Enveloping Sophisticated Tools into Process-Centered Environments

We present a tool integration strategy based on enveloping pre-existing tools without source code modifications or recompilation, and without assuming an extension language, application programming interface, or any other special capabilities on the part of the tool. This Black Box enveloping (or wrapping) idea has existed for a long time, but was previously restricted to relatively simple tools. We describe the design and implementation of, and experimentation with, a new Black Box enveloping facility intended for sophisticated tools --- with particular concern for the emerging class of groupware applications

Integrating sequence and array data to create an improved 1000 Genomes Project haplotype reference panel

A major use of the 1000 Genomes Project (1000GP) data is genotype imputation in genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Here we develop a method to estimate haplotypes from low-coverage sequencing data that can take advantage of single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) microarray genotypes on the same samples. First the SNP array data are phased to build a backbone (or 'scaffold') of haplotypes across each chromosome. We then phase the sequence data 'onto' this haplotype scaffold. This approach can take advantage of relatedness between sequenced and non-sequenced samples to improve accuracy. We use this method to create a new 1000GP haplotype reference set for use by the human genetic community. Using a set of validation genotypes at SNP and bi-allelic indels we show that these haplotypes have lower genotype discordance and improved imputation performance into downstream GWAS samples, especially at low-frequency variants. © 2014 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved

Durability and cycle frequency of smartphone and tablet lithium-ion batteries in the field

The study presents data on the state of health of smartphone and tablet lithium-ion batteries that were used in devices in the field for up to several years. Data was retrieved from the coconutBattery database, which contains thousands of datasets on batteries from several device models from the same manufacturer. The durability of batteries in the sample data was found to be quite high. Even batteries that had been in the field for several years and had endured hundreds of charging cycles were able to retain a relatively high state of health. However, several major limitations in regard to generalizability of the findings were identified. Furthermore, the cycle frequency of smartphone and tablet batteries in the field is presented, which may be useful to support life cycle assessments and carbon footprinting of such product groups

Validity of predictions of residual retroperitoneal mass histology in nonseminomatous testicular cancer

Purpose: To validate predictions of the histology (necrosis, mature teratoma, or cancer) of residual retroperitoneal masses in patients treated with chemotherapy for metastatic nonseminomatous testicular germ cell tumor. Patients and Methods: We studied 172 testicular cancer patients who underwent resection while tumor markers were normal, Predictive characteristics for the residual histology were registered, including the presence of teratoma elements in the primary tumor, the prechemotherapy level of tumor markers (alpha-fetoprotein [AFP], human chorionic gonadotropin [HCG], lactate dehydrogenase [LDH]), the size of the residual mass, and the percentage of shrinkage in mass diameter. We calculated the predicted probability of necrosis and the ratio of cancer and mature teratoma with previously published logistic regression formulas, Results: The distribution of the residual histology was necrosis in 77 (45%), mature teratoma in 72 (42%), and cancer in 23 (13%), Necrosis could be well distinguished from other tissue, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of 82%. No tumor was found in 15 patients with a predicted probability of necrosis over 90%, The predicted probabilities corresponded reliably with the observed probabilities (goodness-of-fit tests, P > .20), although a somewhat higher probability of necrosis was observed in patients treated with chemotherapy containing etoposide, Conversely, cancer could not reliably be predicted or adequately discriminated from mature teratoma. Conclusion: The predicted probabilities of necrosis have adequate reliability and discriminative power, These predictions may validly support the decisionmaking process regarding the need and extent of retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. (C) 1998 by American Society of Clinical Oncology