NASA Tech Briefs, March 2005

Topics covered include: Scheme for Entering Binary Data Into a Quantum Computer; Encryption for Remote Control via Internet or Intranet; Coupled Receiver/Decoders for Low-Rate Turbo Codes; Processing GPS Occultation Data To Characterize Atmosphere; Displacing Unpredictable Nulls in Antenna Radiation Patterns; Integrated Pointing and Signal Detector for Optical Receiver; Adaptive Thresholding and Parameter Estimation for PPM; Data-Driven Software Framework for Web-Based ISS Telescience; Software for Secondary-School Learning About Robotics; Fuzzy Logic Engine; Telephone-Directory Program; Simulating a Direction-Finder Search for an ELT; Formulating Precursors for Coating Metals and Ceramics; Making Macroscopic Assemblies of Aligned Carbon Nanotubes; Ball Bearings Equipped for In Situ Lubrication on Demand; Synthetic Bursae for Robots; Robot Forearm and Dexterous Hand; Making a Metal-Lined Composite-Overwrapped Pressure Vessel; Ex Vivo Growth of Bioengineered Ligaments and Other Tissues; Stroboscopic Goggles for Reduction of Motion Sickness; Articulating Support for Horizontal Resistive Exercise; Modified Penning-Malmberg Trap for Storing Antiprotons; Tumbleweed Rovers; Two-Photon Fluorescence Microscope for Microgravity Research; Biased Randomized Algorithm for Fast Model-Based Diagnosis; Fast Algorithms for Model-Based Diagnosis; Simulations of Evaporating Multicomponent Fuel Drops; Formation Flying of Tethered and Nontethered Spacecraft; and Two Methods for Efficient Solution of the Hitting- Set Problem

Spinoff, 1985

Mainline NASA programs, whose challenging objectives necessitate advances across a diverse scientific/technological spectrum are summarized. A representative selection of spinoff products and processes are presented and the NASA technology from which these transfers are derived, are described. The mechanisms NASA employs to foster technology utilization and stimulate interest among prospective users of the technology are detailed

NASA Tech Briefs, April 1992

Topics covered include: New Product Ideas; Electronic Components and Circuits; Electronic Systems; Physical Sciences; Materials; Computer Programs; Mechanics; Machinery; Fabrication Technology; Mathematics and Information Sciences

Study of applications of bio-space technology to patient monitoring systems Final report

Investigation of application of NASA developed technology to cardiovascular and pulmonary patient monitoring to improve availability of data for medical diagnosi

Computational methods for breath metabolomics in clinical diagnostics

For a long time, human odors and vapors have been known for their diagnostic power. Therefore, the analysis of the metabolic composition of human breath and odors creates the opportunity for a non-invasive tool for clinical diagnostics. Innovative analytical technologies to capture the metabolic profile of a patient’s breath are available, such as, for instance, the ion mobility spectrometry coupled to a multicapilary collumn. However, we are lacking automated systems to process, analyse and evaluate large clinical studies of the human exhaled air. To fill this gap, a number of computational challenges need to be addressed. For instance, breath studies generate large amounts of heterogeneous data that requires automated preprocessing, peak-detection and identification as a basis for a sophisticated follow up analysis. In addition, generalizable statistical evaluation frameworks for the detection of breath biomarker profiles that are robust enough to be employed in routine clinical practice are necessary. In particular since breath metabolomics is susceptible to specific confounding factors and background noise, similar to other clinical diagnostics technologies. Moreover, spesific manifestations of disease stages and progression, may largely influence the breathomics profiles. To this end, this thesis will address these challenges to move towards more automatization and generalization in clinical breath research. In particular I present methods to support the search for biomarker profiles that enable a non-invasive detection of diseases, treatment optimization and prognosis to provide a new powerful tool for precision medicine.Seit jeher ist bekannt, dass Körpergeruch und der Atem Hinweise zu deren Gesundheitszustand liefern können. Eine Analyse der Atemluft auf molekularer Ebene verspricht daher neue Ansätze zur Diagnose spezifischer Krankheiten. Innovative Technologien wie die Ionen Mobilitäts Spectrometrie in Kombination mit einer Multikapilarsäule, erlauben erstmals hochauflösende metabolische Profile der Atemluft innerhalb kürzester Zeit zu erzeugen. Zur Zeit fehlen jedoch die notwendigen computergestützten Applikationen zur automatischen Organisation und Auswertung der generierten Daten. Eine besondere Herausforderung stellen dabei die großen Mengen heterogenener klinischer und analytischer Daten und deren Verarbeitung. Ähnlich wie andere Hochdurchsatzverfahren unterliegt die Atemluft dem Einfluss von Hintergrundsignalen wie der Umgebungsluft oder Anderen die Ergebnisse verzerrenden Faktoren, wie zum Beispiel Ernährung, Lebensgewohnheiten oder Medikation. Dies erfordert den Einsatz von modernen Methoden der Statistik und des maschinellen Lernens, um robuste und generalisierbare Krankheitsmarker zu identifizieren. Ein besonderer Augenmerk gilt hierbei auch Krankheiten deren metabolischer Fingerabdruck sich im Krankheitsverlauf drastisch verändern können. Das Ziel meiner Arbeit ist es Lösungen für die beschriebenen Probleme zu finden und damit die Suche nach praxistauglichen Krankheitsmarkern mit bioinformatischen Methoden zu unterstützen. Im Rahmen mehrerer Studien und Softwareprojekten wurden grundlegende Methodiken vorgestellt, evaluiert und etabliert, insbesondere im Hinblick auf die Entwicklung computergestützter Systeme zur automatischen Analyse von Atemluftdaten. Die vorgestellten Verfahren legen den Grundstein für die nicht invasive Detektion von Krankheiten, Optimierung und Prognose von Behandlungen und darüber hinaus für ein weiteres Werkzeug der personalisierten Medizin

Strategies to Reduce Costs Associated with Hospital Readmissions

Hospital administrators struggle to reduce hospital readmissions to improve hospital performance. Reducing costs of readmissions is important to hospital administrators because it may lead to an inability to meet budget requirements. Grounded by complex adaptive systems and business process quality management principles, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore strategies nonprofit hospital administrators use to reduce costs associated with hospital readmissions. Participants included 4 successful hospital administrators at 1 hospital in Doha, Qatar, who have responsibility for overseeing readmissions. Data were collected using semistructured face-to-face interviews and organizational documents. Traditional text analysis was used to identify 3 themes: discharge plan and patient education, medication reconciliation, and effective follow-up appointment system. Implications for social change include patient engagement and organizational support for continuity of care at home, which prevents readmissions and its impact on treatment costs and patient’s overall wellness. Enhancing the wellness of the individuals may generate a better quality of life for residents, while hospital administrators can allocate remaining funds for community extension service

Study of applications of bio-space technology to patient monitoring systems Progress report

Patient monitoring system design and equipment specifications with physiological response display device and warning syste