Integrated Navigation System: Not a Sum of Its Parts

Similar to the evolutionary process for living organisms, marine navigation systems are becoming increasingly complex and sophisticated. Both by design and function, shipboard and shore-based navigation systems are no longer individual equipment components operating independently. Instead, the trend is toward integration, data fusion and synergy. One example of this are new Performance Standards being considered by IMO to achieve a “harmonized” presentation of all navigation-related information on the display of an integrated navigation system (INS). Unlike a dedicated display for ECDIS or radar, the new INS displays will be a task-oriented composite presentations that enable the mariner to configure the display for an operational situation by selecting specific chart, radar, radar plotting aids (ARPA) and AIS information that is required for the task-at-hand. This paper gives a brief overview of the trend toward the development of INS. In addition to a brief summary of IMO performance standards for navigation equipment/systems, specific mention is made about a BSH (Germany) report on the “Functional Scope and Model of INS.” A discussion is provided about the challenges of providing navigation safety information that goes beyond traditional boundaries of products and services. Currently, many agencies continue to produce individual products and services on a component basis. Hydrographic offices grapple with trying to provide multiple products and services for paper charts, raster navigational charts (RNCs) and electronic navigational charts (ENCs) while a same time, Coast Guard and Maritime Safety agencies focus on improving Aids-to-Navigation (AtoN), Vessel Traffic Services (VTS), AIS networks -- and more recently, port security. In some respects, the continued concentration on separate products and services represents an organizational reluctance to change. This in turn, results in a fragmented, sub-optimal approach to the safety-of-navigation caused by the inability to provide mariners with “seamless” information at reasonable cost. In particular, hydrographic offices must be willing to recognize that chart information can no longer be considered to be separate, individual products. When it comes to the provision and use of chart-related information for use in an INS, the focus needs to shift to what information is actually desired, how it will be provided, what other information it will be used with, and whether it is truly up-todate

Tech Mecca in Giudecca

In this paper, we introduce the organization SerenDPT and its recent acquisition of the Herion Complex, a former Venetian Convent. The goal of our project is to assist SerenDPT in developing Herion, now known as H3, into a startup factory to bring high paying positions to Venice for young adults. We accomplished this through document organization, event planning, website development, and interior design guideline creation. With the knowledge researched and interviewed from experts in the field, we outline what we completed to guide future projects and to help H3 become a successful startup factory

Intelligent LED Display

The goal of this project is to increase the overall redundancy, and ease-of-use during installation and operation, of large-format LED video displays for the professional touring and outdoor display industry. Using design concepts found in large-scale redundant networks, the system dynamically scales video output to the LED display and provides adaptive real-time fault detection and failover behaviors to ensure reliability in rigorous outdoor environments. This ultimately simplifies installation of a system, eliminating the need for the individual addressing of panels and alignment of video content. The designed system is inherently redundant and the ability to sustain failure of its components increases with the size of the display making it ideal for live applications

Mars Settlement Exhibit Project

This report, prepared for the Mars Foundation, lays out a plan for developing a museum exhibit pertaining to the settlement of Mars called the ”Phobos First Scenario”. Plans for the production of a model Mars rover with accompanying software and game objects are contained herein. Supporting research was done documenting the reaction to the plan and the likely efficacy of such an exhibit. Corollary exhibit materials are also presented. Using the recommendations and materials in this report, it should be possible to build a full museum exhibit fit for children of middle-school age given appropriate funding

Static v. Expandable TLIF Cage Outcomes

Static cages were introduced in the 1990s as a solution to degenerative spondylolisthesis, recurrent disc herniation and spinal stenosis. As this procedure was popularized, a new class of expandable Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion devices was introduced to further improve outcomes that will be studied in this project. It will be explored how expandable cages compare to static cages in TLIF procedures in patient-reported outcomes, complications and restoration of appropriate lumbar lordosis. We conducted a retrospective cohort review comparing those who received expandable and static cages. Eligible patients received TLIF procedure at the Rothman Institute, were ≥18 years of age and had radiographic follow-up at 3 months and 1 year postoperatively. Outcomes were measured in lumbar lordosis via calculating angles via radiographic images preoperatively and 3 month and 1 year postoperatively as well as pre- and post-operative SF-12 surveys. At this time, data acquisition is ongoing and no preliminary data has been generated. However, we anticipate better patient reported outcomes and greater and sustained restoration of Lumbar Lordosis in patients who received expandable cages. Data collection is scheduled to be completed shortly. Once completed, this will be a study of greater magnitude and will address the shortage of investigations into the surgical outcomes of static and expandable cages and clarify the theorized benefits of expandable cages. Recent emphasis has been placed on restoring appropriate lumbar lordosis in fusion surgeries and this project was designed to investigate lordosis at different time posts as compared to patient-reported outcomes

Instantaneous Feedback of HRV for Monitoring Emotional State

Existing biomedical research indicates psychological state, including mood and emotion, is strongly correlated with various physiological indicators such as heart rate variability (HRV). This project aimed to develop a solution for monitoring HRV for the purpose of training individuals to attain and sustain cognitive coherence, a psychophysiological state marked by enhanced cognitive acuity. A software application was developed to calculate and display a numerical indicator of user coherence level in real-time. The final software package is intended for use by the Worcester Police Department to train emergency operators in cognitive coherence and stress management

The Federal Rules Of Civil Procedure: Politics In The 2013-2014 Revision

Pre-trial discovery is perpetually controversial. Parties advantaged by strict privacy can often avoid justice when this is disadvantageous to their interests. Contrawise, parties advantaged by relaxed litigation privacy can achieve justice when all facts are accessible irrespective of their repositories, ownership or control. American-style pre-trial discovery in civil and regulatory enforcement is relatively rare around the world. U.S. discovery rules open nearly all relevant and non-privileged data for use by opposing parties. The traditional discovery process was costly and time consuming in the world of tangible paper data. However, these burdens have increased, rather than diminished as often predicted, as most data migrates to electronically stored information (ESI). This article provides a midstream assessment of the second major revision effort to accommodate U.S. discovery processes to the broad and deep problems arising during the past 20 years of document discovery experience with predominately ESI data sources

For presentation at: Canadian Hydrograhic Conference

Abstract: Similar to the evolutionary process for living organisms, marine navigation systems are becoming increasingly complex and sophisticated. Both by design and function, shipboard and shore-based navigation systems are no longer individual equipment components operating independently. Instead, the trend is toward integration, data fusion and synergy. One example of this are new Performance Standards being considered by IMO to achieve a "harmonized" presentation of all navigation-related information on the display of an integrated navigation system (INS). Unlike a dedicated display for ECDIS or radar, the new INS displays will be a task-oriented composite presentations that enable the mariner to configure the display for an operational situation by selecting specific chart, radar, radar plotting aids (ARPA) and AIS information that is required for the task-at-hand. This paper gives a brief overview of the trend toward the development of INS. In addition to a brief summary of IMO performance standards for navigation equipment/systems, specific mention is made about a BSH (Germany) report on the "Functional Scope and Model of INS." A discussion is provided about the challenges of providing navigation safety information that goes beyond traditional boundaries of products and services. Currently, many agencies continue to produce individual products and services on a component basis. Hydrographic offices grapple with trying to provide multiple products and services for paper charts, raster navigational charts (RNCs) and electronic navigational charts (ENCs) while a same time, Coast Guard and Maritime Safety agencies focus on improving Aids-to-Navigation (AtoN), Vessel Traffic Services (VTS), AIS networks --and more recently, port security. In some respects, the continued concentration on separate products and services represents an organizational reluctance to change. This in turn, results in a fragmented, sub-optimal approach to the safety-of-navigation caused by the inability to provide mariners with "seamless" information at reasonable cost. In particular, hydrographic offices must be willing to recognize that chart information can no longer be considered to be separate, individual products. When it comes to the provision and use of chart-related information for use in an INS, the focus needs to shift to what information is actually desired, how it will be provided, what other information it will be used with, and whether it is truly up-todate.

The rate and predictors of healing of repaired lesser tuberosity osteotomy in reverse total shoulder arthroplasty

BACKGROUND: Evidence is building that a functional subscapularis improves function-specifically internal rotation tasks-following reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA). However, the optimal method for subscapularis repair during rTSA remains unknown with variable healing rates reported. This study aims to investigate the rate of and predictors for healing a lesser tuberosity osteotomy (LTO) following rTSA. METHODS: Following local institutional review board approval, patients with at least one-year follow-up for rTSA managed with an LTO and subsequent repair between March, 2017 and March, 2020 were retrospectively identified. Shoulders were selected for LTO repair based upon preoperative imaging and intraoperative assessment of subscapularis quality. All patients were implanted with a system consisting of a 150° or 155° (constrained) humeral neck-shaft angle and 2.5 to 4.5 millimeters (mm) of glenoid lateralization (Trabecular Metal Reverse Shoulder System; Zimmer Biomet, Warsaw, IN, USA). At a minimum of six months, radiographs were reviewed for an assessment of LTO healing by three independent reviewers. Healing was classified as displaced, fibrous union, or ossified union. For assessing predictors, the repair was considered intact if the LTO fragment was not displaced (fibrous union or ossified union). RESULTS: Sixty-five rTSA with LTO repair were performed in 64 patients. These patients had an average age of 67.2 years (range, 31-81) and 36 (55.4%; 36/65) were female. At an average follow-up of 15.2 months (range, 8-38), 50 cases (76.9%; 50/65) were classified as having an ossified union. The radiographic healing could not be assessed in a single case. Of the 14 cases without ossific union, 8 (12.3%; 8/65) were displaced and 6 (9.2%; 6/65) were classified as a fibrous union. In logistic regression, only combined humeral liner height predicted LTO displacement (odds ratio = 1.4 [95% confidence interval = 1.1-1.8]; CONCLUSION: This analysis demonstrates that radiographic healing of LTO repair is more favorable than published rates of healing after subscapularis tenotomy or peel in the setting of rTSA. Subscapularis management with LTO provides the ability to monitor repair integrity with plain radiographs and a predictable radiographic healing rate. The integrity of subscapularis repair may be influenced by the use of thicker humeral liners. Further investigation is needed to determine the functional impact of a healed subscapularis following rTSA