Graduate Recital:Michael Fitch, Conductor

Center for the Performing Arts Thursday Evening April 24, 2003 8:00p.m

Operational support systems for satellite communications

The role of satellite communications is changing from providing bandwidth linking network operators interconnections towards providing IP enabled communications to end users. This migration from few high-value routes towards many low-value routes means that integration and automation of processes with terrestrial networks becomes critical in driving down unit costs. Integration and automation is necessary on all planes: user, control and management. In satellite communications, management aspects, underpinned by Operational Support Systems (OSS) have received the least research attention, making this a valuable topic for study. In most areas, OSS for satellite systems are similar to other domains. However there are some notable areas of difference which have been the focus of this research. The eTOM business framework, developed by the TMF, has been used to highlight aspects of OSS unique to satellite. Since satellite capacity represents the highest operational cost of a satellite route, effective management while minimising the overhead traffic is critical. The transmission of IP packets is assumed and the real-time measurement of QoS parameters such as packet delay and loss emerged as the most important differences. A number of approaches to QoS measurement are feasible, however the use of trace packets is most promising especially for high network loads. An experiment compares the results from simulations, mathematical models and from a test network, using Poisson and self-similar traffic flows. The relationship between measurement accuracy and trace packet intensity is explored and the measurement response time to steps in traffic load is estimated. It is discovered that measurement accuracy improves as the queue load increases, in contrast to alternative approaches such as sampling of user packets. The response time to steps depends upon the degree of self-similarity and is generally longer than the times recommended by standards. A pragmatic approach to management of different modes is proposed where the measurement method is changed depending on the load

SHH signalling in acute pulmonary cell injury and chronic fibrosis

This thesis addresses the hypothesis that the sonic hedgehog (Shh) signalling pathway is up regulated in response to cellular injury and that this signal acts as a potential pro-fibrogenic signal in pulmonary inflammation. In vitro studies utilised human (A549) and mouse (CMT) type II like epithelial cell lines in an analysis of epithelial response to injury. An immediate up regulation and release of soluble Shh in response to hydrogen peroxide exposure was identified in mouse epithelium, utilising both RT-PCR and a novel Shh ELISA developed here. Subsequent up-regulation and release of GM-CSF was shown to be Shh independent. Human epithelial cells demonstrated a similar release of Shh, suggesting a common pathway in both species. In contrast GM-CSF was not up regulated in human cells, but IL-8 up regulation did occur. The relevance of these studies to in vivo signalling was ascertained through use of the FITC instillation mouse model of inflammatory fibrosis.Previous work by our group has illustrated epithelial up-regulation of Shh in areas of inflammatory fibrotic disease in the FITC model, and in biopsies from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Transoral intratracheal delivery of FITC on two occasions six weeks apart reproduced previous histological findings made in the lab using a surgical intratracheal FITC instillation. However, use of improved immunohistochemical (IHC) techniques would suggest that, unlike human disease, Shh expression in the FITC mouse model is not solely restricted to epithelium in areas of inflammation or fibrosis. To determine the Shh responder cell populations in human disease and determine the validity of the IHC findings in the FITC model, a laser micro-dissection technique was developed. Viable mRNA for sequences including the Shh receptor patched (Ptc), and downstream signalling component smoothened (Smo) have been recovered from archival formalin fixed human biopsy material, sufficient for RT-PCR and agarose gel electrophoresis visualisation. mRNA analysis of material derived from fibrotic areas of a single standard section of archival human lung biopsy has now been performed.Observations correlating levels of FITC specific lgG1 antibody and disease severity in FITC treated animals suggest an immuno-modulatory role for T lymphocyte dependent, Th2 type antibodies in disease progression. In support of this iBALT has also been identified in diseased lung and T-lymphocyte depletion results in disease amelioration.Taken together these findings suggest that Shh is an indicator of acute cellular injury, but that the principal component of FITC induced fibrotic disease progression is immune mediated and that this does not depend on Shh up regulation

University Choir Women\u27s Choir

Center for the Performing Arts Sunday Afternoon November 2, 2003 3:00p.m

Simulation in Medical Student Education: Survey of Clerkship Directors in Emergency Medicine

<p>Introduction: The objective of this study is to identify (1) the current role of simulation in medical student emergency medicine (EM) education; (2) the challenges to initiating and sustaining simulationbased programs; and (3) educational advances to meet these challenges.</p> <p>Methods: We solicited members of the Clerkship Directors in Emergency Medicine (CDEM) e-mail list to complete a Web-based survey addressing the use of simulation in both EM clerkships and preclinical EM curricula. Survey elements addressed the nature of the undergraduate EM clerkship and utilization of simulation, types of technology, and barriers to increased use in each setting.</p> <p>Results: CDEM members representing 60 EM programs on the list (80%) responded. Sixty-seven percent of EM clerkships are in the fourth year of medical school only and 45% are required. Fewer than 25% of clerkship core curriculum hours incorporate simulation. The simulation modalities used most frequently were high-fidelity models (79%), task trainers (55%), and low-fidelity models (30%). Respondents identified limited faculty time (88.7%) and clerkship hours (47.2%) as the main barriers to implementing simulation training in EM clerkships. Financial resources, faculty time, and the volume of students were the main barriers to additional simulation in preclinical years.</p> <p>Conclusion: A focused, stepwise application of simulation to medical student EM curricula can help optimize the ratio of student benefit to faculty time. Limited time in the curriculum can be addressed by replacing existing material with simulation-based modules for those subjects better suited to simulation. Faculty can use hybrid approaches in the preclinical years to combine simulation with classroom settings for either small or large groups to more actively engage learners while minimizing identified barriers.</p

Choral Arts Festival

Center for the Performing Arts Monday Evening October 20, 2003 6:00p.m