bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Dynamic proximity calculations for situation awareness
Authors: Kim Young J. , Hoffmann Christoph M. 
Published: February 2004

AbstractWe apply dynamic proximity calculations (density and clustering) fromdynamic computational geometryto a military application. The derived proximity information serves as an abstract view of a current situation in the battlefield that can help a military commander achievesituation awareness. We employ Delaunay triangulation as a computational tool in our framework, and study its dynamic update in depth. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2004.
Properties of some stochastic orders: A unified study
Authors: Hu Taizhong , Nanda Asok K. , Xie Huiliang , Zhu Zegang 
Published: February 2004

AbstractThe notions of the likelihood ratio order of degree s (s ≥ 0) are introduced for both continuous and discrete integer‐valued random variables. The new orders for s = 0, 1, and 2 correspond to the likelihood ratio, hazard rate, and mean residual life orders. We obtain some basic properties of the new orders and their up shifted stochastic orders, and derive some closure properties of them. Such a study is meaningful because it throws an important light on the understanding of the properties of the likelihood ratio, hazard rate, and mean residual life orders. On the other hand, the properties of the new orders have potential applications. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2004.
Optimal machine capacity expansions with nested limitations under stochastic demand
Authors: Çakanyıldırım Metin , Roundy Robin O. , Wood Samuel C. 
Published: February 2004

AbstractThis paper studies capacity expansions for a production facility that faces uncertain customer demand for a single product family. The capacity of the facility is modeled in three tiers, as follows. The first tier consists of a set of upper bounds on production that correspond to different resource types (e.g., machine types, categories of manpower, etc.). These upper bounds are augmented in increments of fixed size (e.g., by purchasing machines of standard types). There is a second‐tier resource that constrains the first‐tier bounds (e.g., clean room floor space). The third‐tier resource bounds the availability of the second‐tier resource (e.g., the total floor space enclosed by the building, land, etc.). The second and third‐tier resources are expanded at various times in various amounts. The cost of capacity expansion at each tier has both fixed and proportional elements. The lost sales cost is used as a measure for the level of customer service. The paper presents a polynomial time algorithm (FIFEX) to minimize the total cost by computing optimal expansion times and amounts for all three types of capacity jointly. It accommodates positive lead times for each type. Demand is assumed to be nondecreasing in a “weak” sense. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2004.
Dynamic inventory and pricing models for competing retailers
Authors: Bernstein Fernando , Federgruen Awi 
Published: February 2004

AbstractWe address infinite‐horizon models for oligopolies with competing retailers under demand uncertainty. We characterize the equilibrium behavior which arises under simple wholesale pricing schemes. More specifically, we consider a periodic review, infinite‐horizon model for a two‐echelon system with a single supplier servicing a network of competing retailers. In every period, each retailer faces a random demand volume, the distribution of which depends on his own retail price as well as those charged by possibly all competing retailers. We also derive various comparative statics results regarding the impact several exogenous system parameters (e.g., cost or distributional parameters) have on the equilibrium decisions of the retailers as well as their expected profits. We show that certain monotonicity properties, engrained in folklore as well as in known inventory models for centralized systems, may break down in decentralized chains under retailer competition. Our results can be used to optimize the aggregate profits in the supply chain (i.e., those of the supplier and all retailers) by implementing a specific wholesale pricing scheme. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2004.
A fluid queueing model for link travel time moments
Authors: Kharoufeh Jeffrey P. , Gautam Natarajan 
Published: February 2004

AbstractWe analyze the moments of the random time required for a vehicle to traverse a transportation network link of arbitrary length when its speed is governed by a random environment. The problem is motivated by stochastic transportation network applications in which the estimation of travel time moments is of great importance. We analyze this random time in a transient and asymptotic sense by employing results from the field of fluid queues. The results are demonstrated on two example problems. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2004
Reformulating linear programs with transportation constraints—With applications to workforce scheduling
Authors: Çezik Tolga , Günlük Oktay 
Published: February 2004

AbstractWe study linear programming models that contain transportation constraints in their formulation. Typically, these models have a multistage nature and the transportation constraints together with the associated flow variables are used to achieve consistency between consecutive stages. We describe how to reformulate these models by projecting out the flow variables. The reformulation can be more desirable since it has fewer variables and can be solved faster. We apply these ideas to reformulate two well‐known workforce staffing and scheduling problems: the shift scheduling problem and the tour scheduling problem. We also present computational results. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2004.
Late effects surveillance system for sarcoma patients
Authors: Langer Thorsten , Stöhr Wolfgang , Bielack Stefan , Paulussen Michael , Treuner Jörn , Beck Jörn D. 
Published: February 2004

AbstractBackgroundIn 1998, a prospective multicenter pilot study of the ‘Late Effects Surveillance System’ (LESS) was started to investigate late effects of patients with Ewing, osteo‐ or soft‐tissue sarcoma.ProcedureTwo hundred thirty patients were included in this pilot study. The patients were treated between 1/1/1998 and 6/30/1999 according to the sarcoma protocols COSS‐96, CWS‐96, and EICESS‐92, the median cumulative doses of the focussed drugs were for cisplatin: 360 mg/m2, for doxorubicin: 270 mg/m2, and for ifosfamide: 24 g/m2. The patients were investigated using an organ related standardized screening methodology. We report on toxicities in the first year after cessation of therapy—the beginning of the patient follow‐up—and the feasibility of LESS.ResultsCardiotoxicity: 16/129 (12%) patients treated with doxorubicin exhibited a reduced systolic heart function (fractional shortening (FS) <29%). Altogether three patients required cardiac drug therapy. Ototoxicity: In 5/73 (7%) patients treated with cisplatin a hearing deficit <4 kHz (>20 dB) was found. One patient needed a hearing aid. Nephrotoxicity: 2 of 214 (1%) patients treated with ifosfamide suffered from a tubulopathy, which required supplementation therapy. 10/50 (20%) showed a reduced fractional phosphate reabsorption. Incidence of hypomagnesemia was significantly increased in patients additionally treated with cisplatin.ConclusionsSome relevant impairments are noted in the first year after antineoplastic therapy. We expect to detect more major late sequelae in our prospective study during the increasing posttherapeutic interval. Our pilot study shows the feasibility of the methodology. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Oral etoposide for recurrent/progressive sarcomas of childhood
Authors: Kebudi Rejin , Görgün Ömer , Ayan İnci 
Published: February 2004

AbstractBackgroundEtoposide (VP‐16) is a topoisomerase II inhibitor that is effective in a broad spectrum of pediatric and adult malignancies. Chronic, low‐dose, oral VP‐16 has also been shown to be active in some recurrent malignancies mostly in adults. The aim of this prospective, single institution study is to assess the efficacy and toxicity of oral VP‐16 in children with progressive or recurrent (P/R) sarcomas.ProcedureTwenty‐one children (10 girls and 11 boys) with R/P sarcomas and a median age of 11 years (range 3–16 years) were enrolled in this study. The diagnosis was Ewing sarcoma family tumor (ESFT) in seven, osteosarcoma in eight, rhabdomyosarcoma in four, clear cell sarcoma of soft tissue in one, fibrosarcoma in one patient. Oral VP‐16 was administered at a dose of 50 mg/m2/daily for 20 days. The next course was initiated after a 10 day rest. Response to oral VP‐16 was assessed after two courses.ResultsThere was an objective response (one complete response [CR], two partial responses [PR]) in three patients (14%) by two courses of oral VP‐16 alone. One of these patients with PR achieved CR by the use of radiotherapy (RT) and further oral VP‐16. Two more patients (9.5%) achieved CR by RT and oral VP‐16. Eight (38%) patients had disease stabilization for 2–15 months. Two patients (9.5%) are long‐term survivors. They are alive with no evidence of disease (NED) 79 and 94 months from time of relapse/progressive disease (PD). A patient developed acute myeloid leukemia and died. There was no major acute toxicity related to oral VP‐16 in a total of 126 courses.ConclusionsOral VP‐16 therapy is simple, relatively nontoxic, and does not necessitate hospitalization. The cure rate is small. Given the risk of second malignancy, especially in children with previous exposure to topoisomerase II inhibitors and alkylating agents, this regimen may be used as a palliative treatment or in patients with poor prognosis. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Epidemiologic profile of symptomatic gastroenteritis in pediatric oncology patients receiving chemotherapy
Authors: El‐Mahallawy Hadir A. , El‐Din Nelly H. Aly , Salah Fatma , El‐Arousy Maha , El‐Naga Sherif Abou 
Published: February 2004

AbstractBackgroundPatients with cancer who receive intensive chemotherapeutic regimens are subject to profound immunosuppression and are susceptible to an extended array of pathogens.ProcedureThe infectious causes of symptomatic gastroenteritis as evidenced by diarrhea +/− fever, vomiting, and abdominal colic in children following chemotherapy were prospectively monitored at National Cancer Institute, Cairo University.ResultsA total of 104 diarrhea episodes were recorded in our institution during a 10‐month period, of which an infectious cause was detected in 74 (71.1%). Bacterial and fungal pathogens were isolated in culture from 41 (39.4%) and 24 (23.1%), respectively, while Clostridia difficile (C. difficile) and Cryptosporidium parvum (C. parvum) were detected in 15 (14.4%) and 10 (9.6%) of 104 diarrhea episodes following chemotherapy, respectively. Mixed infections were found in 24 of the patients; whereas, no cause was demonstrable in 30. Hospital acquired and mixed infections were the worst as regards morbidity (P = 0.004 and 0.02) and mortality (P = 0.007 and <0.001) of the infectious episode regardless the cause, respectively. On multivariate analysis, C. difficile was associated with the highest mortality rate (OR = 0.04, 95% CI = 0.01–0.19), followed by fungal pathogens (OR = 0.20, 95% CI = 0.05–0.74) and bacterial infections (OR = 0.20, 95% CI = 0.05–0.79).ConclusionsInfectious gastroenteritis is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized pediatric cancer patients receiving intensified protocols of chemotherapy. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Limb sparing surgery for pediatric musculoskeletal tumors
Authors: Hosalkar Harish S. , Dormans John P. 
Published: February 2004

AbstractThere has been an unprecedented improvement in the survival outcome of children with extremity sarcoma as well as a corresponding increase in percentage of limb‐sparing surgeries being performed over the past many decades. This has been, in part, due to the improved imaging modalities, newer surgical techniques, and advences in neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Limb‐sparing surgery for primary bone and soft‐tissue malignancies in children is becoming an acceptable option of surgical treatment in most cases today. This article outlines the demographics, classification, clinical presentation, imaging, and molecular genetics of pediatric mosculoskeletal tumors and discusses the current treatment principles with emphasis on the state‐of‐the‐art surgical management and limb‐sparing techniques for children with extremity sarcoma. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Fertility of long‐term male survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia diagnosed during childhood
Authors: Byrne Julianne , Fears Thomas R. , Mills James L. , Zeltzer Lonnie K. , Sklar Charles , Meadows Anna T. , Reaman Gregory H. , Robison Leslie L. 
Published: February 2004

AbstractFertility impairments among men treated during childhood for cancer are known to occur after some, but not all, types of anti‐cancer therapy. This is the first study to evaluate proven fertility among adult male survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). In a retrospective cohort study, proven fertility (ever fathered a pregnancy) was evaluated by self‐report among 213 men treated for ALL before age 18 on protocols of the Children's Cancer Group (CCG). Controls (N = 145) were drawn from among male siblings. Overall, with a proportional hazards analysis, proven fertility of male survivors was not different from that of controls (relative fertility (RF) = 0.95, 95% CI 0.63–1.43). However, married men treated before age 10 with high dose (24 cGy) cranial radiotherapy (RT), without spinal RT, had only 9% of the fertility of controls (Relative risk, RR = 0.09, 95% CI 0.01–0.82). High dose cranial RT at older ages was not associated with a statistically significant fertility deficit (RR = 0.56, 95% CI 0.25–1.28). In this first study of proven fertility among men treated for childhood leukemia, the majority of survivors showed no evidence of fertility impairment compared to controls. However, men treated at a young age with high dose cranial RT may have impaired fertility. These results suggest that further investigation of men with these treatments is needed to confirm and extend these findings. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Factors influencing central line infections in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia: Results of a single institutional study
Authors: Abbas Adil A.H. , Fryer Christopher J.H. , Paltiel Charles , Chedid Fares , Felimban Sami K. , Yousef Abdulmotalib A. , Khattab Taha M. 
Published: February 2004

AbstractBackgroundWe compared the rates of infection in external catheters (ECs) and totally implantable devices (TIDs) and the effect of timing of insertion in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).ProcedureCentral line data was collected on all children with ALL referred to the National Guard Hospital, Jeddah. Data was collected retrospectively from 1996 to September 1999 and prospectively thereafter. Only ECs were inserted prior to 1999 subsequently TIDs were preferred.ResultsOne hundred forty eight children with ALL, mean age 5.1 years had 129 ECs and 70 TIDs inserted for a total of 41,382 catheter days. The overall rate of infective episodes (infections/1,000 catheter days) was 3.43. Of the initial 148 lines 100 developed complications of which 76 (51%) were secondary to an infective episode. Only young age and treatment protocol were risk factors for first line infections (P < 0.05). There was weak evidence that ECs had an earlier time to infection compared to TIDs (P = 0.056).ConclusionsIn this study, population central lines were associated with a high rate of infection. Treatment protocol and age were the only significant risk factors when only first lines were considered. Delaying catheter insertion for more than 3 weeks from diagnosis did not reduce the risk of infection. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Candida infections in children treated with conventional chemotherapy for solid tumors (transplant recipients excluded): The Institut Gustave Roussy Pediatrics Department experience
Authors: Ridola V. , Chachaty E. , Raimondo G. , Corradini N. , Brugieres L. , Valteau‐Couanet D. , Hartmann O. 
Published: February 2004

AbstractIntroductionAdvances in medical therapy have greatly improved the survival of children suffering from cancer. Although progress has been made in the eradication of malignant disease there is growing concern for the development of fungal infections in patients treated with chemotherapy.Materials and MethodsWe reviewed all episodes of pediatric candidemia that occurred between January 1988 and December 2000. We analyzed the general characteristics of this population, risk factors, microbiology features, treatment, complications, and outcome.ResultsSeventeen cases of candidemia were observed during the 12 years of the study at an estimated incidence of 0.4%. Neutropenia occurred at the onset of infection in 13/17 (76.5%) children. A central venous device was present in all cases. Seventy‐seven percent of the infections were caused by Candida albicans and in 85% of patients, yeasts had colonized the gastrointestinal tract. In 9/17 patients visceral dissemination was documented. Overall, in 77% of the episodes the outcome was favorable.ConclusionsCandidemia is a rare but severe complication in pediatric oncology. Even if the prognosis is better in children than in adults, Candida septicemia remains of great concern since a high percentage of these infections result in visceral dissemination and mortality is still elevated. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia followed by a clonally‐unrelated EBV‐positive non‐Hodgkin lymphoma and a clonally‐related myelomonocytic leukemia cutis
Authors: Szczepański Tomasz , de Vaan Gerard A.M. , Beishuizen Auke , Bogman José , Jansen Mieke W.J.C. , van Wering Elisabeth R. , van Dongen Jacques J.M. 
Published: February 2004

AbstractBackgroundComplicating malignant hematopoietic proliferations might severely hamper the course of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in patients with an otherwise good prognosis. It is important to distinguish whether such neoplastic proliferations represent ALL relapses or secondary treatment‐related malignancies.ProcedureWe present an 11‐year‐old girl with precursor‐B‐ALL in whom maintenance treatment was complicated by an isolated ALL relapse in the brain, nodular lymphoproliferations in the liver, and an isolated myelo‐monocytic leukemia cutis. All these hemato‐oncologic malignancies occurred in the background of a secondary immunodeficiency, most likely caused by cytotoxic treatment.Results and ConclusionsUsing a stepwise molecular approach, we were able to demonstrate that the liver infiltrates were Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)‐positive, contained monoclonal mature B‐cells with immunoglobulin heavy chain gene (IGH) gene rearrangements unrelated to the primary ALL, and thus represented a true secondary non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). In contrast, the skin infiltrates consisted of myelo‐monocytic cells with clonal IGH and T‐cell receptor gamma gene rearrangements, identical to the precursor‐B‐ALL blasts at diagnosis. Thus, the disease course of the precursor‐B‐ALL patient was complicated by two different isolated extramedullary relapses (brain and skin) and a secondary EBV+ B‐NHL. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Outcome of patients with stage III or inoperable WT treated on the second United Kingdom WT protocol (UKWT2); A United Kingdom Children's Cancer Study Group (UKCCSG) study
Authors: Grundy R.G. , Hutton C. , Middleton H. , Imeson J. , Pritchard J. , Kelsey A. , Marsden H.B. , Vujanic G.M. , Taylor R.E. 
Published: February 2004

AbstractBackgroundThe aims of UKWT2 included consolidating the results for stage III patients obtained in UKWT1 and improving the outcome for patients with inoperable tumours by giving vincristine, actinomycin‐D and doxorubicin in an intensive schedule (Intensive AVA).ProcedureThe second UK WT trial (UKWT2) ran between July 1986 and September 1991 accruing 448 patients. One hundred and six patients were diagnosed and treated for stage III disease. Six had clear cell sarcoma of the kidney (CCSK) and seven had rhabdoid tumours of the kidney (RTK) and are analysed separately. One other patient was excluded from overall analysis. Ninety‐two patients were followed for a median of 115 months. Seventy‐five received standard chemotherapy and abdominal radiotherapy according to protocol. Seventeen had stage III disease at immediate nephrectomy, but radiotherapy was omitted by physician choice. Thirty‐three patients had inoperable disease at diagnosis and received pre‐nephrectomy chemotherapy.ResultsOverall survival (OS) at 4 years for stage III favourable histology (FH) patients receiving abdominal RT was 83% (CI: 73–89). For children with stage III disease in whom RT was omitted the OS was 82% (CI: 59–97) and for inoperable disease 94% (CI: 78–98). The overall and event‐free survival (EFS) of children with stage III CCSK was 100% and was achieved with the majority of patients not receiving radiotherapy (CI: 48–100). Three of seven children with RTK are alive EFS and OS 43% (CI: 10–73). For patients treated by abdominal radiotherapy the overall local control rate was 94.4% (CI: 86.4–98.5*%), 96.7% (CI: 88.5–99.6%) for flank RT and 83.3% (51.6–98.0%) for whole abdominal radiotherapy (WRT).ConclusionsThe outcome for stage III FH disease was similar to that reported for UKWT1 and NWTS‐3. The combination of abdominal RT together with 3‐drug chemotherapy achieves a high abdominal tumour control rate. Flank RT is probably sufficient for localised tumour rupture. The high cure rates for children in this trial with ‘inoperable disease’ suggests that treatment should be modified according to their post‐chemotherapy stage in order to avoid over‐treatment. The high OS for stage III CCSK on this protocol suggests that treatment duration could be curtailed and the role of RT reviewed, though the numbers are small. The prognosis for older children with RTK seems to be better than for younger children although larger studies are required to confirm this. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Prevalence of and risk factors for hydrocele in survivors of Wilms tumor
Authors: Ginsberg Jill P. , Hobbie Wendy L. , Ogle Susan K. , Canning Douglas A. , Meadows Anna T. 
Published: February 2004

AbstractBackgroundThe purpose of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of hydrocele as a complication of Wilms tumor (WT) therapy and nephrectomy and to determine whether radiation therapy to the flank increases the risk. We hypothesize that radiation increases the risk of hydrocele formation in patients treated for WT.MethodsA retrospective, medical review of the chart was completed on 57 male patients with WT diagnosed between 1985 and 2000.ResultsThere is an increased prevalence of hydrocele in males that had a nephrectomy as part of their WT therapy.ConclusionsMale survivors of WT are at risk for development of a subsequent hydrocele that appears to be related to their prior surgery. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.