Airships: A New Horizon for Science

The "Airships: A New Horizon for Science" study at the Keck Institute for Space Studies investigated the potential of a variety of airships currently operable or under development to serve as observatories and science instrumentation platforms for a range of space, atmospheric, and Earth science. The participants represent a diverse cross-section of the aerospace sector, NASA, and academia. Over the last two decades, there has been wide interest in developing a high altitude, stratospheric lighter-than-air (LTA) airship that could maneuver and remain in a desired geographic position (i.e., "station-keeping") for weeks, months or even years. Our study found considerable scientific value in both low altitude (< 40 kft) and high altitude (> 60 kft) airships across a wide spectrum of space, atmospheric, and Earth science programs. Over the course of the study period, we identified stratospheric tethered aerostats as a viable alternative to airships where station-keeping was valued over maneuverability. By opening up the sky and Earth's stratospheric horizon in affordable ways with long-term flexibility, airships allow us to push technology and science forward in a project-rich environment that complements existing space observatories as well as aircraft and high-altitude balloon missions.Comment: This low resolution version of the report is 8.6 MB. For the high resolution version see: http://kiss.caltech.edu/study/airship

Meeting the Challenge: Implementing Information Technology to Enhance Care in Bone and Joint Health: Working Document.

Presented to Physician Partnership Steering Committee (PPSC) on September 24, 2002. (Calgary Health Region).This project scope/goal was the creation of a planning map for the information technology (IT) needs of all stakeholders associated with Bone and Joint Health, whereby an optimal information technology environment may be created for the provision of these health services to our community

Fine particulate air pollution, nitrogen dioxide, and systemic autoimmune rheumatic disease in Calgary,

a b s t r a c t Objective: To estimate the association between fine particulate (PM 2.5 ) and nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) pollution and systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARDs). Methods: Associations between ambient air pollution (PM 2.5 and NO 2 ) and SARDs were assessed using land-use regression models for Calgary, Alberta and administrative health data (1993)(1994)(1995)(1996)(1997)(1998)(1999)(2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007). SARD case definitions were based on Z 2 physician claims, or Z 1 rheumatology billing code; or Z1 hospitalization code (for systemic lupus, Sjogren&apos;s Syndrome, scleroderma, polymyositis, dermatomyositis, or undifferentiated connective tissue disease). Bayesian hierarchical latent class regression models estimated the probability that each resident was a SARD case, based on these case definitions. The sum of individual level probabilities provided the estimated number of cases in each area. The latent class model included terms for age, sex, and an interaction term between age and sex. Bayesian logistic regression models were used to generate adjusted odds ratios (OR) for NO 2 and PM 2.5 . pollutant models, adjusting for neighbourhood income, age, sex, and an interaction between age and sex. We also examined models stratified for First-Nations (FN) and non-FN subgroups. Results: Residents that were female and/or aged 445 had a greater probability of being a SARD case, with the highest OR estimates for older females. Independently, the odds of being a SARDs case increased with PM 2.5 levels, but the results were inconclusive for NO 2 . The results stratified by FN and non-FN groups were not distinctly different. Conclusion: In this urban Canadian sample, adjusting for demographics, exposure to PM 2.5 was associated with an increased risk of SARDs. The results for NO 2 were inconclusive

Internet hand x-rays: A comparison of joint space narrowing and erosion scores (Sharp/Genant) of plain versus digitized x-rays in rheumatoid arthritis patients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The objective of the study is to examine the reliability of erosion and joint space narrowing scores derived from hand x-rays posted on the Internet compared to scores derived from original plain x-rays.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Left and right x-rays of the hands of 36 patients were first digitized and then posted in standard fashion to a secure Internet website. Both the plain and Internet x-rays were scored for erosions and joint space narrowing using the Sharp/Genant method. All scoring was completed in a blind and randomized manner. Agreement between plain and Internet x-ray scores was calculated using Lin's concordance correlations and Bland-Altman graphical representation.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Erosion scores for plain x-rays showed almost perfect concordance with x-rays read on the Internet (concordance 0.887). However, joint space narrowing scores were only "fair" (concordance 0.365). Global scores demonstrated substantial concordance between plain and Internet readings (concordance 0.769). Hand x-rays with less disease involvement showed a tendency to be scored higher on the Internet versions than those with greater disease involvement. This was primarily evident in the joint space narrowing scores.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The Internet represents a valid medium for displaying and scoring hand x-rays of patients with RA. Higher scores from the Internet version may be related to better viewing conditions on the computer screen relative to the plain x-ray viewing, which did not include magnifying lens or bright light. The capability to view high quality x-rays on the Internet has the potential to facilitate information sharing, education, and encourage collaborative studies.</p