Soccer injuries in female youth players: comparison of injury surveillance by certified athletic trainers and internet.

PubMed

Schiff, Melissa A; Mack, Christopher D; Polissar, Nayak L; Levy, Marni R; Dow, Sara P; O'Kane, John W

2010-01-01

Few authors have evaluated sports injury-surveillance systems that use parental, Internet-based surveys for data collection. To determine whether certified athletic trainers (ATs) and parental, Internet-based surveys provided comparable data for identifying soccer injuries. Prospective feasibility cohort study. A soccer association in Seattle, Washington. Eighty female youth soccer players, ages 12 to 14 years. We compared the data provided by ATs attending 1 soccer practice per week with a weekly soccer-parent, Internet-based system. We measured athlete-exposure hours (AEHs) for each player. We compared injury rates reported by ATs only, Internet-based surveys only, and both systems combined. We evaluated the 2 surveillance systems for agreement on injured body region and laterality of injury using the kappa statistic. For ATs only, Internet-based surveys only, and both systems combined, we found acute injury rates of 3.0 per 1000 AEHs, 3.9 per 1000 AEHs, and 4.7 per 1000 AEHs and overuse injury rates of 1.0 per 1000 AEHs, 2.9 per 1000 AEHs, and 2.9 per 1000 AEHs, respectively. Players sustained 27 acute injuries (44% ankle, 11% knee, 11% hip) reported by at least 1 of the 2 systems, with 63% reported by ATs and 85% by Internet-based survey. Players sustained 17 overuse injuries (35% knee, 29% lower leg) reported by either system, with 35% reported by ATs and 100% by Internet-based survey. Among players for whom we had both ATs' and Internet-based survey injury data, body region injured and laterality had very good agreement (kappa = 0.73 to 1.0). The injury rate based on the weekly parental, Internet-based survey was similar to the rate based on the ATs' reporting and had comparable classifications of injured body region and laterality of injury.

Design of ACM system based on non-greedy punctured LDPC codes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, Zijun; Jiang, Zihong; Zhou, Lin; He, Yucheng

2017-08-01

In this paper, an adaptive coded modulation (ACM) scheme based on rate-compatible LDPC (RC-LDPC) codes was designed. The RC-LDPC codes were constructed by a non-greedy puncturing method which showed good performance in high code rate region. Moreover, the incremental redundancy scheme of LDPC-based ACM system over AWGN channel was proposed. By this scheme, code rates vary from 2/3 to 5/6 and the complication of the ACM system is lowered. Simulations show that more and more obvious coding gain can be obtained by the proposed ACM system with higher throughput.

Equipment management risk rating system based on engineering endpoints.

PubMed

James, P J

1999-01-01

The equipment management risk ratings system outlined here offers two significant departures from current practice: risk classifications are based on intrinsic device risks, and the risk rating system is based on engineering endpoints. Intrinsic device risks are categorized as physical, clinical and technical, and these flow from the incoming equipment assessment process. Engineering risk management is based on verification of engineering endpoints such as clinical measurements or energy delivery. This practice eliminates the ambiguity associated with ranking risk in terms of physiologic and higher-level outcome endpoints such as no significant hazards, low significance, injury, or mortality.

Iowa Child Care Quality Rating System: QRS Profile. The Child Care Quality Rating System (QRS) Assessment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Child Trends, 2010

2010-01-01

This paper presents a profile of Iowa's Child Care Quality Rating System prepared as part of the Child Care Quality Rating System (QRS) Assessment Study. The profile is divided into the following categories: (1) Program Information; (2) Rating Details; (3) Quality Indicators for Center-Based Programs; (4) Indicators for Family Child Care Programs;…

Louisiana Quality Start Child Care Rating System: QRS Profile. The Child Care Quality Rating System (QRS) Assessment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Child Trends, 2010

2010-01-01

This paper presents a profile of Louisiana's Quality Start Child Care Rating System prepared as part of the Child Care Quality Rating System (QRS) Assessment Study. The profile consists of several sections and their corresponding descriptions including: (1) Program Information; (2) Rating Details; (3) Quality Indicators for Center-Based Programs;…

Towards collaborative filtering recommender systems for tailored health communications.

PubMed

Marlin, Benjamin M; Adams, Roy J; Sadasivam, Rajani; Houston, Thomas K

2013-01-01

The goal of computer tailored health communications (CTHC) is to promote healthy behaviors by sending messages tailored to individual patients. Current CTHC systems collect baseline patient "profiles" and then use expert-written, rule-based systems to target messages to subsets of patients. Our main interest in this work is the study of collaborative filtering-based CTHC systems that can learn to tailor future message selections to individual patients based explicit feedback about past message selections. This paper reports the results of a study designed to collect explicit feedback (ratings) regarding four aspects of messages from 100 subjects in the smoking cessation support domain. Our results show that most users have positive opinions of most messages and that the ratings for all four aspects of the messages are highly correlated with each other. Finally, we conduct a range of rating prediction experiments comparing several different model variations. Our results show that predicting future ratings based on each user's past ratings contributes the most to predictive accuracy.

Towards Collaborative Filtering Recommender Systems for Tailored Health Communications

PubMed Central

Marlin, Benjamin M.; Adams, Roy J.; Sadasivam, Rajani; Houston, Thomas K.

2013-01-01

The goal of computer tailored health communications (CTHC) is to promote healthy behaviors by sending messages tailored to individual patients. Current CTHC systems collect baseline patient “profiles” and then use expert-written, rule-based systems to target messages to subsets of patients. Our main interest in this work is the study of collaborative filtering-based CTHC systems that can learn to tailor future message selections to individual patients based explicit feedback about past message selections. This paper reports the results of a study designed to collect explicit feedback (ratings) regarding four aspects of messages from 100 subjects in the smoking cessation support domain. Our results show that most users have positive opinions of most messages and that the ratings for all four aspects of the messages are highly correlated with each other. Finally, we conduct a range of rating prediction experiments comparing several different model variations. Our results show that predicting future ratings based on each user’s past ratings contributes the most to predictive accuracy. PMID:24551430

Hybrid attacks on model-based social recommender systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Junliang; Gao, Min; Rong, Wenge; Li, Wentao; Xiong, Qingyu; Wen, Junhao

2017-10-01

With the growing popularity of the online social platform, the social network based approaches to recommendation emerged. However, because of the open nature of rating systems and social networks, the social recommender systems are susceptible to malicious attacks. In this paper, we present a certain novel attack, which inherits characteristics of the rating attack and the relation attack, and term it hybrid attack. Furtherly, we explore the impact of the hybrid attack on model-based social recommender systems in multiple aspects. The experimental results show that, the hybrid attack is more destructive than the rating attack in most cases. In addition, users and items with fewer ratings will be influenced more when attacked. Last but not the least, the findings suggest that spammers do not depend on the feedback links from normal users to become more powerful, the unilateral links can make the hybrid attack effective enough. Since unilateral links are much cheaper, the hybrid attack will be a great threat to model-based social recommender systems.

Study on data acquisition system based on reconfigurable cache technology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Qinchuan; Li, Min; Jiang, Jun

2018-03-01

Waveform capture rate is one of the key features of digital acquisition systems, which represents the waveform processing capability of the system in a unit time. The higher the waveform capture rate is, the larger the chance to capture elusive events is and the more reliable the test result is. First, this paper analyzes the impact of several factors on the waveform capture rate of the system, then the novel technology based on reconfigurable cache is further proposed to optimize system architecture, and the simulation results show that the signal-to-noise ratio of signal, capacity, and structure of cache have significant effects on the waveform capture rate. Finally, the technology is demonstrated by the engineering practice, and the results show that the waveform capture rate of the system is improved substantially without significant increase of system's cost, and the technology proposed has a broad application prospect.

Triboelectric Nanogenerator Enabled Body Sensor Network for Self-Powered Human Heart-Rate Monitoring.

PubMed

Lin, Zhiming; Chen, Jun; Li, Xiaoshi; Zhou, Zhihao; Meng, Keyu; Wei, Wei; Yang, Jin; Wang, Zhong Lin

2017-09-26

Heart-rate monitoring plays a critical role in personal healthcare management. A low-cost, noninvasive, and user-friendly heart-rate monitoring system is highly desirable. Here, a self-powered wireless body sensor network (BSN) system is developed for heart-rate monitoring via integration of a downy-structure-based triboelectric nanogenerator (D-TENG), a power management circuit, a heart-rate sensor, a signal processing unit, and Bluetooth module for wireless data transmission. By converting the inertia energy of human walking into electric power, a maximum power of 2.28 mW with total conversion efficiency of 57.9% was delivered at low operation frequency, which is capable of immediately and sustainably driving the highly integrated BSN system. The acquired heart-rate signal by the sensor would be processed in the signal process circuit, sent to an external device via the Bluetooth module, and displayed on a personal cell phone in a real-time manner. Moreover, by combining a TENG-based generator and a TENG-based sensor, an all-TENG-based wireless BSN system was developed, realizing continuous and self-powered heart-rate monitoring. This work presents a potential method for personal heart-rate monitoring, featured as being self-powered, cost-effective, noninvasive, and user-friendly.

Eyewitness identification: Bayesian information gain, base-rate effect equivalency curves, and reasonable suspicion.

PubMed

Wells, Gary L; Yang, Yueran; Smalarz, Laura

2015-04-01

We provide a novel Bayesian treatment of the eyewitness identification problem as it relates to various system variables, such as instruction effects, lineup presentation format, lineup-filler similarity, lineup administrator influence, and show-ups versus lineups. We describe why eyewitness identification is a natural Bayesian problem and how numerous important observations require careful consideration of base rates. Moreover, we argue that the base rate in eyewitness identification should be construed as a system variable (under the control of the justice system). We then use prior-by-posterior curves and information-gain curves to examine data obtained from a large number of published experiments. Next, we show how information-gain curves are moderated by system variables and by witness confidence and we note how information-gain curves reveal that lineups are consistently more proficient at incriminating the guilty than they are at exonerating the innocent. We then introduce a new type of analysis that we developed called base rate effect-equivalency (BREE) curves. BREE curves display how much change in the base rate is required to match the impact of any given system variable. The results indicate that even relatively modest changes to the base rate can have more impact on the reliability of eyewitness identification evidence than do the traditional system variables that have received so much attention in the literature. We note how this Bayesian analysis of eyewitness identification has implications for the question of whether there ought to be a reasonable-suspicion criterion for placing a person into the jeopardy of an identification procedure. (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved).

Base Rates of Social Skills Acquisition/Performance Deficits, Strengths, and Problem Behaviors: An Analysis of the Social Skills Improvement System-Rating Scales

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gresham, Frank M.; Elliott, Stephen N.; Kettler, Ryan J.

2010-01-01

Base rate information is important in clinical assessment because one cannot know how unusual or typical a phenomenon is without first knowing its base rate in the population. This study empirically determined the base rates of social skills acquisition and performance deficits, social skills strengths, and problem behaviors using a nationally…

A comprehensive study of sampling-based optimum signal detection in concentration-encoded molecular communication.

PubMed

Mahfuz, Mohammad U; Makrakis, Dimitrios; Mouftah, Hussein T

2014-09-01

In this paper, a comprehensive analysis of the sampling-based optimum signal detection in ideal (i.e., free) diffusion-based concentration-encoded molecular communication (CEMC) system has been presented. A generalized amplitude-shift keying (ASK)-based CEMC system has been considered in diffusion-based noise and intersymbol interference (ISI) conditions. Information is encoded by modulating the amplitude of the transmission rate of information molecules at the TN. The critical issues involved in the sampling-based receiver thus developed are addressed in detail, and its performance in terms of the number of samples per symbol, communication range, and transmission data rate is evaluated. ISI produced by the residual molecules deteriorates the performance of the CEMC system significantly, which further deteriorates when the communication range and/or the transmission data rate increase(s). In addition, the performance of the optimum receiver depends on the receiver's ability to compute the ISI accurately, thus providing a trade-off between receiver complexity and achievable bit error rate (BER). Exact and approximate detection performances have been derived. Finally, it is found that the sampling-based signal detection scheme thus developed can be applied to both binary and multilevel (M-ary) ASK-based CEMC systems, although M-ary systems suffer more from higher BER.

Rating Pregnancy Wheel Applications Using the APPLICATIONS Scoring System.

PubMed

Chyjek, Kathy; Farag, Sara; Chen, Katherine T

2015-06-01

To identify the top-rated pregnancy wheel applications (apps) using a newly developed APPLICATIONS scoring system. A list of pregnancy wheel apps was identified. Consumer-based and inaccurate apps were excluded. The APPLICATIONS scoring system was developed to rate the remaining apps. Application comprehensiveness was evaluated. Objective rating components included price, paid subscription, literature used, in-app purchases, connectivity to the Internet, advertisements, text search field, interdevice compatibility, and other components such as images or figures, videos, and special features. Subjective rating components were ease of navigation and subjective presentation. A complete list of 55 pregnancy wheel apps was created from three sources. Thirty-nine (71%) were consumer-based, inaccurate, or both, leaving 16 (29%) for analysis using the APPLICATIONS scoring system. More than two thirds of pregnancy wheel apps were excluded from our study secondary to being consumer-based, inaccurate, or both. This highlights the importance of identifying systematically, reviewing critically, and rating the thousands of available apps to health care providers to ensure accuracy and applicability. We propose that our APPLICATIONS scoring system be used to rate apps in all specialties with the goal of improving health care provider performance and thereby patient outcomes. III.

Rate Analysis of Two Photovoltaic Systems in San Diego

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Doris, E.; Ong, S.; Van Geet, O.

2009-07-01

Analysts have found increasing evidence that rate structure has impacts on the economics of solar systems. This paper uses 2007 15-minute interval photovoltaic (PV) system and load data from two San Diego City water treatment facilities to illustrate impacts of different rate designs. The comparison is based on rates available in San Diego at the time of data collection and include proportionately small to large demand charges (relative to volumetric consumption), and varying on- and off- peak times. Findings are twofold for these large commercial systems: 1) transferring costs into demand charges does not result in savings and 2) changesmore » in peak times do not result in a major cost difference during the course of a year. While lessons learned and discussion on rate components are based on the findings, the applicability is limited to buildings with similar systems, environments, rate options, and loads.« less

Soccer Injuries in Female Youth Players: Comparison of Injury Surveillance by Certified Athletic Trainers and Internet

PubMed Central

Schiff, Melissa A.; Mack, Christopher D.; Polissar, Nayak L.; Levy, Marni R.; Dow, Sara P.; O'Kane, John W.

2010-01-01

Abstract Context: Few authors have evaluated sports injury-surveillance systems that use parental, Internet-based surveys for data collection. Objective: To determine whether certified athletic trainers (ATs) and parental, Internet-based surveys provided comparable data for identifying soccer injuries. Design: Prospective feasibility cohort study. Setting: A soccer association in Seattle, Washington. Patients or Other Participants: Eighty female youth soccer players, ages 12 to 14 years. Main Outcome Measure(s): We compared the data provided by ATs attending 1 soccer practice per week with a weekly soccer-parent, Internet-based system. We measured athlete-exposure hours (AEHs) for each player. We compared injury rates reported by ATs only, Internet-based surveys only, and both systems combined. We evaluated the 2 surveillance systems for agreement on injured body region and laterality of injury using the κ statistic. Results: For ATs only, Internet-based surveys only, and both systems combined, we found acute injury rates of 3.0 per 1000 AEHs, 3.9 per 1000 AEHs, and 4.7 per 1000 AEHs and overuse injury rates of 1.0 per 1000 AEHs, 2.9 per 1000 AEHs, and 2.9 per 1000 AEHs, respectively. Players sustained 27 acute injuries (44% ankle, 11% knee, 11% hip) reported by at least 1 of the 2 systems, with 63% reported by ATs and 85% by Internet-based survey. Players sustained 17 overuse injuries (35% knee, 29% lower leg) reported by either system, with 35% reported by ATs and 100% by Internet-based survey. Among players for whom we had both ATs' and Internet-based survey injury data, body region injured and laterality had very good agreement (κ  =  0.73 to 1.0). Conclusions: The injury rate based on the weekly parental, Internet-based survey was similar to the rate based on the ATs' reporting and had comparable classifications of injured body region and laterality of injury. PMID:20446836

System and method for determining an ammonia generation rate in a three-way catalyst

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sun, Min; Perry, Kevin L; Kim, Chang H

A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a rate determination module, a storage level determination module, and an air/fuel ratio control module. The rate determination module determines an ammonia generation rate in a three-way catalyst based on a reaction efficiency and a reactant level. The storage level determination module determines an ammonia storage level in a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst positioned downstream from the three-way catalyst based on the ammonia generation rate. The air/fuel ratio control module controls an air/fuel ratio of an engine based on the ammonia storage level.

Mississippi Quality Step System: QRS Profile. The Child Care Quality Rating System (QRS)Assessment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Child Trends, 2010

2010-01-01

This paper presents a profile of Mississippi's Quality Step System prepared as part of the Child Care Quality Rating System (QRS) Assessment Study. The profile consists of several sections and their corresponding descriptions including: (1) Program Information; (2) Rating Details; (3) Quality Indicators for Center-Based Programs; (4) Application…

A 100J-level nanosecond pulsed DPSSL for pumping high-efficiency, high-repetition rate PW-class lasers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

De Vido, M.; Ertel, K.; Mason, P. D.; Banerjee, S.; Phillips, P. J.; Smith, J. M.; Butcher, T. J.; Chekhlov, O.; Divoky, M.; Pilar, J.; Hooker, C.; Shaikh, W.; Lucianetti, A.; Hernandez-Gomez, C.; Mocek, T.; Edwards, C.; Collier, J. L.

2017-02-01

In this paper, we review the development, at the STFC's Central Laser Facility (CLF), of high energy, high repetition rate diode-pumped solid-state laser (DPSSL) systems based on cryogenically-cooled multi-slab ceramic Yb:YAG. Up to date, two systems have been completed, namely the DiPOLE prototype and the DiPOLE100 system. The DiPOLE prototype has demonstrated amplification of nanosecond pulses in excess of 10 J at 10 Hz repetition rate with an opticalto- optical efficiency of 22%. The larger scale DiPOLE100 system, designed to deliver 100J temporally-shaped nanosecond pulses at 10 Hz repetition rate, has been developed at the CLF for the HiLASE project in the Czech Republic. Recent experiments conducted on the DiPOLE100 system demonstrated the energy scalability of the DiPOLE concept to the 100 J pulse energy level. Furthermore, second harmonic generation experiments carried out on the DiPOLE prototype confirmed the suitability of DiPOLE-based systems for pumping high repetition rate PW-class laser systems based on Ti:sapphire or optical parametric chirped pulse amplification (OPCPA) technology.

Nap environment control considering respiration rate and music tempo by using sensor agent robot

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nakaso, Sayaka; Mita, Akira

2015-03-01

We propose a system that controls a nap environment considering respiration rates and music tempo by using a sensor agent robot. The proposed system consists of two sub-systems. The first sub-system measures respiration rates using optical flow. We conducted preparatory experiments to verify the accuracy of this sub-system. The experimental results showed that this sub-system can measure the respiration rates accurately despite several positional relationships. It was also shown that the accuracy could be affected by clothes, movements and light. The second sub-system we constructed was the music play sub-system that chooses music with the certain tempo corresponding to the respiration rates measured by the first sub-system. We conducted verification experiments to verify the effectiveness of this music play sub-system. The experimental results showed the effectiveness of varying music tempo based on the respiration rates in taking a nap. We also demonstrated this system in a real environment; a subject entered into the room being followed by ebioNα. When the subject was considered sleeping, ebioNα started measuring respiration rates, controlling music based on the respiration rates. As a result, we showed that this system could be realized. As a next step, we would like to improve this system to a nap environment control system to be used in offices. To realize this, we need to update the first sub-system measuring respiration rates by removing disturbances. We also need to upgrade music play sub-system considering the numbers of tunes, the kinds of music and time to change music.

Effects of the DRG-based prospective payment system operated by the voluntarily participating providers on the cesarean section rates in Korea.

PubMed

Lee, Kwangsoo; Lee, Sangil

2007-05-01

This study explored the effects of the diagnosis-related group (DRG)-based prospective payment system (PPS) operated by voluntarily participating organizations on the cesarean section (CS) rates, and analyzed whether the participating health care organizations had similar CS rates despite the varied participation periods. The study sample included delivery claims data from the Korean national health insurance program for the year 2003. Risk factors were identified and used in the adjustment model to distinguish the main reason for CS. Their risk-adjusted CS rates were compared by the reimbursement methods, and the organizations' internal and external environments were controlled. The final risk-adjustment model for the CS rates meets the criteria for an effective model. There were no significant differences of CS rates between providers in the DRG and fee-for-service system after controlling for organizational variables. The CS rates did not vary significantly depending on the providers' DRG participation periods. The results provide evidence that the DRG payment system operated by volunteering health care organizations had no impact on the CS rates, which can lower the quality of care. Although the providers joined the DRG system in different years, there were no differences in the CS rates among the DRG providers. These results support the future expansion of the DRG-based PPS plan to all health care services in Korea.

Image compression system and method having optimized quantization tables

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ratnakar, Viresh (Inventor); Livny, Miron (Inventor)

1998-01-01

A digital image compression preprocessor for use in a discrete cosine transform-based digital image compression device is provided. The preprocessor includes a gathering mechanism for determining discrete cosine transform statistics from input digital image data. A computing mechanism is operatively coupled to the gathering mechanism to calculate a image distortion array and a rate of image compression array based upon the discrete cosine transform statistics for each possible quantization value. A dynamic programming mechanism is operatively coupled to the computing mechanism to optimize the rate of image compression array against the image distortion array such that a rate-distortion-optimal quantization table is derived. In addition, a discrete cosine transform-based digital image compression device and a discrete cosine transform-based digital image compression and decompression system are provided. Also, a method for generating a rate-distortion-optimal quantization table, using discrete cosine transform-based digital image compression, and operating a discrete cosine transform-based digital image compression and decompression system are provided.

A high-rate PCI-based telemetry processor system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Turri, R.

2002-07-01

The high performances reached by the Satellite on-board telemetry generation and transmission, as consequently, will impose the design of ground facilities with higher processing capabilities at low cost to allow a good diffusion of these ground station. The equipment normally used are based on complex, proprietary bus and computing architectures that prevent the systems from exploiting the continuous and rapid increasing in computing power available on market. The PCI bus systems now allow processing of high-rate data streams in a standard PC-system. At the same time the Windows NT operating system supports multitasking and symmetric multiprocessing, giving the capability to process high data rate signals. In addition, high-speed networking, 64 bit PCI-bus technologies and the increase in processor power and software, allow creating a system based on COTS products (which in future may be easily and inexpensively upgraded). In the frame of EUCLID RTP 9.8 project, a specific work element was dedicated to develop the architecture of a system able to acquire telemetry data of up to 600 Mbps. Laben S.p.A - a Finmeccanica Company -, entrusted of this work, has designed a PCI-based telemetry system making possible the communication between a satellite down-link and a wide area network at the required rate.

FPGA based digital phase-coding quantum key distribution system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, XiaoMing; Zhang, LiJun; Wang, YongGang; Chen, Wei; Huang, DaJun; Li, Deng; Wang, Shuang; He, DeYong; Yin, ZhenQiang; Zhou, Yu; Hui, Cong; Han, ZhengFu

2015-12-01

Quantum key distribution (QKD) is a technology with the potential capability to achieve information-theoretic security. Phasecoding is an important approach to develop practical QKD systems in fiber channel. In order to improve the phase-coding modulation rate, we proposed a new digital-modulation method in this paper and constructed a compact and robust prototype of QKD system using currently available components in our lab to demonstrate the effectiveness of the method. The system was deployed in laboratory environment over a 50 km fiber and continuously operated during 87 h without manual interaction. The quantum bit error rate (QBER) of the system was stable with an average value of 3.22% and the secure key generation rate is 8.91 kbps. Although the modulation rate of the photon in the demo system was only 200 MHz, which was limited by the Faraday-Michelson interferometer (FMI) structure, the proposed method and the field programmable gate array (FPGA) based electronics scheme have a great potential for high speed QKD systems with Giga-bits/second modulation rate.

A biometric identification system based on eigenpalm and eigenfinger features.

PubMed

Ribaric, Slobodan; Fratric, Ivan

2005-11-01

This paper presents a multimodal biometric identification system based on the features of the human hand. We describe a new biometric approach to personal identification using eigenfinger and eigenpalm features, with fusion applied at the matching-score level. The identification process can be divided into the following phases: capturing the image; preprocessing; extracting and normalizing the palm and strip-like finger subimages; extracting the eigenpalm and eigenfinger features based on the K-L transform; matching and fusion; and, finally, a decision based on the (k, l)-NN classifier and thresholding. The system was tested on a database of 237 people (1,820 hand images). The experimental results showed the effectiveness of the system in terms of the recognition rate (100 percent), the equal error rate (EER = 0.58 percent), and the total error rate (TER = 0.72 percent).

Testability analysis on a hydraulic system in a certain equipment based on simulation model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Rui; Cong, Hua; Liu, Yuanhong; Feng, Fuzhou

2018-03-01

Aiming at the problem that the complicated structure and the shortage of fault statistics information in hydraulic systems, a multi value testability analysis method based on simulation model is proposed. Based on the simulation model of AMESim, this method injects the simulated faults and records variation of test parameters ,such as pressure, flow rate, at each test point compared with those under normal conditions .Thus a multi-value fault-test dependency matrix is established. Then the fault detection rate (FDR) and fault isolation rate (FIR) are calculated based on the dependency matrix. Finally the system of testability and fault diagnosis capability are analyzed and evaluated, which can only reach a lower 54%(FDR) and 23%(FIR). In order to improve testability performance of the system,. number and position of the test points are optimized on the system. Results show the proposed test placement scheme can be used to solve the problems that difficulty, inefficiency and high cost in the system maintenance.

Rate My Information Systems Professor: Exploring the Factors That Influence Student Ratings

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sena, Mark; Crable, Elaine

2017-01-01

Based on 820 entries on Ratemyprofessors.com, we explore whether information systems course ratings differ from those in marketing or management courses, whether lower level course ratings differ from those in senior or graduate level courses, whether course ratings differ between genders, and whether perceived course difficulty impacts course…

Intrapartum fetal heart rate monitoring: evaluation of a standardized system of interpretation for prediction of metabolic acidosis at delivery and neonatal neurological morbidity.

PubMed

Soncini, Emanuele; Paganelli, Simone; Vezzani, Cristina; Gargano, Giancarlo; Giovanni Battista, La Sala

2014-09-01

To assess the ability of the intrapartum fetal heart rate interpretation system developed in 2008 by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) to predict fetal metabolic acidosis at delivery and neonatal neurological morbidity. We analyzed the intrapartum fetal heart rate tracings of 314 singleton fetuses at ≥ 37 weeks using the NICHD three-tier system of interpretation: Category I (normal), Category II (indeterminate) and Category III (abnormal). Category II was further divided into Category IIA, with moderate fetal heart rate variability or accelerations, and Category IIB, with minimal/absent fetal heart rate variability and no accelerations. The presence and duration of the different patterns were compared with several clinical neonatal outcomes and with umbilical artery acid-base balance at birth. The mean values of pH and base excess decreased proportionally as tracings worsened (p < 0.001). The duration of at least 30 min for Category III tracings was highly predictive of a pH <7.00 and a base excess ≤-12 mmol/L. The same was true for the duration of Category IIB tracings that lasted for at least 50 min. Our study demonstrates that the interpretation of fetal heart rate tracings based on a strictly standardized system is closely associated with umbilical artery acid-base status at delivery.

Biodegradability and platelets adhesion assessment of magnesium-based alloys using a microfluidic system

PubMed Central

Liu, Lumei; Koo, Youngmi; Collins, Boyce; Xu, Zhigang; Sankar, Jagannathan

2017-01-01

Magnesium (Mg)-based stents are extensively explored to alleviate atherosclerosis due to their biodegradability and relative hemocompatibility. To ensure the quality, safety and cost-efficacy of bioresorbable scaffolds and full utilization of the material tunability afforded by alloying, it is critical to access degradability and thrombosis potential of Mg-based alloys using improved in vitro models that mimic as closely as possible the in vivo microenvironment. In this study, we investigated biodegradation and initial thrombogenic behavior of Mg-based alloys at the interface between Mg alloys’ surface and simulated physiological environment using a microfluidic system. The degradation properties of Mg-based alloys WE43, AZ31, ZWEK-L, and ZWEK-C were evaluated in complete culture medium and their thrombosis potentials in platelet rich plasma, respectively. The results show that 1) physiological shear stress increased the corrosion rate and decreased platelets adhesion rate as compared to static immersion; 2) secondary phases and impurities in material composition induced galvanic corrosion, resulting in higher corrosion resistance and platelet adhesion rate; 3) Mg-based alloys with higher corrosion rate showed higher platelets adhesion rate. We conclude that a microfluidic-based in vitro system allows evaluation of biodegradation behaviors and platelets responses of Mg-based alloys under specific shear stress, and degradability is related to platelets adhesion. PMID:28797069

Multi-institutional validation of a web-based core competency assessment system.

PubMed

Tabuenca, Arnold; Welling, Richard; Sachdeva, Ajit K; Blair, Patrice G; Horvath, Karen; Tarpley, John; Savino, John A; Gray, Richard; Gulley, Julie; Arnold, Teresa; Wolfe, Kevin; Risucci, Donald A

2007-01-01

The Association of Program Directors in Surgery and the Division of Education of the American College of Surgeons developed and implemented a web-based system for end-of-rotation faculty assessment of ACGME core competencies of residents. This study assesses its reliability and validity across multiple programs. Each assessment included ratings (1-5 scale) on 23 items reflecting the 6 core competencies. A total of 4241 end-of-rotation assessments were completed for 332 general surgery residents (> or =5 evaluations each) at 5 sites during the 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 academic years. The mean rating for each resident on each item was computed for each academic year. The mean rating of items representing each competency was computed for each resident. Additional data included USMLE and ABSITE scores, PGY, and status in program (categorical, designated preliminary, and undesignated preliminary). Coefficient alpha was greater than 0.90 for each competency score. Mean ratings for each competency increased significantly (p < 0.01) as a function of PGY. Mean ratings for professionalism and interpersonal/communication skills (IPC) were significantly higher than all other competencies at all PGY levels. Competency ratings of PGY 1 residents correlated significantly with USMLE Step I, ranging from (r = 0.26, p < 0.01) for Professionalism to (r = 0.41, p < 0.001) for Systems-Based Practice. Ratings of Knowledge (r = 0.31, p < 0.01), Practice-Based Learning & Improvement (PBLI; r = 0.22, p < 0.05), and Systems-Based Practice (r = 0.20, p < 0.05) correlated significantly with 2005 ABSITE Total Percentile. Ratings of all competencies correlated significantly with the 2006 ABSITE Total Percentile Score (range: r = 0.20, p < 0.05 for professionalism to r = 0.35, p < 0.001 for knowledge). Categorical and designated preliminary residents received significantly higher ratings (p < 0.05) than nondesignated preliminaries for knowledge, patient care, PBLI, and systems-based practice only. Faculty ratings of core competencies are internally consistent. The pattern of statistically significant correlations between competency ratings and USMLE and ABSITE scores supports the postdictive and concurrent validity, respectively, of faculty perceptions of resident knowledge. The pattern of increased ratings as a function of PGY supports the construct validity of faculty ratings of resident core competencies.

A measurement-based performability model for a multiprocessor system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ilsueh, M. C.; Iyer, Ravi K.; Trivedi, K. S.

1987-01-01

A measurement-based performability model based on real error-data collected on a multiprocessor system is described. Model development from the raw errror-data to the estimation of cumulative reward is described. Both normal and failure behavior of the system are characterized. The measured data show that the holding times in key operational and failure states are not simple exponential and that semi-Markov process is necessary to model the system behavior. A reward function, based on the service rate and the error rate in each state, is then defined in order to estimate the performability of the system and to depict the cost of different failure types and recovery procedures.

10 m/25 Gbps LiFi transmission system based on a two-stage injection-locked 680 nm VCSEL transmitter.

PubMed

Lu, Hai-Han; Li, Chung-Yi; Chu, Chien-An; Lu, Ting-Chien; Chen, Bo-Rui; Wu, Chang-Jen; Lin, Dai-Hua

2015-10-01

A 10  m/25  Gbps light-based WiFi (LiFi) transmission system based on a two-stage injection-locked 680 nm vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) transmitter is proposed. A LiFi transmission system with a data rate of 25 Gbps is experimentally demonstrated over a 10 m free-space link. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first time a two-stage injection-locked 680 nm VCSEL transmitter in a 10  m/25  Gbps LiFi transmission system has been employed. Impressive bit error rate performance and a clear eye diagram are achieved in the proposed systems. Such a 10  m/25  Gbps LiFi transmission system provides the advantage of a communication link for higher data rates that could accelerate the deployment of visible laser light communication.

Evaluating user reputation in online rating systems via an iterative group-based ranking method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Jian; Zhou, Tao

2017-05-01

Reputation is a valuable asset in online social lives and it has drawn increased attention. Due to the existence of noisy ratings and spamming attacks, how to evaluate user reputation in online rating systems is especially significant. However, most of the previous ranking-based methods either follow a debatable assumption or have unsatisfied robustness. In this paper, we propose an iterative group-based ranking method by introducing an iterative reputation-allocation process into the original group-based ranking method. More specifically, the reputation of users is calculated based on the weighted sizes of the user rating groups after grouping all users by their rating similarities, and the high reputation users' ratings have larger weights in dominating the corresponding user rating groups. The reputation of users and the user rating group sizes are iteratively updated until they become stable. Results on two real data sets with artificial spammers suggest that the proposed method has better performance than the state-of-the-art methods and its robustness is considerably improved comparing with the original group-based ranking method. Our work highlights the positive role of considering users' grouping behaviors towards a better online user reputation evaluation.

YoungStar in Wisconsin: Analysis of Data as of July 2014. Executive Summary: Key Findings and Analysis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wisconsin Council on Children and Families, 2014

2014-01-01

YoungStar is a five-star quality rating system for child care providers based on education, learning environment, business methods, and practices around child health and well-being. Through this rating system, the state is addressing several key issues in Wisconsin's child care system. The rating system will: (1) Improve the overall quality of…

An expert system for the quantification of fault rates in construction fall accidents.

PubMed

Talat Birgonul, M; Dikmen, Irem; Budayan, Cenk; Demirel, Tuncay

2016-01-01

Expert witness reports, prepared with the aim of quantifying fault rates among parties, play an important role in a court's final decision. However, conflicting fault rates assigned by different expert witness boards lead to iterative objections raised by the related parties. This unfavorable situation mainly originates due to the subjectivity of expert judgments and unavailability of objective information about the causes of accidents. As a solution to this shortcoming, an expert system based on a rule-based system was developed for the quantification of fault rates in construction fall accidents. The aim of developing DsSafe is decreasing the subjectivity inherent in expert witness reports. Eighty-four inspection reports prepared by the official and authorized inspectors were examined and root causes of construction fall accidents in Turkey were identified. Using this information, an evaluation form was designed and submitted to the experts. Experts were asked to evaluate the importance level of the factors that govern fall accidents and determine the fault rates under different scenarios. Based on expert judgments, a rule-based expert system was developed. The accuracy and reliability of DsSafe were tested with real data as obtained from finalized court cases. DsSafe gives satisfactory results.

The Effect Analysis of Strain Rate on Power Transmission Tower-Line System under Seismic Excitation

PubMed Central

Wang, Wenming

2014-01-01

The effect analysis of strain rate on power transmission tower-line system under seismic excitation is studied in this paper. A three-dimensional finite element model of a transmission tower-line system is created based on a real project. Using theoretical analysis and numerical simulation, incremental dynamic analysis of the power transmission tower-line system is conducted to investigate the effect of strain rate on the nonlinear responses of the transmission tower and line. The results show that the effect of strain rate on the transmission tower generally decreases the maximum top displacements, but it would increase the maximum base shear forces, and thus it is necessary to consider the effect of strain rate on the seismic analysis of the transmission tower. The effect of strain rate could be ignored for the seismic analysis of the conductors and ground lines, but the responses of the ground lines considering strain rate effect are larger than those of the conductors. The results could provide a reference for the seismic design of the transmission tower-line system. PMID:25105157

An Integrated Instrumentation System for Velocity, Concentration and Mass Flow Rate Measurement of Solid Particles Based on Electrostatic and Capacitance Sensors.

PubMed

Li, Jian; Kong, Ming; Xu, Chuanlong; Wang, Shimin; Fan, Ying

2015-12-10

The online and continuous measurement of velocity, concentration and mass flow rate of pneumatically conveyed solid particles for the high-efficiency utilization of energy and raw materials has become increasingly significant. In this paper, an integrated instrumentation system for the velocity, concentration and mass flow rate measurement of dense phase pneumatically conveyed solid particles based on electrostatic and capacitance sensorsis developed. The electrostatic sensors are used for particle mean velocity measurement in combination with the cross-correlation technique, while the capacitance sensor with helical surface-plate electrodes, which has relatively homogeneous sensitivity distribution, is employed for the measurement of particle concentration and its capacitance is measured by an electrostatic-immune AC-based circuit. The solid mass flow rate can be further calculated from the measured velocity and concentration. The developed instrumentation system for velocity and concentration measurement is verified and calibrated on a pulley rig and through static experiments, respectively. Finally the system is evaluated with glass beads on a gravity-fed rig. The experimental results demonstrate that the system is capable of the accurate solid mass flow rate measurement, and the relative error is within -3%-8% for glass bead mass flow rates ranging from 0.13 kg/s to 0.9 kg/s.

Coaching and Quality Assistance in Quality Rating Improvement Systems: Approaches Used by TA Providers to Improve Quality in Early Care and Education Programs and Home-Based Settings

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Smith, Sheila; Robbins, Taylor; Schneider, Will; Kreader, J. Lee; Ong, Christine

2012-01-01

Quality Rating Improvement Systems (QRISs) commonly offer on-site technical assistance (TA) and coaching to help early care and education settings achieve quality improvements and a higher QRIS rating. In surveys of administrators overseeing statewide QRISs, almost all states reported the use of on-site TA and coaching in both center-based and…

A Systems Study to Determine the Attractiveness of Solar System Bodies and Sites for Eventual Human Exploration

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Andringa, Jason M.; Gray, Andrew A.

2005-01-01

A pre-phase A idea-generation team at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), has conducted a study to rank all locations in the solar system based on attractiveness for human exploration. The process used to perform the study was composed of the following primary steps: determination of criteria (including value, cost, and risk criteria) upon which to rate sites in the solar system; weighting of the criteria based upon importance to eventual human exploration; selection of sites to consider and assignment of team members to the task of advocating the benefits of particular sites; rating the sites in both the short- and longterm based on team member presentations and team discussions; compilation of a score based on criteria weights and individual ratings. Finally a comparison of the total scores of different sites was completed to determine a ranking of all the bodies and sites in the solar system. Sensitivity analysis was also performed to determine how weightings affect the rankings.

77 FR 5008 - Solios Power Mid-Atlantic Virtual LLC; Supplemental Notice That Initial Market-Based Rate Filing...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-02-01

...-referenced proceeding are accessible in the Commission's eLibrary system by clicking on the appropriate link... Mid-Atlantic Virtual LLC; Supplemental Notice That Initial Market-Based Rate Filing Includes Request... of Solios Power Mid-Atlantic Virtual LLC's application for market-based rate authority, with an...

Reduction of Large Dynamical Systems by Minimization of Evolution Rate

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Girimaji, Sharath S.

1999-01-01

Reduction of a large system of equations to a lower-dimensional system of similar dynamics is investigated. For dynamical systems with disparate timescales, a criterion for determining redundant dimensions and a general reduction method based on the minimization of evolution rate are proposed.

77 FR 37035 - SunPower Corporation, Systems; Supplemental Notice That Initial Market-Based Rate Filing Includes...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-06-20

... DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. ER12-1989-000] SunPower Corporation, Systems; Supplemental Notice That Initial Market-Based Rate Filing Includes Request for Blanket Section 204 Authorization This is a supplemental notice in the above-referenced proceeding of SunPower...

A numerical rating system for crown classes of southern hardwoods

Treesearch

James S. Meadows; E.C. Burkhardt; Robert L. Johnson; John D. Hodges

2001-01-01

A numerical rating system to delineate crown classes of southern hardwoods is described. The system is based on four criteria: (1) amount of direct sunlight from above, (2) amount of direct sunlight from the sides, (3) crown balance, and (4) relative crown size. The total point value assigned places the tree within one of the four crown classes. The rating system can...

Nano-based systems for oil spills control and cleanup.

PubMed

Avila, Antonio F; Munhoz, Viviane C; de Oliveira, Aline M; Santos, Mayara C G; Lacerda, Glenda R B S; Gonçalves, Camila P

2014-05-15

This paper reports the development of superhydrophobic nanocomposite systems which are also oleophilic. As hydrophobicity is based on low energy surface and surface roughness, the electrospinning technique was selected as the manufacturing technique. N,N' dimethylformamide (DMF) was employed as the polystyrene (PS) solvent. The "Tea-bag" (T-B) nanocomposite system is based on exfoliated graphite surrounded by PS superhydrophobic membranes. The T-B systems were tested regarding its adsorption and absorption rates. To test these properties, it was employed three different water/oil emulsions, i.e., new and used motor oil, which have physical properties (viscosity and specific gravity) similar to heavy crude oil extracted in Brazil, and vacuum pump oil (which does not form oil/water emulsion). It was observed that oil adsorption rate is dependent on oil surface tension, while the absorption rate is mainly dependent on membrane/exfoliated graphite surface area. Experimental data show that oil absorption rates ranged between 2.5g/g and 40g/g, while the adsorption rate oscillated from 0.32g/g/min to 0.80g/g/min. Furthermore, T-B systems were tested as containment barriers and sorbent materials with good results including its recyclability. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Practical and Theoretical Requirements for Controlling Rater Stringency in Peer Review.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cason, Gerald J.; Cason, Carolyn L.

This study describes a computer based, performance rating information processing system, performance rating theory, and programs for the application of the theory to obtain ratings free from the effects of reviewer stringency in reviewing abstracts of conference papers. Originally, the Performance Rating (PR) System was used to evaluate the…

Cooling System to Treat Exercise-Induced Hyperthermia

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-06-01

temperatures . Additionally, individual variations in sweat rates, ventilation rates, fitness levels, and oxygen consumption were not...gastrointestinal MHR maximum heart rate NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration Tc core temperature UCHS uncompensated heat stress VO2peak peak oxygen consumption ...the effectiveness of a cooling pump based patient thermal management system supplied by Aspen Systems on lowering core body temperature

Person centered prediction of survival in population based screening program by an intelligent clinical decision support system.

PubMed

Safdari, Reza; Maserat, Elham; Asadzadeh Aghdaei, Hamid; Javan Amoli, Amir Hossein; Mohaghegh Shalmani, Hamid

2017-01-01

To survey person centered survival rate in population based screening program by an intelligent clinical decision support system. Colorectal cancer is the most common malignancy and major cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Colorectal cancer is the sixth leading cause of cancer death in Iran. In this survey, we used cosine similarity as data mining technique and intelligent system for estimating survival of at risk groups in the screening plan. In the first step, we determined minimum data set (MDS). MDS was approved by experts and reviewing literatures. In the second step, MDS were coded by python language and matched with cosine similarity formula. Finally, survival rate by percent was illustrated in the user interface of national intelligent system. The national intelligent system was designed in PyCharm environment. Main data elements of intelligent system consist demographic information, age, referral type, risk group, recommendation and survival rate. Minimum data set related to survival comprise of clinical status, past medical history and socio-demographic information. Information of the covered population as a comprehensive database was connected to intelligent system and survival rate estimated for each patient. Mean range of survival of HNPCC patients and FAP patients were respectively 77.7% and 75.1%. Also, the mean range of the survival rate and other calculations have changed with the entry of new patients in the CRC registry by real-time. National intelligent system monitors the entire of risk group and reports survival rates by electronic guidelines and data mining technique and also operates according to the clinical process. This web base software has a critical role in the estimation survival rate in order to health care planning.

Filter replacement lifetime prediction

DOEpatents

Hamann, Hendrik F.; Klein, Levente I.; Manzer, Dennis G.; Marianno, Fernando J.

2017-10-25

Methods and systems for predicting a filter lifetime include building a filter effectiveness history based on contaminant sensor information associated with a filter; determining a rate of filter consumption with a processor based on the filter effectiveness history; and determining a remaining filter lifetime based on the determined rate of filter consumption. Methods and systems for increasing filter economy include measuring contaminants in an internal and an external environment; determining a cost of a corrosion rate increase if unfiltered external air intake is increased for cooling; determining a cost of increased air pressure to filter external air; and if the cost of filtering external air exceeds the cost of the corrosion rate increase, increasing an intake of unfiltered external air.

42 CFR 412.332 - Payment based on the hospital-specific rate.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... HUMAN SERVICES MEDICARE PROGRAM PROSPECTIVE PAYMENT SYSTEMS FOR INPATIENT HOSPITAL SERVICES Prospective Payment System for Inpatient Hospital Capital Costs Determination of Transition Period Payment Rates for... (f) is determined by multiplying the applicable hospital-specific rate by the DRG weighting factor...

A robust variable sampling time BLDC motor control design based upon μ-synthesis.

PubMed

Hung, Chung-Wen; Yen, Jia-Yush

2013-01-01

The variable sampling rate system is encountered in many applications. When the speed information is derived from the position marks along the trajectory, one would have a speed dependent sampling rate system. The conventional fixed or multisampling rate system theory may not work in these cases because the system dynamics include the uncertainties which resulted from the variable sampling rate. This paper derived a convenient expression for the speed dependent sampling rate system. The varying sampling rate effect is then translated into multiplicative uncertainties to the system. The design then uses the popular μ-synthesis process to achieve a robust performance controller design. The implementation on a BLDC motor demonstrates the effectiveness of the design approach.

A Robust Variable Sampling Time BLDC Motor Control Design Based upon μ-Synthesis

PubMed Central

Yen, Jia-Yush

2013-01-01

The variable sampling rate system is encountered in many applications. When the speed information is derived from the position marks along the trajectory, one would have a speed dependent sampling rate system. The conventional fixed or multisampling rate system theory may not work in these cases because the system dynamics include the uncertainties which resulted from the variable sampling rate. This paper derived a convenient expression for the speed dependent sampling rate system. The varying sampling rate effect is then translated into multiplicative uncertainties to the system. The design then uses the popular μ-synthesis process to achieve a robust performance controller design. The implementation on a BLDC motor demonstrates the effectiveness of the design approach. PMID:24327804

Achievable rate maximization for decode-and-forward MIMO-OFDM networks with an energy harvesting relay.

PubMed

Du, Guanyao; Yu, Jianjun

2016-01-01

This paper investigates the system achievable rate for the multiple-input multiple-output orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (MIMO-OFDM) system with an energy harvesting (EH) relay. Firstly we propose two protocols, time switching-based decode-and-forward relaying (TSDFR) and a flexible power splitting-based DF relaying (PSDFR) protocol by considering two practical receiver architectures, to enable the simultaneous information processing and energy harvesting at the relay. In PSDFR protocol, we introduce a temporal parameter to describe the time division pattern between the two phases which makes the protocol more flexible and general. In order to explore the system performance limit, we discuss the system achievable rate theoretically and formulate two optimization problems for the proposed protocols to maximize the system achievable rate. Since the problems are non-convex and difficult to solve, we first analyze them theoretically and get some explicit results, then design an augmented Lagrangian penalty function (ALPF) based algorithm for them. Numerical results are provided to validate the accuracy of our analytical results and the effectiveness of the proposed ALPF algorithm. It is shown that, PSDFR outperforms TSDFR to achieve higher achievable rate in such a MIMO-OFDM relaying system. Besides, we also investigate the impacts of the relay location, the number of antennas and the number of subcarriers on the system performance. Specifically, it is shown that, the relay position greatly affects the system performance of both protocols, and relatively worse achievable rate is achieved when the relay is placed in the middle of the source and the destination. This is different from the MIMO-OFDM DF relaying system without EH. Moreover, the optimal factor which indicates the time division pattern between the two phases in the PSDFR protocol is always above 0.8, which means that, the common division of the total transmission time into two equal phases in previous work applying PS-based receiver is not optimal.

Development and Validation of the Social, Academic, and Emotional Behavior Risk Screener-Student Rating Scale

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

von der Embse, Nathaniel P.; Iaccarino, Stephanie; Mankin, Ariel; Kilgus, Stephen P.; Magen, Eran

2017-01-01

School systems are the primary providers for the increasing number of children with mental health needs. School-based universal screening offers a valuable way to identify children that would benefit from school-based mental health services. However, many existing screening systems rely on teacher ratings alone and do not incorporate student…

Examining Teacher Evaluation Validity and Leadership Decision Making within a Standards-Based Evaluation System

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kimball, Steven M.; Milanowski, Anthony

2009-01-01

Purpose: The article reports on a study of school leader decision making that examined variation in the validity of teacher evaluation ratings in a school district that has implemented a standards-based teacher evaluation system. Research Methods: Applying mixed methods, the study used teacher evaluation ratings and value-added student achievement…

Suicide rates in China, 2004-2014: comparing data from two sample-based mortality surveillance systems.

PubMed

Sha, Feng; Chang, Qingsong; Law, Yik Wa; Hong, Qi; Yip, Paul S F

2018-02-13

The decreasing suicide rate in China has been regarded as a major contributor to the decline of global suicide rate in the past decade. However, previous estimations on China's suicide rates might not be accurate, since often they were based on the data from the Ministry of Health's Vital Registration ("MOH-VR") System, which is biased towards the better-off population. This study aims to compare suicide data extracted from the MOH-VR System with a more representative mortality surveillance system, namely the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's Disease Surveillance Points ("CDC-DSP") System, and update China's national and subnational suicide rates in the period of 2004-2014. The CDC-DSP data are obtained from the National Cause-of-Death Surveillance Dataset (2004-2014) and the MOH-VR data are from the Chinese Health Statistics Yearbooks (2005-2012) and the China Health and Family Planning Statistics Yearbooks (2013-2015). First, a negative binomial regression model was used to test the associations between the source of data (CDC-DSP/MOH-VR) and suicide rates in 2004-2014. Joinpoint regression analyses and Kitagawa's decomposition method are then applied to analyze the trends of the crude suicide rates. Both systems indicated China's suicide rates decreased over the study period. However, before the two systems merged in 2013, the CDC-DSP System reported significantly higher national suicide rates (IRR = 1.18, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.13-1.24) and rural suicide rates (IRR = 1.29, 95% CI: 1.21-1.38) than the MOH-VR System. The CDC-DSP System also showed significant reversing points in 2011 (95% CI: 2006-2012) and 2006 (95% CI: 2006-2008) on the rural and urban suicide trends. Moreover, the suicide rates in the east and central urban regions were reversed in 2011 and 2008. The biased MOH-VR System underestimated China's national and rural suicide rates. Although not widely appreciated in the field of suicide research, the CDC-DSP System provides more accurate estimations on China's suicide rates and is recommended for future studies to monitor the reversing trends of suicide rates in China's more developed areas.

Observer-based robust finite time H∞ sliding mode control for Markovian switching systems with mode-dependent time-varying delay and incomplete transition rate.

PubMed

Gao, Lijun; Jiang, Xiaoxiao; Wang, Dandan

2016-03-01

This paper investigates the problem of robust finite time H∞ sliding mode control for a class of Markovian switching systems. The system is subjected to the mode-dependent time-varying delay, partly unknown transition rate and unmeasurable state. The main difficulty is that, a sliding mode surface cannot be designed based on the unknown transition rate and unmeasurable state directly. To overcome this obstacle, the set of modes is firstly divided into two subsets standing for known transition rate subset and unknown one, based on which a state observer is established. A component robust finite-time sliding mode controller is also designed to cope with the effect of partially unknown transition rate. It is illustrated that the reachability, finite-time stability, finite-time boundedness, finite-time H∞ state feedback stabilization of sliding mode dynamics can be ensured despite the unknown transition rate. Finally, the simulation results verify the effectiveness of robust finite time control problem. Copyright © 2015 ISA. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Model Test of Proposed Loading Rates for Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems

EPA Science Inventory

State regulatory agencies set standards for onsite wastewater treatment system (OWTS), commonly known as septic systems, based on expected hydraulic performance and nitrogen (N) treatment in soils of differing texture. In a previous study, hydraulic loading rates were proposed fo...

75 FR 68357 - Sunshine Act Meeting

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-11-05

... Implementation of the New Deposit Insurance Assessment Base, Adjustments to the New Deposit Insurance Assessment Base, Changes to Assessment Rate Adjustments and New Assessment Rate Schedules. Memorandum and resolution re: Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Risk- Based Assessment System for Large Insured Depository...

Fuzzy Based Decision Support System for Condition Assessment and Rating of Bridges

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Srinivas, Voggu; Sasmal, Saptarshi; Karusala, Ramanjaneyulu

2016-09-01

In this work, a knowledge based decision support system has been developed to efficiently handle the issues such as distress diagnosis, assessment of damages and condition rating of existing bridges towards developing an exclusive and robust Bridge Management System (BMS) for sustainable bridges. The Knowledge Based Expert System (KBES) diagnoses the distresses and finds the cause of distress in the bridge by processing the data which are heuristic and combined with site inspection results, laboratory test results etc. The coupling of symbolic and numeric type of data has been successfully implemented in the expert system to strengthen its decision making process. Finally, the condition rating of the bridge is carried out using the assessment results obtained from the KBES and the information received from the bridge inspector. A systematic procedure has been developed using fuzzy mathematics for condition rating of bridges by combining the fuzzy weighted average and resolution identity technique. The proposed methodologies and the decision support system will facilitate in developing a robust and exclusive BMS for a network of bridges across the country and allow the bridge engineers and decision makers to carry out maintenance of bridges in a rational and systematic way.

Social patterns of pay systems and their associations with psychosocial job characteristics and burnout among paid employees in Taiwan.

PubMed

Yeh, Wan-Yu; Cheng, Yawen; Chen, Chiou-Jung

2009-04-01

Today, performance-based pay systems, also known as variable pay systems, are commonly implemented in workplaces as a business strategy to improve workers' performance and reduce labor costs. However, their impact on workers' job stress and stress-related health outcomes has rarely been investigated. By utilizing data from a nationally representative sample of paid employees in Taiwan, we examined the distribution of variable pay systems across socio-demographic categories and employment sectors. We also examined the associations of pay systems with psychosocial job characteristics (assessed by Karasek's Demand-Control model) and self-reported burnout status (measured by the Chinese version of the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory). A total of 8906 men and 6382 women aged 25-65 years were studied, and pay systems were classified into three categories, i.e., fixed salary, performance-based pay (with a basic salary), and piece-rated or time-based pay (without a basic salary). Results indicated that in men, 57% of employees were given a fixed salary, 24% were given a performance-based pay, and 19% were remunerated through a piece-rated or time-based pay. In women, the distributions of the 3 pay systems were 64%, 20% and 15%, respectively. Among the three pay systems, employees earning through a performance-based pay were found to have the longest working hours, highest level of job control, and highest percentage of workers who perceived high stress at work. Those remunerated through a piece-rated/time-based pay were found to have the lowest job control, shortest working hours, highest job insecurity, lowest potential for career growth, and lowest job satisfaction. The results of multivariate regression analyses showed that employees earning through performance-based and piece-rated pay systems showed higher scores for personal burnout and work-related burnout, as compared to those who were given fixed salaries, after adjusting for age, education, marital status, employment grade, job characteristics, and family care workloads. As variable pay systems have gained in popularity, findings from this study call for more attention on the tradeoff between the widely discussed management advantages of such pay systems and the health burden they place on employees.

System light-loading technology for mHealth: Manifold-learning-based medical data cleansing and clinical trials in WE-CARE Project.

PubMed

Huang, Anpeng; Xu, Wenyao; Li, Zhinan; Xie, Linzhen; Sarrafzadeh, Majid; Li, Xiaoming; Cong, Jason

2014-09-01

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major issue to public health. It contributes 41% to the Chinese death rate each year. This huge loss encouraged us to develop a Wearable Efficient teleCARdiology systEm (WE-CARE) for early warning and prevention of CVD risks in real time. WE-CARE is expected to work 24/7 online for mobile health (mHealth) applications. Unfortunately, this purpose is often disrupted in system experiments and clinical trials, even if related enabling technologies work properly. This phenomenon is rooted in the overload issue of complex Electrocardiogram (ECG) data in terms of system integration. In this study, our main objective is to get a system light-loading technology to enable mHealth with a benchmarked ECG anomaly recognition rate. To achieve this objective, we propose an approach to purify clinical features from ECG raw data based on manifold learning, called the Manifold-based ECG-feature Purification algorithm. Our clinical trials verify that our proposal can detect anomalies with a recognition rate of up to 94% which is highly valuable in daily public health-risk alert applications based on clinical criteria. Most importantly, the experiment results demonstrate that the WE-CARE system enabled by our proposal can enhance system reliability by at least two times and reduce false negative rates to 0.76%, and extend the battery life by 40.54%, in the system integration level.

Formal implementation of a performance evaluation model for the face recognition system.

PubMed

Shin, Yong-Nyuo; Kim, Jason; Lee, Yong-Jun; Shin, Woochang; Choi, Jin-Young

2008-01-01

Due to usability features, practical applications, and its lack of intrusiveness, face recognition technology, based on information, derived from individuals' facial features, has been attracting considerable attention recently. Reported recognition rates of commercialized face recognition systems cannot be admitted as official recognition rates, as they are based on assumptions that are beneficial to the specific system and face database. Therefore, performance evaluation methods and tools are necessary to objectively measure the accuracy and performance of any face recognition system. In this paper, we propose and formalize a performance evaluation model for the biometric recognition system, implementing an evaluation tool for face recognition systems based on the proposed model. Furthermore, we performed evaluations objectively by providing guidelines for the design and implementation of a performance evaluation system, formalizing the performance test process.

The Assessment and Instructional Management System: An Innovative Approach To Evaluating the Progress of Students with Disabilities.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bennett, Deborah E.

2000-01-01

AIMS, the Assessment and Instructional Management System is a computer-based rating and documentation system designed to include students with disabilities in educational accountability systems. Describes AIMS, illustrates some of the components of the system, and highlights teacher training efforts. Two tables present the AIMS rating rubric and…

93. TEMPERATURE AND FLOW RATE CONTROLS FOR SYSTEM 1 AND ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

93. TEMPERATURE AND FLOW RATE CONTROLS FOR SYSTEM 1 AND SYSTEM 2, FACING WEST IN MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT ROOM (101), LSB (BLDG. 770) - Vandenberg Air Force Base, Space Launch Complex 3, Launch Pad 3 West, Napa & Alden Roads, Lompoc, Santa Barbara County, CA

Investigation of the Usability of Computerized Critical Care Information Systems in Germany.

PubMed

von Dincklage, Falk; Suchodolski, Klaudiusz; Lichtner, Gregor; Friesdorf, Wolfgang; Podtschaske, Beatrice; Ragaller, Maximilian

2017-01-01

The term "usability" describes how effectively, efficiently, and with what level of user satisfaction an information system can be used to accomplish specific goals. Computerized critical care information systems (CCISs) with high usability increase quality of care and staff satisfaction, while reducing medication errors. Conversely, systems lacking usability can interrupt clinical workflow, facilitate errors, and increase charting time. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare usability across CCIS currently used in Germany. In this study, German intensive care unit (ICU) nurses and physicians completed a specialized, previously validated, web-based questionnaire. The questionnaire assessed CCIS usability based on three rating models: an overall rating of the systems, a model rating technical usability, and a model rating task-specific usability. We analyzed results from 535 survey participants and compared eight different CCIS commonly used in Germany. Our results showed that usability strongly differs across the compared systems. The system ICUData had the best overall rating and technical usability, followed by the platforms ICM and MetaVision. The same three systems performed best in the rating of task-specific usability without significant differences between each other. Across all systems, overall ratings were more dependent on ease-of-use aspects than on aspects of utility/functionality, and the general scope of the functions offered was rated better than how well the functions are realized. Our results suggest that manufacturers should shift some of their effort away from the development of new features and focus more on improving the ease-of-use and quality of existing features.

Error Rates in Measuring Teacher and School Performance Based on Student Test Score Gains. NCEE 2010-4004

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schochet, Peter Z.; Chiang, Hanley S.

2010-01-01

This paper addresses likely error rates for measuring teacher and school performance in the upper elementary grades using value-added models applied to student test score gain data. Using realistic performance measurement system schemes based on hypothesis testing, we develop error rate formulas based on OLS and Empirical Bayes estimators.…

A ROF transport system using phase & polarization modulation based on OFDM technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mallick, Khaleda; Patra, Ardhendu Sekhar

2018-05-01

A radio-over-fiber (ROF) transport system using phase and polarization modulator based on orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) technique has been proposed and demonstrated, to transmit 2.5 Gbps at 7.5 GHz over 40 km single mode fiber (SMF). The transmission performance is observed by proper bit error rate and clear eye diagram. Our proposed system become a prominent alternative, as it has advantages of communication link for greater bandwidth and data rates.

Integrating Iris and Signature Traits for Personal Authentication Using User-Specific Weighting

PubMed Central

Viriri, Serestina; Tapamo, Jules R.

2012-01-01

Biometric systems based on uni-modal traits are characterized by noisy sensor data, restricted degrees of freedom, non-universality and are susceptible to spoof attacks. Multi-modal biometric systems seek to alleviate some of these drawbacks by providing multiple evidences of the same identity. In this paper, a user-score-based weighting technique for integrating the iris and signature traits is presented. This user-specific weighting technique has proved to be an efficient and effective fusion scheme which increases the authentication accuracy rate of multi-modal biometric systems. The weights are used to indicate the importance of matching scores output by each biometrics trait. The experimental results show that our biometric system based on the integration of iris and signature traits achieve a false rejection rate (FRR) of 0.08% and a false acceptance rate (FAR) of 0.01%. PMID:22666032

Electrokinetic high pressure hydraulic system

DOEpatents

Paul, Phillip H.; Rakestraw, David J.; Arnold, Don W.; Hencken, Kenneth R.; Schoeniger, Joseph S.; Neyer, David W.

2001-01-01

An electrokinetic high pressure hydraulic pump for manipulating fluids in capillary-based systems. The pump uses electro-osmotic flow to provide a high pressure hydraulic system, having no moving mechanical parts, for pumping and/or compressing fluids, for providing valve means and means for opening and closing valves, for controlling fluid flow rate, and manipulating fluid flow generally and in capillary-based systems (Microsystems), in particular. The compact nature of the inventive high pressure hydraulic pump provides the ability to construct a micro-scale or capillary-based HPLC system that fulfills the desire for small sample quantity, low solvent consumption, improved efficiency, the ability to run samples in parallel, and field portability. Control of pressure and solvent flow rate is achieved by controlling the voltage applied to an electrokinetic pump.

Electrokinetic high pressure hydraulic system

DOEpatents

Paul, Phillip H.; Rakestraw, David J.; Arnold, Don W.; Hencken, Kenneth R.; Schoeniger, Joseph S.; Neyer, David W.

2003-06-03

An electrokinetic high pressure hydraulic pump for manipulating fluids in capillary-based system. The pump uses electro-osmotic flow to provide a high pressure hydraulic system, having no moving mechanical parts, for pumping and/or compressing fluids, for providing valve means and means for opening and closing valves, for controlling fluid flow rate, and manipulating fluid flow generally and in capillary-based systems (microsystems), in particular. The compact nature of the inventive high pressure hydraulic pump provides the ability to construct a micro-scale or capillary-based HPLC system that fulfills the desire for small sample quantity, low solvent consumption, improved efficiency, the ability to run samples in parallel, and field portability. Control of pressure and solvent flow rate is achieved by controlling the voltage applied to an electrokinetic pump.

Pheromone routing protocol on a scale-free network.

PubMed

Ling, Xiang; Hu, Mao-Bin; Jiang, Rui; Wang, Ruili; Cao, Xian-Bin; Wu, Qing-Song

2009-12-01

This paper proposes a routing strategy for network systems based on the local information of "pheromone." The overall traffic capacity of a network system can be evaluated by the critical packet generating rate R(c). Under this critical generating rate, the total packet number in the system first increases and then decreases to reach a balance state. The system behaves differently from that with a local routing strategy based on the node degree or shortest path routing strategy. Moreover, the pheromone routing strategy performs much better than the local routing strategy, which is demonstrated by a larger value of the critical generating rate. This protocol can be an alternation for superlarge networks, in which the global topology may not be available.

Pheromone routing protocol on a scale-free network

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ling, Xiang; Hu, Mao-Bin; Jiang, Rui; Wang, Ruili; Cao, Xian-Bin; Wu, Qing-Song

2009-12-01

This paper proposes a routing strategy for network systems based on the local information of “pheromone.” The overall traffic capacity of a network system can be evaluated by the critical packet generating rate Rc . Under this critical generating rate, the total packet number in the system first increases and then decreases to reach a balance state. The system behaves differently from that with a local routing strategy based on the node degree or shortest path routing strategy. Moreover, the pheromone routing strategy performs much better than the local routing strategy, which is demonstrated by a larger value of the critical generating rate. This protocol can be an alternation for superlarge networks, in which the global topology may not be available.

Supplier Management System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ramirez, Eric; Gutheinz, Sandy; Brison, James; Ho, Anita; Allen, James; Ceritelli, Olga; Tobar, Claudia; Nguyen, Thuykien; Crenshaw, Harrel; Santos, Roxann

2008-01-01

Supplier Management System (SMS) allows for a consistent, agency-wide performance rating system for suppliers used by NASA. This version (2.0) combines separate databases into one central database that allows for the sharing of supplier data. Information extracted from the NBS/Oracle database can be used to generate ratings. Also, supplier ratings can now be generated in the areas of cost, product quality, delivery, and audit data. Supplier data can be charted based on real-time user input. Based on these individual ratings, an overall rating can be generated. Data that normally would be stored in multiple databases, each requiring its own log-in, is now readily available and easily accessible with only one log-in required. Additionally, the database can accommodate the storage and display of quality-related data that can be analyzed and used in the supplier procurement decision-making process. Moreover, the software allows for a Closed-Loop System (supplier feedback), as well as the capability to communicate with other federal agencies.

Semantic information extracting system for classification of radiological reports in radiology information system (RIS)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shi, Liehang; Ling, Tonghui; Zhang, Jianguo

2016-03-01

Radiologists currently use a variety of terminologies and standards in most hospitals in China, and even there are multiple terminologies being used for different sections in one department. In this presentation, we introduce a medical semantic comprehension system (MedSCS) to extract semantic information about clinical findings and conclusion from free text radiology reports so that the reports can be classified correctly based on medical terms indexing standards such as Radlex or SONMED-CT. Our system (MedSCS) is based on both rule-based methods and statistics-based methods which improve the performance and the scalability of MedSCS. In order to evaluate the over all of the system and measure the accuracy of the outcomes, we developed computation methods to calculate the parameters of precision rate, recall rate, F-score and exact confidence interval.

14 CFR Appendix A to Part 1215 - Estimated Service Rates in 1997 Dollars for TDRSS Standard Services (Based on NASA Escalation...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... Space NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION TRACKING AND DATA RELAY SATELLITE SYSTEM (TDRSS) Pt..., return telemetry, or tracking, or any combination of these, the base rate is $184.00 per minute for non-U.S. Government users. 2. Multiple Access Forward Service—Base rate is $42.00 per minute for non-U.S...

Colorado Qualistar. QRS Profile. The Child Care Quality Rating System (QRS) Assessment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Child Trends, 2010

2010-01-01

This paper presents a profile of Colorado's Qualistar prepared as part of the Child Care Quality Rating System (QRS) Assessment Study. The profile consists of several sections and their corresponding descriptions including: (1) Program Information; (2) Rating Details; (3) Quality Indicators for Center-Based Programs; (4) Indicators for Family…

Pennsylvania Keystone STARS: QRS Profile. The Child Care Quality Rating System (QRS) Assessment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Child Trends, 2010

2010-01-01

This paper presents a profile of Pennsylvania's Keystone STARS prepared as part of the Child Care Quality Rating System (QRS) Assessment Study. The profile consists of several sections and their corresponding descriptions including: (1) Program Information; (2) Rating Details; (3) Quality Indicators for Center-Based Programs; (4) Indicators for…

Virginia Star Quality Initiative: QRS Profile. The Child Care Quality Rating System (QRS) Assessment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Child Trends, 2010

2010-01-01

This paper presents a profile of Virginia's Star Quality Initiative prepared as part of the Child Care Quality Rating System (QRS) Assessment Study. The profile consists of several sections and their corresponding descriptions including: (1) Program Information; (2) Rating Details; (3) Quality Indicators for Center-Based Programs; (4) Indicators…

Illinois Quality Counts: QRS Profile. The Child Care Quality Rating System (QRS) Assessment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Child Trends, 2010

2010-01-01

This paper presents a profile of Illinois' Quality Counts prepared as part of the Child Care Quality Rating System (QRS) Assessment Study. The profile consists of several sections and their corresponding descriptions including: (1) Program Information; (2) Rating Details; (3) Quality Indicators for Center-Based Programs; (4) Indicators for Family…

Minnesota Parent Aware: QRS Profile. The Child Care Quality Rating System (QRS) Assessment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Child Trends, 2010

2010-01-01

This paper presents a profile of Minnesota's Parent Aware prepared as part of the Child Care Quality Rating System (QRS) Assessment Study. The profile consists of several sections and their corresponding descriptions including: (1) Program Information; (2) Rating Details; (3) Quality Indicators for Center-Based Programs; (4) Indicators for Family…

On the capacity of MIMO-OFDM based diversity and spatial multiplexing in Radio-over-Fiber system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

El Yahyaoui, Moussa; El Moussati, Ali; El Zein, Ghaïs

2017-11-01

This paper proposes a realistic and global simulation to predict the behavior of a Radio over Fiber (RoF) system before its realization. In this work we consider a 2 × 2 Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) RoF system at 60 GHz. This system is based on Spatial Diversity (SD) which increases reliability (decreases probability of error) and Spatial Multiplexing (SMX) which increases data rate, but not necessarily reliability. The 60 GHz MIMO channel model employed in this work based on a lot of measured data and statistical analysis named Triple-S and Valenzuela (TSV) model. To the authors best knowledge; it is the first time that this type of TSV channel model has been employed for 60 GHz MIMO-RoF system. We have evaluated and compared the performance of this system according to the diversity technique, modulation schemes, and channel coding rate for Line-Of-Sight (LOS) desktop environment. The SMX coded is proposed as an intermediate system to improve the Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) and the data rate. The resulting 2 × 2 MIMO-OFDM SMX system achieves a higher data rate up to 70 Gb/s with 64QAM and Forward Error Correction (FEC) limit of 10-3 over 25-km fiber transmission followed by 3-m wireless transmission using 7 GHz bandwidth of millimeter wave band.

Rule based artificial intelligence expert system for determination of upper extremity impairment rating.

PubMed

Lim, I; Walkup, R K; Vannier, M W

1993-04-01

Quantitative evaluation of upper extremity impairment, a percentage rating most often determined using a rule based procedure, has been implemented on a personal computer using an artificial intelligence, rule-based expert system (AI system). In this study, the rules given in Chapter 3 of the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment (Third Edition) were used to develop such an AI system for the Apple Macintosh. The program applies the rules from the Guides in a consistent and systematic fashion. It is faster and less error-prone than the manual method, and the results have a higher degree of precision, since intermediate values are not truncated.

Evaluation of Application Accuracy and Performance of a Hydraulically Operated Variable-Rate Aerial Application System

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

An aerial variable-rate application system consisting of a DGPS-based guidance system, automatic flow controller, and hydraulically controlled pump/valve was evaluated for response time to rapidly changing flow requirements and accuracy of application. Spray deposition position error was evaluated ...

A user-friendly SSVEP-based brain-computer interface using a time-domain classifier.

PubMed

Luo, An; Sullivan, Thomas J

2010-04-01

We introduce a user-friendly steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP)-based brain-computer interface (BCI) system. Single-channel EEG is recorded using a low-noise dry electrode. Compared to traditional gel-based multi-sensor EEG systems, a dry sensor proves to be more convenient, comfortable and cost effective. A hardware system was built that displays four LED light panels flashing at different frequencies and synchronizes with EEG acquisition. The visual stimuli have been carefully designed such that potential risk to photosensitive people is minimized. We describe a novel stimulus-locked inter-trace correlation (SLIC) method for SSVEP classification using EEG time-locked to stimulus onsets. We studied how the performance of the algorithm is affected by different selection of parameters. Using the SLIC method, the average light detection rate is 75.8% with very low error rates (an 8.4% false positive rate and a 1.3% misclassification rate). Compared to a traditional frequency-domain-based method, the SLIC method is more robust (resulting in less annoyance to the users) and is also suitable for irregular stimulus patterns.

A Real-Time Wireless Sweat Rate Measurement System for Physical Activity Monitoring.

PubMed

Brueck, Andrew; Iftekhar, Tashfin; Stannard, Alicja B; Yelamarthi, Kumar; Kaya, Tolga

2018-02-10

There has been significant research on the physiology of sweat in the past decade, with one of the main interests being the development of a real-time hydration monitor that utilizes sweat. The contents of sweat have been known for decades; sweat provides significant information on the physiological condition of the human body. However, it is important to know the sweat rate as well, as sweat rate alters the concentration of the sweat constituents, and ultimately affects the accuracy of hydration detection. Towards this goal, a calorimetric based flow-rate detection system was built and tested to determine sweat rate in real time. The proposed sweat rate monitoring system has been validated through both controlled lab experiments (syringe pump) and human trials. An Internet of Things (IoT) platform was embedded, with the sensor using a Simblee board and Raspberry Pi. The overall prototype is capable of sending sweat rate information in real time to either a smartphone or directly to the cloud. Based on a proven theoretical concept, our overall system implementation features a pioneer device that can truly measure the rate of sweat in real time, which was tested and validated on human subjects. Our realization of the real-time sweat rate watch is capable of detecting sweat rates as low as 0.15 µL/min/cm², with an average error in accuracy of 18% compared to manual sweat rate readings.

Adaptive WTA with an analog VLSI neuromorphic learning chip.

PubMed

Häfliger, Philipp

2007-03-01

In this paper, we demonstrate how a particular spike-based learning rule (where exact temporal relations between input and output spikes of a spiking model neuron determine the changes of the synaptic weights) can be tuned to express rate-based classical Hebbian learning behavior (where the average input and output spike rates are sufficient to describe the synaptic changes). This shift in behavior is controlled by the input statistic and by a single time constant. The learning rule has been implemented in a neuromorphic very large scale integration (VLSI) chip as part of a neurally inspired spike signal image processing system. The latter is the result of the European Union research project Convolution AER Vision Architecture for Real-Time (CAVIAR). Since it is implemented as a spike-based learning rule (which is most convenient in the overall spike-based system), even if it is tuned to show rate behavior, no explicit long-term average signals are computed on the chip. We show the rule's rate-based Hebbian learning ability in a classification task in both simulation and chip experiment, first with artificial stimuli and then with sensor input from the CAVIAR system.

Performability modeling based on real data: A case study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hsueh, M. C.; Iyer, R. K.; Trivedi, K. S.

1988-01-01

Described is a measurement-based performability model based on error and resource usage data collected on a multiprocessor system. A method for identifying the model structure is introduced and the resulting model is validated against real data. Model development from the collection of raw data to the estimation of the expected reward is described. Both normal and error behavior of the system are characterized. The measured data show that the holding times in key operational and error states are not simple exponentials and that a semi-Markov process is necessary to model system behavior. A reward function, based on the service rate and the error rate in each state, is then defined in order to estimate the performability of the system and to depict the cost of apparent types of errors.

Performability modeling based on real data: A casestudy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hsueh, M. C.; Iyer, R. K.; Trivedi, K. S.

1987-01-01

Described is a measurement-based performability model based on error and resource usage data collected on a multiprocessor system. A method for identifying the model structure is introduced and the resulting model is validated against real data. Model development from the collection of raw data to the estimation of the expected reward is described. Both normal and error behavior of the system are characterized. The measured data show that the holding times in key operational and error states are not simple exponentials and that a semi-Markov process is necessary to model the system behavior. A reward function, based on the service rate and the error rate in each state, is then defined in order to estimate the performability of the system and to depict the cost of different types of errors.

Establishing the severity of personality disorder.

PubMed

Tyrer, P; Johnson, T

1996-12-01

The authors developed a simplified method of rating the severity of personality disorder. The new rating method is based on four levels of severity: no personality disorder, personality difficulty, simple personality disorder, and diffuse personality disorder. The new method was applied to different diagnostic systems and was then compared with an old rating system based on six severity levels. Data were derived from a longitudinal study in which 163 patients with anxiety and depressive disorders had initial assessments of personality status and were followed up over 2 years. Ratings of psychiatric symptoms were made by using the Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale over this period. The results were analyzed with special attention to linear and quadratic trends. The new system was clinically useful in separating patients' initial assessments and outcomes. Patients with no personality disorder had the lowest initial symptom scores and the best outcomes, and those with diffuse personality disorder had the highest initial levels of symptoms and improved least over the 2 years. When the patients were separated by the old classification system, 72% of the variation between groups was accounted for by linear and quadratic trends; the comparable percentage was 97% when the patients were categorized by the new system. The new system of rating severity of personality disturbance is an improvement on existing methods and allows ratings to be made easily from DSM-IV and ICD-10.

1Mbps NLOS solar-blind ultraviolet communication system based on UV-LED array

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Zhaotian; Zhang, Lijun; Li, Ping'an; Qin, Yu; Bai, Tingzhu

2018-01-01

We proposed and demonstrated a high data rate ultraviolet communication system based on a 266nm UV LED array with 50mW luminous power. The emitting source is driven by a three outputs constant-current control circuit, whose driving speed is up to 2Mbps. At the receiving side, in order to achieve the amplification for high-speed signal, a two-stage differential preamplifier is designed to make I-V conversion. The voltage-current gain is up to 140dB and bandwidth is 1.9MHz. An experiment is conducted to test the performance of the UV communication system. The effects of elevation angles and transmission distance are analyzed. It is shown that the ultraviolet communication system has high data rate of up to 921.6kbps and bit error rate of less than 10-7 in 150m, which can beat the best record created by UV-LED communication system in terms of the transmission rate.

Design and implementation of a Bluetooth-based infant monitoring/saver (BIMS) system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sonmez, Ahmet E.; Nalcaci, Murat T.; Pazarbasi, Mehmet A.; Toker, Onur; Fidanboylu, Kemal

2007-04-01

In this work, we discuss the design and implementation of a Bluetooth technology based infant monitoring system, which will enable the mother to monitor her baby's health condition remotely in real-time. The system will measure the heart rate, and temperature of the infant, and stream this data to the mother's Bluetooth based mobile unit, e.g. cell phone, PDA, etc. Existing infant monitors either require so many cables, or transmit only voice and/or video information, which is not enough for monitoring the health condition of an infant. With the proposed system, the mother will be warned against any abnormalities, which may be an indication of a disease, which in turn may result a sudden infant death. High temperature is a common symptom for several diseases, and heart rate is an essential sign of life, low or high heart rates are also essentials symptoms. Because of these reasons, the proposed system continously measures these two critical values. A 12 bits digital temperature sensor is used to measure infant's body temperature, and a piezo film sensor is used measure infant's heartbeat rate. These sensors, some simple analog circuitry, and a ToothPick unit are the main components of our embedded system. ToothPick unit is basically a Microchip 18LF6720 microcontroller, plus an RF circuitry with Bluetooth stack.

Sinabro: A Smartphone-Integrated Opportunistic Electrocardiogram Monitoring System

PubMed Central

Kwon, Sungjun; Lee, Dongseok; Kim, Jeehoon; Lee, Youngki; Kang, Seungwoo; Seo, Sangwon; Park, Kwangsuk

2016-01-01

In our preliminary study, we proposed a smartphone-integrated, unobtrusive electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring system, Sinabro, which monitors a user’s ECG opportunistically during daily smartphone use without explicit user intervention. The proposed system also monitors ECG-derived features, such as heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV), to support the pervasive healthcare apps for smartphones based on the user’s high-level contexts, such as stress and affective state levels. In this study, we have extended the Sinabro system by: (1) upgrading the sensor device; (2) improving the feature extraction process; and (3) evaluating extensions of the system. We evaluated these extensions with a good set of algorithm parameters that were suggested based on empirical analyses. The results showed that the system could capture ECG reliably and extract highly accurate ECG-derived features with a reasonable rate of data drop during the user’s daily smartphone use. PMID:26978364

Sinabro: A Smartphone-Integrated Opportunistic Electrocardiogram Monitoring System.

PubMed

Kwon, Sungjun; Lee, Dongseok; Kim, Jeehoon; Lee, Youngki; Kang, Seungwoo; Seo, Sangwon; Park, Kwangsuk

2016-03-11

In our preliminary study, we proposed a smartphone-integrated, unobtrusive electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring system, Sinabro, which monitors a user's ECG opportunistically during daily smartphone use without explicit user intervention. The proposed system also monitors ECG-derived features, such as heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV), to support the pervasive healthcare apps for smartphones based on the user's high-level contexts, such as stress and affective state levels. In this study, we have extended the Sinabro system by: (1) upgrading the sensor device; (2) improving the feature extraction process; and (3) evaluating extensions of the system. We evaluated these extensions with a good set of algorithm parameters that were suggested based on empirical analyses. The results showed that the system could capture ECG reliably and extract highly accurate ECG-derived features with a reasonable rate of data drop during the user's daily smartphone use.

Implementation of Online Promethee Method for Poor Family Change Rate Calculation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aji, Dhady Lukito; Suryono; Widodo, Catur Edi

2018-02-01

This research has been done online calculation of the rate of poor family change rate by using Preference Ranking Method of Organization Of Enrichment Evaluation (PROMETHEE) .This system is very useful to monitor poverty in a region as well as for administrative services related to poverty rate. The system consists of computer clients and servers connected via the internet network. Poor family residence data obtained from the government. In addition, survey data are inputted through the client computer in each administrative village and also 23 criteria of input in accordance with the established government. The PROMETHEE method is used to evaluate the value of poverty and its weight is used to determine poverty status. PROMETHEE output can also be used to rank the poverty of the registered population of the server based on the netflow value. The poverty rate is calculated based on the current poverty rate compared to the previous poverty rate. The rate results can be viewed online and real time on the server through numbers and graphs. From the test results can be seen that the system can classify poverty status, calculate the poverty rate change rate and can determine the value and poverty ranking of each population.

Unobtrusive Biometric System Based on Electroencephalogram Analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Riera, A.; Soria-Frisch, A.; Caparrini, M.; Grau, C.; Ruffini, G.

2007-12-01

Features extracted from electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings have proved to be unique enough between subjects for biometric applications. We show here that biometry based on these recordings offers a novel way to robustly authenticate or identify subjects. In this paper, we present a rapid and unobtrusive authentication method that only uses 2 frontal electrodes referenced to another one placed at the ear lobe. Moreover, the system makes use of a multistage fusion architecture, which demonstrates to improve the system performance. The performance analysis of the system presented in this paper stems from an experiment with 51 subjects and 36 intruders, where an equal error rate (EER) of 3.4% is obtained, that is, true acceptance rate (TAR) of 96.6% and a false acceptance rate (FAR) of 3.4%. The obtained performance measures improve the results of similar systems presented in earlier work.

Conflict monitoring in dual process theories of thinking.

PubMed

De Neys, Wim; Glumicic, Tamara

2008-03-01

Popular dual process theories have characterized human thinking as an interplay between an intuitive-heuristic and demanding-analytic reasoning process. Although monitoring the output of the two systems for conflict is crucial to avoid decision making errors there are some widely different views on the efficiency of the process. Kahneman [Kahneman, D. (2002). Maps of bounded rationality: A perspective on intuitive judgement and choice. Nobel Prize Lecture. Retrieved January 11, 2006, from: http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/economics/laureates/2002/kahnemann-lecture.pdf] and Evans [Evans, J. St. B. T. (1984). Heuristic and analytic processing in reasoning. British Journal of Psychology, 75, 451-468], for example, claim that the monitoring of the heuristic system is typically quite lax whereas others such as Sloman [Sloman, S. A. (1996). The empirical case for two systems of reasoning. Psychological Bulletin, 119, 3-22] and Epstein [Epstein, S. (1994). Integration of the cognitive and psychodynamic unconscious. American Psychologists, 49, 709-724] claim it is flawless and people typically experience a struggle between what they "know" and "feel" in case of a conflict. The present study contrasted these views. Participants solved classic base rate neglect problems while thinking aloud. In these problems a stereotypical description cues a response that conflicts with the response based on the analytic base rate information. Verbal protocols showed no direct evidence for an explicitly experienced conflict. As Kahneman and Evans predicted, participants hardly ever mentioned the base rates and seemed to base their judgment exclusively on heuristic reasoning. However, more implicit measures of conflict detection such as participants' retrieval of the base rate information in an unannounced recall test, decision making latencies, and the tendency to review the base rates indicated that the base rates had been thoroughly processed. On control problems where base rates and description did not conflict this was not the case. Results suggest that whereas the popular characterization of conflict detection as an actively experienced struggle can be questioned there is nevertheless evidence for Sloman's and Epstein's basic claim about the flawless operation of the monitoring. Whenever the base rates and description disagree people will detect this conflict and consequently redirect attention towards a deeper processing of the base rates. Implications for the dual process framework and the rationality debate are discussed.

Moving base simulation evaluation of translational rate command systems for STOVL aircraft in hover

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Franklin, James A.; Stortz, Michael W.

1996-01-01

Using a generalized simulation model, a moving-base simulation of a lift-fan short takeoff/vertical landing fighter aircraft has been conducted on the Vertical Motion Simulator at Ames Research Center. Objectives of the experiment were to determine the influence of system bandwidth and phase delay on flying qualities for translational rate command and vertical velocity command systems. Assessments were made for precision hover control and for landings aboard an LPH type amphibious assault ship in the presence of winds and rough seas. Results obtained define the boundaries between satisfactory and adequate flying qualities for these design features for longitudinal and lateral translational rate command and for vertical velocity command.

Measuring Learner's Performance in E-Learning Recommender Systems

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ghauth, Khairil Imran; Abdullah, Nor Aniza

2010-01-01

A recommender system is a piece of software that helps users to identify the most interesting and relevant learning items from a large number of items. Recommender systems may be based on collaborative filtering (by user ratings), content-based filtering (by keywords), and hybrid filtering (by both collaborative and content-based filtering).…

Evaluating Principal-Preparation Programs Based on Placement Rates: Problems and Prospects for Policymakers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fuller, Edward J.; Hollingworth, Liz

2016-01-01

Recent calls to hold preparation programs accountable for outcomes have led states to develop and adopt preparation program accountability systems. A primary feature of these systems is a focus on outcomes such as placement rates, retention rates, and graduates' effectiveness in improving K-12 student achievement. Yet, little research has examined…

Delaware Stars for Early Success. QRS Profile. The Child Care Quality Rating System (QRS) Assessment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Child Trends, 2010

2010-01-01

This paper presents a profile of Delaware's Stars for Early Success prepared as part of the Child Care Quality Rating System (QRS) Assessment Study. The profile consists of several sections and their corresponding descriptions including: (1) Program Information; (2) Rating Details; (3) Quality Indicators for Center-Based Programs; (4) Indicators…

Palm Beach Quality Counts: QRS Profile. The Child Care Quality Rating System (QRS) Assessment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Child Trends, 2010

2010-01-01

This paper presents a profile of Palm Beach's Quality Counts prepared as part of the Child Care Quality Rating System (QRS) Assessment Study. The profile consists of several sections and their corresponding descriptions including: (1) Program Information; (2) Rating Details; (3) Quality Indicators for Center-Based Programs; (4) Indicators for…

Tennessee Star-Quality Child Care Program: QRS Profile. The Child Care Quality Rating System (QRS) Assessment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Child Trends, 2010

2010-01-01

This paper presents a profile of Tennessee's Star-Quality Child Care Program prepared as part of the Child Care Quality Rating System (QRS) Assessment Study. The profile consists of several sections and their corresponding descriptions including: (1) Program Information; (2) Rating Details; (3) Quality Indicators for Center-Based Programs; (4)…

Maine Quality for ME: QRS Profile. The Child Care Quality Rating System (QRS) Assessment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Child Trends, 2010

2010-01-01

This paper presents a profile of Maine's Quality for ME prepared as part of the Child Care Quality Rating System (QRS) Assessment Study. The profile consists of several sections and their corresponding descriptions including: (1) Program Information; (2) Rating Details; (3) Quality Indicators for Center-Based Programs; (4) Indicators for Family…

Ohio Step Up to Quality: QRS Profile. The Child Care Quality Rating System (QRS) Assessment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Child Trends, 2010

2010-01-01

This paper presents a profile of Ohio's Step Up to Quality prepared as part of the Child Care Quality Rating System (QRS) Assessment Study. The profile consists of several sections and their corresponding descriptions including: (1) Program Information; (2) Rating Details; (3) Quality Indicators for Center-Based Programs; (4) Indicators for Family…

Miami-Dade Quality Counts: QRS Profile. The Child Care Quality Rating System (QRS) Assessment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Child Trends, 2010

2010-01-01

This paper presents a profile of Miami-Dade's Quality Counts prepared as part of the Child Care Quality Rating System (QRS) Assessment Study. The profile consists of several sections and their corresponding descriptions including: (1) Program Information; (2) Rating Details; (3) Quality Indicators for Center-Based Programs; (4) Indicators for…

Kentucky STARS for KIDS NOW: QRS Profile. The Child Care Quality Rating System (QRS) Assessment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Child Trends, 2010

2010-01-01

This paper presents a profile of Kentucky's STARS for KIDS NOW prepared as part of the Child Care Quality Rating System (QRS) Assessment Study. The profile consists of several sections and their corresponding descriptions including: (1) Program Information; (2) Rating Details; (3) Quality Indicators for Center-Based Programs; (4) Indicators for…

Indiana Paths to Quality: QRS Profile. The Child Care Quality Rating System (QRS) Assessment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Child Trends, 2010

2010-01-01

This paper presents a profile of Indiana's Paths to Quality prepared as part of the Child Care Quality Rating System (QRS) Assessment Study. The profile consists of several sections and their corresponding descriptions including: (1) Program Information; (2) Rating Details; (3) Quality Indicators for Center-Based Programs; (4) Indicators for…

Oregon Child Care Quality Indicators Program: QRS Profile. The Child Care Quality Rating System (QRS) Assessment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Child Trends, 2010

2010-01-01

This paper presents a profile of Oregon's Child Care Quality Indicators Program prepared as part of the Child Care Quality Rating System (QRS) Assessment Study. The profile consists of several sections and their corresponding descriptions including: (1) Program Information; (2) Rating Details; (3) Quality Indicators for Center-Based Programs; (4)…

Forecasting overhaul or replacement intervals based on estimated system failure intensity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gannon, James M.

1994-12-01

System reliability can be expressed in terms of the pattern of failure events over time. Assuming a nonhomogeneous Poisson process and Weibull intensity function for complex repairable system failures, the degree of system deterioration can be approximated. Maximum likelihood estimators (MLE's) for the system Rate of Occurrence of Failure (ROCOF) function are presented. Evaluating the integral of the ROCOF over annual usage intervals yields the expected number of annual system failures. By associating a cost of failure with the expected number of failures, budget and program policy decisions can be made based on expected future maintenance costs. Monte Carlo simulation is used to estimate the range and the distribution of the net present value and internal rate of return of alternative cash flows based on the distributions of the cost inputs and confidence intervals of the MLE's.

Observer-based sliding mode control of Markov jump systems with random sensor delays and partly unknown transition rates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yao, Deyin; Lu, Renquan; Xu, Yong; Ren, Hongru

2017-10-01

In this paper, the sliding mode control problem of Markov jump systems (MJSs) with unmeasured state, partly unknown transition rates and random sensor delays is probed. In the practical engineering control, the exact information of transition rates is hard to obtain and the measurement channel is supposed to subject to random sensor delay. Design a Luenberger observer to estimate the unmeasured system state, and an integral sliding mode surface is constructed to ensure the exponential stability of MJSs. A sliding mode controller based on estimator is proposed to drive the system state onto the sliding mode surface and render the sliding mode dynamics exponentially mean-square stable with H∞ performance index. Finally, simulation results are provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed results.

TRICARE revision to CHAMPUS DRG-based payment system, pricing of hospital claims. Final rule.

PubMed

2014-05-21

This Final rule changes TRICARE's current regulatory provision for inpatient hospital claims priced under the DRG-based payment system. Claims are currently priced by using the rates and weights that are in effect on a beneficiary's date of admission. This Final rule changes that provision to price such claims by using the rates and weights that are in effect on a beneficiary's date of discharge.

Biofidelity assessment of the 6-year-old ATDs in lateral impact.

PubMed

Yaek, J L; Li, Y; Lemanski, P J; Begeman, P C; Rouhana, S W; Cavanaugh, J M

2016-07-03

The objective of this study was to assess and compare the current lateral impact biofidelity of the shoulder, thorax, abdomen, and pelvis of the Q6, Q6s, and Hybrid III (HIII) 6-year-old anthropomorphic test devices (ATDs) through lateral impact testing. A series of lateral impact pendulum tests, vertical drop tests, and Wayne State University (WSU) sled tests was performed, based on the procedures detailed in ISO/TR 9790 (1999) and scaling to the 6-year-old using Irwin et al. ( 2002 ). The HIII used in this study was tested with the Ford-designed abdomen described in Rouhana ( 2006 ) and Elhagediab et al. ( 2006 ). The data collected from the 3 different ATDs were filtered using SAE J211 (SAE International 2003 ), aligned using the methodology described by Donnelly and Moorhouse ( 2012 ), and compared for each body region tested (shoulder, thorax, abdomen, and pelvis). The biofidelity performance in lateral impact for the 3 ATDs was assessed against the scaled biofidelity targets published in Irwin et al. ( 2002 ), the abdominal biofidelity target suggested in van Ratingen et al. ( 1997 ), and the biofidelity targets published in Rhule et al. ( 2013 ). Regional and overall biofidelity rankings for each of the 3 ATDs were performed using both the ISO 9790 biofidelity rating system (ISO/TR 9790 1999) and the NHTSA's external biofidelity ranking system (BRS; Rhule et al. 2013 ). All 3 6-year-old ATD's pelvises were rated as least biofidelic of the 4 body regions tested, based on both the ISO and BRS biofidelity rating systems, followed by the shoulder and abdomen, respectively. The thorax of all 3 ATDs was rated as the most biofidelic body region using the aforementioned biofidelity rating systems. The HIII 6-year-old ATD was rated last in overall biofidelity of the 3 tested ATDs, based on both rating systems. The Q6s ATD was rated as having the best overall biofidelity using both rating systems. All 3 ATDs are more biofidelic in the thorax and abdomen than the shoulder and pelvis, with the pelvis being the least biofidelic of all 4 tested body regions. None of the 3 tested 6-year-old ATDs had an overall ranking of 2.0 or less, based on the BRS ranking. Therefore, it is expected that none of the 3 ATDs would mechanically respond like a postmortem human subject (PMHS) in a lateral impact crash test based on this ranking system. With respect to the ISO biofidelity rating, the HIII dummy would be considered unsuitable and the Q-series dummies would be considered marginal for assessing side impact occupant protection.

[Medication error management climate and perception for system use according to construction of medication error prevention system].

PubMed

Kim, Myoung Soo

2012-08-01

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine current status of IT-based medication error prevention system construction and the relationships among system construction, medication error management climate and perception for system use. The participants were 124 patient safety chief managers working for 124 hospitals with over 300 beds in Korea. The characteristics of the participants, construction status and perception of systems (electric pharmacopoeia, electric drug dosage calculation system, computer-based patient safety reporting and bar-code system) and medication error management climate were measured in this study. The data were collected between June and August 2011. Descriptive statistics, partial Pearson correlation and MANCOVA were used for data analysis. Electric pharmacopoeia were constructed in 67.7% of participating hospitals, computer-based patient safety reporting systems were constructed in 50.8%, electric drug dosage calculation systems were in use in 32.3%. Bar-code systems showed up the lowest construction rate at 16.1% of Korean hospitals. Higher rates of construction of IT-based medication error prevention systems resulted in greater safety and a more positive error management climate prevailed. The supportive strategies for improving perception for use of IT-based systems would add to system construction, and positive error management climate would be more easily promoted.

Development of a surgical site infection (SSI) surveillance system, calculation of SSI rates and specification of important factors affecting SSI in a digestive organ surgical department.

PubMed

Kimura, Koji; Sawa, Akihiro; Akagi, Shinji; Kihira, Kenji

2007-06-01

We have developed an original system to conduct surgical site infection (SSI) surveillance. This system accumulates SSI surveillance information based on the National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance (NNIS) System and the Japanese Nosocomial Infections Surveillance (JNIS) System. The features of this system are as follows: easy input of data, high generality, data accuracy, SSI rate by operative procedure and risk index category (RIC) can be promptly calculated and compared with the current NNIS SSI rate, and the SSI rates and accumulated data can be exported electronically. Using this system, we monitored 798 patients in 24 operative procedure categories in the Digestive Organs Surgery Department of Mazda Hospital, Mazda Motor Corporation, from January 2004 through December 2005. The total number and rate of SSI were 47 and 5.89%, respectively. The SSI rates of 777 patients were calculated based on 15 operative procedure categories and Risk Index Categories (RIC). The highest SSI rate was observed in the rectum surgery of RIC 1 (30%), followed by the colon surgery of RIC3 (28.57%). About 30% of the isolated infecting bacteria were Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli. Using quantification theory type 2, the American Society of Anesthesiology score (4.531), volume of hemorrhage under operation (3.075), wound classification (1.76), operation time (1.352), and history of diabetes (0.989) increased to higher ranks as factors for SSI. Therefore, we evaluated this system as a useful tool in safety control for operative procedures.

Market Assessment of Forward-Looking Turbulence Sensing Systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kauffmann, Paul

2003-01-01

This viewgraph presentation provides a cost benefit analysis of three next-generation forward-looking turbulence sensing systems: X band turbulence radar system for convective turbulence, LIDAR based turbulence systems to sense clear air turbulence and a combined hybrid system. Parameters for the cost benefit analysis were established using a business model which considered injury rates, cost of injuries, indirect costs, market penetration rate estimates and product success characteristics. Topics covered include: study approach, business case equations, data acquisition, benchmark analysis. Data interpretation from the cost benefit analysis is presented. The researchers conclude that the market potential for these products is based primarily on injury cost reduction and that X band radar systems have the greatest chance for commercial success.

75 FR 14592 - Dynamic PL, Inc.; Supplemental Notice That Initial Market-Based Rate Filing Includes Request for...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-03-26

... DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. ER10-853-000] Dynamic PL... Dynamic PL, Inc's application for market-based rate authority, with an accompanying rate tariff, noting... accessible in the Commission's eLibrary system by clicking on the appropriate link in the above list. They...

What Are Error Rates for Classifying Teacher and School Performance Using Value-Added Models?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schochet, Peter Z.; Chiang, Hanley S.

2013-01-01

This article addresses likely error rates for measuring teacher and school performance in the upper elementary grades using value-added models applied to student test score gain data. Using a realistic performance measurement system scheme based on hypothesis testing, the authors develop error rate formulas based on ordinary least squares and…

Polyaniline-based memristive microdevice with high switching rate and endurance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lapkin, D. A.; Emelyanov, A. V.; Demin, V. A.; Erokhin, V. V.; Feigin, L. A.; Kashkarov, P. K.; Kovalchuk, M. V.

2018-01-01

Polyaniline (PANI) based memristive devices have emerged as promising candidates for hardware implementation of artificial synapses (the key components of neuromorphic systems) due to their high flexibility, low cost, solution processability, three-dimensional stacking capability, and biocompatibility. Here, we report on a way of the significant improvement of the switching rate and endurance of PANI-based memristive devices. The reduction of the PANI active channel dimension leads to the increase in the resistive switching rate by hundreds of times in comparison with the conventional one. The miniaturized memristive device was shown to be stable within at least 104 cyclic switching events between high- and low-conductive states with a retention time of at least 103 s. The obtained results make PANI-based memristive devices potentially widely applicable in neuromorphic systems.

Advanced clinical interpretation of the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System: multivariate base rates of low scores.

PubMed

Karr, Justin E; Garcia-Barrera, Mauricio A; Holdnack, James A; Iverson, Grant L

2018-01-01

Multivariate base rates allow for the simultaneous statistical interpretation of multiple test scores, quantifying the normal frequency of low scores on a test battery. This study provides multivariate base rates for the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System (D-KEFS). The D-KEFS consists of 9 tests with 16 Total Achievement scores (i.e. primary indicators of executive function ability). Stratified by education and intelligence, multivariate base rates were derived for the full D-KEFS and an abbreviated four-test battery (i.e. Trail Making, Color-Word Interference, Verbal Fluency, and Tower Test) using the adult portion of the normative sample (ages 16-89). Multivariate base rates are provided for the full and four-test D-KEFS batteries, calculated using five low score cutoffs (i.e. ≤25th, 16th, 9th, 5th, and 2nd percentiles). Low scores occurred commonly among the D-KEFS normative sample, with 82.6 and 71.8% of participants obtaining at least one score ≤16th percentile for the full and four-test batteries, respectively. Intelligence and education were inversely related to low score frequency. The base rates provided herein allow clinicians to interpret multiple D-KEFS scores simultaneously for the full D-KEFS and an abbreviated battery of commonly administered tests. The use of these base rates will support clinicians when differentiating between normal variations in cognitive performance and true executive function deficits.

Hierarchy of conversational rule violations involving utterance-based augmentative and alternative communication systems.

PubMed

Hoag, Linda A; Bedrosian, Jan L; McCoy, Kathleen F; Johnson, Dallas E

2008-01-01

This study examined the effects of using messages with conversational rule violations on attitudes toward people who used utterance-based augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems in transactional interactions. Specifically, the ratings were compared across messages with relevance, informativeness, and brevity violations, when latency remained constant (i.e., short). The 96 participating sales clerks viewed scripted, videotaped bookstore conversations and completed an attitude questionnaire. Results indicated that the prestored message with repeated words/phrases was rated the highest, followed by the message with excessive information; next was the message with inadequate information, followed by the message with partly relevant information. The findings may be useful to those using utterance-based systems when making message choices during interactions with service providers. Technological implications point to the development of schema/script-based systems and intelligent editing.

Increases of Chamber Height and Base Diameter Have Contrasting Effects on Grazing Rate of Two Cladoceran Species: Implications for Microcosm Studies.

PubMed

Pan, Ying; Zhang, Yunshu; Peng, Yan; Zhao, Qinghua; Sun, Shucun

2015-01-01

Aquatic microcosm studies often increase either chamber height or base diameter (to increase water volume) to test spatial ecology theories such as "scale" effects on ecological processes, but it is unclear whether the increase of chamber height or base diameter have the same effect on the processes, i.e., whether the effect of the shape of three-dimensional spaces is significant. We orthogonally manipulated chamber height and base diameter and determined swimming activity, average swimming velocity and grazing rates of the cladocerans Daphnia magna and Moina micrura (on two algae Scenedesmus quadricauda and Chlorella vulgaris; leading to four aquatic algae-cladoceran systems in total) under different microcosm conditions. Across all the four aquatic systems, increasing chamber height at a given base diameter significantly decreased the duration and velocity of horizontal swimming, and it tended to increase the duration but decrease the velocity of vertical swimming. These collectively led to decreases in both average swimming velocity and grazing rate of the cladocerans in the tall chambers (at a given base diameter), in accordance with the positive relationship between average swimming velocity and grazing rate. In contrast, an increase of base diameter at a given chamber height showed contrasting effects on the above parameters. Consistently, at a given chamber volume increasing ratio of chamber height to base diameter decreased the average swimming velocity and grazing rate across all the aquatic systems. In general, increasing chamber depth and base diameter may exert contrasting effects on zooplankton behavior and thus phytoplankton-zooplankton interactions. We suggest that spatial shape plays an important role in determining ecological process and thus should be considered in a theoretical framework of spatial ecology and also the physical setting of aquatic microcosm experiments.

Increases of Chamber Height and Base Diameter Have Contrasting Effects on Grazing Rate of Two Cladoceran Species: Implications for Microcosm Studies

PubMed Central

Pan, Ying; Zhang, Yunshu; Peng, Yan; Zhao, Qinghua; Sun, Shucun

2015-01-01

Aquatic microcosm studies often increase either chamber height or base diameter (to increase water volume) to test spatial ecology theories such as “scale” effects on ecological processes, but it is unclear whether the increase of chamber height or base diameter have the same effect on the processes, i.e., whether the effect of the shape of three-dimensional spaces is significant. We orthogonally manipulated chamber height and base diameter and determined swimming activity, average swimming velocity and grazing rates of the cladocerans Daphnia magna and Moina micrura (on two algae Scenedesmus quadricauda and Chlorella vulgaris; leading to four aquatic algae-cladoceran systems in total) under different microcosm conditions. Across all the four aquatic systems, increasing chamber height at a given base diameter significantly decreased the duration and velocity of horizontal swimming, and it tended to increase the duration but decrease the velocity of vertical swimming. These collectively led to decreases in both average swimming velocity and grazing rate of the cladocerans in the tall chambers (at a given base diameter), in accordance with the positive relationship between average swimming velocity and grazing rate. In contrast, an increase of base diameter at a given chamber height showed contrasting effects on the above parameters. Consistently, at a given chamber volume increasing ratio of chamber height to base diameter decreased the average swimming velocity and grazing rate across all the aquatic systems. In general, increasing chamber depth and base diameter may exert contrasting effects on zooplankton behavior and thus phytoplankton-zooplankton interactions. We suggest that spatial shape plays an important role in determining ecological process and thus should be considered in a theoretical framework of spatial ecology and also the physical setting of aquatic microcosm experiments. PMID:26273836

Intelligent agent-based intrusion detection system using enhanced multiclass SVM.

PubMed

Ganapathy, S; Yogesh, P; Kannan, A

2012-01-01

Intrusion detection systems were used in the past along with various techniques to detect intrusions in networks effectively. However, most of these systems are able to detect the intruders only with high false alarm rate. In this paper, we propose a new intelligent agent-based intrusion detection model for mobile ad hoc networks using a combination of attribute selection, outlier detection, and enhanced multiclass SVM classification methods. For this purpose, an effective preprocessing technique is proposed that improves the detection accuracy and reduces the processing time. Moreover, two new algorithms, namely, an Intelligent Agent Weighted Distance Outlier Detection algorithm and an Intelligent Agent-based Enhanced Multiclass Support Vector Machine algorithm are proposed for detecting the intruders in a distributed database environment that uses intelligent agents for trust management and coordination in transaction processing. The experimental results of the proposed model show that this system detects anomalies with low false alarm rate and high-detection rate when tested with KDD Cup 99 data set.

Intelligent Agent-Based Intrusion Detection System Using Enhanced Multiclass SVM

PubMed Central

Ganapathy, S.; Yogesh, P.; Kannan, A.

2012-01-01

Intrusion detection systems were used in the past along with various techniques to detect intrusions in networks effectively. However, most of these systems are able to detect the intruders only with high false alarm rate. In this paper, we propose a new intelligent agent-based intrusion detection model for mobile ad hoc networks using a combination of attribute selection, outlier detection, and enhanced multiclass SVM classification methods. For this purpose, an effective preprocessing technique is proposed that improves the detection accuracy and reduces the processing time. Moreover, two new algorithms, namely, an Intelligent Agent Weighted Distance Outlier Detection algorithm and an Intelligent Agent-based Enhanced Multiclass Support Vector Machine algorithm are proposed for detecting the intruders in a distributed database environment that uses intelligent agents for trust management and coordination in transaction processing. The experimental results of the proposed model show that this system detects anomalies with low false alarm rate and high-detection rate when tested with KDD Cup 99 data set. PMID:23056036

Detailed seismic evaluation of bridges along I-24 in Western Kentucky.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2006-09-01

This report presents a seismic rating system and a detailed evaluation procedure for selected highway bridges on/over I-24 in Western Kentucky near the New Madrid Seismic Zone (MNSZ). The rating system, based upon structural vulnerability, seismic an...

75 FR 52527 - The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania; Supplemental Notice That Initial Market-Based...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-08-26

... of the University of Pennsylvania; Supplemental Notice That Initial Market-Based Rate Filing Includes...-referenced proceeding, of The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania's application for market-based rate.... The filings in the above-referenced proceeding(s) are accessible in the Commission's eLibrary system...

Orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing access (OFDMA) based wireless visible light communication (VLC) system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sung, Jiun-Yu; Yeh, Chien-Hung; Chow, Chi-Wai; Lin, Wan-Feng; Liu, Yang

2015-11-01

An orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing access (OFDMA) based visible light communication (VLC) system is proposed in this paper. The architecture of the proposed system is divided into several VLC cells, which is defined in this paper. The deployment and upgrade of the system involve only simple combination of the VLC cells. Hence it is economically advantageous. To guarantee smooth communication, nearly equal data rate is provided at every location within the system with no concern on the system scale. The user location monitor strategy is also discussed to solve the region division issues. The characteristics of the proposed system are analyzed in detail in this paper. A one-dimensional experiment was demonstrated with 13.6 Mb/s data rate.

VWPS: A Ventilator Weaning Prediction System with Artificial Intelligence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Austin H.; Chen, Guan-Ting

How to wean patients efficiently off mechanical ventilation continues to be a challenge for medical professionals. In this paper we have described a novel approach to the study of a ventilator weaning prediction system (VWPS). Firstly, we have developed and written three Artificial Neural Network (ANN) algorithms to predict a weaning successful rate based on the clinical data. Secondly, we have implemented two user-friendly weaning success rate prediction systems; the VWPS system and the BWAP system. Both systems could be used to help doctors objectively and effectively predict whether weaning is appropriate for patients based on the patients' clinical data. Our system utilizes the powerful processing abilities of MatLab. Thirdly, we have calculated the performance through measures such as sensitivity and accuracy for these three algorithms. The results show a very high sensitivity (around 80%) and accuracy (around 70%). To our knowledge, this is the first design approach of its kind to be used in the study of ventilator weaning success rate prediction.

A Real-Time Wireless Sweat Rate Measurement System for Physical Activity Monitoring

PubMed Central

Brueck, Andrew; Iftekhar, Tashfin; Stannard, Alicja B.; Kaya, Tolga

2018-01-01

There has been significant research on the physiology of sweat in the past decade, with one of the main interests being the development of a real-time hydration monitor that utilizes sweat. The contents of sweat have been known for decades; sweat provides significant information on the physiological condition of the human body. However, it is important to know the sweat rate as well, as sweat rate alters the concentration of the sweat constituents, and ultimately affects the accuracy of hydration detection. Towards this goal, a calorimetric based flow-rate detection system was built and tested to determine sweat rate in real time. The proposed sweat rate monitoring system has been validated through both controlled lab experiments (syringe pump) and human trials. An Internet of Things (IoT) platform was embedded, with the sensor using a Simblee board and Raspberry Pi. The overall prototype is capable of sending sweat rate information in real time to either a smartphone or directly to the cloud. Based on a proven theoretical concept, our overall system implementation features a pioneer device that can truly measure the rate of sweat in real time, which was tested and validated on human subjects. Our realization of the real-time sweat rate watch is capable of detecting sweat rates as low as 0.15 µL/min/cm2, with an average error in accuracy of 18% compared to manual sweat rate readings. PMID:29439398

National fire-danger rating system fine-fuel moisture content tables—an Alaskan adaptation.

Treesearch

Richard J. Barney

1969-01-01

Fine-fuel moisture content tables, using dry bulb and dewpoint temperatures as entry data, have been developed for use with the National Fire-Danger Rating System in Alaska. Comparisons have been made which illustrate differences resulting from danger-rating calculations based on these new fine-fuel moisture content tables for the cured, transition, and green...

42 CFR 422.266 - Beneficiary rebates.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... based on the plan's quality rating under a 5 star rating system, as determined by the Secretary under... the case of a plan with a quality rating under such system of at least 4.5 stars, 70 percent of the... 3.5 stars and less than 4.5 stars, 65 percent of the average per capita savings. (C) In the case of...

42 CFR 422.266 - Beneficiary rebates.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... based on the plan's quality rating under a 5 star rating system, as determined by the Secretary under... the case of a plan with a quality rating under such system of at least 4.5 stars, 70 percent of the... 3.5 stars and less than 4.5 stars, 65 percent of the average per capita savings. (C) In the case of...

42 CFR 422.266 - Beneficiary rebates.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... based on the plan's quality rating under a 5 star rating system, as determined by the Secretary under... the case of a plan with a quality rating under such system of at least 4.5 stars, 70 percent of the... 3.5 stars and less than 4.5 stars, 65 percent of the average per capita savings. (C) In the case of...

New Mexico Look for the STARS--AIM HIGH: QRS Profile. The Child Care Quality Rating System (QRS) Assessment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Child Trends, 2010

2010-01-01

This paper presents a profile of New Mexico's Look for the STARS--AIM HIGH prepared as part of the Child Care Quality Rating System (QRS) Assessment Study. The profile consists of several sections and their corresponding descriptions including: (1) Program Information; (2) Rating Details; (3) Quality Indicators for Center-Based Programs; (4)…

Los Angeles County Steps to Excellence Project: QRS Profile. The Child Care Quality Rating System (QRS) Assessment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Child Trends, 2010

2010-01-01

This paper presents a profile of Los Angeles County's Steps to Excellence Project prepared as part of the Child Care Quality Rating System (QRS) Assessment Study. The profile consists of several sections and their corresponding descriptions including: (1) Program Information; (2) Rating Details; (3) Quality Indicators for Center-Based Programs;…

A noncontact RF-based respiratory sensor: results of a clinical trial.

PubMed

Madsen, Spence; Baczuk, Jordan; Thorup, Kurt; Barton, Richard; Patwari, Neal; Langell, John T

2016-06-01

Respiratory rate (RR) is a critical vital signs monitored in health care setting. Current monitors suffer from sensor-contact failure, inaccurate data, and limited patient mobility. There is a critical need for an accurate and reliable and noncontact system to monitor RR. We developed a contact-free radio frequency (RF)-based system that measures movement using WiFi signal diffraction, which is converted into interpretable data using a Fourier transform. Here, we investigate the system's ability to measure fine movements associated with human respiration. Testing was conducted on subjects using visual cue, fixed-tempo instruction to breath at standard RRs. Blinded instruction-based RRs were compared to RF-acquired data to determine measurement accuracy. The RF-based technology was studied on postoperative ventilator-dependent patients. Blinded ventilator capnographic RR data were collected for each patient and compared to RF-acquired data to determine measurement accuracy. Respiratory rate data collected from 10 subjects breathing at a fixed RR (14, 16, 18, or 20) demonstrated 95.5% measurement accuracy between the patient's actual rate and that measured by our RF technology. Ten patients were enrolled into the clinical trial. Blinded ventilator capnographic RR data were compared to RF-based acquired data. The RF-based data showed 88.8% measurement accuracy with ventilator capnography. Initial clinical pilot trials with our contact-free RF-based monitoring system demonstrate a high degree of RR measurement accuracy when compared to capnographic data. Based on these results, we believe RF-based systems present a promising noninvasive, inexpensive, and accurate tool for continuous RR monitoring. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Colometer: a real-time quality feedback system for screening colonoscopy.

PubMed

Filip, Dobromir; Gao, Xuexin; Angulo-Rodríguez, Leticia; Mintchev, Martin P; Devlin, Shane M; Rostom, Alaa; Rosen, Wayne; Andrews, Christopher N

2012-08-28

To investigate the performance of a new software-based colonoscopy quality assessment system. The software-based system employs a novel image processing algorithm which detects the levels of image clarity, withdrawal velocity, and level of the bowel preparation in a real-time fashion from live video signal. Threshold levels of image blurriness and the withdrawal velocity below which the visualization could be considered adequate have initially been determined arbitrarily by review of sample colonoscopy videos by two experienced endoscopists. Subsequently, an overall colonoscopy quality rating was computed based on the percentage of the withdrawal time with adequate visualization (scored 1-5; 1, when the percentage was 1%-20%; 2, when the percentage was 21%-40%, etc.). In order to test the proposed velocity and blurriness thresholds, screening colonoscopy withdrawal videos from a specialized ambulatory colon cancer screening center were collected, automatically processed and rated. Quality ratings on the withdrawal were compared to the insertion in the same patients. Then, 3 experienced endoscopists reviewed the collected videos in a blinded fashion and rated the overall quality of each withdrawal (scored 1-5; 1, poor; 3, average; 5, excellent) based on 3 major aspects: image quality, colon preparation, and withdrawal velocity. The automated quality ratings were compared to the averaged endoscopist quality ratings using Spearman correlation coefficient. Fourteen screening colonoscopies were assessed. Adenomatous polyps were detected in 4/14 (29%) of the collected colonoscopy video samples. As a proof of concept, the Colometer software rated colonoscope withdrawal as having better visualization than the insertion in the 10 videos which did not have any polyps (average percent time with adequate visualization: 79% ± 5% for withdrawal and 50% ± 14% for insertion, P < 0.01). Withdrawal times during which no polyps were removed ranged from 4-12 min. The median quality rating from the automated system and the reviewers was 3.45 [interquartile range (IQR), 3.1-3.68] and 3.00 (IQR, 2.33-3.67) respectively for all colonoscopy video samples. The automated rating revealed a strong correlation with the reviewer's rating (ρ coefficient= 0.65, P = 0.01). There was good correlation of the automated overall quality rating and the mean endoscopist withdrawal speed rating (Spearman r coefficient= 0.59, P = 0.03). There was no correlation of automated overall quality rating with mean endoscopists image quality rating (Spearman r coefficient= 0.41, P = 0.15). The results from a novel automated real-time colonoscopy quality feedback system strongly agreed with the endoscopists' quality assessments. Further study is required to validate this approach.

Recent advances in laser triangulation-based measurement of airfoil surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hageniers, Omer L.

1995-01-01

The measurement of aircraft jet engine turbine and compressor blades requires a high degree of accuracy. This paper will address the development and performance attributes of a noncontact electro-optical gaging system specifically designed to meet the airfoil dimensional measurement requirements inherent in turbine and compressor blade manufacture and repair. The system described consists of the following key components: a high accuracy, dual channel, laser based optical sensor, a four degree of freedom mechanical manipulator system and a computer based operator interface. Measurement modes of the system include point by point data gathering at rates up to 3 points per second and an 'on-the-fly' mode where points can be gathered at data rates up to 20 points per second at surface scanning speeds of up to 1 inch per second. Overall system accuracy is +/- 0.0005 inches in a configuration that is useable in the blade manufacturing area. The systems ability to input design data from CAD data bases and output measurement data in a CAD compatible data format is discussed.

Behavioral modeling of VCSELs for high-speed optical interconnects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Szczerba, Krzysztof; Kocot, Chris

2018-02-01

Transition from on-off keying to 4-level pulse amplitude modulation (PAM) in VCSEL based optical interconnects allows for an increase of data rates, at the cost of 4.8 dB sensitivity penalty. The resulting strained link budget creates a need for accurate VCSEL models for driver integrated circuit (IC) design and system level simulations. Rate equation based equivalent circuit models are convenient for the IC design, but system level analysis requires computationally efficient closed form behavioral models based Volterra series and neural networks. In this paper we present and compare these models.

The tip/tilt tracking sensor based on multi-anode photo-multiplier tube

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, Xiao-yu; Rao, Chang-hui; Tian, Yu; Wei, Kai

2013-09-01

Based on the demands of high sensitivity, precision and frame rate of tip/tilt tracking sensors in acquisition, tracking and pointing (ATP) systems for satellite-ground optical communications, this paper proposes to employ the multiple-anode photo-multiplier tubes (MAPMTs) in tip/tilt tracking sensors. Meanwhile, an array-type photon-counting system was designed to meet the requirements of the tip/tilt tracking sensors. The experiment results show that the tip/tilt tracking sensors based on MAPMTs can achieve photon sensitivity and high frame rate as well as low noise.

Leveraging social system networks in ubiquitous high-data-rate health systems.

PubMed

Massey, Tammara; Marfia, Gustavo; Stoelting, Adam; Tomasi, Riccardo; Spirito, Maurizio A; Sarrafzadeh, Majid; Pau, Giovanni

2011-05-01

Social system networks with high data rates and limited storage will discard data if the system cannot connect and upload the data to a central server. We address the challenge of limited storage capacity in mobile health systems during network partitions with a heuristic that achieves efficiency in storage capacity by modifying the granularity of the medical data during long intercontact periods. Patterns in the connectivity, reception rate, distance, and location are extracted from the social system network and leveraged in the global algorithm and online heuristic. In the global algorithm, the stochastic nature of the data is modeled with maximum likelihood estimation based on the distribution of the reception rates. In the online heuristic, the correlation between system position and the reception rate is combined with patterns in human mobility to estimate the intracontact and intercontact time. The online heuristic performs well with a low data loss of 2.1%-6.1%.

A Position and Rate Control System: An Ingredient for Budget Planning.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gilbert, Linda L.

A position and rate control system was undertaken at Florida State University in 1974 to alleviate the problems of the manual budgeting system. The budget master file was created biweekly by combining a subset of the current payroll/personnel data base with the updated budget information from the previous budget master file, keying on positional…

Frequency Based Real-time Pricing for Residential Prosumers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hambridge, Sarah Mabel

This work is the first to explore frequency based pricing for secondary frequency control as a price-reactive control mechanism for residential prosumers. A frequency based real-time electricity rate is designed as an autonomous market control mechanism for residential prosumers to provide frequency support as an ancillary service. In addition, prosumers are empowered to participate in dynamic energy transactions, therefore integrating Distributed Energy Resources (DERs), and increasing distributed energy storage onto the distributed grid. As the grid transitions towards DERs, a new market based control system will take the place of the legacy distributed system and possibly the legacy bulk power system. DERs provide many benefits such as energy independence, clean generation, efficiency, and reliability to prosumers during blackouts. However, the variable nature of renewable energy and current lack of installed energy storage on the grid will create imbalances in supply and demand as uptake increases, affecting the grid frequency and system operation. Through a frequency-based electricity rate, prosumers will be encouraged to purchase energy storage systems (ESS) to offset their neighbor's distributed generation (DG) such as solar. Chapter 1 explains the deregulation of the power system and move towards Distributed System Operators (DSOs), as prosumers become owners of microgrids and energy cells connected to the distributed system. Dynamic pricing has been proposed as a benefit to prosumers, giving them the ability to make decisions in the energy market, while also providing a way to influence and control their behavior. Frequency based real-time pricing is a type of dynamic pricing which falls between price-reactive control and transactive control. Prosumer-to-prosumer transactions may take the place of prosumer-to-utility transactions, building The Energy Internet. Frequency based pricing could be a mechanism for determining prosumer prices and supporting stability in a free, competitive, market. Frequency based pricing is applied to secondary frequency control in this work, providing support at one to five minute time intervals. In Chapter 2, a frequency based pricing curve is designed as a preliminary study and the response of the prosumer is optimized for economic dispatch. In Chapter 3, a day-ahead schedule and real-time adjustment energy management framework is presented for the prosumer, creating a market structure similar to the existing energy market supervised by Independent System Operators (ISOs). Enabling technology, such as the solid state transformer (SST) is described for prosumer energy transactions, controlling power flow from the prosumer's energy cell to the grid or neighboring prosumer as an energy router. Experimental results are shown to demonstrate this capability. Additionally, the SST is capable of measuring the grid frequency. Lastly, a frequency based real-time hybrid electricity rate is presented in Chapter 4 and Chapter 5. Chapter 4 specializes in a single direction rate while Chapter 5 presents a bi-directional rate. A Time-of-use (TOU) rate is combined with the real-time frequency based price to lower energy bills for a residential prosumer with ESS, in agreement with the proposed day-ahead and real-time energy management framework. The cost to the ESS is also considered in this section. Linear programming and strategic rule based methods are utilized to find the lowest energy bill. As a result, prosumers can use ESS to balance the grid, reducing their bill as much per kWh as PV or DG under a TOU net-metering price scheme, while providing distributed frequency support to the grid authority. The variability of the frequency based rate is similar to variability in the stock market, which gives a sense of how prosumers will interact with variable prices in a system supported by The Energy Internet.

Performance of a web-based, realtime, tele-ultrasound consultation system over high-speed commercial telecommunication lines.

PubMed

Yoo, Sun K; Kim, D K; Jung, S M; Kim, E-K; Lim, J S; Kim, J H

2004-01-01

A Web-based, realtime, tele-ultrasound consultation system was designed. The system employed ActiveX control, MPEG-4 coding of full-resolution ultrasound video (640 x 480 pixels at 30 frames/s) and H.320 videoconferencing. It could be used via a Web browser. The system was evaluated over three types of commercial line: a cable connection, ADSL and VDSL. Three radiologists assessed the quality of compressed and uncompressed ultrasound video-sequences from 16 cases (10 abnormal livers, four abnormal kidneys and two abnormal gallbladders). The radiologists' scores showed that, at a given frame rate, increasing the bit rate was associated with increasing quality; however, at a certain threshold bit rate the quality did not increase significantly. The peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR) was also measured between the compressed and uncompressed images. In most cases, the PSNR increased as the bit rate increased, and increased as the number of dropped frames increased. There was a threshold bit rate, at a given frame rate, at which the PSNR did not improve significantly. Taking into account both sets of threshold values, a bit rate of more than 0.6 Mbit/s, at 30 frames/s, is suggested as the threshold for the maintenance of diagnostic image quality.

48 CFR 1602.170-2 - Community rate.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 6 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false Community rate. 1602.170-2... 1602.170-2 Community rate. (a) Community rate means a rate of payment based on a per member per month capitation rate or its equivalent that applies to a combination of the subscriber groups for a comprehensive...

48 CFR 1602.170-2 - Community rate.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 6 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false Community rate. 1602.170-2... 1602.170-2 Community rate. (a) Community rate means a rate of payment based on a per member per month capitation rate or its equivalent that applies to a combination of the subscriber groups for a comprehensive...

48 CFR 1602.170-2 - Community rate.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 6 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Community rate. 1602.170-2... 1602.170-2 Community rate. (a) Community rate means a rate of payment based on a per member per month capitation rate or its equivalent that applies to a combination of the subscriber groups for a comprehensive...

48 CFR 1602.170-2 - Community rate.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 6 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 true Community rate. 1602.170-2... 1602.170-2 Community rate. (a) Community rate means a rate of payment based on a per member per month capitation rate or its equivalent that applies to a combination of the subscriber groups for a comprehensive...

Analyzing endocrine system conservation and evolution.

PubMed

Bonett, Ronald M

2016-08-01

Analyzing variation in rates of evolution can provide important insights into the factors that constrain trait evolution, as well as those that promote diversification. Metazoan endocrine systems exhibit apparent variation in evolutionary rates of their constituent components at multiple levels, yet relatively few studies have quantified these patterns and analyzed them in a phylogenetic context. This may be in part due to historical and current data limitations for many endocrine components and taxonomic groups. However, recent technological advancements such as high-throughput sequencing provide the opportunity to collect large-scale comparative data sets for even non-model species. Such ventures will produce a fertile data landscape for evolutionary analyses of nucleic acid and amino acid based endocrine components. Here I summarize evolutionary rate analyses that can be applied to categorical and continuous endocrine traits, and also those for nucleic acid and protein-based components. I emphasize analyses that could be used to test whether other variables (e.g., ecology, ontogenetic timing of expression, etc.) are related to patterns of rate variation and endocrine component diversification. The application of phylogenetic-based rate analyses to comparative endocrine data will greatly enhance our understanding of the factors that have shaped endocrine system evolution. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Analysis of growth patterns during gravitropic curvature in roots of Zea mays by use of a computer-based video digitizer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nelson, A. J.; Evans, M. L.

1986-01-01

A computer-based video digitizer system is described which allows automated tracking of markers placed on a plant surface. The system uses customized software to calculate relative growth rates at selected positions along the plant surface and to determine rates of gravitropic curvature based on the changing pattern of distribution of the surface markers. The system was used to study the time course of gravitropic curvature and changes in relative growth rate along the upper and lower surface of horizontally-oriented roots of maize (Zea mays L.). The growing region of the root was found to extend from about 1 mm behind the tip to approximately 6 mm behind the tip. In vertically-oriented roots the relative growth rate was maximal at about 2.5 mm behind the tip and declined smoothly on either side of the maximum. Curvature was initiated approximately 30 min after horizontal orientation with maximal (50 degrees) curvature being attained in 3 h. Analysis of surface extension patterns during the response indicated that curvature results from a reduction in growth rate along both the upper and lower surfaces with stronger reduction along the lower surface.

A fiber-based quasi-continuous-wave quantum key distribution system

PubMed Central

Shen, Yong; Chen, Yan; Zou, Hongxin; Yuan, Jianmin

2014-01-01

We report a fiber-based quasi-continuous-wave (CW) quantum key distribution (QKD) system with continuous variables (CV). This system employs coherent light pulses and time multiplexing to maximally reduce cross talk in the fiber. No-switching detection scheme is adopted to optimize the repetition rate. Information is encoded on the sideband of the pulsed coherent light to fully exploit the continuous wave nature of laser field. With this configuration, high secret key rate can be achieved. For the 50 MHz detected bandwidth in our experiment, when the multidimensional reconciliation protocol is applied, a secret key rate of 187 kb/s can be achieved over 50 km of optical fiber against collective attacks, which have been shown to be asymptotically optimal. Moreover, recently studied loopholes have been fixed in our system. PMID:24691409

Item Anomaly Detection Based on Dynamic Partition for Time Series in Recommender Systems

PubMed Central

Gao, Min; Tian, Renli; Wen, Junhao; Xiong, Qingyu; Ling, Bin; Yang, Linda

2015-01-01

In recent years, recommender systems have become an effective method to process information overload. However, recommendation technology still suffers from many problems. One of the problems is shilling attacks-attackers inject spam user profiles to disturb the list of recommendation items. There are two characteristics of all types of shilling attacks: 1) Item abnormality: The rating of target items is always maximum or minimum; and 2) Attack promptness: It takes only a very short period time to inject attack profiles. Some papers have proposed item anomaly detection methods based on these two characteristics, but their detection rate, false alarm rate, and universality need to be further improved. To solve these problems, this paper proposes an item anomaly detection method based on dynamic partitioning for time series. This method first dynamically partitions item-rating time series based on important points. Then, we use chi square distribution (χ2) to detect abnormal intervals. The experimental results on MovieLens 100K and 1M indicate that this approach has a high detection rate and a low false alarm rate and is stable toward different attack models and filler sizes. PMID:26267477

Item Anomaly Detection Based on Dynamic Partition for Time Series in Recommender Systems.

PubMed

Gao, Min; Tian, Renli; Wen, Junhao; Xiong, Qingyu; Ling, Bin; Yang, Linda

2015-01-01

In recent years, recommender systems have become an effective method to process information overload. However, recommendation technology still suffers from many problems. One of the problems is shilling attacks-attackers inject spam user profiles to disturb the list of recommendation items. There are two characteristics of all types of shilling attacks: 1) Item abnormality: The rating of target items is always maximum or minimum; and 2) Attack promptness: It takes only a very short period time to inject attack profiles. Some papers have proposed item anomaly detection methods based on these two characteristics, but their detection rate, false alarm rate, and universality need to be further improved. To solve these problems, this paper proposes an item anomaly detection method based on dynamic partitioning for time series. This method first dynamically partitions item-rating time series based on important points. Then, we use chi square distribution (χ2) to detect abnormal intervals. The experimental results on MovieLens 100K and 1M indicate that this approach has a high detection rate and a low false alarm rate and is stable toward different attack models and filler sizes.

5 CFR 831.2202 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... computing the present value are those used by the Board of Actuaries of the Civil Service Retirement System for valuation of the System, based on dynamic assumptions. The present value factors are unisex... based on mortality rates for non-disability annuitants under the Civil Service Retirement System; and (b...

High removal rate laser-based coating removal system

DOEpatents

Matthews, Dennis L.; Celliers, Peter M.; Hackel, Lloyd; Da Silva, Luiz B.; Dane, C. Brent; Mrowka, Stanley

1999-11-16

A compact laser system that removes surface coatings (such as paint, dirt, etc.) at a removal rate as high as 1000 ft.sup.2 /hr or more without damaging the surface. A high repetition rate laser with multiple amplification passes propagating through at least one optical amplifier is used, along with a delivery system consisting of a telescoping and articulating tube which also contains an evacuation system for simultaneously sweeping up the debris produced in the process. The amplified beam can be converted to an output beam by passively switching the polarization of at least one amplified beam. The system also has a personal safety system which protects against accidental exposures.

Toward a More Usable Home-Based Video Telemedicine System: A Heuristic Evaluation of the Clinician User Interfaces of Home-Based Video Telemedicine Systems

PubMed Central

Welch, Brandon; Brinda, FNU

2017-01-01

Background Telemedicine is the use of technology to provide and support health care when distance separates the clinical service and the patient. Home-based telemedicine systems involve the use of such technology for medical support and care connecting the patient from the comfort of their homes with the clinician. In order for such a system to be used extensively, it is necessary to understand not only the issues faced by the patients in using them but also the clinician. Objectives The aim of this study was to conduct a heuristic evaluation of 4 telemedicine software platforms—Doxy.me, Polycom, Vidyo, and VSee—to assess possible problems and limitations that could affect the usability of the system from the clinician’s perspective. Methods It was found that 5 experts individually evaluated all four systems using Nielsen’s list of heuristics, classifying the issues based on a severity rating scale. Results A total of 46 unique problems were identified by the experts. The heuristics most frequently violated were visibility of system status and Error prevention amounting to 24% (11/46 issues) each. Esthetic and minimalist design was second contributing to 13% (6/46 issues) of the total errors. Conclusions Heuristic evaluation coupled with a severity rating scale was found to be an effective method for identifying problems with the systems. Prioritization of these problems based on the rating provides a good starting point for resolving the issues affecting these platforms. There is a need for better transparency and a more streamlined approach for how physicians use telemedicine systems. Visibility of the system status and speaking the users’ language are keys for achieving this. PMID:28438724

Diffusional interaction behavior of NSAIDs in lipid bilayer membrane using molecular dynamics (MD) simulation: Aspirin and Ibuprofen.

PubMed

Sodeifian, Gholamhossein; Razmimanesh, Fariba

2018-05-10

In this research, for the first time, molecular dynamics (MD) method was used to simulate aspirin and ibuprofen at various concentrations and in neutral and charged states. Effects of the concentration (dosage), charge state, and existence of an integral protein in the membrane on the diffusion rate of drug molecules into lipid bilayer membrane were investigated on 11 systems, for which the parameters indicating diffusion rate and those affecting the rate were evaluated. Considering the diffusion rate, a suitable score was assigned to each system, based on which, analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed. By calculating the effect size of the indicative parameters and total scores, an optimum system with the highest diffusion rate was determined. Consequently, diffusion rate controlling parameters were obtained: the drug-water hydrogen bond in protein-free systems and protein-drug hydrogen bond in the systems containing protein.

A hybrid NIRS-EEG system for self-paced brain computer interface with online motor imagery.

PubMed

Koo, Bonkon; Lee, Hwan-Gon; Nam, Yunjun; Kang, Hyohyeong; Koh, Chin Su; Shin, Hyung-Cheul; Choi, Seungjin

2015-04-15

For a self-paced motor imagery based brain-computer interface (BCI), the system should be able to recognize the occurrence of a motor imagery, as well as the type of the motor imagery. However, because of the difficulty of detecting the occurrence of a motor imagery, general motor imagery based BCI studies have been focusing on the cued motor imagery paradigm. In this paper, we present a novel hybrid BCI system that uses near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and electroencephalography (EEG) systems together to achieve online self-paced motor imagery based BCI. We designed a unique sensor frame that records NIRS and EEG simultaneously for the realization of our system. Based on this hybrid system, we proposed a novel analysis method that detects the occurrence of a motor imagery with the NIRS system, and classifies its type with the EEG system. An online experiment demonstrated that our hybrid system had a true positive rate of about 88%, a false positive rate of 7% with an average response time of 10.36 s. As far as we know, there is no report that explored hemodynamic brain switch for self-paced motor imagery based BCI with hybrid EEG and NIRS system. From our experimental results, our hybrid system showed enough reliability for using in a practical self-paced motor imagery based BCI. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Surveillance of traumatic firefighter fatalities: an assessment of four systems.

PubMed

Estes, Chris R; Marsh, Suzanne M; Castillo, Dawn N

2011-01-01

Firefighters regularly respond to hazardous situations that put them at risk for fatal occupational injuries. Traumatic occupational fatality surveillance is a foundation for understanding the problem and developing prevention strategies. We assessed four surveillance systems for their utility in characterizing firefighter fatalities and informing prevention measures. We examined three population-based systems (the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries and systems maintained by the United States Fire Administration and the National Fire Protection Association) and one case-based system (data collected through the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program). From each system, we selected traumatic fatalities among firefighters for 2003-2006. Then we compared case definitions, methods for case ascertainment, variables collected, and rate calculation methods. Overall magnitude of fatalities differed among systems. The population-based systems were effective in characterizing the circumstances of traumatic firefighter fatalities. The case-based surveillance system was effective in formulating detailed prevention recommendations, which could not be made based on the population-based data alone. Methods for estimating risk were disparate and limited fatality rate comparisons between firefighters and other workers. The systems included in this study contribute toward a greater understanding of firefighter fatalities. Areas of improvement for these systems should continue to be identified as they are used to direct research and prevention efforts.

A High Frame Rate Test System for the HEPS-BPIX Based on NI-sbRIO Board

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gu, Jingzi; Zhang, Jie; Wei, Wei; Ning, Zhe; Li, Zhenjie; Jiang, Xiaoshan; Fan, Lei; Shen, Wei; Ren, Jiayi; Ji, Xiaolu; Lan, Allan K.; Lu, Yunpeng; Ouyang, Qun; Liu, Peng; Zhu, Kejun; Wang, Zheng

2017-06-01

HEPS-BPIX is a silicon pixel detector designed for the future large scientific facility, high-energy photon sources (HEPS) in Beijing, China. It is a high frame rate hybrid pixel detector which works in the single-photon-counting mode. High frame rate leads to much higher readout data bandwidth than former systems, which is also the difficulty of the design. Aiming to test and calibrate the pixel detector, a test system based on the National Instruments single-board RIO 9626 and LabVIEW program environment has been designed. A series of tests has been carried out with X-ray machine as well as on the Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility 1W2B beamline. The test results show that the threshold uniformity is better than 60 electrons and the equivalent noise charge is less than 120 electrons. Besides, the required highest frame rate of 1.2 kHz has been realized. This paper will elaborate the test system design and present the latest testing results of the HEPS-BPIX system.

A Golay complementary TS-based symbol synchronization scheme in variable rate LDPC-coded MB-OFDM UWBoF system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

He, Jing; Wen, Xuejie; Chen, Ming; Chen, Lin

2015-09-01

In this paper, a Golay complementary training sequence (TS)-based symbol synchronization scheme is proposed and experimentally demonstrated in multiband orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (MB-OFDM) ultra-wideband over fiber (UWBoF) system with a variable rate low-density parity-check (LDPC) code. Meanwhile, the coding gain and spectral efficiency in the variable rate LDPC-coded MB-OFDM UWBoF system are investigated. By utilizing the non-periodic auto-correlation property of the Golay complementary pair, the start point of LDPC-coded MB-OFDM UWB signal can be estimated accurately. After 100 km standard single-mode fiber (SSMF) transmission, at the bit error rate of 1×10-3, the experimental results show that the short block length 64QAM-LDPC coding provides a coding gain of 4.5 dB, 3.8 dB and 2.9 dB for a code rate of 62.5%, 75% and 87.5%, respectively.

Securing quantum key distribution systems using fewer states

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Islam, Nurul T.; Lim, Charles Ci Wen; Cahall, Clinton; Kim, Jungsang; Gauthier, Daniel J.

2018-04-01

Quantum key distribution (QKD) allows two remote users to establish a secret key in the presence of an eavesdropper. The users share quantum states prepared in two mutually unbiased bases: one to generate the key while the other monitors the presence of the eavesdropper. Here, we show that a general d -dimension QKD system can be secured by transmitting only a subset of the monitoring states. In particular, we find that there is no loss in the secure key rate when dropping one of the monitoring states. Furthermore, it is possible to use only a single monitoring state if the quantum bit error rates are low enough. We apply our formalism to an experimental d =4 time-phase QKD system, where only one monitoring state is transmitted, and obtain a secret key rate of 17.4 ±2.8 Mbits/s at a 4 dB channel loss and with a quantum bit error rate of 0.045 ±0.001 and 0.037 ±0.001 in time and phase bases, respectively, which is 58.4% of the secret key rate that can be achieved with the full setup. This ratio can be increased, potentially up to 100%, if the error rates in time and phase basis are reduced. Our results demonstrate that it is possible to substantially simplify the design of high-dimensional QKD systems, including those that use the spatial or temporal degrees of freedom of the photon, and still outperform qubit-based (d =2 ) protocols.

42 CFR 413.220 - Methodology for calculating the per-treatment base rate under the ESRD prospective payment system...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

....171 of this part, into a single per treatment base rate developed from 2007 claims data. The steps to..., or 2009. CMS removes the effects of enrollment and price growth from total expenditures for 2007...

3.375-Gb/s RGB-LED based WDM visible light communication system employing PAM-8 modulation with phase shifted Manchester coding.

PubMed

Chi, Nan; Zhang, Mengjie; Zhou, Yingjun; Zhao, Jiaqi

2016-09-19

Optical background noise and second-order nonlinear distortions are two main challenges faced by indoor high-speed VLC system. In this paper, a novel phase shifted Manchester (PS-Manchester) coding based on PAM-8 is proposed and experimentally demonstrated to mitigate these noise and distortions. With the aid of PS-Manchester coding and WDM, a total data rate of 3.375-Gb/s can be successfully achieved in the RGB-LED based VLC system. The BER is under 7% HD-FEC limit of 3.8x10^-3 after 1-m indoor free space transmission. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest data rate ever achieved in PAM VLC systems.

42 CFR 412.73 - Determination of the hospital-specific rate based on a Federal fiscal year 1982 base period.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... 42 Public Health 2 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false Determination of the hospital-specific rate based on a Federal fiscal year 1982 base period. 412.73 Section 412.73 Public Health CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES MEDICARE PROGRAM PROSPECTIVE PAYMENT SYSTEMS FOR INPATIENT HOSPITAL SERVICES Determinatio...

42 CFR 412.73 - Determination of the hospital-specific rate based on a Federal fiscal year 1982 base period.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 42 Public Health 2 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Determination of the hospital-specific rate based on a Federal fiscal year 1982 base period. 412.73 Section 412.73 Public Health CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES MEDICARE PROGRAM PROSPECTIVE PAYMENT SYSTEMS FOR INPATIENT HOSPITAL SERVICES Determinatio...

42 CFR 412.73 - Determination of the hospital-specific rate based on a Federal fiscal year 1982 base period.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... 42 Public Health 2 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false Determination of the hospital-specific rate based on a Federal fiscal year 1982 base period. 412.73 Section 412.73 Public Health CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES MEDICARE PROGRAM PROSPECTIVE PAYMENT SYSTEMS FOR INPATIENT HOSPITAL SERVICES Determinatio...

42 CFR 412.73 - Determination of the hospital-specific rate based on a Federal fiscal year 1982 base period.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... 42 Public Health 2 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false Determination of the hospital-specific rate based on a Federal fiscal year 1982 base period. 412.73 Section 412.73 Public Health CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES MEDICARE PROGRAM PROSPECTIVE PAYMENT SYSTEMS FOR INPATIENT HOSPITAL SERVICES Determinatio...

Factors influencing the recycling rate under the volume-based waste fee system in South Korea.

PubMed

Park, Seejeen

2018-04-01

Since the early 2000s, the Republic of Korea (South Korea) has maintained its top-rank status for its municipal solid waste (MSW) recycling rate among OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) member countries. The volume-based waste fee system (VWF) has been considered to be the major factor contributing to the high recycling performance, and extant research has verified the positive relationship between VWF adoption and the MSW recycling rate. Nevertheless, there exists a gap in the literature, as past research has focused more on testing the positive effects of VWF rather than on investigating the determinants of recycling rates after the adoption of VWF. The current study seeks to address this gap by investigating the various factors that affect recycling rates under the VWF system. More specifically, using data from 16 regions in South Korea over a period of 11 years, this study empirically tests the effects of VWF pricing, the citizen cost burden ratio for the VWF system, and pro-environmental behavior related to VWF on the recycling rate. The findings indicate that economic incentives such as cost savings on VWF plastic bag purchases and reduced burden from paying VWF expenses result in higher recycling rates. The findings also demonstrate that pro-environmental behavior in the VWF context positively affects the recycling rate. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Comparison of energy-based indicators used in life cycle assessment tools for buildings

EPA Science Inventory

Traditionally, building rating systems focused on, among others, energy used during operational stage. Recently, there is a strong push by these rating systems to include the life cycle energy use of buildings, particularly using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), by offering credits t...

12 CFR 167.6 - Risk-based capital credit risk-weight categories.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... strips receivable, other than credit-enhancing interest-only strips; (N)-(O) [Reserved] (P) That portion... rating systems typically: (1) Are an integral part of the savings association's risk management system... rating grade, including subjective factors; (6) Employ independent credit risk management or loan review...

The TOTEM DAQ based on the Scalable Readout System (SRS)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Quinto, Michele; Cafagna, Francesco S.; Fiergolski, Adrian; Radicioni, Emilio

2018-02-01

The TOTEM (TOTal cross section, Elastic scattering and diffraction dissociation Measurement at the LHC) experiment at LHC, has been designed to measure the total proton-proton cross-section and study the elastic and diffractive scattering at the LHC energies. In order to cope with the increased machine luminosity and the higher statistic required by the extension of the TOTEM physics program, approved for the LHC's Run Two phase, the previous VME based data acquisition system has been replaced with a new one based on the Scalable Readout System. The system features an aggregated data throughput of 2GB / s towards the online storage system. This makes it possible to sustain a maximum trigger rate of ˜ 24kHz, to be compared with the 1KHz rate of the previous system. The trigger rate is further improved by implementing zero-suppression and second-level hardware algorithms in the Scalable Readout System. The new system fulfils the requirements for an increased efficiency, providing higher bandwidth, and increasing the purity of the data recorded. Moreover full compatibility has been guaranteed with the legacy front-end hardware, as well as with the DAQ interface of the CMS experiment and with the LHC's Timing, Trigger and Control distribution system. In this contribution we describe in detail the architecture of full system and its performance measured during the commissioning phase at the LHC Interaction Point.

Maximum Plant Uptakes for Water, Nutrients, and Oxygen Are Not Always Met by Irrigation Rate and Distribution in Water-based Cultivation Systems.

PubMed

Blok, Chris; Jackson, Brian E; Guo, Xianfeng; de Visser, Pieter H B; Marcelis, Leo F M

2017-01-01

Growing on rooting media other than soils in situ -i.e., substrate-based growing- allows for higher yields than soil-based growing as transport rates of water, nutrients, and oxygen in substrate surpass those in soil. Possibly water-based growing allows for even higher yields as transport rates of water and nutrients in water surpass those in substrate, even though the transport of oxygen may be more complex. Transport rates can only limit growth when they are below a rate corresponding to maximum plant uptake. Our first objective was to compare Chrysanthemum growth performance for three water-based growing systems with different irrigation. We compared; multi-point irrigation into a pond (DeepFlow); one-point irrigation resulting in a thin film of running water (NutrientFlow) and multi-point irrigation as droplets through air (Aeroponic). Second objective was to compare press pots as propagation medium with nutrient solution as propagation medium. The comparison included DeepFlow water-rooted cuttings with either the stem 1 cm into the nutrient solution or with the stem 1 cm above the nutrient solution. Measurements included fresh weight, dry weight, length, water supply, nutrient supply, and oxygen levels. To account for differences in radiation sum received, crop performance was evaluated with Radiation Use Efficiency (RUE) expressed as dry weight over sum of Photosynthetically Active Radiation. The reference, DeepFlow with substrate-based propagation, showed the highest RUE, even while the oxygen supply provided by irrigation was potentially growth limiting. DeepFlow with water-based propagation showed 15-17% lower RUEs than the reference. NutrientFlow showed 8% lower RUE than the reference, in combination with potentially limiting irrigation supply of nutrients and oxygen. Aeroponic showed RUE levels similar to the reference and Aeroponic had non-limiting irrigation supply of water, nutrients, and oxygen. Water-based propagation affected the subsequent cultivation in the DeepFlow negatively compared to substrate-based propagation. Water-based propagation resulted in frequent transient discolorations after transplanting in all cultivation systems, indicating a factor, other than irrigation supply of water, nutrients, and oxygen, influencing plant uptake. Plant uptake rates for water, nutrients, and oxygen are offered as a more fundamental way to compare and improve growing systems.

Maximum Plant Uptakes for Water, Nutrients, and Oxygen Are Not Always Met by Irrigation Rate and Distribution in Water-based Cultivation Systems

PubMed Central

Blok, Chris; Jackson, Brian E.; Guo, Xianfeng; de Visser, Pieter H. B.; Marcelis, Leo F. M.

2017-01-01

Growing on rooting media other than soils in situ -i.e., substrate-based growing- allows for higher yields than soil-based growing as transport rates of water, nutrients, and oxygen in substrate surpass those in soil. Possibly water-based growing allows for even higher yields as transport rates of water and nutrients in water surpass those in substrate, even though the transport of oxygen may be more complex. Transport rates can only limit growth when they are below a rate corresponding to maximum plant uptake. Our first objective was to compare Chrysanthemum growth performance for three water-based growing systems with different irrigation. We compared; multi-point irrigation into a pond (DeepFlow); one-point irrigation resulting in a thin film of running water (NutrientFlow) and multi-point irrigation as droplets through air (Aeroponic). Second objective was to compare press pots as propagation medium with nutrient solution as propagation medium. The comparison included DeepFlow water-rooted cuttings with either the stem 1 cm into the nutrient solution or with the stem 1 cm above the nutrient solution. Measurements included fresh weight, dry weight, length, water supply, nutrient supply, and oxygen levels. To account for differences in radiation sum received, crop performance was evaluated with Radiation Use Efficiency (RUE) expressed as dry weight over sum of Photosynthetically Active Radiation. The reference, DeepFlow with substrate-based propagation, showed the highest RUE, even while the oxygen supply provided by irrigation was potentially growth limiting. DeepFlow with water-based propagation showed 15–17% lower RUEs than the reference. NutrientFlow showed 8% lower RUE than the reference, in combination with potentially limiting irrigation supply of nutrients and oxygen. Aeroponic showed RUE levels similar to the reference and Aeroponic had non-limiting irrigation supply of water, nutrients, and oxygen. Water-based propagation affected the subsequent cultivation in the DeepFlow negatively compared to substrate-based propagation. Water-based propagation resulted in frequent transient discolorations after transplanting in all cultivation systems, indicating a factor, other than irrigation supply of water, nutrients, and oxygen, influencing plant uptake. Plant uptake rates for water, nutrients, and oxygen are offered as a more fundamental way to compare and improve growing systems. PMID:28443129

Smart pillow for heart-rate monitoring using a fiber optic sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Zhihao; Teo, Ju Teng; Ng, Soon Huat; Yim, Huiqing

2011-03-01

In this paper, we propose and demonstrate a new method to monitor heart rate using fiber optic microbending based sensor for in-bed non-intrusive monitoring. The sensing system consists of transmitter, receiver, sensor mat, National Instrument (NI) data acquisition (DAQ) card and a computer for signal processing. The sensor mat is embedded inside a commercial pillow. The heart rate measurement system shows an accuracy of +/-2 beats, which has been successfully demonstrated in a field trial. The key technological advantage of our system is its ability to measure heart rate with no preparation and minimal compliance by the patient.

Shilling Attacks Detection in Recommender Systems Based on Target Item Analysis

PubMed Central

Zhou, Wei; Wen, Junhao; Koh, Yun Sing; Xiong, Qingyu; Gao, Min; Dobbie, Gillian; Alam, Shafiq

2015-01-01

Recommender systems are highly vulnerable to shilling attacks, both by individuals and groups. Attackers who introduce biased ratings in order to affect recommendations, have been shown to negatively affect collaborative filtering (CF) algorithms. Previous research focuses only on the differences between genuine profiles and attack profiles, ignoring the group characteristics in attack profiles. In this paper, we study the use of statistical metrics to detect rating patterns of attackers and group characteristics in attack profiles. Another question is that most existing detecting methods are model specific. Two metrics, Rating Deviation from Mean Agreement (RDMA) and Degree of Similarity with Top Neighbors (DegSim), are used for analyzing rating patterns between malicious profiles and genuine profiles in attack models. Building upon this, we also propose and evaluate a detection structure called RD-TIA for detecting shilling attacks in recommender systems using a statistical approach. In order to detect more complicated attack models, we propose a novel metric called DegSim’ based on DegSim. The experimental results show that our detection model based on target item analysis is an effective approach for detecting shilling attacks. PMID:26222882

Energy minimization of mobile video devices with a hardware H.264/AVC encoder based on energy-rate-distortion optimization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kang, Donghun; Lee, Jungeon; Jung, Jongpil; Lee, Chul-Hee; Kyung, Chong-Min

2014-09-01

In mobile video systems powered by battery, reducing the encoder's compression energy consumption is critical to prolong its lifetime. Previous Energy-rate-distortion (E-R-D) optimization methods based on a software codec is not suitable for practical mobile camera systems because the energy consumption is too large and encoding rate is too low. In this paper, we propose an E-R-D model for the hardware codec based on the gate-level simulation framework to measure the switching activity and the energy consumption. From the proposed E-R-D model, an energy minimizing algorithm for mobile video camera sensor have been developed with the GOP (Group of Pictures) size and QP(Quantization Parameter) as run-time control variables. Our experimental results show that the proposed algorithm provides up to 31.76% of energy consumption saving while satisfying the rate and distortion constraints.

Grower demand for sensor-controlled irrigation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lichtenberg, Erik; Majsztrik, John; Saavoss, Monica

2015-01-01

Water scarcity is likely to increase in the coming years, making improvements in irrigation efficiency increasingly important. An emerging technology that promises to increase irrigation efficiency substantially is a wireless irrigation sensor network that uploads sensor data into irrigation management software, creating an integrated system that allows real-time monitoring and control of moisture status that has been shown in experimental settings to reduce irrigation costs, lower plant loss rates, shorten production times, decrease pesticide application, and increase yield, quality, and profit. We use an original survey to investigate likely initial acceptance, ceiling adoption rates, and profitability of this new sensor network technology in the nursery and greenhouse industry. We find that adoption rates for a base system and demand for expansion components are decreasing in price, as expected. The price elasticity of the probability of adoption suggests that sensor networks are likely to diffuse at a rate somewhat greater than that of drip irrigation. Adoption rates for a base system and demand for expansion components are increasing in specialization in ornamental production: growers earning greater shares of revenue from greenhouse and nursery operations are willing to pay more for a base system and are willing to purchase larger numbers of expansion components at any given price. We estimate that growers who are willing to purchase a sensor network expect investment in this technology to generate significant profit, consistent with findings from experimental studies.

Efficient and universal quantum key distribution based on chaos and middleware

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, Dong; Chen, Yuanyuan; Gu, Xuemei; Xie, Ling; Chen, Lijun

2017-01-01

Quantum key distribution (QKD) promises unconditionally secure communications, however, the low bit rate of QKD cannot meet the requirements of high-speed applications. Despite the many solutions that have been proposed in recent years, they are neither efficient to generate the secret keys nor compatible with other QKD systems. This paper, based on chaotic cryptography and middleware technology, proposes an efficient and universal QKD protocol that can be directly deployed on top of any existing QKD system without modifying the underlying QKD protocol and optical platform. It initially takes the bit string generated by the QKD system as input, periodically updates the chaotic system, and efficiently outputs the bit sequences. Theoretical analysis and simulation results demonstrate that our protocol can efficiently increase the bit rate of the QKD system as well as securely generate bit sequences with perfect statistical properties. Compared with the existing methods, our protocol is more efficient and universal, it can be rapidly deployed on the QKD system to increase the bit rate when the QKD system becomes the bottleneck of its communication system.

Magma ascent and lava flow emplacement rates during the 2011 Axial Seamount eruption based on CO2 degassing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jones, M. R.; Soule, S. A.; Gonnermann, H. M.; Le Roux, V.; Clague, D. A.

2018-07-01

Quantitative metrics for eruption rates at mid-ocean ridges (MORs) would improve our understanding of the structure and formation of the uppermost oceanic crust and would provide a means to link volcanic processes with the conditions of the underlying magmatic system. However, these metrics remain elusive because no MOR eruptions have been directly observed. The possibility of disequilibrium degassing in mid-ocean ridge basalts (MORB), due to high eruptive depressurization rates, makes the analysis of volatile concentrations in MORB glass a promising method for evaluating eruption rates. In this study, we estimate magma ascent and lava flow emplacement rates during the 2011 eruption of Axial Seamount based on numerical modeling of diffusion-controlled bubble growth and new measurements of dissolved volatiles, vesicularity, and vesicle size distributions in erupted basalts. This dataset provides a unique view of the variability in magma ascent (∼0.02-1.2 m/s) and lava flow rates (∼0.1-0.7 m/s) during a submarine MOR eruption based on 50 samples collected from a >10 km long fissure system and three individual lava flow lobes. Samples from the 2011 eruption display an unprecedented range in dissolved CO2 concentrations, nearly spanning the full range observed on the global MOR system. The variable vesicularity and dissolved CO2 concentrations in these samples can be explained by differences in the extent of degassing, dictated by flow lengths and velocities during both vertical ascent and horizontal flow along the seafloor. Our results document, for the first time, the variability in magma ascent rates during a submarine eruption (∼0.02-1.2 m/s), which spans the global range previously proposed based on CO2 degassing. The slowest ascent rates are associated with hummocky flows while faster ascent rates produce channelized sheet flows. This study corroborates degassing-based models for eruption rates using comparisons with independent methods and documents the relationship between eruption dynamics, magma ascent rates, and the morphology of eruptive products. Globally, this approach allows interrogation of the processes that govern mid-ocean ridge eruptions and influence the formation of the oceanic crust.

Active tracking system for visible light communication using a GaN-based micro-LED and NRZ-OOK.

PubMed

Lu, Zhijian; Tian, Pengfei; Chen, Hong; Baranowski, Izak; Fu, Houqiang; Huang, Xuanqi; Montes, Jossue; Fan, Youyou; Wang, Hongyi; Liu, Xiaoyan; Liu, Ran; Zhao, Yuji

2017-07-24

Visible light communication (VLC) holds the promise of a high-speed wireless network for indoor applications and competes with 5G radio frequency (RF) system. Although the breakthrough of gallium nitride (GaN) based micro-light-emitting-diodes (micro-LEDs) increases the -3dB modulation bandwidth exceptionally from tens of MHz to hundreds of MHz, the light collected onto a fast photo receiver drops dramatically, which determines the signal to noise ratio (SNR) of VLC. To fully implement the practical high data-rate VLC link enabled by a GaN-based micro-LED, it requires focusing optics and a tracking system. In this paper, we demonstrate an active on-chip tracking system for VLC using a GaN-based micro-LED and none-return-to-zero on-off keying (NRZ-OOK). Using this novel technique, the field of view (FOV) was enlarged to 120° and data rates up to 600 Mbps at a bit error rate (BER) of 2.1×10 -4 were achieved without manual focusing. This paper demonstrates the establishment of a VLC physical link that shows enhanced communication quality by orders of magnitude, making it optimized for practical communication applications.

14 CFR Appendix A to Part 1215 - Estimated Service Rates in 1997 Dollars for TDRSS Standard Services (Based on NASA Escalation...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... Space NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION TRACKING AND DATA RELAY SATELLITE SYSTEM (TDRSS) Pt..., return telemetry, or tracking, or any combination of these, the base rate is $184.00 per minute for non-U...

On the Accretion Rates of SW Sextantis Nova-like Variables

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ballouz, Ronald-Louis; Sion, Edward M.

2009-06-01

We present accretion rates for selected samples of nova-like variables having IUE archival spectra and distances uniformly determined using an infrared method by Knigge. A comparison with accretion rates derived independently with a multiparametric optimization modeling approach by Puebla et al. is carried out. The accretion rates of SW Sextantis nova-like systems are compared with the accretion rates of non-SW Sextantis systems in the Puebla et al. sample and in our sample, which was selected in the orbital period range of three to four and a half hours, with all systems having distances using the method of Knigge. Based upon the two independent modeling approaches, we find no significant difference between the accretion rates of SW Sextantis systems and non-SW Sextantis nova-like systems insofar as optically thick disk models are appropriate. We find little evidence to suggest that the SW Sex stars have higher accretion rates than other nova-like cataclysmic variables (CVs) above the period gap within the same range of orbital periods.

Bismarck or Beveridge: a beauty contest between dinosaurs

PubMed Central

van der Zee, Jouke; Kroneman, Madelon W

2007-01-01

Background Health systems delivery systems can be divided into two broad categories: National Health Services (NHS) on the one hand and Social Security (based) Health care systems (SSH) on the other hand. Existing literature is inconclusive about which system performs best. In this paper we would like to improve the evidence-base for discussion about pros and cons of NHS-systems versus SSH-system for health outcomes, expenditure and population satisfaction. Methods In this study we used time series data for 17 European countries, that were characterized as either NHS or SSH country. We used the following performance indicators: For health outcome: overall mortality rate, infant mortality rate and life expectancy at birth. For health care costs: health care expenditure per capita in pppUS$ and health expenditure as percentage of GDP. Time series dated from 1970 until 2003 or 2004, depending on availability. Sources were OECD health data base 2006 and WHO health for all database 2006. For satisfaction we used the Eurobarometer studies from 1996, 1998 and 1999. Results SSH systems perform slightly better on overall mortality rates and life expectancy (after 1980). For infant mortality the rates converged between the two types of systems and since 1980 no differences ceased to exist. SSH systems are more expensive and NHS systems have a better cost containment. Inhabitants of countries with SSH-systems are on average substantially more satisfied than those in NHS countries. Conclusion We concluded that the question 'which type of system performs best' can be answered empirically as far as health outcomes, health care expenditures and patient satisfaction are concerned. Whether this selection of indicators covers all or even most relevant aspects of health system comparison remains to be seen. Perhaps further and more conclusive research into health system related differences in, for instance, equity should be completed before the leading question of this paper can be answered. We do think, however, that this study can form a base for a policy debate on the pros and cons of the existing health care systems in Europe. PMID:17594476

Model-based wavefront sensorless adaptive optics system for large aberrations and extended objects.

PubMed

Yang, Huizhen; Soloviev, Oleg; Verhaegen, Michel

2015-09-21

A model-based wavefront sensorless (WFSless) adaptive optics (AO) system with a 61-element deformable mirror is simulated to correct the imaging of a turbulence-degraded extended object. A fast closed-loop control algorithm, which is based on the linear relation between the mean square of the aberration gradients and the second moment of the image intensity distribution, is used to generate the control signals for the actuators of the deformable mirror (DM). The restoration capability and the convergence rate of the AO system are investigated with different turbulence strength wave-front aberrations. Simulation results show the model-based WFSless AO system can restore those images degraded by different turbulence strengths successfully and obtain the correction very close to the achievable capability of the given DM. Compared with the ideal correction of 61-element DM, the averaged relative error of RMS value is 6%. The convergence rate of AO system is independent of the turbulence strength and only depends on the number of actuators of DM.

Electrooculography-based continuous eye-writing recognition system for efficient assistive communication systems

PubMed Central

Shinozaki, Takahiro

2018-01-01

Human-computer interface systems whose input is based on eye movements can serve as a means of communication for patients with locked-in syndrome. Eye-writing is one such system; users can input characters by moving their eyes to follow the lines of the strokes corresponding to characters. Although this input method makes it easy for patients to get started because of their familiarity with handwriting, existing eye-writing systems suffer from slow input rates because they require a pause between input characters to simplify the automatic recognition process. In this paper, we propose a continuous eye-writing recognition system that achieves a rapid input rate because it accepts characters eye-written continuously, with no pauses. For recognition purposes, the proposed system first detects eye movements using electrooculography (EOG), and then a hidden Markov model (HMM) is applied to model the EOG signals and recognize the eye-written characters. Additionally, this paper investigates an EOG adaptation that uses a deep neural network (DNN)-based HMM. Experiments with six participants showed an average input speed of 27.9 character/min using Japanese Katakana as the input target characters. A Katakana character-recognition error rate of only 5.0% was achieved using 13.8 minutes of adaptation data. PMID:29425248

A PC-based magnetometer-only attitude and rate determination system for gyroless spacecraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Challa, M.; Natanson, G.; Deutschmann, J.; Galal, K.

1995-01-01

This paper describes a prototype PC-based system that uses measurements from a three-axis magnetometer (TAM) to estimate the state (three-axis attitude and rates) of a spacecraft given no a priori information other than the mass properties. The system uses two algorithms that estimate the spacecraft's state - a deterministic magnetic-field only algorithm and a Kalman filter for gyroless spacecraft. The algorithms are combined by invoking the deterministic algorithm to generate the spacecraft state at epoch using a small batch of data and then using this deterministic epoch solution as the initial condition for the Kalman filter during the production run. System input comprises processed data that includes TAM and reference magnetic field data. Additional information, such as control system data and measurements from line-of-sight sensors, can be input to the system if available. Test results are presented using in-flight data from two three-axis stabilized spacecraft: Solar, Anomalous, and Magnetospheric Particle Explorer (SAMPEX) (gyroless, Sun-pointing) and Earth Radiation Budget Satellite (ERBS) (gyro-based, Earth-pointing). The results show that, using as little as 700 s of data, the system is capable of accuracies of 1.5 deg in attitude and 0.01 deg/s in rates; i.e., within SAMPEX mission requirements.

Internal medicine residency graduates' perceptions of the systems-based practice and practice-based learning and improvement competencies.

PubMed

Didwania, Aashish; McGaghie, William C; Cohen, Elaine; Wayne, Diane B

2010-01-01

Resident education in Systems-Based Practice (SBP) and Practice-Based Learning and Improvement (PBLI) is required but underemphasized. The objectives are to identify SBP and PBLI knowledge and skills with the most relevance to our graduates' practices and to determine how well they were prepared during residency training to address these issues. A survey was drafted based on Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education competency definitions and published literature on SBP and PBLI. Respondents indicated the extent to which each item is relevant to their practice and the adequacy of instruction received on a 5-point Likert scale. All topics had high perceived relevance to practice with most topics rated low for adequacy of training. Topics of practice management and health care economics contained the largest gaps between mean ratings of relevance and adequacy of training (p < .001). Few differences in ratings were seen based on graduate demographics. This survey has allowed us to prioritize SBP and PBLI curricula to meet the needs of our graduates.

An embedded implementation based on adaptive filter bank for brain-computer interface systems.

PubMed

Belwafi, Kais; Romain, Olivier; Gannouni, Sofien; Ghaffari, Fakhreddine; Djemal, Ridha; Ouni, Bouraoui

2018-07-15

Brain-computer interface (BCI) is a new communication pathway for users with neurological deficiencies. The implementation of a BCI system requires complex electroencephalography (EEG) signal processing including filtering, feature extraction and classification algorithms. Most of current BCI systems are implemented on personal computers. Therefore, there is a great interest in implementing BCI on embedded platforms to meet system specifications in terms of time response, cost effectiveness, power consumption, and accuracy. This article presents an embedded-BCI (EBCI) system based on a Stratix-IV field programmable gate array. The proposed system relays on the weighted overlap-add (WOLA) algorithm to perform dynamic filtering of EEG-signals by analyzing the event-related desynchronization/synchronization (ERD/ERS). The EEG-signals are classified, using the linear discriminant analysis algorithm, based on their spatial features. The proposed system performs fast classification within a time delay of 0.430 s/trial, achieving an average accuracy of 76.80% according to an offline approach and 80.25% using our own recording. The estimated power consumption of the prototype is approximately 0.7 W. Results show that the proposed EBCI system reduces the overall classification error rate for the three datasets of the BCI-competition by 5% compared to other similar implementations. Moreover, experiment shows that the proposed system maintains a high accuracy rate with a short processing time, a low power consumption, and a low cost. Performing dynamic filtering of EEG-signals using WOLA increases the recognition rate of ERD/ERS patterns of motor imagery brain activity. This approach allows to develop a complete prototype of a EBCI system that achieves excellent accuracy rates. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Knowledge Workers' Perceptions of Performance Ratings

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Smith, Alan D.; Rupp, William T.

2004-01-01

One major purpose of performance appraisals is to determine individual merit, especially where pay for performance systems are employed. Based upon expectancy theory, high performance ratings should entail high merit increases while low performance ratings result in low merit increases. However, it appears that decoupling performance ratings and…

Probabilistic short-term forecasting of eruption rate at Kīlauea Volcano using a physics-based model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anderson, K. R.

2016-12-01

Deterministic models of volcanic eruptions yield predictions of future activity conditioned on uncertainty in the current state of the system. Physics-based eruption models are well-suited for deterministic forecasting as they can relate magma physics with a wide range of observations. Yet, physics-based eruption forecasting is strongly limited by an inadequate understanding of volcanic systems, and the need for eruption models to be computationally tractable. At Kīlauea Volcano, Hawaii, episodic depressurization-pressurization cycles of the magma system generate correlated, quasi-exponential variations in ground deformation and surface height of the active summit lava lake. Deflations are associated with reductions in eruption rate, or even brief eruptive pauses, and thus partly control lava flow advance rates and associated hazard. Because of the relatively well-understood nature of Kīlauea's shallow magma plumbing system, and because more than 600 of these events have been recorded to date, they offer a unique opportunity to refine a physics-based effusive eruption forecasting approach and apply it to lava eruption rates over short (hours to days) time periods. A simple physical model of the volcano ascribes observed data to temporary reductions in magma supply to an elastic reservoir filled with compressible magma. This model can be used to predict the evolution of an ongoing event, but because the mechanism that triggers events is unknown, event durations are modeled stochastically from previous observations. A Bayesian approach incorporates diverse data sets and prior information to simultaneously estimate uncertain model parameters and future states of the system. Forecasts take the form of probability distributions for eruption rate or cumulative erupted volume at some future time. Results demonstrate the significant uncertainties that still remain even for short-term eruption forecasting at a well-monitored volcano - but also the value of a physics-based, mixed deterministic-probabilistic eruption forecasting approach in reducing and quantifying these uncertainties.

Experimental study on GMM-based speaker recognition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ye, Wenxing; Wu, Dapeng; Nucci, Antonio

2010-04-01

Speaker recognition plays a very important role in the field of biometric security. In order to improve the recognition performance, many pattern recognition techniques have be explored in the literature. Among these techniques, the Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) is proved to be an effective statistic model for speaker recognition and is used in most state-of-the-art speaker recognition systems. The GMM is used to represent the 'voice print' of a speaker through modeling the spectral characteristic of speech signals of the speaker. In this paper, we implement a speaker recognition system, which consists of preprocessing, Mel-Frequency Cepstrum Coefficients (MFCCs) based feature extraction, and GMM based classification. We test our system with TIDIGITS data set (325 speakers) and our own recordings of more than 200 speakers; our system achieves 100% correct recognition rate. Moreover, we also test our system under the scenario that training samples are from one language but test samples are from a different language; our system also achieves 100% correct recognition rate, which indicates that our system is language independent.

Microcomputer control of infrared detector arrays used in direct imaging and in Fabry-Perot spectroscopy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rossano, G.S.

1989-02-01

A microcomputer based data acquisition system has been developed for astronomical observing with two-dimensional infrared detector arrays operating at high pixel rates. The system is based on a 16-bit 8086/8087 microcomputer operating at 10 MHz. Data rates of up to 560,000 pixels/sec from arrays of up to 4096 elements are supported using the microcomputer system alone. A hardware co-adder the authors are developing permits data accumulation at rates of up to 1.67 million pixels/sec in both staring and chopped data acquisition modes. The system has been used for direct imaging and for data acquisition in a Fabry-Perot Spectrometer developed bymore » NRL. The hardware is operated using interactive software which supports the several available modes of data acquisition, and permits data display and reduction during observing sessions.« less

Autonomous navigation system based on GPS and magnetometer data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Julie, Thienel K. (Inventor); Richard, Harman R. (Inventor); Bar-Itzhack, Itzhack Y. (Inventor)

2004-01-01

This invention is drawn to an autonomous navigation system using Global Positioning System (GPS) and magnetometers for low Earth orbit satellites. As a magnetometer is reliable and always provides information on spacecraft attitude, rate, and orbit, the magnetometer-GPS configuration solves GPS initialization problem, decreasing the convergence time for navigation estimate and improving the overall accuracy. Eventually the magnetometer-GPS configuration enables the system to avoid costly and inherently less reliable gyro for rate estimation. Being autonomous, this invention would provide for black-box spacecraft navigation, producing attitude, orbit, and rate estimates without any ground input with high accuracy and reliability.

High rate data acquisition from Spacelab/Shuttle

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Coffey, R.

1978-01-01

The need for high data rates from a variety of experiments on Spacelab/Shuttle produced the requirement for the Spacelab High Rate Multiplexer/Demultiplexer system. This system acquires serial digital data at asynchronous bit rates from up to sixteen experiments, two data buses, three voice links, two tape recorders, and a universal time channel. Experiment data rates may vary from 200 bps to 16 Mbps while recorded data rates range from 250 Kbps to 32 Mbps. The High Rate Multiplexer (HRM) accepts these data inputs and forms a serial PCM output at flexible rates up to 48 Mbps. This PCM output is transmitted to ground by a Ku-Band RF link via the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) or recorded on board for delayed transmission. A complementary ground based High Rate Demultiplexer (HRDM) accepts and demultiplexes the composite PCM data at ground processing locations.

WiSPH: a wireless sensor network-based home care monitoring system.

PubMed

Magaña-Espinoza, Pedro; Aquino-Santos, Raúl; Cárdenas-Benítez, Néstor; Aguilar-Velasco, José; Buenrostro-Segura, César; Edwards-Block, Arthur; Medina-Cass, Aldo

2014-04-22

This paper presents a system based on WSN technology capable of monitoring heart rate and the rate of motion of seniors within their homes. The system is capable of remotely alerting specialists, caretakers or family members via a smartphone of rapid physiological changes due to falls, tachycardia or bradycardia. This work was carried out using our workgroup's WiSe platform, which we previously developed for use in WSNs. The proposed WSN architecture is flexible, allowing for greater scalability to better allow event-based monitoring. The architecture also provides security mechanisms to assure that the monitored and/or stored data can only be accessed by authorized individuals or devices. The aforementioned characteristics provide the network versatility and solidity required for use in health applications.

Pixel-based characterisation of CMOS high-speed camera systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weber, V.; Brübach, J.; Gordon, R. L.; Dreizler, A.

2011-05-01

Quantifying high-repetition rate laser diagnostic techniques for measuring scalars in turbulent combustion relies on a complete description of the relationship between detected photons and the signal produced by the detector. CMOS-chip based cameras are becoming an accepted tool for capturing high frame rate cinematographic sequences for laser-based techniques such as Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) and Planar Laser Induced Fluorescence (PLIF) and can be used with thermographic phosphors to determine surface temperatures. At low repetition rates, imaging techniques have benefitted from significant developments in the quality of CCD-based camera systems, particularly with the uniformity of pixel response and minimal non-linearities in the photon-to-signal conversion. The state of the art in CMOS technology displays a significant number of technical aspects that must be accounted for before these detectors can be used for quantitative diagnostics. This paper addresses these issues.

A New Statistics-Based Online Baseline Restorer for a High Count-Rate Fully Digital System.

PubMed

Li, Hongdi; Wang, Chao; Baghaei, Hossain; Zhang, Yuxuan; Ramirez, Rocio; Liu, Shitao; An, Shaohui; Wong, Wai-Hoi

2010-04-01

The goal of this work is to develop a novel, accurate, real-time digital baseline restorer using online statistical processing for a high count-rate digital system such as positron emission tomography (PET). In high count-rate nuclear instrumentation applications, analog signals are DC-coupled for better performance. However, the detectors, pre-amplifiers and other front-end electronics would cause a signal baseline drift in a DC-coupling system, which will degrade the performance of energy resolution and positioning accuracy. Event pileups normally exist in a high-count rate system and the baseline drift will create errors in the event pileup-correction. Hence, a baseline restorer (BLR) is required in a high count-rate system to remove the DC drift ahead of the pileup correction. Many methods have been reported for BLR from classic analog methods to digital filter solutions. However a single channel BLR with analog method can only work under 500 kcps count-rate, and normally an analog front-end application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC) is required for the application involved hundreds BLR such as a PET camera. We have developed a simple statistics-based online baseline restorer (SOBLR) for a high count-rate fully digital system. In this method, we acquire additional samples, excluding the real gamma pulses, from the existing free-running ADC in the digital system, and perform online statistical processing to generate a baseline value. This baseline value will be subtracted from the digitized waveform to retrieve its original pulse with zero-baseline drift. This method can self-track the baseline without a micro-controller involved. The circuit consists of two digital counter/timers, one comparator, one register and one subtraction unit. Simulation shows a single channel works at 30 Mcps count-rate with pileup condition. 336 baseline restorer circuits have been implemented into 12 field-programmable-gate-arrays (FPGA) for our new fully digital PET system.

Microcontroller-based underwater acoustic ECG telemetry system.

PubMed

Istepanian, R S; Woodward, B

1997-06-01

This paper presents a microcontroller-based underwater acoustic telemetry system for digital transmission of the electrocardiogram (ECG). The system is designed for the real time, through-water transmission of data representing any parameter, and it was used initially for transmitting in multiplexed format the heart rate, breathing rate and depth of a diver using self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA). Here, it is used to monitor cardiovascular reflexes during diving and swimming. The programmable capability of the system provides an effective solution to the problem of transmitting data in the presence of multipath interference. An important feature of the paper is a comparative performance analysis of two encoding methods, Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) and Pulse Position Modulation (PPM).

Parasympathetic tone variations according to umbilical cord pH at birth: a computerized fetal heart rate variability analysis.

PubMed

Butruille, Laura; De Jonckheere, Julien; Flocteil, Mathilde; Garabedian, Charles; Houfflin-Debarge, Véronique; Storme, Laurent; Deruelle, Philippe; Logier, Régis

2017-12-01

Non-reassuring fetal heart rate tracings reflect an imbalance between the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems. In this situation, fetal asphyxia can be suspected and may be confirmed by metabolic measurements at birth like low pH or high base deficit values. The objective of this study was to determine whether fetal asphyxia during labor is related to parasympathetic nervous system activity. This is a retrospective study of a database collected in 5 centers. Two hundred and ninety-nine fetal heart rate tracings collected during labor were analyzed. Autonomic nervous system, especially the parasympathetic nervous system, was analyzed using an original index: the FSI (Fetal Stress Index). The FSI is a parasympathetic activity evaluation based on fetal heart rate variability analysis. Infants were grouped based on normal or low pH value at birth. FSI was measured during the last 30 min of labor before birth and compared between groups. The minimum value of the FSI during the last 30 min before delivery was significantly lower in the group with the lower umbilical cord arterial pH value. In this pilot study during labor, FSI was lower in the group of infants with low arterial pH at birth.

Robust and Effective Component-based Banknote Recognition for the Blind

PubMed Central

Hasanuzzaman, Faiz M.; Yang, Xiaodong; Tian, YingLi

2012-01-01

We develop a novel camera-based computer vision technology to automatically recognize banknotes for assisting visually impaired people. Our banknote recognition system is robust and effective with the following features: 1) high accuracy: high true recognition rate and low false recognition rate, 2) robustness: handles a variety of currency designs and bills in various conditions, 3) high efficiency: recognizes banknotes quickly, and 4) ease of use: helps blind users to aim the target for image capture. To make the system robust to a variety of conditions including occlusion, rotation, scaling, cluttered background, illumination change, viewpoint variation, and worn or wrinkled bills, we propose a component-based framework by using Speeded Up Robust Features (SURF). Furthermore, we employ the spatial relationship of matched SURF features to detect if there is a bill in the camera view. This process largely alleviates false recognition and can guide the user to correctly aim at the bill to be recognized. The robustness and generalizability of the proposed system is evaluated on a dataset including both positive images (with U.S. banknotes) and negative images (no U.S. banknotes) collected under a variety of conditions. The proposed algorithm, achieves 100% true recognition rate and 0% false recognition rate. Our banknote recognition system is also tested by blind users. PMID:22661884

Quantitative Validation of the Presto Blue Metabolic Assay for Online Monitoring of Cell Proliferation in a 3D Perfusion Bioreactor System.

PubMed

Sonnaert, Maarten; Papantoniou, Ioannis; Luyten, Frank P; Schrooten, Jan Ir

2015-06-01

As the fields of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine mature toward clinical applications, the need for online monitoring both for quantitative and qualitative use becomes essential. Resazurin-based metabolic assays are frequently applied for determining cytotoxicity and have shown great potential for monitoring 3D bioreactor-facilitated cell culture. However, no quantitative correlation between the metabolic conversion rate of resazurin and cell number has been defined yet. In this work, we determined conversion rates of Presto Blue, a resazurin-based metabolic assay, for human periosteal cells during 2D and 3D static and 3D perfusion cultures. Our results showed that for the evaluated culture systems there is a quantitative correlation between the Presto Blue conversion rate and the cell number during the expansion phase with no influence of the perfusion-related parameters, that is, flow rate and shear stress. The correlation between the cell number and Presto Blue conversion subsequently enabled the definition of operating windows for optimal signal readouts. In conclusion, our data showed that the conversion of the resazurin-based Presto Blue metabolic assay can be used as a quantitative readout for online monitoring of cell proliferation in a 3D perfusion bioreactor system, although a system-specific validation is required.

Quantitative Validation of the Presto Blue™ Metabolic Assay for Online Monitoring of Cell Proliferation in a 3D Perfusion Bioreactor System

PubMed Central

Sonnaert, Maarten; Papantoniou, Ioannis; Luyten, Frank P.

2015-01-01

As the fields of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine mature toward clinical applications, the need for online monitoring both for quantitative and qualitative use becomes essential. Resazurin-based metabolic assays are frequently applied for determining cytotoxicity and have shown great potential for monitoring 3D bioreactor-facilitated cell culture. However, no quantitative correlation between the metabolic conversion rate of resazurin and cell number has been defined yet. In this work, we determined conversion rates of Presto Blue™, a resazurin-based metabolic assay, for human periosteal cells during 2D and 3D static and 3D perfusion cultures. Our results showed that for the evaluated culture systems there is a quantitative correlation between the Presto Blue conversion rate and the cell number during the expansion phase with no influence of the perfusion-related parameters, that is, flow rate and shear stress. The correlation between the cell number and Presto Blue conversion subsequently enabled the definition of operating windows for optimal signal readouts. In conclusion, our data showed that the conversion of the resazurin-based Presto Blue metabolic assay can be used as a quantitative readout for online monitoring of cell proliferation in a 3D perfusion bioreactor system, although a system-specific validation is required. PMID:25336207

Keystroke Dynamics-Based Credential Hardening Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bartlow, Nick; Cukic, Bojan

abstract Keystroke dynamics are becoming a well-known method for strengthening username- and password-based credential sets. The familiarity and ease of use of these traditional authentication schemes combined with the increased trustworthiness associated with biometrics makes them prime candidates for application in many web-based scenarios. Our keystroke dynamics system uses Breiman’s random forests algorithm to classify keystroke input sequences as genuine or imposter. The system is capable of operating at various points on a traditional ROC curve depending on application-specific security needs. As a username/password authentication scheme, our approach decreases the system penetration rate associated with compromised passwords up to 99.15%. Beyond presenting results demonstrating the credential hardening effect of our scheme, we look into the notion that a user’s familiarity to components of a credential set can non-trivially impact error rates.

Telesign: a videophone system for sign language distant communication

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mozelle, Gerard; Preteux, Francoise J.; Viallet, Jean-Emmanuel

1998-09-01

This paper presents a low bit rate videophone system for deaf people communicating by means of sign language. Classic video conferencing systems have focused on head and shoulders sequences which are not well-suited for sign language video transmission since hearing impaired people also use their hands and arms to communicate. To address the above-mentioned functionality, we have developed a two-step content-based video coding system based on: (1) A segmentation step. Four or five video objects (VO) are extracted using a cooperative approach between color-based and morphological segmentation. (2) VO coding are achieved by using a standardized MPEG-4 video toolbox. Results of encoded sign language video sequences, presented for three target bit rates (32 kbits/s, 48 kbits/s and 64 kbits/s), demonstrate the efficiency of the approach presented in this paper.

Implementation of a VLSI Level Zero Processing system utilizing the functional component approach

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shi, Jianfei; Horner, Ward P.; Grebowsky, Gerald J.; Chesney, James R.

1991-01-01

A high rate Level Zero Processing system is currently being prototyped at NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). Based on state-of-the-art VLSI technology and the functional component approach, the new system promises capabilities of handling multiple Virtual Channels and Applications with a combined data rate of up to 20 Megabits per second (Mbps) at low cost.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Norsworthy, R.

A rating system was developed for several coating types used for underground pipeline systems. Consideration included soil stress, adhesion, surface preparation, cathodic protection (CP) shielding, CP requirements, handling and construction, repair, field joint system, bends and other components, and the application process. Polyethylene- and polyvinyl chloride-backed tapes, woven polyolefin geotextile fabric (WGF)-backed tapes, hot-applied tapes, petrolatum- and wax-based tapes, and shrink sleeves were evaluated. WGF-backed tapes had the highest rating.

Estimating and validating harvesting system production through computer simulation

Treesearch

John E. Baumgras; Curt C. Hassler; Chris B. LeDoux

1993-01-01

A Ground Based Harvesting System Simulation model (GB-SIM) has been developed to estimate stump-to-truck production rates and multiproduct yields for conventional ground-based timber harvesting systems in Appalachian hardwood stands. Simulation results reflect inputs that define harvest site and timber stand attributes, wood utilization options, and key attributes of...

A packet-based dual-rate PID control strategy for a slow-rate sensing Networked Control System.

PubMed

Cuenca, A; Alcaina, J; Salt, J; Casanova, V; Pizá, R

2018-05-01

This paper introduces a packet-based dual-rate control strategy to face time-varying network-induced delays, packet dropouts and packet disorder in a Networked Control System. Slow-rate sensing enables to achieve energy saving and to avoid packet disorder. Fast-rate actuation makes reaching the desired control performance possible. The dual-rate PID controller is split into two parts: a slow-rate PI controller located at the remote side (with no permanent communication to the plant) and a fast-rate PD controller located at the local side. The remote side also includes a prediction stage in order to generate the packet of future, estimated slow-rate control actions. These actions are sent to the local side and converted to fast-rate ones to be used when a packet does not arrive at this side due to the network-induced delay or due to occurring dropouts. The proposed control solution is able to approximately reach the nominal (no-delay, no-dropout) performance despite the existence of time-varying delays and packet dropouts. Control system stability is ensured in terms of probabilistic Linear Matrix Inequalities (LMIs). Via real-time control for a Cartesian robot, results clearly reveal the superiority of the control solution compared to a previous proposal by authors. Copyright © 2018 ISA. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Microprocessor realizations of range rate filters

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1979-01-01

The performance of five digital range rate filters is evaluated. A range rate filter receives an input of range data from a radar unit and produces an output of smoothed range data and its estimated derivative range rate. The filters are compared through simulation on an IBM 370. Two of the filter designs are implemented on a 6800 microprocessor-based system. Comparisons are made on the bases of noise variance reduction ratios and convergence times of the filters in response to simulated range signals.

Perspectives on the changing healthcare system: teaching systems-based practice to medical residents

PubMed Central

Martinez, Johanna; Phillips, Erica; Fein, Oliver

2013-01-01

Purpose The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education restructured its accreditation system to be based on educational outcomes in six core competencies. Systems-based practice is one of the six core competencies. The purpose of this report is to describe Weill Cornell Medical College's Internal Medicine Residency program curriculum for systems-based practice (SBP) and its evaluation process. Methods To examine potential outcomes of the POCHS curriculum, an evaluation was conducted, examining participants': (1) knowledge gain; (2) course ratings; and (3) qualitative feedback. Results On average, there was a 19 percentage point increase in knowledge test scores for all three cohorts. The course was rated overall highly, receiving an average of 4.6 on a 1–5 scale. Lastly, the qualitative comments supported that the material is needed and valued. Conclusion The course, entitled Perspectives on the Changing Healthcare System (POCHS) and its evaluation process support that systems-based practice is crucial to residency education. The course is designed not only to educate residents about the current health care system but also to enable them to think critically about the risk and benefits of the changes. POCHS provides a framework for teaching and assessing this competency and can serve as a template for other residency programs looking to create or restructure their SBP curriculum. PMID:24001523

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Auditing Rules for Electronic Health Record Systems

PubMed Central

Hedda, Monica; Malin, Bradley A.; Yan, Chao; Fabbri, Daniel

2017-01-01

Healthcare organizations (HCOs) often deploy rule-based auditing systems to detect insider threats to sensitive patient health information in electronic health record (EHR) systems. These rule-based systems define behavior deemed to be high-risk a priori (e.g., family member, co-worker access). While such rules seem logical, there has been little scientific investigation into the effectiveness of these auditing rules in identifying inappropriate behavior. Thus, in this paper, we introduce an approach to evaluate the effectiveness of individual high-risk rules and rank them according to their potential risk. We investigate the rate of high-risk access patterns and minimum rate of high-risk accesses that can be explained with appropriate clinical reasons in a large EHR system. An analysis of 8M accesses from one-week of data shows that specific high-risk flags occur more frequently than theoretically expected and the rate at which accesses can be explained away with five simple reasons is 16 - 43%. PMID:29854153

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Auditing Rules for Electronic Health Record Systems.

PubMed

Hedda, Monica; Malin, Bradley A; Yan, Chao; Fabbri, Daniel

2017-01-01

Healthcare organizations (HCOs) often deploy rule-based auditing systems to detect insider threats to sensitive patient health information in electronic health record (EHR) systems. These rule-based systems define behavior deemed to be high-risk a priori (e.g., family member, co-worker access). While such rules seem logical, there has been little scientific investigation into the effectiveness of these auditing rules in identifying inappropriate behavior. Thus, in this paper, we introduce an approach to evaluate the effectiveness of individual high-risk rules and rank them according to their potential risk. We investigate the rate of high-risk access patterns and minimum rate of high-risk accesses that can be explained with appropriate clinical reasons in a large EHR system. An analysis of 8M accesses from one-week of data shows that specific high-risk flags occur more frequently than theoretically expected and the rate at which accesses can be explained away with five simple reasons is 16 - 43%.

Did case-based payment influence surgical readmission rates in France? A retrospective study

PubMed Central

Vuagnat, Albert; Yilmaz, Engin; Roussot, Adrien; Rodwin, Victor; Gadreau, Maryse; Bernard, Alain; Creuzot-Garcher, Catherine; Quantin, Catherine

2018-01-01

Objectives To determine whether implementation of a case-based payment system changed all-cause readmission rates in the 30 days following discharge after surgery, we analysed all surgical procedures performed in all hospitals in France before (2002–2004), during (2005–2008) and after (2009–2012) its implementation. Setting Our study is based on claims data for all surgical procedures performed in all acute care hospitals with >300 surgical admissions per year (740 hospitals) in France over 11 years (2002–2012; n=51.6 million admissions). Interventions We analysed all-cause 30-day readmission rates after surgery using a logistic regression model and an interrupted time series analysis. Results The overall 30-day all-cause readmission rate following discharge after surgery increased from 8.8% to 10.0% (P<0.001) for the public sector and from 5.9% to 8.6% (P<0.001) for the private sector. Interrupted time series models revealed a significant linear increase in readmission rates over the study period in all types of hospitals. However, the implementation of case-based payment was only associated with a significant increase in rehospitalisation rates for private hospitals (P<0.001). Conclusion In France, the increase in the readmission rate appears to be relatively steady in both the private and public sector but appears not to have been affected by the introduction of a case-based payment system after accounting for changes in care practices in the public sector. PMID:29391376

Effects of electronics, aromaticity, and solvent polarity on the rate of azaquinone-methide-mediated depolymerization of aromatic carbamate oligomers.

PubMed

Robbins, Jessica S; Schmid, Kyle M; Phillips, Scott T

2013-04-05

This paper uses physical-organic studies on well-defined oligomers to establish design principles for creating aromatic poly(carbamates) that depolymerize from head-to-tail in low dielectric constant environments when exposed to specific applied signals. We show that either increasing electron density or decreasing the aromaticity of aromatic repeating units in poly(carbamates) increase the overall depolymerization rate. For example, a methoxybenzene-based repeating unit provides depolymerization rates that are 143× faster than oligomers that contain a benzene-based repeating unit. Furthermore, the rate of depolymerization in the methoxybenzene-based system is tolerant to low dielectric environments, whereas the benzene-based oligomers are not.

Reducing patient mortality, length of stay and readmissions through machine learning-based sepsis prediction in the emergency department, intensive care unit and hospital floor units

PubMed Central

McCoy, Andrea

2017-01-01

Introduction Sepsis management is a challenge for hospitals nationwide, as severe sepsis carries high mortality rates and costs the US healthcare system billions of dollars each year. It has been shown that early intervention for patients with severe sepsis and septic shock is associated with higher rates of survival. The Cape Regional Medical Center (CRMC) aimed to improve sepsis-related patient outcomes through a revised sepsis management approach. Methods In collaboration with Dascena, CRMC formed a quality improvement team to implement a machine learning-based sepsis prediction algorithm to identify patients with sepsis earlier. Previously, CRMC assessed all patients for sepsis using twice-daily systemic inflammatory response syndrome screenings, but desired improvements. The quality improvement team worked to implement a machine learning-based algorithm, collect and incorporate feedback, and tailor the system to current hospital workflow. Results Relative to the pre-implementation period, the post-implementation period sepsis-related in-hospital mortality rate decreased by 60.24%, sepsis-related hospital length of stay decreased by 9.55% and sepsis-related 30-day readmission rate decreased by 50.14%. Conclusion The machine learning-based sepsis prediction algorithm improved patient outcomes at CRMC. PMID:29450295

SU-F-J-45: Sparing Normal Tissue with Ultra-High Dose Rate in Radiation Therapy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Feng, Y

Purpose: To spare normal tissue by reducing the location uncertainty of a moving target, we proposed an ultra-high dose rate system and evaluated. Methods: High energy electrons generated with a linear accelerator were injected into a storage ring to be accumulated. The number of the electrons in the ring was determined based on the prescribed radiation dose. The dose was delivered within a millisecond, when an online imaging system found that the target was in the position that was consistent with that in a treatment plan. In such a short time period, the displacement of the target was negligible. Themore » margin added to the clinical target volume (CTV) could be reduced that was evaluated by comparing of volumes between CTV and ITV in 14 cases of lung stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) treatments. A design of the ultra-high dose rate system was evaluated based clinical needs and the recent developments of low energy (a few MeV) electron storage ring. Results: This design of ultra-high dose rate system was feasible based on the techniques currently available. The reduction of a target volume was significant by reducing the margin that accounted the motion of the target. ∼50% volume reduction of the internal target volume (ITV) could be achieved in lung SBRT treatments. Conclusion: With this innovation of ultra-high dose rate system, the margin of target is able to be significantly reduced. It will reduce treatment time of gating and allow precisely specified gating window to improve the accuracy of dose delivering.« less

A hydrophilic polymer based microfluidic system with planar patch clamp electrode array for electrophysiological measurement from cells.

PubMed

Xu, Baojian; Ye, WeiWei; Zhang, Yu; Shi, JingYu; Chan, ChunYu; Yao, XiaoQiang; Yang, Mo

2014-03-15

This paper presents a microfluidic planar patch clamp system based on a hydrophilic polymer poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) for whole cell current recording. The whole chip is fabricated by UV-assisted molding method for both microfluidic channel structure and planar electrode partition. This hydrophilic patch clamp chip has demonstrated a relatively high gigaseal success rate of 44% without surface modification compared with PDMS based patch clamp devices. This chip also shows a capability of rapid intracellular and extracellular solution exchange with high stability of gigaseals. The capillary flow kinetic experiments demonstrate that the flow rates of PEGDA microfluidic channels are around two orders of magnitude greater than those for PDMS-glass channels with the same channel dimensions. This hydrophilic polymer based patch clamp chips have significant advantages over current PDMS elastomer based systems such as no need for surface modification, much higher success rate of cell gigaseals and rapid solution exchange with stable cell gigaseals. Our results indicate the potential of these devices to serve as useful tools for pharmaceutical screening and biosensing tasks. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A study of hydriding kinetics of metal hydrides using a physically based model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Voskuilen, Tyler G.

The reaction of hydrogen with metals to form metal hydrides has numerous potential energy storage and management applications. The metal hydrogen system has a high volumetric energy density and is often reversible with a high cycle life. The stored hydrogen can be used to produce energy through combustion, reaction in a fuel cell, or electrochemically in metal hydride batteries. The high enthalpy of the metal-hydrogen reaction can also be used for rapid heat removal or delivery. However, improving the often poor gravimetric performance of such systems through the use of lightweight metals usually comes at the cost of reduced reaction rates or the requirement of pressure and temperature conditions far from the desired operating conditions. In this work, a 700 bar Sievert system was developed at the Purdue Hydrogen Systems Laboratory to study the kinetic and thermodynamic behavior of high pressure hydrogen absorption under near-ambient temperatures. This system was used to determine the kinetic and thermodynamic properties of TiCrMn, an intermetallic metal hydride of interest due to its ambient temperature performance for vehicular applications. A commonly studied intermetallic hydride, LaNi5, was also characterized as a base case for the phase field model. The analysis of the data obtained from such a system necessitate the use of specialized techniques to decouple the measured reaction rates from experimental conditions. These techniques were also developed as a part of this work. Finally, a phase field model of metal hydride formation in mass-transport limited interstitial solute reactions based on the regular solution model was developed and compared with measured kinetics of LaNi5 and TiCrMn. This model aided in the identification of key reaction features and was used to verify the proposed technique for the analysis of gas-solid reaction rates determined volumetrically. Additionally, the phase field model provided detailed quantitative predictions of the effects of multidimensional phase growth and transitions between rate-limiting processes on the experimentally determined reaction rates. Unlike conventional solid state reaction analysis methods, this model relies fully on rate parameters based on the physical mechanisms occurring in the hydride reaction and can be extended to reactions in any dimension.

First experiences in the implementation of biometric technology to link data from Health and Demographic Surveillance Systems with health facility data.

PubMed

Serwaa-Bonsu, Adwoa; Herbst, Abraham J; Reniers, Georges; Ijaa, Wilfred; Clark, Benjamin; Kabudula, Chodziwadziwa; Sankoh, Osman

2010-02-24

In developing countries, Health and Demographic Surveillance Systems (HDSSs) provide a framework for tracking demographic and health dynamics over time in a defined geographical area. Many HDSSs co-exist with facility-based data sources in the form of Health Management Information Systems (HMIS). Integrating both data sources through reliable record linkage could provide both numerator and denominator populations to estimate disease prevalence and incidence rates in the population and enable determination of accurate health service coverage. To measure the acceptability and performance of fingerprint biometrics to identify individuals in demographic surveillance populations and those attending health care facilities serving the surveillance populations. Two HDSS sites used fingerprint biometrics for patient and/or surveillance population participant identification. The proportion of individuals for whom a fingerprint could be successfully enrolled were characterised in terms of age and sex. Adult (18-65 years) fingerprint enrolment rates varied between 94.1% (95% CI 93.6-94.5) for facility-based fingerprint data collection at the Africa Centre site to 96.7% (95% CI 95.9-97.6) for population-based fingerprint data collection at the Agincourt site. Fingerprint enrolment rates in children under 1 year old (Africa Centre site) were only 55.1% (95% CI 52.7-57.4). By age 5, child fingerprint enrolment rates were comparable to those of adults. This work demonstrates the feasibility of fingerprint-based individual identification for population-based research in developing countries. Record linkage between demographic surveillance population databases and health care facility data based on biometric identification systems would allow for a more comprehensive evaluation of population health, including the ability to study health service utilisation from a population perspective, rather than the more restrictive health service perspective.

Solar energy thermally powered electrical generating system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Owens, William R. (Inventor)

1989-01-01

A thermally powered electrical generating system for use in a space vehicle is disclosed. The rate of storage in a thermal energy storage medium is controlled by varying the rate of generation and dissipation of electrical energy in a thermally powered electrical generating system which is powered from heat stored in the thermal energy storage medium without exceeding a maximum quantity of heat. A control system (10) varies the rate at which electrical energy is generated by the electrical generating system and the rate at which electrical energy is consumed by a variable parasitic electrical load to cause storage of an amount of thermal energy in the thermal energy storage system at the end of a period of insolation which is sufficient to satisfy the scheduled demand for electrical power to be generated during the next period of eclipse. The control system is based upon Kalman filter theory.

Pocket calculator for local fire-danger ratings

Treesearch

Richard J. Barney; William C. Fischer

1967-01-01

In 1964, Stockstad and Barney published tables that provided conversion factors for calculating local fire danger in the Intermountain area according to fuel types, locations, steepness of terrain, aspects, and times of day. These tables were based on the National Fire-Danger Rating System published earlier that year. This system was adopted for operational use in...

The Impact of Performance Ratings on Job Satisfaction for Public School Teachers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Koedel, Cory; Li, Jiaxi; Springer, Matthew G.; Tan, Li

2017-01-01

Spurred by the federal Race to the Top competition, the state of Tennessee implemented a comprehensive statewide educator evaluation system in 2011. The new system is designed to increase the rigor of evaluations and better differentiate teachers based on performance. The use of more differentiated ratings represents a significant shift in…

Quality Rating Systems--The Experiences of Center Directors

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Friedman, Dana E.

2007-01-01

Quality Rating System (QRS) initiatives define levels of quality based on research and then support providers with funding and technical assistance to increase their quality. Each program is assessed and given a number of "stars" to indicate to parents what level of quality the program has reached. In this article, the author describes…

Energy Security and Climate Change Policy in the OECD: The Political Economy of Carbon-Energy Taxation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lachapelle, Erick

Why do countries tax the same fuels at widely different rates, even among similarly situated countries in the global political economy? Given the potentially destabilizing effects of climate change, and the political and economic risks associated with a reliance on geographically concentrated, finite fossil fuels, International Organizations and economists of all political stripes have consistently called for increasing tax rates on fossil-based energy. Despite much enthusiasm among policy experts, however, politicians concerned with distributional consequences, economic performance and competitiveness impacts continue to be wary of raising taxes on carbon-based fuels. In this context, this thesis investigates the political economy of tax rates affecting the price of fossil fuels in advanced capitalist democracies. Through an examination of the political limits of government capacity to implement stricter carbon-energy policy, as well as the identification of the correlates of higher carbon-based energy taxes, it throws new light on the conditions under which carbon-energy tax reform becomes politically possible. Based on recent data collected from the OECD, EEA and IEA, I develop an estimate of the relative size of implicit carbon taxes across OECD member countries on six carbon-based fuels and across the household and industrial sectors. I exploit large cross-national differences in these carbon-energy tax rates in order to identify the correlates of, and constraints on, carbon-energy tax reform. Applying multiple regression analysis to both cross-section and time-series cross-sectional (TSCS) data, this thesis leverages considerable empirical evidence to demonstrate how and why electoral systems matter for energy and environmental tax policy outcomes. In particular, I find considerable empirical evidence to support the claim that systems of proportional representation (PR), in addition to the partisan preferences of the electorate, work together to explain differential rates of carbon-energy taxation. By opening up the ideological space to a broader spectrum of "green" parties, I argue that PR systems create a favourable institutional context within which higher rates of carbon-energy taxation become politically possible. After specifying a key causal mechanism within different types of electoral systems -- the seat-vote elasticity -- I argue further that, voters in disproportional systems actually have more leverage over politicians, and that an increase in environmental voting can have an impact on rates of carbon energy taxation, even in the absence of PR. While the accession to power of green political parties in PR systems is more likely to lead to higher rates of carbon energy taxation, voting for green parties in highly disproportional systems creates incentives for other parties to adopt "green" policies, leading to a similar outcome. In this way, the effect of green votes and green seats will have the opposite effect on policy according to the type of electoral system in use.

Australian Apprenticeships. Research at a Glance.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Centre for Vocational Education Research, Leabrook (Australia).

Australia's apprenticeship system was examined in 11 individual research projects that focused on various aspects of the system, including the following: milestones in its development; its changing structure; its broadening occupational base and client base; characteristics of apprentices; completion and attrition rates; outcomes from traditional…

Evaluation of the in-hospital hemovigilance by introduction of the information technology-based system.

PubMed

Fujihara, Harumi; Yamada, Chiaki; Furumaki, Hiroaki; Nagai, Seiya; Shibata, Hiroki; Ishizuka, Keiko; Watanabe, Hiroko; Kaneko, Makoto; Adachi, Miwa; Takeshita, Akihiro

2015-12-01

Hemovigilance is an important aspect of transfusion medicine. However, the frequency of the adverse reactions often varies using different reporters. Recently, we have employed a new information technology (IT)-based in-hospital hemovigilance system. Here, we evaluated changes in practice after implementation of an IT-based reporting system. We compared the rate of frequency and details of blood transfusion-related adverse reactions 3 years before and after introduction of the IT-based reporting system. Contents and severity of the adverse reactions were reported in a paper-based reporting system, but input by selecting items in an IT-based reporting system. The details of adverse reactions are immediately sent to the blood transfusion unit online. After we introduced the IT-based reporting system, the reported rate of transfusion-related adverse reactions increased approximately 10-fold from 0.20% to 2.18% (p < 0.001), and frequencies of urticaria, pruritus, rash, fever (p < 0.001), hypertension (p = 0.001), tachycardia (p = 0.003), and nausea and vomiting (p = 0.010) increased significantly. Although there was no error report in the paper-based reporting, incorrect reports were observed in 90 cases (0.52%) in the IT-based reporting (p < 0.001). The advantages of IT-based reporting were: 1) a significant increase in the frequency of adverse reaction reporting and 2) a significant decrease in underreporting, although the true frequency has yet to be clarified. The disadvantage of the IT-based reporting was an increased incidence of incorrect inputs, all of which was unnoticed by the reporters. Our results showed several important points in need of monitoring after introduction of an IT-based reporting system. © 2015 AABB.

42 CFR 412.75 - Determination of the hospital-specific rate for inpatient operating costs based on a Federal...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... 42 Public Health 2 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false Determination of the hospital-specific rate for inpatient operating costs based on a Federal fiscal year 1987 base period. 412.75 Section 412.75 Public Health CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES MEDICARE PROGRAM PROSPECTIVE PAYMENT SYSTEMS FOR INPATIENT...

42 CFR 412.75 - Determination of the hospital-specific rate for inpatient operating costs based on a Federal...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 42 Public Health 2 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Determination of the hospital-specific rate for inpatient operating costs based on a Federal fiscal year 1987 base period. 412.75 Section 412.75 Public Health CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES MEDICARE PROGRAM PROSPECTIVE PAYMENT SYSTEMS FOR INPATIENT...

42 CFR 412.75 - Determination of the hospital-specific rate for inpatient operating costs based on a Federal...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... 42 Public Health 2 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false Determination of the hospital-specific rate for inpatient operating costs based on a Federal fiscal year 1987 base period. 412.75 Section 412.75 Public Health CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES MEDICARE PROGRAM PROSPECTIVE PAYMENT SYSTEMS FOR INPATIENT...

42 CFR 412.75 - Determination of the hospital-specific rate for inpatient operating costs based on a Federal...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... 42 Public Health 2 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false Determination of the hospital-specific rate for inpatient operating costs based on a Federal fiscal year 1987 base period. 412.75 Section 412.75 Public Health CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES MEDICARE PROGRAM PROSPECTIVE PAYMENT SYSTEMS FOR INPATIENT...

High Pressure Burn Rate Measurements on an Ammonium Perchlorate Propellant

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Glascoe, E A; Tan, N

2010-04-21

High pressure deflagration rate measurements of a unique ammonium perchlorate (AP) based propellant are required to design the base burn motor for a Raytheon weapon system. The results of these deflagration rate measurements will be key in assessing safety and performance of the system. In particular, the system may experience transient pressures on the order of 100's of MPa (10's kPSI). Previous studies on similar AP based materials demonstrate that low pressure (e.g. P < 10 MPa or 1500 PSI) burn rates can be quite different than the elevated pressure deflagration rate measurements (see References and HPP results discussed herein),more » hence elevated pressure measurements are necessary in order understand the deflagration behavior under relevant conditions. Previous work on explosives have shown that at 100's of MPa some explosives will transition from a laminar burn mechanism to a convective burn mechanism in a process termed deconsolidative burning. The resulting burn rates that are orders-of-magnitude faster than the laminar burn rates. Materials that transition to the deconsolidative-convective burn mechanism at elevated pressures have been shown to be considerably more violent in confined heating experiments (i.e. cook-off scenarios). The mechanisms of propellant and explosive deflagration are extremely complex and include both chemical, and mechanical processes, hence predicting the behavior and rate of a novel material or formulation is difficult if not impossible. In this work, the AP/HTPB based material, TAL-1503 (B-2049), was burned in a constant volume apparatus in argon up to 300 MPa (ca. 44 kPSI). The burn rate and pressure were measured in-situ and used to calculate a pressure dependent burn rate. In general, the material appears to burn in a laminar fashion at these elevated pressures. The experiment was reproduced multiple times and the burn rate law using the best data is B = (0.6 {+-} 0.1) x P{sup (1.05{+-}0.02)} where B is the burn rate in mm/s and P is the pressure in units of MPa. Details of the experimental method, results and data analysis are discussed herein and briefly compared to other AP based materials that have been measured in this apparatus.« less

Improved Personalized Recommendation Based on Causal Association Rule and Collaborative Filtering

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lei, Wu; Qing, Fang; Zhou, Jin

2016-01-01

There are usually limited user evaluation of resources on a recommender system, which caused an extremely sparse user rating matrix, and this greatly reduce the accuracy of personalized recommendation, especially for new users or new items. This paper presents a recommendation method based on rating prediction using causal association rules.…

77 FR 56830 - Combined Notice of Filings #1

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-09-14

... Tariff Revisions Regarding Black Start and System Restoration Service to be effective 11/1/2012. Filed.... Description: Market-Based Rate Tariff to be effective 10/17/2012. Filed Date: 8/31/12. Accession Number... Power, L.L.C. Description: Market-Based Rate Service Agreement to be effective 9/ 1/2012. [[Page 56831...

Intelligent detection and identification in fiber-optical perimeter intrusion monitoring system based on the FBG sensor network

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Huijuan; Qian, Ya; Zhang, Wei; Li, Hanyu; Xie, Xin

2015-12-01

A real-time intelligent fiber-optic perimeter intrusion detection system (PIDS) based on the fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor network is presented in this paper. To distinguish the effects of different intrusion events, a novel real-time behavior impact classification method is proposed based on the essential statistical characteristics of signal's profile in the time domain. The features are extracted by the principal component analysis (PCA), which are then used to identify the event with a K-nearest neighbor classifier. Simulation and field tests are both carried out to validate its effectiveness. The average identification rate (IR) for five sample signals in the simulation test is as high as 96.67%, and the recognition rate for eight typical signals in the field test can also be achieved up to 96.52%, which includes both the fence-mounted and the ground-buried sensing signals. Besides, critically high detection rate (DR) and low false alarm rate (FAR) can be simultaneously obtained based on the autocorrelation characteristics analysis and a hierarchical detection and identification flow.

Understanding the biological activity of high rate algae ponds through the calculation of oxygen balances.

PubMed

Arbib, Zouhayr; de Godos Crespo, Ignacio; Corona, Enrique Lara; Rogalla, Frank

2017-06-01

Microalgae culture in high rate algae ponds (HRAP) is an environmentally friendly technology for wastewater treatment. However, for the implementation of these systems, a better understanding of the oxygenation potential and the influence of climate conditions is required. In this work, the rates of oxygen production, consumption, and exchange with the atmosphere were calculated under varying conditions of solar irradiance and dilution rate during six months of operation in a real scale unit. This analysis allowed determining the biological response of these dynamic systems. The rates of oxygen consumption measured were considerably higher than the values calculated based on the organic loading rate. The response to light intensity in terms of oxygen production in the bioreactor was described with one of the models proposed for microalgae culture in dense concentrations. This model is based on the availability of light inside the culture and the specific response of microalgae to this parameter. The specific response to solar radiation intensity showed a reasonable stability in spite of the fluctuations due to meteorological conditions. The methodology developed is a useful tool for optimization and prediction of the performance of these systems.

20-Gbps optical LiFi transport system.

PubMed

Ying, Cheng-Ling; Lu, Hai-Han; Li, Chung-Yi; Cheng, Chun-Jen; Peng, Peng-Chun; Ho, Wen-Jeng

2015-07-15

A 20-Gbps optical light-based WiFi (LiFi) transport system employing vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) and external light injection technique with 16-quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM)-orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) modulating signal is proposed. Good bit error rate (BER) performance and clear constellation map are achieved in our proposed optical LiFi transport systems. An optical LiFi transport system, delivering 16-QAM-OFDM signal over a 6-m free-space link, with a data rate of 20 Gbps, is successfully demonstrated. Such a 20-Gbps optical LiFi transport system provides the advantage of a free-space communication link for high data rates, which can accelerate the visible laser light communication (VLLC) deployment.

High removal rate laser-based coating removal system

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Matthews, D.L.; Celliers, P.M.; Hackel, L.

1999-11-16

A compact laser system is disclosed that removes surface coatings (such as paint, dirt, etc.) at a removal rate as high as 1,000 ft{sup 2}/hr or more without damaging the surface. A high repetition rate laser with multiple amplification passes propagating through at least one optical amplifier is used, along with a delivery system consisting of a telescoping and articulating tube which also contains an evacuation system for simultaneously sweeping up the debris produced in the process. The amplified beam can be converted to an output beam by passively switching the polarization of at least one amplified beam. The systemmore » also has a personal safety system which protects against accidental exposures.« less

Flow-rate independent gas-mixing system for drift chambers, using solenoid valves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sugano, K.

1991-03-01

We describe an inexpensive system for mixing argon and ethane gas for drift chambers which was used for an experiment at Fermilab. This system is based on the idea of intermittent mixing of gases with fixed mixing flow rates. A dual-action pressure switch senses the pressure in a mixed gas reservoir tank and operates solenoid valves to control mixing action and regulate reservoir pressure. This system has the advantages that simple controls accurately regulate the mixing ratio and that the mixing ratio is nearly flow-rate independent without readjustments. We also report the results of the gas analysis of various samplings, and the reliability of the system in long-term running.

A portable personal cooling system for mine rescue operations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Webbon, B.; Williams, B.; Kirk, P.; Elkins, W.; Stein, R.

1977-01-01

Design of a portable personal cooling system to reduce physiological stress in high-temperature, high-humidity conditions is discussed. The system, based on technology used in the thermal controls of space suits, employs a combination of head and thoracic insulation and cooling through a heat sink unit. Average metabolic rates, heart rates, rectal temperature increase and sweat loss were monitored for test subjects wearing various configurations of the cooling system, as well as for a control group. The various arrangements of the cooling garment were found to provide significant physiological benefits; however, increases in heat transfer rate of the cooling unit and more effective insulation are suggested to improve the system's function.

An opto-electronic joint detection system based on DSP aiming at early cervical cancer screening

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Weiya; Jia, Mengyu; Gao, Feng; Yang, Lihong; Qu, Pengpeng; Zou, Changping; Liu, Pengxi; Zhao, Huijuan

2015-02-01

The cervical cancer screening at a pre-cancer stage is beneficial to reduce the mortality of women. An opto-electronic joint detection system based on DSP aiming at early cervical cancer screening is introduced in this paper. In this system, three electrodes alternately discharge to the cervical tissue and three light emitting diodes in different wavelengths alternately irradiate the cervical tissue. Then the relative optical reflectance and electrical voltage attenuation curve are obtained by optical and electrical detection, respectively. The system is based on DSP to attain the portable and cheap instrument. By adopting the relative reflectance and the voltage attenuation constant, the classification algorithm based on Support Vector Machine (SVM) discriminates abnormal cervical tissue from normal. We use particle swarm optimization to optimize the two key parameters of SVM, i.e. nuclear factor and cost factor. The clinical data were collected on 313 patients to build a clinical database of tissue responses under optical and electrical stimulations with the histopathologic examination as the gold standard. The classification result shows that the opto-electronic joint detection has higher total coincidence rate than separate optical detection or separate electrical detection. The sensitivity, specificity, and total coincidence rate increase with the increasing of sample numbers in the training set. The average total coincidence rate of the system can reach 85.1% compared with the histopathologic examination.

STV engine design considerations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1991-01-01

The topics covered include the following: (1) engine design criteria and issues; (2) design requirements for man rating; (3) test requirements for man rating; (4) design requirements for space basing; (5) engine operation requirements; (6) health monitoring; (7) lunar transfer vehicle (LTV) feed system; (8) lunar excursion vehicle (LEV) propellant system; (9) area ratio gimbal angle limits; (10) reaction control system; and (11) engine configuration and characteristics. This document is presented in viewgraph form.

Variable input observer for structural health monitoring of high-rate systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hong, Jonathan; Laflamme, Simon; Cao, Liang; Dodson, Jacob

2017-02-01

The development of high-rate structural health monitoring methods is intended to provide damage detection on timescales of 10 µs -10ms where speed of detection is critical to maintain structural integrity. Here, a novel Variable Input Observer (VIO) coupled with an adaptive observer is proposed as a potential solution for complex high-rate problems. The VIO is designed to adapt its input space based on real-time identification of the system's essential dynamics. By selecting appropriate time-delayed coordinates defined by both a time delay and an embedding dimension, the proper input space is chosen which allows more accurate estimations of the current state and a reduction of the convergence rate. The optimal time-delay is estimated based on mutual information, and the embedding dimension is based on false nearest neighbors. A simulation of the VIO is conducted on a two degree-of-freedom system with simulated damage. Results are compared with an adaptive Luenberger observer, a fixed time-delay observer, and a Kalman Filter. Under its preliminary design, the VIO converges significantly faster than the Luenberger and fixed observer. It performed similarly to the Kalman Filter in terms of convergence, but with greater accuracy.

Mark 6: A Next-Generation VLBI Data System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Whitney, A. R.; Lapsley, D. E.; Taveniku, M.

2011-07-01

A new real-time high-data-rate disk-array system based on entirely commercial-off-the-shelf hardware components is being evaluated for possible use as a next-generation VLBI data system. The system, developed by XCube Communications of Nashua, NH, USA was originally developed for the automotive industry for testing/evaluation of autonomous driving systems that require continuous capture of an array of video cameras and automotive sensors at ~8Gbps from multiple 10GigE data links and other data sources. In order to sustain the required recording data rate, the system is designed to account for slow and/or failed disks by shifting the load to other disks as necessary in order to maintain the target data rate. The system is based on a Linux OS with some modifications to memory management and drivers in order to guarantee the timely movement of data, and the hardware/software combination is highly tuned to achieve the target data rate; data are stored in standard Linux files. A kit is also being designed that will allow existing Mark 5 disk modules to be modified to be used with the XCube system (though PATA disks will need to be replaced by SATA disks). Demonstrations of the system at Haystack Observatory and NRAO Socorro have proved very encouraging; some modest software upgrades/revisions are being made by XCube in order to meet VLBI-specific requirements. The system is easily expandable, with sustained 16 Gbps likely to be supported before end CY2011.

A novel concatenated code based on the improved SCG-LDPC code for optical transmission systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yuan, Jian-guo; Xie, Ya; Wang, Lin; Huang, Sheng; Wang, Yong

2013-01-01

Based on the optimization and improvement for the construction method of systematically constructed Gallager (SCG) (4, k) code, a novel SCG low density parity check (SCG-LDPC)(3969, 3720) code to be suitable for optical transmission systems is constructed. The novel SCG-LDPC (6561,6240) code with code rate of 95.1% is constructed by increasing the length of SCG-LDPC (3969,3720) code, and in a way, the code rate of LDPC codes can better meet the high requirements of optical transmission systems. And then the novel concatenated code is constructed by concatenating SCG-LDPC(6561,6240) code and BCH(127,120) code with code rate of 94.5%. The simulation results and analyses show that the net coding gain (NCG) of BCH(127,120)+SCG-LDPC(6561,6240) concatenated code is respectively 2.28 dB and 0.48 dB more than those of the classic RS(255,239) code and SCG-LDPC(6561,6240) code at the bit error rate (BER) of 10-7.

Sleep Quality Estimation based on Chaos Analysis for Heart Rate Variability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fukuda, Toshio; Wakuda, Yuki; Hasegawa, Yasuhisa; Arai, Fumihito; Kawaguchi, Mitsuo; Noda, Akiko

In this paper, we propose an algorithm to estimate sleep quality based on a heart rate variability using chaos analysis. Polysomnography(PSG) is a conventional and reliable system to diagnose sleep disorder and to evaluate its severity and therapeatic effect, by estimating sleep quality based on multiple channels. However, a recording process requires a lot of time and a controlled environment for measurement and then an analyzing process of PSG data is hard work because the huge sensed data should be manually evaluated. On the other hand, it is focused that some people make a mistake or cause an accident due to lost of regular sleep and of homeostasis these days. Therefore a simple home system for checking own sleep is required and then the estimation algorithm for the system should be developed. Therefore we propose an algorithm to estimate sleep quality based only on a heart rate variability which can be measured by a simple sensor such as a pressure sensor and an infrared sensor in an uncontrolled environment, by experimentally finding the relationship between chaos indices and sleep quality. The system including the estimation algorithm can inform patterns and quality of own daily sleep to a user, and then the user can previously arranges his life schedule, pays more attention based on sleep results and consult with a doctor.

Digital modulation and achievable information rates of thru-body haptic communications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hanisch, Natalie; Pierobon, Massimiliano

2017-05-01

The ever increasing biocompatibility and pervasive nature of wearable and implantable devices demand novel sustainable solutions to realize their connectivity, which can impact broad application scenarios such as in the defense, biomedicine, and entertainment fields. Where wireless electromagnetic communications are facing challenges such as device miniaturization, energy scarcity, limited range, and possibility of interception, solutions not only inspired but also based on natural communication means might result into valid alternatives. In this paper, a communication paradigm where digital information is propagated through the nervous system is proposed and analyzed on the basis of achievable information rates. In particular, this paradigm is based on an analytical framework where the response of a system based on haptic (tactile) information transmission and ElectroEncephaloGraphy (EEG)-based reception is modeled and characterized. Computational neuroscience models of the somatosensory signal representation in the brain, coupled with models of the generation and propagation of somatosensory stimulation from skin mechanoreceptors, are employed in this paper to provide a proof-of-concept evaluation of achievable performance in encoding information bits into tactile stimulation, and decoding them from the recorded brain activity. Based on these models, the system is simulated and the resulting data are utilized to train a Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier, which is finally used to provide a proof-of-concept validation of the system performance in terms of information rates against bit error probability at the reception.

Applying constraints on model-based methods: Estimation of rate constants in a second order consecutive reaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kompany-Zareh, Mohsen; Khoshkam, Maryam

2013-02-01

This paper describes estimation of reaction rate constants and pure ultraviolet/visible (UV-vis) spectra of the component involved in a second order consecutive reaction between Ortho-Amino benzoeic acid (o-ABA) and Diazoniom ions (DIAZO), with one intermediate. In the described system, o-ABA was not absorbing in the visible region of interest and thus, closure rank deficiency problem did not exist. Concentration profiles were determined by solving differential equations of the corresponding kinetic model. In that sense, three types of model-based procedures were applied to estimate the rate constants of the kinetic system, according to Levenberg/Marquardt (NGL/M) algorithm. Original data-based, Score-based and concentration-based objective functions were included in these nonlinear fitting procedures. Results showed that when there is error in initial concentrations, accuracy of estimated rate constants strongly depends on the type of applied objective function in fitting procedure. Moreover, flexibility in application of different constraints and optimization of the initial concentrations estimation during the fitting procedure were investigated. Results showed a considerable decrease in ambiguity of obtained parameters by applying appropriate constraints and adjustable initial concentrations of reagents.

The NEEDS Data Base Management and Archival Mass Memory System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bailey, G. A.; Bryant, S. B.; Thomas, D. T.; Wagnon, F. W.

1980-01-01

A Data Base Management System and an Archival Mass Memory System are being developed that will have a 10 to the 12th bit on-line and a 10 to the 13th off-line storage capacity. The integrated system will accept packetized data from the data staging area at 50 Mbps, create a comprehensive directory, provide for file management, record the data, perform error detection and correction, accept user requests, retrieve the requested data files and provide the data to multiple users at a combined rate of 50 Mbps. Stored and replicated data files will have a bit error rate of less than 10 to the -9th even after ten years of storage. The integrated system will be demonstrated to prove the technology late in 1981.

Bar code-based pre-transfusion check in pre-operative autologous blood donation.

PubMed

Ohsaka, Akimichi; Furuta, Yoshiaki; Ohsawa, Toshiya; Kobayashi, Mitsue; Abe, Katsumi; Inada, Eiichi

2010-10-01

The objective of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility of a bar code-based identification system for the pre-transfusion check at the bedside in the setting of pre-operative autologous blood donation (PABD). Between July 2003 and December 2008 we determined the compliance rate and causes of failure of electronic bedside checking for PABD transfusion. A total of 5627 (9% of all transfusions) PABD units were administered without a single mistransfusion. The overall rate of compliance with electronic checking was 99%. The bar code-based identification system was applicable to the pre-transfusion check for PABD transfusion. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of a Small-Crack Monitoring System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Newman, John A.; Johnston, William M.

2010-01-01

A new system has been developed to obtain fatigue crack growth rate data from a series of images acquired during fatigue testing of specimens containing small surface cracks that initiate at highly-polished notches. The primary benefit associated with replica-based crack growth rate data methods is preserving a record of the crack configuration during the life of the specimen. Additionally, this system has the benefits of both reducing time and labor, and not requiring introduction of surface replica media into the crack. Fatigue crack growth rate data obtained using this new system are found to be in good agreement with similar results obtained from surface replicas.

Global Culture: A Noise Induced Transition in Finite Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Klemm, Konstantin; Eguíluz, Victor M.; Toral, Raúl; San Miguel, Maxi

2003-04-01

We analyze Axelrod's model for the unbiased transmission of culture in the presence of noise. In a one-dimensional lattice, the dynamics is described in terms of a Lyapunov potential, where the disordered configurations are metastable states of the dynamics. In a two-dimensional lattice the dynamics is governed by the average relaxation time T for perturbations to the homogeneous configuration. If the noise rate is smaller than 1/T, the perturbations drive the system to a completely ordered configuration, whereas the system remains disordered for larger noise rates. Based on a mean-field approximation we obtain the average relaxation time T(N) = Nln(N) for system size N. Thus in the limit of infinite system size the system is disordered for any finite noise rate.

Neural correlates of conventional and harm/welfare-based moral decision-making.

PubMed

White, Stuart F; Zhao, Hui; Leong, Kelly Kimiko; Smetana, Judith G; Nucci, Larry P; Blair, R James R

2017-12-01

The degree to which social norms are processed by a unitary system or dissociable systems remains debated. Much research on children's social-cognitive judgments has supported the distinction between "moral" (harm/welfare-based) and "conventional" norms. However, the extent to which these norms are processed by dissociable neural systems remains unclear. To address this issue, 23 healthy participants were scanned with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while they rated the wrongness of harm/welfare-based and conventional transgressions and neutral vignettes. Activation significantly greater than the neutral vignette baseline was observed in regions implicated in decision-making regions including rostral/ventral medial frontal, anterior insula and dorsomedial frontal cortices when evaluating both harm/welfare-based and social-conventional transgressions. Greater activation when rating harm/welfare-based relative to social-conventional transgressions was seen through much of ACC and bilateral inferior frontal gyrus. Greater activation was observed in superior temporal gyrus, bilateral middle temporal gyrus, left PCC, and temporal-parietal junction when rating social-conventional transgressions relative to harm/welfare-based transgressions. These data suggest that decisions regarding the wrongness of actions, irrespective of whether they involve care/harm-based or conventional transgressions, recruit regions generally implicated in affect-based decision-making. However, there is neural differentiation between harm/welfare-based and conventional transgressions. This may reflect the particular importance of processing the intent of transgressors of conventional norms and perhaps the greater emotional content or salience of harm/welfare-based transgressions.

Performance Investigation of FSO-OFDM Communication Systems under the Heavy Rain Weather

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rashidi, Florence; He, Jing; Chen, Lin

2017-12-01

The challenge in the free-space optical (FSO) communication is the propagation of optical signal through different atmospheric conditions such as rain, snow and fog. In this paper, an orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing technique (OFDM) is proposed in the FSO communication system. Meanwhile, considering the rain attenuation models based on Marshal & Palmer and Carbonneau models, the performance of FSO communication system based on the OFDM is evaluated under the heavy-rain condition in Changsha, China. The simulation results show that, under a heavy-rainfall condition of 106.18 mm/h, with an attenuation factor of 7 dB/km based on the Marshal & Palmer model, the bit rate of 2.5 and 4.0 Gbps data can be transmitted over the FSO channels of 1.6 and 1.3 km, respectively, and the bit error rate of less than 1E - 4 can be achieved. In addition, the effect on rain attenuation over the FSO communication system based on the Marshal & Palmer model is less than that of the Carbonneau model.

Method and apparatus for combinatorial logic signal processor in a digitally based high speed x-ray spectrometer

DOEpatents

Warburton, William K.; Zhou, Zhiquing

1999-01-01

A high speed, digitally based, signal processing system which accepts a digitized input signal and detects the presence of step-like pulses in the this data stream, extracts filtered estimates of their amplitudes, inspects for pulse pileup, and records input pulse rates and system livetime. The system has two parallel processing channels: a slow channel, which filters the data stream with a long time constant trapezoidal filter for good energy resolution; and a fast channel which filters the data stream with a short time constant trapezoidal filter, detects pulses, inspects for pileups, and captures peak values from the slow channel for good events. The presence of a simple digital interface allows the system to be easily integrated with a digital processor to produce accurate spectra at high count rates and allow all spectrometer functions to be fully automated. Because the method is digitally based, it allows pulses to be binned based on time related values, as well as on their amplitudes, if desired.

15 CFR 700.17 - Use of rated orders.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

...) BUREAU OF INDUSTRY AND SECURITY, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NATIONAL SECURITY INDUSTRIAL BASE REGULATIONS DEFENSE PRIORITIES AND ALLOCATIONS SYSTEM Industrial Priorities § 700.17 Use of rated orders. (a) A person...

Automated alignment system for optical wireless communication systems using image recognition.

PubMed

Brandl, Paul; Weiss, Alexander; Zimmermann, Horst

2014-07-01

In this Letter, we describe the realization of a tracked line-of-sight optical wireless communication system for indoor data distribution. We built a laser-based transmitter with adaptive focus and ray steering by a microelectromechanical systems mirror. To execute the alignment procedure, we used a CMOS image sensor at the transmitter side and developed an algorithm for image recognition to localize the receiver's position. The receiver is based on a self-developed optoelectronic integrated chip with low requirements on the receiver optics to make the system economically attractive. With this system, we were able to set up the communication link automatically without any back channel and to perform error-free (bit error rate <10⁻⁹) data transmission over a distance of 3.5 m with a data rate of 3 Gbit/s.

High resolution light-sheet based high-throughput imaging cytometry system enables visualization of intra-cellular organelles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Regmi, Raju; Mohan, Kavya; Mondal, Partha Pratim

2014-09-01

Visualization of intracellular organelles is achieved using a newly developed high throughput imaging cytometry system. This system interrogates the microfluidic channel using a sheet of light rather than the existing point-based scanning techniques. The advantages of the developed system are many, including, single-shot scanning of specimens flowing through the microfluidic channel at flow rate ranging from micro- to nano- lit./min. Moreover, this opens-up in-vivo imaging of sub-cellular structures and simultaneous cell counting in an imaging cytometry system. We recorded a maximum count of 2400 cells/min at a flow-rate of 700 nl/min, and simultaneous visualization of fluorescently-labeled mitochondrial network in HeLa cells during flow. The developed imaging cytometry system may find immediate application in biotechnology, fluorescence microscopy and nano-medicine.

A parallel implementation of a multisensor feature-based range-estimation method

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Suorsa, Raymond E.; Sridhar, Banavar

1993-01-01

There are many proposed vision based methods to perform obstacle detection and avoidance for autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicles. All methods, however, will require very high processing rates to achieve real time performance. A system capable of supporting autonomous helicopter navigation will need to extract obstacle information from imagery at rates varying from ten frames per second to thirty or more frames per second depending on the vehicle speed. Such a system will need to sustain billions of operations per second. To reach such high processing rates using current technology, a parallel implementation of the obstacle detection/ranging method is required. This paper describes an efficient and flexible parallel implementation of a multisensor feature-based range-estimation algorithm, targeted for helicopter flight, realized on both a distributed-memory and shared-memory parallel computer.

Real-time distributed fiber optic sensor for security systems: Performance, event classification and nuisance mitigation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mahmoud, Seedahmed S.; Visagathilagar, Yuvaraja; Katsifolis, Jim

2012-09-01

The success of any perimeter intrusion detection system depends on three important performance parameters: the probability of detection (POD), the nuisance alarm rate (NAR), and the false alarm rate (FAR). The most fundamental parameter, POD, is normally related to a number of factors such as the event of interest, the sensitivity of the sensor, the installation quality of the system, and the reliability of the sensing equipment. The suppression of nuisance alarms without degrading sensitivity in fiber optic intrusion detection systems is key to maintaining acceptable performance. Signal processing algorithms that maintain the POD and eliminate nuisance alarms are crucial for achieving this. In this paper, a robust event classification system using supervised neural networks together with a level crossings (LCs) based feature extraction algorithm is presented for the detection and recognition of intrusion and non-intrusion events in a fence-based fiber-optic intrusion detection system. A level crossings algorithm is also used with a dynamic threshold to suppress torrential rain-induced nuisance alarms in a fence system. Results show that rain-induced nuisance alarms can be suppressed for rainfall rates in excess of 100 mm/hr with the simultaneous detection of intrusion events. The use of a level crossing based detection and novel classification algorithm is also presented for a buried pipeline fiber optic intrusion detection system for the suppression of nuisance events and discrimination of intrusion events. The sensor employed for both types of systems is a distributed bidirectional fiber-optic Mach-Zehnder (MZ) interferometer.

An Intelligent Pattern Recognition System Based on Neural Network and Wavelet Decomposition for Interpretation of Heart Sounds

DTIC Science & Technology

2001-10-25

wavelet decomposition of signals and classification using neural network. Inputs to the system are the heart sound signals acquired by a stethoscope in a...Proceedings. pp. 415–418, 1990. [3] G. Ergun, “An intelligent diagnostic system for interpretation of arterpartum fetal heart rate tracings based on ANNs and...AN INTELLIGENT PATTERN RECOGNITION SYSTEM BASED ON NEURAL NETWORK AND WAVELET DECOMPOSITION FOR INTERPRETATION OF HEART SOUNDS I. TURKOGLU1, A

Corrosion of Nickel-Based Alloys in Ultra-High Temperature Heat Transfer Fluid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Tao; Reddy, Ramana G.

2017-03-01

MgCl2-KCl binary system has been proposed to be used as high temperature reactor coolant. Due to its relatively low melting point, good heat capacity and excellent thermal stability, this system can also be used in high operation temperature concentrating solar power generation system as heat transfer fluid (HTF). The corrosion behaviors of nickel based alloys in MgCl2-KCl molten salt system at 1,000 °C were determined based on long-term isothermal dipping test. After 500 h exposure tests under strictly maintained high purity argon gas atmosphere, the weight loss and corrosion rate analysis were conducted. Among all the tested samples, Ni-201 demonstrated the lowest corrosion rate due to the excellent resistance of Ni to high temperature element dissolution. Detailed surface topography and corrosion mechanisms were also determined by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS).

Embedded system based on PWM control of hydrogen generator with SEPIC converter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fall, Cheikh; Setiawan, Eko; Habibi, Muhammad Afnan; Hodaka, Ichijo

2017-09-01

The objective of this paper is to design and to produce a micro electrical plant system based on fuel cell for teaching material-embedded systems in technical vocational training center. Based on this, the student can experience generating hydrogen by fuel cells, controlling the rate of hydrogen generation by the duty ration of single-ended primary-inductor converter(SEPIC), drawing the curve rate of hydrogen to duty ratio, generating electrical power by using hydrogen, and calculating the fuel cell efficiency when it is used as electrical energy generator. This project is of great importance insofar as students will need to acquire several skills to be able to realize it such as continuous DC DC conversion and the scientific concept behind the converter, the regulation of systems with integral proportional controllers, the installation of photovoltaic cells, the use of high-tech sensors, microcontroller programming, object-oriented programming, mastery of the fuel cell syste

[Design of a Front-end Device of Heart Rate Variability Analysis System Based on Photoplethysmography].

PubMed

Shi, Lei; Sun, Peng; Pang, Yu; Luo, Zhiyong; Wang, Wei; Wang, Yanxiang

2016-02-01

Heart rate variability (HRV) is the difference between the successive changes in the heartbeat cycle, and it is produced in the autonomic nervous system modulation of the sinus node of the heart. The HRV is a valuable indicator in predicting the sudden cardiac death and arrhythmic events. Traditional analysis of HRV is based on a multielectrocardiogram (ECG), but the ECG signal acquisition is complex, so we have designed an HRV analysis system based on photoplethysmography (PPG). PPG signal is collected by a microcontroller from human's finger, and it is sent to the terminal via USB-Serial module. The terminal software not only collects the data and plot waveforms, but also stores the data for future HRV analysis. The system is small in size, low in power consumption, and easy for operation. It is suitable for daily care no matter whether it is used at home or in a hospital.

Theory of ion transport with fast acid-base equilibrations in bioelectrochemical systems.

PubMed

Dykstra, J E; Biesheuvel, P M; Bruning, H; Ter Heijne, A

2014-07-01

Bioelectrochemical systems recover valuable components and energy in the form of hydrogen or electricity from aqueous organic streams. We derive a one-dimensional steady-state model for ion transport in a bioelectrochemical system, with the ions subject to diffusional and electrical forces. Since most of the ionic species can undergo acid-base reactions, ion transport is combined in our model with infinitely fast ion acid-base equilibrations. The model describes the current-induced ammonia evaporation and recovery at the cathode side of a bioelectrochemical system that runs on an organic stream containing ammonium ions. We identify that the rate of ammonia evaporation depends not only on the current but also on the flow rate of gas in the cathode chamber, the diffusion of ammonia from the cathode back into the anode chamber, through the ion exchange membrane placed in between, and the membrane charge density.

78 FR 65430 - Notice of Rate To Be Used for Federal Debt Collection, and Discount and Rebate Evaluation

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-10-31

... evaluating the cost-effectiveness of a cash discount. In addition, this rate is to be used in determining... for use in connection with Federal Cash Management systems and is based on investment rates set for...

[Detection of Heart Rate of Fetal ECG Based on STFT and BSS].

PubMed

Wang, Xu; Cai, Kun

2016-01-01

Changes in heart rate of fetal is function regulating performance of the circulatory system and the central nervous system, it is significant to detect heart rate of fetus in perinatal fetal. This paper puts forward the fetal heart rate detection method based on short time Fourier transform and blind source separation. First of all, the mixed ECG signal was preprocessed, and then the wavelet transform technique was used to separate the fetal ECG signal with noise from mixed ECG signal, after that, the short-time Fourier transform and the blind separation were carried on it, and then calculated the correlation coefficient of it, Finally, An independent component that it has strongest correlation with the original signal was selected to make FECG peak detection and calculated the fetal instantaneous heart rate. The experimental results show that the method can improve the detection rate of the FECG peak (R), and it has high accuracy in fixing peak(R) location in the case of low signal-noise ratio.

Toward a More Usable Home-Based Video Telemedicine System: A Heuristic Evaluation of the Clinician User Interfaces of Home-Based Video Telemedicine Systems.

PubMed

Agnisarman, Sruthy; Narasimha, Shraddhaa; Chalil Madathil, Kapil; Welch, Brandon; Brinda, Fnu; Ashok, Aparna; McElligott, James

2017-04-24

Telemedicine is the use of technology to provide and support health care when distance separates the clinical service and the patient. Home-based telemedicine systems involve the use of such technology for medical support and care connecting the patient from the comfort of their homes with the clinician. In order for such a system to be used extensively, it is necessary to understand not only the issues faced by the patients in using them but also the clinician. The aim of this study was to conduct a heuristic evaluation of 4 telemedicine software platforms-Doxy.me, Polycom, Vidyo, and VSee-to assess possible problems and limitations that could affect the usability of the system from the clinician's perspective. It was found that 5 experts individually evaluated all four systems using Nielsen's list of heuristics, classifying the issues based on a severity rating scale. A total of 46 unique problems were identified by the experts. The heuristics most frequently violated were visibility of system status and Error prevention amounting to 24% (11/46 issues) each. Esthetic and minimalist design was second contributing to 13% (6/46 issues) of the total errors. Heuristic evaluation coupled with a severity rating scale was found to be an effective method for identifying problems with the systems. Prioritization of these problems based on the rating provides a good starting point for resolving the issues affecting these platforms. There is a need for better transparency and a more streamlined approach for how physicians use telemedicine systems. Visibility of the system status and speaking the users' language are keys for achieving this. ©Sruthy Agnisarman, Shraddhaa Narasimha, Kapil Chalil Madathil, Brandon Welch, FNU Brinda, Aparna Ashok, James McElligott. Originally published in JMIR Human Factors (http://humanfactors.jmir.org), 24.04.2017.

Progress in multirate digital control system design

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Berg, Martin C.; Mason, Gregory S.

1991-01-01

A new methodology for multirate sampled-data control design based on a new generalized control law structure, two new parameter-optimization-based control law synthesis methods, and a new singular-value-based robustness analysis method are described. The control law structure can represent multirate sampled-data control laws of arbitrary structure and dynamic order, with arbitrarily prescribed sampling rates for all sensors and update rates for all processor states and actuators. The two control law synthesis methods employ numerical optimization to determine values for the control law parameters. The robustness analysis method is based on the multivariable Nyquist criterion applied to the loop transfer function for the sampling period equal to the period of repetition of the system's complete sampling/update schedule. The complete methodology is demonstrated by application to the design of a combination yaw damper and modal suppression system for a commercial aircraft.

Polarization-insensitive techniques for optical signal processing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Salem, Reza

2006-12-01

This thesis investigates polarization-insensitive methods for optical signal processing. Two signal processing techniques are studied: clock recovery based on two-photon absorption in silicon and demultiplexing based on cross-phase modulation in highly nonlinear fiber. The clock recovery system is tested at an 80 Gb/s data rate for both back-to-back and transmission experiments. The demultiplexer is tested at a 160 Gb/s data rate in a back-to-back experiment. We experimentally demonstrate methods for eliminating polarization dependence in both systems. Our experimental results are confirmed by theoretical and numerical analysis.

Broadcasting GPS integrity information using Loran-C

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lo, Sherman Chih

The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will adopt the Global Positioning System (GPS) as its primary navigation systems for aviation as stated by the Federal Radionavigation Plans (FRP) of 1996 and 1999. The FRP also proposes the reduction or termination of some existing radionavigation system in favor of GPS and satellite navigation. It may be beneficial to retain some of these existing terrestrial navigation systems if they can provide increased safety and redundancy to the GPS based architecture. One manner in which this can be done is by using or creating a data link on these existing radionavigation systems. These systems thus can provide both navigation and an additional broadcast of GPS integrity information. This thesis examines the use of terrestrial data links to provide Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) based GPS integrity information for aviation. The thesis focuses on using Loran-C to broadcast WAAS data. Analysis and experimental results demonstrating the capabilities of these designs are also discussed. Using Loran for this purpose requires increasing its data capacity. Many Loran modulation schemes are developed and analyzed. The data rates developed significantly increased the Loran data capacity. However, retaining compatibility with Loran legacy users resulted in data rates below the WARS data rate of 250 bps. As a result, this thesis also examines means of reducing the data requirements for WAAS information. While higher data rates offer improved performance and compatibility with WAAS, this thesis demonstrates that higher rates incur greater interference. Therefore, this work develops and considers a 108 bps and 167 bps Loran GPS integrity channel (LOGIC) design. The performance of the two designs illustrates some of the advantages and disadvantages of using a higher data rate. Analysis demonstrated means of maintaining integrity with these low data rate systems and determined the theoretical capabilities of the systems. The system was tested empirically by developing software that generated the LOGIC message and applied these messages to a GPS user. The resulting 108 bps and 167 bps systems demonstrated capability to provide lateral navigation/vertical navigation (LNAV/VNAV) and approach with vertical guidance (APV) respectively.

Description of a Mobile-based Electronic Informed Consent System Development.

PubMed

Hwang, Min-A; Kwak, In Ja

2015-01-01

Seoul National University Hospital constructed and implemented a computer-based informed consent system in December 2011. As of 2013, 30% of the informed consents were still filled out manually on paper. Patients and medical staff continuously suggested the implementation of a system for electronic informed consent using portable devices. Therefore, a mobile-based system for electronic informed consent was developed in 2013 to prevent the issues that arise with computer-based systems and paper informed consent. The rate of filling out electronic informed consent increased from 69% to 95% following the implementation of the mobile-based electronic informed consent. This construction of a mobile-based electronic informed consent system would be a good reference point for the development of a mobile-based Electronic Medical Record and for various mobile system environments in medical institutions.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Borot de Battisti, Maxence, E-mail: M.E.P.Borot@um

Purpose: The development of MR-guided high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy is under investigation due to the excellent tumor and organs at risk visualization of MRI. However, MR-based localization of needles (including catheters or tubes) has inherently a low update rate and the required image interpretation can be hampered by signal voids arising from blood vessels or calcifications limiting the precision of the needle guidance and reconstruction. In this paper, a new needle tracking prototype is investigated using fiber Bragg gratings (FBG)-based sensing: this prototype involves a MR-compatible stylet composed of three optic fibers with nine sets of embedded FBG sensorsmore » each. This stylet can be inserted into brachytherapy needles and allows a fast measurement of the needle deflection. This study aims to assess the potential of FBG-based sensing for real-time needle (including catheter or tube) tracking during MR-guided intervention. Methods: First, the MR compatibility of FBG-based sensing and its accuracy was evaluated. Different known needle deflections were measured using FBG-based sensing during simultaneous MR-imaging. Then, a needle tracking procedure using FBG-based sensing was proposed. This procedure involved a MR-based calibration of the FBG-based system performed prior to the interventional procedure. The needle tracking system was assessed in an experiment with a moving phantom during MR imaging. The FBG-based system was quantified by comparing the gold-standard shapes, the shape manually segmented on MRI and the FBG-based measurements. Results: The evaluation of the MR compatibility of FBG-based sensing and its accuracy shows that the needle deflection could be measured with an accuracy of 0.27 mm on average. Besides, the FBG-based measurements were comparable to the uncertainty of MR-based measurements estimated at half the voxel size in the MR image. Finally, the mean(standard deviation) Euclidean distance between MR- and FBG-based needle position measurements was equal to 0.79 mm(0.37 mm). The update rate and latency of the FBG-based needle position measurement were 100 and 300 ms, respectively. Conclusions: The FBG-based needle tracking procedure proposed in this paper is able to determine the position of the complete needle, under MR-imaging, with better accuracy and precision, higher update rate, and lower latency compared to current MR-based needle localization methods. This system would be eligible for MR-guided brachytherapy, in particular, for an improved needle guidance and reconstruction.« less

Direct coupling of a genome-scale microbial in silico model and a groundwater reactive transport model.

PubMed

Fang, Yilin; Scheibe, Timothy D; Mahadevan, Radhakrishnan; Garg, Srinath; Long, Philip E; Lovley, Derek R

2011-03-25

The activity of microorganisms often plays an important role in dynamic natural attenuation or engineered bioremediation of subsurface contaminants, such as chlorinated solvents, metals, and radionuclides. To evaluate and/or design bioremediated systems, quantitative reactive transport models are needed. State-of-the-art reactive transport models often ignore the microbial effects or simulate the microbial effects with static growth yield and constant reaction rate parameters over simulated conditions, while in reality microorganisms can dynamically modify their functionality (such as utilization of alternative respiratory pathways) in response to spatial and temporal variations in environmental conditions. Constraint-based genome-scale microbial in silico models, using genomic data and multiple-pathway reaction networks, have been shown to be able to simulate transient metabolism of some well studied microorganisms and identify growth rate, substrate uptake rates, and byproduct rates under different growth conditions. These rates can be identified and used to replace specific microbially-mediated reaction rates in a reactive transport model using local geochemical conditions as constraints. We previously demonstrated the potential utility of integrating a constraint-based microbial metabolism model with a reactive transport simulator as applied to bioremediation of uranium in groundwater. However, that work relied on an indirect coupling approach that was effective for initial demonstration but may not be extensible to more complex problems that are of significant interest (e.g., communities of microbial species and multiple constraining variables). Here, we extend that work by presenting and demonstrating a method of directly integrating a reactive transport model (FORTRAN code) with constraint-based in silico models solved with IBM ILOG CPLEX linear optimizer base system (C library). The models were integrated with BABEL, a language interoperability tool. The modeling system is designed in such a way that constraint-based models targeting different microorganisms or competing organism communities can be easily plugged into the system. Constraint-based modeling is very costly given the size of a genome-scale reaction network. To save computation time, a binary tree is traversed to examine the concentration and solution pool generated during the simulation in order to decide whether the constraint-based model should be called. We also show preliminary results from the integrated model including a comparison of the direct and indirect coupling approaches and evaluated the ability of the approach to simulate field experiment. Published by Elsevier B.V.

1 K cryostat with sub-millikelvin stability based on a pulse-tube cryocooler

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

DeMann, A.; Mueller, Sara; Field, S. B.

2016-01-01

A cryogenic system has been designed and tested that reaches a temperature below 1.1 K, with an rms temperature stability of 25 μ K. In this system a commercial pulse-tube cryocooler is used to liquify helium gas supplied from an external source. This liquid helium enters a 1 K pot through a large-impedance capillary tube, similar to a conventional 1 K system operated from a liquid helium bath. Unlike a conventional system, however, the molar flow rate of the system can be varied by changing the pressure of the incoming helium. This allows for a trade-off between helium usage and cooling power, which has a maximum value of 27 mW. The measured cooling power and fraction of helium exiting the capillary as liquid agree well with predictions based on an isenthalpic model of helium flow through the capillary. The system is simple to use and inexpensive to operate: The system can be cooled to base temperature in about 3 h and, with a flow rate giving a cooling power of 13 mW, the helium cost is around 6 per day.

Symbol interval optimization for molecular communication with drift.

PubMed

Kim, Na-Rae; Eckford, Andrew W; Chae, Chan-Byoung

2014-09-01

In this paper, we propose a symbol interval optimization algorithm in molecular communication with drift. Proper symbol intervals are important in practical communication systems since information needs to be sent as fast as possible with low error rates. There is a trade-off, however, between symbol intervals and inter-symbol interference (ISI) from Brownian motion. Thus, we find proper symbol interval values considering the ISI inside two kinds of blood vessels, and also suggest no ISI system for strong drift models. Finally, an isomer-based molecule shift keying (IMoSK) is applied to calculate achievable data transmission rates (achievable rates, hereafter). Normalized achievable rates are also obtained and compared in one-symbol ISI and no ISI systems.

Analysis of Emission Effects Related to Drivers' Compliance Rates for Cooperative Vehicle-Infrastructure System at Signalized Intersections.

PubMed

Liao, Ruohua; Chen, Xumei; Yu, Lei; Sun, Xiaofei

2018-01-12

Unknown remaining time of signal phase at a signalized intersection generally results in extra accelerations and decelerations that increase variations of operating conditions and thus emissions. A cooperative vehicle-infrastructure system can reduce unnecessary speed changes by establishing communications between vehicles and the signal infrastructure. However, the environmental benefits largely depend on drivers' compliance behaviors. To quantify the effects of drivers' compliance rates on emissions, this study applied VISSIM 5.20 (Planung Transport Verkehr AG, Karlsruhe, Germany) to develop a simulation model for a signalized intersection, in which light duty vehicles were equipped with a cooperative vehicle-infrastructure system. A vehicle-specific power (VSP)-based model was used to estimate emissions. Based on simulation data, the effects of different compliance rates on VSP distributions, emission factors, and total emissions were analyzed. The results show the higher compliance rate decreases the proportion of VSP bin = 0, which means that the frequencies of braking and idling were lower and light duty vehicles ran more smoothly at the intersection if more light duty vehicles complied with the cooperative vehicle-infrastructure system, and emission factors for light duty vehicles decreased significantly as the compliance rate increased. The case study shows higher total emission reductions were observed with higher compliance rate for all of CO₂, NO x , HC, and CO emissions. CO₂ was reduced most significantly, decreased by 16% and 22% with compliance rates of 0.3 and 0.7, respectively.

Analysis of Emission Effects Related to Drivers’ Compliance Rates for Cooperative Vehicle-Infrastructure System at Signalized Intersections

PubMed Central

Liao, Ruohua; Yu, Lei; Sun, Xiaofei

2018-01-01

Unknown remaining time of signal phase at a signalized intersection generally results in extra accelerations and decelerations that increase variations of operating conditions and thus emissions. A cooperative vehicle-infrastructure system can reduce unnecessary speed changes by establishing communications between vehicles and the signal infrastructure. However, the environmental benefits largely depend on drivers’ compliance behaviors. To quantify the effects of drivers’ compliance rates on emissions, this study applied VISSIM 5.20 (Planung Transport Verkehr AG, Karlsruhe, Germany) to develop a simulation model for a signalized intersection, in which light duty vehicles were equipped with a cooperative vehicle-infrastructure system. A vehicle-specific power (VSP)-based model was used to estimate emissions. Based on simulation data, the effects of different compliance rates on VSP distributions, emission factors, and total emissions were analyzed. The results show the higher compliance rate decreases the proportion of VSP bin = 0, which means that the frequencies of braking and idling were lower and light duty vehicles ran more smoothly at the intersection if more light duty vehicles complied with the cooperative vehicle-infrastructure system, and emission factors for light duty vehicles decreased significantly as the compliance rate increased. The case study shows higher total emission reductions were observed with higher compliance rate for all of CO2, NOx, HC, and CO emissions. CO2 was reduced most significantly, decreased by 16% and 22% with compliance rates of 0.3 and 0.7, respectively. PMID:29329214

Intelligent adaptive nonlinear flight control for a high performance aircraft with neural networks.

PubMed

Savran, Aydogan; Tasaltin, Ramazan; Becerikli, Yasar

2006-04-01

This paper describes the development of a neural network (NN) based adaptive flight control system for a high performance aircraft. The main contribution of this work is that the proposed control system is able to compensate the system uncertainties, adapt to the changes in flight conditions, and accommodate the system failures. The underlying study can be considered in two phases. The objective of the first phase is to model the dynamic behavior of a nonlinear F-16 model using NNs. Therefore a NN-based adaptive identification model is developed for three angular rates of the aircraft. An on-line training procedure is developed to adapt the changes in the system dynamics and improve the identification accuracy. In this procedure, a first-in first-out stack is used to store a certain history of the input-output data. The training is performed over the whole data in the stack at every stage. To speed up the convergence rate and enhance the accuracy for achieving the on-line learning, the Levenberg-Marquardt optimization method with a trust region approach is adapted to train the NNs. The objective of the second phase is to develop intelligent flight controllers. A NN-based adaptive PID control scheme that is composed of an emulator NN, an estimator NN, and a discrete time PID controller is developed. The emulator NN is used to calculate the system Jacobian required to train the estimator NN. The estimator NN, which is trained on-line by propagating the output error through the emulator, is used to adjust the PID gains. The NN-based adaptive PID control system is applied to control three angular rates of the nonlinear F-16 model. The body-axis pitch, roll, and yaw rates are fed back via the PID controllers to the elevator, aileron, and rudder actuators, respectively. The resulting control system has learning, adaptation, and fault-tolerant abilities. It avoids the storage and interpolation requirements for the too many controller parameters of a typical flight control system. Performance of the control system is successfully tested by performing several six-degrees-of-freedom nonlinear simulations.

15 CFR 700.16 - Changes or cancellations of priority ratings and rated orders.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... Commerce and Foreign Trade (Continued) BUREAU OF INDUSTRY AND SECURITY, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NATIONAL SECURITY INDUSTRIAL BASE REGULATIONS DEFENSE PRIORITIES AND ALLOCATIONS SYSTEM Industrial Priorities § 700...

Acute Myocardial Infarction, Use of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention, and Mortality: A Comparative Effectiveness Analysis Covering Seven European Countries.

PubMed

Hagen, Terje P; Häkkinen, Unto; Belicza, Eva; Fatore, Giovanni; Goude, Fanny

2015-12-01

Percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) on acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients have increased substantially in the last 12-15 years because of its clinical effectiveness. The expansion of PCI treatment for AMI patients raises two questions: How did PCI utilization rates vary across European regions, and which healthcare system and regional characteristic variables correlated with the utilization rate? Were the differences in use of PCI associated with differences in outcome, operationalized as 30-day mortality? We obtained our results from a dataset based on the administrative information systems of the populations of seven European countries. PCI rates were highest in the Netherlands, followed by Sweden and Hungary. The probability of receiving PCI was highest in regions with their own PCI facilities and in healthcare systems with activity-based reimbursement systems. Thirty-day mortality rates differed considerably between the countries with the highest rates in Hungary, Scotland, and Finland. Mortality was lowest in Sweden and Norway. The associations between PCI and mortality were remarkable in all age groups and across most countries. Despite extensive risk adjustment, we interpret the associations both as effects of selection and treatments. We observed a lower effect of PCI in the higher age groups in Hungary. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Vision communications based on LED array and imaging sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yoo, Jong-Ho; Jung, Sung-Yoon

2012-11-01

In this paper, we propose a brand new communication concept, called as "vision communication" based on LED array and image sensor. This system consists of LED array as a transmitter and digital device which include image sensor such as CCD and CMOS as receiver. In order to transmit data, the proposed communication scheme simultaneously uses the digital image processing and optical wireless communication scheme. Therefore, the cognitive communication scheme is possible with the help of recognition techniques used in vision system. By increasing data rate, our scheme can use LED array consisting of several multi-spectral LEDs. Because arranged each LED can emit multi-spectral optical signal such as visible, infrared and ultraviolet light, the increase of data rate is possible similar to WDM and MIMO skills used in traditional optical and wireless communications. In addition, this multi-spectral capability also makes it possible to avoid the optical noises in communication environment. In our vision communication scheme, the data packet is composed of Sync. data and information data. Sync. data is used to detect the transmitter area and calibrate the distorted image snapshots obtained by image sensor. By making the optical rate of LED array be same with the frame rate (frames per second) of image sensor, we can decode the information data included in each image snapshot based on image processing and optical wireless communication techniques. Through experiment based on practical test bed system, we confirm the feasibility of the proposed vision communications based on LED array and image sensor.

Hospitalization costs of severe bacterial pneumonia in children: comparative analysis considering different costing methods

PubMed Central

Nunes, Sheila Elke Araujo; Minamisava, Ruth; Vieira, Maria Aparecida da Silva; Itria, Alexander; Pessoa, Vicente Porfirio; de Andrade, Ana Lúcia Sampaio Sgambatti; Toscano, Cristiana Maria

2017-01-01

ABSTRACT Objective To determine and compare hospitalization costs of bacterial community-acquired pneumonia cases via different costing methods under the Brazilian Public Unified Health System perspective. Methods Cost-of-illness study based on primary data collected from a sample of 59 children aged between 28 days and 35 months and hospitalized due to bacterial pneumonia. Direct medical and non-medical costs were considered and three costing methods employed: micro-costing based on medical record review, micro-costing based on therapeutic guidelines and gross-costing based on the Brazilian Public Unified Health System reimbursement rates. Costs estimates obtained via different methods were compared using the Friedman test. Results Cost estimates of inpatient cases of severe pneumonia amounted to R$ 780,70/$Int. 858.7 (medical record review), R$ 641,90/$Int. 706.90 (therapeutic guidelines) and R$ 594,80/$Int. 654.28 (Brazilian Public Unified Health System reimbursement rates). Costs estimated via micro-costing (medical record review or therapeutic guidelines) did not differ significantly (p=0.405), while estimates based on reimbursement rates were significantly lower compared to estimates based on therapeutic guidelines (p<0.001) or record review (p=0.006). Conclusion Brazilian Public Unified Health System costs estimated via different costing methods differ significantly, with gross-costing yielding lower cost estimates. Given costs estimated by different micro-costing methods are similar and costing methods based on therapeutic guidelines are easier to apply and less expensive, this method may be a valuable alternative for estimation of hospitalization costs of bacterial community-acquired pneumonia in children. PMID:28767921

Effect of limited amplitude and rate of flap motion on vane-controlled gust alleviation system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Barker, L. K.; Crawford, D. J.; Sparrow, G. W.

1972-01-01

An airplane (light transport type) is assumed to be in level flight (no pitching) through atmospheric turbulence which has a mean-square vertical gust intensity of 9.3 (m/sec)sq. The power spectral density of the vertical acceleration due to gusts is examined with and without a gust-alleviation system in operation. The gust-alleviation system consisted of wing flaps that were used in conjunction with a vane mounted ahead of the airplane to sense the vertical gust velocity. The primary purpose of this study was to examine the change in the effectiveness of the gust-alleviation system when the flap motion is limited in amplitude and rate. The alleviation system was very effective if no restrictions were placed on flap motion (rate and amplitude). Restricting the flap amplitude to 0.5 radian did not appreciably change the effectiveness. However, restricting the flap rate did reduce the gust alleviation, and restricting the flap rate to 0.25 rad/sec actually caused the alleviation system to increase the vertical acceleration above that for the no-alleviation situation. Based upon this analysis, rate limiting appears to be rather significant in gust-alleviation systems designed for passenger comfort.

Hydrodynamic study of an internal airlift reactor for microalgae culture.

PubMed

Rengel, Ana; Zoughaib, Assaad; Dron, Dominique; Clodic, Denis

2012-01-01

Internal airlift reactors are closed systems considered today for microalgae cultivation. Several works have studied their hydrodynamics but based on important solid concentrations, not with biomass concentrations usually found in microalgae cultures. In this study, an internal airlift reactor has been built and tested in order to clarify the hydrodynamics of this system, based on microalgae typical concentrations. A model is proposed taking into account the variation of air bubble velocity according to volumetric air flow rate injected into the system. A relationship between riser and downcomer gas holdups is established, which varied slightly with solids concentrations. The repartition of solids along the reactor resulted to be homogenous for the range of concentrations and volumetric air flow rate studied here. Liquid velocities increase with volumetric air flow rate, and they vary slightly when solids are added to the system. Finally, liquid circulation time found in each section of the reactor is in concordance with those employed in microalgae culture.

Large Field of View PIV Measurements of Air Entrainment by SLS SMAT Water Sound Suppression System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stegmeir, Matthew; Pothos, Stamatios; Bissell, Dan

2015-11-01

Water-based sound suppressions systems have been used to reduce the acoustic impact of space vehicle launches. Water flows at a high rate during launch in order to suppress Engine Generated Acoustics and other potentially damaging sources of noise. For the Space Shuttle, peak flow rates exceeded 900,000 gallons per minute. Such large water flow rates have the potential to induce substantial entrainment of the surrounding air, affecting the launch conditions and generating airflow around the launch vehicle. Validation testing is necessary to quantify this impact for future space launch systems. In this study, PIV measurements were performed to map the flow field above the SMAT sub-scale launch vehicle scaled launch stand. Air entrainment effects generated by a water-based sound suppression system were studied. Mean and fluctuating fluid velocities were mapped up to 1m above the test stand deck and compared to simulation results. Measurements performed with NASA MSFC.

Rate Adaptive Based Resource Allocation with Proportional Fairness Constraints in OFDMA Systems

PubMed Central

Yin, Zhendong; Zhuang, Shufeng; Wu, Zhilu; Ma, Bo

2015-01-01

Orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA), which is widely used in the wireless sensor networks, allows different users to obtain different subcarriers according to their subchannel gains. Therefore, how to assign subcarriers and power to different users to achieve a high system sum rate is an important research area in OFDMA systems. In this paper, the focus of study is on the rate adaptive (RA) based resource allocation with proportional fairness constraints. Since the resource allocation is a NP-hard and non-convex optimization problem, a new efficient resource allocation algorithm ACO-SPA is proposed, which combines ant colony optimization (ACO) and suboptimal power allocation (SPA). To reduce the computational complexity, the optimization problem of resource allocation in OFDMA systems is separated into two steps. For the first one, the ant colony optimization algorithm is performed to solve the subcarrier allocation. Then, the suboptimal power allocation algorithm is developed with strict proportional fairness, and the algorithm is based on the principle that the sums of power and the reciprocal of channel-to-noise ratio for each user in different subchannels are equal. To support it, plenty of simulation results are presented. In contrast with root-finding and linear methods, the proposed method provides better performance in solving the proportional resource allocation problem in OFDMA systems. PMID:26426016

30 CFR 560.110 - What bidding systems may BOEM use?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... bonus with royalty rate(s) based on formula(s) or schedule(s) during one or more periods of production...-scale formula, which relates the royalty rate to the adjusted value or volume of production, or (ii) A... include the sliding-scale formula or schedule and will specify the lowest and highest royalty rates that...

30 CFR 560.110 - What bidding systems may BOEM use?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... bonus with royalty rate(s) based on formula(s) or schedule(s) during one or more periods of production...-scale formula, which relates the royalty rate to the adjusted value or volume of production, or (ii) A... include the sliding-scale formula or schedule and will specify the lowest and highest royalty rates that...

30 CFR 560.110 - What bidding systems may BOEM use?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... bonus with royalty rate(s) based on formula(s) or schedule(s) during one or more periods of production...-scale formula, which relates the royalty rate to the adjusted value or volume of production, or (ii) A... include the sliding-scale formula or schedule and will specify the lowest and highest royalty rates that...

Post—September 11, 2001, Incidence of Systemic Autoimmune Diseases in World Trade Center—Exposed Firefighters and Emergency Medical Service Workers

PubMed Central

Webber, Mayris P.; Moir, William; Crowson, Cynthia S.; Cohen, Hillel W.; Zeig-Owens, Rachel; Hall, Charles B.; Berman, Jessica; Qayyum, Basit; Jaber, Nadia; Matteson, Eric L.; Liu, Yang; Kelly, Kerry; Prezant, David J.

2016-01-01

Objective To estimate the incidence of selected systemic autoimmune diseases (SAIDs) in approximately 14,000 male rescue/recovery workers enrolled in the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program and to compare FDNY incidence to rates from demographically similar men in the Rochester Epidemiology Project (REP), a population-based database in Olmsted County, Minnesota. Patients and Methods We calculated incidence for specific SAIDs (rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and others) and combined SAIDs diagnosed from September 12, 2001, through September 11, 2014, and generated expected sex- and age-specific rates based on REP rates. Rates were stratified by level of WTC exposure (higher vs lower). Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs), which are the ratios of the observed number of cases in the FDNY group to the expected number of cases based on REP rates, and 95% CIs were calculated. Results We identified 97 SAID cases. Overall, FDNY rates were not significantly different from expected rates (SIR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.77–1.21). However, the lower WTC exposure group had 9.9 fewer cases than expected, whereas the higher WTC exposure group had 7.7 excess cases. Conclusion Most studies indicate that the healthy worker effect reduces the association between exposure and outcome by about 20%, which we observed in the lower WTC exposure group. Overall rates masked differences in incidence by level of WTC exposure, especially because the higher WTC exposure group was relatively small. Continued surveillance for early detection of SAIDs in high WTC exposure populations is required to identify and treat exposure-related adverse effects. PMID:26682920

Post-September 11, 2001, Incidence of Systemic Autoimmune Diseases in World Trade Center-Exposed Firefighters and Emergency Medical Service Workers.

PubMed

Webber, Mayris P; Moir, William; Crowson, Cynthia S; Cohen, Hillel W; Zeig-Owens, Rachel; Hall, Charles B; Berman, Jessica; Qayyum, Basit; Jaber, Nadia; Matteson, Eric L; Liu, Yang; Kelly, Kerry; Prezant, David J

2016-01-01

To estimate the incidence of selected systemic autoimmune diseases (SAIDs) in approximately 14,000 male rescue/recovery workers enrolled in the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program and to compare FDNY incidence to rates from demographically similar men in the Rochester Epidemiology Project (REP), a population-based database in Olmsted County, Minnesota. We calculated incidence for specific SAIDs (rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and others) and combined SAIDs diagnosed from September 12, 2001, through September 11, 2014, and generated expected sex- and age-specific rates based on REP rates. Rates were stratified by level of WTC exposure (higher vs lower). Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs), which are the ratios of the observed number of cases in the FDNY group to the expected number of cases based on REP rates, and 95% CIs were calculated. We identified 97 SAID cases. Overall, FDNY rates were not significantly different from expected rates (SIR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.77-1.21). However, the lower WTC exposure group had 9.9 fewer cases than expected, whereas the higher WTC exposure group had 7.7 excess cases. Most studies indicate that the healthy worker effect reduces the association between exposure and outcome by about 20%, which we observed in the lower WTC exposure group. Overall rates masked differences in incidence by level of WTC exposure, especially because the higher WTC exposure group was relatively small. Continued surveillance for early detection of SAIDs in high WTC exposure populations is required to identify and treat exposure-related adverse effects. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Inc.

The Effect of Incorporating Good Learners' Ratings in e-Learning Content-Based Recommender System

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ghauth, Khairil Imran; Abdullah, Nor Aniza

2011-01-01

One of the anticipated challenges of today's e-learning is to solve the problem of recommending from a large number of learning materials. In this study, we introduce a novel architecture for an e-learning recommender system. More specifically, this paper comprises the following phases i) to propose an e-learning recommender system based on…

Knowledge-based geographic information systems on the Macintosh computer: a component of the GypsES project

Treesearch

Gregory Elmes; Thomas Millette; Charles B. Yuill

1991-01-01

GypsES, a decision-support and expert system for the management of Gypsy Moth addresses five related research problems in a modular, computer-based project. The modules are hazard rating, monitoring, prediction, treatment decision and treatment implementation. One common component is a geographic information system designed to function intelligently. We refer to this...

Microprocessor Based Real-Time Monitoring of Multiple ECG Signals

PubMed Central

Nasipuri, M.; Basu, D.K.; Dattagupta, R.; Kundu, M.; Banerjee, S.

1987-01-01

A microprocessor based system capable of realtime monitoring of multiple ECG signals has been described. The system consists of a number of microprocessors connected in a hierarchical fashion and capable of working concurrently on ECG data collected from different channels. The system can monitor different arrhythmic abnormalities for at least 36 patients even for a heart rate of 500 beats/min.

Random-Profiles-Based 3D Face Recognition System

PubMed Central

Joongrock, Kim; Sunjin, Yu; Sangyoun, Lee

2014-01-01

In this paper, a noble nonintrusive three-dimensional (3D) face modeling system for random-profile-based 3D face recognition is presented. Although recent two-dimensional (2D) face recognition systems can achieve a reliable recognition rate under certain conditions, their performance is limited by internal and external changes, such as illumination and pose variation. To address these issues, 3D face recognition, which uses 3D face data, has recently received much attention. However, the performance of 3D face recognition highly depends on the precision of acquired 3D face data, while also requiring more computational power and storage capacity than 2D face recognition systems. In this paper, we present a developed nonintrusive 3D face modeling system composed of a stereo vision system and an invisible near-infrared line laser, which can be directly applied to profile-based 3D face recognition. We further propose a novel random-profile-based 3D face recognition method that is memory-efficient and pose-invariant. The experimental results demonstrate that the reconstructed 3D face data consists of more than 50 k 3D point clouds and a reliable recognition rate against pose variation. PMID:24691101

The research of automatic speed control algorithm based on Green CBTC

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, Ying; Xiong, Hui; Wang, Xiaoliang; Wu, Youyou; Zhang, Chuanqi

2017-06-01

Automatic speed control algorithm is one of the core technologies of train operation control system. It’s a typical multi-objective optimization control algorithm, which achieve the train speed control for timing, comfort, energy-saving and precise parking. At present, the train speed automatic control technology is widely used in metro and inter-city railways. It has been found that the automatic speed control technology can effectively reduce the driver’s intensity, and improve the operation quality. However, the current used algorithm is poor at energy-saving, even not as good as manual driving. In order to solve the problem of energy-saving, this paper proposes an automatic speed control algorithm based on Green CBTC system. Based on the Green CBTC system, the algorithm can adjust the operation status of the train to improve the efficient using rate of regenerative braking feedback energy while ensuring the timing, comfort and precise parking targets. Due to the reason, the energy-using of Green CBTC system is lower than traditional CBTC system. The simulation results show that the algorithm based on Green CBTC system can effectively reduce the energy-using due to the improvement of the using rate of regenerative braking feedback energy.

A mobile phone based alarm system for supervising vital parameters in free moving rats.

PubMed

Kellermann, Kristine; Kreuzer, Matthias; Omerovich, Adem; Hoetzinger, Franziska; Kochs, Eberhard F; Jungwirth, Bettina

2012-02-23

Study protocols involving experimental animals often require the monitoring of different parameters not only in anesthetized, but also in free moving animals. Most animal research involves small rodents, in which continuously monitoring parameters such as temperature and heart rate is very stressful for the awake animals or simply not possible. Aim of the underlying study was to monitor heart rate, temperature and activity and to assess inflammation in the heart, lungs, liver and kidney in the early postoperative phase after experimental cardiopulmonary bypass involving 45 min of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest in rats. Besides continuous monitoring of heart rate, temperature and behavioural activity, the main focus was on avoiding uncontrolled death of an animal in the early postoperative phase in order to harvest relevant organs before autolysis would render them unsuitable for the assessment of inflammation. We therefore set up a telemetry-based system (Data Science International, DSI™) that continuously monitored the rat's temperature, heart rate and activity in their cages. The data collection using telemetry was combined with an analysis software (Microsoft excel™), a webmail application (GMX) and a text message-service. Whenever an animal's heart rate dropped below the pre-defined threshold of 150 beats per minute (bpm), a notification in the form of a text message was automatically sent to the experimenter's mobile phone. With a positive predictive value of 93.1% and a negative predictive value of 90.5%, the designed surveillance and alarm system proved a reliable and inexpensive tool to avoid uncontrolled death in order to minimize suffering and harvest relevant organs before autolysis would set in. This combination of a telemetry-based system and software tools provided us with a reliable notification system of imminent death. The system's high positive predictive value helped to avoid uncontrolled death and facilitated timely organ harvesting. Additionally we were able to markedly reduce the drop out rate of experimental animals, and therefore the total number of animals used in our study. This system can be easily adapted to different study designs and prove a helpful tool to relieve stress and more importantly help to reduce animal numbers.

Preliminary development and evaluation of an algae-based air regeneration system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nienow, J. A.

2000-01-01

The potential of air regeneration system based on the growth of microalgae on the surface of porous ceramic tubes is evaluated. The algae have been maintained in the system for extended periods, up to 360 days. Preliminary measurements of the photosynthetic capacity have been made for Chlorella vulgaris (UTEX 259), Neospongiococcum punctatum (UTEX 786), Stichococcus sp., and Gloeocapsa sp. Under standard test conditions (photosynthetic photon flux approximately 66 micromoles m-2 s-1, initial CO2 concentration approximately 450 micromoles mol-1), mature tubes remove up to 0.2 micromoles of CO2 per tube per minute. The rate of removal increases with photon flux up to at least 225 micromoles m-2 s-1 (PPF); peak rates of 0.35 micromoles of CO2 per tube per minute have been achieved with Chlorella vulgaris. These rates correspond to between 120 and 210 micromoles of CO2 removed per square meter of projected area per minute.

Self-optimizing Pitch Control for Large Scale Wind Turbine Based on ADRC

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xia, Anjun; Hu, Guoqing; Li, Zheng; Huang, Dongxiao; Wang, Fengxiang

2018-01-01

Since wind turbine is a complex nonlinear and strong coupling system, traditional PI control method can hardly achieve good control performance. A self-optimizing pitch control method based on the active-disturbance-rejection control theory is proposed in this paper. A linear model of the wind turbine is derived by linearizing the aerodynamic torque equation and the dynamic response of wind turbine is transformed into a first-order linear system. An expert system is designed to optimize the amplification coefficient according to the pitch rate and the speed deviation. The purpose of the proposed control method is to regulate the amplification coefficient automatically and keep the variations of pitch rate and rotor speed in proper ranges. Simulation results show that the proposed pitch control method has the ability to modify the amplification coefficient effectively, when it is not suitable, and keep the variations of pitch rate and rotor speed in proper ranges

Ka-Band Phased Array System Characterization

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Acosta, R.; Johnson, S.; Sands, O.; Lambert, K.

2001-01-01

Phased Array Antennas (PAAs) using patch-radiating elements are projected to transmit data at rates several orders of magnitude higher than currently offered with reflector-based systems. However, there are a number of potential sources of degradation in the Bit Error Rate (BER) performance of the communications link that are unique to PAA-based links. Short spacing of radiating elements can induce mutual coupling between radiating elements, long spacing can induce grating lobes, modulo 2 pi phase errors can add to Inter Symbol Interference (ISI), phase shifters and power divider network introduce losses into the system. This paper describes efforts underway to test and evaluate the effects of the performance degrading features of phased-array antennas when used in a high data rate modulation link. The tests and evaluations described here uncover the interaction between the electrical characteristics of a PAA and the BER performance of a communication link.

Development and preliminary evaluation of an Android based heart rate variability biofeedback system.

PubMed

Abtahi, F; Berndtsson, A; Abtahi, S; Seoane, F; Lindecrantz, K

2014-01-01

The reduced Heart Rate Variability (HRV) is believed to be associated with several diseases such as congestive heart failure, diabetes and chronic kidney diseases (CKD). In these cases, HRV biofeedback may be a potential intervention method to increase HRV which in turn is beneficial to these patients. In this work, a real-time Android biofeedback application based on a Bluetooth enabled ECG and thoracic electrical bioimpedance (respiration) measurement device has been developed. The system performance and usability have been evaluated in a brief study with eight healthy volunteers. The result demonstrates real-time performance of system and positive effects of biofeedback training session by increased HRV and reduced heart rate. Further development of the application and training protocol is ongoing to investigate duration of training session to find an optimum length and interval of biofeedback sessions to use in potential interventions.

``The perceptual bases of speaker identity'' revisited

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Voiers, William D.

2003-10-01

A series of experiments begun 40 years ago [W. D. Voiers, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 36, 1065-1073 (1964)] was concerned with identifying the perceived voice traits (PVTs) on which human recognition of voices depends. It culminated with the development of a voice taxonomy based on 20 PVTs and a set of highly reliable rating scales for classifying voices with respect to those PVTs. The development of a perceptual voice taxonomy was motivated by the need for a practical method of evaluating speaker recognizability in voice communication systems. The Diagnostic Speaker Recognition Test (DSRT) evaluates the effects of systems on speaker recognizability as reflected in changes in the inter-listener reliability of voice ratings on the 20 PVTs. The DSRT thus provides a qualitative, as well as quantitative, evaluation of the effects of a system on speaker recognizability. A fringe benefit of this project is PVT rating data for a sample of 680 voices. [Work partially supported by USAFRL.

Knowledge-based imaging-sensor fusion system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Westrom, George

1989-01-01

An imaging system which applies knowledge-based technology to supervise and control both sensor hardware and computation in the imaging system is described. It includes the development of an imaging system breadboard which brings together into one system work that we and others have pursued for LaRC for several years. The goal is to combine Digital Signal Processing (DSP) with Knowledge-Based Processing and also include Neural Net processing. The system is considered a smart camera. Imagine that there is a microgravity experiment on-board Space Station Freedom with a high frame rate, high resolution camera. All the data cannot possibly be acquired from a laboratory on Earth. In fact, only a small fraction of the data will be received. Again, imagine being responsible for some experiments on Mars with the Mars Rover: the data rate is a few kilobits per second for data from several sensors and instruments. Would it not be preferable to have a smart system which would have some human knowledge and yet follow some instructions and attempt to make the best use of the limited bandwidth for transmission. The system concept, current status of the breadboard system and some recent experiments at the Mars-like Amboy Lava Fields in California are discussed.

Standards-Based Accountability Systems. Policy Brief.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stapleman, Jan

This policy brief summarizes research results and provides guidance regarding decisions associated with school accountability. Unlike previous notions of accountability, a standards-based system examines outputs, such as student performance and graduation rates, as well as inputs like the amount of instructional time or the number of books in the…

The Multimedia-Based Learning System Improved Cognitive Skills and Motivation of Disabled Children with a Very High Rate

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Saad, Sawsan; Dandashi, Amal; Aljaam, Jihad M.; Saleh, Moataz

2015-01-01

A multimedia-based learning system to teach children with intellectual disabilities (ID) the basic living and science concepts is proposed. The tutorials' development is pedagogically based on Mayer's Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning combined with Skinner's Operant Conditioning Model. Two types of tutorials are proposed. In the first type;…

Stress Inoculation through Cognitive and Biofeedback Training

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-12-01

based on Heart Rate Variability ( HRV ) with innovative simulation game-based training tools. The training system described here will be implemented on a...Variability ( HRV ) with innovative simulation game-based training tools. The training system described here will be implemented on a mobile device...and studies (e.g. Fletcher & Tobias, 2006; Thayer, 2009). HRV Coherence Training for Stress Resilience Satisfactory performance in stressful

Bidirectional fiber-wireless and fiber-VLLC transmission system based on an OEO-based BLS and a RSOA.

PubMed

Lu, Hai-Han; Li, Chung-Yi; Lu, Ting-Chien; Wu, Chang-Jen; Chu, Chien-An; Shiva, Ajay; Mochii, Takao

2016-02-01

A bidirectional fiber-wireless and fiber-visible-laser-light-communication (VLLC) transmission system based on an optoelectronic oscillator (OEO)-based broadband light source (BLS) and a reflective semiconductor optical amplifier (RSOA) is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. Through an in-depth observation of such bidirectional fiber-wireless and fiber-VLLC transmission systems, good bit error rate performances are obtained over a 40 km single-mode fiber and a 10 m RF/optical wireless transport. Such a bidirectional fiber-wireless and fiber-VLLC transmission system is an attractive option for providing broadband integrated services.

Assessing the Readability of Medical Documents: A Ranking Approach.

PubMed

Zheng, Jiaping; Yu, Hong

2018-03-23

The use of electronic health record (EHR) systems with patient engagement capabilities, including viewing, downloading, and transmitting health information, has recently grown tremendously. However, using these resources to engage patients in managing their own health remains challenging due to the complex and technical nature of the EHR narratives. Our objective was to develop a machine learning-based system to assess readability levels of complex documents such as EHR notes. We collected difficulty ratings of EHR notes and Wikipedia articles using crowdsourcing from 90 readers. We built a supervised model to assess readability based on relative orders of text difficulty using both surface text features and word embeddings. We evaluated system performance using the Kendall coefficient of concordance against human ratings. Our system achieved significantly higher concordance (.734) with human annotators than did a baseline using the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level, a widely adopted readability formula (.531). The improvement was also consistent across different disease topics. This method's concordance with an individual human user's ratings was also higher than the concordance between different human annotators (.658). We explored methods to automatically assess the readability levels of clinical narratives. Our ranking-based system using simple textual features and easy-to-learn word embeddings outperformed a widely used readability formula. Our ranking-based method can predict relative difficulties of medical documents. It is not constrained to a predefined set of readability levels, a common design in many machine learning-based systems. Furthermore, the feature set does not rely on complex processing of the documents. One potential application of our readability ranking is personalization, allowing patients to better accommodate their own background knowledge. ©Jiaping Zheng, Hong Yu. Originally published in JMIR Medical Informatics (http://medinform.jmir.org), 23.03.2018.

Detection of pointing errors with CMOS-based camera in intersatellite optical communications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Si-yuan; Ma, Jing; Tan, Li-ying

2005-01-01

For very high data rates, intersatellite optical communications hold a potential performance edge over microwave communications. Acquisition and Tracking problem is critical because of the narrow transmit beam. A single array detector in some systems performs both spatial acquisition and tracking functions to detect pointing errors, so both wide field of view and high update rate is required. The past systems tend to employ CCD-based camera with complex readout arrangements, but the additional complexity reduces the applicability of the array based tracking concept. With the development of CMOS array, CMOS-based cameras can employ the single array detector concept. The area of interest feature of the CMOS-based camera allows a PAT system to specify portion of the array. The maximum allowed frame rate increases as the size of the area of interest decreases under certain conditions. A commercially available CMOS camera with 105 fps @ 640×480 is employed in our PAT simulation system, in which only part pixels are used in fact. Beams angle varying in the field of view can be detected after getting across a Cassegrain telescope and an optical focus system. Spot pixel values (8 bits per pixel) reading out from CMOS are transmitted to a DSP subsystem via IEEE 1394 bus, and pointing errors can be computed by the centroid equation. It was shown in test that: (1) 500 fps @ 100×100 is available in acquisition when the field of view is 1mrad; (2)3k fps @ 10×10 is available in tracking when the field of view is 0.1mrad.

Hybrid Resource Allocation Scheme with Proportional Fairness in OFDMA-Based Cognitive Radio Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Li; Xu, Changqing; Fan, Pingzhi; He, Jian

In this paper, the resource allocation problem for proportional fairness in hybrid Cognitive Radio (CR) systems is studied. In OFDMA-based CR systems, traditional resource allocation algorithms can not guarantee proportional rates among CR users (CRU) in each OFDM symbol because the number of available subchannels might be smaller than that of CRUs in some OFDM symbols. To deal with this time-varying nature of available spectrum resource, a hybrid CR scheme in which CRUs are allowed to use subchannels in both spectrum holes and primary users (PU) bands is adopted and a resource allocation algorithm is proposed to guarantee proportional rates among CRUs with no undue interference to PUs.

Drug safety: Pregnancy rating classifications and controversies.

PubMed

Wilmer, Erin; Chai, Sandy; Kroumpouzos, George

2016-01-01

This contribution consolidates data on international pregnancy rating classifications, including the former US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Swedish, and Australian classification systems, as well as the evidence-based medicine system, and discusses discrepancies among them. It reviews the new Pregnancy and Lactation Labeling Rule (PLLR) that replaced the former FDA labeling system with narrative-based labeling requirements. PLLR emphasizes on human data and highlights pregnancy exposure registry information. In this context, the review discusses important data on the safety of most medications used in the management of skin disease in pregnancy. There are also discussions of controversies relevant to the safety of certain dermatologic medications during gestation. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Population-based breast cancer screening in a primary care network

PubMed Central

Atlas, Steven J.; Ashburner, Jeffrey M.; Chang, Yuchiao; Lester, William T.; Barry, Michael J.; Grant, Richard W.

2013-01-01

Objective To assess up to 3-year follow-up of a health information technology system that facilitated population-based breast cancer screening. Study Design Cohort study with 2-year follow-up after completing a 1-year cluster randomized trial. Methods Women 42-69 years old receiving care within a 12-practice primary care network. The trial tested an integrated, non-visit-based population management informatics system that: 1) identified women overdue for mammograms, 2) connected them to primary care providers using a Web-based tool, 3) created automatically-generated outreach letters for patients specified by providers, 4) monitored for subsequent mammography scheduling and completion, and 5) provided practice delegates a list of women remaining unscreened for reminder phone calls. All practices also provided visit-based cancer screening reminders. Eligible women overdue for a mammogram during a one-year study period included those overdue at study start (prevalent cohort) or becoming overdue during follow-up (incident cohort). The main outcome measure was mammography completion rates over three years. Results Among 32,688 eligible women, 9,795 (30%) were overdue for screening including 4,487 in intervention and 5,308 in control practices. Intervention patients were somewhat younger, more likely to be non-Hispanic white, and have health insurance compared to control patients. Among patients in the prevalent cohort (n=6,697), adjusted completion rates were significantly higher among intervention compared to control patients after 3 years (51.7% vs. 45.8%, p=0.002). For patients in the incident cohort (n=3,098), adjusted completion rates after 2 years were 53.8% vs. 48.7%, p=0.052, respectively. Conclusions Population-based informatics systems can enable sustained increases in mammography screening rates beyond that seen with office-based visit reminders. PMID:23286611

Wind Shear Requirements and Their Application to Laser Systems

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1978-02-01

The requirements for a ground-based wind shear sensing system are developed. System coverage, accuracy, resolution, and data update rate are treated in detail. The differing requirements for synoptic shear conditions and thunderstorm-associated shear...

High-efficient full-duplex WDM-RoF system with sub-central station

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Anliang; Yin, Hongxi; Wu, Bin

2018-05-01

With an additional sub-central station (S-CS), a high-efficient full-duplex radio-over-fiber (RoF) system compatible with the wavelength-division-multiplexing technology is proposed and experimentally demonstrated in this paper. To improve the dispersion tolerance of the RoF system, the baseband data format for the downlink and an all-optical down-conversion approach for the uplink are employed. In addition, this RoF system can not only make full use of the fiber link resources but also realize the upstream transmission without any local light sources at remote base stations (BSs). A 10-GHz RoF experimental system with a 1.25-Gb/s rate bidirectional transmission is established based on the S-CS structure. The feasibility and reliability of this RoF system are verified through eye diagrams and bit error rate (BER) curves experimentally obtained.

A real-time surface inspection system for precision steel balls based on machine vision

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Yi-Ji; Tsai, Jhy-Cherng; Hsu, Ya-Chen

2016-07-01

Precision steel balls are one of the most fundament components for motion and power transmission parts and they are widely used in industrial machinery and the automotive industry. As precision balls are crucial for the quality of these products, there is an urgent need to develop a fast and robust system for inspecting defects of precision steel balls. In this paper, a real-time system for inspecting surface defects of precision steel balls is developed based on machine vision. The developed system integrates a dual-lighting system, an unfolding mechanism and inspection algorithms for real-time signal processing and defect detection. The developed system is tested under feeding speeds of 4 pcs s-1 with a detection rate of 99.94% and an error rate of 0.10%. The minimum detectable surface flaw area is 0.01 mm2, which meets the requirement for inspecting ISO grade 100 precision steel balls.

Microcontroller based driver alertness detection systems to detect drowsiness

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adenin, Hasibah; Zahari, Rahimi; Lim, Tiong Hoo

2018-04-01

The advancement of embedded system for detecting and preventing drowsiness in a vehicle is a major challenge for road traffic accident systems. To prevent drowsiness while driving, it is necessary to have an alert system that can detect a decline in driver concentration and send a signal to the driver. Studies have shown that traffc accidents usually occur when the driver is distracted while driving. In this paper, we have reviewed a number of detection systems to monitor the concentration of a car driver and propose a portable Driver Alertness Detection System (DADS) to determine the level of concentration of the driver based on pixelated coloration detection technique using facial recognition. A portable camera will be placed at the front visor to capture facial expression and the eye activities. We evaluate DADS using 26 participants and have achieved 100% detection rate with good lighting condition and a low detection rate at night.

15 CFR 700.15 - Extension of priority ratings.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

...) BUREAU OF INDUSTRY AND SECURITY, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NATIONAL SECURITY INDUSTRIAL BASE REGULATIONS... receipt of a DO-A3 rated order for a navigation system and needs to purchase semiconductors for its manufacture, that person must use a DO-A3 rated order to obtain the needed semiconductors. (b) The priority...

Accurate Bit Error Rate Calculation for Asynchronous Chaos-Based DS-CDMA over Multipath Channel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaddoum, Georges; Roviras, Daniel; Chargé, Pascal; Fournier-Prunaret, Daniele

2009-12-01

An accurate approach to compute the bit error rate expression for multiuser chaosbased DS-CDMA system is presented in this paper. For more realistic communication system a slow fading multipath channel is considered. A simple RAKE receiver structure is considered. Based on the bit energy distribution, this approach compared to others computation methods existing in literature gives accurate results with low computation charge. Perfect estimation of the channel coefficients with the associated delays and chaos synchronization is assumed. The bit error rate is derived in terms of the bit energy distribution, the number of paths, the noise variance, and the number of users. Results are illustrated by theoretical calculations and numerical simulations which point out the accuracy of our approach.

A practical scoring system to predict mortality in patients with perforated peptic ulcer.

PubMed

Menekse, Ebru; Kocer, Belma; Topcu, Ramazan; Olmez, Aydemir; Tez, Mesut; Kayaalp, Cuneyt

2015-01-01

The mortality rate of perforated peptic ulcer is still high particularly for aged patients and all the existing scoring systems to predict mortality are complicated or based on history taking which is not always reliable for elderly patients. This study's aim was to develop an easy and applicable scoring system to predict mortality based on hospital admission data. Total 227 patients operated for perforated peptic ulcer in two centers were included. All data that may be potential predictors with respect to hospital mortality were retrospectively analyzed. The mortality and morbidity rates were 10.1% and 24.2%, respectively. Multivariated analysis pointed out three parameters corresponding 1 point for each which were age >65 years, albumin ≤1,5 g/dl and BUN >45 mg/dl. Its prediction rate was high with 0,931 (95% CI, 0,890 to 0,961) value of AUC. The hospital mortality rates for none, one, two and three positive results were zero, 7.1%, 34.4% and 88.9%, respectively. Because the new system consists only age and routinely measured two simple laboratory tests (albumin and BUN), its application is easy and prediction power is satisfactory. Verification of this new scoring system is required by large scale multicenter studies.

Implementation of an image sharing system significantly reduced repeat computed tomographic imaging in a regional trauma system.

PubMed

Banerjee, Aman; Zosa, Brenda M; Allen, Debra; Wilczewski, Patricia A; Ferguson, Robert; Claridge, Jeffrey A

2016-01-01

The practice of repeating computed tomography (re-CT) is common among trauma patients transferred between hospitals incurring additional cost and radiation exposure. This study sought to evaluate the effectiveness of implementing modern cloud-based technology (lifeIMAGE) across a regional trauma system to reduce the incidence of re-CT imaging. This is a prospective interventional study to evaluate outcomes after implementation of lifeIMAGE in January 2012. Key outcomes were rates of CT imaging, including the rates and costs of re-CT from January 2009 through December 2012. There were 1,081 trauma patients transferred from participating hospitals during the study period (657 patients before and 425 patients after implementation), with the overall re-CT rate of 20.5%. Rates of any CT imaging at referring hospitals decreased (62% vs. 55%, p < 0.05) and also decreased at the accepting regional Level I center (58% vs. 52%, p < 0.05) following system implementation. There were 639 patients (59%) who had CT imaging performed before transfer (404 patients before and 235 patients after implementation). Of these patients, the overall re-CT rate decreased from 38.4% to 28.1% (p = 0.01). Rates of re-CT of the head (21% vs. 11%, p = 0.002), chest (7% vs. 3%, p = 0.05), as well as abdomen and pelvis (12% vs. 5%, p = 0.007) were significantly reduced following system implementation. The cost of repeat imaging per patient was significantly lower following system implementation (mean charges, $1,046 vs. $589; p < 0.001). These results were more pronounced in a subgroup of patients with an Injury Severity Score (ISS) of greater than 14, with a reduction in overall re-CT rate from 51% to 30% (p = 0.03). The implementation of modern cloud-based technology across the regional trauma system resulted in significant reductions in re-CT imaging and cost. Therapeutic/care management study, level IV; economic analysis, level IV.

Distributed intrusion detection system based on grid security model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Su, Jie; Liu, Yahui

2008-03-01

Grid computing has developed rapidly with the development of network technology and it can solve the problem of large-scale complex computing by sharing large-scale computing resource. In grid environment, we can realize a distributed and load balance intrusion detection system. This paper first discusses the security mechanism in grid computing and the function of PKI/CA in the grid security system, then gives the application of grid computing character in the distributed intrusion detection system (IDS) based on Artificial Immune System. Finally, it gives a distributed intrusion detection system based on grid security system that can reduce the processing delay and assure the detection rates.

A New Approach of an Intelligent E-Learning System Based on Learners' Skill Level and Learners' Success Rate

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mohamed, Hafidi; Lamia, Mahnane

2015-01-01

Learners usually meet cognitive overload and disorientation problems when using e-learning system. At present, most of the studies in e-learning either concentrate on the technological aspect or focus on adapting learner's interests or browsing behaviors, while, learner's skill level and learners' success rate is usually neglected. In this paper,…

Patterns of Relating between Mothers and Preschool-Aged Children Using the Marschak Interaction Method Rating System

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Martin, Erin E.; Snow, Marilyn S.; Sullivan, Kathleen

2008-01-01

This study assesses the relationship of patterns of relating between mothers and their preschool-aged children. Thirty-one families were used, and the mother and child participated in the Marschak Interaction Method Rating System (MIM-RS). Mothers also completed the Demographic Data Questionnaire. Correlations based upon the MIM-RS for mothers and…

5 CFR 534.406 - Conversion to the SES pay system.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... to the SES pay system. (a) On the first day of the first applicable pay period beginning on or after... rate of basic pay that is equal to the employee's rate of basic pay, plus any applicable locality-based... first day of the first applicable pay period beginning on or after January 1, 2004. If an SES member's...

Understanding Turnover Intentions and Behavior of Indian Information Systems Professionals: A Study of Organizational Justice, Job Satisfaction and Social Norms

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Iyer, Vidya V.

2011-01-01

Despite the phenomenal growth projected for the Indian information technology (IT) industry, one of the biggest challenges it faces is the high rate of turnover in offshore supplier firms based in India (Everest Research Group 2011). According to recent estimates, turnover rates among Indian information systems (IS) professionals have been…

Universal design of a microcontroller and IoT system to detect the heart rate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Uwamahoro, Raphael; Mushikiwabeza, Alexie; Minani, Gerard; Mohan Murari, Bhaskar

2017-11-01

Heart rate analysis provides vital information of the present condition of the human body. It helps medical professionals in diagnosis of various malfunctions of the body. The limitation of vision impaired and blind people to access medical devices cause a considerable loss of life. In this paper, we intended to develop a heart rate detection system that is usable for people with normal and abnormal vision. The system is based on a non-invasive method of measuring the variation of the tissue blood flow rate by means of a photo transmitter and detector through fingertip known as photoplethysmography (PPG). The signal detected is firstly passed through active low pass filter and then amplified by a two stages high gain amplifier. The amplified signal is feed into the microcontroller to calculate the heart rate and displays the heart beat via sound systems and Liquid Crystal Display (LCD). To distinguish arrhythmia, normal heart rate and abnormal working conditions of the system, recognition is provided in different sounds, LCD readings and Light Emitting Diodes (LED).

Research on target information optics communications transmission characteristic and performance in multi-screens testing system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Hanshan

2016-04-01

To enhance the stability and reliability of multi-screens testing system, this paper studies multi-screens target optical information transmission link properties and performance in long-distance, sets up the discrete multi-tone modulation transmission model based on geometric model of laser multi-screens testing system and visible light information communication principle; analyzes the electro-optic and photoelectric conversion function of sender and receiver in target optical information communication system; researches target information transmission performance and transfer function of the generalized visible-light communication channel; found optical information communication transmission link light intensity space distribution model and distribution function; derives the SNR model of information transmission communication system. Through the calculation and experiment analysis, the results show that the transmission error rate increases with the increment of transmission rate in a certain channel modulation depth; when selecting the appropriate transmission rate, the bit error rate reach 0.01.

An Experimental Determination of Subatmospheric Burning Rates and Critical Diameters for AP/HTPB Propellant

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-12-01

round uses an AP/HTPB propellant in the projectile base to reduce base drag during flight . Subatmospheric burning rates, simulating operation at...the partial vacuum created at the projectile base in flight . The combustion gases escape the combustion chamber through an unchoked port in the...determination. Combustion of the sample was video recorded by a system with both synchronized electronic strobe and shutter. The camera captures 60 fields

Key rate for calibration robust entanglement based BB84 quantum key distribution protocol

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gittsovich, O.; Moroder, T.

2014-12-04

We apply the approach of verifying entanglement, which is based on the sole knowledge of the dimension of the underlying physical system to the entanglement based version of the BB84 quantum key distribution protocol. We show that the familiar one-way key rate formula holds already if one assumes the assumption that one of the parties is measuring a qubit and no further assumptions about the measurement are needed.

Development of the hard and soft constraints based optimisation model for unit sizing of the hybrid renewable energy system designed for microgrid applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sundaramoorthy, Kumaravel

2017-02-01

The hybrid energy systems (HESs) based electricity generation system has become a more attractive solution for rural electrification nowadays. Economically feasible and technically reliable HESs are solidly based on an optimisation stage. This article discusses about the optimal unit sizing model with the objective function to minimise the total cost of the HES. Three typical rural sites from southern part of India have been selected for the application of the developed optimisation methodology. Feasibility studies and sensitivity analysis on the optimal HES are discussed elaborately in this article. A comparison has been carried out with the Hybrid Optimization Model for Electric Renewable optimisation model for three sites. The optimal HES is found with less total net present rate and rate of energy compared with the existing method

The Marriage of Residential Energy Codes and Rating Systems: Conflict Resolution or Just Conflict?

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Taylor, Zachary T.; Mendon, Vrushali V.

2014-08-21

After three decades of coexistence at a distance, model residential energy codes and residential energy rating systems have come together in the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code. At the October, 2013, International Code Council’s Public Comment Hearing, a new compliance path based on an Energy Rating Index was added to the IECC. Although not specifically named in the code, RESNET’s HERS rating system is the likely candidate Index for most jurisdictions. While HERS has been a mainstay in various beyond-code programs for many years, its direct incorporation into the most popular model energy code raises questions about the equivalence ofmore » a HERS-based compliance path and the traditional IECC performance compliance path, especially because the two approaches use different efficiency metrics, are governed by different simulation rules, and have different scopes with regard to energy impacting house features. A detailed simulation analysis of more than 15,000 house configurations reveals a very large range of HERS Index values that achieve equivalence with the IECC’s performance path. This paper summarizes the results of that analysis and evaluates those results against the specific Energy Rating Index values required by the 2015 IECC. Based on the home characteristics most likely to result in disparities between HERS-based compliance and performance path compliance, potential impacts on the compliance process, state and local adoption of the new code, energy efficiency in the next generation of homes subject to this new code, and future evolution of model code formats are discussed.« less

kW picosecond thin-disk regenerative amplifier

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Michel, Knut; Wandt, Christoph; Klingebiel, Sandro; Schultze, Marcel; Prinz, Stephan; Teisset, Catherine Y.; Stark, Sebastian; Grebing, Christian; Bessing, Robert; Herzig, Tobias; Häfner, Matthias; Budnicki, Aleksander; Sutter, Dirk; Metzger, Thomas

2018-02-01

TRUMPF Scientific Lasers provides ultrafast laser sources for the scientific community with high pulse energies and high average power. All systems are based on the industrialized TRUMPF thin-disk technology. Regenerative amplifiers systems with multi-millijoule pulses, kilohertz repetition rates and picosecond pulse durations are available. Record values of 220mJ at 1kHz could be demonstrated originally developed for pumping optical parametric amplifiers. The ultimate goal is to combine high energies, <100mJ per pulse, with average powers of several hundred watts to a kilowatt. Based on a regenerative amplifier containing two Ytterbium doped thin-disks operated at ambient temperature pulses with picosecond duration and more than 100mJ could be generated at a repetition rate of 10kHz reaching 1kW of average output power. This system is designed to operate at different repetition rates from 100kHz down to 5kHz so that even higher pulse energies can be reached. This type of ultrafast sources uncover new application fields in science. Laser based lightning rods, X-ray lasers and Compton backscatter sources are among them.

On Optimizing H. 264/AVC Rate Control by Improving R-D Model and Incorporating HVS Characteristics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Zhongjie; Wang, Yuer; Bai, Yongqiang; Jiang, Gangyi

2010-12-01

The state-of-the-art JVT-G012 rate control algorithm of H.264 is improved from two aspects. First, the quadratic rate-distortion (R-D) model is modified based on both empirical observations and theoretical analysis. Second, based on the existing physiological and psychological research findings of human vision, the rate control algorithm is optimized by incorporating the main characteristics of the human visual system (HVS) such as contrast sensitivity, multichannel theory, and masking effect. Experiments are conducted, and experimental results show that the improved algorithm can simultaneously enhance the overall subjective visual quality and improve the rate control precision effectively.

Suspicious Behavior Detection System for an Open Space Parking Based on Recognition of Human Elemental Actions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Inomata, Teppei; Kimura, Kouji; Hagiwara, Masafumi

Studies for video surveillance applications for preventing various crimes such as stealing and violence have become a hot topic. This paper proposes a new video surveillance system that can detect suspicious behaviors such as a car break-in and vandalization in an open space parking, and that is based on image processing. The proposed system has the following features: it 1)deals time series data flow, 2)recognizes “human elemental actions” using statistic features, and 3)detects suspicious behavior using Subspace method and AdaBoost. We conducted the experiments to test the performance of the proposed system using open space parking scenes. As a result, we obtained about 10.0% for false positive rate, and about 4.6% for false negative rate.

Evolution of the Calcium-Based Intracellular Signaling System

PubMed Central

Marchadier, Elodie; Oates, Matt E.; Fang, Hai; Donoghue, Philip C.J.; Hetherington, Alistair M.; Gough, Julian

2016-01-01

To progress our understanding of molecular evolution from a collection of well-studied genes toward the level of the cell, we must consider whole systems. Here, we reveal the evolution of an important intracellular signaling system. The calcium-signaling toolkit is made up of different multidomain proteins that have undergone duplication, recombination, sequence divergence, and selection. The picture of evolution, considering the repertoire of proteins in the toolkit of both extant organisms and ancestors, is radically different from that of other systems. In eukaryotes, the repertoire increased in both abundance and diversity at a far greater rate than general genomic expansion. We describe how calcium-based intracellular signaling evolution differs not only in rate but in nature, and how this correlates with the disparity of plants and animals. PMID:27358427

Dynamic neural networking as a basis for plasticity in the control of heart rate.

PubMed

Kember, G; Armour, J A; Zamir, M

2013-01-21

A model is proposed in which the relationship between individual neurons within a neural network is dynamically changing to the effect of providing a measure of "plasticity" in the control of heart rate. The neural network on which the model is based consists of three populations of neurons residing in the central nervous system, the intrathoracic extracardiac nervous system, and the intrinsic cardiac nervous system. This hierarchy of neural centers is used to challenge the classical view that the control of heart rate, a key clinical index, resides entirely in central neuronal command (spinal cord, medulla oblongata, and higher centers). Our results indicate that dynamic networking allows for the possibility of an interplay among the three populations of neurons to the effect of altering the order of control of heart rate among them. This interplay among the three levels of control allows for different neural pathways for the control of heart rate to emerge under different blood flow demands or disease conditions and, as such, it has significant clinical implications because current understanding and treatment of heart rate anomalies are based largely on a single level of control and on neurons acting in unison as a single entity rather than individually within a (plastically) interconnected network. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Application of Tube Dynamics to Non-Statistical Reaction Processes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gabern, F.; Koon, W. S.; Marsden, J. E.; Ross, S. D.; Yanao, T.

2006-06-01

A technique based on dynamical systems theory is introduced for the computation of lifetime distributions and rates of chemical reactions and scattering phenomena, even in systems that exhibit non-statistical behavior. In particular, we merge invariant manifold tube dynamics with Monte Carlo volume determination for accurate rate calculations. This methodology is applied to a three-degree-of-freedom model problem and some ideas on how it might be extended to higher-degree-of-freedom systems are presented.

Hierarchical distance-based fuzzy approach to evaluate urban water supply systems in a semi-arid region.

PubMed

Yekta, Tahereh Sadeghi; Khazaei, Mohammad; Nabizadeh, Ramin; Mahvi, Amir Hossein; Nasseri, Simin; Yari, Ahmad Reza

2015-01-01

Hierarchical distance-based fuzzy multi-criteria group decision making was served as a tool to evaluate the drinking water supply systems of Qom, a semi-arid city located in central part of Iran. A list of aspects consisting of 6 criteria and 35 sub-criteria were evaluated based on a linguistic term set by five decision-makers. Four water supply alternatives including "Public desalinated distribution system", "PET Bottled Drinking Water", "Private desalinated water suppliers" and "Household desalinated water units" were assessed based on criteria and sub-criteria. Data were aggregated and normalized to apply Performance Ratings of Alternatives. Also, the Performance Ratings of Alternatives were aggregated again to achieve the Aggregate Performance Ratings. The weighted distances from ideal solution and anti-ideal solution were calculated after secondary normalization. The proximity of each alternative to the ideal solution was determined as the final step. The alternatives were ranked based on the magnitude of ideal solutions. Results showed that "Public desalinated distribution system" was the most appropriate alternative to supply the drinking needs of Qom population. Also, "PET Bottled Drinking Water" was the second acceptable option. A novel classification of alternatives to satisfy the drinking water requirements was proposed which is applicable for the other cities located in semi-arid regions of Iran. The health issues were considered as independent criterion, distinct from the environmental issues. The constraints of high-tech alternatives were also considered regarding to the level of dependency on overseas.

Civil commitment law, mental health services, and US homicide rates.

PubMed

Segal, Steven P

2012-09-01

The study considers whether involuntary civil comment (ICC) statute provisions are associated with homicide rates. Do statutes based solely upon dangerousness criteria versus broader ICC-criteria-i.e. "need for treatment," "protection of health and safety," and family protection-have differential associations related to their goal of reducing the frequency of homicide? State-level data were obtained from online data bases and key-informant surveys. Ordinary-least-squares and Poisson regression were used to evaluate the association between statute characteristics, mental health system characteristics, and 2004 Homicide Rates after controlling for firearm-control-law restrictiveness and social-economic-demographic-geographic-and-political indicators historically related to homicide rate variation. Poisson and OLS models, respectively, were significant: likelihood ratio χ(2) = 108.47, df = 10; p < 0.000 and Adj. R (2) = 0.72; df = 10, 25; F = 10.21; p < 0.000. Poisson results indicate that social-economic-demographic-geographic-and-political-indicators had the strongest association with state homicide rates (p < 0.000). Lower rates were associated with: broader ICC-criteria (p ≤ 0.01), fewer inpatient-bed access problems (p ≤ 0.03), and better mental health system ratings (p ≤ 0.04). OLS results indicate that social-economic-demographic-geographic-and-political indicators accounted for 25% of homicide rate variation. Broader ICC-criteria were associated with 1.42 less homicides per 100,000. Less access to psychiatric inpatient-beds and more poorly rated mental health systems were associated with increases in the homicide rates of 1.08 and 0.26 per 100,000, respectively. While social-economic-demographic-geographic-and-political indicators show the strongest association with homicide rate variation, the results show the importance and potentially preventive utility of broader ICC criteria, increased psychiatric inpatient-bed access, and better performing mental health systems as factors contributing to homicide rate variation.

Characteristics and verification of a car-borne survey system for dose rates in air: KURAMA-II.

PubMed

Tsuda, S; Yoshida, T; Tsutsumi, M; Saito, K

2015-01-01

The car-borne survey system KURAMA-II, developed by the Kyoto University Research Reactor Institute, has been used for air dose rate mapping after the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. KURAMA-II consists of a CsI(Tl) scintillation detector, a GPS device, and a control device for data processing. The dose rates monitored by KURAMA-II are based on the G(E) function (spectrum-dose conversion operator), which can precisely calculate dose rates from measured pulse-height distribution even if the energy spectrum changes significantly. The characteristics of KURAMA-II have been investigated with particular consideration to the reliability of the calculated G(E) function, dose rate dependence, statistical fluctuation, angular dependence, and energy dependence. The results indicate that 100 units of KURAMA-II systems have acceptable quality for mass monitoring of dose rates in the environment. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Fault detection and diagnosis for refrigerator from compressor sensor

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Keres, Stephen L.; Gomes, Alberto Regio; Litch, Andrew D.

A refrigerator, a sealed refrigerant system, and method are provided where the refrigerator includes at least a refrigerated compartment and a sealed refrigerant system including an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser, a controller, an evaporator fan, and a condenser fan. The method includes monitoring a frequency of the compressor, and identifying a fault condition in the at least one component of the refrigerant sealed system in response to the compressor frequency. The method may further comprise calculating a compressor frequency rate based upon the rate of change of the compressor frequency, wherein a fault in the condenser fan is identifiedmore » if the compressor frequency rate is positive and exceeds a condenser fan fault threshold rate, and wherein a fault in the evaporator fan is identified if the compressor frequency rate is negative and exceeds an evaporator fan fault threshold rate.« less

Fault Diagnosis approach based on a model-based reasoner and a functional designer for a wind turbine. An approach towards self-maintenance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Echavarria, E.; Tomiyama, T.; van Bussel, G. J. W.

2007-07-01

The objective of this on-going research is to develop a design methodology to increase the availability for offshore wind farms, by means of an intelligent maintenance system capable of responding to faults by reconfiguring the system or subsystems, without increasing service visits, complexity, or costs. The idea is to make use of the existing functional redundancies within the system and sub-systems to keep the wind turbine operational, even at a reduced capacity if necessary. Re-configuration is intended to be a built-in capability to be used as a repair strategy, based on these existing functionalities provided by the components. The possible solutions can range from using information from adjacent wind turbines, such as wind speed and direction, to setting up different operational modes, for instance re-wiring, re-connecting, changing parameters or control strategy. The methodology described in this paper is based on qualitative physics and consists of a fault diagnosis system based on a model-based reasoner (MBR), and on a functional redundancy designer (FRD). Both design tools make use of a function-behaviour-state (FBS) model. A design methodology based on the re-configuration concept to achieve self-maintained wind turbines is an interesting and promising approach to reduce stoppage rate, failure events, maintenance visits, and to maintain energy output possibly at reduced rate until the next scheduled maintenance.

42 CFR 413.220 - Methodology for calculating the per-treatment base rate under the ESRD prospective payment system...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... patient utilization calendar year as identified from Medicare claims is calendar year 2007. (4) Wage index... calculating the per-treatment base rate for 2011 are as follows: (1) Per patient utilization in CY 2007, 2008..., 2008 or 2009 to determine the year with the lowest per patient utilization. (2) Update of per treatment...

Usability Evaluation and Implementation of a Health Information Technology Dashboard of Evidence-Based Quality Indicators.

PubMed

Schall, Mark Christopher; Cullen, Laura; Pennathur, Priyadarshini; Chen, Howard; Burrell, Keith; Matthews, Grace

2017-06-01

Health information technology dashboards that integrate evidence-based quality indicators can efficiently and accurately display patient risk information to promote early intervention and improve overall quality of patient care. We describe the process of developing, evaluating, and implementing a dashboard designed to promote quality care through display of evidence-based quality indicators within an electronic health record. Clinician feedback was sought throughout the process. Usability evaluations were provided by three nurse pairs and one physician from medical-surgical areas. Task completion times, error rates, and ratings of system usability were collected to compare the use of quality indicators displayed on the dashboard to the indicators displayed in a conventional electronic health record across eight experimental scenarios. Participants rated the dashboard as "highly usable" following System Usability Scale (mean, 87.5 [SD, 9.6]) and Poststudy System Usability Questionnaire (mean, 1.7 [SD, 0.5]) criteria. Use of the dashboard led to reduced task completion times and error rates in comparison to the conventional electronic health record for quality indicator-related tasks. Clinician responses to the dashboard display capabilities were positive, and a multifaceted implementation plan has been used. Results suggest application of the dashboard in the care environment may lead to improved patient care.

Variable input observer for state estimation of high-rate dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hong, Jonathan; Cao, Liang; Laflamme, Simon; Dodson, Jacob

2017-04-01

High-rate systems operating in the 10 μs to 10 ms timescale are likely to experience damaging effects due to rapid environmental changes (e.g., turbulence, ballistic impact). Some of these systems could benefit from real-time state estimation to enable their full potential. Examples of such systems include blast mitigation strategies, automotive airbag technologies, and hypersonic vehicles. Particular challenges in high-rate state estimation include: 1) complex time varying nonlinearities of system (e.g. noise, uncertainty, and disturbance); 2) rapid environmental changes; 3) requirement of high convergence rate. Here, we propose using a Variable Input Observer (VIO) concept to vary the input space as the event unfolds. When systems experience high-rate dynamics, rapid changes in the system occur. To investigate the VIO's potential, a VIO-based neuro-observer is constructed and studied using experimental data collected from a laboratory impact test. Results demonstrate that the input space is unique to different impact conditions, and that adjusting the input space throughout the dynamic event produces better estimations than using a traditional fixed input space strategy.

Lifelong Learning as an Instrument for Human Capital Development in Benin

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Biao, Idowu

2015-01-01

A review of the Benin education system shows that it is still heavily school-based. Yet, a high level of wastage is currently being recorded at school level (about 50% success rate at primary level, about 40% success rate at high school level and about 1% enrolment rate of qualified candidates and success rate at tertiary level), leading to the…

IDMA-Based MAC Protocol for Satellite Networks with Consideration on Channel Quality

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

In order to overcome the shortcomings of existing medium access control (MAC) protocols based on TDMA or CDMA in satellite networks, interleave division multiple access (IDMA) technique is introduced into satellite communication networks. Therefore, a novel wide-band IDMA MAC protocol based on channel quality is proposed in this paper, consisting of a dynamic power allocation algorithm, a rate adaptation algorithm, and a call admission control (CAC) scheme. Firstly, the power allocation algorithm combining the technique of IDMA SINR-evolution and channel quality prediction is developed to guarantee high power efficiency even in terrible channel conditions. Secondly, the effective rate adaptation algorithm, based on accurate channel information per timeslot and by the means of rate degradation, can be realized. What is more, based on channel quality prediction, the CAC scheme, combining the new power allocation algorithm, rate scheduling, and buffering strategies together, is proposed for the emerging IDMA systems, which can support a variety of traffic types, and offering quality of service (QoS) requirements corresponding to different priority levels. Simulation results show that the new wide-band IDMA MAC protocol can make accurate estimation of available resource considering the effect of multiuser detection (MUD) and QoS requirements of multimedia traffic, leading to low outage probability as well as high overall system throughput. PMID:25126592

[Diagnosis related groups in stroke treatment. An analysis from the stroke data bank of the German Stroke Foundation].

PubMed

Weimar, C; Stausberg, J; Kraywinkel, K; Wagner, M; Busse, O; Haberl, R L; Diener, H-C

2002-08-02

The upcoming introduction of diagnosis related groups (DRG) as an exclusive base for future calculation of hospital proceeds in Germany requires a thorough analysis of cost data for various diseases. To compare the resulting combined cost weights of the Australian Refined DRG system (AR-DRG) with the proceeds based on actual per-day rates in stroke treatment. Between 1998 and 1999, data from 6520 patients (median age 68 years, 43% women) with acute stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) were prospectively documented in 15 departments of Neurology with an acute stroke unit, 9 departments of general Neurology and 6 departments of Internal Medicine. Prior to grouping cases into DRGs, all available data were transferred into ICD-10-SGB-V 2.0 or the Australian procedure system (MBS-Extended). Hospital proceeds for the respective cases were calculated based on per-day rates of the documenting hospitals. The resulting cost weights demonstrate a good homogeneity compared to the length of stay. When introducing the AR-DRG with a uniform base rate in Germany, a relative decrease of hospital proceeds can be expected in Neurology Departments and for treatment of TIAs. Preservation of the existing structure of acute stroke care in Germany requires a supplement to a uniform base rate in Neurology departments.

Do Nutrient-Based Front-of-Pack Labelling Schemes Support or Undermine Food-Based Dietary Guideline Recommendations? Lessons from the Australian Health Star Rating System.

PubMed

Lawrence, Mark A; Dickie, Sarah; Woods, Julie L

2018-01-05

Food-based Dietary Guidelines (FBDGs) promote healthy dietary patterns. Nutrient-based Front-of-Pack Labelling (NBFOPL) schemes rate the 'healthiness' of individual foods. This study aimed to investigate whether the Australian Health Star Rating (HSR) system aligns with the Australian Dietary Guidelines (ADGs). The Mintel Global New Products Database was searched for every new food product displaying a HSR entering the Australian marketplace from 27 June 2014 (HSR system endorsement) until 30 June 2017. Foods were categorised as either a five food group (FFG) food or 'discretionary' food in accordance with ADG recommendations. Ten percent (1269/12,108) of new food products displayed a HSR, of which 57% were FFG foods. The median number of 'health' stars displayed on discretionary foods (2.5; range: 0.5-5) was significantly lower ( p < 0.05) than FFG foods (4.0; range: 0.5-5), although a high frequency of anomalies and overlap in the number of stars across the two food categories was observed, with 56.7% of discretionary foods displaying ≥2.5 stars. The HSR system is undermining the ADG recommendations through facilitating the marketing of discretionary foods. Adjusting the HSR's algorithm might correct certain technical flaws. However, supporting the ADGs requires reform of the HSR's design to demarcate the food source (FFG versus discretionary food) of a nutrient.

Powder Flux Regulation in the Laser Material Deposition Process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arrizubieta, Jon Iñaki; Wegener, Maximiliam; Arntz, Kristian; Lamikiz, Aitzol; Ruiz, Jose Exequiel

In the present research work a powder flux regulation system has been designed, developed and validated with the aim of improving the Laser Material Deposition (LMD) process. In this process, the amount of deposited material per substrate surface unit area depends on the real feed rate of the nozzle. Therefore, a regulation system based on a solenoid valve has been installed at the nozzle entrance in order to control the powder flux. The powder flux control has been performed based on the machine real feed rate, which is compared with the programmed feed rate. An instantaneous velocity error is calculated and the powder flow is controlled as a function of this variation using Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) signals. Thereby, in zones where the Laser Material Deposition machine reduces the feed rate due to a trajectory change, powder accumulation can be avoided and the generated clads would present a homogeneous shape.

Imaging of pharmacokinetic rates of indocyanine green in mouse liver with a hybrid fluorescence molecular tomography/x-ray computed tomography system.

PubMed

Zhang, Guanglei; Liu, Fei; Zhang, Bin; He, Yun; Luo, Jianwen; Bai, Jing

2013-04-01

Pharmacokinetic rates have the potential to provide quantitative physiological and pathological information for biological studies and drug development. Fluorescence molecular tomography (FMT) is an attractive imaging tool for three-dimensionally resolving fluorophore distribution in small animals. In this letter, pharmacokinetic rates of indocyanine green (ICG) in mouse liver are imaged with a hybrid FMT and x-ray computed tomography (XCT) system. A recently developed FMT method using structural priors from an XCT system is adopted to improve the quality of FMT reconstruction. In the in vivo experiments, images of uptake and excretion rates of ICG in mouse liver are obtained, which can be used to quantitatively evaluate liver function. The accuracy of the results is validated by a fiber-based fluorescence measurement system.

Identifying socioeconomic, epidemiological and operational scenarios for tuberculosis control in Brazil: an ecological study.

PubMed

Pelissari, Daniele Maria; Rocha, Marli Souza; Bartholomay, Patricia; Sanchez, Mauro Niskier; Duarte, Elisabeth Carmen; Arakaki-Sanchez, Denise; Dantas, Cíntia Oliveira; Jacobs, Marina Gasino; Andrade, Kleydson Bonfim; Codenotti, Stefano Barbosa; Andrade, Elaine Silva Nascimento; Araújo, Wildo Navegantes de; Costa, Fernanda Dockhorn; Ramalho, Walter Massa; Diaz-Quijano, Fredi Alexander

2018-06-06

To identify scenarios based on socioeconomic, epidemiological and operational healthcare factors associated with tuberculosis incidence in Brazil. Ecological study. The study was based on new patients with tuberculosis and epidemiological/operational variables of the disease from the Brazilian National Information System for Notifiable Diseases and the Mortality Information System. We also analysed socioeconomic and demographic variables. The units of analysis were the Brazilian municipalities, which in 2015 numbered 5570 but 5 were excluded due to the absence of socioeconomic information. Tuberculosis incidence rate in 2015. We evaluated as independent variables the socioeconomic (2010), epidemiological and operational healthcare indicators of tuberculosis (2014 or 2015) using negative binomial regression. Municipalities were clustered by the k-means method considering the variables identified in multiple regression models. We identified two clusters according to socioeconomic variables associated with the tuberculosis incidence rate (unemployment rate and household crowding): a higher socioeconomic scenario (n=3482 municipalities) with a mean tuberculosis incidence rate of 16.3/100 000 population and a lower socioeconomic scenario (2083 municipalities) with a mean tuberculosis incidence rate of 22.1/100 000 population. In a second stage of clusterisation, we defined four subgroups in each of the socioeconomic scenarios using epidemiological and operational variables such as tuberculosis mortality rate, AIDS case detection rate and proportion of vulnerable population among patients with tuberculosis. Some of the subscenarios identified were characterised by fragility in their information systems, while others were characterised by the concentration of tuberculosis cases in key populations. Clustering municipalities in scenarios allowed us to classify them according to the socioeconomic, epidemiological and operational variables associated with tuberculosis risk. This classification can support targeted evidence-based decisions such as monitoring data quality for improving the information system or establishing integrative social protective policies for key populations. © Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2018. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.

A pulse-burst laser system for Thomson scattering on NSTX-U

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Den Hartog, D. J.; Borchardt, M. T.; Holly, D. J.; Diallo, A.; LeBlanc, B.

2017-10-01

A pulse-burst laser system has been built for Thomson scattering on NSTX-U, and is currently being integrated into the NSTX-U Thomson scattering diagnostic system. The laser will be operated in three distinct modes. The base mode is continuous 30 Hz rep rate, and is the standard operating mode of the laser. The base mode will be interrupted to produce a "slow burst" (specified 1 kHz rep rate for 50 ms) or a "fast burst" (specified 10 kHz rep rate for 5 ms). The combination of base mode→ interruption→ burst mode is new and has not been implemented on any previous pulse-burst laser system. Laser pulsing is halted for a set period (~ 1 minute) following a burst to allow the YAG rods to cool; this type of operation is called a heat-capacity laser. The laser is Nd:YAG operated at 1064 nm, q-switched to produce >= 1.5 J pulses with ~ 20 ns FWHM. It is flashlamp pumped, with dual-rod oscillator (9 mm) and dual-rod amplifier (12 mm). Variable pulsewidth drive of the flashlamps is accomplished by IGBT (insulated gate bipolar transistor) switching of electrolytic capacitor banks. Direct control of the laser Pockels cell drive enables optimal pulse energy extraction. The laser system has demonstrated compliance with all specifications, and is capable of exceeding design specifications by significant margins, e.g., higher rep rates for longer burst periods. Burst operation of this laser system will be used to capture fast time evolution of the electron temperature and density profiles during events such as ELMs, the L-H transition, and various MHD modes.

System Error Compensation Methodology Based on a Neural Network for a Micromachined Inertial Measurement Unit

PubMed Central

Liu, Shi Qiang; Zhu, Rong

2016-01-01

Errors compensation of micromachined-inertial-measurement-units (MIMU) is essential in practical applications. This paper presents a new compensation method using a neural-network-based identification for MIMU, which capably solves the universal problems of cross-coupling, misalignment, eccentricity, and other deterministic errors existing in a three-dimensional integrated system. Using a neural network to model a complex multivariate and nonlinear coupling system, the errors could be readily compensated through a comprehensive calibration. In this paper, we also present a thermal-gas MIMU based on thermal expansion, which measures three-axis angular rates and three-axis accelerations using only three thermal-gas inertial sensors, each of which capably measures one-axis angular rate and one-axis acceleration simultaneously in one chip. The developed MIMU (100 × 100 × 100 mm3) possesses the advantages of simple structure, high shock resistance, and large measuring ranges (three-axes angular rates of ±4000°/s and three-axes accelerations of ±10 g) compared with conventional MIMU, due to using gas medium instead of mechanical proof mass as the key moving and sensing elements. However, the gas MIMU suffers from cross-coupling effects, which corrupt the system accuracy. The proposed compensation method is, therefore, applied to compensate the system errors of the MIMU. Experiments validate the effectiveness of the compensation, and the measurement errors of three-axis angular rates and three-axis accelerations are reduced to less than 1% and 3% of uncompensated errors in the rotation range of ±600°/s and the acceleration range of ±1 g, respectively. PMID:26840314

HiLASE: development of fully diode pumped disk lasers with high average power

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Divoky, M.; Smrz, M.; Chyla, M.; Sikocinski, P.; Severova, P.; Novák, O.; Huynh, J.; Nagisetty, S. S.; Miura, T.; Liberatore, C.; Pilař, J.; Slezak, O.; Sawicka, M.; Jambunathan, V.; Gemini, L.; Vanda, J.; Svabek, R.; Endo, A.; Lucianetti, A.; Rostohar, D.; Mason, P. D.; Phillips, P. J.; Ertel, K.; Banerjee, S.; Hernandez-Gomez, C.; Collier, J. L.; Mocek, T.

2015-02-01

An overview of Czech national R&D project HiLASE (High average power pulsed LASEr) is presented. The HiLASE project aims at development of pulsed DPSSL for hi-tech industrial applications. HiLASE will be a user oriented facility with several laser systems with output parameters ranging from a few picosecond pulses with energy of 5 mJ to 0.5 J and repetition rate of 1-100 kHz (based on thin disk technology) to systems with 100 J output energy in nanosecond pulses with repetition rate of 10 Hz (based on multi-slab technology).

A pilot rating scale for evaluating failure transients in electronic flight control systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hindson, William S.; Schroeder, Jeffery A.; Eshow, Michelle M.

1990-01-01

A pilot rating scale was developed to describe the effects of transients in helicopter flight-control systems on safety-of-flight and on pilot recovery action. The scale was applied to the evaluation of hardovers that could potentially occur in the digital flight-control system being designed for a variable-stability UH-60A research helicopter. Tests were conducted in a large moving-base simulator and in flight. The results of the investigation were combined with existing airworthiness criteria to determine quantitative reliability design goals for the control system.

A population-based descriptive study of housefire deaths in North Carolina.

PubMed Central

Patetta, M J; Cole, T B

1990-01-01

We report a population-based study of housefire deaths in North Carolina in 1985 using data obtained from fire investigators and the North Carolina medical examiner system. The crude death rate was 3.2 per 100,000 population; age-specific death rates were highest for ages 75-84 years. Death rates for Whites were one-third as high as death rates for other races. Of those decedents tested for alcohol, 56 percent had blood alcohol levels greater than or equal to 22 mmol/L. Most fatal fires were caused by heating units or cigarettes. PMID:2382752

Delay-based signal shapers and acfa 2020 blended wing body flight control system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kucera, V.; Hromčík, M.

2013-12-01

The purpose of this paper is twofold. First: results related to application of signal shapers, imposed on pilot's commands, in cooperation with feedback flight control system (FCS) are reported for the case of ACFA2020 (Active Control for Flexible 2020 Aircraft) blended-wingbody (BWB) design. The results suggest that signal shapers can cooperate nicely both with FCS focused on the rigid-body dynamics only, as well as with an implemented and properly working active damping system. In both cases, the amount of vibrations due to pilot's inputs (manoeuvres) can be substantially reduced. Second: combination of signal shapers and rate-limiters is discussed in detail. Rate-limiters, representing finite achievable rates of servos for control surfaces, deteriorate considerably performance of the delay-based shapers. Configuration proposes only open-loop response of the free aircraft (without controller) for shaped reference respect to nonlinearities at action surface. Standard versions of the shapers cannot be therefore directly applied, especially for higher control surfaces deflections. Instead, two efficient alternatives can be used, suggested in the paper, that take the rate limitations into account at the design stage already.

Numerical calculation of protein-ligand binding rates through solution of the Smoluchowski equation using smooth particle hydrodynamics

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pan, Wenxiao; Daily, Michael D.; Baker, Nathan A.

2015-12-01

We demonstrate the accuracy and effectiveness of a Lagrangian particle-based method, smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH), to study diffusion in biomolecular systems by numerically solving the time-dependent Smoluchowski equation for continuum diffusion. The numerical method is first verified in simple systems and then applied to the calculation of ligand binding to an acetylcholinesterase monomer. Unlike previous studies, a reactive Robin boundary condition (BC), rather than the absolute absorbing (Dirichlet) boundary condition, is considered on the reactive boundaries. This new boundary condition treatment allows for the analysis of enzymes with "imperfect" reaction rates. Rates for inhibitor binding to mAChE are calculated atmore » various ionic strengths and compared with experiment and other numerical methods. We find that imposition of the Robin BC improves agreement between calculated and experimental reaction rates. Although this initial application focuses on a single monomer system, our new method provides a framework to explore broader applications of SPH in larger-scale biomolecular complexes by taking advantage of its Lagrangian particle-based nature.« less

Using Gaussian mixture models to detect and classify dolphin whistles and pulses.

PubMed

Peso Parada, Pablo; Cardenal-López, Antonio

2014-06-01

In recent years, a number of automatic detection systems for free-ranging cetaceans have been proposed that aim to detect not just surfaced, but also submerged, individuals. These systems are typically based on pattern-recognition techniques applied to underwater acoustic recordings. Using a Gaussian mixture model, a classification system was developed that detects sounds in recordings and classifies them as one of four types: background noise, whistles, pulses, and combined whistles and pulses. The classifier was tested using a database of underwater recordings made off the Spanish coast during 2011. Using cepstral-coefficient-based parameterization, a sound detection rate of 87.5% was achieved for a 23.6% classification error rate. To improve these results, two parameters computed using the multiple signal classification algorithm and an unpredictability measure were included in the classifier. These parameters, which helped to classify the segments containing whistles, increased the detection rate to 90.3% and reduced the classification error rate to 18.1%. Finally, the potential of the multiple signal classification algorithm and unpredictability measure for estimating whistle contours and classifying cetacean species was also explored, with promising results.

Counting-loss correction for X-ray spectroscopy using unit impulse pulse shaping.

PubMed

Hong, Xu; Zhou, Jianbin; Ni, Shijun; Ma, Yingjie; Yao, Jianfeng; Zhou, Wei; Liu, Yi; Wang, Min

2018-03-01

High-precision measurement of X-ray spectra is affected by the statistical fluctuation of the X-ray beam under low-counting-rate conditions. It is also limited by counting loss resulting from the dead-time of the system and pile-up pulse effects, especially in a high-counting-rate environment. In this paper a detection system based on a FAST-SDD detector and a new kind of unit impulse pulse-shaping method is presented, for counting-loss correction in X-ray spectroscopy. The unit impulse pulse-shaping method is evolved by inverse deviation of the pulse from a reset-type preamplifier and a C-R shaper. It is applied to obtain the true incoming rate of the system based on a general fast-slow channel processing model. The pulses in the fast channel are shaped to unit impulse pulse shape which possesses small width and no undershoot. The counting rate in the fast channel is corrected by evaluating the dead-time of the fast channel before it is used to correct the counting loss in the slow channel.

In-Flight Pitot-Static Calibration

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Foster, John V. (Inventor); Cunningham, Kevin (Inventor)

2016-01-01

A GPS-based pitot-static calibration system uses global output-error optimization. High data rate measurements of static and total pressure, ambient air conditions, and GPS-based ground speed measurements are used to compute pitot-static pressure errors over a range of airspeed. System identification methods rapidly compute optimal pressure error models with defined confidence intervals.

Preliminary Results on the Corrosion Behaviour of a New Biodegradable Metallic Material Based on Zinc

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dobriţa, S.; Istrate, B.; Cimpoeşu, N.; Stanciu, S.; Apostol, V.; Cimpoeşu, R.; Ioniţă, I.; Paraschiv, P.

2018-06-01

The class of biomaterials (metallic, polymer or ceramics) has applications as implants with a temporary function. Among magnezium (high corrosion rate) and iron (slow corrosion rate) based biodegradable alloys a new class based on zinc try to fullfill the gap between the first two alloy systems concerning the degradation rate. The role of these alloys is to provide some specific characteristics for a limited period of time. In this article preliminary results based on microstructural and chemical characteristics of a Zn-Mg alloy are presented. The results were obtained using optical and electronic microscopy (MO and SEM) and dispersive energy spectroscpy (EDS) and X-ray difraction (XRD).

Method and apparatus for combinatorial logic signal processor in a digitally based high speed x-ray spectrometer

DOEpatents

Warburton, W.K.

1999-02-16

A high speed, digitally based, signal processing system is disclosed which accepts a digitized input signal and detects the presence of step-like pulses in the this data stream, extracts filtered estimates of their amplitudes, inspects for pulse pileup, and records input pulse rates and system lifetime. The system has two parallel processing channels: a slow channel, which filters the data stream with a long time constant trapezoidal filter for good energy resolution; and a fast channel which filters the data stream with a short time constant trapezoidal filter, detects pulses, inspects for pileups, and captures peak values from the slow channel for good events. The presence of a simple digital interface allows the system to be easily integrated with a digital processor to produce accurate spectra at high count rates and allow all spectrometer functions to be fully automated. Because the method is digitally based, it allows pulses to be binned based on time related values, as well as on their amplitudes, if desired. 31 figs.

Deep features for efficient multi-biometric recognition with face and ear images

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Omara, Ibrahim; Xiao, Gang; Amrani, Moussa; Yan, Zifei; Zuo, Wangmeng

2017-07-01

Recently, multimodal biometric systems have received considerable research interest in many applications especially in the fields of security. Multimodal systems can increase the resistance to spoof attacks, provide more details and flexibility, and lead to better performance and lower error rate. In this paper, we present a multimodal biometric system based on face and ear, and propose how to exploit the extracted deep features from Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) on the face and ear images to introduce more powerful discriminative features and robust representation ability for them. First, the deep features for face and ear images are extracted based on VGG-M Net. Second, the extracted deep features are fused by using a traditional concatenation and a Discriminant Correlation Analysis (DCA) algorithm. Third, multiclass support vector machine is adopted for matching and classification. The experimental results show that the proposed multimodal system based on deep features is efficient and achieves a promising recognition rate up to 100 % by using face and ear. In addition, the results indicate that the fusion based on DCA is superior to traditional fusion.

First experiences in the implementation of biometric technology to link data from Health and Demographic Surveillance Systems with health facility data

PubMed Central

Serwaa-Bonsu, Adwoa; Herbst, Abraham J.; Reniers, Georges; Ijaa, Wilfred; Clark, Benjamin; Kabudula, Chodziwadziwa; Sankoh, Osman

2010-01-01

Background In developing countries, Health and Demographic Surveillance Systems (HDSSs) provide a framework for tracking demographic and health dynamics over time in a defined geographical area. Many HDSSs co-exist with facility-based data sources in the form of Health Management Information Systems (HMIS). Integrating both data sources through reliable record linkage could provide both numerator and denominator populations to estimate disease prevalence and incidence rates in the population and enable determination of accurate health service coverage. Objective To measure the acceptability and performance of fingerprint biometrics to identify individuals in demographic surveillance populations and those attending health care facilities serving the surveillance populations. Methodology Two HDSS sites used fingerprint biometrics for patient and/or surveillance population participant identification. The proportion of individuals for whom a fingerprint could be successfully enrolled were characterised in terms of age and sex. Results Adult (18–65 years) fingerprint enrolment rates varied between 94.1% (95% CI 93.6–94.5) for facility-based fingerprint data collection at the Africa Centre site to 96.7% (95% CI 95.9–97.6) for population-based fingerprint data collection at the Agincourt site. Fingerprint enrolment rates in children under 1 year old (Africa Centre site) were only 55.1% (95% CI 52.7–57.4). By age 5, child fingerprint enrolment rates were comparable to those of adults. Conclusion This work demonstrates the feasibility of fingerprint-based individual identification for population-based research in developing countries. Record linkage between demographic surveillance population databases and health care facility data based on biometric identification systems would allow for a more comprehensive evaluation of population health, including the ability to study health service utilisation from a population perspective, rather than the more restrictive health service perspective. PMID:20200659

Assessment and preliminary design of an energy buffer for regenerative braking in electric vehicles

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Buchholz, R.; Mathur, A. K.

1979-01-01

Energy buffer systems, capable of storing the vehicle energy during braking and reusing this stored energy during acceleration, were examined. Some of these buffer systems when incorporated in an electric vehicle would result in an improvement in the performance and range under stop and go driving conditions. Buffer systems considered included flywheels, hydropneumatic, pneumatic, spring, and regenerative braking. Buffer ranking and rating criteria were established. Buffer systems were rated based on predicted range improvements, consumer acceptance, driveability, safety, reliability and durability, and initial and life cycle costs. A hydropneumatic buffer system was selected.

Recreational Stream Crossing Effects on Sediment Delivery and Macroinvertebrates in Southwestern Virginia, USA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kidd, Kathryn R.; Aust, W. Michael; Copenheaver, Carolyn A.

2014-09-01

Trail-based recreation has increased over recent decades, raising the environmental management issue of soil erosion that originates from unsurfaced, recreational trail systems. Trail-based soil erosion that occurs near stream crossings represents a non-point source of pollution to streams. We modeled soil erosion rates along multiple-use (hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding) recreational trails that approach culvert and ford stream crossings as potential sources of sediment input and evaluated whether recreational stream crossings were impacting water quality based on downstream changes in macroinvertebrate-based indices within the Poverty Creek Trail System of the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest in southwestern Virginia, USA. We found modeled soil erosion rates for non-motorized recreational approaches that were lower than published estimates for an off-road vehicle approach, bare horse trails, and bare forest operational skid trail and road approaches, but were 13 times greater than estimated rates for undisturbed forests and 2.4 times greater than a 2-year old clearcut in this region. Estimated soil erosion rates were similar to rates for skid trails and horse trails where best management practices (BMPs) had been implemented. Downstream changes in macroinvertebrate-based indices indicated water quality was lower downstream from crossings than in upstream reference reaches. Our modeled soil erosion rates illustrate recreational stream crossing approaches have the potential to deliver sediment into adjacent streams, particularly where BMPs are not being implemented or where approaches are not properly managed, and as a result can negatively impact water quality below stream crossings.

Concordance between gambling disorder diagnoses in the DSM-IV and DSM-5; Results from the National Epidemiological Survey of Alcohol and Related Disorders

PubMed Central

Petry, Nancy M.; Blanco, Carlos; Jin, Chelsea; Grant, Bridget F.

2015-01-01

The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistic Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM-5) eliminates the committing illegal acts criterion and reduces the threshold for a diagnosis of gambling disorder to four of nine criteria. This study compared the DSM-5 “4 of 9” classification system to the “5 of 10” DSM-IV system, as well as other permutations (i.e., just lowing the threshold to four criteria or just eliminating the illegal acts criterion) in 43,093 respondents to the National Epidemiological Survey of Alcohol and Related Conditions. Subgroups were analyzed to ascertain if changes will impact differentially diagnoses based on gender, age or race/ethnicity. In the full sample and each subpopulation, prevalence rates were higher when the DSM-5 classification system was employed relative to the DSM-IV system, but the hit rate between the two systems ranged from 99.80% to 99.96%. Across all gender, age and racial/ethnic subgroups, specificity was greater than 99% when the DSM-5 system was employed relative to the DSM-IV system, and sensitivity was 100%. Results from this study suggest that eliminating the illegal acts criterion has little impact on diagnosis of gambling disorder, but lowering the threshold for diagnosis does increase the base rate in the general population and each subgroup, even though overall rates remain low and sensitivity and specificity are high. PMID:24588275

Health System Development and Performance in Korea and Japan: A Comparative Study of 2000–2013

PubMed Central

Dronina, Yuliya; Yoon, Young Min; Sakamaki, Hiroyuki; Nam, Eun Woo

2016-01-01

Background The Japanese and Korean healthcare systems are very similar and thus, they have the same problems and weaknesses. This study discusses the problems and proposes complementary solutions based on the results of a comparative analysis of conditions in the healthcare systems of the two countries. Methods This article presents a comparative analysis of the healthcare status of the two countries based on certain health criteria used worldwide, a literature review, and data from the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare, Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, World Health Organization (WHO), World Bank, and Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Results The scores of the healthcare systems were calculated for quantitative comparison. The performance of the Japanese health system was the best, followed by the Korean health system. Both countries observed an increased life expectancy and decreased infant and under-five mortality rates during the last 14 years. However, lower fertility rates were found, which could lead to a decreased working population and a subsequent increase in the economic burden of governments and households. A higher alcohol consumption rate was found in Korea, which was related to the establishment of interpersonal relationships. Conclusion The reform of the healthcare systems in Korea and Japan led to an increased life expectancy; concurrently, reduced fertility rates led to an increasing aging population. As a result, increasing health costs require additional measures to improve health equity and strengthen health promotion. PMID:27358836

Development of an intelligent system for cooling rate and fill control in GMAW

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Einerson, C.J.; Smartt, H.B.; Johnson, J.A.

1992-09-01

A control strategy for gas metal arc welding (GMAW) is developed in which the welding system detects certain existing conditions and adjusts the process in accordance to pre-specified rules. This strategy is used to control the reinforcement and weld bead centerline cooling rate during welding. Relationships between heat and mass transfer rates to the base metal and the required electrode speed and welding speed for specific open circuit voltages are taught to a artificial neural network. Control rules are programmed into a fuzzy logic system. TRADITOINAL CONTROL OF THE GMAW PROCESS is based on the use of explicit welding proceduresmore » detailing allowable parameter ranges on a pass by pass basis for a given weld. The present work is an exploration of a completely different approach to welding control. In this work the objectives are to produce welds having desired weld bead reinforcements while maintaining the weld bead centerline cooling rate at preselected values. The need for this specific control is related to fabrication requirements for specific types of pressure vessels. The control strategy involves measuring weld joint transverse cross-sectional area ahead of the welding torch and the weld bead centerline cooling rate behind the weld pool, both by means of video (2), calculating the required process parameters necessary to obtain the needed heat and mass transfer rates (in appropriate dimensions) by means of an artificial neural network, and controlling the heat transfer rate by means of a fuzzy logic controller (3). The result is a welding machine that senses the welding conditions and responds to those conditions on the basis of logical rules, as opposed to producing a weld based on a specific procedure.« less

Development of an intelligent system for cooling rate and fill control in GMAW. [Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Einerson, C.J.; Smartt, H.B.; Johnson, J.A.

1992-01-01

A control strategy for gas metal arc welding (GMAW) is developed in which the welding system detects certain existing conditions and adjusts the process in accordance to pre-specified rules. This strategy is used to control the reinforcement and weld bead centerline cooling rate during welding. Relationships between heat and mass transfer rates to the base metal and the required electrode speed and welding speed for specific open circuit voltages are taught to a artificial neural network. Control rules are programmed into a fuzzy logic system. TRADITOINAL CONTROL OF THE GMAW PROCESS is based on the use of explicit welding proceduresmore » detailing allowable parameter ranges on a pass by pass basis for a given weld. The present work is an exploration of a completely different approach to welding control. In this work the objectives are to produce welds having desired weld bead reinforcements while maintaining the weld bead centerline cooling rate at preselected values. The need for this specific control is related to fabrication requirements for specific types of pressure vessels. The control strategy involves measuring weld joint transverse cross-sectional area ahead of the welding torch and the weld bead centerline cooling rate behind the weld pool, both by means of video (2), calculating the required process parameters necessary to obtain the needed heat and mass transfer rates (in appropriate dimensions) by means of an artificial neural network, and controlling the heat transfer rate by means of a fuzzy logic controller (3). The result is a welding machine that senses the welding conditions and responds to those conditions on the basis of logical rules, as opposed to producing a weld based on a specific procedure.« less

Bit-error-rate testing of fiber optic data links for MMIC-based phased array antennas

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shalkhauser, K. A.; Kunath, R. R.; Daryoush, A. S.

1990-01-01

The measured bit-error-rate (BER) performance of a fiber optic data link to be used in satellite communications systems is presented and discussed. In the testing, the link was measured for its ability to carry high burst rate, serial-minimum shift keyed (SMSK) digital data similar to those used in actual space communications systems. The fiber optic data link, as part of a dual-segment injection-locked RF fiber optic link system, offers a means to distribute these signals to the many radiating elements of a phased array antenna. Test procedures, experimental arrangements, and test results are presented.

From chaos to calm: one jail system's struggle with suicide prevention.

PubMed

Hayes, L M

1997-01-01

This article profiles the suicide prevention practices at a large metropolitan jail, a facility that experienced nine inmate suicides in a recent 24-month period. The suicide rate in this facility was found to far exceed the rate for jails of comparable size as well as the national rate of jail suicides. The nine suicides are summarized and common features (including the issue of protective custody) of the deaths and systemic jail deficiencies are discussed. The process by which the jail system developed a suicide prevention program based upon the principles of staff training, identification/screening, communication, levels of supervision, housing, and intervention is offered.

Office of the Secretary of Defense Retirement Options

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-09-01

majority of officers are male. Data for life expectancies were extrapolated from the DOD Office of the Actuary Life Expectancy Rate. This rate was...difference between the two policies is that instead of taking the final month of base pay as the retired base, it is now a mathematical average of the final...All the data for annuity payments were based on the DOD Office of the Actuary Statistical Report on the Military Retirement System Fiscal Year 2013

Effect of the incidence angle to free space optical communication based on cat-eye modulating retro-reflector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Lai-xian; Sun, Hua-yan; Zhao, Yan-zhong; Zheng, Yong-hui; Shan, Cong-miao

2013-08-01

Based on the cat-eye effect of optical system, free space optical communication based on cat-eye modulating retro-reflector can build communication link rapidly. Compared to classical free space optical communication system, system based on cat-eye modulating retro-reflector has great advantages such as building communication link more rapidly, a passive terminal is smaller, lighter and lower power consuming. The incident angle is an important factor of cat-eye effect, so it will affect the retro-reflecting communication link. In this paper, the principle and work flow of free space optical communication based on cat-eye modulating retro-reflector were introduced. Then, using the theory of geometric optics, the equivalent model of modulating retro-reflector with incidence angle was presented. The analytical solution of active area and retro-reflected light intensity of cat-eye modulating retro-reflector were given. Noise of PIN photodetector was analyzed, based on which, bit error rate of free space optical communication based on cat-eye modulating retro-reflector was presented. Finally, simulations were done to study the effect of incidence angle to the communication. The simulation results show that the incidence angle has little effect on active area and retro-reflected light intensity when the incidence beam is in the active field angle of cat-eye modulating retro-reflector. With certain system and condition, the communication link can rapidly be built when the incidence light beam is in the field angle, and the bit error rate increases greatly with link range. When link range is smaller than 35Km, the bit error rate is less than 10-16.

42 CFR 412.75 - Determination of the hospital-specific rate for inpatient operating costs based on a Federal...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 42 Public Health 2 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Determination of the hospital-specific rate for... Health CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES MEDICARE PROGRAM PROSPECTIVE PAYMENT SYSTEMS FOR INPATIENT HOSPITAL SERVICES Determination of Transition Period Payment Rates...

12 CFR 226.59 - Reevaluation of rate increases.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... SYSTEM TRUTH IN LENDING (REGULATION Z) Special Rules Applicable to Credit Card Accounts and Open-End...) Evaluation of increased rate. If a card issuer increases an annual percentage rate that applies to a credit card account under an open-end (not home-secured) consumer credit plan, based on the credit risk of the...

12 CFR 226.59 - Reevaluation of rate increases.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... SYSTEM TRUTH IN LENDING (REGULATION Z) Special Rules Applicable to Credit Card Accounts and Open-End...) Evaluation of increased rate. If a card issuer increases an annual percentage rate that applies to a credit card account under an open-end (not home-secured) consumer credit plan, based on the credit risk of the...

75 FR 65710 - Current Value of Funds Rate

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-10-26

.... Treasury's Cash Management Requirements (TFM Volume I, Part 6, Chapter 8000) prescribe use of this rate by agencies as a comparison point in evaluating the cost-effectiveness of a cash discount. In addition, 5 CFR... with Federal Cash Management systems and is based on investment rates set for purposes of Public Law 95...

A measurement-based study of concurrency in a multiprocessor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mcguire, Patrick John

1987-01-01

A systematic measurement-based methodology for characterizing the amount of concurrency present in a workload, and the effect of concurrency on system performance indices such as cache miss rate and bus activity are developed. Hardware and software instrumentation of an Alliant FX/8 was used to obtain data from a real workload environment. Results show that 35% of the workload is concurrent, with the concurrent periods typically using all available processors. Measurements of periods of change in concurrency show uneven usage of processors during these times. Other system measures, including cache miss rate and processor bus activity, are analyzed with respect to the concurrency measures. Probability of a cache miss is seen to increase with concurrency. The change in cache miss rate is much more sensitive to the fraction of concurrent code in the worklaod than the number of processors active during concurrency. Regression models are developed to quantify the relationships between cache miss rate, bus activity, and the concurrency measures. The model for cache miss rate predicts an increase in the median miss rate value as much as 300% for a 100% increase in concurrency in the workload.

A water-powered Energy Harvesting system with Bluetooth Low Energy interface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kroener, M.; Allinger, K.; Berger, M.; Grether, E.; Wieland, F.; Heller, S.; Woias, P.

2016-11-01

This paper reports the design, and testing of a water turbine generator system for typical flow rates in domestic applications, with an integrated power management and a Bluetooth low energy (BLE) based RF data transmission interface. It is based on a commercially available low cost hydro generator. The generator is built into a housing with optimized reduced fluidic resistance to enable operation with flow rates as low as 6 l/min. The power management combines rectification, buffering, defined start-up, and circuit protection. An MSP430FR5949 microcontroller is used for data acquisition and processing. The data are transmitted via RF, using a Bluegiga BLE112 module in advertisement mode, to a PC where the measured flow rate is stored and displayed. The transmission rate of the wireless sensor node (WSN) is set to 1 Hz if enough power is available, which is the case for flow rates above 5.5 l/min. The electronics power demand is calculated to be 340 μW in average, while the generator is capable of delivering more than 200 mW for flow rates above 15 l/min.

Development of an air flow thermal balance calorimeter

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sherfey, J. M.

1972-01-01

An air flow calorimeter, based on the idea of balancing an unknown rate of heat evolution with a known rate of heat evolution, was developed. Under restricted conditions, the prototype system is capable of measuring thermal wattages from 10 milliwatts to 1 watt, with an error no greater than 1 percent. Data were obtained which reveal system weaknesses and point to modifications which would effect significant improvements.

An online sleep apnea detection method based on recurrence quantification analysis.

PubMed

Nguyen, Hoa Dinh; Wilkins, Brek A; Cheng, Qi; Benjamin, Bruce Allen

2014-07-01

This paper introduces an online sleep apnea detection method based on heart rate complexity as measured by recurrence quantification analysis (RQA) statistics of heart rate variability (HRV) data. RQA statistics can capture nonlinear dynamics of a complex cardiorespiratory system during obstructive sleep apnea. In order to obtain a more robust measurement of the nonstationarity of the cardiorespiratory system, we use different fixed amount of neighbor thresholdings for recurrence plot calculation. We integrate a feature selection algorithm based on conditional mutual information to select the most informative RQA features for classification, and hence, to speed up the real-time classification process without degrading the performance of the system. Two types of binary classifiers, i.e., support vector machine and neural network, are used to differentiate apnea from normal sleep. A soft decision fusion rule is developed to combine the results of these classifiers in order to improve the classification performance of the whole system. Experimental results show that our proposed method achieves better classification results compared with the previous recurrence analysis-based approach. We also show that our method is flexible and a strong candidate for a real efficient sleep apnea detection system.

Independent Analysis of Real-Time, Measured Performance Data From Microcogenerative Fuel Cell Systems Installed in Buildings

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dillon, Heather E.; Colella, Whitney G.

2015-06-01

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is working with industry to independently monitor up to 15 distinct 5 kW-electric (kWe) combined heat and power (CHP) high temperature (HT) proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell systems (FCSs) installed in light commercial buildings. This research paper discusses an evaluation of the first six months of measured performance data acquired at a 1 s sampling rate from real-time monitoring equipment attached to the FCSs at building sites. Engineering performance parameters are independently evaluated. Based on an analysis of the first few months of measured operating data, FCS performance is consistent with manufacturer-stated performance. Initialmore » data indicate that the FCSs have relatively stable performance and a long-term average production of about 4.57 kWe of power. This value is consistent with, but slightly below, the manufacturer's stated rated electric power output of 5 kWe. The measured system net electric efficiency has averaged 33.7%, based on the higher heating value (HHV) of natural gas fuel. This value, also, is consistent with, but slightly below, the manufacturer's stated rated electric efficiency of 36%. The FCSs provide low-grade hot water to the building at a measured average temperature of about 48.4 degrees C, lower than the manufacturer's stated maximum hot water delivery temperature of 65 degrees C. The uptime of the systems is also evaluated. System availability can be defined as the quotient of total operating time compared to time since commissioning. The average values for system availability vary between 96.1 and 97.3%, depending on the FCS evaluated in the field. Performance at rated value for electrical efficiency (PRVeff) can be defined as the quotient of the system time operating at or above the rated electric efficiency and the time since commissioning. The PRVeff varies between 5.6% and 31.6%, depending on the FCS field unit evaluated. Performance at rated value for electrical power (PRVp) can be defined as the quotient of the system time operating at or above the rated electric power and the time since commissioning. PRVp varies between 6.5% and 16.2%. Performance at rated value for electrical efficiency and power (PRVt) can be defined as the quotient of the system time operating at or above both the rated electric efficiency and the electric power output compared to the time since commissioning. PRVt varies between 0.2% and 1.4%. Optimization to determine the manufacturer rating required to achieve PRVt greater than 80% has been performed based on the collected data. For example, for FCS Unit 130 to achieve a PRVt of 95%, it would have to be down-rated to an electrical power output of 3.2 kWe and an electrical efficiency of 29%. The use of PRV as an assessment metric for FCSs has been developed and reported for the first time in this paper. For FCS Unit 130, a maximum decline in electric power output of approximately 18% was observed over a 500 h period in Jan. 2012.« less

A physiologically informed virtual reality based social communication system for individuals with autism.

PubMed

Lahiri, Uttama; Bekele, Esubalew; Dohrmann, Elizabeth; Warren, Zachary; Sarkar, Nilanjan

2015-04-01

Clinical applications of advanced technology may hold promise for addressing impairments associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). This project evaluated the application of a novel physiologically responsive virtual reality based technological system for conversation skills in a group of adolescents with ASD. The system altered components of conversation based on (1) performance alone or (2) the composite effect of performance and physiological metrics of predicted engagement (e.g., gaze pattern, pupil dilation, blink rate). Participants showed improved performance and looking pattern within the physiologically sensitive system as compared to the performance based system. This suggests that physiologically informed technologies may have the potential of being an effective tool in the hands of interventionists.

Evaluation of a Stirling Solar Dynamic System for Lunar Oxygen Production

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Colozza, Anthony J.; Wong, Wayne A.

2006-01-01

An evaluation of a solar concentrator-based system for producing oxygen from the lunar regolith was performed. The system utilizes a solar concentrator mirror to provide thermal energy for the oxygen production process as well as thermal energy to power a Stirling heat engine for the production of electricity. The electricity produced is utilized to operate the equipment needed in the oxygen production process. The oxygen production method utilized in the analysis was the hydrogen reduction of ilmenite. Utilizing this method of oxygen production a baseline system design was produced. This baseline system had an oxygen production rate of 0.6 kg/hr with a concentrator mirror size of 5 m. Variations were performed on the baseline design to show how changes in the system size and process rate effected the oxygen production rate.

Lunar surface vehicle model competition

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1990-01-01

During Fall and Winter quarters, Georgia Tech's School of Mechanical Engineering students designed machines and devices related to Lunar Base construction tasks. These include joint projects with Textile Engineering students. Topics studied included lunar environment simulator via drop tower technology, lunar rated fasteners, lunar habitat shelter, design of a lunar surface trenching machine, lunar support system, lunar worksite illumination (daytime), lunar regolith bagging system, sunlight diffusing tent for lunar worksite, service apparatus for lunar launch vehicles, lunar communication/power cables and teleoperated deployment machine, lunar regolith bag collection and emplacement device, soil stabilization mat for lunar launch/landing site, lunar rated fastening systems for robotic implementation, lunar surface cable/conduit and automated deployment system, lunar regolith bagging system, and lunar rated fasteners and fastening systems. A special topics team of five Spring quarter students designed and constructed a remotely controlled crane implement for the SKITTER model.

Recommendations to harmonize European early warning dosimetry network systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dombrowski, H.; Bleher, M.; De Cort, M.; Dabrowski, R.; Neumaier, S.; Stöhlker, U.

2017-12-01

After the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident in 1986, followed by the Fukushima Nuclear power plant accident 25 years later, it became obvious that real-time information is required to quickly gain radiological information. As a consequence, the European countries established early warning network systems with the aim to provide an immediate warning in case of a major radiological emergency, to supply reliable information on area dose rates, contamination levels, radioactivity concentrations in air and finally to assess public exposure. This is relevant for governmental decisions on intervention measures in an emergency situation. Since different methods are used by national environmental monitoring systems to measure area dose rate values and activity concentrations, there are significant differences in the results provided by different countries. Because European and neighboring countries report area dose rate data to a central data base operated on behalf of the European Commission, the comparability of the data is crucial for its meaningful interpretation, especially in the case of a nuclear accident with transboundary implications. Only by harmonizing measuring methods and data evaluation, is the comparability of the dose rate data ensured. This publication concentrates on technical requirements and methods with the goal to effectively harmonize area dose rate monitoring data provided by automatic early warning network systems. The requirements and procedures laid down in this publication are based on studies within the MetroERM project, taking into account realistic technical approaches and tested procedures.

Improvements in Space Surveillance Processing for Wide Field of View Optical Sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sydney, P.; Wetterer, C.

2014-09-01

For more than a decade, an autonomous satellite tracking system at the Air Force Maui Optical and Supercomputing (AMOS) observatory has been generating routine astrometric measurements of Earth-orbiting Resident Space Objects (RSOs) using small commercial telescopes and sensors. Recent work has focused on developing an improved processing system, enhancing measurement performance and response while supporting other sensor systems and missions. This paper will outline improved techniques in scheduling, detection, astrometric and photometric measurements, and catalog maintenance. The processing system now integrates with Special Perturbation (SP) based astrodynamics algorithms, allowing covariance-based scheduling and more precise orbital estimates and object identification. A merit-based scheduling algorithm provides a global optimization framework to support diverse collection tasks and missions. The detection algorithms support a range of target tracking and camera acquisition rates. New comprehensive star catalogs allow for more precise astrometric and photometric calibrations including differential photometry for monitoring environmental changes. This paper will also examine measurement performance with varying tracking rates and acquisition parameters.

Automatic Selection of Clinical Trials Based on A Semantic Web Approach.

PubMed

Cuggia, Marc; Campillo-Gimenez, Boris; Bouzille, Guillaume; Besana, Paolo; Jouini, Wassim; Dufour, Jean-Charles; Zekri, Oussama; Gibaud, Isabelle; Garde, Cyril; Duvauferier, Regis

2015-01-01

Recruitment of patients in clinical trials is nowadays preoccupying, as the inclusion rate is particularly low. The main identified factors are the multiplicity of open clinical trials, the high number and complexity of eligibility criteria, and the additional workload that a systematic search of the clinical trials a patient could be enrolled in for a physician. The principal objective of the ASTEC project is to automate the prescreening phase during multidisciplinary meetings (MDM). This paper presents the evaluation of a computerized recruitment support systems (CRSS) based on semantic web approach. The evaluation of the system was based on data collected retrospectively from a 6 month period of MDM in Urology and on 4 clinical trials of prostate cancer. The classification performance of the ASTEC system had a precision of 21%, recall of 93%, and an error rate equal to 37%. Missing data was the main issue encountered. The system was designed to be both scalable to other clinical domains and usable during MDM process.

Hybrid context aware recommender systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jain, Rajshree; Tyagi, Jaya; Singh, Sandeep Kumar; Alam, Taj

2017-10-01

Recommender systems and context awareness is currently a vital field of research. Most hybrid recommendation systems implement content based and collaborative filtering techniques whereas this work combines context and collaborative filtering. The paper presents a hybrid context aware recommender system for books and movies that gives recommendations based on the user context as well as user or item similarity. It also addresses the issue of dimensionality reduction using weighted pre filtering based on dynamically entered user context and preference of context. This unique step helps to reduce the size of dataset for collaborative filtering. Bias subtracted collaborative filtering is used so as to consider the relative rating of a particular user and not the absolute values. Cosine similarity is used as a metric to determine the similarity between users or items. The unknown ratings are calculated and evaluated using MSE (Mean Squared Error) in test and train datasets. The overall process of recommendation has helped to personalize recommendations and give more accurate results with reduced complexity in collaborative filtering.

[Development of the 2014 G-DRG system. Departure from coding of secondary diagnoses?].

PubMed

Volkmer, B G; Kahlmeyer, A; Petervari, M; Pechoel, M

2014-01-01

The objective of the German DRG (diagnosis-related groups) system is to adequately reimburse hospital costs using flat rate payments. The goal is to thereby achieve the most adequate representation of hospital costs in flat rate payments. The DRG for 2014 is based on the actual number of cases treated and the costs determined from 2012. For 2014, the current changes of the DRG system for the specialty urology concerning the coding and recording of secondary diagnoses are presented and discussed.

A quality improvement initiative to increase HPV vaccine rates using an educational and reminder strategy with parents of preteen girls.

PubMed

Cassidy, Brenda; Braxter, Betty; Charron-Prochownik, Denise; Schlenk, Elizabeth A

2014-01-01

A quality improvement project was undertaken to determine if an evidence-based educational brochure and reminder system can increase human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine uptake and dose completion rates. Development of a brochure to promote HPV vaccine uptake was based on predictors of parental acceptance and Health Belief Model concepts. Electronic alerts prompted telephone reminders for dose completion. This quality improvement project utilized a quasi-experimental design with 24 parents of preteen girls from a private pediatric practice and a historical control group of 29 parents. HPV vaccine rates were compared between the groups. A significant difference in HPV vaccine uptake (χ(2) = 11.668, P = .001; odds ratio [OR] = 9.429, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.686-33.101) and dose completion (χ(2) = 16.171, P < .001; OR = 22.500, 95% CI = 4.291-117.990) rates were found between the historical control and intervention groups. Parents who received the clinical protocol were 9.4 times and 22.5 times more likely to have HPV vaccine uptake and dose completion, respectively. Low national HPV vaccine rates demonstrate the need for theory-based vaccine delivery programs. These results show that an evidence-based educational brochure and reminder system appeared to improve HPV vaccine uptake and dose completion rates at this private pediatric practice. Copyright © 2014 National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

[Study on interventions based on systematic ecological system construction to interrupt transmission of schistosomiasis in hilly endemic regions].

PubMed

Jia, Xu; Xue-Xiang, Wan; Lin, Chen; Bo, Zhong; Yi, Zhang

2016-10-13

To study the effectiveness of comprehensive control measures based on systematic ecological system construction to interrupt the transmission of schistosomiasis in hilly endemic regions in Sichuan Province, so as to provide the evidence for adjustment of schistosomiasis prevention and control strategies. A high endemic area of schistosomiasis, Panao Township of Dongpo District in Meishan City, was selected as a demonstration area. The comprehensive measures for schistosomiasis control with focus on systematic ecological management were implemented, and the income of residents, indexes of schistosomiasis control effect and so on were investigated before and after the intervention and the results were compared. The project based on systematic ecological system construction started in 2009 and 317.351 million Yuan was put into the construction. The construction included economic forest plant base (1 866.68 hm 2 , 72.66% of the total farmland areas), ecological protection gardens (585.35 hm 2 ) and so on. Totally 97.04% of historical areas with Oncomelania hupensis snails were comprehensively improved. In 2015, the peasants´ pure income per capita increased 4 938 Yuan, with the average annual growth rate of 14.69%. All the farm cattle were replaced by the machine. The benefit rate of water improvement was increased by 52.84% and the coverage rate of harmless toilets increased by 18.30%. The positive rate of serological tests for schistosomiasis decreased from 7.69% to 3.50%, and the positive rate of parasitological tests decreased from 1.18% to 0. The area with snails was decreased from 23.33 hm 2 to 0. The awareness rate of schistosomiasis control knowledge and correct behavior rate of the residents increased from 85.50% and 82.60% to 95.70% and 93.90% respectively. The comprehensive schistosomiasis control measures based on systematic ecological management are conform to the currently actual schistosomiasis prevention and control work in hilly endemic regions, and have good ecological economic benefit and schistosomiasis control effectiveness, which provide an effectively new model of prevention and control for advancing process, consolidating the effect, finally realizing goal of interruption and elimination of schistosomiasis in hilly endemic regions.

Graduates' perceptions of their clinical competencies in allergy and immunology: results of a survey.

PubMed

Li, James T-C; Stoll, Doris A; Smith, June E; Lin, John J; Swing, Susan R

2003-09-01

The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) have identified six areas of general competency. This study surveyed graduates of allergy and immunology training programs about their perceived clinical competency and the adequacy of their subspecialty training. In August 2000 and May 2001, a questionnaire was mailed to 373 physicians who had completed a fellowship in allergy and immunology in the United States between 1995 and 2001. Physicians were asked to rate the perceived importance and adequacy of their training in, and their level of competency for, 57 general competencies and subspecialty-specific competencies and procedures. A total of 253 physicians responded (68%). All items in the six ACGME/ABMS general competencies had high ratings (>/= 90%) for perceived importance. One item in the practice-based learning area had low ratings for adequacy of training (57%) and intermediate for competency (75%). Two items in the system-based practice area had low ratings for training (65% and 67%) and intermediate for competency (86% and 88%). Generally, core specialty-specific items (allergic rhinitis, asthma, and urticaria) had high ratings (>/= 90%) for importance, training, and competency. Without exception, items with ratings of less than 70% for adequacy of training also had ratings of less than 90% for competency. The general competencies were considered important, but training in system-based practice and practice-based learning may be deficient. Although self-perceived competency in core areas of allergy and immunology was high, weaknesses in training and self-perceived competency in selected areas were identified.

Development of one-minute rain-rate and rain-attenuation contour maps for satellite propagation system planning in a subtropical country: South Africa

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ojo, J. S.; Owolawi, P. A.

2014-10-01

Millimeter and microwave system design at higher frequencies require as input a 1-min rain-rate cumulative distribution function for estimating the level of degradation that can be encountered at such frequency bands. Owing to the lack of 1-min rain-rate data in South Africa and the availability of 5-min and hourly rainfall data, we have used rain-rate conversion models and the refined Moupfouma model to convert the available data into 1-min rain-rate statistics. The attenuation caused by these rain rates was predicted using the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) recommendations model. The Kriging interpolation method was used to draw contour maps over different percentages of time for spatial interpolation of rain-rate values into a regular grid in order to obtain a highly consistent and predictable inter-gauge rain-rate variation over South Africa. The present results will be useful for system designers of modern broadband wireless access (BWA) and high-density cell-based Ku/Ka, Q/V band satellite systems, over the desired area of coverage in order to determine the appropriate effective isotropically radiated power (EIRP) and receiver characteristics of this region.

Deviation-based spam-filtering method via stochastic approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Daekyung; Lee, Mi Jin; Kim, Beom Jun

2018-03-01

In the presence of a huge number of possible purchase choices, ranks or ratings of items by others often play very important roles for a buyer to make a final purchase decision. Perfectly objective rating is an impossible task to achieve, and we often use an average rating built on how previous buyers estimated the quality of the product. The problem of using a simple average rating is that it can easily be polluted by careless users whose evaluation of products cannot be trusted, and by malicious spammers who try to bias the rating result on purpose. In this letter we suggest how trustworthiness of individual users can be systematically and quantitatively reflected to build a more reliable rating system. We compute the suitably defined reliability of each user based on the user's rating pattern for all products she evaluated. We call our proposed method as the deviation-based ranking, since the statistical significance of each user's rating pattern with respect to the average rating pattern is the key ingredient. We find that our deviation-based ranking method outperforms existing methods in filtering out careless random evaluators as well as malicious spammers.

FOR Allocation to Distribution Systems based on Credible Improvement Potential (CIP)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tiwary, Aditya; Arya, L. D.; Arya, Rajesh; Choube, S. C.

2017-02-01

This paper describes an algorithm for forced outage rate (FOR) allocation to each section of an electrical distribution system subject to satisfaction of reliability constraints at each load point. These constraints include threshold values of basic reliability indices, for example, failure rate, interruption duration and interruption duration per year at load points. Component improvement potential measure has been used for FOR allocation. Component with greatest magnitude of credible improvement potential (CIP) measure is selected for improving reliability performance. The approach adopted is a monovariable method where one component is selected for FOR allocation and in the next iteration another component is selected for FOR allocation based on the magnitude of CIP. The developed algorithm is implemented on sample radial distribution system.

REE radiation fault model: a tool for organizing and communication radiation test data and construction COTS based spacebourne computing systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ferraro, R.; Some, R.

2002-01-01

The growth in data rates of instruments on future NASA spacecraft continues to outstrip the improvement in communications bandwidth and processing capabilities of radiation-hardened computers. Sophisticated autonomous operations strategies will further increase the processing workload. Given the reductions in spacecraft size and available power, standard radiation hardened computing systems alone will not be able to address the requirements of future missions. The REE project was intended to overcome this obstacle by developing a COTS- based supercomputer suitable for use as a science and autonomy data processor in most space environments. This development required a detailed knowledge of system behavior in the presence of Single Event Effect (SEE) induced faults so that mitigation strategies could be designed to recover system level reliability while maintaining the COTS throughput advantage. The REE project has developed a suite of tools and a methodology for predicting SEU induced transient fault rates in a range of natural space environments from ground-based radiation testing of component parts. In this paper we provide an overview of this methodology and tool set with a concentration on the radiation fault model and its use in the REE system development methodology. Using test data reported elsewhere in this and other conferences, we predict upset rates for a particular COTS single board computer configuration in several space environments.

Adaptive power allocation schemes based on IAFS algorithm for OFDM-based cognitive radio systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Shuying; Zhao, Xiaohui; Liang, Cong; Ding, Xu

2017-01-01

In cognitive radio (CR) systems, reasonable power allocation can increase transmission rate of CR users or secondary users (SUs) as much as possible and at the same time insure normal communication among primary users (PUs). This study proposes an optimal power allocation scheme for the OFDM-based CR system with one SU influenced by multiple PU interference constraints. This scheme is based on an improved artificial fish swarm (IAFS) algorithm in combination with the advantage of conventional artificial fish swarm (ASF) algorithm and particle swarm optimisation (PSO) algorithm. In performance comparison of IAFS algorithm with other intelligent algorithms by simulations, the superiority of the IAFS algorithm is illustrated; this superiority results in better performance of our proposed scheme than that of the power allocation algorithms proposed by the previous studies in the same scenario. Furthermore, our proposed scheme can obtain higher transmission data rate under the multiple PU interference constraints and the total power constraint of SU than that of the other mentioned works.

Intrusion recognition for optic fiber vibration sensor based on the selective attention mechanism

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Haiyan; Xie, Yingjuan; Li, Min; Zhang, Zhuo; Zhang, Xuewu

2017-11-01

Distributed fiber-optic vibration sensors receive extensive investigation and play a significant role in the sensor panorama. A fiber optic perimeter detection system based on all-fiber interferometric sensor is proposed, through the back-end analysis, processing and intelligent identification, which can distinguish effects of different intrusion activities. In this paper, an intrusion recognition based on the auditory selective attention mechanism is proposed. Firstly, considering the time-frequency of vibration, the spectrogram is calculated. Secondly, imitating the selective attention mechanism, the color, direction and brightness map of the spectrogram is computed. Based on these maps, the feature matrix is formed after normalization. The system could recognize the intrusion activities occurred along the perimeter sensors. Experiment results show that the proposed method for the perimeter is able to differentiate intrusion signals from ambient noises. What's more, the recognition rate of the system is improved while deduced the false alarm rate, the approach is proved by large practical experiment and project.

New activity-based funding model for Australian private sector overnight rehabilitation cases: the rehabilitation Australian National Sub-Acute and Non-Acute Patient (AN-SNAP) model.

PubMed

Hanning, Brian; Predl, Nicolle

2015-09-01

Traditional overnight rehabilitation payment models in the private sector are not based on a rigorous classification system and vary greatly between contracts with no consideration of patient complexity. The payment rates are not based on relative cost and the length-of-stay (LOS) point at which a reduced rate applies (step downs) varies markedly. The rehabilitation Australian National Sub-Acute and Non-Acute Patient (AN-SNAP) model (RAM), which has been in place for over 2 years in some private hospitals, bases payment on a rigorous classification system, relative cost and industry LOS. RAM is in the process of being rolled out more widely. This paper compares and contrasts RAM with traditional overnight rehabilitation payment models. It considers the advantages of RAM for hospitals and Australian Health Service Alliance. It also considers payment model changes in the context of maintaining industry consistency with Electronic Claims Lodgement and Information Processing System Environment (ECLIPSE) and health reform generally.

Modeling validation and control analysis for controlled temperature and humidity of air conditioning system.

PubMed

Lee, Jing-Nang; Lin, Tsung-Min; Chen, Chien-Chih

2014-01-01

This study constructs an energy based model of thermal system for controlled temperature and humidity air conditioning system, and introduces the influence of the mass flow rate, heater and humidifier for proposed control criteria to achieve the controlled temperature and humidity of air conditioning system. Then, the reliability of proposed thermal system model is established by both MATLAB dynamic simulation and the literature validation. Finally, the PID control strategy is applied for controlling the air mass flow rate, humidifying capacity, and heating, capacity. The simulation results show that the temperature and humidity are stable at 541 sec, the disturbance of temperature is only 0.14 °C, 0006 kg(w)/kg(da) in steady-state error of humidity ratio, and the error rate is only 7.5%. The results prove that the proposed system is an effective controlled temperature and humidity of an air conditioning system.

Modeling Validation and Control Analysis for Controlled Temperature and Humidity of Air Conditioning System

PubMed Central

Lee, Jing-Nang; Lin, Tsung-Min

2014-01-01

This study constructs an energy based model of thermal system for controlled temperature and humidity air conditioning system, and introduces the influence of the mass flow rate, heater and humidifier for proposed control criteria to achieve the controlled temperature and humidity of air conditioning system. Then, the reliability of proposed thermal system model is established by both MATLAB dynamic simulation and the literature validation. Finally, the PID control strategy is applied for controlling the air mass flow rate, humidifying capacity, and heating, capacity. The simulation results show that the temperature and humidity are stable at 541 sec, the disturbance of temperature is only 0.14°C, 0006 kgw/kgda in steady-state error of humidity ratio, and the error rate is only 7.5%. The results prove that the proposed system is an effective controlled temperature and humidity of an air conditioning system. PMID:25250390

Leveraging the trusted clinician: increasing retention in disease management through integrated program delivery.

PubMed

Frazee, Sharon Glave; Sherman, Bruce; Fabius, Raymond; Ryan, Pamela; Kirkpatrick, Patricia; Davis, Jeffery

2008-10-01

Disease management's (DM's) value largely depends on achieving and maintaining participation. Simply being enrolled in a program does not guarantee engaged participation by enrollees, a necessary factor to achieve the improved health outcomes and subsequent reduced health care costs that are the ultimate objective of DM. The objective of this study is to test the hypothesis that an integrated disease management (IDM) protocol (patent-pending), which combines telephonic-delivered disease management (TDM) with a worksite-based primary care center and pharmacy delivery, yields higher patient retention rates than traditional remote DM alone. An earlier study of the IDM protocol found that integrating a worksite-based primary care and pharmacy delivery system with traditional telephonic-based DM substantially increased contact, enrollment, and engagement rates compared to traditional stand-alone telephonic DM. This prospective cohort study tracks contact and enrollment rates for persons assigned to either IDM or traditional TDM protocols and compares participation rates at 6- and 12-month intervals as well as measures of continued retention in the DM program. The IDM protocol showed a significant improvement in participation persistence over traditional TDM. Integrating a worksite-based primary care and pharmacy delivery system led by "trusted clinicians at the workplace"trade mark with traditional telephonic-based DM not only increases contact and enrollment rates, but also results in higher patient engagement and retention. These improvements in participation are expected to result in improved outcomes for a larger proportion of the target population than traditional telephonic DM.

Phase change water processing for Space Station

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zdankiewicz, E. M.; Price, D. F.

1985-01-01

The use of a vapor compression distillation subsystem (VCDS) for water recovery on the Space Station is analyzed. The self-contained automated system can process waste water at a rate of 32.6 kg/day and requires only 115 W of electric power. The improvements in the mechanical components of VCDS are studied. The operation of VCDS in the normal mode is examined. The VCDS preprototype is evaluated based on water quality, water production rate, and specific energy. The relation between water production rate and fluids pump speed is investigated; it is concluded that a variable speed fluids pump will optimize water production. Components development and testing currently being conducted are described. The properties and operation of the proposed phase change water processing system for the Space Station, based on vapor compression distillation, are examined.

Comparison of response rates on invitation mode of a web-based survey on influenza vaccine adverse events among healthcare workers: a pilot study.

PubMed

Tai, Xiaochen; Smith, Alanna M; McGeer, Allison J; Dubé, Eve; Holness, Dorothy Linn; Katz, Kevin; McGillis Hall, Linda; McNeil, Shelly A; Powis, Jeff; Coleman, Brenda L

2018-06-20

Web-based surveys have become increasingly popular but response rates are low and may be prone to selection bias. How people are invited to participate may impact response rates and needs further study as previous evidence is contradictory. The purpose of this study was to determine whether response to a web-based survey of healthcare workers would be higher with a posted or an emailed invitation. We also report results of the pilot study, which aims to estimate the percentage of adults vaccinated against influenza who report recurrent systemic adverse events (the same systemic adverse event occurring successively following receipt of influenza vaccines). The pilot study was conducted in November 2016 in Toronto, Canada. Members of a registry of adults (18 years and older and predominantly healthcare workers) who volunteered to receive information regarding future studies about influenza were randomly assigned to receive either an email or postal invitation to complete a web-based survey regarding influenza vaccinations. Non-respondents received one reminder using the same mode of contact as their original invitation. The overall response rate was higher for those sent the invitation by email (34.8%) than by post (25.8%; p < 0.001) and for older versus younger participants (p trend  < 0.001). Of those who responded, 387/401 had been vaccinated against influenza at least once since adulthood. Of those responding to the question, 70/386 (18.1%) reported a systemic adverse event after their most recent influenza vaccine including 22 (5.7%) who reported a recurring systemic event. Systemic adverse events were reported more often by males 18-49 years old than by other groups (p = 0.01). Recurrent systemic adverse events were similar by age and sex with muscle ache being the most commonly reported recurrent reaction. More respondents who reported only a local adverse event (93.1%) planned to be vaccinated again next year than those with a systemic adverse event (69.7%; p = 0.04). In this convenience sample of registry volunteers, response rates were generally low, but were higher for the emailed than posted invitations and for older than younger adults.

Validity of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association scoring system based on patient-reported improvement after posterior lumbar interbody fusion.

PubMed

Fujimori, Takahito; Okuda, Shinya; Iwasaki, Motoki; Yamasaki, Ryoji; Maeno, Takafumi; Yamashita, Tomoya; Matsumoto, Tomiya; Wada, Eiji; Oda, Takenori

2016-06-01

The Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scoring system is a physician-based outcome that has been used to evaluate treatment effectiveness after lumbar surgery. However, patient-centered evaluation becomes increasingly important. There is no study that has examined the relationship between the JOA scoring system and patients' self-reported improvement. The purpose of the present study was to validate the JOA scoring system for assessment of patient-reported improvement after lumbar surgery. This is a retrospective review of prospectively collected data. The patient sample included 273 mail-in responders of the 466 consecutive patients who underwent posterior lumbar interbody fusion for spondylolisthesis between 1996 and 2008 in a single hospital. The outcome measures were the JOA scoring system and patients' self-reported improvement. Two hundred seventy three patients were divided into five anchoring groups based on self-reported improvement from "Much better" to "Much worse." Outcomes (ie, recovery rate, amount of change from preoperative condition, and postoperative score) based on the JOA scoring system were compared among groups. Using the patient's self-reported improvement scale as an anchor, the association among each of the outcomes was examined. The cutoff point and the area under the curve (AUC) that differentiated "Improved" from "Neither improved nor worse" was calculated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. The recovery rate and postoperative score were significantly different in 9 of 10 pairs of anchoring groups. The amount of change was significantly different in six pairs. Spearman correlation coefficient for the 5-point scale anchors of patients' self-reported improvement was 0.20 (p=.001) for the baseline score, 0.31 (p<.001) for the amount of change, 0.55 (p<.001) for the recovery rate, and 0.56 (p<.001) for the postoperative score. According to ROC analysis, the best cutoff points and AUCs were 13 points and 0.69, respectively, for the amount of change, 67% and 0.73, respectively, for recovery rate, and 23 points and 0.72, respectively, for postoperative score. The JOA scoring system is a valid method for assessment of patients' self-reported improvement. Patients' self-reported improvement is more likely to be associated with the final condition, such as postoperative score or recovery rate, rather than the change from the preoperative condition. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Total energy based flight control system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lambregts, Antonius A. (Inventor)

1985-01-01

An integrated aircraft longitudinal flight control system uses a generalized thrust and elevator command computation (38), which accepts flight path angle, longitudinal acceleration command signals, along with associated feedback signals, to form energy rate error (20) and energy rate distribution error (18) signals. The engine thrust command is developed (22) as a function of the energy rate distribution error and the elevator position command is developed (26) as a function of the energy distribution error. For any vertical flight path and speed mode the outerloop errors are normalized (30, 34) to produce flight path angle and longitudinal acceleration commands. The system provides decoupled flight path and speed control for all control modes previously provided by the longitudinal autopilot, autothrottle and flight management systems.

International PV QA Task Force's Proposed Comparative Rating System for PV Modules: Preprint

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wohlgemuth, J.; Kurtz, S.

The International PV Quality Assurance Task Force is developing a rating system that provides comparative information about the relative durability of PV modules. Development of accelerated stress tests that can provide such comparative information is seen as a major step toward being able to predict PV module service life. This paper will provide details of the ongoing effort to determine the format of such an overall module rating system. The latest proposal is based on using three distinct climate zones as defined in IEC 60721-2-1 for two different mounting systems. Specific stresses beyond those used in the qualification tests aremore » being developed for each of the selected climate zones.« less

Method and system for efficient video compression with low-complexity encoder

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chen, Jun (Inventor); He, Dake (Inventor); Sheinin, Vadim (Inventor); Jagmohan, Ashish (Inventor); Lu, Ligang (Inventor)

2012-01-01

Disclosed are a method and system for video compression, wherein the video encoder has low computational complexity and high compression efficiency. The disclosed system comprises a video encoder and a video decoder, wherein the method for encoding includes the steps of converting a source frame into a space-frequency representation; estimating conditional statistics of at least one vector of space-frequency coefficients; estimating encoding rates based on the said conditional statistics; and applying Slepian-Wolf codes with the said computed encoding rates. The preferred method for decoding includes the steps of; generating a side-information vector of frequency coefficients based on previously decoded source data, encoder statistics, and previous reconstructions of the source frequency vector; and performing Slepian-Wolf decoding of at least one source frequency vector based on the generated side-information, the Slepian-Wolf code bits and the encoder statistics.

Motion-compensated detection of heart rate based on the time registration adaptive filter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Lei; Zhou, Jinsong; Jing, Juanjuan; Li, Yacan; Wei, Lidong; Feng, Lei; He, Xiaoying; Bu, Meixia; Fu, Xilu

2018-01-01

A non-contact heart rate detection method based on the dual-wavelength technique is proposed and demonstrated experimentally. The heart rate is obtained based on the PhotoPlethysmoGraphy (PPG). Each detection module uses the reflection detection probe which is composed of the LED and the photodiode. It is a well-known fact that the differences in the circuits of two detection modules result in different responses of two modules for motion artifacts. It will cause a time delay between the two signals. This poses a great challenge to compensate the motion artifacts during measurements. In order to solve this problem, we have firstly used the time registration and translated the signals to ensure that the two signals are consistent in time domain. Then the adaptive filter is used to compensate the motion artifacts. Moreover, the data obtained by using this non-contact detection system is compared with those of the conventional finger blood volume pulse (BVP) sensor by simultaneously measuring the heart rate of the subject. During the experiment, the left hand remains stationary and is detected by a conventional finger BVP sensor. Meanwhile, the moving palm of right hand is detected by the proposed system. The data obtained from the proposed non-contact system are consistent and comparable with that of the BVP sensor. This method can effectively suppress the interference caused by the two circuit differences and successfully compensate the motion artifacts. This technology can be used in medical and daily heart rate measurement.

Real Time Coincidence Detection Engine for High Count Rate Timestamp Based PET

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tetrault, M.-A.; Oliver, J. F.; Bergeron, M.; Lecomte, R.; Fontaine, R.

2010-02-01

Coincidence engines follow two main implementation flows: timestamp based systems and AND-gate based systems. The latter have been more widespread in recent years because of its lower cost and high efficiency. However, they are highly dependent on the selected electronic components, they have limited flexibility once assembled and they are customized to fit a specific scanner's geometry. Timestamp based systems are gathering more attention lately, especially with high channel count fully digital systems. These new systems must however cope with important singles count rates. One option is to record every detected event and postpone coincidence detection offline. For daily use systems, a real time engine is preferable because it dramatically reduces data volume and hence image preprocessing time and raw data management. This paper presents the timestamp based coincidence engine for the LabPET¿, a small animal PET scanner with up to 4608 individual readout avalanche photodiode channels. The engine can handle up to 100 million single events per second and has extensive flexibility because it resides in programmable logic devices. It can be adapted for any detector geometry or channel count, can be ported to newer, faster programmable devices and can have extra modules added to take advantage of scanner-specific features. Finally, the user can select between full processing mode for imaging protocols and minimum processing mode to study different approaches for coincidence detection with offline software.

One State's Systems Change Efforts to Reduce Child Care Expulsion: Taking the Pyramid Model to Scale

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vinh, Megan; Strain, Phil; Davidon, Sarah; Smith, Barbara J.

2016-01-01

This article describes the efforts funded by the state of Colorado to address unacceptably high rates of expulsion from child care. Based on the results of a 2006 survey, the state of Colorado launched two complementary policy initiatives in 2009 to impact expulsion rates and to improve the use of evidence-based practices related to challenging…

Identifying online user reputation in terms of user preference

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dai, Lu; Guo, Qiang; Liu, Xiao-Lu; Liu, Jian-Guo; Zhang, Yi-Cheng

2018-03-01

Identifying online user reputation is significant for online social systems. In this paper, taking into account the preference physics of online user collective behaviors, we present an improved group-based rating method for ranking online user reputation based on the user preference (PGR). All the ratings given by each specific user are mapped to the same rating criteria. By grouping users according to their mapped ratings, the online user reputation is calculated based on the corresponding group sizes. Results for MovieLens and Netflix data sets show that the AUC values of the PGR method can reach 0.9842 (0.9493) and 0.9995 (0.9987) for malicious (random) spammers, respectively, outperforming the results generated by the traditional group-based method, which indicates that the online preference plays an important role for measuring user reputation.

Simulation of biochemical reactions with time-dependent rates by the rejection-based algorithm

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Thanh, Vo Hong, E-mail: vo@cosbi.eu; Priami, Corrado, E-mail: priami@cosbi.eu; Department of Mathematics, University of Trento, Trento

We address the problem of simulating biochemical reaction networks with time-dependent rates and propose a new algorithm based on our rejection-based stochastic simulation algorithm (RSSA) [Thanh et al., J. Chem. Phys. 141(13), 134116 (2014)]. The computation for selecting next reaction firings by our time-dependent RSSA (tRSSA) is computationally efficient. Furthermore, the generated trajectory is exact by exploiting the rejection-based mechanism. We benchmark tRSSA on different biological systems with varying forms of reaction rates to demonstrate its applicability and efficiency. We reveal that for nontrivial cases, the selection of reaction firings in existing algorithms introduces approximations because the integration of reactionmore » rates is very computationally demanding and simplifying assumptions are introduced. The selection of the next reaction firing by our approach is easier while preserving the exactness.« less

Development of a Rating Tool for Mobile Cancer Apps: Information Analysis and Formal and Content-Related Evaluation of Selected Cancer Apps.

PubMed

Böhme, Cathleen; von Osthoff, Marc Baron; Frey, Katrin; Hübner, Jutta

2017-08-17

Mobile apps are offered in large numbers and have different qualities. The aim of this article was to develop a rating tool based on formal and content-related criteria for the assessment of cancer apps and to test its applicability on apps. After a thorough analysis of the literature, we developed a specific rating tool for cancer apps based on the MARS (mobile app rating system) and a rating tool for cancer websites. This instrument was applied to apps freely available in stores and focusing on some cancer topic. Ten apps were rated on the basis of 22 criteria. Sixty percent of the apps (6/10) were rated poor and insufficient. The rating by different scientists was homogenous. The good apps had reliable sources were regularly updated and had a concrete intent/purpose in their app description. In contrast, the apps that were rated poor had no distinction of scientific content and advertisement. In some cases, there was no imprint to identify the provider. As apps of poor quality can give misinformation and lead to wrong treatment decisions, efforts have to be made to increase usage of high-quality apps. Certification would help cancer patients to identify reliable apps, yet acceptance of a certification system must be backed up.

A Phonocardiographic-Based Fiber-Optic Sensor and Adaptive Filtering System for Noninvasive Continuous Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring.

PubMed

Martinek, Radek; Nedoma, Jan; Fajkus, Marcel; Kahankova, Radana; Konecny, Jaromir; Janku, Petr; Kepak, Stanislav; Bilik, Petr; Nazeran, Homer

2017-04-18

This paper focuses on the design, realization, and verification of a novel phonocardiographic- based fiber-optic sensor and adaptive signal processing system for noninvasive continuous fetal heart rate (fHR) monitoring. Our proposed system utilizes two Mach-Zehnder interferometeric sensors. Based on the analysis of real measurement data, we developed a simplified dynamic model for the generation and distribution of heart sounds throughout the human body. Building on this signal model, we then designed, implemented, and verified our adaptive signal processing system by implementing two stochastic gradient-based algorithms: the Least Mean Square Algorithm (LMS), and the Normalized Least Mean Square (NLMS) Algorithm. With this system we were able to extract the fHR information from high quality fetal phonocardiograms (fPCGs), filtered from abdominal maternal phonocardiograms (mPCGs) by performing fPCG signal peak detection. Common signal processing methods such as linear filtering, signal subtraction, and others could not be used for this purpose as fPCG and mPCG signals share overlapping frequency spectra. The performance of the adaptive system was evaluated by using both qualitative (gynecological studies) and quantitative measures such as: Signal-to-Noise Ratio-SNR, Root Mean Square Error-RMSE, Sensitivity-S+, and Positive Predictive Value-PPV.

A Phonocardiographic-Based Fiber-Optic Sensor and Adaptive Filtering System for Noninvasive Continuous Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring

PubMed Central

Martinek, Radek; Nedoma, Jan; Fajkus, Marcel; Kahankova, Radana; Konecny, Jaromir; Janku, Petr; Kepak, Stanislav; Bilik, Petr; Nazeran, Homer

2017-01-01

This paper focuses on the design, realization, and verification of a novel phonocardiographic- based fiber-optic sensor and adaptive signal processing system for noninvasive continuous fetal heart rate (fHR) monitoring. Our proposed system utilizes two Mach-Zehnder interferometeric sensors. Based on the analysis of real measurement data, we developed a simplified dynamic model for the generation and distribution of heart sounds throughout the human body. Building on this signal model, we then designed, implemented, and verified our adaptive signal processing system by implementing two stochastic gradient-based algorithms: the Least Mean Square Algorithm (LMS), and the Normalized Least Mean Square (NLMS) Algorithm. With this system we were able to extract the fHR information from high quality fetal phonocardiograms (fPCGs), filtered from abdominal maternal phonocardiograms (mPCGs) by performing fPCG signal peak detection. Common signal processing methods such as linear filtering, signal subtraction, and others could not be used for this purpose as fPCG and mPCG signals share overlapping frequency spectra. The performance of the adaptive system was evaluated by using both qualitative (gynecological studies) and quantitative measures such as: Signal-to-Noise Ratio—SNR, Root Mean Square Error—RMSE, Sensitivity—S+, and Positive Predictive Value—PPV. PMID:28420215

Lower extremity amputation rates in people with diabetes as an indicator of health systems performance. A critical appraisal of the data collection 2000-2011 by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

PubMed

Carinci, F; Massi Benedetti, M; Klazinga, N S; Uccioli, L

2016-10-01

Critical appraisal of secondary data made available by the OECD for the time frame 2000-2011. Comparison of trends and variation of amputations in people with diabetes across OECD countries. Generalized estimating equations to test the statistical significance of the annual change adjusting for major potential confounders. A total of 26 OECD countries contributed to the OECD data collection for at least 1 year in the reference time frame, showing a decline in rates of over 40 %, from a mean of 13.2 (median 9.4, range 5.1-28.1) to 7.8 amputations per 100,000 in the general population (9.9, 1.0-18.4). The multivariate model showed an average decrease equal to -0.27 per 100,000 per year (p = 0.015), adjusted by structural characteristics of health systems, showing lower amputation rates for health systems financed by public taxation (-4.55 per 100,000 compared to insurance based, p = 0.002) and non-ICD coding mechanisms (-7.04 per 100,000 compared to ICD-derived, p = 0.001). Twelve-year decrease was stronger among insurance-based financing systems (tax based: -0.16 per 100,000, p = 0.064; insurance based: -0.36 per 100,000; p = 0.046). In OECD countries, amputation rates in diabetes continuously decreased over 12 years. Still, in 2011, one amputation every 7 min could be directly attributed to diabetes. Although interesting, these results should be taken with extreme caution, until common definitions are improved and data quality issues, e.g., a different ability in capturing diabetes diagnoses, are fully resolved.

[Study on interventions based on urban - rural integration system construction to consolidate achievements of schistosomiasis control in hilly schistosomiasis endemic areas].

PubMed

Rong-Zhi, Li; Yang, Liu; Hui, Zhang; Yi, Zhang; Bo, Zhong; Jian-Jun, Wu; Chun-Xia, Yang

2017-09-28

To explore the effectiveness of comprehensive schistosomiasis control interventions based on urban-rural integration system construction to carry out the schistosomiasis control in hilly schistosomiasis endemic areas, so as to offer a new mode to consolidate the achievements of schistosomiasis control in the new situation. Shouan Town and Changqiu Township in Pujiang County in hilly schistosomiasis endemic regions were selected as demonstration areas. The comprehensive schistosomiasis control interventions based on urban-rural integration system construction were implemented, including the land consolidation, centralized residence and so on. The effectiveness the interventions was evaluated. In Shouan Town and Changqiu Township, the transformed environments with Oncomelania hupensis snail habitats were 1 330.61 hm 2 and 1 456.84 hm 2 , the areas with snails decreased from 94.31 hm 2 and 83.00 hm 2 in 2000 to both 0 in 2015, the positive rates of serological tests for schistosomiasis decreased from 11.8% and 7.53% in 2000 to 1.01% and 1.86% in 2015, and the positive rates of parasitological tests decreased from 0.18% and 0.15% in 2000 to both 0 in 2015 respectively. The numbers of cattle decreased from 358 and 368 in 2000 to 4 and 6 in 2015 respectively. In 2000, the schistosome infection rates of cattle were 3.63% and 6.51% in Shouan Town and Changqiu Township respectively, and from 2004, no infected cattle were found. The comprehensive schistosomiasis control interventions based on urban-rural integration system construction can decrease the schistosome infection rate and area with snails effectively, providing a new mode for schistosomiasis elimination.

Interactive content-based image retrieval (CBIR) computer-aided diagnosis (CADx) system for ultrasound breast masses using relevance feedback

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cho, Hyun-chong; Hadjiiski, Lubomir; Sahiner, Berkman; Chan, Heang-Ping; Paramagul, Chintana; Helvie, Mark; Nees, Alexis V.

2012-03-01

We designed a Content-Based Image Retrieval (CBIR) Computer-Aided Diagnosis (CADx) system to assist radiologists in characterizing masses on ultrasound images. The CADx system retrieves masses that are similar to a query mass from a reference library based on computer-extracted features that describe texture, width-to-height ratio, and posterior shadowing of a mass. Retrieval is performed with k nearest neighbor (k-NN) method using Euclidean distance similarity measure and Rocchio relevance feedback algorithm (RRF). In this study, we evaluated the similarity between the query and the retrieved masses with relevance feedback using our interactive CBIR CADx system. The similarity assessment and feedback were provided by experienced radiologists' visual judgment. For training the RRF parameters, similarities of 1891 image pairs obtained from 62 masses were rated by 3 MQSA radiologists using a 9-point scale (9=most similar). A leave-one-out method was used in training. For each query mass, 5 most similar masses were retrieved from the reference library using radiologists' similarity ratings, which were then used by RRF to retrieve another 5 masses for the same query. The best RRF parameters were chosen based on three simulated observer experiments, each of which used one of the radiologists' ratings for retrieval and relevance feedback. For testing, 100 independent query masses on 100 images and 121 reference masses on 230 images were collected. Three radiologists rated the similarity between the query and the computer-retrieved masses. Average similarity ratings without and with RRF were 5.39 and 5.64 on the training set and 5.78 and 6.02 on the test set, respectively. The average Az values without and with RRF were 0.86+/-0.03 and 0.87+/-0.03 on the training set and 0.91+/-0.03 and 0.90+/-0.03 on the test set, respectively. This study demonstrated that RRF improved the similarity of the retrieved masses.

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Interim Report on Customer Acceptance, Retention, and Response to Time-Based Rates from the Consumer Behavior Studies

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cappers, Peter; Hans, Liesel; Scheer, Richard

Time-based rate programs1, enabled by utility investments in advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), are increasingly being considered by utilities as tools to reduce peak demand and enable customers to better manage consumption and costs. There are several customer systems that are relatively new to the marketplace and have the potential for improving the effectiveness of these programs, including in-home displays (IHDs), programmable communicating thermostats (PCTs), and web portals. Policy and decision makers are interested in more information about customer acceptance, retention, and response before moving forward with expanded deployments of AMI-enabled new rates and technologies. Under the Smart Grid Investment Grantmore » Program (SGIG), the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) partnered with several utilities to conduct consumer behavior studies (CBS). The goals involved applying randomized and controlled experimental designs for estimating customer responses more precisely and credibly to advance understanding of time-based rates and customer systems, and provide new information for improving program designs, implementation strategies, and evaluations. The intent was to produce more robust and credible analysis of impacts, costs, benefits, and lessons learned and assist utility and regulatory decision makers in evaluating investment opportunities involving time-based rates. To help achieve these goals, DOE developed technical guidelines to help the CBS utilities estimate customer acceptance, retention, and response more precisely.« less

A Nano-Thin Film-Based Prototype QCM Sensor Array for Monitoring Human Breath and Respiratory Patterns.

PubMed

Selyanchyn, Roman; Wakamatsu, Shunichi; Hayashi, Kenshi; Lee, Seung-Woo

2015-07-31

Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) sensor array was developed for multi-purpose human respiration assessment. The sensor system was designed to provide feedback for human respiration. Thorough optimization of measurement conditions: air flow, temperature in the QCM chamber, frequency measurement rate, and electrode position regarding to the gas flow-was performed. As shown, acquisition of respiratory parameters (rate and respiratory pattern) could be achieved even with a single electrode used in the system. The prototype system contains eight available QCM channels that can be potentially used for selective responses to certain breath chemicals. At present, the prototype machine is ready for the assessment of respiratory functions in larger populations in order to gain statistical validation. To the best of our knowledge, the developed prototype is the only respiratory assessment system based on surface modified QCM sensors.

TANDIR: projectile warning system using uncooled bolometric technology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Horovitz-Limor, Z.; Zahler, M.

2007-04-01

Following the demand for affordable, various range and light-weight protection against ATGM's, Elisra develops a cost-effective passive IR system for ground vehicles. The system is based on wide FOV uncooled bolometric sensors with full azimuth coverage and a lightweight processing & control unit. The system design is based on the harsh environmental conditions. The basic algorithm discriminates the target from its clutter and predicts the time to impact (TTI) and the target aiming direction with relation to vehicle. The current detector format is 320*240 pixels and frame rate is 60 Hz, Spectral response is on Far Infrared (8-14μ). The digital video output has 14bit resolution & wide dynamic range. Future goal is to enhance detection performance by using large format uncooled detector (640X480) with improved sensitivity and higher frame rates (up to 120HZ).

Recent experiences with implementing a video based six degree of freedom measurement system for airplane models in a 20 foot diameter vertical spin tunnel

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Snow, Walter L.; Childers, Brooks A.; Jones, Stephen B.; Fremaux, Charles M.

1993-01-01

A model space positioning system (MSPS), a state-of-the-art, real-time tracking system to provide the test engineer with on line model pitch and spin rate information, is described. It is noted that the six-degree-of-freedom post processor program will require additional programming effort both in the automated tracking mode for high spin rates and in accuracy to meet the measurement objectives. An independent multicamera system intended to augment the MSPS is studied using laboratory calibration methods based on photogrammetry to characterize the losses in various recording options. Data acquired to Super VHS tape encoded with Vertical Interval Time Code and transcribed to video disk are considered to be a reasonable priced choice for post editing and processing video data.

Compact nanosecond laser system for the ignition of aeronautic combustion engines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Amiard-Hudebine, G.; Tison, G.; Freysz, E.

2016-12-01

We have studied and developed a compact nanosecond laser system dedicated to the ignition of aeronautic combustion engines. This system is based on a nanosecond microchip laser delivering 6 μJ nanosecond pulses, which are amplified in two successive stages. The first stage is based on an Ytterbium doped fiber amplifier (YDFA) working in a quasi-continuous-wave (QCW) regime. Pumped at 1 kHz repetition rate, it delivers TEM00 and linearly polarized nanosecond pulses centered at 1064 nm with energies up to 350 μJ. These results are in very good agreement with the model we specially designed for a pulsed QCW pump regime. The second amplification stage is based on a compact Nd:YAG double-pass amplifier pumped by a 400 W peak power QCW diode centered at λ = 808 nm and coupled to a 800 μm core multimode fiber. At 10 Hz repetition rate, this system amplifies the pulse delivered by the YDFA up to 11 mJ while preserving its beam profile, polarization ratio, and pulse duration. Finally, we demonstrate that this compact nanosecond system can ignite an experimental combustion chamber.

Benchmarking Discount Rate in Natural Resource Damage Assessment with Risk Aversion.

PubMed

Wu, Desheng; Chen, Shuzhen

2017-08-01

Benchmarking a credible discount rate is of crucial importance in natural resource damage assessment (NRDA) and restoration evaluation. This article integrates a holistic framework of NRDA with prevailing low discount rate theory, and proposes a discount rate benchmarking decision support system based on service-specific risk aversion. The proposed approach has the flexibility of choosing appropriate discount rates for gauging long-term services, as opposed to decisions based simply on duration. It improves injury identification in NRDA since potential damages and side-effects to ecosystem services are revealed within the service-specific framework. A real embankment case study demonstrates valid implementation of the method. © 2017 Society for Risk Analysis.

Computer modeling and design analysis of a bit rate discrimination circuit based dual-rate burst mode receiver

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kota, Sriharsha; Patel, Jigesh; Ghillino, Enrico; Richards, Dwight

2011-01-01

In this paper, we demonstrate a computer model for simulating a dual-rate burst mode receiver that can readily distinguish bit rates of 1.25Gbit/s and 10.3Gbit/s and demodulate the data bursts with large power variations of above 5dB. To our knowledge, this is the first such model to demodulate data bursts of different bit rates without using any external control signal such as a reset signal or a bit rate select signal. The model is based on a burst-mode bit rate discrimination circuit (B-BDC) and makes use of a unique preamble sequence attached to each burst to separate out the data bursts with different bit rates. Here, the model is implemented using a combination of the optical system simulation suite OptSimTM, and the electrical simulation engine SPICE. The reaction time of the burst mode receiver model is about 7ns, which corresponds to less than 8 preamble bits for the bit rate of 1.25Gbps. We believe, having an accurate and robust simulation model for high speed burst mode transmission in GE-PON systems, is indispensable and tremendously speeds up the ongoing research in the area, saving a lot of time and effort involved in carrying out the laboratory experiments, while providing flexibility in the optimization of various system parameters for better performance of the receiver as a whole. Furthermore, we also study the effects of burst specifications like the length of preamble sequence, and other receiver design parameters on the reaction time of the receiver.

Simple, Inexpensive Attainment and Measurement of Very High Cooling and Warming Rates✰

PubMed Central

Kleinhans, F.W.; Seki, Shinsuke; Mazur, Peter

2010-01-01

We have developed a simple, inexpensive system (< $300 US) for measuring cooling and warming rates of small (~ 0.1 μl) aqueous samples at rates as high as 105 °C/min. The measurement system itself, can track rates approaching one million °C/min. For temperature sensing, a Type T thermocouple with 50 μm wire was used. The thermocouple output voltage was read with an inexpensive USB based digital oscilloscope interfaced to a laptop computer, and the raw data were processed with MS Excel. PMID:20599881

Reducing composite restoration polymerization shrinkage stress through resin modified glass-ionomer based adhesives.

PubMed

Naoum, S J; Mutzelburg, P R; Shumack, T G; Thode, Djg; Martin, F E; Ellakwa, A E

2015-12-01

The aim of this study was to determine whether employing resin modified glass-ionomer based adhesives can reduce polymerization contraction stress generated at the interface of restorative composite adhesive systems. Five resin based adhesives (G Bond, Optibond-All-in-One, Optibond-Solo, Optibond-XTR and Scotchbond-Universal) and two resin modified glass-ionomer based adhesives (Riva Bond-LC, Fuji Bond-LC) were analysed. Each adhesive was applied to bond restorative composite Filtek-Z250 to opposing acrylic rods secured within a universal testing machine. Stress developed at the interface of each adhesive-restorative composite system (n = 5) was calculated at 5-minute intervals over 6 hours. The resin based adhesive-restorative composite systems (RBA-RCS) demonstrated similar interface stress profiles over 6 hours; initial rapid contraction stress development (0-300 seconds) followed by continued contraction stress development ≤0.02MPa/s (300 seconds - 6 hours). The interface stress profile of the resin modified glass-ionomer based adhesive-restorative composite systems (RMGIBA-RCS) differed substantially to the RBA-RCS in several ways. Firstly, during 0-300 seconds the rate of contraction stress development at the interface of the RMGIBA-RCS was significantly (p < 0.05) lower than at the interface of the RBA-RCS. Secondly, at 300 seconds and 6 hours the interface contraction stress magnitude of the RMGIBA-RCS was significantly (p < 0.05) lower than the stress of all assessed RBA-RCS. Thirdly, from 300 seconds to 6 hours both the magnitude and rate of interface stress of the RMGIBA-RCS continued to decline over the 6 hours from the 300 seconds peak. The use of resin modified glass-ionomer based adhesives can significantly reduce the magnitude and rate of polymerization contraction stress developed at the interface of adhesive-restorative composite systems. © 2015 Australian Dental Association.

Simulation of the ground-water flow system at Naval Submarine Base Bangor and vicinity, Kitsap County, Washington

USGS Publications Warehouse

Heeswijk, Marijke van; Smith, Daniel T.

2002-01-01

An evaluation of the interaction between ground-water flow on Naval Submarine Base Bangor and the regional-flow system shows that for selected alternatives of future ground-water pumping on and near the base, the risk is low that significant concentrations of on-base ground-water contamination will reach off-base public-supply wells and hypothetical wells southwest of the base. The risk is low even if worst-case conditions are considered ? no containment and remediation of on-base contamination. The evaluation also shows that future saltwater encroachment of aquifers below sea level may be possible, but this determination has considerable uncertainty associated with it. The potential effects on the ground-water flow system resulting from four hypothetical ground-water pumping alternatives were considered, including no change in 1995 pumping rates, doubling the rates, and 2020 rates estimated from population projections with two different pumping distributions. All but a continuation of 1995 pumping rates demonstrate the possibility of future saltwater encroachment in the Sea-level aquifer on Naval Submarine Base Bangor. The amount of time it would take for encroachment to occur is unknown. For all pumping alternatives, future saltwater encroachment in the Sea-level aquifer also may be possible along Puget Sound east and southeast of the base. Future saltwater encroachment in the Deep aquifer also may be possible throughout large parts of the study area. Projections of saltwater encroachment are least certain outside the boundaries of Naval Submarine Base Bangor. The potential effects of the ground-water pumping alternatives were evaluated by simulating the ground-water flow system with a three-dimensional uniform-density ground-water flow model. The model was calibrated by trial-and-error by minimizing differences between simulated and measured or estimated variables. These included water levels from prior to January 17, 1977 (termed 'predevelopment'), water-level drawdowns since predevelopment until April 15, 1995, ground-water discharge to streams in water year 1995, and residence times of ground water in different parts of the flow system that were estimated in a separate but related study. Large amounts of ground water were pumped from 1977 through 1980 from the Sea-level aquifer on Naval Submarine Base Bangor to enable the construction of an off-shore drydock. Records of the flow-system responses to the applied stresses were used to help calibrate the model. Errors in the calibrated model were significant. The poor agreement between simulated and measured values could be improved by making many local changes to hydraulic parameters but these changes were not supported by other data. Model errors may have resulted in errors in the simulated effects of ground-water pumping alternatives.

Prompting technologies: A comparison of time-based and context-aware transition-based prompting

PubMed Central

Robertson, Kayela; Rosasco, Cody; Feuz, Kyle; Schmitter-Edgecombe, Maureen; Cook, Diane

2016-01-01

BACKGROUND While advancements in technology have encouraged the development of novel prompting systems to support cognitive interventions, little research has evaluated the best time to deliver prompts, which may impact the effectiveness of these interventions. OBJECTIVE This study examined whether transition-based context prompting (prompting an individual during task transitions) is more effective than traditional fixed time-based prompting. METHODS Participants were 42 healthy adults who completed 12 different everyday activities, each lasting 1–7 minutes, in an experimental smart home testbed and received prompts to record the completed activities from an electronic memory notebook. Half of the participants were delivered prompts during activity transitions, while the other half received prompts every 5 minutes. Participants also completed Likert-scale ratings regarding their perceptions of the prompting system. RESULTS Results revealed that participants in the transition-based context prompting condition responded to the first prompt more frequently and rated the system as more convenient, natural, and appropriate compared to participants in the time-based condition. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that prompting during activity transitions produces higher adherence to the first prompt and more positive perceptions of the prompting system. This is an important finding given the benefits of prompting technology and the possibility of improving cognitive interventions by using context-aware transition prompting. PMID:26409520

Frequency-dependent selection predicts patterns of radiations and biodiversity.

PubMed

Melián, Carlos J; Alonso, David; Vázquez, Diego P; Regetz, James; Allesina, Stefano

2010-08-26

Most empirical studies support a decline in speciation rates through time, although evidence for constant speciation rates also exists. Declining rates have been explained by invoking pre-existing niches, whereas constant rates have been attributed to non-adaptive processes such as sexual selection and mutation. Trends in speciation rate and the processes underlying it remain unclear, representing a critical information gap in understanding patterns of global diversity. Here we show that the temporal trend in the speciation rate can also be explained by frequency-dependent selection. We construct a frequency-dependent and DNA sequence-based model of speciation. We compare our model to empirical diversity patterns observed for cichlid fish and Darwin's finches, two classic systems for which speciation rates and richness data exist. Negative frequency-dependent selection predicts well both the declining speciation rate found in cichlid fish and explains their species richness. For groups like the Darwin's finches, in which speciation rates are constant and diversity is lower, speciation rate is better explained by a model without frequency-dependent selection. Our analysis shows that differences in diversity may be driven by incipient species abundance with frequency-dependent selection. Our results demonstrate that genetic-distance-based speciation and frequency-dependent selection are sufficient to explain the high diversity observed in natural systems and, importantly, predict decay through time in speciation rate in the absence of pre-existing niches.

Fluid delivery control system

DOEpatents

Hoff, Brian D.; Johnson, Kris William; Algrain, Marcelo C.; Akasam, Sivaprasad

2006-06-06

A method of controlling the delivery of fluid to an engine includes receiving a fuel flow rate signal. An electric pump is arranged to deliver fluid to the engine. The speed of the electric pump is controlled based on the fuel flow rate signal.

A rating system for the esthetics of bridges.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1980-01-01

There is a need for a tangible way to evaluate the esthetic or visual characteristics of bridges. This report describes such a method based on a numerical experiential rating scale of -10 to +10. Negative values represent unpleasurable responses; pos...

Army Manpower Cost System (AMCOS): Active Enlisted Force Prototype

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-03-01

cost element in both economic and budget models includes both a soldier’s Base Pay and the Service’s FICA contribu- tion at the current tax rate . a...mean base pay for the position calculated from BP T I FCAP - curret maxilum ICA payable FRATE - current FICA tax rate Tlij - total base pay distributed...Group, Santa Monica, 1982. Butler, R. and T. Neches, " HARDMAN Program Manager’s LCC Handbook: Avionics Equip- ments," D-201, The Assessment Group

Methane, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide emissions from septic tank systems.

PubMed

Diaz-Valbuena, Libia R; Leverenz, Harold L; Cappa, Christopher D; Tchobanoglous, George; Horwath, William R; Darby, Jeannie L

2011-04-01

Emissions of CH4, CO2, and N2O from conventional septic tank systems are known to occur, but there is a dearth of information as to the extent. Mass emission rates of CH4, CO2, and N2O, as measured with a modified flux chamber approach in eight septic tank systems, were determined to be 11, 33.3, and 0.005 g capita(-1) day(-1), respectively, in this research. Existing greenhouse gas (GHG) emission models based on BOD (biochemical oxygen demand) loading have estimated methane emissions to be as high as 27.1 g CH4 capita(-1) day(-1), more than twice the value measured in our study, and concluded that septic tanks are potentially significant sources of GHGs due to the large number of systems currently in use. Based on the measured CH4 emission value, a revised CH4 conversion factor of 0.22 (compared to 0.5) for use in the emissions models is suggested. Emission rates of CH4, CO2, and N2O were also determined from measurements of gas concentrations and flow rates in the septic vent system and were found to be 10.7, 335, and 0.2 g capita(-1)day(-1), respectively. The excellent agreement in the CH4 emission rates between the flux chamber and the vent values indicates the dominant CH4 source is the septic tank.

Single-Frequency Ultrasound-Based Respiration Rate Estimation with Smartphones.

PubMed

Ge, Linfei; Zhang, Jin; Wei, Jing

2018-01-01

Respiration monitoring is helpful in disease prevention and diagnosis. Traditional respiration monitoring requires users to wear devices on their bodies, which is inconvenient for them. In this paper, we aim to design a noncontact respiration rate detection system utilizing off-the-shelf smartphones. We utilize the single-frequency ultrasound as the media to detect the respiration activity. By analyzing the ultrasound signals received by the built-in microphone sensor in a smartphone, our system can derive the respiration rate of the user. The advantage of our method is that the transmitted signal is easy to generate and the signal analysis is simple, which has lower power consumption and thus is suitable for long-term monitoring in daily life. The experimental result shows that our system can achieve accurate respiration rate estimation under various scenarios.

HRV based health&sport markers using video from the face.

PubMed

Capdevila, Lluis; Moreno, Jordi; Movellan, Javier; Parrado, Eva; Ramos-Castro, Juan

2012-01-01

Heart Rate Variability (HRV) is an indicator of health status in the general population and of adaptation to stress in athletes. In this paper we compare the performance of two systems to measure HRV: (1) A commercial system based on recording the physiological cardiac signal with (2) A computer vision system that uses a standard video images of the face to estimate RR from changes in skin color of the face. We show that the computer vision system performs surprisingly well. It estimates individual RR intervals in a non-invasive manner and with error levels comparable to those achieved by the physiological based system.

Avatar Web-Based Self-Report Survey System Technology for Public Health Research: Technical Outcome Results and Lessons Learned.

PubMed

Savel, Craig; Mierzwa, Stan; Gorbach, Pamina M; Souidi, Samir; Lally, Michelle; Zimet, Gregory; Interventions, Aids

2016-01-01

This paper reports on a specific Web-based self-report data collection system that was developed for a public health research study in the United States. Our focus is on technical outcome results and lessons learned that may be useful to other projects requiring such a solution. The system was accessible from any device that had a browser that supported HTML5. Report findings include: which hardware devices, Web browsers, and operating systems were used; the rate of survey completion; and key considerations for employing Web-based surveys in a clinical trial setting.

Heart Sound Biometric System Based on Marginal Spectrum Analysis

PubMed Central

Zhao, Zhidong; Shen, Qinqin; Ren, Fangqin

2013-01-01

This work presents a heart sound biometric system based on marginal spectrum analysis, which is a new feature extraction technique for identification purposes. This heart sound identification system is comprised of signal acquisition, pre-processing, feature extraction, training, and identification. Experiments on the selection of the optimal values for the system parameters are conducted. The results indicate that the new spectrum coefficients result in a significant increase in the recognition rate of 94.40% compared with that of the traditional Fourier spectrum (84.32%) based on a database of 280 heart sounds from 40 participants. PMID:23429515

Critical Success Factors for Adoption of Web-Based Learning Management Systems in Tanzania

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lwoga, Edda Tandi

2014-01-01

This paper examines factors that predict students' continual usage intention of web-based learning content management systems in Tanzania, with a specific focus at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Science (MUHAS). This study sent a questionnaire surveys to 408 first year undergraduate students, with a rate of return of 66.7. This study…

Competency-Based Accounting Instruction

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Graham, John E.

1977-01-01

Shows how the proposed model (an individualized competency based learning system) can be used effectively to produce a course in accounting principles which adapts to different entering competencies and to different rates and styles of learning. (TA)

High-speed real-time image compression based on all-optical discrete cosine transformation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Qiang; Chen, Hongwei; Wang, Yuxi; Chen, Minghua; Yang, Sigang; Xie, Shizhong

2017-02-01

In this paper, we present a high-speed single-pixel imaging (SPI) system based on all-optical discrete cosine transform (DCT) and demonstrate its capability to enable noninvasive imaging of flowing cells in a microfluidic channel. Through spectral shaping based on photonic time stretch (PTS) and wavelength-to-space conversion, structured illumination patterns are generated at a rate (tens of MHz) which is three orders of magnitude higher than the switching rate of a digital micromirror device (DMD) used in a conventional single-pixel camera. Using this pattern projector, high-speed image compression based on DCT can be achieved in the optical domain. In our proposed system, a high compression ratio (approximately 10:1) and a fast image reconstruction procedure are both achieved, which implicates broad applications in industrial quality control and biomedical imaging.

An electrochemical pumping system for on-chip gradient generation.

PubMed

Xie, Jun; Miao, Yunan; Shih, Jason; He, Qing; Liu, Jun; Tai, Yu-Chong; Lee, Terry D

2004-07-01

Within the context of microfluidic systems, it has been difficult to devise pumping systems that can deliver adequate flow rates at high pressure for applications such as HPLC. An on-chip electrochemical pumping system based on electrolysis that offers certain advantages over designs that utilize electroosmotic driven flow has been fabricated and tested. The pump was fabricated on both silicon and glass substrates using photolithography. The electrolysis electrodes were formed from either platinum or gold, and SU8, an epoxy-based photoresist, was used to form the pump chambers. A glass cover plate and a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) gasket were used to seal the chambers. Filling of the chambers was accomplished by using a syringe to inject liquid via filling ports, which were later sealed using a glass cover plate. The current supplied to the electrodes controlled the rate of gas formation and, thus, the resulting fluid flow rate. At low backpressures, flow rates >1 microL/min have been demonstrated using <1 mW of power. Pumping at backpressures as high as 200 psi have been demonstrated, with 20 nL/min having been observed using <4 mW. By integrating two electrochemical pumps with a polymer electrospray nozzle, we have confirmed the successful generation of a solvent gradient via a mass spectrometer.

PVDaCS - A prototype knowledge-based expert system for certification of spacecraft data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wharton, Cathleen; Shiroma, Patricia J.; Simmons, Karen E.

1989-01-01

On-line data management techniques to certify spacecraft information are mandated by increasing telemetry rates. Knowledge-based expert systems offer the ability to certify data electronically without the need for time-consuming human interaction. Issues of automatic certification are explored by designing a knowledge-based expert system to certify data from a scientific instrument, the Orbiter Ultraviolet Spectrometer, on an operating NASA planetary spacecraft, Pioneer Venus. The resulting rule-based system, called PVDaCS (Pioneer Venus Data Certification System), is a functional prototype demonstrating the concepts of a larger system design. A key element of the system design is the representation of an expert's knowledge through the usage of well ordered sequences. PVDaCS produces a certification value derived from expert knowledge and an analysis of the instrument's operation. Results of system performance are presented.

Rate-Based Model Predictive Control of Turbofan Engine Clearance

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

DeCastro, Jonathan A.

2006-01-01

An innovative model predictive control strategy is developed for control of nonlinear aircraft propulsion systems and sub-systems. At the heart of the controller is a rate-based linear parameter-varying model that propagates the state derivatives across the prediction horizon, extending prediction fidelity to transient regimes where conventional models begin to lose validity. The new control law is applied to a demanding active clearance control application, where the objectives are to tightly regulate blade tip clearances and also anticipate and avoid detrimental blade-shroud rub occurrences by optimally maintaining a predefined minimum clearance. Simulation results verify that the rate-based controller is capable of satisfying the objectives during realistic flight scenarios where both a conventional Jacobian-based model predictive control law and an unconstrained linear-quadratic optimal controller are incapable of doing so. The controller is evaluated using a variety of different actuators, illustrating the efficacy and versatility of the control approach. It is concluded that the new strategy has promise for this and other nonlinear aerospace applications that place high importance on the attainment of control objectives during transient regimes.

Visual Sensor Based Abnormal Event Detection with Moving Shadow Removal in Home Healthcare Applications

PubMed Central

Lee, Young-Sook; Chung, Wan-Young

2012-01-01

Vision-based abnormal event detection for home healthcare systems can be greatly improved using visual sensor-based techniques able to detect, track and recognize objects in the scene. However, in moving object detection and tracking processes, moving cast shadows can be misclassified as part of objects or moving objects. Shadow removal is an essential step for developing video surveillance systems. The goal of the primary is to design novel computer vision techniques that can extract objects more accurately and discriminate between abnormal and normal activities. To improve the accuracy of object detection and tracking, our proposed shadow removal algorithm is employed. Abnormal event detection based on visual sensor by using shape features variation and 3-D trajectory is presented to overcome the low fall detection rate. The experimental results showed that the success rate of detecting abnormal events was 97% with a false positive rate of 2%. Our proposed algorithm can allow distinguishing diverse fall activities such as forward falls, backward falls, and falling asides from normal activities. PMID:22368486

Cloud-Based Smart Health Monitoring System for Automatic Cardiovascular and Fall Risk Assessment in Hypertensive Patients.

PubMed

Melillo, P; Orrico, A; Scala, P; Crispino, F; Pecchia, L

2015-10-01

The aim of this paper is to describe the design and the preliminary validation of a platform developed to collect and automatically analyze biomedical signals for risk assessment of vascular events and falls in hypertensive patients. This m-health platform, based on cloud computing, was designed to be flexible, extensible, and transparent, and to provide proactive remote monitoring via data-mining functionalities. A retrospective study was conducted to train and test the platform. The developed system was able to predict a future vascular event within the next 12 months with an accuracy rate of 84 % and to identify fallers with an accuracy rate of 72 %. In an ongoing prospective trial, almost all the recruited patients accepted favorably the system with a limited rate of inadherences causing data losses (<20 %). The developed platform supported clinical decision by processing tele-monitored data and providing quick and accurate risk assessment of vascular events and falls.

Review of Combustion-acoustic Instabilities

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Oyediran, Ayo; Darling, Douglas; Radhakrishnan, Krishnan

1995-01-01

Combustion-acoustic instabilities occur when the acoustic energy increase due to the unsteady heat release of the flame is greater than the losses of acoustic energy from the system. The problem of combustion-acoustic instability is a concern in many devices for various reasons, as each device may have a unique mechanism causing unsteady heat release rates and many have unique boundary conditions. To accurately predict and quantify combustion-acoustic stabilities, the unsteady heat release rate and boundary conditions need to be accurately determined. The present review brings together work performed on a variety of practical combustion devices. Many theoretical and experimental investigations of the unsteady heat release rate have been performed, some based on perturbations in the fuel delivery system particularly for rocket instabilities, while others are based on hydrodynamic processes as in ramjet dump combustors. The boundary conditions for rocket engines have been analyzed and measured extensively. However, less work has been done to measure acoustic boundary conditions in many other combustion systems.

DAQ application of PC oscilloscope for chaos fiber-optic fence system based on LabVIEW

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, Manman; Fang, Nian; Wang, Lutang; Huang, Zhaoming; Sun, Xiaofei

2011-12-01

In order to obtain simultaneously high sample rate and large buffer in data acquisition (DAQ) for a chaos fiber-optic fence system, we developed a double-channel high-speed DAQ application of a digital oscilloscope of PicoScope 5203 based on LabVIEW. We accomplished it by creating call library function (CLF) nodes to call the DAQ functions in the two dynamic link libraries (DLLs) of PS5000.dll and PS5000wrap.dll provided by Pico Technology Company. The maximum real-time sample rate of the DAQ application can reach 1GS/s. We can control the resolutions of the application at the sample time and data amplitudes by changing their units in the block diagram, and also control the start and end times of the sampling operations. The experimental results show that the application has enough high sample rate and large buffer to meet the demanding DAQ requirements of the chaos fiber-optic fence system.

Neotectonics of interior Alaska and the late Quaternary slip rate along the Denali fault system

USGS Publications Warehouse

Haeussler, Peter J.; Matmon, Ari; Schwartz, David P.; Seitz, Gordon G.

2017-01-01

The neotectonics of southern Alaska (USA) are characterized by a several hundred kilometers–wide zone of dextral transpressional that spans the Alaska Range. The Denali fault system is the largest active strike-slip fault system in interior Alaska, and it produced a Mw 7.9 earthquake in 2002. To evaluate the late Quaternary slip rate on the Denali fault system, we collected samples for cosmogenic surface exposure dating from surfaces offset by the fault system. This study includes data from 107 samples at 19 sites, including 7 sites we previously reported, as well as an estimated slip rate at another site. We utilize the interpreted surface ages to provide estimated slip rates. These new slip rate data confirm that the highest late Quaternary slip rate is ∼13 mm/yr on the central Denali fault near its intersection with the eastern Denali and the Totschunda faults, with decreasing slip rate both to the east and west. The slip rate decreases westward along the central and western parts of the Denali fault system to 5 mm/yr over a length of ∼575 km. An additional site on the eastern Denali fault near Kluane Lake, Yukon, implies a slip rate of ∼2 mm/yr, based on geological considerations. The Totschunda fault has a maximum slip rate of ∼9 mm/yr. The Denali fault system is transpressional and there are active thrust faults on both the north and south sides of it. We explore four geometric models for southern Alaska tectonics to explain the slip rates along the Denali fault system and the active fault geometries: rotation, indentation, extrusion, and a combination of the three. We conclude that all three end-member models have strengths and shortcomings, and a combination of rotation, indentation, and extrusion best explains the slip rate observations.

SPECIAL ISSUE ON OPTICAL PROCESSING OF INFORMATION: Information transmission systems based on two-mode lasers with controlled emission frequencies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Naumov, N. V.; Petrovskii, V. N.; Protsenko, E. D.; Shananin, R. A.

1995-10-01

Various information transmission systems, based on two-mode lasers with controlled emission frequencies, are proposed. It is suggested that these systems can be implemented by modulation of the intermode spacing of a two-mode laser. An experimental investigation is reported of frequency control methods. It is shown that these methods should make it possible to construct information transmission systems with high transmission rates subject to weak nonlinear distortions of the information-carrying signal.

Reliability-Based Electronics Shielding Design Tools

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wilson, J. W.; O'Neill, P. J.; Zang, T. A.; Pandolf, J. E.; Tripathi, R. K.; Koontz, Steven L.; Boeder, P.; Reddell, B.; Pankop, C.

2007-01-01

Shielding design on large human-rated systems allows minimization of radiation impact on electronic systems. Shielding design tools require adequate methods for evaluation of design layouts, guiding qualification testing, and adequate follow-up on final design evaluation.

Nutrients stimulate leaf breakdown rates and detritivore biomass: bottom-up effects via heterotrophic pathways.

Treesearch

Jennifer L. Greenwood; Amy D. Rosemond; J. Bruce Wallace; Wyatt F. Cross; Holly S. Weyers

2009-01-01

Most nutrient enrichment studies in aquatic systems have focused on autotrophic food webs in systems where primary producers dominate the resource base. We tested the heterotrophic response to long-...

Comparison of methods of alert acknowledgement by critical care clinicians in the ICU setting

PubMed Central

Harrison, Andrew M.; Thongprayoon, Charat; Aakre, Christopher A.; Jeng, Jack Y.; Dziadzko, Mikhail A.; Gajic, Ognjen; Pickering, Brian W.

2017-01-01

Background Electronic Health Record (EHR)-based sepsis alert systems have failed to demonstrate improvements in clinically meaningful endpoints. However, the effect of implementation barriers on the success of new sepsis alert systems is rarely explored. Objective To test the hypothesis time to severe sepsis alert acknowledgement by critical care clinicians in the ICU setting would be reduced using an EHR-based alert acknowledgement system compared to a text paging-based system. Study Design In one arm of this simulation study, real alerts for patients in the medical ICU were delivered to critical care clinicians through the EHR. In the other arm, simulated alerts were delivered through text paging. The primary outcome was time to alert acknowledgement. The secondary outcomes were a structured, mixed quantitative/qualitative survey and informal group interview. Results The alert acknowledgement rate from the severe sepsis alert system was 3% (N = 148) and 51% (N = 156) from simulated severe sepsis alerts through traditional text paging. Time to alert acknowledgement from the severe sepsis alert system was median 274 min (N = 5) and median 2 min (N = 80) from text paging. The response rate from the EHR-based alert system was insufficient to compare primary measures. However, secondary measures revealed important barriers. Conclusion Alert fatigue, interruption, human error, and information overload are barriers to alert and simulation studies in the ICU setting. PMID:28316887

Comparison of methods of alert acknowledgement by critical care clinicians in the ICU setting.

PubMed

Harrison, Andrew M; Thongprayoon, Charat; Aakre, Christopher A; Jeng, Jack Y; Dziadzko, Mikhail A; Gajic, Ognjen; Pickering, Brian W; Herasevich, Vitaly

2017-01-01

Electronic Health Record (EHR)-based sepsis alert systems have failed to demonstrate improvements in clinically meaningful endpoints. However, the effect of implementation barriers on the success of new sepsis alert systems is rarely explored. To test the hypothesis time to severe sepsis alert acknowledgement by critical care clinicians in the ICU setting would be reduced using an EHR-based alert acknowledgement system compared to a text paging-based system. In one arm of this simulation study, real alerts for patients in the medical ICU were delivered to critical care clinicians through the EHR. In the other arm, simulated alerts were delivered through text paging. The primary outcome was time to alert acknowledgement. The secondary outcomes were a structured, mixed quantitative/qualitative survey and informal group interview. The alert acknowledgement rate from the severe sepsis alert system was 3% ( N  = 148) and 51% ( N  = 156) from simulated severe sepsis alerts through traditional text paging. Time to alert acknowledgement from the severe sepsis alert system was median 274 min ( N  = 5) and median 2 min ( N  = 80) from text paging. The response rate from the EHR-based alert system was insufficient to compare primary measures. However, secondary measures revealed important barriers. Alert fatigue, interruption, human error, and information overload are barriers to alert and simulation studies in the ICU setting.

How can we improve stroke thrombolysis rates? A review of health system factors and approaches associated with thrombolysis administration rates in acute stroke care.

PubMed

Paul, Christine L; Ryan, Annika; Rose, Shiho; Attia, John R; Kerr, Erin; Koller, Claudia; Levi, Christopher R

2016-04-08

Thrombolysis using intravenous (IV) tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is one of few evidence-based acute stroke treatments, yet achieving high rates of IV tPA delivery has been problematic. The 4.5-h treatment window, the complexity of determining eligibility criteria and the availability of expertise and required resources may impact on treatment rates, with barriers encountered at the levels of the individual clinician, the social context and the health system itself. The review aimed to describe health system factors associated with higher rates of IV tPA administration for ischemic stroke and to identify whether system-focussed interventions increased tPA rates for ischemic stroke. Published original English-language research from four electronic databases spanning 1997-2014 was examined. Observational studies of the association between health system factors and tPA rates were described separately from studies of system-focussed intervention strategies aiming to increase tPA rates. Where study outcomes were sufficiently similar, a pooled meta-analysis of outcomes was conducted. Forty-one articles met the inclusion criteria: 7 were methodologically rigorous interventions that met the Cochrane Collaboration Evidence for Practice and Organization of Care (EPOC) study design guidelines and 34 described observed associations between health system factors and rates of IV tPA. System-related factors generally associated with higher IV tPA rates were as follows: urban location, centralised or hub and spoke models, treatment by a neurologist/stroke nurse, in a neurology department/stroke unit or teaching hospital, being admitted by ambulance or mobile team and stroke-specific protocols. Results of the intervention studies suggest that telemedicine approaches did not consistently increase IV tPA rates. Quality improvement strategies appear able to provide modest increases in stroke thrombolysis (pooled odds ratio = 2.1, p = 0.05). In order to improve IV tPA rates in acute stroke care, specific health system factors need to be targeted. Multi-component quality improvement approaches can improve IV tPA rates for stroke, although more thoughtfully designed and well-reported trials are required to safely increase rates of IV tPA to eligible stroke patients.

Geologic controls on sediment distribution and transport pathways around the Chandeleur Islands, LA., USA

USGS Publications Warehouse

Twichell, David; Pendleton, Elizabeth A.; Baldwin, Wayne; Flocks, James; Miner, Michael; Kulp, Mark

2011-01-01

Geophysical surveys around the Chandeleur Islands provide the necessary data to map the thickness and distribution of the Holocene deposit associated with this barrier island system. This system rests uncomformably on St. Bernard Delta deposits of the Mississippi Delta plain and is thinnest under the central part of the island chain and thickest at the northern and southern ends. The zone of divergence in the bidirectional littoral transport system coincides with the thin central part. An estimate of northward littoral transport rate based on lithosome age and the volume of sediment that has accumulated at the northern end of the transport cell suggests the average transport rate over the life of the system is greater than present day fair-weather estimates. This difference may be attributed to changes in transport rates through the life of the system, to changes in the rate of sea-level rise or to storms playing a more dominant role than fair-weather waves in littoral transport.

Numerical calculation of protein-ligand binding rates through solution of the Smoluchowski equation using smoothed particle hydrodynamics

DOE PAGES

Pan, Wenxiao; Daily, Michael; Baker, Nathan A.

2015-05-07

Background: The calculation of diffusion-controlled ligand binding rates is important for understanding enzyme mechanisms as well as designing enzyme inhibitors. Methods: We demonstrate the accuracy and effectiveness of a Lagrangian particle-based method, smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH), to study diffusion in biomolecular systems by numerically solving the time-dependent Smoluchowski equation for continuum diffusion. Unlike previous studies, a reactive Robin boundary condition (BC), rather than the absolute absorbing (Dirichlet) BC, is considered on the reactive boundaries. This new BC treatment allows for the analysis of enzymes with “imperfect” reaction rates. Results: The numerical method is first verified in simple systems and thenmore » applied to the calculation of ligand binding to a mouse acetylcholinesterase (mAChE) monomer. Rates for inhibitor binding to mAChE are calculated at various ionic strengths and compared with experiment and other numerical methods. We find that imposition of the Robin BC improves agreement between calculated and experimental reaction rates. Conclusions: Although this initial application focuses on a single monomer system, our new method provides a framework to explore broader applications of SPH in larger-scale biomolecular complexes by taking advantage of its Lagrangian particle-based nature.« less

Correlation between discrete probability and reaction front propagation rate in heterogeneous mixtures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Naine, Tarun Bharath; Gundawar, Manoj Kumar

2017-09-01

We demonstrate a very powerful correlation between the discrete probability of distances of neighboring cells and thermal wave propagation rate, for a system of cells spread on a one-dimensional chain. A gamma distribution is employed to model the distances of neighboring cells. In the absence of an analytical solution and the differences in ignition times of adjacent reaction cells following non-Markovian statistics, invariably the solution for thermal wave propagation rate for a one-dimensional system with randomly distributed cells is obtained by numerical simulations. However, such simulations which are based on Monte-Carlo methods require several iterations of calculations for different realizations of distribution of adjacent cells. For several one-dimensional systems, differing in the value of shaping parameter of the gamma distribution, we show that the average reaction front propagation rates obtained by a discrete probability between two limits, shows excellent agreement with those obtained numerically. With the upper limit at 1.3, the lower limit depends on the non-dimensional ignition temperature. Additionally, this approach also facilitates the prediction of burning limits of heterogeneous thermal mixtures. The proposed method completely eliminates the need for laborious, time intensive numerical calculations where the thermal wave propagation rates can now be calculated based only on macroscopic entity of discrete probability.

Performance of an optical identification and interrogation system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Venugopalan, A.; Ghosh, A. K.; Verma, P.; Cheng, S.

2008-04-01

A free space optics based identification and interrogation system has been designed. The applications of the proposed system lie primarily in areas which require a secure means of mutual identification and information exchange between optical readers and tags. Conventional RFIDs raise issues regarding security threats, electromagnetic interference and health safety. The security of RF-ID chips is low due to the wide spatial spread of radio waves. Malicious nodes can read data being transmitted on the network, if they are in the receiving range. The proposed system provides an alternative which utilizes the narrow paraxial beams of lasers and an RSA-based authentication scheme. These provide enhanced security to communication between a tag and the base station or reader. The optical reader can also perform remote identification and the tag can be read from a far off distance, given line of sight. The free space optical identification and interrogation system can be used for inventory management, security systems at airports, port security, communication with high security systems, etc. to name a few. The proposed system was implemented with low-cost, off-the-shelf components and its performance in terms of throughput and bit error rate has been measured and analyzed. The range of operation with a bit-error-rate lower than 10-9 was measured to be about 4.5 m. The security of the system is based on the strengths of the RSA encryption scheme implemented using more than 1024 bits.

Application and analysis of debris-flow early warning system in Wenchuan earthquake-affected area

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, D. L.; Zhang, S. J.; Yang, H. J.; Zhao, L. Q.; Jiang, Y. H.; Tang, D.; Leng, X. P.

2016-02-01

The activities of debris flow (DF) in the Wenchuan earthquake-affected area significantly increased after the earthquake on 12 May 2008. The safety of the lives and property of local people is threatened by DFs. A physics-based early warning system (EWS) for DF forecasting was developed and applied in this earthquake area. This paper introduces an application of the system in the Wenchuan earthquake-affected area and analyzes the prediction results via a comparison to the DF events triggered by the strong rainfall events reported by the local government. The prediction accuracy and efficiency was first compared with a contribution-factor-based system currently used by the weather bureau of Sichuan province. The storm on 17 August 2012 was used as a case study for this comparison. The comparison shows that the false negative rate and false positive rate of the new system is, respectively, 19 and 21 % lower than the system based on the contribution factors. Consequently, the prediction accuracy is obviously higher than the system based on the contribution factors with a higher operational efficiency. On the invitation of the weather bureau of Sichuan province, the authors upgraded their prediction system of DF by using this new system before the monsoon of Wenchuan earthquake-affected area in 2013. Two prediction cases on 9 July 2013 and 10 July 2014 were chosen to further demonstrate that the new EWS has high stability, efficiency, and prediction accuracy.

Payment system reform: one state's journey.

PubMed

Millwee, Billy; Goldfield, Norbert; Averill, Richard; Hughes, John

2013-01-01

In June 2011, Texas enacted Senate Bill 7, which mandates a Medicaid quality-based outcomes payment program on the basis of a common set of outcomes that apply to all types of provider systems including hospitals, managed care plans, medical homes, managed long-term care plans, and Accountable Care Organizations. The quality-based outcome measures focus on potentially preventable events (services) such as preventable admissions and readmissions that result in unnecessary expense, patient inconvenience, and risk of complications. The payment adjustments relate to a provider system's effectiveness in reducing the rate at which potentially preventable events occur. The program envisioned by Texas Medicaid is one that is administratively simple, establishes the right financial incentives to drive delivery system improvement, and does not intrude on the provider practice or the patient. Rather than imposing a series of processes that must be followed or require rigid adherence to standardized protocols, the payment adjustments are based on risk-adjusted comparisons of the rate of potentially preventable events for an individual provider systems to an empirically derived performance standard such as the state average. This article proposes a payment system design that can meet the ambitious objectives of the Texas legislation.

RF Spectrum Sensing Based on an Overdamped Nonlinear Oscillator Ring for Cognitive Radios.

PubMed

Tang, Zhi-Ling; Li, Si-Min; Yu, Li-Juan

2016-06-09

Existing spectrum-sensing techniques for cognitive radios require an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) to work at high dynamic range and a high sampling rate, resulting in high cost. Therefore, in this paper, a spectrum-sensing method based on a unidirectionally coupled, overdamped nonlinear oscillator ring is proposed. First, the numerical model of such a system is established based on the circuit of the nonlinear oscillator. Through numerical analysis of the model, the critical condition of the system's starting oscillation is determined, and the simulation results of the system's response to Gaussian white noise and periodic signal are presented. The results show that once the radio signal is input into the system, it starts oscillating when in the critical region, and the oscillating frequency of each element is fo/N, where fo is the frequency of the radio signal and N is the number of elements in the ring. The oscillation indicates that the spectrum resources at fo are occupied. At the same time, the sampling rate required for an ADC is reduced to the original value, 1/N. A prototypical circuit to verify the functionality of the system is designed, and the sensing bandwidth of the system is measured.

Algebraic Approaches for Scalable End-to-End Monitoring and Diagnosis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Yao; Chen, Yan

The rigidity of the Internet architecture led to flourish in the research of end-to-end based systems. In this chapter, we describe a linear algebra-based end-to-end monitoring and diagnosis system. We first propose a tomography-based overlay monitoring system (TOM). Given n end hosts, TOM selectively monitors a basis set of O(nlogn) paths out of all n(n - 1) end-to-end paths. Any end-to-end path can be written as a unique linear combination of paths in the basis set. Consequently, by monitoring loss rates for the paths in the basis set, TOM infers loss rates for all end-to-end paths. Furthermore, leveraging on the scalable measurements from the TOM system, we propose the Least-biased End-to-End Network Diagnosis (in short, LEND) system. We define a minimal identifiable link sequence (MILS) as a link sequence of minimal length whose properties can be uniquely identified from end-to-end measurements. LEND applies an algebraic approach to find out the MILSes and infers the properties of the MILSes efficiently. This also means LEND system achieves the finest diagnosis granularity under the least biased statistical assumptions.

Why screening rates vary between Korea and Japan--differences between two national healthcare systems.

PubMed

Goto, Rei; Hamashima, Chisato; Mun, Sunghyun; Lee, Won-Chul

2015-01-01

Both Japan and Korea provide population-based screening programs. However, screening rates are much higher in Korea than in Japan. To clarify the possible factors explaining the differences between these two countries, we analyzed the current status of the cancer screening and background healthcare systems. Population- based cancer screening in Korea is coordinated well with social health insurance under a unified insurer system. In Japan, there are over 3,000 insurers and coordinating a comprehensive strategy for cancer screening promotion has been very difficult. The public healthcare system also has influence over cancer screening. In Korea, public healthcare does not cover a wide range of services. Almost free cancer screening and subsidization for medical cost for cancers detected in population-screening provides high incentive to participation. In Japan, on the other hand, a larger coverage of medical services, low co-payment, and a lenient medical audit enables people to have cancer screening under public health insurance as well as the broad range of cancer screening. The implementation of evidence-based cancer screening programs may be largely dependent on the background healthcare system. It is important to understand the impacts of each healthcare system as a whole and to match the characteristics of a particular health system when designing an efficient cancer screening system.

Data Acquisition Software for Experiments at the MAMI-C Tagged Photon Facility

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oussena, Baya; Annand, John

2013-10-01

Tagged-photon experiments at Mainz use the electron beam of the MAMI (Mainzer MIcrotron) accelerator, in combination with the Glasgow Tagged Photon Spectrometer. The AcquDAQ DAQ system is implemented in the C + + language and makes use of CERN ROOT software libraries and tools. Electronic hardware is characterized in C + + classes, based on a general purpose class TDAQmodule and implementation in an object-oriented framework makes the system very flexible. The DAQ system provides slow control and event-by-event readout of the Photon Tagger, the Crystal Ball 4-pi electromagnetic calorimeter, central MWPC tracker and plastic-scintillator, particle-ID systems and the TAPS forward-angle calorimeter. A variety of front-end controllers running Linux are supported, reading data from VMEbus, FASTBUS and CAMAC systems. More specialist hardware, based on optical communication systems and developed for the COMPASS experiment at CERN, is also supported. AcquDAQ also provides an interface to configure and control the Mainz programmable trigger system, which uses FPGA-based hardware developed at GSI. Currently the DAQ system runs at data rates of up to 3MB/s and, with upgrades to both hardware and software later this year, we anticipate a doubling of that rate. This work was supported in part by the U.S. DOE Grant No. DE-FG02-99ER41110.

Evolution of Functional Diversification within Quasispecies

PubMed Central

Colizzi, Enrico Sandro; Hogeweg, Paulien

2014-01-01

According to quasispecies theory, high mutation rates limit the amount of information genomes can store (Eigen’s Paradox), whereas genomes with higher degrees of neutrality may be selected even at the expenses of higher replication rates (the “survival of the flattest” effect). Introducing a complex genotype to phenotype map, such as RNA folding, epitomizes such effect because of the existence of neutral networks and their exploitation by evolution, affecting both population structure and genome composition. We reexamine these classical results in the light of an RNA-based system that can evolve its own ecology. Contrary to expectations, we find that quasispecies evolving at high mutation rates are steep and characterized by one master sequence. Importantly, the analysis of the system and the characterization of the evolved quasispecies reveal the emergence of functionalities as phenotypes of nonreplicating genotypes, whose presence is crucial for the overall viability and stability of the system. In other words, the master sequence codes for the information of the entire ecosystem, whereas the decoding happens, stochastically, through mutations. We show that this solution quickly outcompetes strategies based on genomes with a high degree of neutrality. In conclusion, individually coded but ecosystem-based diversity evolves and persists indefinitely close to the Information Threshold. PMID:25056399

Geological dates and molecular rates: rapid divergence of rivers and their biotas.

PubMed

Waters, Jonathan M; Rowe, Diane L; Apte, Smita; King, Tania M; Wallis, Graham P; Anderson, Leigh; Norris, Richard J; Craw, Dave; Burridge, Christopher P

2007-04-01

We highlight a novel molecular clock calibration system based on geologically dated river reversal and river capture events. Changes in drainage pattern may effect vicariant isolation of freshwater taxa, and thus provide a predictive framework for associated phylogeographic study. As a case in point, New Zealand's Pelorus and Kaituna rivers became geologically isolated from the larger Wairau River system 70 to 130 kyr BP. We conducted mitochondrial DNA phylogeographic analyses of two unrelated freshwater-limited fish taxa native to these river systems (Gobiomorphus breviceps, n = 63; Galaxias divergens, n = 95). Phylogenetic analysis of combined control region and cytochrome b sequences yielded reciprocally monophyletic clades of Pelorus-Kaituna and Wairau haplotypes for each species. Calibrated rates of molecular change based on this freshwater vicariant event are substantially faster than traditionally accepted rates for fishes but consistent with other recent inferences based on geologically young calibration points. A survey of freshwater phylogeographic literature reveals numerous examples in which the ages of recent evolutionary events may have been substantially overestimated through the use of "accepted" calibrations. We recommend that--wherever possible--biologists should start to reassess the conclusions of such studies by using more appropriate molecular calibrations derived from recent geological events.

Reducing the rate and duration of Re-ADMISsions among patients with unipolar disorder and bipolar disorder using smartphone-based monitoring and treatment - the RADMIS trials: study protocol for two randomized controlled trials.

PubMed

Faurholt-Jepsen, Maria; Frost, Mads; Martiny, Klaus; Tuxen, Nanna; Rosenberg, Nicole; Busk, Jonas; Winther, Ole; Bardram, Jakob Eyvind; Kessing, Lars Vedel

2017-06-15

Unipolar and bipolar disorder combined account for nearly half of all morbidity and mortality due to mental and substance use disorders, and burden society with the highest health care costs of all psychiatric and neurological disorders. Among these, costs due to psychiatric hospitalization are a major burden. Smartphones comprise an innovative and unique platform for the monitoring and treatment of depression and mania. No prior trial has investigated whether the use of a smartphone-based system can prevent re-admission among patients discharged from hospital. The present RADMIS trials aim to investigate whether using a smartphone-based monitoring and treatment system, including an integrated clinical feedback loop, reduces the rate and duration of re-admissions more than standard treatment in unipolar disorder and bipolar disorder. The RADMIS trials use a randomized controlled, single-blind, parallel-group design. Patients with unipolar disorder and patients with bipolar disorder are invited to participate in each trial when discharged from psychiatric hospitals in The Capital Region of Denmark following an affective episode and randomized to either (1) a smartphone-based monitoring system including (a) an integrated feedback loop between patients and clinicians and (b) context-aware cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) modules (intervention group) or (2) standard treatment (control group) for a 6-month trial period. The trial started in May 2017. The outcomes are (1) number and duration of re-admissions (primary), (2) severity of depressive and manic (only for patients with bipolar disorder) symptoms; psychosocial functioning; number of affective episodes (secondary), and (3) perceived stress, quality of life, self-rated depressive symptoms, self-rated manic symptoms (only for patients with bipolar disorder), recovery, empowerment, adherence to medication, wellbeing, ruminations, worrying, and satisfaction (tertiary). A total of 400 patients (200 patients with unipolar disorder and 200 patients with bipolar disorder) will be included in the RADMIS trials. If the smartphone-based monitoring system proves effective in reducing the rate and duration of re-admissions, there will be basis for using a system of this kind in the treatment of unipolar and bipolar disorder in general and on a larger scale. ClinicalTrials.gov, ID: NCT03033420 . Registered 13 January 2017. Ethical approval has been obtained.

A Physiologically Informed Virtual Reality Based Social Communication System for Individuals with Autism

PubMed Central

Bekele, Esubalew; Dohrmann, Elizabeth; Warren, Zachary; Sarkar, Nilanjan

2014-01-01

Clinical applications of advanced technology may hold promise for addressing impairments associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). This project evaluated the application of a novel physiologically responsive virtual reality based technological system for conversation skills in a group of adolescents with ASD. The system altered components of conversation based on (1) performance alone or (2) the composite effect of performance and physiological metrics of predicted engagement (e.g., gaze pattern, pupil dilation, blink rate). Participants showed improved performance and looking pattern within the physiologically sensitive system as compared to the performance based system. This suggests that physiologically informed technologies may have the potential of being an effective tool in the hands of interventionists. PMID:25261247

REPHLEX II: An information management system for the ARS Water Data Base

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thurman, Jane L.

1993-08-01

The REPHLEX II computer system is an on-line information management system which allows scientists, engineers, and other researchers to retrieve data from the ARS Water Data Base using asynchronous communications. The system features two phone lines handling baud rates from 300 to 2400, customized menus to facilitate browsing, help screens, direct access to information and data files, electronic mail processing, file transfers using the XMODEM protocol, and log-in procedures which capture information on new users, process passwords, and log activity for a permanent audit trail. The primary data base on the REPHLEX II system is the ARS Water Data Base which consists of rainfall and runoff data from experimental agricultural watersheds located in the United States.

ACTS TDMA network control. [Advanced Communication Technology Satellite

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Inukai, T.; Campanella, S. J.

1984-01-01

This paper presents basic network control concepts for the Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS) System. Two experimental systems, called the low-burst-rate and high-burst-rate systems, along with ACTS ground system features, are described. The network control issues addressed include frame structures, acquisition and synchronization procedures, coordinated station burst-time plan and satellite-time plan changes, on-board clock control based on ground drift measurements, rain fade control by means of adaptive forward-error-correction (FEC) coding and transmit power augmentation, and reassignment of channel capacities on demand. The NASA ground system, which includes a primary station, diversity station, and master control station, is also described.

Configuration and design study of manipulator systems applicable to the free flying teleoperator. Volume 1: Executive summary

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tewell, J. R.

1974-01-01

A preliminary design of a manipulator system, applicable to a free flying teleoperator spacecraft operating in conjunction with the shuttle or tug, is presented. A new control technique is proposed for application to the manipulator system. This technique, a range/azimuth/elevation rate-rate mode, was selected based upon the results of man-in-the-loop simulations. Several areas are identified in which additional emphasis must be placed prior to the development of the manipulator system. The study results in a manipulator system which will provide an effective method for servicing, maintaining, and repairing satellites to increase their useful life.

5 CFR 532.254 - Special schedules.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

....254 Administrative Personnel OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT CIVIL SERVICE REGULATIONS PREVAILING RATE SYSTEMS Prevailing Rate Determinations § 532.254 Special schedules. (a) A lead agency, with the approval... critical to the mission of a Federal activity based on findings that— (1) Unusual prevailing pay practices...

A new post-phase rotation based dynamic receive beamforming architecture for smartphone-based wireless ultrasound imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Park, Minsuk; Kang, Jeeun; Lee, Gunho; Kim, Min; Song, Tai-Kyong

2016-04-01

Recently, a portable US imaging system using smart devices is highlighted for enhancing the portability of diagnosis. Especially, the system combination can enhance the user experience during whole US diagnostic procedures by employing the advanced wireless communication technology integrated in a smart device, e.g., WiFi, Bluetooth, etc. In this paper, an effective post-phase rotation-based dynamic receive beamforming (PRBF-POST) method is presented for wireless US imaging device integrating US probe system and commercial smart device. In conventional, the frame rate of conventional PRBF (PRBF-CON) method suffers from the large amount of calculations for the bifurcated processing paths of in-phase and quadrature signal components as the number of channel increase. Otherwise, the proposed PRBF-POST method can preserve the frame rate regardless of the number of channels by firstly aggregating the baseband IQ data along the channels whose phase quantization levels are identical ahead of phase rotation and summation procedures on a smart device. To evaluate the performance of the proposed PRBF-POST method, the pointspread functions of PRBF-CON and PRBF-POST methods were compared each other. Also, the frame rate of each PRBF method was measured 20-times to calculate the average frame rate and its standard deviation. As a result, the PRBFCON and PRBF-POST methods indicates identical beamforming performance in the Field-II simulation (correlation coefficient = 1). Also, the proposed PRBF-POST method indicates the consistent frame rate for varying number of channels (i.e., 44.25, 44.32, and 44.35 fps for 16, 64, and 128 channels, respectively), while the PRBF-CON method shows the decrease of frame rate as the number of channel increase (39.73, 13.19, and 3.8 fps). These results indicate that the proposed PRBF-POST method can be more advantageous for implementing the wireless US imaging system than the PRBF-CON method.