Policy Based Priority Object Consistency Check and Correction in a Filesystem

File storage in cloud deployment and Enterprise needs of File based storage are growing rapidly in today\u27s IT environment. Filesystem enables application programs to store and retrieve user data files, and applications have data dependence on the filesystem to guarantee user with correct and accurate information. Therefore, filesystem has to maintain metadata consistency across many data structures that actually points to filesystem objects such as metadata files, application files and directories. In both offline and online filesystem check, traditional approach has been to check metadata consistency across all the filesystem objects. But we are proposing an alternative method to guarantee all-time consistency on selective filesystem objects

Resources to Support Faculty Writing Data Management Plans: Lessons Learned from an Engineering Pilot

Recent years have seen a growing emphasis on the need for improved management of research data. Academic libraries have begun to articulate the conceptual foundations, roles, and responsibilities involved in data management planning and implementation. This paper provides an overview of the Engineering data support pilot at the University of Michigan Library as part of developing new data services and infrastructure. Through this pilot project, a team of librarians had an opportunity to identify areas where the library can play a role in assisting researchers with data management, and has put forth proposals for immediate steps that the library can take in this regard. The paper summarizes key findings from a faculty survey and discusses lessons learned from an analysis of data management plans from accepted NSF proposals. A key feature of this Engineering pilot project was to ensure that these study results will provide a foundation for librarians to educate and assist researchers with managing their data throughout the research lifecycle.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/170414/2/315-Article Text-1305-1-10-20140617.pdfPublished onlineDescription of 315-Article Text-1305-1-10-20140617.pdf : Published versio

The comparison of clinical outcomes of endophthalmitis from fluoroquinolone-resistant and susceptible bacteria

To identify patients who developed acute-onset endophthalmitis after clear corneal cataract surgery, and to compare treatment outcomes between cases caused by fluoroquinolone susceptible organisms versus fluoroquinolone resistant organisms. Retrospective case series. Patients who developed endophthalmitis within six weeks of cataract surgery, and were treated between January 1996 and December 2008 at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami, Florida, were identified retrospectively. Clinical features, organisms cultured, and visual acuity outcomes were evaluated. A total of 97 patients met study criteria, and 37 (38%) demonstrated in vitro fluoroquinolone resistance. All fluoroquinolone resistant endophthalmitis in the study was caused by either Staphylococcus epidermidis (n = 32) or Staphylococcus aureus (n = 5). Presenting clinical features were similar between fluoroquinolone resistant and fluoroquinolone susceptible groups. Final visual acuity was >/=20/40 in 49% of fluoroquinolone-resistant cases and 42% of fluoroquinolone-susceptible cases. All fluoroquinolone-resistant isolates were susceptible to vancomycin. In the current study, approximately one-third of isolates were resistant to fluoroquinolones. There was no significant difference in clinical outcomes in this study, regardless of fluoroquinolone susceptibility

A simulation tool for better management of retinal services

Background: Advances in the management of retinal diseases have been fast-paced as new treatments become available, resulting in increasing numbers of patients receiving treatment in hospital retinal services. These patients require frequent and long-term follow-up and repeated treatments, resulting in increased pressure on clinical workloads. Due to limited clinic capacity, many National Health Service (NHS) clinics are failing to maintain recommended follow-up intervals for patients receiving care. As such, clear and robust, long term retinal service models are required to assess and respond to the needs of local populations, both currently and in the future. Methods: A discrete event simulation (DES) tool was developed to facilitate the improvement of retinal services by identifying efficiencies and cost savings within the pathway of care. For a mid-size hospital in England serving a population of over 500,000, we used 36 months of patient level data in conjunction with statistical forecasting and simulation to predict the impact of making changes within the service. Results: A simulation of increased demand and a potential solution of the 'Treat and Extend' (T&E) regimen which is reported to result in better outcomes, in combination with virtual clinics which improve quality, effectiveness and productivity and thus increase capacity is presented. Without the virtual clinic, where T&E is implemented along with the current service, we notice a sharp increase in the number of follow-ups, number of Anti-VEGF injections, and utilisation of resources. In the case of combining T&E with virtual clinics, there is a negligible (almost 0%) impact on utilisation of resources. Conclusions: Expansion of services to accommodate increasing number of patients seen and treated in retinal services is feasible with service re-organisation. It is inevitable that some form of initial investment is required to implement service expansion through T&E and virtual clinics. However, modelling with DES indicates that such investment is outweighed by cost reductions in the long term as more patients receive optimal treatment and retain vision with better outcomes. The model also shows that the service will experience an average of 10% increase in surplus capacity.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio

Antimicrobial prescribing pattern in a tertiary care teaching hospital: a pilot study

Background: The emergence of antimicrobial resistance is a worldwide challenge threatening to negate the gains made by discovery of antimicrobial agents (AMAs).  Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASP) is an important strategy for ensuring appropriate use of AMAs and controlling emergence of antibiotic resistance. Implementation of ASP must start with assessment of the current state of antimicrobial use. This study was therefore conducted to assess the prevalent prescribing patterns in a tertiary care hospital and identify gaps which warrant corrective intervention.Methods: This prospective pilot study presents analysis of the first 30 Patients from the medicine ward prescribed at least one antimicrobial agent during the two months of study period. Relevant data was collected in AMA record form. Appropriateness of AMAs was analyzed regarding selection as well as administration protocol as per the hospital antibiotic policy.Results: Out of the 60 AMAs prescribed to these patients, most commonly prescribed were cephalosporins (63.3%), anti-amoebics (26.6%) and macrolides (23.3%). Common diseases involved were urinary tract infection, acute gastroenteritis, sepsis and lower respiratory tract infections.  Use of AMAs was found to be appropriate for the indication in 42 %, dose in 97%, duration 60 %, route 93% and frequency 90 %.Conclusions: This gap between the appropriate and the actual practice use of AMAs indicates an urgent need of rigorous implementation of ASP in order to avoid emergence of resistance and to conserve the sensitivity to the available AMAs

Axitinib inhibits retinal and choroidal neovascularization in in vitro and in vivo models

AbstractAge-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of visual impairment and blindness in the elderly in developed countries. Neovascular/exudative (wet) AMD is the aggressive form of AMD and can involve choroidal neovascularization and vascular leakage. Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) medications have significantly improved treatment of wet-AMD. However, only approximately 40% of patients obtain full benefit from anti-VEGF therapy and the medications are given by intravitreal injection. Axitinib, a small molecule multi-receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor used for the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma, is taken orally and inhibits VEGF activity by blocking VEGF receptors. Axitinib also has the advantage of blocking platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) receptors which play a role in neovascularization. Using in vitro human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (HRMVECs), human brain vascular pericytes (HBVRs), 3D co-culture vessel sprout assay, and in vivo laser induced rat choroidal neovascularization (CNV) models, the effect of axitinib on neovascularization was evaluated. Axitinib inhibited neovascularization better than anti-VEGF and/or anti-hPDGF-B mAb in the in vitro models demonstrating that combined inhibition of both VEGF and PDGF pathways may be synergistic in treating wet-AMD. Additionally, axitinib showed good efficacy at a low dose (0.875 mg/day) in laser-induced CNV model in rats. In conclusion our data shows that axitinib, an inhibitor of VEGF and PDGF-B pathways may be useful in ameliorating wet-AMD therapy

Tissue-specific calibration of extracellular matrix material properties by transforming growth factor-beta and Runx2 in bone is required for hearing

Publisher version: http://www.nature.com/embor/journal/v11/n10/full/embor2010135.htmlDA - 20100917 IS - 1469-3178 (Electronic) IS - 1469-221X (Linking) LA - ENG PT - JOURNAL ARTICLEDA - 20100917 IS - 1469-3178 (Electronic) IS - 1469-221X (Linking) LA - ENG PT - JOURNAL ARTICLEDA - 20100917 IS - 1469-3178 (Electronic) IS - 1469-221X (Linking) LA - ENG PT - JOURNAL ARTICLEPhysical cues, such as extracellular matrix stiffness, direct cell differentiation and support tissue-specific function. Perturbation of these cues underlies diverse pathologies, including osteoarthritis, cardiovascular disease and cancer. However, the molecular mechanisms that establish tissue-specific material properties and link them to healthy tissue function are unknown. We show that Runx2, a key lineage-specific transcription factor, regulates the material properties of bone matrix through the same transforming growth factor-beta (TGFbeta)-responsive pathway that controls osteoblast differentiation. Deregulated TGFbeta or Runx2 function compromises the distinctly hard cochlear bone matrix and causes hearing loss, as seen in human cleidocranial dysplasia. In Runx2(+/-) mice, inhibition of TGFbeta signalling rescues both the material properties of the defective matrix, and hearing. This study elucidates the unknown cause of hearing loss in cleidocranial dysplasia, and demonstrates that a molecular pathway controlling cell differentiation also defines material properties of extracellular matrix. Furthermore, our results suggest that the careful regulation of these properties is essential for healthy tissue functio

Steady computations of ingress through gas turbine rim seals

In gas turbines, rim seals are fitted at the periphery of the wheel-space between the turbine disc and its adjacent casing; their purpose is to reduce the ingress of hot mainstream gases. This paper describes the use of a three-dimensional, steady-state model to investigate ingress through engine-representative single and double radial-clearance seals. The three-dimensional Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes computations of a simplified turbine stage are carried out using the commercial computational fluid dynamics code ANSYS CFX v13, and the model is based on the geometry of an experimental test rig at the University of Bath. The measured variation of the peak-to-trough pressure difference in the annulus, which is the main driving mechanism for ingress, is reproduced well qualitatively by the computations; quantitatively, the maximum local differences between computation and experiment are less than 20% of the measured peak-to-trough circumferential variation. The radial variation of swirl ratio in the rotor–stator wheel-space is well predicted over the range of flow rates and rim seal geometries studied. The radial distribution of sealing effectiveness determined from experiments is reproduced inward of the mixing region near the seal clearance over a range of sealing flow rates; some over-prediction of the effectiveness was found for both seals at high radius, probably due to limitations in the turbulent mixing modelling. The three-dimensional steady-state approach may be a practical tool for the engine designer where there is a lack of experimental data, providing quantitative predictions of the flow structure within the rotor–stator wheel-space and qualitative predictions of the sealing effectiveness for a given rim seal geometry. </jats:p