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ITC/USA 2011 Conference Proceedings / The Forty-Seventh Annual International Telemetering Conference and Technical Exhibition / October 24-27, 2011 / Bally's Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada / Spacecraft and launch vehicle reliability is dominated by premature equipment failures and surprise equipment failures that increase risk and decrease safety, mission assurance and effectiveness. Large, complex aerospace systems such as aircraft, launch vehicle and satellites are first subjected to most exhaustive and comprehensive acceptance testing program used in any industry and yet suffer from the highest premature failure rates. Desired/required spacecraft equipment performance is confirmed during factory testing using telemetry, however equipment mission life requirement is not measured but calculated manually and so the equipment that will fail prematurely are not identified and replaced before use. Spacecraft equipment mission-life is not measured and confirmed before launch as performance is but calculated using stochastic equations from probability reliability analysis engineering standards such as MIL STD 217. The change in the engineering practices used to manufacture and test spacecraft necessary to identify the equipment that will fail prematurely include using a prognostic and health management (PHM) program. A PHM includes using predictive algorithms to convert equipment telemetry into a measurement of equipment remaining usable life. A PHM makes the generation, collection, storage and engineering and scientific analysis of equipment performance data "mission critical" rather than just nice-to-have engineering information.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Duquesne University, 2006. / Title from document title page. Abstract included in electronic submission form. Includes bibliographical references (p.156-185) and index.

In today’s fast paced technological world learners are under a great deal of pressure to obtain their grade 12 certificates. These learners are also faced with a number of life events that add to the stress they experience during the preliminary and final grade 12 examinations. This stress or anxiety increases when they fail their preliminary grade 12 examinations. This study focuses on these learners and the stress and anxiety that they experience after failing their grade 12 preliminary examinations. Guidelines are suggested to support and prevent learners from failing their grade 12 preliminary examinations. The research design adopted for this study was qualitative, exploratory and descriptive in nature. Phenomenological interviews were used for data collection and field notes were made to support the interviews. The data were analysed and coded with verification from an independent coder. In phase one, three themes were identified, discussed and supported by a literature control. In phase two the findings were used to suggest guidelines for the grade 12 learners. The findings of this study showed that grade 12 learners, writing their examinations, experience stress and anxiety physically, psychologically and emotionally. They describe rather alarming symptoms of this stress and anxiety. The learners also appear to have ambivalent feelings towards their future orientation during this stressful time. The guidelines suggested are aimed at managing the stress and anxiety as well as learning to develop support through effective communication skills and relationship building. It is hoped that application of these guidelines will support learners and prevent failure during the preliminary examinations thereby alleviating much of the stress and anxiety that learners experience during their examinations. / Prof. C.P.H. Myburgh

近年，研究發現許多心臟衰竭患者的左室射血分數在正常範圍內。這種類型的心臟衰竭，已被稱為“射血分數保持的心臟衰竭（HFPEF）。研究還發現，HFPEF患者往往是老年女性，有高血壓病史，其預後比射血分數降低的心衰更好。 / 然而，很少人研究過中國人中HFPEF患者的死亡率。同時，經治療后HFPEF患者長期的生活質量是否改善沒有得到很好的研究，特別是在老年HFPEF患者中。此外，到目前為止，一直沒有一個風險評分系統用於預測HFPEF患者的預後。 / 我們從2006年至2010年在一所大學附屬醫院建立的心臟衰竭注冊研究中，前瞻性納入了847 名HFPEF的患者進行研究。此外，我們通過國際疾病分類第九版臨床修正（ICD-9- CM）代碼428進行數據檢索，回顧性分析了2001年至2005年入住我院的心臟衰竭的患者。其中170名射血分數超過50的患者納入本研究。爲了消除兩組病人基線差異對臨床終點的影響，我們計算出傾向性得分。在建立風險評分方面，所有HFPEF患者隨機分為推導組和驗證組。從推導組中，我們得到了風險評分，然後我們再在驗證組中測試評分系統是否可行。本研究中，生活質量是通過明尼蘇達州心力衰竭問卷（MLHFQ）進行評估。 / 我們研究的主要發現包括： / 1、與2001-2005年納入的HFPEF患者比，2006-2010年納入的HFPEF患者，一年生存率有顯著提高（76.9%比65.5%，P = 0.001），心臟衰竭的再次住院率也顯著下降（33.3%比50.6%，P <0.001）。傾向得分匹配調整後1年生存率提高（78.9%比68.1%，P = 0.02）和心衰再次住院率降低（34.3&比51.2%，P = 0.002）仍然顯著。 / 2、各個年齡組基線（32±16比30±15比34±11，P = 0.12）和12個月（16±14比16±12比19±13，P = 0.62）的MLHFQ得分均沒有顯著。HFPEF患者12個月時生活質量得到改善的比例在年齡組之間相似（84.0%比80.2%比87.5%，P = 0.68）。 / 3、我們通過Cox多因素回歸分析得到了了6個獨立的預測HFPEF患者1年死亡率的預後因素。每個因素根據其回歸系統獲得一個分數：低蛋白血症（5分），不使用鈣通道阻滯劑（3分），充血性心臟衰竭病史（2.5分），腦血管疾病病史（2.5分），尿素氮> 10mmol / L（2.5分），年齡> 78歲（2分）。每一個患者根據風險分數而被分為三個危險人群：低風險（0至5.5分），中等風險（10.5分）和高風險（11至17.5分）。在推導隊列，這三組的1年死亡率分別為10.5%，22.3%和48.7%分別。在驗證隊列，相應的死亡率分別為15.4%，25.3&和39%。 / 4、低蛋白血症為HFPEF患者1年死亡率的最有力的預測指標。 / 綜上所述，我們發現，近年來，HFPEF患者一年的死亡率和心臟衰竭再次住院率有所下降。與相對年輕的HFPEF患者相比，老年HFPEF患者經歷了類似的生活質量的改善。從臨床常用的變量得到的風險評分可用於預測HFPEF患者1年死亡率。低蛋白血症為HFPEF患者1年死亡率的最有力的預測指標。 / Recently, many studies have found that many patients presenting with clinical heart failure (HF) had a left ventricular ejection fraction in the normal range. This entity has been termed “heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF). Previous studies have indicated that patients who have HFPEF tend to be older, female, and to have a history of hypertension. / However, little was known about the clinical outcome and related predictors of HFPEF patients in Chinese population. Long term quality of life (QOL) after treatment in HFPEF patients have not been well studied, especially in very elderly HFPEF. Furthermore, there has been no a risk score used HFPEF patients. / We studied 847 HFPEF patients who were prospectively enrolled into a HF Registry from 2006 to 2010 at a teaching hospital. In addition, a historical cohort of patients admitted in our hospital from 2001 to 2005 was retrospectively retrieved and data searched using the ICD-9-CM code 428. Among this, 170 with HFPEF were selected for study. To adjust for the impact of baseline differences between the 2 cohorts on clinical outcomes, we calculated a propensity score. To establish a risk score, HFPEF patients were randomly divided into derivation group and validation group. We got a risk score from the derivation group and then checked in the validation one. QOL was assessed by the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) instruments. / Main findings of our study included: / 1. 1-year survival rates improved (65.5% vs. 76.9%, p=0.001) and HF re-hospitalization rates decreased (50.6% vs. 33.3%, p<0.001 in HFPEF patients admitted between 2001-2005 and 2006-2010, respectively). The improvement in 1-year survival (68.1% vs. 78.9%, p=0.02) and HF re-hospitalization (51.2% vs. 34.3%, p=0.002) remained significant after propensity score matching. / 2. Baseline (30±16 vs. 28±16 vs. 29±16, p=0.87) and 12-months (15±14 vs. 16±14 vs. 15±12, p=0.92) MLHFQ score showed no significant differences with advancing age. Proportion of patients who experienced improvement in QOL at 12-months were similar among age groups (84.0% vs. 80.2% vs. 87.5%, p=0.68). / 3. Six independent prognostic factors were identified, and each was assigned a number of points proportional to its regression coefficient: hypoalbuminemia (5 points), not use of CCB (3 points), history of HF (2.5 points), history of CVD (2.5 points), BUN>10mmol/L (2.5 points), age>78 years (2 points). Wecalculated risk scores for each patient and defined three risk groups: low risk (0 to 5.5 points), intermediate risk (6 to 10.5 points) and high risk (11 to 17.5 points). In the derivation cohort, the 1-year mortality rates for these three groups were 10.5%, 22.3%, and 48.7% respectively. In the validation cohort, the corresponding mortality rates were 15.4%, 25.3% and 39%. / 4. Hypoalbuminemia was the most powerful predictor of 1 year mortality for HFPEF patients. / In summary, we found that the mortality of HFPEF patients in the first year decreased over time. Elderly HFPEF patients experienced similar improvements in QOL compared to younger ones. The clinical based risk score can be used to predict mortality of HFPEF patients. Hypoalbuminemia was the most powerful predictor of 1 year mortality for HFPEF patients. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Liu, Ming. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2012. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 124-150). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese. / Declaration of originality --- p.i / Acknowledgement --- p.ii / List of abbreviations --- p.iv / Publications --- p.vii / Full paper --- p.vii / Abstracts --- p.viii / Abstract --- p.ix / 中文摘要 --- p.xii / Table of Contents --- p.xiv / List of Tables --- p.xx / List of Figures --- p.xxi / Chapter SECTION I --- LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.1 / Chapter CHAPTER 1 --- DEFINITION, PATHOPHYSIOLOGY AND DIAGNOSIS OF HFPEF --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Definition of HFPEF --- p.2 / Chapter 1.2 --- Pathophysiology of HFPEF --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Structure abnormality in HFPEF --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Diastolic dysfunction in HFPEF --- p.10 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Systolic function in HFPEF --- p.12 / Chapter 1.2.4 --- Left atrial dysfunction in HFPEF --- p.14 / Chapter 1.2.5 --- Peripheral factors in HFPEF --- p.15 / Chapter 1.3 --- Diagnosis of HFPEF --- p.16 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Clinical features --- p.17 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Echocardiographic features of HFPEF patients --- p.18 / Chapter 1.3.3 --- BNP AND N-pro BNP assays --- p.18 / Chapter CHAPTER 2 --- EPIDEMIOLOGY OF HFPEF --- p.28 / Chapter 2.1 --- Prevalence of HFPEF among HF patients --- p.28 / Chapter 2.2 --- Demographic features and comorbid conditions --- p.29 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Age --- p.30 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Gender --- p.31 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Hypertension --- p.31 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Coronary artery disease --- p.32 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- Atrial fibrillation --- p.33 / Chapter 2.2.6 --- Diabetes Mellitus --- p.34 / Chapter 2.2.7 --- Renal Dysfunction --- p.34 / Chapter 2.2.8 --- Body Mass Index --- p.35 / Chapter 2.2.9 --- Anemia --- p.35 / Chapter 2.2.10 --- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease --- p.35 / Chapter 2.3 --- Mortality of HFPEF patients --- p.36 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Mortality rates --- p.36 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Pattern of death --- p.37 / Chapter 2.4 --- Prognostic predictors --- p.38 / Chapter 2.5 --- Health related quality of life in HFPEF patients --- p.40 / Chapter CHAPTER 3 --- TREATMENT OF HFPEF PATIENTS --- p.42 / Chapter 3.1 --- Non-pharmacologic Therapy --- p.42 / Chapter 3.2 --- Medical and Surgical Therapy --- p.43 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Clinical Studies --- p.43 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Randomized Controlled Clinical Trials --- p.43 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Current Therapeutic Recommendations --- p.45 / Conclusions --- p.46 / Chapter SECTIONS II --- STUDIES ABOUT HFPEF --- p.47 / Chapter CHAPTER 4 --- OBJECTIVES AND HYPOTHESIS --- p.47 / Chapter 4.1 --- Objectives of the study --- p.47 / Chapter 4.2. --- Hypothesis --- p.48 / Chapter CHAPTER 5 --- METHODOLOGY --- p.49 / Chapter 5.1 --- Patient population --- p.49 / Chapter 5.2 --- Definition of HFPEF patients --- p.49 / Chapter 5.3 --- Baseline patient data --- p.50 / Chapter 5.4 --- Echocardiogram --- p.50 / Chapter 5.5 --- Health related quality of life assessment --- p.51 / Chapter 5.6 --- Follow-up and clinical outcome --- p.51 / Chapter 5.7 --- Statistical analysis --- p.52 / Chapter CHAPTER 6 --- IMPROVED 12 MONTH SURVIVAL OF PATIENTS ADMITTED WITH HFPEF OVER THE LAST DECADE --- p.54 / Chapter 6.1 --- Introduction --- p..54 / Chapter 6.2 --- Methods --- p.54 / Chapter 6.2.1 --- Patient population --- p.54 / Chapter 6.2.2 --- Baseline patient data --- p.55 / Chapter 6.2.3 --- Study endpoints --- p.56 / Chapter 6.2.4 --- Statistical analysis --- p.56 / Chapter 6.3 --- Results --- p.57 / Chapter 6.3.1 --- Baseline patient characteristics --- p.57 / Chapter 6.3.2 --- Unadjusted clinical outcomes --- p.57 / Chapter 6.3.3 --- Propensity score adjusted clinical outcomes --- p.58 / Chapter 6.4 --- Discussion --- p.58 / Chapter 6.5 --- Conclusions --- p.61 / Chapter CHAPTER 7 --- QUALITY OF LIFE IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH HFPEF --- p.67 / Chapter 7.1 --- Introduction --- p.67 / Chapter 7.2 --- Methods --- p.68 / Chapter 7.2.1 --- Patient population --- p.68 / Chapter 7.2.2 --- Health related quality of life assessment --- p.69 / Chapter 7.2.3 --- Follow-up --- p.69 / Chapter 7.2.4 --- Statistical analysis --- p.69 / Chapter 7.3 --- Results --- p.70 / Chapter 7.3.1 --- Baseline patient characteristics --- p.70 / Chapter 7.3.2 --- Mortality --- p.71 / Chapter 7.3.3 --- Health-related quality of life --- p.71 / Chapter 7.3.4 --- Therapy --- p.71 / Chapter 7.3.5 --- Predictors of HRQoL improvement in HFPEF patients --- p.72 / Chapter 7.4 --- Discussions --- p.72 / Chapter 7.5 --- Conclusions --- p.75 / Chapter CHAPTER 8 --- A RISK SCORE TO PREDICT 1 YEAR MORATALITY IN PATIENTS WITH HFPEF --- p.83 / Chapter 8.1 --- Introduction --- p.83 / Chapter 8.2 --- Methods --- p.84 / Chapter 8.2.1 --- Patient population --- p.84 / Chapter 8.2.2 --- Candidate Predictor Variables --- p.84 / Chapter 8.2.3 --- Statistical analysis --- p.85 / Chapter 8.3 --- Results --- p.86 / Chapter 8.3.1 --- Patient Characteristics and Outcomes --- p.86 / Chapter 8.3.2 --- Predictors of Mortality --- p.87 / Chapter 8.3.3 --- Generation of the Risk score --- p.87 / Chapter 8.3.4 --- Validation of the risk score --- p.88 / Chapter 8.4 --- Discussions --- p.88 / Chapter 8.5 --- Conclusions --- p.91 / Chapter CHAPTER 9 --- ALBUMIN LEVELS PREDICT SURVIVAL IN PATIENTS WITH HFPEF --- p.97 / Chapter 9.1 --- Introduction --- p.97 / Chapter 9.2 --- Methods 97 --- p.xviii / Chapter 9.2.1 --- Patient population --- p.97 / Chapter 9.2.2 --- Baseline measurement --- p.98 / Chapter 9.2.3 --- End points --- p.99 / Chapter 9.2.4 --- Statistical analysis --- p.99 / Chapter 9.3 --- Results --- p.100 / Chapter 9.3.1 --- Baseline patient characteristics --- p.100 / Chapter 9.3.2 --- Hypoalbuminemia and Cardiac Events --- p.101 / Chapter 9.3.3 --- Albumin and body mass index (BMI) --- p.102 / Chapter 9.3.4 --- Causes of hypoaluminemia in HFPEF patients --- p.102 / Chapter 9.4 --- Discussion --- p.103 / Chapter 9.4.1 --- Liver dysfunction --- p.104 / Chapter 9.4.2 --- Hemodilution --- p.105 / Chapter 9.4.3 --- BMI and hypoalbuminemia --- p.105 / Chapter 9.4.4 --- Renal failure --- p.106 / Chapter 9.4.5 --- B-type Natriuretic Peptides and albumin --- p.107 / Chapter 9.5. --- Conclusions --- p.109 / Chapter CHAPTER 10 --- GENERAL SUMMARY --- p.117 / Chapter 10.1 --- Main findings of our study --- p.117 / Chapter 10.2 --- Clinical implications --- p.119 / Chapter 10.3 --- Potential for final development of research --- p.120 / Chapter CHAPTER 11 --- CONCLUSIONS --- p.123 / References --- p.124

No description available.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2008. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Pardee Rand Graduate School, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 179-194).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Pardee Rand Graduate School, 2005. / Title from PDF title screen (viewed May 5, 2005). Includes bibliographical references (p. 179-194).

Yes / Information systems (IS) project failure has been a recurring problem for decades. The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to examine the key factors that influence project failure and an analysis of the major areas that can have a significant impact on success; and second, to explore some of the key aspects that have an impact on project management performance from the practitioner perspective and discusses the problems faced by organizations in the closer integration of change and project management. Design/methodology/approach: This study critically reviews the IS failure literature developing a synthesized view of the key issues and common reasons for projects to fail. The approach taken in this study is one that focuses on a number of key questions that pull together the relevant themes in this genre of research whilst highlighting many of the implications for practitioners and organizations alike. Findings: Key questions remain on the underlying causes of instances of poor project management as an IS failure factor. The literature has omitted to develop a deeper analysis of the associations between failure factors and the potential causal relationships between these factors. The realization of project benefits relies on the success of both change and project management yet the formal integration of these two disciplines is constrained by separate standards bodies and an immature body of research. Research limitations/implications: This study is limited by its theoretical nature lacking an empirical element to provide a deeper analysis of IS failure factors and their interrelationships. This specific area is a recommendation for future research, where causal relationships between failure factors could be developed via a mathematic-based method such as interpretive structural modeling. Practical implications: With failure rates of IS projects still unacceptably high after decades of attempts to significantly change outcomes, a deeper analysis of this topic is required. The research gaps and recommendations for practitioners highlighted in this study have the potential to provide valuable contributions to this topic of research. Originality/value: The intent of this study is to present a new perspective of this genre of IS research that develops the main arguments and gaps in the literature from the practitioner viewpoint.