No description available.

Objective assessment for the effect of hearing protectors, background noise levels, and backup alarm acoustic features on listeners' abilities to localize backup alarm signals in the horizontal dimension, as well as on their ability to detect backup alarm signals in the distance dimension, is lacking in the acoustics and safety literature. Accordingly, two research experiments were conducted for this dissertation. In the first experiment, the effect of seven hearing protectors, two background pink noise levels (60 dBA and 90 dBA), and two backup alarm signals (standard and spectrally-modified) on the ability of normal hearing listeners to localize backup alarm signals in the horizontal dimension was investigated. Results indicated that a diotic sound transmission earmuff significantly degraded localization accuracy as compared to all other hearing protectors and the open ear condition. In addition, no significant difference existed between the open ear condition and the other hearing protectors in localization accuracy in most of the conditions tested. However, the E-A-R/3M HiFiTM earplug was advantageous in localization performance since it provided a significantly higher percentage correct localization than the Moldex foam earplug, the diotic earmuff, and the dichotic earmuff in 90 dBA pink noise. As for main effects of the other independent variables, the 90 dBA pink noise significantly degraded localization performance as compared to the quiet condition of 60 dBA, and a spectrally-modified backup alarm significantly improved localization performance as compared to the standard (narrowband) backup alarm. Potential application of these results includes the revision of backup alarm standards. In addition, these results provide clear advice for safety professionals to avoid the application of diotic sound transmission earmuffs for workers if localizing backup alarms is important. In the first experiment, listeners' feeling of comfort for each hearing protector was assessed subjectively by using a comfort rating scale. In addition, a subjective assessment for listeners' confidence in their localization decisions was established. Results indicated no significant difference between the hearing protectors in terms of comfort. However, in terms of listeners' confidence in localization decisions, their confidence was significantly degraded when they were fitted with the diotic earmuff. By contrast, they showed significantly more confidence in their localization decisions when they were fitted with the E-A-R/3M HiFi™ earplug as compared to when they were fitted with the Moldex foam earplug, the E-A-R/3M Ultrafit™ earplug, and the Bilsom passive earmuff. In the second experiment, listeners' performance in detecting a stationary backup alarm signal, including both a standard (narrowband) and broadband (pulsed white noise) alarm, was determined while they were equipped with various passive and electronic hearing protection devices. Listeners' performance was quantified by detection distance, which was defined as the distance between the stationary backup alarm device and the position where the listener detected the backup alarm signal. The resultant data demonstrated that normal hearing listeners detected a standard (narrowband) backup alarm signal at significantly longer distances as compared to the broadband (Brigade™) backup alarm signal, thus indicating the earlier forewarning by the standard alarm. In addition, passive hearing protection devices characterized with high attenuation significantly reduced the detection distance. These results may be applied to assist safety professionals in selecting hearing protectors and backup alarm signals that provide on-foot workers with ample time to react to an approaching backing vehicle, thus improving their safety. / Ph. D.

According to The Joint Commission (TJC), 98 unexpected and unacceptable events related to alarm fatigue were reported in United States hospitals between January 2009 and June 2012. There were 80 deaths, 13 permanent loss of function, and 5 extended care stays that occurred during this time period. The problem identified in this quality improvement (QI) initiative was the TJC report that nursing staff in the US was experiencing alarm fatigue due to the overstimulation of senses from continuous beeping from alarms on the unit. Framed within the Iowa model of evidence-based practice to promote quality care, the purpose of the project was to develop a patient care alarm fatigue initiative as mandated by TJC including a policy and procedure for managing alarm fatigue, a curriculum plan for educating the nursing staff on alarm fatigue, and a survey on nurse attitudes toward alarm fatigue to be administered at the beginning of the education. The developed policy and procedure was approved by the committee with the recommendation to revise the policy to involve all ancillary staff in direct contact with clinical alarms. The curriculum objectives were evaluated by 2 content experts using a 4 item met/not met response format. Findings showed that all objectives were met. The content of the nurse survey was reviewed by the experts using a 3 item Likert scale and all the items were deemed relevant. Finally, team members (n = 9) completed a summative evaluation of the project using an 8 item, 5-option Likert scale. All were in agreement that the project met its intent. The implementation of this project after graduation has the potential to bring about social change by increasing patient safety, patient well being and reducing healthcare costs.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-26T13:32:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 1927442 bytes, checksum: 4d51dbf78a2cc4c2f8a631ebde5dc6fe (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-08-02 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Developed at Motorola in 1987 the Six Sigma methodology seeks, by reducing the variability of key-processes, obtain critical to quality characteristics (CTQs) with defect probabilities close to zero. It has a Six Sigma process when the distance between the CTQ s target value (VN) and its nearest specification limit, is equal or greater than six standards-deviations (σ). In practice, despite the big attention being paid to the process, the average of the CTQ s probabilities distribution is able to shift until 1,5σ from the target value which even so, the process will be considered Six Sigma. So there is an interval between 4,5 and 6σ in which the process can vary without losing the quality level considered as world class . Thus, in this study, aimed establishes recommendations for planning the Shewhart control charts ̅ and R for monitoring Six Sigma processes. To do so, it was established a reference performance in which it was assumed the joint probability of false alarm equal to or less than 0.01; and the joint probability of true alarm growing according the reduction of the process Sigma level, from 0 in 6σ processes to 0.10 in those 5σ, reaching 0.90 at 4.5σ processes until reaches the unit for 3σ processes and inferior. Accordingly, it were investigated plannings with combinations between n = 2, 3, 4 and 5 and k = 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9 and 3.0. It was identified that the pair of graphs in question performed well when the process was only under the effect of average displacement and lost performance occurred the increase of the variation as the only disturbance present or when the two anomalies were acting. It was possibly identify that the average displacement is the most observed problem, the simultaneous occurrence of both anomalies is less frequent and exclusive presence of increased variation is rare. Therefore, it was recommended that planning with n = 5 and k = 2.9 for monitoring Six Sigma Practical processes (ie, with sigma level between 4.5 and 6σ), which performed well only when the process was mainly under the effect of the average displacement. However, it is expected a good performance of this planning when the process is mainly under the effect of the average displacement. Thus, it is likely that the processes quality level falls without any signal from the control charts in question to indicate quality loss due to the increase of the variation, with or without the presence of the average displacement. / Desenvolvida em 1987 na Motorola, a metodologia Seis Sigma busca, mediante redução na variabilidade dos processos-chave, obter características críticas para a qualidade (CTQs) com probabilidades de defeitos próximas de zero. Tem-se um processo Seis Sigma quando a distância entre o valor-alvo (VN) da CTQ e o limite de especificação mais próximo for igual ou superior a seis desvios-padrão (σ). Na prática, por maior que seja a atenção dispensada ao processo, a média da distribuição de probabilidades da CTQ pode deslocar em até 1,5σ do valor-alvo, que ainda assim o processo será considerado Seis Sigma. Então existe um intervalo de 4,5 a 6σ, no qual o processo pode variar sem que perca o nível de qualidade considerado de classe mundial . Desta forma, neste trabalho, buscou-se estabelecer recomendações para o planejamento de gráficos de controle de Shewhart ̅ e R para o monitoramento de processos Seis Sigma. Para tanto, estabeleceu-se um desempenho de referência no qual se admitiu a probabilidade do alarme falso conjunto igual ou inferior a 0,01; e a probabilidade do alarme verdadeiro conjunto crescendo de acordo com a redução do nível Sigma do processo, passando de 0 em processos 6σ para 0,10 naqueles 5σ, atingindo 0,90 em processos 4,5σ até atingir a unidade para processos 3σ e inferiores. Nesse sentido, investigou-se planejamentos com combinações entre n = 2, 3, 4 e 5 e k = 2,5, 2,6, 2,7, 2,8, 2,9 e 3,0. Identificou-se que o par de gráficos em questão apresentou bom desempenho quando o processo esteve sob efeito somente do deslocamento da média e perdeu desempenho à medida que ocorreu o aumento da variação como única perturbação ou quando as duas anomalias estiveram atuando. Foi possível identificar que o deslocamento da média é o problema mais observado, a ocorrência simultânea das duas anomalias é menos frequente e a presença exclusiva do aumento da variação é rara. Logo, recomendou-se o planejamento com n = 5 e k = 2,9, para o monitoramento de processos Seis Sigma Práticos (isto é, com nível sigma entre 4,5 e 6σ), que apresentou bom desempenho apenas quando o processo esteve principalmente sob efeito do deslocamento da média. Portanto, é provável que o nível de qualidade dos processos caia sem que os gráficos de controle em questão sinalizem a perda da qualidade em função do aumento da variação, com ou sem a presença do deslocamento da média.

Alarm fatigue is a practice problem that applies to hospitalized patients and the nurses who care for them. Addressing alarm fatigue is important to promote alarm safety and to decrease the risk of patient harm or death. The purpose of this study was to decrease alarm fatigue and improve alarm safety in a regional neonatal intensive care unit (RNICU). Guided by the conceptual model for alarm fatigue and alarm safety, this study addressed whether or not alarm management protocols designed to decrease false and nuisance alarms in the physiological monitoring of neonates improve alarm safety via decreased alarm burden and alarm fatigue as evidenced by statistically significant reductions in false and nuisance alarms. A quantitative, time series quasi-experimental design was used with 4 waves of data collection. One wave was baseline data collected preintervention, and 3 waves of data were postprotocol implementation to obtain an initial indication of sustainability. Alarm observation data collection sheets were developed and used to track numbers and types of alarms pre- and post-protocol implementation. The data analysis showed statistically significant decreases in both false alarms and nuisance alarms related to the physiological monitoring protocol and lead changing protocol. Overall, high protocol adherence was noted, and the total number of alarms per hour per bed was reduced by 42% (p < .001), 46% (p < .001), and 50% (p < .001) from baseline at Weeks 2, 4, and 6, respectively. Implications from this study include impact on practice and policy, direction for future study, and a call for social change to promote alarm safety in the care of neonates.

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 26-29, 1998 / Town & Country Resort Hotel and Convention Center, San Diego, California / GPS signal fixed dwell and variable dwell time sequential search algorithms are compared with probability of false alarm and detection and searching rate. An adaptive search algorithm is proposed according to different work modes and interference or jam circumstance, which has effectively improved signal acquiring speed and reliability. Mathematical simulation shows its correction and feasible.

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 21, 2002 / Town & Country Hotel and Conference Center, San Diego, California / It is need to design acquisition and tracking for code loop and carrier loop to detect the high dynamic Global Position System (GPS) signal. Acquiring signal quickly and shortening acquisition time in the cold case are key technology of a high dynamic GPS receiver. Moreover, fast acquisition of C/A code is the base of code tracking and carrier acquisition and tracking. This paper describes elements and implementation of a new parallel-sequential search Algorithm to acquire C/A code of the high dynamic GPS signal. And combined with a 12-channel correlator named GP2021 produced by GEC Co., the arithmetic implementation to acquire C/A code of the high dynamic GPS signal used sequential search based on DSP technology is also given.

No description available.

Predation is a major source of mortality, resulting in strong selection on strategies to avoid being captured. Individuals have access to multiple sources of information on predation risk: they can detect danger directly themselves, and they can attend to behavioural cues or warning signals produced by others. Rapid responses are vital when hunted by aerial predators in particular, as split-second decisions can mean the difference between life and death. I studied New Holland honeyeaters, Phylidonyris novaehollandiae, as a model system to examine how alarm calls encode information about danger and to understand how this information is used by receivers. In Chapter 2, observational data showed that these honeyeaters produce multi-element, aerial alarm calls in response to flying threats. Male honeyeaters had more opportunities to detect threats than did females and showed a greater propensity to alarm call when presented with gliding model predators. In Chapter 3, a combination of observational data and model presentations demonstrated that aerial alarm calls encode urgency in both the number of elements, with more dangerous threats receiving more elements, and the acoustic structure of the first element. Playback presentations of alarm calls and video recordings to measure responses revealed that honeyeaters made extremely fast decisions about fleeing to cover based on the acoustic structure of the first alarm element, while the number of elements determined for how long they hid. These two chapters demonstrate that receivers have rapid access to detailed information about the type and degree of danger from conspecific alarm calls. In Chapter 4, I investigated how birds integrate personal information about danger with social information from alarm calls. Perched birds were faster to detect model predators than feeding birds, suggesting that they have greater access to personal information. Consistent with this, perched birds were less likely to flee to cover in response to alarm playbacks than foraging birds. Birds also fled less in response to less urgent social information, such as playbacks of more distant alarm calls, and less relevant social information, in the form of calls from another species with overlapping but not identical threats. In Chapter 5, I tested how honeyeaters value social information about danger derived from single versus multiple sources, both within and across species. Birds paid attention to the number of independent signallers when assessing information from both conspecifics and heterospecifics, responding more strongly to playbacks of alarm calls from two sources than a single source, but they also moderated their responses according to signal relevance. Together, these results show that birds make flexible decisions about danger by integrating information from multiple sources and assessing its quality, allowing them to mitigate the costs of fleeing to false, or irrelevant, alarms while taking advantage of the multitude of information provided by the prey community's neighbourhood watch.

Predator avoidance behaviors are a critical defense mechanism that can increase the chances of survival for potential prey species. We tested the avoidance behavior of the freshwater amphipod, Gammerus sp., under two different chemical predation cues. The first was the presence of kairomone, which was derived from a species of fish, Gambusia affinis, that was fed a diet exclusively of amphipods. The second predation cue was potential alarm cue derived from macerated conspecific amphipods from the same population as the test species. Response variables included time spent moving after the introduction to the signal as well as the time spent in refuge. Movement of amphipods significantly decreased and time spent in refuge significantly increased when amphipods were exposed to alarm cue as compared to control organisms that received no exposure to predation cues. Exposure to the fish kairomone treatments significantly increased time spent in the refuge but did not significantly influence time spent moving during the trials. These results suggest that amphipods exhibit predator avoidance behavior primarily when there is evidence that an attack has occurred (evidenced by the death of conspecifics within the population), but will also demonstrate avoidance behaviors to a lesser degree when a predator is detected.