Analysis of systems of constructed facilities,

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil Engineering. Thesis. 1971. Ph.D.Vita.Includes bibliographical references.by Andrew C. Lemer.Ph.D

Measuring performance of airport passenger terminals

Performance of an airport passenger terminal generally has something to do with moving travelers and their bags between aircraft and ground transportation, but airport operators, travelers, airlines, and other users of the terminal have a range of concerns about comfort, convenience, costs, and ambiance that should accompany this movement and will assess performance in terms of such factors. Statistics are available for a few airports and limited periods of time, but there is no comprehensive base of information on how airport terminal buildings operate or the conditions their users experience. Neither is there a generally accepted definition of what is adequate performance. The principal factors comprising a framework for describing performance are presented, focusing primarily on passengers, airlines, and the airport operator. Specific measures that may be used to assess performance within this framework are considered, along with computational tools that might be developed to support more systematic assessment of airport terminal investments and operating strategies.

Developing a Comprehensive Infrastructure

This paper focuses, however, on activities to be undertaken over the next three to five years. During the 1995-1997 academic years, Purdue University received a small grant from the National Science Foundation that is supporting the I Partnership's initial work. This paper describes the basic elements of the IIMS concept and the IBS, the research and development activities likely to be needed to realize the greatest potential value of the concept, and the Partnership's planned work to implement the concep

NRCC/CPWA Seminar Series "Innovations in Urban Infrastructure" 2000

The term "asset management" has become increasingly frequent in discussions of public-works policy and practice, but has not yet emerged as a well-articulated concept that policy makers and managers can use. Innovative tools and administrative practices are emerging to provide a sound basis for infrastructure asset management, and changes in the government policy environment are spurring efforts to put such tools and practices to work, but progress is slow. Evidence suggests that narrow management perspectives and lack of leadership are decisive in delaying the development and adoption of high rates of return on public assets as a useful public-works asset management principle

Frequency of visual field testing when monitoring patients newly diagnosed with glaucoma: mixed methods and modelling

Background: Visual field (VF) tests are the benchmark for detecting and monitoring the eye disease glaucoma. Measurements from VF tests are variable, which means that frequent monitoring, perhaps over a long period of time, is required to accurately detect true glaucomatous progression. In 2009, guidelines for the diagnosis and management of glaucoma issued by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence revealed an absence of research evidence about the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of using different monitoring intervals to detect disease progression. However, the European Glaucoma Society (EGS) guidelines on patient examination recommend that newly diagnosed glaucoma patients should undergo VF testing three times per year in the first 2 years after initial diagnosis. Objectives: The primary objective of this project was to explore the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of using different monitoring intervals to detect VF progression in newly diagnosed glaucoma patients. Other objectives sought to (1) explore glaucoma patients’ views and experiences of monitoring using focus groups; and (2) establish glaucoma subspecialists’ attitudes regarding frequency of VF testing using a five-item questionnaire. Design: These questions were investigated using a multicentre audit of current practice and existing NHS data (VF records from almost 90,000 patients). New research knowledge was provided through statistical and health economic modelling of these and additional published data. Results: The multicentre audit showed that VF monitoring is, on average, carried out annually. Patient focus groups indicated that, although patients do not like VF testing, they accept it as a critical part of their care. Patients raised concerns regarding distracting testing environments, quality of instructions, explanation of results and excessive waiting times. Questionnaires revealed that clinicians’ attitudes towards the frequency of VF testing varied considerably, and many glaucoma specialists believed that current recommendations are impractical. Statistical modelling suggested that EGS recommendations could be clinically effective as progression can be identified sooner than is possible with annual testing. Health economic modelling suggested that increased VF monitoring may also be cost-effective [incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was equal to £21,679]. Conclusions: Statistical modelling of VF data suggests there is strong rationale for following EGS recommendations with the primary benefit of providing better information about fast-progressing patients. Our health economic model suggested that increasing VF testing may be cost-effective (ICER was equal to £21,679), especially when accounting for gains to society. Nevertheless, many clinicians consider increased VF testing of patients impossible with current resources. In addition, patient focus groups raised concerns about the practicalities of delivery of VF tests. Future work: Results from this study could inform the design of a prospective randomised comparative trial of different VF monitoring intervals in glaucoma linked to stratifying patients according to risk factors for progression. The statistical model for VF data can be further developed to be used as a practical tool for optimising individualised follow-up. The views of clinicians and patients indicate that service delivery of VF testing is an important issue and worthy of further investigation. Ensuring the confidence and co-operation of the patient should be at the centre of future research into the most efficient strategies for glaucoma monitoring. Funding: This work was funded by the National Institute for Health Research Health Services and Delivery Research programme

The biopax community standard for pathway data sharing

BioPAX (Biological Pathway Exchange) is a standard language to represent biological pathways at the molecular and cellular level. Its major use is to facilitate the exchange of pathway data (http://www.biopax.org). Pathway data captures our understanding of biological processes, but its rapid growth necessitates development of databases and computational tools to aid interpretation. However, the current fragmentation of pathway information across many databases with incompatible formats presents barriers to its effective use. BioPAX solves this problem by making pathway data substantially easier to collect, index, interpret and share. BioPAX can represent metabolic and signaling pathways, molecular and genetic interactions and gene regulation networks. BioPAX was created through a community process. Through BioPAX, millions of interactions organized into thousands of pathways across many organisms, from a growing number of sources, are available. Thus, large amounts of pathway data are available in a computable form to support visualization, analysis and biological discovery