texts and allows all students the opportunity to practice within an environment that provides monitored reader support.
Continued Use of Trastuzumab Beyond Disease Progression in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network: Should We Practice Ahead of the Evidence?
Authors: Wong Yu-Ning , Ottesen Rebecca A. , Hughes Melissa E. , Niland Joyce C. , Theriault Richard , Edge Stephen B. , Blayney Douglas , Weeks Jane C.
Published: March 2011

Background.

The role of continued trastuzumab after progression in women with human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER)-2+ metastatic breast cancer is controversial. Controlled clinical trials that establish a benefit from continued trastuzumab have been difficult to complete.

Methods.

In the National Comprehensive Cancer Center Network (NCCN) Breast Cancer Outcomes Database, we identified women treated with trastuzumab for metastatic or relapsed HER-2+ breast cancer at eight NCCN centers who subsequently progressed. Patients were eligible for this analysis if they initiated treatment at an NCCN institution between July 1997 and December 2004, received trastuzumab-containing treatment, and progressed while on therapy. We calculated the proportion of patients who received trastuzumab after progression, and in a multivariate analysis assessed the association of patient and provider characteristics with continued trastuzumab therapy.

Results.

Our final cohort consisted of 218 women who experienced disease progression while on trastuzumab-containing therapy. Of these, 168 (77%) continued trastuzumab. Of these, 36 patients (17%) received therapy as part of a clinical trial. The only factors significantly associated with continuation of trastuzumab beyond progression were the presence of bone metastases and more recent year of development of progressive disease.

Conclusions.

Prior to the availability of any high-quality evidence supporting this practice, over three quarters of patients treated with trastuzumab for HER-2+ metastatic breast cancer at eight NCCN centers continued therapy beyond progression. Further work is needed to understand how physicians adopt new treatments when there is ambiguity surrounding their benefit.
PIGEONS' DISCOUNTING OF PROBABILISTIC AND DELAYED REINFORCERS
Authors: Green Leonard , Myerson Joel , Calvert Amanda L.
Published: March 2011

Pigeons' discounting of probabilistic and delayed food reinforcers was studied using adjusting‐amount procedures. In the probability discounting conditions, pigeons chose between an adjusting number of food pellets contingent on a single key peck and a larger, fixed number of pellets contingent on completion of a variable‐ratio schedule. In the delay discounting conditions, pigeons chose between an adjusting number of pellets delivered immediately and a larger, fixed number of pellets delivered after a delay. Probability discounting (i.e., subjective value as a function of the odds against reinforcement) was as well described by a hyperboloid function as delay discounting was (i.e., subjective value as a function of the time until reinforcement). As in humans, the exponents of the hyperboloid function when it was fitted to the probability discounting data were lower than the exponents of the hyperboloid function when it was fitted to the delay discounting data. The subjective values of probabilistic reinforcers were strongly correlated with predictions based on simply substituting the average delay to their receipt in each probabilistic reinforcement condition into the hyperboloid discounting function. However, the subjective values were systematically underestimated using this approach. Using the discounting function proposed by Mazur (1989), which takes into account the variability in the delay to the probabilistic reinforcers, the accuracy with which their subjective values could be predicted was increased. Taken together, the present findings are consistent with Rachlin's (Rachlin, 1990; Rachlin, Logue, Gibbon, & Frankel, 1986) hypothesis that choice involving repeated gambles may be interpreted in terms of the delays to the probabilistic reinforcers.
Potential impacts on hydrology and hydropower production under climate warming of the Sierra Nevada
Authors: Mehta Vishal K. , Rheinheimer David E. , Yates David , Purkey David R. , Viers Joshua H. , Young Charles A. , Mount Jeffrey F.
Published: March 2011

Watersheds of the Cosumnes, American, Bear and Yuba (CABY) Rivers in the Sierra Nevada, California, are managed with a complex network of reservoirs, dams, hydropower plants and water conveyances. While water transfers are based on priorities among competing demands, hydropower generation is licensed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and regulated by federal and state laws and multi-party agreements. This paper presents an integrated river basin management (IRBM) model for the CABY region, built to evaluate management and regional climate change scenarios using the Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) system. We simulated potential impacts of climate warming on hydrology and hydropower production by imposing a fixed increase of temperature (+2, 4 and 6°C) over weekly historical (1981–2000) climate, with all other climate variables unchanged. Results demonstrate that climate warming will reduce hydropower generation if operational rules remain unchanged, making the case for climate change induced hydrological change as a foreseeable future condition to be included in the FERC licensing process. IRBM tools such as the CABY model presented here are useful in deliberating the same.
Uncertainty of climate change and its impact on reference evapotranspiration in Rasht City, Iran
Authors: Jahanbani Heerbod , Shui Lee Teang , Bavani Alireza Massah , Ghazali Abdul Halim
Published: March 2011

There are many factors of uncertainty regarding the impact of climate change on reference evapotranspiration (ETo). The accuracy of the results is strictly related to these factors and ignoring any one of them reduces the precision of the results, and reduces their applicability for decision makers. In this study, the uncertainty related to two ETo models, the Hargreaves-Samani (HGS) and Artificial Neural Network (ANN), and two Atmosphere-Ocean General Circulation Models (AOGCMs), Hadley Centre Coupled Model, version 3 (HadCM3) climatic model and the Canadian Global Climate Model, version 3 (CGCM3) climatic model under climate change, was evaluated. The models predicted average temperature increases by 2010 to 2039 of 0.95 °C by the HadCM3 model and 1.13°C by the CGCM3 model under the A2 scenario relative to observed temperature. Accordingly, the models predicted average ETo would increase of 0.48, 0.60, 0.50 and 0.60 (mm/day) by 2010 to 2039 projected by four methods (by introducing the temperature of the HadCM3-A2 model and the CGCM3-A2 to ANN and HGS) relative to ETo of the observed period. The results showed that uncertainty of the AOGCMs is more than that of the ETo models applied in this study.
Angiogenesis: Antiangiogenesis Strategy and Angiogenesis Inhibitors
Authors: Theodora Kerenidi  , Kostas Syrigos
Published: March 2011

Angiogenesis is the development of new blood vessels from preexisting vasculature. The angiogenic process is controlled by the net balance between molecules with positive and negative regulatory activity. In the past three decades, the understanding of the fundamental role of angiogenesis in tumor growth, progression and metastasis has led to tremendous interest in research regarding its regulatory mechanisms and clinical implications in the management of cancer patients. Different antiangiogenic strategies, predominantly acting through inhibition of the vascular endothelial growth factor pathway have been evaluated for the treatment of various types of cancer. A plethora of angiogenesis inhibitors are currently subjected to clinical trials as monotherapy or in combination with conventional chemotherapy while few of them have been approved for clinical use in cancer therapy.
Angiogenesis in Breast Cancer: Molecular Markers, Therapeutic Targets, Antiangiogenic Therapy & Inhibitors
Authors: Carmen Silvia Passos Lima  , Gustavo Jacob Lourenco  , Jose Augusto Rinck
Published: March 2011

Mechanism of angiogenesis and its management in breast cancer disease has been discussed in this chapter. This review specifically describes on the targetted molecular markers for development of antiangiogenic therapy like anti VEGF therapy and suitable agents that target the receptors of VEGF like VEGFR. These are essentially tyrosine kinase inhibitors which block downstream signaling pathways instead of binding to VEGF directly. Block of VEGF production in clinical development that target the EGFR include agents like cetuximab, gefitinib and erlotinib. Other drugs which may be of interest including cyclooxygenase 2 inhibitors and MMP inhibitors find clinical application as angiogenic inhibitors. Tumor associates macrophage which acts as conductor of angiogenesis and notch signaling getting involved in cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis are also a target of therapy. Combination of antiangiogenic drugs with one another and with other biological agent is also being explored to improve efficacy and to overcome the drug resistance.
Introduction
Authors: Dawei Han
Published: March 2011

There are different types of floods and they are triggered by either natural or/and human factors. Floods become hazards when they cause damages to human society and ecosystems. Flood risk is a combination of flood probability and flood adverse consequences. Flood risk management involves flood risk analysis, evaluation and control. Some recent flooding examples in the UK are presented.
Coastal Flooding
Authors: Dawei Han
Published: March 2011

More than half of the world population lives in the coastal zone. As a result, coastal flooding is a major threat to human society. A flood from sea may be caused by a heavy storm (storm surge), a high tide, a tsunami, or a combination of them. Knowledge in costal processes and sea wave models enables engineers to design and manage effective costal defence systems based on soft and hard engineering measures.
Envy and the Evil Eye
Authors: Alan Cohan John
Published: March 2011

The evil eye is a widespread belief in the world, and is thought to be associated with a human
propensity towards envy. The objects of envy in primitive cultures are mainly crops, food, livestock, children, and
good health. In evil eye cultures people tend to keep a watchful eye on one another. The evil eye takes into
account the ability of an onlooker to project psychic energy through the eyes. The evil eye causes the victim to be
helpless-dominated, gripped by an overpowering occult power. Often infliction of the evil eye is unintentional
and unconscious; it occurs during a moment of coveting something belonging to another. Evil eye cultures are
those in which people regard goods to be limited, so that if one person possesses more than others, it is thought to
have been obtained at everyone else’s expense. People in these cultures are wary of compliments, as these can be
disguised expressions of envy, and hence occasions for infliction of the evil eye. In many cultures where there is
scarcity of food, people will conceal food or try and conceal a prosperous harvest from the gaze of others so as to
avoid the problem of envy. Envy is widespread in modern society, but is almost a taboo topic, and one will rarely
admit to it. Throughout the world people use talismans, charms, religious symbols and other devices to ward off
the evil eye-wearing them, putting them on doorposts, on automobile rearview mirrors. In some cultures there is a
high incidence of paranoia-with people fearing that others might poison them, for instance, or that malice is the
source of every ailment or misfortune; in Western cultures paranoia takes expression in conspiracy theories and
the belief that semi-secret groups control the economy of the world.
Altered States of Consciousness
Authors: Alan Cohan John
Published: March 2011

Altered states of consciousness are sought after for religious and spiritual purposes in cultures
throughout the world. An altered state of consciousness is a kind of disassociation from ordinary consciousness,
and can take on many different forms. Attaining altered states of consciousness is a hallmark of rites in primitive
cultures, as well as urban charismatic churches. Altered states of consciousness can be induced in many different
ways, from drugs to shamanic drumming to fasting, to dancing in discos with strobe lights. Substances used by
various cultures to induce altered states of consciousness are: ayahuasca, tobacco, peyote, kava, alcohol, mead,
qat, psychedelic drugs. There is extensive literature on the ceremonial use of peyote among Indians in the United
States and Mexico, where its use extends back about 2000 years. Kava, a mild narcotic that has been a stimulantrelaxant-
social drink throughout Oceania for at least a thousand years. Alcohol is a culturally accepted intoxicant
used worldwide. The amphetamine-like drug, qat, is commonly chewed in Yemen on social occasions.
Psychedelic states, induced by LSD and other drugs, have well known effects in terms of alteration of
consciousness.
The Computational Experiments Done with the Artificial Society Using Netlogo
Authors: Damaceanu Romulus-Catalin
Published: March 2011

A computational experiment uses a computer model to make inferences about some underlying system. This
type of experiment can be seen as a branch of applied statistics, because the user must take into account three sources of
uncertainty. First, the models often contain parameters whose values are not certain; second, the models themselves are
imperfect representations of the underlying system; and third, data collected from the system that might be used to
calibrate the models are imperfectly measured. Study of multiple experiments involves two aspects: experimental
planning, and analysis and modeling of experimental results. In this chapter, we will do 6 computer experiments
containing 55 runs with our multi-agent based artificial society.
Index
Authors: Damaceanu Romulus-Catalin
Published: March 2011

Full text available
Green Consumerism and Alternative Approaches for Food Preservation: an Introduction
Authors: Bevilacqua Antonio , Rosaria Corbo Maria , Sinigaglia Milena
Published: March 2011

Consumer awareness towards the use of natural compounds has increased significantly since the
beginning of 1990s and new trend has arisen in food industry, i.e. the green consumerism.

The green consumerism is the basis for the development of alternative approaches for food preservation, like
the use of natural compounds (essential oils, lysozyme, nisin and other bacteriocins, chitosan) and nonthermal
treatments (high hydrostatic pressures, homogenization, microwave, irradiation).

These new technologies are the topics of this e-book; this chapter offers an introduction to the entire work.
Alternative Non-Thermal Approaches: Microwave, Ultrasound, Pulsed Electric Fields, Irradiation
Authors: Di Benedetto Nilde , Perricone Marianne , Rosaria Corbo Maria
Published: March 2011

This chapter proposes a description of some non-thermal technologies (microwave, ultrasound,
pulsed technologies, irradiation) as suitable tools to inactivate foodborne pathogens and spoiling
microorganisms in heat-sensitive foods.

Ultrasound (US) is defined as pressure waves with a frequencies of 20 kHz or more; pulsed electric field
(PEF) processing involves treating foods placed between electrodes by high voltage pulses in the order of 20-
80 kV/cm (usually for a couple of microseconds); ionizing irradiation occurs when one or more electrons are
removed from the electronic orbital of the atom; and microwaves (MW) are defined as electromagnetic waves
in the range of infrared (IR) and radio waves (RF) with a wavelength ranging from 1 mm to 1 m and
operating at a frequency ranging from 300 Mhz to 300 Ghz. Each technique allows killing of vegetative
microorganisms but fail until now, when applied alone, to destroy spores.

This chapter reports some practical applications of the proposed approaches in food industry and also focuses
on their drawbacks and limitations.
Alternative Modified Atmosphere for Fresh Food Packaging
Authors: Rosaria Corbo Maria , Bevilacqua Antonio
Published: March 2011

Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) has a long history of safe and effective use to prolong the
shelf life of foods; it involves the change of gas composition inside the bag, mainly an increase of CO2
content and the lowering of O2.

In recent years, many authors have proposed the use of some non-conventional gases, like argon (Ar) and
other noble gases, or the use of volatiles in the head space (hexanal, hexenal, essential oils from citrus) to
improve the safety and quality of fresh products.

This appendix offers a short overview of the most recent findings in the application of these novel approaches
for food preservation, along with a proposal for some possible ways to improve the use of these methods for
an effective scale up in food industry.
Avastin for Recurrent Malignant Gliomas
Authors: Annick Desjardins  , James J. Vredenburgh
Published: April 2011

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive cancer and has the worst prognosis of all malignant gliomas at diagnosis. At the time of disease recurrence/progression, GBM has an even worse prognosis. Vascular proliferation is an important marker in the histological grading of gliomas. Malignant gliomas overexpress VEGF, the principal mediator of tumor angiogenesis, the levels of which correlate directly with tumor vascularity and grade, and inversely with prognosis. Bevacizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody against VEGF. Bevacizumab with irinotecan has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for colorectal cancer. Bevacizumab is also FDA approved as a first line treatment for nonsmall cell lung cancer in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel, has obtained accelerated approval for metastatic HER2-negative breast cancer patients in combination with paclitaxel, and most recently, accelerated approval for recurrent glioblastoma multiforme as single agent. In the first FDA approved phase II trial for recurrent malignant glioma patients published patients received irinotecan [125 mg/m2 for patients on non enzyme inducing antiepileptic drug (EIAED) or not on an antiepileptic drug, and 340 mg/m2 for patients on EIAED] intravenously (IV) every two weeks in combination with bevacizumab 10 mg/kg IV every two weeks. Thirty-two patients were enrolled and a radiographic response rate of 63% was observed [1 complete response (CR) and 19 partial responses (PRs)]. A 6-month PFS of 38% for all patients and a 6-month overall survival of 72% were observed. Following these findings, multiple studies with irinotecan and other agents more commonly used in malignant gliomas were initiated to evaluate alternative bevacizumab-based regimens for recurrent malignant glioma patients. In the vast majority, all those studies showed an unprecedented increase in PFS and response rate in malignant glioma patients treated with bevacizumab as a single agent or in combination, as well a significant improvement in the quality of life of the patients exposed to bevacizumab. However, the utilization of a bevacizumab based regimen for recurrent malignant gliomas has opened a brand new field in neuro-oncology. Further study is needed to determine optimal managements and enhance the quality of life for these patients.
Avastin and Malignant Gliomas: Is there a Role?
Authors: Teri N. Kreisl
Published: April 2011

Bevacizumab is the first new drug approved for malignant glioma in a decade and demonstrates the potential for antiangiogenic therapy in the management of these patients. It has demonstrated improved radiographic response and progression free survival rates compared to historical controls as monotherapy. Bevacizumab has also been shown to improve patient symptoms of disease and decrease steroid requirements contributing to improved quality of life for glioma patients. Optimal combinations with other standard and targeted therapies are under investigation, as well as new imaging techniques to evaluate response to therapy, motivated in part by concerns over suspected increase potential for tumor invasion.
Bevacizumab Plus Radiotherapy in Malignant Gliomas: Is there a Role?
Authors: Minesh Mehta  , Disha Patel  , Arnab Chakravarti
Published: April 2011

Malignant gliomas are one the most aggressive form of brain tumors and the current standard of care, combination chemoradiotherapy, prolongs survival to slightly more than a year after treatment. Current chemotherapeutic strategies produce limited benefit due to the rapid emergence of resistance. New strategies, among other things, are looking to target the prolific vascularization that supports the rapid growth of these malignant brain tumors. Several anti-angiogenic agents are in clinical testing, primarily as “salvage” therapies, after initial disease progression, and among these, the most mature data are for bevacizumab (Avastin), recently approved for salvage by the FDA, having shown success in a few Phase I/II trials. A small number of phase II trials have also provided very preliminary results with the up-front use of this agent, and at least two large Phase III trials are underway to determine whether bevacizumab will provide added benefit to patients with glioblastoma, when added to the initial chemoradiotherapy regimen. This paper lays out the rationale behind using bevacizumab in combination with radiotherapy, and discusses the up-front trials.
Assessing Radiographic Response in Glioblastoma Following Avastin Treatment
Authors: Whitney B. Pope
Published: April 2011

Avastin is thought to normalize tumor vasculature and restore the blood brain barrier, resulting in less enhancement and peritumoral edema. Conventional measurements of tumor response such as the Macdonald criteria are based on the dimensions of enhancing tumor. Converting enhancing to non-enhancing tumor could therefore be considered treatment response, even in the absence of change in tumor size. But it is unknown if reduction in enhancement, by itself, correlates with patient outcome measures such as progression free and overall survival. In general change in tumor size is thought to be a more accurate biomarker of response, underscoring the importance of assessing faintly-enhancing or non-enhancing tumor burden in patients following Avastin therapy. Unfortunately non-enhancing tumor can be difficult to distinguish from other causes of increased T2 signal intensity, including peritumoral edema and radiation-induced gliosis, which are common among glioblastoma patients. This difficulty has led to efforts to find alternative ways to measure non-enhancing tumor, as well as to characterize additional biomarkers for tumor response that correlate with outcome measures and add value to standard MRI. One area of active research is the use of physiologic imaging, which has the potential to detect drug effects before change in tumor size is evident.
Novel Applications for Bevacizumab and other Angiogenic Inhibitors
Authors: Marc C. Chamberlain
Published: April 2011

Background: Angiogenesis is a common theme in cancer and accordingly, antiangiogenic therapies are increasingly utilized for the treatment of cancer including cancers of the central nervous system (CNS). At present, proof of principle of antiangiogenic therapy for CNS tumors has only been realized for recurrent glioblastoma (GBM). Methods: A literature review of the use of bevacizumab and other antiangiogenic therapies in neuro-oncology apart from the treatment of recurrent GBM. Results: Several potential applications for antiangiogenic therapy are suggested by the limited literature presently available including; recurrent anaplastic gliomas, elderly newly diagnosed GBM, unresectable high-grade gliomas with significant mass effect requiring high dose steroid (up-front therapy), radiation necrosis with mass effect, pseudoprogression requiring surgical intervention, highly angiogenic non-glioma primary brain tumors (i.e. vestibular schwannomas, meningioma, hemangiopericytoma, hemangioblastoma), brain metastases in bevacizumab responsive cancers (i.e. renal cell, ovarian, breast and non-small cell lung cancers), up-front treatment of newly diagnosed GBM, radiation optic neuropathy and treatment of selected intracranial sarcomas. Conclusions: Bevacizumab and other angiogenic inhibitory therapies appear to have the potential to treat a variety of brain tumors and brain tumor treatmentrelated conditions such as pseudoprogression and radiation necrosis. To date; however, these novel applications of angiogenesis inhibitors remain conjectural given that majority of data is retrospective or exploratory.
Role of Avastin for Treatment of Central Nervous System Radiation Necrosis
Authors: Jing Wu  , Victor A. Levin
Published: April 2011

Avastin for Treatment of Central Nervous System Radiation Necrosis
Radiation therapy continues to be a common therapy for most primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors, tumors that metastasize to the CNS, and tumors of the head and neck. Radiation injury is an inevitable side effect in many of these cases. Understanding the pathophysiology and clinical manifestation of different stages of radiation injury is crucial for developing methods to maximally mitigate radiation injury. In this chapter, we discuss the classification of radiation injury and emphasize the potential mechanisms of radiation necrosis. More importantly, our clinical experience and ongoing clinical studies of treatment for radiation necrosis are discussed. Hopefully, these efforts will substantially assist the field of treatment of radiation necrosis to move forward.
Inhibitors of VEGF Signaling Pathways in Glioblastoma: Is the Evidence Sufficient for Widespread Use? A European Perspective
Authors: M. J. van den Bent
Published: April 2011

VEGF Signaling Pathways in Glioblastoma: Is the Evidence Sufficient for Widespread Use? A European Perspective
First uncontrolled trials suggest significant activity of bevacizumab in recurrent glioblastoma. However, many questions still remain unresolved, in particular in view of the occurrence of pseudo-responses, the development of gliomatosis cerebri, the unclear impact on survival, and the high costs associated with this treatment. Further studies need to focus the early identification of responders, better combination regimen, and on the assessment of survival benefit. The widespread use of bevacizumab prior to registration may actually become an obstacle for the answering of some of these questions.
The European Perspective Regarding Avastin and Malignant Gliomas
Authors: Wolfgang Wick  , Michael Platten  , Antje Wick
Published: April 2011

Although, therapies directed to the vasculature of malignant gliomas are equally attractive in Europe and the United States of America (US), limited access to both trials and lack of approval by the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) prevented a de facto introduction into the current standard of care as seen in the US, where the compound is registered for recurrent glioblastoma since 05/2009. To date, the STEERING trial using the protein kinase C beta (PKC-.) inhibitor enzastaurin, the REGAL trial applying the vascular endothelial receptor inhibitor (VEGFR) cediranib, the PTK787/ZK trial and the upcoming dasatinib trial comprise the only structured European experience with such molecularly targeted drugs. Several national initiatives using bevacizumab (Avastin®) are now in place to fill the obvious gap. Despite the clear medical need for novel therapies for recurrent malignant glioma, neurooncology in Europe advocates randomized rather than uncontrolled trials to obtain additional data clarifying the role for bevacizumab in malignant gliomas.
Sunitinib for the Treatment of Central Nervous System Glioma
Authors: Neyns Bart
Published: April 2011

Sunitinib malate (sunitinib) is an orally absorbed small molecule inhibitor of multiple cellular kinases including the family of “Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptors” (VEGFRs), “Platelet Derived Growth Factor Receptors” (PDGFR-alfa and -beta ), c-Kit, FLT1, FLK1/KDR, the FLT3 and RET kinases. Treatment with sunitinib offers a proven survival benefit and is registered for the treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma and GIST (two respectively HIF/VEGF and PDGFR or KIT dependent cancers) but sunitinib has also demonstrated meaningful anti-tumor activity against a subset of other common cancers (including breast, colon and non-small cell lung cancer). Increased receptor tyrosine kinase signaling involving the VEGF/VEGFR ligand/receptors but also KIT and PDGFR receptor signaling causes profound neo-angiogenesis and may contribute to cellular proliferation and survival of high-grade gliomas (HGG) of the central nervous system (CNS). Furthermore, the KIT, PDGFRa and VEGFR2 genes are frequently amplified and over-expressed in HGG and therefore represent an attractive molecular target for inhibition by sunitinib. Notwithstanding its attractive drug profile, sunitinib has so far not been widely investigated for the treatment of central nervous system glioma. Only recently, the first results from an exploratory clinical trial of sunitinib for recurrent HGG have become available. These early results (obtained with a continuous 37,5 mg/day regimen) indicate that sunitinib has a measurable but transient inhibitory effect on the pathological increase in cerebral blood volume and -flow within recurrent gliomas but that this effect is transient in time and associated with limited clinical benefit. In addition considerable “off target” toxicity (mainly skin and hematological toxicity) were observed that may interfere with further development of sunitinib in this indication. Ongoing phase II studies on sunitinib should further delineate the potential role of this drug in the treatment of CNS glioma at diagnosis and recurrence. Potentially, individual molecular profiling of gliomas to predict their dependence on specified kinase signaling will aid to determine the utility of sunitinib treatment over alternative more specific VEGF(R) targeted agents.
Cediranib in Glioblastoma
Authors: Elizabeth R. Gerstner  , Jorg H. Dietrich  , Daphne Wang  , Tracy T. Batchelor
Published: April 2011

Targeting tumor-derived angiogenesis has emerged as a promising new treatment strategy in patients with glioblastoma. Cediranib (Recentin™) is a potent oral inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptors and has demonstrated improved progression-free survival in an uncontrolled phase II study of patients with recurrent glioblastoma. The drug is taken orally, once daily, and has a manageable side effect profile. In addition, it has potent anti-edema and steroid-sparing effects that might improve the quality of life of glioblastoma patients. Several clinical trials are ongoing testing cediranib in patients with gliomas.
Bevacizumab for Malignant Gliomas: Comparative Study with Other Malignancies
Authors: Helen Gu  , Thomas C. Chen
Published: April 2011

Although, the use of temozolomide, as described by Stupp et al. has been hailed as one of the landmark breakthroughs for malignant gliomas, this diagnosis still portends one of the worst prognosis in oncology. Bevacizumab (Avastin) was reported to have favorable results and an acceptable toxicity profile in the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) patients who progressed on temozolomide. Given the addition of this potent new treatment agent into the glioma arsenal, and the introduction of a new class of treatment medications it represents; it will be useful to review its clinical history and compare and contrast the experience and pitfalls other oncology sub-specialties have had with this agent.
RITS Structure Optimization Design Theory
Authors: Zhuo Wang , Li-min Jia
Published: April 2011

Overall structural design of RITS is a process which solves functional optimization of organizations,
reasonable division of subsystems, as well as optimal mapping between functions and sub-system. RITS overall
structural design carries out qualitative analysis of content of RITS framework design, and then qualitatively
carries out renewed organization and optimization to its internal structure and organization. Main content of RITS
overall structure design is divided into the following two aspects: Logic structural design, and optimal design
from logical structure to the physical structure. The RITS structure optimization design theory is introduce either
in this chapter, such as fuzzy Interpretative Structural Modeling (ISM), fuzzy clustering, fuzzy matter element
analysis etc. Finally the main content, formalization descriptions and general steps for RITS structural
optimization design are introduced in this chapter.
Optimization Design Example of Intelligent Emergency Rescue and Safety System
Authors: Zhuo Wang , Li-min Jia
Published: April 2011

In this chapter, the intelligent emergency rescue and safety system is taken as an example to explain
the optimization design course. The element analysis of logical structure design and optimization design from
logical structure to physical structure are carried out, functions are clustered in accordance with certain rules
based on fuzzy clustering method, the fuzzy structure model method is used to part subsystem, and the scheme of
optimization is carried out based on the fuzzy matter element analysis method.
Computational Methods for Multiple Scattering at High Frequency with Applications to Periodic Structure Calculations
Authors: Antoine X. , Geuzaine C. , Ramdani K.
Published: March 2011

The aim of this paper is to explain some recent numerical methods for solving
high-frequency scattering problems. Most particularly, we focus on the multiple scattering
problem where rays are multiply bounced by a collection of separate objects. We review
recent developments for three main families of approaches: Fourier series based methods,
Partial Differential Equations approaches and Integral Equations based techniques. Furthermore,
for each of these three families of methods, we present original procedures for solving
the high-frequency multiple scattering problem. Computational examples are given, in particular
for finite periodic structures calculations. Difficulties for solving such problems are
explained, showing that many serious simulation problems are still open.
Contributors
Authors: Ehrhardt Matthias
Published: March 2011

Full text available
Exact Boundary Conditions for Wave Propagation in Periodic Media Containing a Local Perturbation
Authors: Fliss S. , Joly P. , R. Li J-
Published: March 2011

We present in this chapter a review of some recent research work about a new
approach to the numerical simulation of time harmonic wave propagation in infinite periodic
media including a local perturbation. The main difficulty lies in the reduction of the
effective numerical computations to a bounded region enclosing the perturbation. Our objective
is to extend the approach by Dirichlet-to-Neumann (DtN) operators, well known in
the case of homogeneous media (as non local transparent boundary conditions). The new
difficulty is that this DtN operator can no longer be determined explicitly and has to be
computed numerically. We consider successively the case of a periodic waveguide and the
more complicated case of the whole space. We show that the DtN operator can be characterized
through the solution of local PDE cell problems, the use of the Floquet-Bloch
transform and the solution of operator-valued quadratic or linear equations. In our text, we
shall outline the main ideas without going into the rigorous mathematical details. The non
standard aspects of this procedure will be emphasized and numerical results demonstrating
the efficiency of the method will be presented.
Speech Enhancement and Representation Employing the Independent Component Analysis
Authors: Jancovic Peter , Zou Xin , Kokuer Munevver
Published: April 2011

This chapter presents our recent research on the employment of the Independent Component
Analysis (ICA) for speech enhancement and speech representation. In speech enhancement
part, we consider a single-channel speech signal corrupted by an additive noise. We investigate
novel algorithms for improving the conventional ICA-based speech enhancement, referred to
as Sparse Code Shrinkage (SCS). The proposed SCS-based algorithms incorporate multiple ICA
transformations and distribution models of speech signal. The speech enhancement algorithms are
evaluated in terms of segmental SNR and spectral distortion on speech from the TIMIT database
corrupted by Gaussian and real-world Subway noise. The proposed algorithms show significant
improvements over the conventional SCS and Wiener filtering. In speech representation part, we
present an employment of the ICA for speaker recognition in noisy environments. Finally, we
show on a noisy speaker recognition task that the combination of the proposed ICA-based speech
enhancement and ICA-based speech representation leads to recognition accuracy improvements
compared to the conventional enhancement and representation algorithms.
Robust Large Vocabulary Continuous Speech Recognition Based on Missing Feature Techniques
Authors: Wang Yujun , Van Segbroeck Maarten , Van hamme Hugo
Published: April 2011

Solutions for two important problems for the deployment of noise-robust large
vocabulary automatic speech recognizers using the missing data paradigm are presented. irst
problem is the generation of missing data masks. We propose and evaluate a method based on
vector quantization and harmonicity that successfully exploits the characteristics of speech
while requiring only weak assumptions on the noise. A second problem that is addressed is
computational efficiency. We advocate the usage of PROSPECT features and the L-cluster-Mbest
method for Gaussian selection. In total, a speed up of a factor of about 6 can be achieved
with these methods.
Higher Order Cepstral Moment Normalization for Improved Robust Speech Recognition
Authors: Hsu Chang-Wen , Lee Lin-Shan
Published: April 2011

Cepstral normalization has widely been used as a powerful approach to produce robust features for speech recognition. Good examples of this approach include Cepstral Mean Subtraction, and Cepstral Mean and Variance Normalization, in which either the first or both the first and the second moments of the Mel-frequency Cepstral Coefficients (MFCCs) are normalized. In this chapter, we propose the family of Higher Order Cepstral Moment Normalization, in which the MFCC parameters are normalized with respect to a few moments of orders higher than 1 or 2. The basic idea is that the higher order moments are more dominated by samples with larger values, which are very likely the primary sources of the asymmetry and abnormal flatness or tail size of the parameter distributions. Normalization with respect to these moments therefore puts more emphasis on these signal components and constrains the distributions to be more symmetric with more reasonable flatness and tail size. The fundamental principles behind this approach are also analyzed and discussed based on the statistical properties of the distributions of the MFCC parameters. Experimental results based on the AURORA 2, AURORA 3, AURORA 4 testing environments show that with the proposed approach, recognition accuracy can be significantly and consistently improved for all types of noise and all SNR conditions.
Reviewing Feature Non-Linear Transformations for Robust Speech Recognition
Authors: Garcia Luz , Segura Jose Carlos , Torre Angel de la
Published: April 2011

The aim of Robust Speech Recognition is to reduce as much as possible the
environmental mismatch between the training and test conditions in order to optimally use the
acoustic models in the recognition process. There are several factors producing such mismatch:
inter-speaker variability, intra-speaker variability, and changes in the speaker environment or in
the channel characteristics. The changes in the environment represent a challenging area of work
and constitute one of the main driving forces of research in voice processing, that nowadays
faces application scenarios like mobile phones, moving cars, spontaneous speech, speech
masked by other speech, speech masked by music or non-stationary noises. The different
strategies that fight the effects of additive noise in the voice signal and the recognition process
will be summarized in this review, focusing in the normalization techniques and particularly in
the non linear transformations of the MFCC features. Histogram Equalization and Parametric
Histogram Equalization with their variants and evolutions will be analyzed as main
representatives of this family of non-linear feature transformations.
Index
Authors: Ramirez Javier , Gorriz Juan Manuel
Published: April 2011

Full Text Available
Optimizing the Generalization Ability of Artificial Neural Networks in ELISA Protocols by Employing Different Topologies and GENETIC Operators
Authors: Kousoulos Constantinos , Dotsikas Yannis , L. Loukas Yannis
Published: April 2011

The aim of the present work was to present the ability of Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) in
successfully predicting the response of an Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent assay (ELISA) from the relative
input parameters and to further enhance its performance by use of different network architectures, learning
algorithms and genetic operators. Representatives of three major categories of ANN topologies were
investigated, namely Multilayer Feed-Forward (MLF), Generalized Feed-Forward (GenFF) and Radial Basis
Function (RBF) which were trained with back-propagation with momentum and a scaled conjugate gradient
learning algorithm. Tuning of the input and hidden layer size was performed by use of a genetic algorithm,
while different combinations of genetic operators were used for the optimal GenFF network in order to
increase its predictive ability. The major advantage of this approach was the simultaneous data-driven,
modeling and optimization process which demands no a priori knowledge of variable correlations and can be
employed in setting up new assays.
Electroanalytical Methods as Tools for Predictive Drug Metabolism Studies
Authors: Blankert B. , -M. Kauffmann J.
Published: April 2011

The search for new in vitro screening tools for early metabolite profiling and identification is
becoming a major focus of interest in the pharmaceutical industry. This is motivated by the hope to avoid
late failure in drug development and ultimately to launch safer drugs with fewer side effects.
Electroanalytical methods alone or coupled on-line with mass spectrometry, can find a niche in this context
as they may be readily implemented for the electrically driven synthesis and characterization of xenobiotics
oxidized or reduced form(s). Intimately integrated in a dual electrode-enzyme configuration, electroanalysis
offers also a mean to study electron transfer at the redox active center of the enzyme in the presence of a
substrate and/or an inhibitor.
Pressurized Liquid Extraction in Phytochemical Analysis
Authors: Li Peng , Li Shao-Ping
Published: April 2011

Pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) is an innovative sample preparation technique which has been
developed as an alternative to conventional extraction methods in many areas, such as environmental, food
and pharmaceutical analysis. The aim of the current review is to summarize the application of PLE technique
in phytochemical analysis in last decade. The parameters, which may affect the extraction efficiency and
selectivity, including the nature of solvent, temperature, pressure, extraction time and sample particle size
and so on were explored. In addition, the procedure for method development and the parameters optimization
strategies, univariate approach, orthogonal analysis and central composite design, were also discussed. Due
to the obvious advantages of high extraction efficiency, short preparation time, little solvent consumption
and good reproducibility, PLE undoubtedly have a broad application in phytochemical analysis.
Advances in the field theory of dissipative electromagnetic fields
Authors: Yahalom Asher
Published: April 2011

Equations of motion and energy-momentum tensors are obtained for a dissipative
medium sustaining electromagnetic polarizations using a field formalism.
A previous work has been simplified by reducing the number of
independent vector fields interacting with the sink modes. A relativistic formalism
of the same is also suggested.
Coupled-Mode Theory of Electromagnetism including Wide Band Distributed Interactions
Authors: Pinhasi Yosef , Lurie Yuri , A. Pinhasi Gad
Published: April 2011

Usually the electromagnetic field is naively thought as given by six independent
quantities E and B. However in chapter 2 the field was presented as
dependent on a four-component vector potential. In this chapter a different
approach is formulated, in which electromagnetic field is determined by
two scalar complex functions. This approach will serve as a starting point
for the following variational analysis given in the next chapter, where the
electromagnetic field is shown to depend only on a single complex function.
The geometrical meaning of time - the emergence of the concept of time in the general theory of relativity
Authors: Yahalom Asher
Published: April 2011

It is stated in many text books that the any metric appearing in general relativity
should be locally Lorentzian i.e. of the type ημv = diag (1,−1,−1,−1)
this is usually presented as an independent axiom of the theory, which can
not be deduced from other assumptions. In this work we show that the
above assertion is a consequence of a standard linear stability analysis of the
Einstein equations and need not be assumed.