cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Integrated Inventory Control and Facility Location Decisions in a Multi-Echelon Supply Chain Network with Hubs

This paper develops mathematical models to coordinate facility location and inventory control for a four-echelon supply chain network consisting of multiple suppliers, warehouses, hubs and retailers. The hubs help in reducing transportation costs by consolidating products from multiple warehouses and directing the larger shipments to the retailer. The integrated models studied in this paper simultaneously determines three types of decisions: (i) facility location—the number and location of warehouses and hubs, (ii) allocation—assignment of suppliers to located warehouses and retailers to located warehouses via the location hubs, and (iii) inventory control decisions at each located warehouse. The goal is to minimize the facility location, transportation and the inventory costs. A mixed integer nonlinear programming formulation is first presented. The nonlinear integer programming formulation is then transformed into a conic mixed integer program and a novel and compact conic mixed integer programming formulation. Computational runs are conducted using commercial solvers to compare the performance of the different formulations. The compact conic mixed integer programming formulation was found to significantly outperform the other formulations by achieving significant computational savings. The results demonstrate that large scale instances of certain multi-echelon supply chain network design problems can be solved using commercial solvers through intelligent reformulation of the model.
Nonlinear acoustic propagation in homentropic perfect gases: A numerical study

A study of nonlinear acoustic waves in a homentropic perfect gas is presented. Conservation laws for the Euler and Lighthill–Westervelt equations are constructed and solved numerically using a Godunov-type finite-difference scheme. Simulations are carried out in the context of two initial-boundary-value problems (IBVP)s—one resulting in finite-time, and the other in infinite-time, blow-up at the wavefront. Additionally, analytical results are presented to support the numerical findings.
Leukocytospermia in Spinal Cord Injured Patients is Not Related to Histological Inflammatory Changes in the Prostate

ABSTRACTPurpose: Patients with spinal cord injuries have abnormal seminal plasma, which contributes to impaired sperm motility and viability. A common finding in these patients is an elevated leukocyte count in semen. We examined the prostatic tissue of spinal cord injured patients vs young healthy controls to determine whether a pathological process related to the prostate gland is a possible source of leukocytospermia.Materials and Methods: Seven men with a mean age of 26.1 years with spinal cord injury and 4 controls with a mean age of 35.0 years underwent standard transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsy. Semen analyses were performed prior to biopsies. At least 3 biopsy cores were obtained from each prostate and all underwent routine hematoxylin and eosin staining.Results: No significant abnormalities were found in any prostate biopsy cores. Two spinal cord injured patients had minor evidence of prostatic inflammation in 1 core. No inflammation was seen in any control specimens. None of the spec...
A dynamic theory of coordination of discrete movement

The concepts of pattern dynamics and their adaptation through behavioral information, developed in the context of rhythmic movement coordination, are generalized to describe discrete movements of single components and the coordination of multiple components in discrete movement. In a first step we consider only one spatial component and study the temporal order inherent in discrete movement in terms of stable, reproducible space-time relationships. The coordination of discrete movement is captured in terms of relative timing. Using an exactly solvable nonlinear oscillator as a mathematical model, we show how the timing properties of discrete movement can be described by these pattern dynamics and discuss the relation of the pattern variables to observable end-effector movement. By coupling several such component dynamics in a fashion analogous to models of rhythmic movement coordination we capture the coordination of discrete movements of two components. We find the tendency to synchronize the component movements as the discrete analogon of in-phase locking and study its breakdown when the components become too different in their dynamic properties. The concept of temporal stability leads to the prediction that remote compensatory responses occur such as the restore synchronization when one component is perturbed. This prediction can be used to test the theory. We find that the discrete analogon to antiphase locking in rhythmic movement is a tendency to move sequentially, a finding that can also be subjected to empirical test.
A Theory of Life as Information-Based Interpretation of Selecting Environments

This essay employs Charles Peirce’s triadic semiotics in order to develop a biosemiotic theory of life that is capable of illuminating the function of information in living systems. Specifically, I argue that the relationship between biological information structures (DNA, brains, and human languages), selecting environments, and the adapted bodily processes of living organisms is aptly modelled by the irreducibly triadic relationship between Peirce’s sign, object, and interpretant, respectively. In each instance of information-based semiosis, the information structure (genome, brain, or language) is a complex informational sign that represents the informational object (the present environment according to the respects in which recurrent features of the selecting environment have proved salient over the course of a history of natural selection); and the bodily, behavioral, mental, or intellectual processes that are organized by the informational sign to more or less accurately interpret the present environment constitute a complex informational interpretant—a living, interpreting organism. The essay begins by discussing the precise sense in which this biosemiotic theory is based upon Charles Peirce’s semiotic theory. Next, the theory is developed at length in relation to genetic information structures. Finally, I present a brief outline of how the theory applies to neural and linguistic information structures. The essay concludes with a reflection upon the anti-reductionist implications of the theory.
Intestinal Cholesterol Metabolism

The handling of cholesterol by the intestine involves a balance between absorption, excretion and metabolism by gut microflora. Between 34–57 % of dietary cholesterol is absorbed from the human intestine. Variables effecting the efficiency of cholesterol absorption include the absolute amount of cholesterol consumed, the presence of plant sterols, the fiber content of the diet, transit time and possibly the relative proportions of fatty acids in the diet. On average, 150 mg/day of cholesterol is excreted in the feces. Fecal cholesterol derives from biliary secretions into the intestine, sloughing of epithelial cells and unabsorbed dietary cholesterol. The major metabolic products of cholesterol in the gut are coprostanol, coprostanone, cholestanol, cholestanone and epicoprostanol. Bacterial metabolism of cholesterol can be influenced by diet as evidenced by significant variations among different population groups with different dietary habits. Altered patterns of intestinal bacterial metabolism of cholest...
Building a medical neighborhood for the medical home.

Recent efforts to improve primary care in the United States have focused largely on the “medical home.” Dr. Elliott Fisher writes that unrealistic expectations about this approach abound, and insufficient attention is being paid to several important barriers to the clinical and financial success of the medical-home model.
Sensitive spectrophotometric determination of fructose, sucrose, and inulin without interference from aldohexoses, aldopentoses, and ketopentoses

Abstract 1. 1. Two spectrophotometric methods for the determination of fructose, sucrose, fructose phosphates, and inulin as a function of fructose content are presented. 2. 2. Cysteine hydrochloride in 68–70 per cent (by volume) sulphuric acid is the reagent for the formation of a green chromophore (λmax, = 415 nm.); tryptophan, indole, and some of their derivatives complex with this chromophore to form another pink chromophore (λmax, = 518 nm.). 3. 3. The cysteine hydrochloride-tryptophan method is twice as sensitive as cysteine hydrochloride alone. One to 20 ng. of fructose can be determined. 4. 4. Both methods are better than previous methods, because they are specific, quick, and the chromophores are stable.
Development and Characterization of Gemcitabine-Resistant Pancreatic Tumor Cells

Pancreatic cancer is an exceptionally lethal disease with an annual mortality nearly equivalent to its annual incidence. This dismal rate of survival is due to several factors including late presentation with locally advanced, unresectable tumors, early metastatic disease, and rapidly arising chemoresistance. To study the mechanisms of chemoresistance in pancreatic cancer we developed two gemcitabine-resistant pancreatic cancer cell lines. Resistant cells were obtained by culturing L3.6pl and AsPC-1 cells in serially increasing concentrations of gemcitabine. Stable cultures were obtained that were 40- to 50-fold increased in resistance relative to parental cells. Immunofluorescent staining was performed to examine changes in β-catenin and E-cadherin localization. Protein expression was determined by immunoblotting. Migration and invasion were determined by modified Boyden chamber assays. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analyses were performed to examine stem cell markers. Gemcitabine-resistant cells underwent distinct morphological changes, including spindle-shaped morphology, appearance of pseudopodia, and reduced adhesion characteristic of transformed fibroblasts. Gemcitabine-resistant cells were more invasive and migratory. Gemcitabine-resistant cells were increased in vimentin and decreased in E-cadherin expression. Immunofluorescence and immunoblotting revealed increased nuclear localization of total β-catenin. These alterations are hallmarks of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Resistant cells were activated in the receptor protein tyrosine kinase, c-Met and increased in expression of the stem cell markers CD (cluster of differentiation)24, CD44, and epithelial-specific antigen (ESA). Gemcitabine-resistant pancreatic tumor cells are associated with EMT, a more-aggressive and invasive phenotype in numerous solid tumors. The increased phosphorylation of c-Met may also be related to chemoresistance and EMT and presents as an attractive adjunctive chemotherapeutic target in pancreatic cancer.
Quality of life and well-being of patients with myasthenia gravis.

The cardinal symptom of myasthenia gravis (MG) is weakness of voluntary muscles, a feature that may restrict full participation in life activities. In turn, such limitations may negatively affect quality of life (QOL) and well-being among individuals with the disease. In the present study, we administered a measure of QOL to 27 patients with generalized MG. Results revealed that functional status was negatively impacted in the domains of physical functioning, energy, and general health. However, a clinically meaningful difference was evident only on perceived ability to accomplish physical tasks. The results suggest that although MG requires accommodations in physical activities, general QOL and well-being does not differ markedly from the general population.
Mirror symmetry and a G2 flop

By applying mirror symmetry to D-branes in a Calabi-Yau geometry we shed light on a G2 flop in M-theory relevant for large N dualities in = 1 supersymmetric gauge theories. Furthermore, we derive superpotential for M-theory on corresponding G2 manifolds for all A-D-E cases. This provides an effective method for geometric engineering of = 1 gauge theories for which mirror symmetry gives exact information about vacuum geometry. We also find a number of interesting dual descriptions.
A FORECAST OF OFFICE AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGY TO 2000

ABSTRACT This paper presents a forecast of developments in technologies involved in white collar automation through the year 2000. It divides the technologies according to their primary information-related function. The functions to be considered include input, processing, data base management, output, and communications. Technologies are divided into three levels of aggregation: components (e.g., microprocessors), devices (e.g., microcomputers), and systems (e.g., terminals linked to a minicomputer). The forecast is synthesized from primary and secondary sources to suggest general directions of technological developments in the office automation area.
Response of nanocrystalline cerium-based conversion coatings on Al 2024-T3 to chloride environments

Nanocrystalline cerium-based conversion coatings were found to be effective at retarding corrosion of Al 2024-T3 in sodium chloride environments. Cerium oxide coatings were deposited by spraying an aqueous solution made with cerium chloride onto cleaned panels. After deposition, the coatings were treated in a phosphate solution, which produced dense, nanocrystalline coatings composed of hydrated cerium phosphate. Visually, the coatings appeared to inhibit corrosion and the formation of salt tails for at least 14 days in ASTM B117 neutral salt spray corrosion testing. Cross-sectional imaging using transmission electron microscopy and compositional depth profiling using Auger spectroscopic analysis after salt spray exposure revealed that an aluminum oxide layer was present on the surface of the cerium phosphate coating.
Struggling With “Iowa's Pride”: Labor Relations, Unionism, and Politics in the Rural Midwest Since 1877 . By Wilson J. Warren. Iowa City: University of Iowa Press, 2000. Pp. xv, 185. $34.95, cloth; $19.95, paper.

This fascinating little book recounts a century of labor struggles at the John Morrell and Company meatpacking plant in Ottumwa, a small city in south-central Iowa and the author's hometown. The book is based on a series of articles that appeared in the Annals of Iowa. â€œIowa's Prideâ€ in the title refers to a trademark once used by Morrell.
DEHYDRATION THERMOPROFILES OF AMINO ACIDS AND PROTEINS

SUMMARY Dehydration thermoprofiles representing water evaporation from aqueous solutions of 22 naturally occurring amino acids were determined. 14 amino acids exhibited peaks of “bound” water beyond the evaporation peak of “free” water. The acidic and basic amino acids indicated no water retention. Exceptional water retention properties, 30%-70% of the total water content as measured by peak areas, were exhibited by the nonpolar amino acids: isoleucine, leucine, methionine and valine. The methyl and methylene groups of these nonpolar structures seem to be responsible for the water retention properties probably due to hydrate formation. One explanation could be that as the temperature is raised to a critical point, the semicrystalline array around the nonpolar amino acid radicals collapses. Beef muscle tissue and egg albumin indicated strong water retention properties.
Self-Affinity of Combustion-Generated Aggregates

A large population of combustion-generated soot aggregates (more than 3,000 samples) was thermophoretically extracted from a variety of laminar and turbulent flames and analyzed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It was shown that the scaling structural properties of these fractal aggregates cannot be exclusively characterized by a single mass fractal dimension. Asymmetric properties of the aggregates were considered here by first assuming and then demonstrating their self-affinity via. an affinity exponent reflecting scaling with respect to the length and width of the aggregate projections. In addition to the conventional fractal dimension, D f , determined by using the geometrical mean of the longitudinal and transverse sizes as the characteristic length, the affinity exponent, H, and two complementary fractal dimensions, one longitudinal, D L =[(1+H)/2 ]D f , and one transverse, D W =[(1+H)/2H]D f , were introduced. By fitting TEM data for the entire population of aggregates, the values D f = 1.75 and H = 0.91 were obtained. This more complete description of aggregate morphologies in terms of the self-affine scaling is expected to lead to a better understanding of the transport properties and restructuring kinetics of flame-generated aggregates.
Outcomes of patients with acute upper gastrointestinal nonvariceal hemorrhage referred to interventional radiology for potential embolotherapy.

Purpose To report the outcomes following catheter angiography with or without embolization in patients with acute upper gastrointestinal nonvariceal hemorrhage (UGINH). Materials and methods A review of electronic medical records was performed to identify all potential patients for this study between 2001 and 2011. Patients with first-time UGINH who required angiographic localization and endovascular treatment were included. Patients with variceal bleeding and prior surgical or endovascular intervention for the gastrointestinal system were excluded. Society of Interventional Radiology guidelines and American College of Radiology "appropriateness criteria" reporting standards were followed. Results We identified 74 patients (men/women=46/28) with a mean age of 60 years. Thirty-four patients were found to have active bleeding on angiography. One patient from this group did not undergo embolization because of an angiographic diagnosis of aortoenteric fistula. Technical failure was encountered in 2/34 patients; therefore, the technical success of embolization was 94%. Forty of 74 patients showed no angiographic evidence of active bleeding; 18 patients underwent prophylactic embolization using endoscopically placed clips as targets; and 22 patients had no embolotherapy. Thus, we grouped the patients into 3 groups: (1) therapeutic embolization; (2) prophylactic/empiric embolization; and (3) no embolotherapy groups. The clinical success of embolization was 67% to 68% in the therapeutic embolization group and 67% in the prophylactic embolization group. Early rebleeding rates were 33.8%, 51.6%, 33.3%, and 12% among all the patients, the therapeutic embolization group, the prophylactic embolization group, and the no endovascular treatment group, respectively. Mortality was significantly high in patients with advanced age (P=0.001), cerebrovascular disorders (P=0.037), and positive angiography (P=0.026), even when clinical success was achieved. Conclusions Acute UGINH remains a clinical challenge with increased mortality rates, even with high technical success rates. Patients with negative findings on angiography have lower early rebleeding rates than patients with active bleeding during angiography or endoscopy-guided prophylactic/empiric embolization.
Just end-of-life policies and patient dignity.

Wojtasiewicz (2006) brings up an important topic in medical ethics: end-of-life care for the terminally ill. This issue came to the public eye most recently in the Terri Schiavo case. Wojtasiewicz ...
536 EFFECT OF CHRONIC CIMETIDINE (C) ADMINISTRATION ON GROWTH IN CYSTIC FIBROSIS (CF) PATIENTS

Twenty-five CF patients (7.5-17.9 years) participated in a one-year double-blind cross-over study to assess the influence of chronic cimetidine administration on growth parameters. Assessment of the group prior to entering the studies revealed coefficient of fat absorption while receiving pancreatic enzyme supplements from 35-95% (mean 64%), pulmonary function (FVC) from 32-100% predicted (mean 71%), and growth retardation with weight < 5% in 19, height < 5% in 14, and delayed bone age in 16 patients. Growth was assessed by height, weight, K40 lean body mass (LBM), muscle mass estimated by 24 hour urine creatinine, fat content by skin fold thickness, and bone age. RESULTS: 1) Average increases for any parameter were no greater on cimetidine than placebo. 2) Growth parameters did not show parallel changes. 3) No toxic effects were observed. 4) Two patients had no height increase and one patient had weight loss but 8 had decreases in LBM during the year. 5) Cimetidine reduced basal and pentagastrin stimulated gastric acid secretion at least by 50% in 19 cases. CONCLUSION: 1) Chronic cimetidine administration should not be a routine part of CF care. 2) Height and weight may be misleading parameters to follow in assessment of nutrition status.
Climate change and increased environmental variability: Demographic responses in an estuarine harpacticoid copepod

Abstract Climate change models predict that in the future, extreme events will be more common and of greater magnitude. In the southeastern United States, this is expected to include increased precipitation and more frequent extreme precipitation events, resulting in more freshwater runoff into coastal habitats. Marine and estuarine communities in this region can expect more frequent and larger salinity reductions if climate change model predictions are realized. We studied a benthic harpacticoid copepod to test the effects of environmental variability, in the form of estuarine salinity reductions, on vital rates. Specifically, we tested the effects of 3-day salinity reductions on the harpacticoid copepod Amphiascus tenuiremis . We varied the magnitude of salinity reduction (pre-storm: 30‰, reduced to 10 or 15‰) and the timing of salinity reduction relative to life stage (naupliar, copepodite, adult). Survival and fecundity decreased with salinity reductions of greater magnitude and with exposure during earlier life stages. An age-classified Leslie matrix model constructed using these data predicted lower population growth rates with exposure to salinity reduction of greater magnitude or during an earlier life stage, although this trend was not significant. We modeled the effects of environmental variability on copepods using a 98-year salinity record for coastal South Carolina. Population growth rate was highly variable in short-term simulations (3-week, 10-week), depending upon the salinity levels dictated in simulations by the natural salinity record. Cohorts “born” into a sequence with little or no salinity reduction had higher population growth rates than cohorts that experienced salinity reduction during a simulation. The greater the frequency of salinity reduction, the lower the population growth rate of that cohort. If climate change models are correct in predicting greater frequency and magnitude of extreme events such as precipitation and estuarine salinity reductions, then benthic copepod populations are likely to have even lower population growth rates than those described here, which could include population declines. As an important food source for higher trophic levels, harpacticoid population reductions could impact many other estuarine species, as well as species from other habitats whose young develop in the estuary.
Complications of rheumatic fever

Abstract One must think of rheumatic fever as a disease of the collagen system and not of the myocardium alone. If this is done, many of the protean manifestations will not be overlooked. Involvement of the central nervous system may be manifested by meningoencephalitis, hyperpyrexia or psychotic symptoms. Respiratory system involvement may produce pleuritis and pneumonitis. Vascular lesions may produce coronary arteritis and aoritis. The abdominal manifestations may occur as a result of serous fibrinoid peritonitis. Glomerulonephritis may occur simultaneously with rheumatic fever in 4.5 to 5 per cent of all cases. Subacute bacterial endocarditis may also be associated with an acute exacerbation of rheumatic fever. Congestive heart failure is a complication of severe carditis. Great caution must be exercised in the use of digitalis and mercurial diuretics in the presence of active infection of the myocardium.
Ultraviolet and X-ray observations of NGC 2264

An IUE satellite search is reported for chromospheric emission in the UV spectra of the brightest pre-main sequence stars the open cluster NGC 2264. Einstein X-ray observations to search for variability of the bright O7 V ((f)) star S Mon = W131, which may be the most massive member of the cluster, are also reported. Fifteen cluster members of spectral type B-K, ranging in age from a million to ten million yr, were observed in the ultraviolet. The only star exhibiting chromospheric emission is W79, a faint, heavily veiled T Tauri star that lies below the main sequence of NGC 2264. The observations are consistent with the generally accepted idea that chromospheric activity of late-type stars subsides with age.
Analysis of Genetic Diversity in Geographically Structured Populations: A Bayesian Perspective

Bayesian approaches have been widely applied to partitioning diversity within and among levels in many different multi-level modeling contexts. In spite of the structural similarities between these Bayesian models and hierarchical approaches to partitioning diversity in population genetics, population geneticists have not explored the use of hierarchical Bayesian models to provide estimates of Wright's F-statistics. In this paper I describe and illustrate the application of a simple multilocus, two-allele model sufficient for partitioning diversity within and among populations. Extenions of the model incorporate both fixed-effect and random-effect models of population sampling at multiple hierarchical levels with multiple alleles per locus. The Bayesian approach developed here is closely related to previously developed methods for likelihood analysis of the same problem. I illustrate the utility of the Bayesian approach with a reanalysis of previously published allozyme data from Argania spinosa.
PREGNANCY DIAGNOSIS BY A HEMAGGLUTINATION INHIBITION TEST FOR URINARY MACAOUE CHORIONIC GONADOTROPIN (mCG)

ABSTRACT An antiserum to the β subunit of ovine luteinizinn: hormone has been used to develop a simple, rapid, and specific hemagglutination inhibition test for urinary macaque chorionic gonadotropin (mCG), Reliable diagnosis of 20 pregnancies were made using neat urine specimens collected on all days between the 18th and 23rd dav after fertilization. Only 0.2 ml of urine vrere needed for the test which required 2 hours to complete. When urinarv concentrates were tested, diagnostic results were obtained on the 16th day of pregnancy. The rate of “false positive” tests was less than 1%.
Linkage and association studies of QTL for nuclear families by mixed models.

SUMMARY The transmission disequilibrium test (TDT) has been utilized to test the linkage and association between a genetic trait locus and a marker. Spielman et al. (1993) introduced TDT to test linkage between a qualitative trait and a marker in the presence of association. In the presence of linkage, TDT can be applied to test for association for fine mapping (Martin et al., 1997; Spielman and Ewens, 1996). In recent years, extensive research has been carried out on the TDT between a quantitative trait and a marker locus (Allison, 1997; Fan et al., 2002; George et al., 1999; Rabinowitz, 1997; Xiong et al., 1998; Zhu and Elston, 2000, 2001). The original TDT for both qualitative and quantitative traits requires unrelated offspring of heterozygous parents for analysis, and much research has been carried out to extend it to fit for different settings. For nuclear families with multiple offspring, one approach is to treat each child independently for analysis. Obviously, this may not be a valid method since offspring of one family are related to each other. Another approach is to select one offspring randomly from each family for analysis. However, with this method much information may be lost. Martin et al. (1997, 2000) constructed useful statistical tests to analyse the data for qualitative traits. In this paper, we propose to use mixed models to analyse sample data of nuclear families with multiple offspring for quantitative traits according to the models in Amos (1994). The method uses data of all offspring by taking into account their trait mean and variance–covariance structures, which contain all the effects of major gene locus, polygenic loci and environment. A test statistic based on mixed models is shown to be more powerful than the test statistic proposed by George et al. (1999) under moderate disequilibrium for nuclear families. Moreover, it has higher power than the TDT statistic which is constructed by randomly choosing a single offspring from each nuclear family.
Finding a Semantic Structure Interactively in Image Databases

We present a new approach to organize an image database by finding a semantic structure interactively based on multi-user relevance feedback. By treating user relevance feedbacks as weak classifiers and combining them together, we are able to capture the categories in the users' mind and build a semantic structure in the image database. Experiments performed on an image database consisting of general purpose images demonstrate that our system outperforms some of the other conventional methods.
MindTactics: A Brain Computer Interface gaming platform

During the last couple of decades, there has been an exponential improvement in neuroimaging technologies that allowed researchers noninvasive assessment of cognitive workload, short term memory, and spatial/navigational behaviors in humans. Through the use of new experimental paradigms and brain imaging devices, researchers have gained deeper insight into the neural correlates of emotion, cognition and motor control. Brain Computer Interface (BCI) systems utilize neuroimaging tools to detect brain activation evoked by a specific thinking process and convert it to a command. We have developed a game environment called “MindTactics” as a test platform for BCI devices to conceptualize experimental cognitive paradigms in ecologically valid environments as well as test BCI gameplay paradigms. Unlike traditional video games where the challenge to the user is the designed game mechanics, BCI based gameplay also involves mastering the use of the BCI device itself. The purpose of this project is to develop compelling BCI game design methods. MindTactics is capable of integrating data from multiple devices including the optical brain imaging based BCI developed at Drexel University, and it records behavioral log files for further analysis.
Focus on diagnosis: new technologies for the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease.

1. Jason E. Dranove, MD* 1. *Clinical Fellow, Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Indiana University School of Medicine, James Whitcomb Riley Hospital for Children, Indianapolis, Ind Gastroesophageal reflux (GER), the regurgitation of gastric contents into the esophagus or mouth, is a common phenomenon among healthy infants, with approximately 50% of 0- to 3-month-old infants and 67% of 4-month-old infants experiencing at least one episode of vomiting per day. GER typically improves through the first postnatal year, with only 5% of healthy 12-month-olds experiencing vomiting. Uncomplicated GER usually can be diagnosed from the history and physical examination, and treatment often is instituted without extensive diagnostic testing. When symptoms do not respond to treatment as expected, symptoms persist much beyond 1 year of age, GER is suspected to be the cause of epigastric abdominal pain or substernal pain, or extraesophageal symptoms are present (eg, poor weight gain, apparent life-threatening episodes [ALTEs], apnea, pneumonia, treatment-resistant asthma, or chronic cough), GER often is called “complicated GER” or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD has been reported to affect up to 8% of infants and children. When GERD is suspected, diagnostic testing often is warranted. A commonly employed test, the upper gastrointestinal (GI) barium study, can rule out anatomic abnormalities of the upper GI tract, such as malrotation, but only captures one moment in time. The upper GI barium study lacks sensitivity (31% to 86%) and specificity (21% to 83%) for diagnosis of pathologic GER compared with the gold standard of 24-hour intraesophageal pH monitoring. Similarly, although the gastric scintiscan provides useful information about gastric emptying and may detect episodes of GER and pulmonary aspiration, its utility is limited by poor sensitivity compared with 24-hour pH monitoring (15% to 59%), a lack of standardized technique, and the absence of age-normative data. Intraesophageal pH monitoring, a test that documents esophageal exposure to refluxed gastric contents over a longer period of time, and the ability to correlate reflux episodes with the symptoms in question …
The uncertainty threshold principle: Some fundamental limitations of optimal decision making under dynamic uncertainty

This note shows that the optimal control of dynamic systems with uncertain parameters has certain limitations. In particular, by means of a simple scalar linear-quadratic optimal control example, it is shown that the infinite horizon solution does not exist if the parameter uncertainty exceeds a certain quantifiable threshold; we call this the uncertainty threshold principle. The philosophical and design implications of this result are discussed.
The Triad of Sustainable Development: Promoting Sustainable Development in Developing Countries

Sustainable development was defined in 1987 in a report of the World Commission on Environment and Development (also known as the Brundtland Report) as development that “meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” The ability of developing countries to practice sustainable development is affected by many factors, three of which are defined in this article. When acting in harmony, these three factors can make sustainable development a more achievable goal: (a) domestic policy actions, including steps taken toward creating open and free market economies, sound and enforceable environmental policies, and public participation in decision making; (b) financing policies of the bilateral and multilateral lending institutions; and (c) private sector investment and clean technology development. The interaction of these factors forms a triad for sustainable development. This article discusses these factors and offers recommendations for furthering ...
Development of a GUI for parallel connected solar arrays

This work describes the development of a software package with a graphical user interface (GUI) for the evaluation of a solar array. The paper presents MATLAB-based simulations for various configurations of solar panels and compares these configurations on basis of power output and photovoltaic characteristics, via current-voltage and power-voltage curves. The simulation used field data to consider partial shading of the array. The computations also consider integrated power converters.
60 YEARS OF NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY: The structure of the neuroendocrine hypothalamus: the neuroanatomical legacy of Geoffrey Harris

In November 1955, Geoffrey Harris published a paper based on the Christian A Herter Lecture he had given earlier that year at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD, USA. The paper reviewed the contemporary research that was starting to explain how the hypothalamus controlled the pituitary gland. In the process of doing so, Harris introduced a set of properties that helped define the neuroendocrine hypothalamus. They included: i) three criteria that putative releasing factors for adenohypophysial hormones would have to fulfill; ii) an analogy between the representation of body parts in the sensory and motor cortices and the spatial localization of neuroendocrine function in the hypothalamus; and iii) the idea that neuroendocrine neurons are motor neurons and the pituitary stalk functions as a Sherringtonian final common pathway through which the impact of sensory and emotional events on neuroendocrine neurons must pass in order to control pituitary hormone release. Were these properties a sign that the major neuroscientific discoveries that were being made in the early 1950s were beginning to influence neuroendocrinology? This Thematic Review discusses two main points: the context and significance of Harris's Herter Lecture for how our understanding of neuroendocrine anatomy (particularly as it relates to the control of the adenohypophysis) has developed since 1955; and, within this framework, how novel and powerful techniques are currently taking our understanding of the structure of the neuroendocrine hypothalamus to new levels.
The Use of Demographic Data in Voting Rights Litigation

The proliferation of voting rights litigation in the past 25 years and particularly during the 1980s has resulted in the need for analysis of demographic data to support claims made by both plaintiffs and defendants. Most of the demographic analyses in voting rights cases have focused on a series of questions regarding the appropriate population base to be used in forming single-member districts and the consequences of using various populations. Standards used by the courts have been vague often contradictory and rather elusive by social science standards. Several questions of a demographic nature remain unsettled. Some of the key questions in this domain are reviewed and their implications discussed using examples from the recent Los Angeles voting rights case when possible. (EXCERPT)
Trends in the incidence and mortality of systemic lupus erythematosus, 1950–1992

Objective To describe trends in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) incidence and mortality over the past 4 decades. Methods Using the Rochester Epidemiology Project resources, medical records were screened to identify all Rochester, Minnesota residents with any SLE-associated diagnoses, discoid lupus, positivity for antinuclear antibodies, and/or false-positive syphilis test results determined between January 1, 1980 and December 31, 1992. Medical records were then reviewed using a pretested data collection form in order to identify cases of SLE according to the American College of Rheumatology 1982 revised criteria for SLE. Drug-induced cases were excluded. All identified SLE patients were followed up until death, migration from the county, or October 1, 1997. These data were combined with similar data from the same community obtained between 1950 and 1979, and trends in the SLE incidence and mortality over time were calculated. Results Of the 430 medical records reviewed, 48 newly diagnosed cases of SLE (42 women and 6 men) were identified between 1980 and 1992. The average incidence rate (age- and sex-adjusted to the 1970 US white population) was 5.56 per 100,000 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 3.93–7.19), compared with an incidence of 1.51 (95% CI 0.85–2.17) in the 1950–1979 cohort. The age- and sex-adjusted prevalence rate as of January 1, 1993 was ∼1.22 per 1,000 (95% CI 0.97–1.47). Survival among SLE patients was significantly worse than in the general population (P = 0.017 compared with the 1980–1992 cohort, and P < 0.0001 compared with the 1950–1979 cohort, by log-rank test). Cox proportional hazards modeling demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in the survival rate over time (P = 0.035). Conclusion Over the past 4 decades, the incidence of SLE has nearly tripled, and there has been a statistically significant improvement in survival. These findings are likely due to a combination of improved recognition of mild disease and better approaches to therapy.
Cranial remains of Homo erectus from Beds II and IV, Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania

Cranial remains of hominids 9 and 12 from Olduvai Gorge are described in detail. O.H. 9 consists of a heavily built braincase, partly damaged and lacking the face, while O.H. 12 is less complete. The Bed II specimen is about 1.2 million years in age and shows anatomical similarities to the cranium designated ER-3733 from Koobi Fora, east of Lake Turkana. Together these African fossils provide valuable information about Homo erectus in the later Lower Pleistocene. Comparisons of O.H. 9 with several of the Choukoutien crania are also carried out. These Chinese and other Asian remains of Homo erectus cannot be placed in a secure chronological framework, but all of the material should be studied systematically in order to assess relatedness among what must be several different populations.
Characterization of the Early Stages of Phase Separation by Atom probe Tomography

An atom probe tomography characterization of the early stages of phase separation in the FeCu-Ni system has been performed. The development of the copper-enriched regions into copper precipitates has been investigated during isothermal ageing at 573 K and 673 K for times up to 10,000 h. The formation and growth of the secondary precipitates in the nickel based superalloy, Alloy 718, have been determined during isothermal ageing at 873 K. These secondary precipitates were found to be a mixture of the L12-ordered γ’ phase and the DO22-ordered γ” phase.
How to Discount Double-Counting When It Counts : Some Clarifications

The issues of double-counting, use-constructing, and selection effects have long been the subject of debate in the philosophical as well as statistical literature. I have argued that it is the severity, stringency, or probativeness of the test—or lack of it—that should determine if a double-use of data is admissible. Hitchcock and Sober ([2004]) question whether this ‘severity criterion’ can perform its intended job. I argue that their criticisms stem from a flawed interpretation of the severity criterion. Taking their criticism as a springboard, I elucidate some of the central examples that have long been controversial, and clarify how the severity criterion is properly applied to them.
Preventive Care in Older Cancer Survivors

Objective To study factors that influence receipt of preventive care in older cancer survivors.
ESTIMATING DISPERSAL FROM PATTERNS OF SPREAD: SPATIAL AND LOCAL CONTROL OF LAKE INVASIONS

The spread of exotic species can be limited by dispersal or by constraints imposed by the local environment. Using data collected from 152 Missouri (USA) lakes over seven years, we asked whether models based on dispersal or local-scale processes best predicted invasion by the exotic cladoceran Daphnia lumholtzi. We used multiple logistic regression to test the relative importance of 10 local physicochemical features and proximity to all known potential source populations for predicting which lakes were invaded. The decline in invasion likelihood with distance to source populations was used to estimate the shape of the dispersal kernel. Between 1992 and 1998 the cumulative prevalence of D. lumholtzi increased from 6% to 34% of lakes sampled, with frequent appearances of pop- ulations in new watersheds. Spatial position and physical factors were both important for predicting the new colonization events. The probability of colonization increased with lake surface area and epilimnetic temperature, declined with increasing conductivity, and was unaffected by variation in lake fertility. Invasion likelihood declined sharply as a nonlinear function of distance to source populations up to around 30 km, and was relatively constant at greater distances. The results suggest that dispersal and local abiotic constraints jointly limit the spread of D. lumholtzi. This approach illustrates how range expansion can be used to estimate dispersal rates at broad spatial scales.
Database change notifications: primitives for efficient database query result caching

Many database applications implement caching of data from a back-end database server to avoid repeated round trips to the back-end and to improve response times for end-user requests. For example, consider a web application that caches dynamic web content in the mid-tier [3, 2]. The content of dynamic web pages is usually assembled from data stored in the underlying database system and subject to modification whenever the data sources are modified. The workload is ideal for caching query results: most queries are read-only (browsing sessions) and only a small portion of the queries are actually modifying data. Caching at the mid-tier helps off-load the back-end database servers and can increase scalability of a distributed system drastically.
Estimation of 3-D Water vapor distribution using a network of compact microwave radiometers

Quantitative precipitation forecasting is limited by the paucity of observations of water vapor in the troposphere. In particular, severe storms have been observed to develop in regions of strong and rapidly evolving moisture gradients. Conventional measurements of water vapor density profiles are obtained using in-situ probes on-board weather balloons, including radiosondes. These in-situ profile measurements have high vertical resolution, but have severe limitations in both temporal and spatial sampling. Lidars use differential absorption techniques to estimate water vapor with comparable resolution to that of radiosonde observations. However, lidars are expensive, and their operation is limited to clear-sky conditions due to the high opacity of clouds at optical wavelengths. Inversion of brightness temperatures measured by upward- looking, ground-based microwave radiometers allows the estimation of vertical profiles with high temporal resolution in both clear and cloudy conditions. However, assimilation of retrieved water vapor fields with improved spatial coverage has the potential for more substantial impacts on numerical weather prediction of convective storm initiation. Measurements using a network of multi-frequency microwave radiometers can provide information to retrieve the 3-D distribution of water vapor in the troposphere.
Nocardia species infections in a large county hospital in Miami: 6 years experience.

Summary A review of all cases of nocardiosis in a large hospital in South Florida over the last 6years was conducted. There were 25 cases of nocardiosis and 76% of them were also infected with HIV. Of the HIV infected patients, all of them had CD4 counts less than 100cells/mm 3 and most cases were localized in the lungs.
Rehabilitation training using complex motor learning rescues deficits in eyeblink classical conditioning in female rats induced by binge-like neonatal alcohol exposure.

Background: Eﬀective treatments for the behavioral and cognitive deﬁcits in children with fetalalcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are lacking, and translational approaches using animal models canhelp develop rational interventions. One such model, binge-like alcohol exposure in neonatal ratsduring the period of brain development comparable with that of the human third trimester, causesstructural andfunctionaldamagetothe cerebellumanddisruptscerebellar-dependenteyeblink classicalconditioning. The eyeblink conditioning deﬁcits ﬁrst demonstrated in this rat model predicted the simi-lardeﬁcitssubsequentlydemonstratedinchildrenwithFASD.Methods: The current study extends thistranslational approach by testing the hypothesis thatreha-bilitation training involving 20 days of training on traversal of an obstacle course (complex motorlearning) would ameliorate the deﬁcits on classical conditioning of eyeblink responses produced by theneonatal alcohol exposure. We have previously shown that this training stimulates cerebellar synapticplasticityandimprovesalcohol-induceddeﬁcitsonmotorcoordinationtasks.Results: The current studies found that rehabilitation training signiﬁcantly attenuated alcohol-induced deﬁcits in acquisition of eyeblink conditioning in females but not in males. These results areconsistentwithnormalizationofcerebellar-dependentlearning,atleastinalcohol-exposedfemales.Conclusions: These ﬁndings extend previous studies in this model suggesting that rehabilitation ofadolescents with FASD using training with complex motor learning tasks could be eﬀective in amelio-rating functional impairments associated with cerebellar damage. Eyeblink classical conditioning deﬁ-cits are now well documented in children with FASD and could serve as an evaluation measure tocontinuetodeveloptherapeuticinterventionssuchascomplexmotorlearning.Key Words: Cerebellum,Ethanol,EyeblinkConditioning,FetalAlcoholSpectrumDisorder.