Smart Asset Management for Electric Utilities: Big Data and Future

This paper discusses about future challenges in terms of big data and new technologies. Utilities have been collecting data in large amounts but they are hardly utilized because they are huge in amount and also there is uncertainty associated with it. Condition monitoring of assets collects large amounts of data during daily operations. The question arises "How to extract information from large chunk of data?" The concept of "rich data and poor information" is being challenged by big data analytics with advent of machine learning techniques. Along with technological advancements like Internet of Things (IoT), big data analytics will play an important role for electric utilities. In this paper, challenges are answered by pathways and guidelines to make the current asset management practices smarter for the future.Comment: 13 pages, 3 figures, Proceedings of 12th World Congress on Engineering Asset Management (WCEAM) 201

Micro-computed tomography for the quantification of blocked fibers in hemodialyzers

A novel technique based on micro-CT scanning is developed to quantify coagulation in fibers of hemodialyzers. This objectivation is needed to allow accurate assessment of thrombogenicity of dialyzers used during hemodialysis, for example when comparing different strategies to avoid coagulation and/or fiber blocking. The protocol allowed imaging at a resolution of 25 mu m, making it possible to count the open, non-coagulated fibers in a non-invasive way. In 3 fresh, non-used FX600 hemodialyzers, patent fiber counts were extremely consistent (10748 +/- 2). To illustrate the potential of this technique, different dialysis parameters currently used as surrogates for fiber blocking were evaluated during 20 hemodialysis sessions. After dialysis, the FX600 dialyzers were visually scored for clotting, dried and subsequently weighed and scanned. The number of patent fibers (10003 [ 8763,10330], range 534-10692) did not correlate with any of the recorded surrogate parameters. Micro-CT scanning is a feasible, objective, non-invasive, accurate and reproducible tool for quantification of the degree of fiber blocking in a hemodialyzer after use, making it a potential gold standard for use in studies on fiber blocking during renal replacement therapies

Big Data Strategies for Data Center Infrastructure Management Using a 3D Gaming Platform

High Performance Computing (HPC) is intrinsically linked to effective Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM). Cloud services and HPC have become key components in Department of Defense and corporate Information Technology competitive strategies in the global and commercial spaces. As a result, the reliance on consistent, reliable Data Center space is more critical than ever. The costs and complexity of providing quality DCIM are constantly being tested and evaluated by the United States Government and companies such as Google, Microsoft and Facebook. This paper will demonstrate a system where Big Data strategies and 3D gaming technology is leveraged to successfully monitor and analyze multiple HPC systems and a lights-out modular HP EcoPOD 240a Data Center on a singular platform. Big Data technology and a 3D gaming platform enables the relative real time monitoring of 5000 environmental sensors, more than 3500 IT data points and display visual analytics of the overall operating condition of the Data Center from a command center over 100 miles away. In addition, the Big Data model allows for in depth analysis of historical trends and conditions to optimize operations achieving even greater efficiencies and reliability.Comment: 6 pages; accepted to IEEE High Peformance Extreme Computing (HPEC) conference 201

A Three-Year Focused Initiative to Reduce Maternal Distress for Better Child Outcomes

During pregnancy and the first two years of parenting (i.e. the perinatal period) maternal distress (trauma, depression, and/or stress) can create an environment for the developing fetus and, later, for the very young child that will have negative developmental and educational impacts over the course of the child's life.  Too many children are born into isolated, vulnerable families where these multiple stressors give rise to an inhospitable environment for the critical first years of development.For the past decade, especially with advances in understanding brain development and its connections to lifecycle outcomes in development and health, research has increasingly focused on the role of stress in childhood morbidity and mortality.  Evidence is mounting that stress in pregnancy may be a significant factor contributing to negative birth outcomes (e.g. premature birth and low birth weight).The effects of maternal distress in pregnancy are frequently reinforced and potentially worsened by an environment of "toxic stress" for a baby or young child.  Toxic stress can change the expression of certain traits over the life course of an individual, potentially accounting for the higher rates of diabetes, obesity, and developmental delays seen in many children living in poverty

Epigenetic approaches in the treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes: clinical utility of azacitidine

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a varied group of diseases leading to significant morbidity and mortality. Therapy of MDS has been difficult, with supportive cares used to ameliorate symptoms, and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation the only curative option. Agents, such as the cytidine analog azacitidine, exert an effect on DNA methyltransferase leading to a reduction in DNA methylation, a process thought to be key to the pathogenesis of MDS. Recently, azacitidine has been shown to prolong survival and improve quality of life in patients with MDS, while maintaining a favorable adverse effect profile. This review highlights the scientific rationale for the use of azacitidine in addition to its application in current clinical practice for patients with MDS

An application of an EHR based on conceptual modeling to integrate clinical and genomic data and guide therapeutic strategy

Currently, data management in oncology department is complex and requires advanced Information Systems (ISs) to process data where “omic” information should be integrated together with patient’s clinical data to improve data analysis and decision-making process. This research paper reports a practical experience in this context. A Conceptual Model (CM) has been designed to develop an Information System (IS) in order to manage clinical, pathological, and molecular data in a holistic way at the oncology department of two main Hospitals in Paraguay. Additionally, model-based archetypes have been proposed to specify the selected user interaction strategy. The CM and its associated archetypes are the basis to develop a clinical IS in order to load -firstly- and manage -secondly- all the clinical data that the domain requires, showing how feasible the approach is in practice, and how much the corresponding clinical data management is improved. In this work, we want to reinforce with this real experience how using a CM along with archetypes correctly helps to design, develop and manage better information systems, emphasizing the relevance of the selected clinical domain

Understanding Architecture Erosion: The Practitioners' Perceptive

As software systems evolve, their architecture is meant to adapt accordingly by following the changes in requirements, the environment, and the implementation. However, in practice, the evolving system often deviates from the architecture, causing severe consequences to system maintenance and evolution. This phenomenon of architecture erosion has been studied extensively in research, but not yet been examined from the point of view of developers. In this exploratory study, we look into how developers perceive the notion of architecture erosion, its causes and consequences, as well as tools and practices to identify and control architecture erosion. To this end, we searched through several popular online developer communities for collecting data of discussions related to architecture erosion. Besides, we identified developers involved in these discussions and conducted a survey with 10 participants and held interviews with 4 participants. Our findings show that: (1) developers either focus on the structural manifestation of architecture erosion or on its effect on run-time qualities, maintenance and evolution; (2) alongside technical factors, architecture erosion is caused to a large extent by non-technical factors; (3) despite the lack of dedicated tools for detecting architecture erosion, developers usually identify erosion through a number of symptoms; and (4) there are effective measures that can help to alleviate the impact of architecture erosion.Comment: The 29th IEEE/ACM International Conference on Program Comprehension (ICPC

Investigating the Role of the Annular Ligament in Zebrafish Cone Mosaic Formation and Maintenance

Honors (Bachelor's)NeuroscienceUniversity of Michiganhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/112078/1/cfwalsh.pd