Advanced detection, isolation and accommodation of sensor failures: Real-time evaluation

The objective of the Advanced Detection, Isolation, and Accommodation (ADIA) Program is to improve the overall demonstrated reliability of digital electronic control systems for turbine engines by using analytical redundacy to detect sensor failures. The results of a real time hybrid computer evaluation of the ADIA algorithm are presented. Minimum detectable levels of sensor failures for an F100 engine control system are determined. Also included are details about the microprocessor implementation of the algorithm as well as a description of the algorithm itself

Value of the electronic patient record: An analysis of the literature

AbstractWe undertook a systematic review of the literature on the basis of published studies on the benefit and costs of Electronic Patient Records (EPRs) to clarify the issue of whether and to what extent the use of an EPR is worthwhile. We carried out a systematic electronic search for articles published between 1966 and early 2004 using MEDLINE, following up cross-references from the articles found. We searched first for suitable medical subject headings (MeSH) for electronic patient record, benefit and costs. We obtained 7860 citations with the MeSH keyword ‘‘Medical Record System, Computerized”. After combination with appropriate keywords this number was reduced to 588, after a review by two reviewers independently based on abstracts down to 95, and after a further review based on full-text articles to 19 covering 20 studies. The publications evaluated thus document the economic benefits of EPR in a number of areas, but they do not make a statement of the cost effectiveness of EPR in general

Electron paramagnetic resonance studies of spin-labelled ethidium bromide DNA interactions

Spin-Labelled Ethidium Bromide (SLEB) was prepared in order to study its interactions with natural DNA in the form of fibres . The technique of electron paramagnetic resonance was used in this thesis. Knowledge of the conformational transition pathway of natural DNA for given counterion concentration as a function of relative humidity was utilised in the study of effect DNA confomation on the binding of SLEB. To aid interpretation of the results the relevant background material was reviewed. In order to attempt to extract geometric information on binding computer ERR lineshape simulations were used. To facilitate this a microcomputer spectrometer control system was designed and implemented. This allowed spectra to be acquired in digital form and transfered to the mainframe computer. Two schemes for magnetic field control were investigated, one based on a commercial NMR magnetometer, and a superior pulsed NMR field locking magnetometer developed in this laboratory. In order to obtain lineshapes undistorted by dipolar broadening it is advantageous to use fibres with a high phosphate to drug ratio (P/D), however spectrometer sensitivity becomes a limiting factor. A review of noise in spectrometer systems is included. The use of a microwave low-noise preamplifer to reduce the system noise figure was investigated. An attempt to construct a loop-gap resonator was made and justified theoretically. A 35GHz spectrometer was constructed and a cavity designed and built to allow the humidity to be varied. The system was made compatible with the control system. Spectra recorded and simulated at this frequency should help confirm those obtained at 9GHz. The results obtained from P/D«70 fibres with a 0.5mM NaCl concentration show the SLEB is in a disordered state from 33% to 75% relative humidity. Spectral changes occur in the range 75% to 98% consistant with intercalation. In this humidity range a transition to the B-form is expected

Aerospace medicine and biology: A continuing bibliography with indexes

This bibliography lists 148 reports, articles and other documents introduced into the NASA scientific and technical information system in December 1984

Application Of Digital Signal Analysis, Mass Data Acquisition and Processing Techniques, and Automated Experiment Protocols to the Study of Cardiac Cell Membrane Electrophysiology, with Mathematical Modeling

Traditional methods of collecting, analyzing and storing data from cardiac cell membrane electrophysiology experiments have become increasingly cumbersome and unwieldy as experimental protocols have become more sophisticated and complex. A global approach to collecting, analyzing, refining and storing electrophysiologic data, as well as a new approach to mathematical modeling of cell membrane single ion channel kinetics, was developed. This utilizes a comprehensive microcomputer based system of software with specialized analog and digital electronics for data acquisition, analysis and archiving. Unique discrete signal processing techniques for characterizing the electronic recording system, including specialized hardware and software adapted for minimizing distortions in biosignal recordings, are discussed in detail

21st Rocky Mountain Conference on Analytical Chemistry

Abstracts and meeting program from the 21st annual meeting of the Rocky Mountain Conference on Analytical Chemistry, co-sponsored by the Rocky Mountain Section of the Society for Applied Spectroscopy and the Rocky Mountain Chromatography Discussion Group. Held in Denver, Colorado, July 30 - August 1, 1979

Investigation of reliability attributes and accelerated stress factors on terrestrial solar cells

Major effort during this reporting period was devoted to two tasks: improvement of the electrical measurement instrumentation through the design and construction of a microcomputer controlled short interval tester, and better understanding of second quadrant behavior by developing a mathematical model relating cell temperature to electrical characteristics. In addition, some preliminary work is reported on an investigation into color changes observed after stressing

Electrodeposition of nanostructured Bi2MoO6@Bi2MoO6-x homojunction films for the enhanced visible-light-driven photocatalytic degradation of antibiotics

Complex tunable visible-light-driven Aurivillius-phase-based micro- and nanostructured photocatalysts were fabricated following a novel, scalable, easily implemented sequential process based on electrochemical deposition and thermal treatment. Regarding its novelty, electrochemistry was the primary tool for synthesis, one that constitutes a viable alternative to other complex chemical and physical processes. The parameters of electrodeposition and thermal conditions promoted different nanostructured Bi2MoO6 and Bi2MoO6@Bi2MoO6-x films. The nanostructured homojunction Bi2MoO6@Bi2MoO6-x films obtained after 3 h of calcination showing micro- and nanowire morphology emerged as the most effective photocatalyst for degrading and mineralizing the mono- and multiantibiotic solutions (i.e., tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, and/or levofloxacin), which achieved near-total degradation and exceptionally high mineralization values (>95%) after 180 min of radiation. The materials' proven reusability, low photocorrosion activity, and excellent photocatalytic performance in mineralizing antibiotics can support the implementation of Bi2MoO6@Bi2MoO6-x homojunctions as efficient visible-light photocatalysts under solar radiation

The effects of microcomputers on the mathematical skills of low-achieving students

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of using the microcomputer to improve mathematics achievement for those students who did not pass the mathematics section of the State Literacy Passport Test in Grade 6.;The sample consisted of nine classes of seventh grade students who had not passed the LPT and whose parent(s) committed to the five week summer program. Students were assigned randomly to the nine teachers. The teachers were then assigned randomly to either the microcomputer or non microcomputer group with five being assigned to the microcomputer group. to control for teacher variability staff development and a detailed teacher\u27s guide were provided. The topics covered in both groups were those which are addressed on the State LPT: numbers and numeration; relations and functions; computation with whole numbers, decimals, and fractions; measurement and geometry; and applications. The lessons for both groups included identical teacher directed activities. Students in the microcomputer group were assigned in pairs to a microcomputer and spent approximately 20% of the time using the microcomputer for follow-up activities whereas the students in the non microcomputer group worked on more conventional follow-up activities such as games and puzzles. The students attended classes for two and one-half hours, four days a week for five weeks.;A literacy passport test developed by the project director which was previously examined for content and concurrent validity and reliability was the posttest assessment. The pretest assessment was the State LPT.;The major findings of the study were: (1) Students in the microcomputer group scored significantly higher on the posttest for the total test and for the subtests of--computation with decimals, computations with fractions, and measurement and geometry. (2) Students in the microcomputer group experienced significant posttest gains on the subtest on computation with whole numbers but the posttest differences were not significant (p {dollar}\u3c{dollar}.05). This was due to the significant differences in pretest scores in favor of the non microcomputer group