Classifying U.S. manufacturing plant locations using an artificial neural network

This paper examines the application of an artificial neural network (ANN) for classifying the contiguous states in the USA according to their manufacturing climate. The application uses a self-organizing paradigm, the ART2. The performance of the ANN was very encouraging. Its results were compared to those obtained from a scoring model that ranked the states utilizing the same criteria. Future work is intended to further improve the network's performance and develop an Artificial Neural System (ANS) that will assist decision makers in selecting the best locations for manufacturing facilities in the U.S.A. The ANS is seen as a key component of an intelligent decision support system for improving and enhancing plant location decision making.     

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Man from the Hauslabjoch

On September 19, 1991, at an altitude of 3,200 m (10,498 feet), the remains of a well-preserved, freeze-dried mummified body of a 3,000 BC, Late Stone Age man, was found on the Austrian-Italian border. Studies conducted at the University of Innsbruck have revealed that these are the remains of a 45-46-year-old male, 45 kg (99 lbs) (living weight) and 160 cm (5 feet, 2 inches) tall. Morphometric, pathophysiologic, paleobotanical, photogrammetric, anthropological, computer tomographic, and other studies have been conducted to determine the living conditions and possible causes of death of this Late Stone Age man.     

WATER-SENSITIVITY IN BARLEY SEEDS II. ASSOCIATION WITH MICRO-ORGANISM ACTIVITY

The inhibitory effect of excess water on the germination of water-sensitive seeds can be overcome by adding mixtures of antibiotics. A single antibiotic has no effect: a mixture of at least one fungal and one bacterial antibiotic is essential, and on freshly harvested seed an even more complex mixture may be necessary. Measurements of the gas exchange of the seeds in the presence and absence of antibiotics suggest that micro-organisms are relatively more active when seeds are placed in excess water. About 80% of the seeds which fail to germinate as a result of excess water lose viability within 6 days. It is suggested that water-sensitive seeds contain large mixed populations of micro-organisms. When set to germinate in excess water the entry of oxygen is physically impeded and also competed for by the microflora. Consequently the rate of germination is decreased; some micro-organisms may attack the embryos so that most of the seeds lose viability.     

Time-to-Pinch Investigation of 5 kJ Mather-Type Plasma Focus Device

The Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority-Plasma focus (EAEA-PF2) has been upgraded to a 5 kJ plasma focus device. Its characteristics have been investigated at various pressures and different voltages in a 5 kJ Mather-type plasma focus device for Ar gas. Its time-to-pinch has been measured, simulated and analyzed at different operating conditions. It is observed from the results that, the time-to-pinch decreased when either the charging voltage increased or the gas pressure decreased. In addition, the time-to-pinch is estimated theoretically using Lee model RADPF5.15. A comparison between the experimental and theoretical time-to-pinch is discussed. Also, the drive factor of plasma focus is analyzed at different pressures and charging voltages. It is noticed that, the mass and current factors are affected by changing the pressure and voltage. Finally, it is observed that, the drive factor is proportional inversely to the pressure and directly to the charging voltage.     

Clinical observations of metabolic changes occurring in renal transplant recipients receiving ketoconazole

Metabolism of cyclosporine is reduced by ketoconazole binding to the monooxygenase responsible for cyclosporine degradation. This isozyme of cytochrome P450, along with other similar monooxygenases, is involved in the regulation of the synthesis and degradation of important metabolic pathways of cholesterol. Monooxygenases throughout these pathways are inhibited by ketoconazole binding causing a decreased metabolism of calcitriol, bile acids, and steroid hormones, and can thereby potentiate altered lipid metabolism, bone metabolism, and weight status of transplant recipients. A group of renal transplant recipients taking ketoconazole (n=25) was compared with a matched cohort not receiving ketoconazole for metabolic changes during the first six months posttransplantation. Lower LDL cholesterol levels were seen in the ketoconazole group (109 +/- 8 mg/dl) than the no ketoconazole group (140 +/- 8 mg/dl) at one month but this difference was not sustained at six months. More bone loss occurred in the ketoconazole group as demonstrated by significant changes in bone density as well as a greater urinary appearance of bone collagen crosslink, deoxy-pyridinoline (29 +/- 4 nmol dpd/mmol creatinine and 18 +/- 4 at six months for the ketoconazole group versus the no ketoconazole group, respectively, P<0.05). Weight gain changes were different between the ketoconazole group and no ketoconazole group (6.4 +/- 1.4 kg versus 5.0 +/- 1.3 kg) at six months and an increased rate of weight gain over time in the ketoconazole group (0.02 kg/day at one month versus 0.05 kg/day at six months, P<0.007). Effectiveness of ketoconazole inhibition of cyclosporine is valuable, but inhibition of other metabolic pathways should be evaluated as well.