Idiopathic scoliosis and pineal lesions in Australian children

PURPOSE: To determine whether treatment of pineal lesions in children is associated with development of idiopathic scoliosis. METHODS: 38 boys and 10 girls with pineal lesions were identified. Their mean age at presentation was 10 years. The pineal pathology varied from cysts and epidermoid to teratoma, germinoma, pineocytoma, and glioblastoma. Treatment ranged from biopsy/extirpation to radiotherapy. RESULTS: 12 patients died. No scoliosis was found in any females or any of the deceased. Two boys had scoliosis: one had a 12-degree right upper thoracic curve with 32-degree kyphosis and the other had a 60-degree right thoracolumbar idiopathic curve, requiring a 2-stage arthrodesis. CONCLUSION: Pineal ablation is not related to the development of idiopathic scoliosis in humans

DAIRYPRO—a knowledge-based decision support system for strategic planning on sub-tropical dairy farms. I. System description

DAIRYPRO is a combination decision support and expert system consisting of two modules. The system is designed to help dairy farmers in northern Australia make strategic decisions about their farm. It can be run by dairy extension officers as a consultation package for farmers. The system is based on a combination of statistical models developed from real farm survey data and opinions from experts in the field of dairy farming. The first module gathers together the data needed to run predictive models and the system of rules that enable the program to make estimates of regional average production (using predictive statistical models) and achievable production (using heuristics). These predictions can be compared to the farmer's actual production. Farmers are then encouraged to make hypothetical changes to the inputs on their farm, and `what-if' scenarios of increased or decreased milk production are displayed. The profit or loss associated with these changes is determined. The second module of DAIRYPRO uses the `rules of thumb' of an expert to determine how four pre-defined components of the dairy farm compare to optimum performance. These components are: the winter feeding program, summer feeding program, concentrate feeding program and capital and labour inputs. DAIRYPRO is a useful decision support package for dairy farmers, bank managers, loans officers and farm consultants.

Intracranial carotid artery injury in closed head trauma

6 page(s

DAIRYPRO - A knowledge based decision support system for strategic planning on sub-tropical dairy farms I

DAIRYPRO is a combination decision support and expert system consisting of two modules. The system is designed to help dairy farmers in northern Australia make strategic decisions about their farm. It can be run by dairy extension officers as a consultation package for farmers. The system is based on a combination of statistical models developed from real farm survey data and opinions from experts in the field of dairy farming. The first module gathers together the data needed to run predictive models and the system of rules that enable the program to make estimates of regional average production (using predictive statistical models) and achievable production (using heuristics). These predictions can be compared to the farmer's actual production. Farmers are then encouraged to make hypothetical changes to the inputs on their farm, and 'what-if' scenarios of increased or decreased milk production are displayed. The profit or loss associated with these changes is determined. The second module of DAIRYPRO uses the 'rules of thumb' of an expert to determine how four pre-defined components of the dairy farm compare to optimum performance. These components are: the winter feeding program, summer feeding program, concentrate feeding program and capital and labour inputs. DAIRYPRO is a useful decision support package for dairy farmers, bank managers, loans officers and farm consultants

Spinal arteriovenous malformation presenting at birth: case report

4 page(s

DAIRYPRO - A knowledge based decision support system for strategic planning on sub-tropical dairy farms II

The DAIRYPRO knowledge-based decision support system has been evaluated both formally and informally. Formal evaluations were conducted on the utility of the system through an attitude survey, and the accuracy and acceptability of the rules used in the system thrOUgh a review workshop of four experts in the same field. Informal evaluations were conducted by the authors, the expert and dairy farmers assisting the project throughout development. Additional farmer feedback from farmers not involved with development was recorded during regular farm visits. DAIRYPRO was assessed as a user friendly computer package with mean ratings on seven aspects of the system varying from 5.3 to 6.3 on a scale from 1 to 7, the latter being the highest. The evaluation of system performance by the panel of experts was successful with consensus being reached on the acceptability of the rules developed. Farmer feedback varied with some farmers considering the program to be useful and others considering that it highlighted known limitations on their farm. DAIRYPRO is considered to be an umbrella program able to identify problems with the general level of efficiency of the farm