Translating Predictive Models for Alzheimer’s Disease to Clinical Practice: User Research, Adoption Opportunities, and Conceptual Design of a Decision Support Tool

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a common form of Dementia with terrible impact on patients, families, and the healthcare sector. Recent computational advances, such as predictive models, have improved AD data collection and analysis, disclosing the progression pattern of the disease. Whilst clinicians currently rely on a qualitative, experience-led approach to make decisions on patients’ care, the Event-Based Model (EBM) has shown promising results for familial and sporadic AD, making it well positioned to inform clinical decision-making. What proves to be challenging is the translation of computational implementations to clinical applications, due to lack of human factors considerations. The aim of this Ph.D. thesis is to (1) explore barriers and opportunities to the adoption of predictive models for AD in clinical practice; and (2) develop and test the design concept of a tool to enable EBM exploitation by AD clinicians. Following a user-centred design approach, I explored current clinical needs and practices, by means of field observations, interviews, and surveys. I framed the technical-clinical gap, identifying the technical features that were better suited for clinical use, and research-oriented clinicians as the best placed to initially adopt the technology. I designed and tested with clinicians a prototype, icompass, and reviewed it with the technical teams through a series of workshops. This approach fostered a thorough understanding of clinical users’ context and perceptions of the tool’s potential. Furthermore, it provided recommendations to computer scientists pushing forward the models and tool’s development, to enhance user relevance in the future. This thesis is one of the few works addressing a lack of consensus on successful adoption and integration of such innovations to the healthcare environment, from a human factors’ perspective. Future developments should improve prototype fidelity, with interleaved clinical testing, refining design, algorithm, and strategies to facilitate the tool’s integration within clinical practice

Restrained metal columns

A review of previous research into column behaviour is made. A general method of analysis for elastically restrained columns bent about one axis of symmetry and held against sway is described. The method was developed specifically for use on the English Electric 'DEUCE' computer, for which programmes have been prepared. In the method the column cross-section is considered, as a number of strips, in which the stresses are assumed to be uniform. The stress/strain curve for the column material is approximated by a series of straight lines, while proper account is taken of the unloading of fibres strained into the plastic range. The analysis considers particular columns, studying their behaviour as loading is applied up to and through collapse. The validity of the method is checked by comparisons with analytical and theoretical work by other authors, excellent agreement being obtained. Tests carried out by the author on pinned steel columns, pinned aluminium columns, and restrained aluminium columns are described. Analysis of these tests is shown to give results in good agreement with the experiments, confirming the general validity of the analysis. The results of a comprehensive series of analyses of rectangular columns of ideal elastic-plastic material are then presented. The variables considered are slenderness, degree of restraint, and magnitude and ratio of end moments. The general behaviour during loading is described. Detailed plots of collapse load values are given along with working load values calculated according to B.S. 449-1959. The load factors according to B.S. 449 are shown to be slightly below 2.0 in some cases. In most cases, however, the load factors are well above 2.0, while in some cases they are above 4.0. Finally the major conclusions of the thesis are stated and suggestions for future research given

Geological characterisation of Australia’s first carbon dioxide storage site

This is a PhD thesis by publication consisting of four journal papers and two chapters in books. Each manuscript details the geological characterisation that has underpinned scientific field research and operations at the CO2CRC Otway Project. This is Australia’s first site to geologically store carbon dioxide and has been operating in Victoria, Australia, since 2008. Site screening, planning, and development began four years prior to that. During the course of the past 14 years the project has achieved demonstrated storage in both a depleted gas field, and a saline aquifer, and investigated the dynamic processes and monitorability of both scenarios in a series of controlled field experiments. This has provided a unique opportunity to test and validate interpretations of the geological characteristics that are thought to influence storage efficacy and containment. The research presented in this thesis has the distinction of being able to test geological heterogeneity at both the core and field scale by comparing the core analysis and laboratory experiments with actual injection data. It shows that small scale geological influences, particularly vertical permeability, have an impact on capacity and trapping. Furthermore, the time-lapse monitoring datasets provide evidence to which the conformance of reservoir models are assessed. The body of work herein has established that valuable insights may be used to improve site characterisation before, during, and post-injection. This is particularly important for updating models to enhance reservoir management, as well as for predicting the longterm evolution and stabilization of injected CO2. This in turn will influence enduring monitoring strategies and the potential transfer of liability for many sites post-closure. The research presented here examines the whole of life site assessment process from site selection through to execution and completion. It dispels the myths that depleted fields have little uncertainty and risk because they have held hydrocarbons in the past and are already well characterised by the previous operators. Instead the findings show that characterisation for CO2 storage has very a different focus from that of petroleum exploration and development methods, and targeted data acquisition and integrated analysis is essential to reduce uncertainty. The study also shows that information gathered for CO2 storage site characterisation of a previously poorly characterised saline aquifer can have greater implications for the regional understanding of basin stratigraphy and geological controls on fluid migration. Thus the investigations may be of interest to those beyond just the carbon capture and storage research community.Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, Australian School of Petroleum, 201

Morehead State University Directory 1997

The 1997 Directory of Morehead State University.https://scholarworks.moreheadstate.edu/college_histories/1187/thumbnail.jp