On fourth order accuracy stable difference scheme for a multi-point overdetermined elliptic problem

In this paper fourth order of accuracy difference scheme for approximate solution of a multi-point elliptic overdetermined problem in a Hilbert space is proposed. The existence and uniqueness of the solution of the difference scheme are obtained by using the functional operator approach. Stability, almost coercive stability, and coercive stability estimates for the solution of difference scheme are established. These theoretical results can be applied to construct a stable highly accurate difference scheme for approximate solution of multipoint overdetermined boundary value problem for multidimensional elliptic partial differential equations

New optimization methods in Data Mining

Data mining is a modern area of science dealing with the learning from given data in order to make predictions and estimations. Applications of Data mining can be found in various areas of academical and non academical life. This paper introduces new contributions by continuous optimization as a key technology in data mining. The methods suggested for solution of such important problems as clustering and classification, were recently obtained by the authors in collaboration with members of EURO working group EUROPT

Regional Climate Trends and Scenarios for the U.S. National Climate Assessment Part 4. Climate of the U.S. Great Plains

This document is one of series of regional climate descriptions designed to provide input that can be used in the development of the National Climate Assessment (NCA). As part of a sustained assessment approach, it is intended that these documents will be updated as new and well-vetted model results are available and as new climate scenario needs become clear. It is also hoped that these documents (and associated data and resources) are of direct benefit to decision makers and communities seeking to use this information in developing adaptation plans. There are nine reports in this series, one each for eight regions defined by the NCA, and one for the contiguous U.S. The eight NCA regions are the Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Great Plains, Northwest, Southwest, Alaska, and Hawai‘i/Pacific Islands. These documents include a description of the observed historical climate conditions for each region and a set of climate scenarios as plausible futures – these components are described in more detail below. While the datasets and simulations in these regional climate documents are not, by themselves, new, (they have been previously published in various sources), these documents represent a more complete and targeted synthesis of historical and plausible future climate conditions around the specific regions of the NCA. There are two components of these descriptions. One component is a description of the historical climate conditions in the region. The other component is a description of the climate conditions associated with two future pathways of greenhouse gas emissions

Controlled growth and characterization of epitaxially-laterally-overgrown InGaN/GaN quantum heterostructures

Crystal material quality is fundamentally important for optoelectronic devices including laser diodes and light emitting diodes. To this end epitaxial lateral overgrowth (ELO) has proven to be a powerful technique for reducing dislocation density in GaN and its alloys [1,2]. Implementation and design of ELO process is, however, critical for obtaining high-quality material with high-efficiency quantum structures for light emitters [3]. ©2010 IEEE

Functional bowel disorders with diarrhoea: Clinical guidelines of the United European Gastroenterology and European Society for Neurogastroenterology and Motility

Irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhoea (IBS-D) and functional diarrhoea (FDr) are the two major functional bowel disorders characterized by diarrhoea. In spite of their high prevalence, IBS-D and FDr are associated with major uncertainties, especially regarding their optimal diagnostic work-up and management. A Delphi consensus was performed with experts from 10 European countries who conducted a literature summary and voting process on 31 statements. Quality of evidence was evaluated using the grading of recommendations, assessment, development, and evaluation criteria. Consensus (defined as >80% agreement) was reached for all the statements. The panel agreed with the potential overlapping of IBS-D and FDr. In terms of diagnosis, the consensus supports a symptom-based approach also with the exclusion of alarm symptoms, recommending the evaluation of full blood count, C-reactive protein, serology for coeliac disease, and faecal calprotectin, and consideration of diagnosing bile acid diarrhoea. Colonoscopy with random biopsies in both the right and left colon is recommended in patients older than 50 years and in presence of alarm features. Regarding treatment, a strong consensus was achieved for the use of a diet low fermentable oligo-, di-, monosaccharides and polyols, gut-directed psychological therapies, rifaximin, loperamide, and eluxadoline. A weak or conditional recommendation was achieved for antispasmodics, probiotics, tryciclic antidepressants, bile acid sequestrants, 5-hydroxytryptamine-3 antagonists (i.e. alosetron, ondansetron, or ramosetron). A multinational group of European experts summarized the current state of consensus on the definition, diagnosis, and management of IBS-D and FDr

Multi-material specific, targeted self-assembly of nanocrystal emitters using genetically engineered peptides on optoelectronic microchips

[No abstract available

Interleukin 8 in postoperative delirium - preliminary findings from two studies

OBJECTIVE: Studies have suggested that inflammation contributes to the pathogenesis of postoperative delirium, but previous results on the proinflammatory cytokine IL-8 in plasma are contradictory. Additionally, a significant fraction of IL-8 is bound to erythrocytes, but the relevance of whole blood IL-8 in delirium has not been studied. In this work, we analyzed the association of postoperative delirium with levels of unbound IL-8 in plasma and levels of IL-8 in whole blood in patients from two studies which were conducted in our department and have not been presented previously. We assessed the prognostic value of whole blood IL-8. METHODS: Plasma/whole blood IL-8 was measured at least once in N ​= ​504 patients preoperatively, on day one (d1) and/or three months after surgery in the BioCog observational study. Whole blood IL-8 was measured in N ​= ​64 patients from the PHYDELIO trial preoperatively, on d1 and d7 after surgery. For the determination of whole blood IL-8, EDTA-preserved blood samples underwent lysis by adding Triton-X100 surfactant. Plasma and whole blood IL-8 levels were assessed with two different immunoassay kits. Delirium was appraised systematically for seven postoperative days according to DSM criteria using two comparable protocols consisting of validated screening tools. RESULTS: Delirium occurred in 25% of BioCog and 14% of PHYDELIO patients. In BioCog, IL-8 was elevated on d1 and in delirious patients. A steeper postoperative increase in delirium was confounded by surgery-related factors. A crescendo-decrescendo pattern of whole blood IL-8 levels was observed in non-delirious patients with a peak on d1. This pattern was more distinct in delirious BioCog patients, but inverted in delirious PHYDELIO patients. Preoperative whole blood IL-8>318.4 ​pg/mL (reference <150 ​pg/mL) had adequate sensitivity (0.79/0.78) and specificity (0.53/0.67) for delirium in both samples. CONCLUSION: Our results contribute to an inflammatory hypothesis of postoperative delirium

Proposing a Tool for Supply Chain Configuration: An Application to Customised Production

The full implementation of collaborative production networks is crucial for companies willing to respond to consumer demand strongly focused on product customisation. This chapter proposes an approach to evaluate the performance of different Supply Chain (SC) configurations in a customised production context. The model is based on discrete-event simulation and is applied to the case of supply chain in the fashion sector to support the comparison between mass and customised production. A prototype web-based interface is also developed and proposed to facilitate the use of the model not only for experts in simulation but for any user in the SC management field

The Presentation of Temperature Information in Television Broadcasts: What is Normal?

In a typical weather broadcast, observed daily temperature information such as maximum and minimum temperatures are shown and compared to the daily average or “normal”. Such information, however, does not accurately describe whether or not that particular day is fairly typical for that time of year or truly an unusual occurrence. Thus it is suggested that the presentation of temperature information can be augmented with elementary statistical information in order to give a more meaningful presentation of temperature information without the need to explain the basis of such statistical information. A study of the climatological maximum and minimum temperatures over a 30-year period for Columbia, Missouri is performed in order to provide the rationale for displaying a "typical" temperature range. This information was incorporated into television weather broadcasts at KOMU TV-8, which is the campus television station and local NBC affiliate