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Advantech is the world No. 1 industrial PC manufacturer and ranked No. 5 in the list of Best Taiwan Global Brands in 2018 (Interbrand 2018). While the sales of industrial PCs and various IoT sensing/communication devices still account for more than 80% of their annual revenue, Advantech has recognized the importance of the emerging technologies, including cloud computing, IoT, and artificial intelligence, and its impact on both service and manufacturing sections. Since 2014 Advantech has launched an ambitious project in taking the lead in establishing an IoT service platform and managing its ecosystem. This platform enables domain-specific solution integrators to build industry-specific solution ready packages that incorporate devices, cloud storage, and AI techniques in domains such as factories, hospitals, cities, and transportations. The co-creation process, the business models, the difficulties, and the strategies will be addressed in this article.

These case studies illustrate infections encountered in hospitals among patients with compromised immune systems. As a result of immunocompromise, the patients are vulnerable to common and uncommon infections. These cases are carefully chosen to reflect the most frequently encountered infections in the patient population, with an emphasis on illustrations and lucid presentations to explain state-of-the-art approaches in diagnosis and treatment. Common and uncommon presentations of infections are presented while the rare ones are not emphasized. The cases are written and edited by clinicians and experts in the field. Each case highlights the immune dysfunction that uniquely predisposed the patient to the specific infection, and the cases deal with infections in the cancer patient, infections in the solid organ transplant recipient, infections in the stem cell recipient, infections in patients receiving immunosuppressive drugs, and infections in patients with immunocompromise that is caused by miscellaneous conditions.

These case studies illustrate infections encountered in hospitals among patients with compromised immune systems. As a result of immunocompromise, the patients are vulnerable to common and uncommon infections. These cases are carefully chosen to reflect the most frequently encountered infections in the patient population, with an emphasis on illustrations and lucid presentations to explain state-of-the-art approaches in diagnosis and treatment. Common and uncommon presentations of infections are presented while the rare ones are not emphasized. The cases are written and edited by clinicians and experts in the field. Each case highlights the immune dysfunction that uniquely predisposed the patient to the specific infection, and the cases deal with infections in the cancer patient, infections in the solid organ transplant recipient, infections in the stem cell recipient, infections in patients receiving immunosuppressive drugs, and infections in patients with immunocompromise that is caused by miscellaneous conditions.

These case studies illustrate infections encountered in hospitals among patients with compromised immune systems. As a result of immunocompromise, the patients are vulnerable to common and uncommon infections. These cases are carefully chosen to reflect the most frequently encountered infections in the patient population, with an emphasis on illustrations and lucid presentations to explain state-of-the-art approaches in diagnosis and treatment. Common and uncommon presentations of infections are presented while the rare ones are not emphasized. The cases are written and edited by clinicians and experts in the field. Each case highlights the immune dysfunction that uniquely predisposed the patient to the specific infection, and the cases deal with infections in the cancer patient, infections in the solid organ transplant recipient, infections in the stem cell recipient, infections in patients receiving immunosuppressive drugs, and infections in patients with immunocompromise that is caused by miscellaneous conditions.

These case studies illustrate infections encountered in hospitals among patients with compromised immune systems. As a result of immunocompromise, the patients are vulnerable to common and uncommon infections. These cases are carefully chosen to reflect the most frequently encountered infections in the patient population, with an emphasis on illustrations and lucid presentations to explain state-of-the-art approaches in diagnosis and treatment. Common and uncommon presentations of infections are presented while the rare ones are not emphasized. The cases are written and edited by clinicians and experts in the field. Each case highlights the immune dysfunction that uniquely predisposed the patient to the specific infection, and the cases deal with infections in the cancer patient, infections in the solid organ transplant recipient, infections in the stem cell recipient, infections in patients receiving immunosuppressive drugs, and infections in patients with immunocompromise that is caused by miscellaneous conditions.

To determine the important clinical/pathologic prognostic factors and optimal treatment of malignant parotid tumors.This study was a retrospective chart review of 163 patients treated for malignant parotid tumors at two institutions. Of the 163 patients, 91 were treated with surgical resection and radiotherapy (RT), 56 were treated with surgery alone, and 13 were treated with RT alone. The median follow-up was 5.1 years (range, 0-37 years).Locoregional recurrence occurred in 37% of surgery-only, 11% of surgery plus RT, and 15% of RT-only patients (p = 0.001, Pearson's chi-square test). Cox proportional hazard multivariate analysis revealed that increasing age and higher stage were each statistically significantly (p0.05) associated with a poorer overall 5-year survival and cause-specific survival. Only increasing age and the absence of adjuvant RT were shown in Cox proportional hazard multivariate analysis to impact negatively on local failure-free survival.In Cox proportional hazards multivariate analysis, only increasing age and stage were statistically significant prognostic factors for survival. The addition of RT to surgery did not improve overall survival but did reduce locoregional recurrence and improve local failure-free survival.

This report describes the role of endoscopic resection of maxillary ameloblastoma.A 43-year-old female presented with a maxillary ameloblastoma filling the left maxillary sinus and extending into the left nasal cavity and nasopharynx. The sinonasal portion of the tumor was resected endoscopically. A limited transoral resection was then performed to resect the involved teeth and surrounding margin allowing for primary closure without any tumor recurrence or oronasal fistulas on follow-up.Transnasal endoscopic surgery for odontogenic maxillary tumors is less invasive and can reduce the morbidity associated with traditional maxillectomy.

International audience; BioMart Central Portal is a first of its kind, community-driven effort to provide unified access to dozens of biological databases spanning genomics, proteomics, model organisms, cancer data, ontology information and more. Anybody can contribute an independently maintained resource to the Central Portal, allowing it to be exposed to and shared with the research community, and linking it with the other resources in the portal. Users can take advantage of the common interface to quickly utilize different sources without learning a new system for each. The system also simplifies cross-database searches that might otherwise require several complicated steps. Several integrated tools streamline common tasks, such as converting between ID formats and retrieving sequences. The combination of a wide variety of databases, an easy-to-use interface, robust programmatic access and the array of tools make Central Portal a one-stop shop for biological data querying. Here, we describe the structure of Central Portal and show example queries to demonstrate its capabilities. Database URL: http://central.biomart.org.

Threats associated with bioaerosol weapons have been around for several decades and have been mostly associated with terrorist activities or rogue nations. Up to the turn of the millennium, defence concepts against such menaces relied mainly on point or in-situ detection technologies. Over the last 10 years, significant efforts have been deployed by multiple countries to supplement the limited spatial coverage of a network of one or more point bio-detectors using lidar technology. The addition of such technology makes it possible to detect within seconds suspect aerosol clouds over area of several tens of square kilometers and track their trajectories. These additional capabilities are paramount in directing presumptive ID missions, mapping hazardous areas, establishing efficient counter-measures and supporting subsequent forensic investigations. In order to develop such capabilities, Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) and the Chemical, Biological, Radiological-Nuclear, and Explosives Research and Technology Initiative (CRTI) have supported two major demonstrations based on spectrally resolved Laser Induced Fluorescence (LIF) lidar: BioSense, aimed at defence military missions in wide open spaces, and SR-BioSpectra, aimed at surveillance of enclosed or semienclosed wide spaces common to defence and public security missions. This article first reviews briefly the modeling behind these demonstration concepts. Second, the lidar-adapted and the benchtop bioaerosol LIF chambers (BSL1), developed to challenge the constructed detection systems and to accelerate the population of the library of spectral LIF properties of bioaerosols and interferents of interest, will be described. Next, the most recent test and evaluation (T&E) results obtained with SR-BioSpectra and BioSense are reported. Finally, a brief discussion stating the way ahead for a complete defence suite is provided.

Disease remission in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes can be achieved with azanucleosides, which act as pyrimidine analogs and hypomethylating agents. However, despite treatment with azanucleoside induction, patients with myelodysplastic syndromes nearly always relapse. Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) can be curative, but it is risky. Given that azanucleosides affect human leukocyte antigen expression and lymphocyte reactivity, we conducted a retrospective study to define the impact of pre-HCT azanucleoside therapy on post-HCT donor chimerism. Patients receiving azanucleoside induction therapy achieved rapid and high levels of donor chimerism post-transplant. Lineage analysis also found rapid donor chimerism of lymphocyte and granulocyte subsets. These data indicate the feasibility of pretransplant azanucleoside therapy in patients who subsequently receive an HCT.

Introduction of the automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator (AICD) has dramatically affected the surgical treatment of malignant ventricular tachyarrhythmias. The authors continue to perform electrophysiologically directed subendocardial resection (SER) of left ventricular (LV) scars in selected patients, and we revascularize (CABG) those patients undergoing AICD implantation who have significant myocardial ischemia. In an attempt to define the optimal role of each procedure, this report analyzes our 8-year experience with 348 consecutive patients treated surgically for these arrhythmias (SER since 1983 and AICD since 1986). All patients undergoing SER had organized ventricular tachycardia (VT) as a result of myocardial infarction, and most had LV aneurysms; of those undergoing AICD or AICD/CABG, 60% had VT, 15% had ventricular fibrillation, and 25% had both or were noninducible. The thirty-day mortality rate was 1.5% (3/197) for AICD, 5.4% (5/93) for AICD/CABG, and 8.6% (5/58) for SER; these mortality figures are not significant different. Late deaths in all groups were predominantly due to congestive heart failure, and actuarial survival as well as freedom from sudden death was similar between the groups at 4 years. Recurrent VT occurred in 167 of 282 (59%) of long-term survivors of AICD or AICD/CABG during follow-up and in nine of 53 (17%) of those with SER. Forty-eight per cent of survivors of AICD or AICD/CABG required antiarrhythmic medications, whereas only 11% of those with SER required antiarrhythmics. Long-term survival in each group is much higher than that reported for comparable patients with severe LV dysfunction treated medically. In those patients with organized VT and LV aneurysm who are judged able to survive the procedure, SER offers a high likelihood of cure rather than simple prevention of sudden death.

BACKGROUND In animals, parasympathetic nerve fibers that innervate the sinoatrial node can be selectively stimulated to increase atrial cycle length. These nerve fibers course through an epicardial fat pad at the margin of the right superior pulmonary vein, the superior vena cava, and the right atrium. We hypothesized that similar nerves exist and can be selectively stimulated in humans. METHODS AND RESULTS Microscopic examination of fat pads excised from the margin of the right superior pulmonary vein, the superior vena cava, and the right atrium during two human autopsies revealed the presence of nerve fibers and ganglia. We electrically stimulated this epicardial fat pad in 16 patients during cardiac surgery. The fat pads were stimulated with continuous-pulse trains for 15 seconds via a hand-held bipolar electrode using constant current (10-15 mA), constant pulse width (0.02-0.05 msec), and at 6.6, 10, 20, 25, and 30 Hz. The mean atrial cycle length +/- 1 SEM increased from 734 +/- 34 msec at baseline to a maximum of 823 +/- 61 msec at 6.6 Hz, 1,167 +/- 125 msec at 10 Hz, 1,734 +/- 281 msec at 20 Hz, 2,993 +/- 661 msec at 25 Hz, and 2,461 +/- 668 msec at 30 Hz during nerve stimulation. Linear regression analysis showed that the response of atrial cycle length to sinoatrial parasympathetic nerve stimulation was frequency dependent. The maximum response and complete decay of the response occurred within 4-8 seconds of initiation or termination of sinoatrial parasympathetic nerve stimulation. Atrioventricular conduction time and the PR interval did not change during sinoatrial parasympathetic nerve stimulation, even when the atria were paced at the baseline heart rate. CONCLUSIONS Electrical stimulation of parasympathetic nerve fibers in a fat pad near the sinoatrial node increased atrial cycle length without affecting atrioventricular nodal conduction. This is the first study in which such nerve fibers that innervate the sinoatrial node have been selectively stimulated in humans.

A patient receiving bilateral internal mammary implantation (Vineberg's operation) in 1969 was symptom free for a period of 21 years. In 1990 he developed acute myocardial infarction followed by post-infarction angina. Cardiac catheterization revealed severe left main and three vessel disease and patency of both mammary implants which filled the left anterior descending and circumflex coronary arteries via collaterals. Coronary artery bypass surgery was indicated due to the native coronary artery disease and inability of the internal mammary grafts' blood flow to alleviate symptoms. The patient underwent direct coronary artery bypass grafting utilizing femoral vessels for cannulation and saphenous veins for grafting, while preserving the mammary implants. This unique case attests to the longevity of the internal mammary artery grafts. These grafts, even if directly implanted, can serve as a crucial source of blood to an otherwise severely under-perfused myocardium. Strategy and technical aspects of surgical redo in patients who underwent Vineberg's operation are discussed.

Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) is a common condition in the aging spine. DISH is associated with large anterior osteophytes of the cervical spine, which can cause complications by compressing adjoining structures. Dysphagia is reported in up to 28% of patients, but respiratory compromise is rare. There have been no published recommendations for treatment.To report that resection of cervical osteophytes, without cervical fusion, can be successful in the treatment of severe respiratory distress.This report describes the management of a patient with DISH and severe respiratory distress resulting from large anterior cervical osteophytes.A team approach was used with collaboration between the orthopedic spine surgeons and the otolaryngologists.This patient was found to have compression of her posterior pharyngeal wall by the osteophytes. Tracheostomy was required for the management of the airway. The patient was dependent on the tracheostomy until the osteophytes were resected. The patient was then able to breathe normally. Treatment recommendations were developed based on this case of osteophyte-induced respiratory compromise as well as the previously published accounts of osteophyte-induced dysphagia.Airway obstruction resulting from DISH can be treated according to the same principles as dysphagia resulting from DISH: surgical excision of osteophytes if conservative support fails.

The Kantrowitz CardioVAD (KCV) is an electrically powered, pneumatically driven circulatory assist device which provides diastolic augmentation and systolic unloading to the failing heart. It consists of a 60cc-pumping chamber, a percutaneous access device (PAD), and an external controller. The pumping chamber, is surgically implanted in the descending thoracic aorta with the patient on cardiopulmonary bypass. Its physiologic function is analogous to that of the intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP).Between 1997 and 2000, 5 men (age 59 to 73) with end-stage cardiomyopathy refractory to maximal drug treatment and with documented hemodynamic improvement on an IABP were enrolled in a feasibility study.Mean bypass time was 157 minute (range 120 to 196 minute); mean cross-clamp time was 101 minute (range 69 to 144). Patient 1 died intra-operatively. Compared with preoperative values, at 1 month, cardiac index increased (1.7 to 2.6 L/min/m(2)) and there were significant decreases in creatinine (2.6 to 1.5 mg/dL), pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) (32 to 14 mm Hg), and right atrial pressure (RA) (19 to 9 mm Hg). NYHA class improved (IV to II). The mean increase in cardiac index with the KCV OFF to ON was 0.53 L/min/m(2) (36%). Two patients were discharged home. The device was used intermittently without thromboembolic complications. The only device related complications were attributed to PAD design and have been corrected. CONCLUSION Our initial human trial demonstrates successful implantation of the KCV in end-stage patients, the ability of the device to be used intermittently without anticoagulation, and documents hemodynamic and functional improvement in the status of these patients.

Well done designs and well equipped machines are only half the way to reproducible and stable quality of a coating production. To achieve this aim it is also necessary to have a complex production management system to one's disposal, including recipe management, machinery management and quality assurance. Most production errors and rejects are caused by wrong handling, which can be leaded back to a lack of actual information, or by errors of measurement-systems and by fails of equipment during a coating process. So, the very simple rules one has to observe are: 1.) Transfer really all necessary information about the process to operator and to machine and force the operator to read this information, by using an online-checklist during charging a batch. 2.) Never trust in a single measurement-result of your plant-equipment, without a cross-check to independent generated data's; redundancy is the magic word for process-assurance. 3.) Check the status of your equipment as often as possible; integrate a maintenance plan in your plant control and let the machine record all parameters, which are relevant for wearing parts or media. This essay will show, how to organize your recipe parameters, transfering information to plant and operator, methods for redundancy and cross-checks of parameters, and an example for a complex coating system based on a LH-A700QE.

One of the more challenging problems to handle in a university computing center is how to schedule the use of scarce computing resources fairly among the various elements of the customer community. The researcher community on our campus does a good job of monitoring for possible "holes" in our resource allocation schemes that might be exploited to the benefit of some ... and the detriment of others. This paper discusses the MVS scheduling problem we encountered and describes the approach taken to solve it.

A 48-year-old nondiabetic man maintained on prednisone, azathioprine, and cyclosporine after cadaveric renal transplantation developed multiple unilateral phycomycotic pulmonary abscesses. Despite treatment with amphotericin B the patient remained febrile. Surgical resection of these pulmonary abscesses was performed and the patient remains free of disease 1 year after operation. To our knowledge, this patient represents the first reported case of pulmonary phycomycosis in a recipient of renal transplantation without diabetes mellitus.

Purpose The Kantrowitz CardioVAD TM (KCV) is an electrically powered, pneumatically driven circulatory assist device which provides diastolic augmentation and systolic unloading to the failing heart. It consists of a 60cc-pumping chamber, a percutaneous access device (PAD), and an external controller. The pumping chamber, is surgically implanted in the descending thoracic aorta with the patient on cardiopulmonary bypass. Its physiologic function is analogous to that of the intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP). Methods Between 1997 and 2000, 5 men (age 59 to 73) with end-stage cardiomyopathy refractory to maximal drug treatment and with documented hemodynamic improvement on an IABP were enrolled in a feasibility study. Results Mean bypass time was 157 minute (range 120 to 196 minute); mean cross-clamp time was 101 minute (range 69 to 144). Patient 1 died intra-operatively. Compared with preoperative values, at 1 month, cardiac index increased (1.7 to 2.6 L/min/m 2 ) and there were significant decreases in creatinine (2.6 to 1.5 mg/dL), pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) (32 to 14 mm Hg), and right atrial pressure (RA) (19 to 9 mm Hg). NYHA class improved (IV to II). The mean increase in cardiac index with the KCV OFF to ON was 0.53 L/min/m 2 (36%). Two patients were discharged home. The device was used intermittently without thromboembolic complications. The only device related complications were attributed to PAD design and have been corrected. Conclusion Our initial human trial demonstrates successful implantation of the KCV in end-stage patients, the ability of the device to be used intermittently without anticoagulation, and documents hemodynamic and functional improvement in the status of these patients.

International audience; The International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) was launched to coordinate large-scale cancer genome studies in tumors from 50 different cancer types and/or subtypes that are of clinical and societal importance across the globe. Systematic studies of over 25,000 cancer genomes at the genomic, epigenomic, and transcriptomic levels will reveal the repertoire of oncogenic mutations, uncover traces of the mutagenic influences, define clinically-relevant subtypes for prognosis and therapeutic management, and enable the development of new cancer therapies.