cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The design of Edison

This paper describes the considerations behind the design of the programming language Edison including the reasons why a large number of well-known language featuges were excluded. It also discusses the linguistic problems of writing a concise language report.
The Business Alcove: Library Resources for Students of Commercial French.

: Foreign language teachers have developed commercial foreign language courses partly in response to recent reports and studies that have deplored the lack of foreign language competence among Americans, especially those involved in international commerce. Large corporations consider foreign language and international studies skills as a tool to be used with functional business knowledge. Commercial language courses should foster the linkage by including practical exercises that improve students' business knowledge. The two research assignments described here were designed to develop some business skills in a junior-level commercial French course. The assignments require students to use reference works available in the business section of the library. As a result of their work, students become familiar with business concepts such as corporate organization, economic sectors, and financial worth. They also gain competence in reading and interpreting business publications. The use of directories of multinational corporations reinforces the vocabulary and concepts learned in class. The article includes an annotated bibliography of references containing information on multinational corporations that are used by business students as well as businessmen and -women.
B-Raf and Raf-1 Are Regulated by Distinct Autoregulatory Mechanisms

B-Raf is a key regulator of the ERK pathway and is mutationally activated in two-thirds of human melanomas. In this work, we have investigated the activation mechanism of B-Raf and characterized the roles of Ras and of B-Raf phosphorylation in this regulation. Raf-1 is regulated by an N-terminal autoinhibitory domain whose actions are blocked by interaction with Ras and subsequent phosphorylation of Ser338. We observed that B-Raf also contains an N-terminal autoinhibitory domain and that the interaction of this domain with the catalytic domain was inhibited by binding to active H-Ras. However, unlike Raf-1, the phosphorylation of B-Raf at Ser445 was constitutive and was only moderately increased by expression of constitutively active H-Ras or constitutively active PAK1. Ser445 phosphorylation is important to the B-Raf activation mechanism, however, because mutation of this site to alanine increased the affinity of the regulatory domain for the catalytic domain and increased autoinhibition. Similarly, expression of constitutively active PAK1 also decreased auto-inhibition. B-Raf autoinhibition was negatively regulated by acidic substitutions at phosphorylation sites within the activation loop of B-Raf and by the oncogenic substitution V599E. However, these substitutions did not affect the ability of the regulatory domain to co-immunoprecipitate with the catalytic domain. These data demonstrate that B-Raf activity is autoregulated, that constitutive phosphorylation of Ser445 primes B-Raf for activation, and that a key feature of phosphorylation within the activation loop or of oncogenic mutations within this region is to block autoinhibition.
Clinical issues in the pediatric hypertrophic cardiomyopathies

The round table discussion concerning clinical issues in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy that took place at the International Workshop on Future Research Directions in Primary and Idiopathic Pediatric Cardiomyopathy in Bethesda in 2006 highlighted a number of issues of particular relevance to the care of children with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. In general, these discussions revolved around those areas in which it is well recognized that we simply have too little meaningful information to permit reliable decisions concerning clinical management. This manuscript is not intended as a comprehensive review of these issues, but simply highlights several of the more important areas of the conversations that took place.
Calculation of Stress Intensity Factors for Interfacial Cracks in Fiber Metal Laminates

*Stress intensity factors for interfacial cracks in Fiber Metal Laminates (FML) are computed by using the displacement ratio method recently developed by Sun and Qian (1997, Int. J. Solids. Struct. 34, 2595-2609). Various FML configurations with single and multiple delaminations subjected to different loading conditions are investigated. The displacement ratio method requires the total energy release rate, bimaterial parameters, and relative crack surface displacements as input. Details of generating the energy release rates, defining bimaterial parameters with anisotropic elasticity, and selecting proper crack surface locations for obtaining relative crack surface displacements are discussed in the paper. Even though the individual energy release rates are nonconvergent, mesh-sizeindependent stress intensity factors can be obtained. This study also finds that the selection of reference length can affect the magnitudes and the mode mixity angles of the stress intensity factors; thus, it is important to report the reference length used with the calculated stress intensity factors.
Double patterning lithography friendly detailed routing with redundant via consideration

In double patterning lithography (DPL), coloring conflict and stitch minimization are the two main challenges. Post layout decomposition algorithm [1] [2]may not be enough to achieve high quality solution for DPL-unfriendly designs, due to complex 2D patterns in lower metal layers. Therefore, DPL-friendliness is needed at routing stage [3]. Another key yield improvement technique is redundant via insertion [4] [5]. However, this would increase the complexity in DPL-compliance. To make designs manufacturable in DPL, we should not insert a redundant via if it results in coloring conflict. This paper is the first work to consider DPL and redundant via together. We have developed two algorithms, post-routing DPL-aware insertion and DPL-friendly routing with redundant via consideration to take into account redundant via DPL-compliance. Experimental results show that, compared to a DPL-aware optimization flow without redundant via consideration, we can improve insertion rate by 43% while still achieving zero coloring conflicts. Moreover, we can reduce the number of vias and stitches by 9% and 17% respectively.
An interactive environment for beginning Java programmers

Abstract Building upon years of evolution in object-oriented programming language design, Java has emerged as the language of choice among many educators for teaching introductory computer science. A clean, type-safe language, Java provides a garbage collected heap and a comprehensive exception-handling mechanism. However, in spite of this support, many students in introductory computer science courses still find programming to be an overwhelming source of frustration. Linguistic concerns and programming mechanics demand so much attention that deeper concepts are often postponed for later courses, leaving students in introductory courses with the mistaken impression that computer science is a shallow discipline, concerned only with transcribing ideas into code, and not with the ideas themselves. JPie is a tightly integrated programming environment for live software construction in Java. JPie treats programming as an application in its own right, providing a visual representation of class definitions and supporting direct manipulation of graphical representations of programming abstractions and constructs. Exploiting Java’s reflection mechanism, JPie supports the notion of a dynamic class that can be modified while the program is running, thereby eliminating the edit–compile–test cycle. Following years of experience using Java as the vehicle for teaching introductory computer science, we have designed JPie to provide a more natural and fluid software development process that both raises the level of abstraction and eliminates many of the common pitfalls that beginning Java programmers face. This paper studies JPie from an educational perspective. We systematically review key programming abstractions and explain how JPie supports them in ways that keep beginning programmers focused on important ideas. Our experience using JPie in an introductory computer science survey course for non-majors is briefly discussed.
Infection by Microsporidia Disrupts the Host Cell Cycle

Microsporidia of the genus Encephalitozoon infect mammalian cells and have become a source of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised humans. Encephalitozoon microsporidia develop and mature within parasitophorous vacuoles, enlarging the vacuole over time until it eventually occupies most of the cytoplasm of the host cell. The ability of the host cell to accommodate such a large burden for several days suggests that the parasite subverts normal host cell processes to ensure optimal environmental conditions for its growth and development. Since this environment would be threatened if cell division of the host cell occurred, we have formulated the hypothesis that infection with Encephalitozoon microsporidia induces an arrest in the cell cycle of the host cell. In support of this hypothesis, we have found that mitotic index and DNA duplication are reduced in infected cells as compared to uninfected cells. The number of host cell nuclei in S phase is increased. The levels of cyclin D1 and the percentage of cells in G1 are reduced; however, the levels of cyclin B1 are elevated even though the percentage of cells in G2/M is decreased. These results suggest that host cells infected with Encephalitozoon microsporidia are blocked at multiple points in the cell cycle.
The metabolic fate of prazosin.

1. [2-14C]Prazosin is rapidly distributed into tissues of the dog including heart, lung and vascular tissues.2. Urinary excretion by rats and dogs is low, biliary secretion being the major route of elimination.3. Biotransformation of prazosin in the rat and dog occurs primarily by 6- or 7-O-dealkylation and subsequent glucuronide formation, and to a lesser extent via N-dealkylation.4. Preliminary metabolic studies in man indicate a pattern of metabolites similar to that observed in dogs and rats.
Derivation of Henderson's Method of Incorporating Artificial Insemination Sire Evaluations into Intraherd Prediction of Breeding Values

Abstract A derivation is given for the method proposed by Henderson to incorporate evaluations of sires based on daughter records in other herds into the intraherd prediction of breeding values. The derivation consists of pretending the daughters in other herds have records which have been adjusted for the herd-year-season effects of their origin. These equations then are absorbed into the equation for the sire which is tied to both sets of daughters by elements of the inverse of the matrix of relationships.
The MR equivalents of cerebral hemispheric disconnection: A telencephalic commissuropathy

Since the original observations of cerebral disconnection in experimental conditions with animal models, the surgical division of the cerebral commissures for control of seizure activity has led to the description of a human hemispheric disconnection syndrome. More recently, MR has revealed a spectrum of conditions of the forebrain responsible for the natural development and acquired occurrence of this unique commissural syndrome. Acutely, nonspecific expressions of disconnection may be observed; however, there are no explicit behavioral manifestations of this syndrome in the chronic state. The signs of stabilized hemispheric disconnection are only elicitable via sophisticated, neuropsychological testing performed by experienced technicians. Included in the present series of callosal pathology were individuals with agenesis, surgical section, infarction, trauma, glioma, and Marchiafava-Bignami disease. On specialized examination, the surgical "split-brain" patients illustrated the classic syndrome of a halt of interhemispheric transfer of information, a block of nondominant hemisphere access to language functions and an inhibition of dominant hemisphere access to superior visuospatial capacity. The nonsurgical subjects with developmental callosal agenesis and acquired pathologic processes involving the callosum revealed a varied, nonspecific reduction in cognitive function most probably related to associated extracallosal hemispheric pathology. No external abnormalities in behavior which could be attributed specifically to the callosal findings were identified chronically, although some progressive diseases suggested the presence of a subacute symptomatic phase of the disconnection syndrome. Any condition which causes the division, destructive insult, or primary ontogenic nondecussation of commissural axons will produce an interference in interhemispheric, interneuronal communication. This is manifested by individual degrees of covert interhemispheric data transfer arrest and of reduced bidirectional dominant-nondominant hemispheric access and telencephalic integrative capacity, consistent with a cerebral commissuropathy. This study reveals the MR equivalents of the hemispheric disconnection syndrome which occur in many nonspecific pathologic conditions of the cerebrum, but which result in few if any overt behavioral aberrations in the stabilized state.
Flood frequencies and sedimentation from forest watersheds

A multi-watershed, multi-storm, multi-variable approach was used to develop a hydrologic basis for evaluating flood control in Southern California. Flood peak discharge was shown to be related to six variables: watershed area, two storm precipitation variables, a temperature index of snow, a watershed wetness variable, and forest cover density. Since peak discharges have been measured under widely varying forest cover conditions, the partial regression coefficient for forest cover density was used to convert measured discharges to estimated discharges for a single comparable cover condition (a 40-year-old cover). Then, the estimated discharges were used in frequency analyses. The relation of discharges to storm precipitation and the wetness variables provided a means of, extending the short-time discharge record to a long-time record on the basis of a 69-year record of precipitation. The relation of sedimentation of reservoirs to maximum yearly peak discharge, area of main stream channel, and forest cover density was determined. Together with the discharge frequency this provided a means of determining sedimentation frequency and mean annual sedimentation. From the determinations of the forest cover effectiveness, the effect of forest fires on peak discharges and sedimentation were evaluated for 41 watersheds.
Commentary: To improve melanoma detection, help teach our colleagues.

Professorsofdermatologyhavetheunenviable task of trying to teach dermatology to the undifferentiated medical student with increasingly limited time and resources. We must continue to teach the skin examination because past medical training is one of the factors associated with performing a skin examination in practice, and patients with melanoma who received a physician skin examination in the year before diagnosis had thinner melanomas than those who did not. 1 Although dermatologists are better at detecting early melanoma, the German skin screening trial that showeddecreasedmelanomamortalityusedprimary care physicians (PCPs) for 77% of initial examinations. 2 Given the relative lack of access to dermatologists in the United States, we have to partner with our primary care colleagues to improve melanoma detection. That starts with the skin examination becauseone cannotdiagnose what one does not see. The current study by Garg et al 3 uses moulage to
Stigma: Experiments Examining the Relative Roles of Reason and Emotion in Economic Decision

Psychologists have described the working of the human brain as a combination of two systems. One system is intuitive and automatic and the other is reflective and rational. In this paper, we build on such a dual process model as developed by Loewenstein and O’Donoghue, to examine stigma in a laboratory setting. In this experiment, we elicited the willingness-to-pay for a (healthy and kosher) dogfood chicken sandwich, an item which is arguably stigmatized by its targeted use by dogs instead of humans, and fat-free ice cream. We find evidence of a dual process decision making process in which the absence of cognitive load allows the participants to deliberate over the health benefits of either products; and an emotional component in which the positive emotion of surprise can partially offset the negative emotion of disgust.
A Graph-Theoretic Condition for Global Identifiability of Weighted Consensus Networks

In this technical note, we present a sufficient condition that guarantees identifiability for a class of linear network dynamic systems exhibiting continuous-time weighted consensus protocols. Each edge of the underlying network graph ${\cal G}$ of the system is defined by a constant parameter, referred to as the weight of the edge, while each node is defined by a scalar state whose dynamics evolve as the weighted linear combination of its difference with the states of its neighboring nodes. Following the classical definition of output distinguishability, we first derive a condition that ensures the identifiability of the edge-weights of ${\cal G}$ in terms of the associate transfer function. Using this characterization, we propose a sensor placement algorithm that guarantees identifiability of the edge-weights. We describe our results using illustrative examples.
Refining a Web-based goal assessment interview: item reduction based on reliability and predictive validity.

Goals are an important basis for patients’ cognitive appraisal processes underlying quality-of-life (QOL) assessment because they are the foundation to one’s frame of reference. We sought to identify the best of six goal delineation items and relevant themes for two new versions of the QOL Appraisal Profile: an interview tool using a subset of the best open-ended goal delineation items, and a shorter close-ended version for use in survey research. This is a secondary analysis of longitudinal data (n = 1126) of participants in the North American Research Committee on Multiple Sclerosis (MS) registry. The open-ended data were coded by at least two trained coders with moderately high inter-rater agreement. There were 31 themes reflecting goal content such as health, interpersonal, independence, mental health, and financial themes. Descriptive statistics identified most prevalent themes. Reliability analysis (alpha, item-total correlations) and hierarchical linear modeling identified the best goal items. Based on these qualitative and quantitative analyses, Solve (item 2) is the best single item because it is clear anchor for about a third of the goal themes, and explains the most variance in outcomes and demographic characteristics, suggesting that it taps into and reveals diversity in the sample. The next best items are Accomplish and Maintain (items 1 and 4), which are useful in tapping into and revealing diversity among people reporting cognitive deficits (Accomplish), and demographic factors (both Accomplish and Maintain items). The goal delineation items identified as best performers in this study will be used to develop a shorter open-ended version of the QOL Appraisal Profile, and an entirely close-ended version of the QOL Appraisal Profile for use in more standard survey research settings. These tools will enable coaching patients in medical decision making as well as investigations of appraisal and response shift in QOL research.
A rapid spectrophotometric system for measurement of lactic acid dehydrogenase activity.

A spectrophotometric system which consists of a log amplifier and an analog integrator that averages the output of a differentiator is used to measure LDH activity. The enzyme reaction is monitored continuously and a precise value can be obtained in a relatively short time.
Spectroscopic detection of haematin in the peripheral blood an aid to diagnosis of ruptured tubal pregnancy.

Abstract An aid to the diagnosis of the extravasation of blood into a body cavity by means of the spectroscopic detection of hematin (reduced hemochromogen) in the peripheral blood is herein described. This is especially applicable to the diagnosis of ruptured ectopic pregnancy. A summary of the 100 patients upon whom we have carried out this test is reported. There were four failures, but there were no false positive reactions. There are few laboratory tests that supplant clinical experience and judgment, and in this instance we are only exploring the possibility of an aid in diagnosis. At this time this report can only say that the theory and results coincide, and that we hope to perfect this technique further so that it may become a valuable laboratory procedure in the diagnosis of intra-abdominal accidents.
An Ecological Study of the Twospotted Spider Mite on Strawberry in Southern California

An ecological study of Tetranychus urticae Koch and its native predators was conducted on strawberry in southern California with populations being surveyed at weekly intervals during 1967–68. On Sept. 21 (4 weeks after planting), 98% of the plants were infested naturally with an average of 34.1 spider mites per leaflet. The population then gradually declined to 0.1 per leaflet by Nov. 21 with 4% of the leaflets infested remaining below 0.5 actives/leaflet through Jan. 23. The twospotted spider mite population started to increase in February and reached a peak of 139.3 actives/leaflet on May 21 with 100% of the leaflets infested. The population then declined abruptly to less than 0.5 mite/leaflet by June 18 and remained thus through the end of the study on June 25. The twospotted spider mite population crashed in each of the 8 study plots surveyed after reaching peaks ranging from 72.3 to 271.1 actives/leaflet with the peaks occurring from May 7–28. Seven insectan predators were present, with the dominant Scolothrips sexmaculatus (Pergande) accounting for 84% of the total recorded. The predator population reached a peak of 3.64/leaflet on June 4. Fruit yield for the 4-month fruiting period (March–June) averaged 2.1 lb/plant (23.5 tons/acre). There was no consistent correlation between high spider mite populations and low fruit yield. It was concluded that the pest population crash was due primarily to physiological changes in the plants caused by high numbers of twospotted spider mites feeding thereon.
Book Review: Speaking Honestly with Sick and Dying Children and Adolescents by Dietrich Niethammer

Speaking candidly with terminally ill children can be a challenging and at times daunting task. After decades of debate and a wealth of research, it has become increasingly accepted that open and honest communication is necessary for the psychological well-being of these patients. Dietrich Niethammer, a pediatric oncologist, recently published Speaking Honestly with Sick and Dying Children and Adolescents , which provides a comprehensive digest supporting the notion that honesty is the best approach for this patient population. Niethammer’s book offers a tour of formerly controversial questions that physicians, psychologists, anthropologists, social workers, and parents caring for sick and dying children have asked throughout history: how much do terminally ill children and adolescents actually understand about their illness and how much should they be told? Niethammer walks the reader through English, French, and German publications that have …
Use of H2S to Probe the Active Sites in FeNC Catalysts for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR) in Acidic Media

H2S has been used as a probe molecule both in an “in situ” poisoning experiment and in intermediate-temperature heat-treatment steps during and after the preparation of FeNC catalysts in an attempt to analyze its effect on their ORR activity. The heat treatments were employed either on the ball-milled precursor of FeNC or after the Ar-NH3 high temperature heat treatments. ORR activity of the H2S-treated catalysts was seen to be significantly lower than the sulfur-free catalysts, whether the sulfur exposure was during a half-cell testing, or as an intermediate-temperature exposure to H2S. The incorporation of sulfur species and interaction of Fe with sulfur were confirmed by characterization using XPS, EXAFS, TPO, and TPD. This study provides crucial evidence regarding differences in active sites in FeNC versus nitrogen-containing carbon nanostructured (CNx) catalysts.
Longer-Term Physiological and Metabolic Effects of Gastric Bypass Surgery

Obesity is closely associated with the development of type 2 diabetes. Many strategies have been used in the past to combat these two conditions, but very few provide for stable and durable glycemic control. Bariatric surgery has emerged as a powerful tool for treating obesity and in over 70 % of cases provides a short-term cure for diabetes. While the acute metabolic effects of surgery are striking, it remains important for us to also consider the long-term effects. This review aims to summarize the chronic or long-term metabolic and physiological effects of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery on pancreatic function, skeletal muscle and hepatic insulin sensitivity, and gastrointestinal remodeling. An increased understanding of the current state of research in these areas can provide the basis for stimulating further research that would contribute to new treatment and management strategies for obesity and diabetes.
The Suitability Rule and Economic Theory

[e]very nonmember broker or dealer and every associated person who recommends to a customer the purchase, sale or exchange of any security shall have reasonable grounds to believe that the recommendation is not unsuitable for the customer on the basis of information furnished by such customer after reasonable inquiry concerning the customer's investment objectives, financial situation and needs, and any other information known by such broker or dealer or associated person.3
Pharmacological evaluation of a selective bradykinin B1 antagonist in a canine model of arthritis

The effects of a selective bradykinin 1 receptor antagonist, compound A, were evaluated in a canine model of acute inflammatory model of arthritis. Despite detection of the B1 receptor in canine type B synoviocytes using a fluorescent ligand, oral administration of compound A (9 and 27 mg/kg) did not improve weight bearing of dogs injected intra-articularly with IL-1β in a force plate analysis. Analysis of the synovial fluid of IL-1β-treated dogs indicated high levels of bradykinin postchallenge. Excellent exposure, coupled with evidence of the presence of the B1 receptor during an acute inflammatory model of pain, indicates an inability of the receptor to mediate inflammatory pain in canines.
Stereotactic Treatment for Oligometastatic Breast Cancer

Although uncommon, a small number of patients with radiographically evident and/or biopsy-proven metastatic breast cancer are alive and disease-free more than 10 years following cytotoxic systemic therapy alone. This realization that a long-term disease-free interval and potential cure was possible in breast cancer and other diseases led to the idea that not all patients with metastatic disease have the same clinical course. Mounting data suggests that patients with few (usually <5) radiographically visible tumors have the potential to be cured through local ablative therapy of visible metastases, often in combination with systemic therapy.
Targeting Iron in Colon Cancer via Glycoconjugation of Thiosemicarbazone Prochelators.

The implication of iron in the pathophysiology of colorectal cancer is documented at both the biochemical and epidemiological levels. Iron chelators are therefore useful molecular tools for the study and potential treatment of this type of cancer characterized by high incidence and mortality rates. We report a novel prochelation strategy that utilizes a disulfide redox switch to connect a thiosemicarbazone iron-binding unit with carbohydrate moieties targeting the increased expression of glucose transporters in colorectal cancer cells. We synthesized three glycoconjugates (GA2TC4, G6TC4, and M6TC4) with different connectivity and/or carbohydrate moieties, as well as an aglycone analog (ATC4). The sugar conjugates present increased solubility in neutral aqueous solutions, and the ester-linked conjugates M6TC4 and G6TC4 compete as effectively as d-glucose for transporter-mediated cellular uptake. The glycoconjugates show improved selectivity compared to the aglycone analog and are 6–11 times more toxic in C...
An Isomorphic Version of the Busemann-Petty Problem for Gaussian Measure

In this paper we provide upper and lower bounds for the Gaussian Measure of a hyperplane section of a convex symmetric body. We use those estimates to give a partial answer to an isomorphic version of the Gaussian Busemann-Petty problem.
Solitary wave emission from a non-linear waveguide with a PTS cladding

We present numerical simulations of solitary wave emission from a waveguide in which the cladding is the non-linear material polydiacetylene para-toluene sulfphonate (PTS). In addition to a self-focusing cubic non-linearity PTS exhibits a defocusing quintic non- linearity, which imposes a limit on the peak non-linear index change. The influence of this limiting on solitary wave emission is studied in detail in one transverse dimension, and we show that it can increase the fraction of the incident power transferred into the emitted solitary wave. Fabrication issues arising from the limiting are also discussed. Numerical simulations in two transverse dimensions are also presented showing stable emitted solitary waves due to the stabilizing effect of the limiting, in contrast to the self-focusing collapse which occurs for a cubic non-linearity.
A Novel Approach for Accelerated Life Testing of Ground Vehicle Components

Accelerated life testing has major impact on the success of a ground vehicle development program. Accelerated life testing profile should represent the customer usage so that optimum design can be achieved. A novel approach incorporating finite element analysis and vehicle durability test data into single axis accelerated life test profile generation was developed in this study. The proposed approach was successfully applied to the engine mount bracket of a heavy duty truck engine and it is validated by vehicle and rig tests. The accelerated life testing procedure developed in this study is applicable to many components of ground vehicles. It is possible to test components at high confidence level and low cost with this approach.
Pediatric patients with refractory central nervous system tumors: experiences of a clinical trial combining bevacizumab and temsirolimus.

BACKGROUND Pre-clinical findings suggest that combination treatment with bevacizumab and temsirolimus could be effective against malignant pediatric central nervous system (CNS) tumors. PATIENTS AND METHODS Six pediatric patients were treated as part of a phase I trial with intravenous temsirolimus 25 mg on days 1, 8, 15, and bevacizumab at 5, 10, or 15 mg/kg on day 1 of each 21-day cycle until disease progression or patient withdrawal. RESULTS The median patient age was six years (range=3-14 years). The primary diagnoses were glioblastoma multiforme (n=2), medullobalstoma (n=2), pontine glioma (n=1) and ependymoma (n=1). All patients had disease refractory to standard-of-care (2-3 prior systemic therapies). Grade 3 toxicities possibly related to drugs used occurred in two patients: anorexia, nausea, and weight loss in one, and thrombocytopenia and alanine aminotransferase elevation in another. One patient with glioblastoma multiforme achieved a partial response (51% regression) and two patients (with medulloblastoma and pontine glioma) had stable disease for four months or more (20 and 47 weeks, respectively). One other patient (with glioblastoma multiforme) showed 18% tumor regression (duration=12 weeks). CONCLUSION The combination of bevacizumab with temsirolimus was well-tolerated and resulted in stable disease of at least four months/partial response in three out of six pediatric patients with chemorefractory CNS tumors.
Adverse selection in asset markets: Theory and evidence from the Indian market for cows

Dairy cows cycle through periods where their quality is more observable (the milking phase), and where their quality is less observable (the dry phase). This variation in quality observability creates the potential for an adverse selection problem. I develop a theoretical model of trade in dry and milking cows and find empirical evidence consistent with the adverse selection theory. In particular, dry animal prices fall less in response to negative shocks relative to milking animal prices, which is consistent with the model's prediction that negative shocks actually help the dry animal market by pushing more high quality owners to sell.
Chasing the AHA! moment: Exploring initial learnability of programming languages

One criterion that can be used to compare programming languages is learnability, or the ease with which a programming language can be learned by a programmer. Learnability has many aspects as well, such as mastery, change in performance over time, and initial learnability. This work examines a proposed measure of initial learnability that is based on the amount of time that a programmer needs to transfer his/her knowledge of one programming language to the understanding of another. The study design involves presenting human participants (who are programmers) with a sample of programming code written in a language that they know, alongside a sample of programming code implementing the same operations but in a language with which they are not familiar. The participant is then asked to examine the two samples of code, and then indicate when they feel that they are ready to reflect in writing on the differences and similarities between the familiar and the unfamiliar language. The proposed measure of initial learnability is the time it takes the participant to indicate that they are ready to proceed with the comparison. Repeating this procedure many times produces a series of learnability measures, each of which is connected to a pair of programming languages, i.e. each measurement characterizes the learnability of one programming language, given a subject's familiarity with another programming language. Because this approach is novel and not similar to other approaches tried in the past, we wish to gain some assurance of its validity before a full experiment. To do this, we plan to run a pre-experiment using this study design but with natural languages instead of programming languages. The data from this pre-experiment, if the approach is valid, will show that certain natural languages are easier to learn than others, given prior familiarity with similar languages. Because the notion of “similar” natural languages is well defined and documented, we can validate our data to make sure that it makes sense and is consistent with current knowledge of natural languages.
Human herpesvirus 6 and the nervous system

Abstract Human herpesvirus (HHV)-6 is a β-herpesvirus that infects most infants by 2 years of age and persists in a variety of host cells after primary infection, with intermittent reactivation typically during periods of immunosuppression. HHV-6 has two closely related species, HHV-6A and B, which are both neurotropic and can be detected in up to 85% of brain samples at autopsy. This pleiotropic virus has been implicated in many central nervous system (CNS) diseases, including febrile seizures (FS), epilepsy due to medial temporal lobe sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, encephalomyelitis, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, chronic fatigue syndrome, and cognitive dysfunction. The significance of HHV-6 infection is often controversial due to the challenge implicit in attributing disease to a commensal virus of the brain. Studies have used a variety of unstandardized techniques on an array of sample sources to detect HHV-6, making direct comparisons problematic. In addition, many detection methods do not distinguish between latent and active infection. However, there is accumulating evidence implicating HHV-6 as a cause of CNS pathology, especially in FS and encephalitis. Treatment options are limited, fraught with side-effects, and poorly studied. Whether HHV-6 is a commensal pathogen of the brain, marker of immune dysregulation, trigger of autoimmunity, or directly neurotoxic mediator of CNS disease will remain uncertain for many CNS diseases until more refined studies are performed.
A 27.8Gb/s 11.5pJ/b 60GHz transceiver in 28nm CMOS with polarization MIMO

The industry-wide impetus on user experience and immersive content for handheld/wearable consumer devices is accelerating the demand for high-speed millimeter-wave (mm-wave) PAN wireless connectivity. Next-generation 60GHz PAN standards [1] have made it mandatory to achieve >20Gb/s rates using wide (4.32GHz or higher) bandwidth. However, in order to support multiple concurrent high-speed links, it is imperative to achieve high spectral efficiency. MIMO techniques allow for such spectrum reuse by employing simultaneous spatial streams. However, unlike at low-GHz frequencies, which exhibit rich multipath scattering and therefore a high-rank TX-RX MIMO channel matrix, mm-wave propagation is fundamentally less diverse due to higher reflection/absorption.
Status of the NASA Micro Pulse Lidar Network (MPLNET): overview of the network and future plans, new version 3 data products, and the polarized MPL

The NASA Micro Pulse Lidar Network (MPLNET) is a global federated network of Micro-Pulse Lidars (MPL) co-located with the NASA Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET). MPLNET began in 2000, and there are currently 17 long-term sites, numerous field campaigns, and more planned sites on the way. We have developed a new Version 3 processing system including the deployment of polarized MPLs across the network. Here we provide an overview of Version 3, the polarized MPL, and current and future plans.
Information-theoretic compressive measurement for frequency hopping pattern recognition

In this paper, we propose an information-theoretic compressive measurement scheme for the frequency hopping pattern recognition of frequency-hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) signals. We model the FHSS signals as a Gaussian mixture distribution, where each component is corresponding to one candidate frequency hopping channel. The compressive measurement scheme is then designed to maximize the Shannon mutual information between the compressive measurements and the frequency hopping pattern to be recognized. The approximated mutual information gradient with respect to the compressive measurement matrix is used in a gradient-based approach to search for the optimal compressive measurement scheme. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed information-theoretic compressive measurement scheme can significantly improve the recognition performance of the frequency hopping pattern than random projections typically used in the classical compressive sensing theory.
β-Adrenergic Receptor Dysfunction in the Pathogenesis of Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy

A major mechanism for regulation of contractility in human heart is the β receptor-G protein-adenylyl cyclase (RGC) pathway, shown in Fig. 1. Over the past 10 years five discrete abnormalities of the RGC pathway (Table 1) have been identified in the failing human heart. Four of these abnormalities are present in end-stage heart failure from idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC). The purpose of this paper is to summarize the abnormalities in IDC, to speculate on the signals and molecular mechanisms which led to their creation, and to discuss their pathophysiologic significance.
A Century of Vertical Fiscal Imbalance in Australian Federalism

AbstractAfter a century of Australian fiscal federalism, while the problems posed by horizontal fiscal imbalance have largely been resolved, the thorny issue of vertical fiscal imbalance remains. After reviewing the evolution of economic doctrine on fiscal federalism, this paper examines the historical evolution of vertical fiscal imbalance in the light of the views expressed by Australian economists over the past century. It is argued that the perceptions of Australian economists largely reflect wider currents in mainstream economics, with an early ‘pragmatic’ view, an orthodoxy based around the dominant economic theory of fiscal federalism and a ‘dissenting’ school associated with Groenewegen.
ZigBee-assisted ad-hoc networking of multi-interface mobile devices

Wireless ad hoc network is decentralized wireless network, which does not rely on a preexisting infrastructure, such as routers in wired networks or access points in managed (infrastructure) wireless networks. Instead, each node participates in routing by forwarding data for other nodes. The determination of which nodes forward data is made dynamically based on the network connectivity. Node density has a great impact on the performance and efficiency of wireless ad hoc networks by influencing some factors such as capacity, network contention, routing efficiency, delay, and connectivity. On one hand, maintaining stable connectivity is a big challenge for sparsely deployed and highly dynamic ad hoc wireless network. Vehicle ad hoc network (VANET) which consists of highly mobile vehicles with wireless interfaces is one type of such network, especially in rural areas where vehicles traffic are very sparse. One of the most important applications built on top of VANET is the safety application. In VANET safety applications, source vehicles that observe accidents or some other unsafe conditions of the roads generate warning messages about the conditions, and propagate the warning messages to the following vehicles. In this way, the following drivers have the opportunity to do some necessary action before they reach the potential danger zone to avoid accident. The safety application requires timely and accurate warning message detection and delivery. However, recent researches have shown that sparse and highly dynamic vehicle traffic leads network fragmentation, which poses a crucial research challenge for VANET safety application. On the other hand, reducing contention and thus maximizing the network throughput is also a big challenge for densely deployed ad hoc wireless network, especially when many devices are located in a small area and each device has heavy duty message to transmit. The WiFi interface perhaps is the most common interface found in mobile devices for data transfer as it provides good combination of throughout, range and power efficiency. However, the WiFi
Bacterial Identification by Mass Spectrometry

Mass spectrometry has become an important tool for the clinical microbiologist for bacterial identification. Because matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) has been shown to provide reliable protein profiling data to identify many bacteria, three commercially available instruments are available. Phage amplification (PA) has added new dimensions including sensitivity, specificity, and reduced culturing time to bacterial characterization by MALDI-TOF-MS-based protein identification. In this procedure, a sample suspected of containing a target bacterium is infected with a species-specific phage and allowed to incubate for two to three hours. If an increase in phage protein is observed in the MALDI spectrum, amplification has occurred and is indicative of the presence of the target bacteria. As an extension of this, a rapid method of determining antibiotic resistance using PA with MALDI-MS has also been developed. Other non-protein-based mass spectrometry techniques for bacterial identification have also been explored. As an example, fatty acid profiling employing MALDI with CaO as a saponification catalyst has been shown to provide highly specific identification to the strain level. A comparison of metal oxide FA profiles to protein profiles obtained from a commercial instrument is presented.
Remote Measurement of the Ocean — An Overview

During the past decade, the large strides made in space science and technology have provided us with new tools with which to undertake spaceborne observations and investigations of the dynamics of the oceans. A better understanding of ocean dynamics, that is, waves, currents, and circulation patterns could lead to more efficient ocean use through improved forecasts of the marine environment.
Uncommon Types of Lung Carcinoma With Mixed Histology: Sarcomatoid Carcinoma, Adenosquamous Carcinoma, and Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma.

Context.— Lung tumors are histologically heterogeneous, but classification of lung carcinoma has prognostic impact and increasingly, specific molecular correlates. Objective.— To update the gross, ...
The Value Relevance of Managers' and Auditors' Disclosures About Material Measurement Uncertainty

ABSTRACT Regulators now require auditors to provide information about how they evaluate complex estimates. Because users encounter this auditor-provided information alongside management-provided in...
Assassination and Judicial Misconduct in Cold War Greece: The Polk/Staktopoulos Case in Retrospect

In May 1948, as the Cold War escalated and the Communist insurgency in Greece intensified, the assassination of CBS News journalist George Polk in Salonica became an international cause celebre. Po...
NTRK-Targeted Therapy in Lung Cancer

Gene rearrangements or fusions as a tumorigenic genomic driver event have been identified as a common recurrent occurrence in a variety of human malignancies. The neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase gene family contains NTRK1, NTRK2, and NTRK3, which encode the proteins tropomyosin receptor kinase A, B, and C (TRKA, TRKB, TRKC), respectively. TRKA, TRKB, and TRKC can be activated by the specific ligands, such as nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and neurotrophin-3 (NT3). Interestingly, although NTRK gene fusions occur relatively rarely in human cancers overall, they have been found to be present broadly in many different tumor types, including both pediatric and adult malignancies. The recognition of NTRK fusions as driver genomic event in recent years have prompted impactful clinical therapeutic development which demonstrated the efficacy and safety of TRK inhibitors, with a recent approval of larotrectinib by the US Food and Drug Administration in a cancer-agnostic manner for NTRK fusion-positive cancers. Here, we reviewed the biology of NTRK gene fusions, antitumor activity of TRK inhibitors, clinical trials development, and challenges and future perspectives of NTRK-targeted therapies in human cancer with a special focus on lung cancer.