An Analysis of Storage Virtualization

Investigating technologies and writing expansive documentation on their capabilities is like hitting a moving target. Technology is evolving, growing, and expanding what it can do each and every day. This makes it very difficult when trying to snap a line and investigate competing technologies. Storage virtualization is one of those moving targets. Large corporations develop software and hardware solutions that try to one up the competition by releasing firmware and patch updates to include their latest developments. Some of their latest innovations include differing RAID levels, virtualized storage, data compression, data deduplication, file deduplication, thin provisioning, new file system types, tiered storage, solid state disk, and software updates to coincide these technologies with their applicable hardware. Even data center environmental considerations like reusable energies, data center environmental characteristics, and geographic locations are being used by companies both small and large to reduce operating costs and limit environmental impacts. Companies are even moving to an entire cloud based setup to limit their environmental impact as it could be cost prohibited to maintain your own corporate infrastructure. The trifecta of integrating smart storage architectures to include storage virtualization technologies, reducing footprint to promote energy savings, and migrating to cloud based services will ensure a long-term sustainable storage subsystem

The effect of cultural and external forces upon the growth and development of the Albanian educational system

Thesis (Ed. M.)--Boston University, 1958. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 97-99

Outcome assessment after hip fracture : is EQ-5D the answer?

Objectives: To study the measurement properties of a joint specific patient reported outcome measure, a measure of capability and a general health-related quality of life (HRQOL) tool in a large cohort of patients with a hip fracture. Methods: Responsiveness and associations between the Oxford Hip Score (a hip specific measure: OHS), ICEpop CAPability (a measure of capability in older people: ICECAP-O) and EuroQol EQ-5D (general health-related quality of life measure: EQ-5D) were assessed using data available from two large prospective studies. The three outcome measures were assessed concurrently at a number of fixed follow-up time-points in a consecutive sequence of patients, allowing direct assessment of change from baseline, inter-measure associations and validity using a range of statistical methods. Results: ICECAP-O was not responsive to change. EQ-5D was responsive to change from baseline, with an estimated standardised effect size for the two datasets of 0.676 and 0.644 at six weeks and four weeks respectively; this was almost as responsive to change as OHS (1.14 at four weeks). EQ-5D correlated strongly with OHS; Pearson correlation coefficients were 0.74, 0.77 and 0.70 at baseline, four weeks and four months. EQ-5D is a moderately good predictor of death at 12 months following hip fracture. Furthermore, EQ-5D reported by proxies (relatives and carers) behaves similarly to self-reported scores. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that a general HRQOL tool such as EQ-5D could be used to measure outcome for patients recovering from hip fracture, including those with cognitive impairment

Warwick hip trauma study : a randomised clinical trial comparing interventions to improve outcomes in internally fixed intracapsular fractures of the proximal femur : protocol for The WHiT Study

Background Controversy exists regarding the optimal treatment for patients with displaced intracapsular fractures of the proximal femur. The recognised treatment alternatives are arthroplasty and internal fixation. The principal criticism of internal fixation is the high rate of non-union; up to 30% of patients will have a failure of the fixation leading to revision surgery. We believe that improved fracture healing may lead to a decreased rate of failure of fixation. We therefore propose to investigate strategies to both accelerate fracture healing and improve fixation that may significantly improve outcomes after internal fixation of intracapsular femoral fractures. We aim to test the clinical effectiveness of the osteoinductive agent platelet rich plasma and conduct a pilot study of a novel fixed-angle fixation system. Design We have planned a three arm, single centre, standard-of-care controlled, double blinded, pragmatic, randomised clinical trial. The trial will include a standard two-way comparison between platelet-rich plasma and standard-of-care fixation versus standard-of-care fixation alone. In addition there will be a subsidiary pilot arm testing a fixed-angle screw and plate fixation system

Sense of place on the periphery: Exploring the spatial practices of the creative class in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador

Urban and regional spaces in the early 21st century have been dramatically reshaped by economic performances linked to innovation, knowledge and creativity. Professionals in these sectors, often referred to as the “Creative Class”, are the focus of growing scholarship across the social sciences. Urban geographers, in particular have scrutinized this complex labour category and increasingly question the core spatialities of the concept, including raising awareness of the creative class in rural and peripheral spaces. In this paper, we explore the spatial practices carried out by the creative class in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador—an important yet peripheral urban hub in Atlantic Canada. Drawing upon the findings of interviews with local stakeholders from municipal government; innovation, knowledge and creative industries; and the R&D sector, our analysis points to the existence of a complex and creative “sense of place” that simultaneously envisions a favourable environment for innovation and creativity but that also consistently impedes talent attraction (and retention) from outside the province. Given this context, we highlight two central issues: (i) the proximity to the Atlantic Ocean as an economic and cultural determinant of a “sense of place”; and (ii) the appropriation of this “sense of place” as a spatial practice of the local creative class fed by social and symbolic distinction.Les espaces urbains et régionaux du début du 21e siècle ont été profondément remodelés par les performances économiques liées à l’innovation, la connaissance et la créativité. Les professionnels de ces secteurs, souvent désignés sous le nom de « classe créative », font l’objet d’une recherche croissante dans les sciences sociales.  Les géographes urbains, en particulier, ont scruté cette catégorie de travail complexe et remettent de plus en plus en question les spatialités fondamentales du concept, y compris, la sensibilisation à la classe créative dans les espaces ruraux et périphériques.  Dans cet article, nous explorons les pratiques spatiales mises en œuvre par la classe créative à St-John’s, Terre-Neuve et Labrador – un centre urbain important et périphérique au Canada atlantique. En s’appuyant sur les résultats des entretiens avec les auteurs locaux du gouvernement municipal; l’innovation, la connaissance et les industries créatives; et le secteur de la recherche  et développement, notre analyse souligne l’existence d’un « sens du lieu » complexe et créatif qui envisage simultanément un environnement favorable à la créativité, mais qui entrave aussi constamment l’attraction (et la rétention) de talents de l’extérieur de la province.  Dans ce contexte, nous soulignons deux enjeux centraux : i) la proximité de l’océan Atlantique en tant que déterminant économique et culturel d’un « sens de lieu »; et (ii) l’appropriation de ce « sens de lieu » comme pratique spatiale de classe créative locale nourrie de distinction sociale et symbolique

An evaluation of the quality of statistical design and analysis of published medical research : results from a systematic survey of general orthopaedic journals

Background: The application of statistics in reported research in trauma and orthopaedic surgery has become ever more important and complex. Despite the extensive use of statistical analysis, it is still a subject which is often not conceptually well understood, resulting in clear methodological flaws and inadequate reporting in many papers. Methods: A detailed statistical survey sampled 100 representative orthopaedic papers using a validated questionnaire that assessed the quality of the trial design and statistical analysis methods. Results: The survey found evidence of failings in study design, statistical methodology and presentation of the results. Overall, in 17% (95% confidence interval; 10–26%) of the studies investigated the conclusions were not clearly justified by the results, in 39% (30–49%) of studies a different analysis should have been undertaken and in 17% (10–26%) a different analysis could have made a difference to the overall conclusions. Conclusion: It is only by an improved dialogue between statistician, clinician, reviewer and journal editor that the failings in design methodology and analysis highlighted by this survey can be addressed

A randomised controlled trial of total hip arthroplasty versus resurfacing arthroplasty in the treatment of young patients with arthritis of the hip joint

Background: Hip replacement (arthroplasty) surgery is a highly successful treatment for patients with severe symptomatic arthritis of the hip joint. For older patients, several designs of Total Hip Arthroplasty have shown excellent results in terms of both function and value for money. However, in younger more active patients, there is approximately a 50% failure rate at 25 years for traditional implants. Hip resurfacing is a relatively new arthroplasty technique. In a recent review of the literature on resurfacing arthroplasty it was concluded that the short-term functional results appear promising but some potential early disadvantages were identified, including the risk of femoral neck fracture and collapse of the head of the femur. The aim of the current study is to assess whether there is a difference in functional hip scores at one year post-operation between Total Hip Arthroplasty and Resurfacing Arthroplasty. Secondary aims include assessment of complication rates for both procedures as well cost effectiveness. Methods/design: All patients medically fit for surgery and deemed suitable for a resurfacing arthroplasty are eligible to take part in this study. A randomisation sequence will be produced and administered independently. After consenting, all patients will be clinically reviewed and hip function, quality of life and physical activity level will be assessed through questionnaires. The allocated surgery will then be performed with the preferred technique of the surgeon. Six weeks post-operation hip function will be assessed and complications recorded. Three, six and 12 months post-operation hip function, quality of life and physical activity level will be assessed. Additional information about patients' out-of-pocket expenses will also be collected