Interactive Real-Time Embedded Systems Education Infused with Applied Internet Telephony

The transition from traditional circuit-switched phone systems to modern packet-based Internet telephony networks demands tools to support Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) development. In this paper, we introduce the XinuPhone, an integrated hardware/software approach for educating users about VoIP technology on a real-time embedded platform. We propose modular course topics for design-oriented, hands-on laboratory exercises: filter design, timing, serial communications, interrupts and resource budgeting, network transmission, and system benchmarking. Our open-source software platform encourages development and testing of new CODECs alongside existing standards, unlike similar commercial solutions. Furthermore, the supporting hardware features inexpensive, readily available components designed specifically for educational and research users on a limited budget. The XinuPhone is especially good for experimenting with design trade-offs as well as interactions between real-time software and hardware components

Bio-inspired design of ice-retardant devices based on benthic marine invertebrates: the effect of surface texture

Growth of ice on surfaces poses a challenge for both organisms and for devices that come into contact with liquids below the freezing point. Resistance of some organisms to ice formation and growth, either in subtidal environments (e.g. Antarctic anchor ice), or in environments with moisture and cold air (e.g. plants, intertidal) begs examination of how this is accomplished. Several factors may be important in promoting or mitigating ice formation. As a start, here we examine the effect of surface texture alone. We tested four candidate surfaces, inspired by hard-shelled marine invertebrates and constructed using a three-dimensional printing process. We screened biological and artifical samples for ice formation and accretion in submerged conditions using previous methods, and developed a new test to examine ice formation from surface droplets as might be encountered in environments with moist, cold air. It appears surface texture plays only a small role in delaying the onset of ice formation: a stripe feature (corresponding to patterning found on valves of blue mussels, Crassostrea gigas, or on the spines of the Antarctic sea urchin, Sterechinus neumayeri) slowed ice formation an average of 25% compared to a grid feature (corresponding to patterning found on sub-polar butterclams, Saxidomas). The geometric dimensions of the features have only a small (~6%) effect on ice formation. Surface texture affects ice formation, but does not explain by itself the large variation in ice formation and species-specific ice resistance observed in other work. This suggests future examination of other factors, such as material elastic properties and coatings, and their interaction with surface pattern

Development and Comparative Predictive Validity of an Outpatient Medication Exposure Measure for Risk Adjustment Using Retrospective Claims Data

The purpose of this study was to develop and test a measure of outpatient prescription utilization (medication exposure measure, or MEM) that may be coupled with the CMS-HCC and CMS-RxHCC methodologies to improve risk-adjusted payments to Medicare Part C and Part D plans. Studies have identified prescription measures that predict future expenditures; however, many are easily manipulable by health plans or practitioners, thus limiting their utility as risk-adjusters. The addition of a non-manipulable prescription utilization measure to existing risk-adjustment models may improve prediction, reducing adverse risk selection incentives by health plans. A secondary objective of this study was to evaluate the utility of adding prescription measures to the Charlson\u27s Comorbidity Index, Elixhauser\u27s Index, and RxRisk to predict year-2 expenditures, hospitalization counts, emergency department visits, and mortality. Study Design: The study design utilized a retrospective cohort from the 5% Medicare national sample, which used year-1 (2007) inputs to predict the year-2 (2008) economic and clinical outcomes. The sample included beneficiaries with continuous enrollment in fee-for-service Medicare Parts A, B, and D for a minimum of 12 months in the base year and a minimum of 1 month in year-2. An interaction between the end-of-year Medicare Part D benefit phase and the prescription measures was included to account for the influence of the coverage gap (i.e., donut hole ) on the prescription measures. Results: Overall, the addition of the prescription-based measures to risk-adjustment models resulted in enhanced predictive validity for the economic and clinical outcomes tested compared to the risk-adjustment model alone. The addition of any prescription measure to the risk-adjustment models did not meaningfully improve model performance in predicting year-2 medical expenditures; however, the prescription measures, particularly the MEM, markedly improved prediction of year-2 pharmacy expenditures. Conclusions: Although adding MEM to the HCC models used to predict medical expenditures does not appear to be a useful method of enhancing risk-adjusted payments, the MEM performed particularly well with the RxHCC predicting year-2 pharmacy expenditures. Incorporating the MEM into Medicare Part D risk-adjustment models (i.e., with RxHCC) would improve risk-adjusted capitated payments from both the perspectives of CMS and the health plans

Influential Article Review - Examining the Nature of German Retail and Commercial Customers

This paper examines retail. We present insights from a highly influential paper. Here are the highlights from this paper: Based on a unique data set of 909 defaulted retail and commercial (self-employed and SMEs) credit customers in Germany, whose original loans were made by 123 different banks, our article confirms a significant positive influence of collateral, and of amicable agreements between the debtor and the bank (redemption), on the recovery rate [1 − loss given default (LGD)]. In a further analysis of collateral, systematic biases between the realized market price and the expected market values of real estate are revealed, even though the appraisal reports should have already considered all factors influencing the value. Using valuations that were adjusted for these recognized biases, we can increase the explanatory power of the underlying models. Moreover, we compare these models to models that apply, as is common practice in the banking industry, flat haircuts to collateral values and show the superior performance of our proposed approach. For our overseas readers, we then present the insights from this paper in Spanish, French, Portuguese, and German

A Down-to-Earth Educational Operating System for Up-in-the-Cloud Many-Core Architectures

We present Xipx, the first port of a major educational operating system to a processor in the emerging class of many-core architectures. Through extensions to the proven Embedded Xinu operating system, Xipx gives students hands-on experience with system programming in a distributed message-passing environment. We expose the software primitives needed to maintain coherency between many cores in a system lacking specialized caching hardware. Our proposed series of laboratory assignments adds parallel thread execution and inter-core message passing communication to a well-established OS curriculum

Online supplement for: Changes in otoacoustic emissions during selective auditory and visual attention

This is an online supplement for the article, Changes in otoacoustic emissions during selective auditory and visual attention, published in The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America.PACS (Physics & Astronomy Classification Scheme) numbers associated with this article supplement: 43.64.Jb, 43.64.Kc, 43.64.Bt, 43.64.Nf, 43.66.LjPsycholog

Immersion Tour for Local Native Alaska Students

A Project Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE in Project ManagementRecent initiatives by the Department of Defense directed greater outreach to local Native Alaska students due to lack of representation. To bridge this gap, the "Immersion Tour for Local Native Alaska Students" is an impactful initiative aimed at providing a unique educational experience to underserved students residing in remote areas of Alaska. This project serves as a vital component of Air Force outreach, fostering connections with local communities and inspiring the next generation of leaders. The primary objective of this project is to expose students from remote Alaskan villages, often referred to as "the bush," to opportunities and career paths they may not have access to otherwise. By doing so, it not only enriches their educational journey but also empowers them to envision a brighter future for themselves and their communities. This will be a one day execution event for the immersion tour on Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson, Alaska. Additionally, this project aims to permanently set up an office or set up as a function of an office to carry out this endeavor so this effort may continue as part of the organization. In summary, the "Immersion Tour for Local Native Alaska Students" is a project with a far-reaching impact, designed to bridge educational gaps, foster community connections, and inspire future leaders within the Alaska Air National Guard. It underscores the Air Force's commitment to outreach and engagement while offering students the chance to explore a world of possibilities. This project successfully resulted in 28 students enjoying a military base immersion tour and in creating a repository of best practices for future tours to use for continuously improved processes. This repository will be used as the basis for turnover to a future office for primary responsibility in supporting outreach tours.Abstract / List of Figures / List of Appendices / Glossary / Scope Statement / Background / Research Methods and Approach / Research / Work Breakdown Schedule / Project Schedule Management / Communications Management Plan / Budget Management Plan / Risk Management Plan / Quality Management Plan / Procurement Management Plan / Integration Management Plan / References / Appendi

Concerns of Custom Harvesters

This study elicited the perceptions and concerns of custom harvesters regarding safety and health issues faced in their operations, self‐perceived knowledge of selected regulations, and self‐perceived ability to train employees on the safe operation of equipment. The average age of custom harvesters\u27 (CH) employees was 22 to 25 years (47.2%). The most common length of the harvest season was 5 to 6 months (70.9%). The most common responses to length of work day were 9 to 11 hours (34.5%) and 12 to 14 hours (54.5%). In general, CH ranked combine operation experience as most important when hiring employees. The CH felt inexperience was the leading contributor to lost‐time incidents. They were most concerned about DOT regulations and Worker\u27s Compensation rules, but also felt they had a good knowledge of those areas