This thesis investigates the use of electronic medical record (EMR) systems and risk management in hospitals. It provides a critical analysis of recognized EMR systems and potential failures and discusses six traditional risk management techniques including brain storming, cause, effect analysis, failure mode effective analysis (FMEA), fault tree analysis (FTA), and Binary Decision Diagram (BDD) in addition, to one of the most recent systematic risk management techniques, Systems Theoretic Accident Model Process (STAMP). The traditional techniques are not as well suited to managing risks and preventing failures in modern information systems with complex software that involves human and machine interaction. The thesis introduces the implementation of common traditional risk management technique such as BDD and FTA which is mostly used in nuclear plants, transportation and medical devices backed by a hypothetical example to help and explain the process of the FTA usage. Most traditional techniques rely on a direct cause-and-effect chain and have no clear formal guidance. The systematic technique introduced and used in this study, is known as Systems Theoretic Accident Model Process (STAMP). It is one of the recent systematic techniques developed and used in many sectors including aerospace. This study applied the STAMP technique to the EMR system failure at King Khalid General Hospital (KKGH) in Riyadh. One of the reasons for selecting the STAMP technique is that it is based on system theory and established the risk factors that lead to system failure. It also provides guidance for managing and controlling risk factors. This thesis discusses the implementation of STAMP, supported by examples, to explain how the technique conducted. System failures occur unexpectedly and have the potential to affect health services; they can compromise patient health and sometimes lead to death. The aims of this study are to explore The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia healthcare usage of EMRs and risk factors that leads to system failure and demonstrate the benefit of STAMP for RM in EMR system, define gaps and provide suggestion based on international best practice The study was conducted in three phases. The first phase explored EMR system usage and failures. The second phase implemented the STAMP risk management technique at one hospital of our 8 surveyed hospitals, the King Khalid General Hospital’s (KKGH), to identify and manage risks. In the third phase, the study modified the STAMP technique and reapplied it. The modified technique STAMP Checklist (STAMPC) was compared with the original STAMP technique. We found that STAMPC is much more usable and subjectively beneficial for the hospital that uses a hybrid system. Data extracted using the modified technique provided more useful information to improve EMR system safety, and prevent potential failures. This study addresses the challenges of how effectively RM techniques used to reduce the potential risk of EMR system failures in hospitals. It improves the efficiency of the STAMP risk management technique by proposing a new (STAMPC) technique. There are 3 important implications for both RM and EMRs practice: first, the study suggests that RM and EMRs are integral parts of the management decision-making process; second, they are necessary to improve human health and safety; and, third, RM may minimise the possibility of system failure.

This thesis covers the work to combine the two worlds of the hardware platform of the BLACKfin by Analog Devices and the software based on the eCos operating system to provide a foundation for embedded real-time applications to build on to benefit from the best aspects of both. This document will therefore outline the main objectives of this thesis followed by an overview of the functionality provided by eCos and the BLACKfin. It will further outline the steps required to combine both by porting the hardware abstraction layer and device drivers for the BLACKfin architecture to eCos. Prior to detailing selected implementations of particular code segments of special interest this thesis will outline the design and concept considerations involved and the conclusion drawn in order to provide a working HAL. After describing the current state of the hardware abstraction layer port conducted as part of this thesis this document will provide an evaluation of the implementation itself the benefits as well as possible limitations. To provide a conclusion to the work outlined in this document further possible questions of interest for future work based on the results of this thesis will be provided.

One of the aims of Lithuanian schools is to develop the pupil‘s perception of their aethetic abilities. Negative cultural phenomena have some influence on the communication in the sphere of art. Stamps can help to avoid negative aspects. It is very important in the 10th – 12th forms, because the teenagers are very receptive to different crises. Collecting stamps is an activity based on the communication which can broaden the knowledge of the art. First stamps were published in 1840, and were quickly used in all over the world. The stamps became the representatives of the country, and its history, culture. The stamps are created by well – know artits, and are considered as the works of applied graphics. The basic aspect of the communication for teenagers is to create their own identity and to find what they are really like. In due course, the communication with others became the main task for the teenagers, because the ability to associate with others allows to feel the sense of the maturity. The interest in stamps is a good way to expand the communication among teenagers. Both, the teachers from Lithuania and from other countries wrote about the use of visual aids at the history lessons. All the authors stress the importance of the visual aids. The post stamps may be considered as pictures of applied works having the principle of the visual art. The principle of the visualizations is advisedto combine with the principle of the activity it... [to full text]

Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Auburn University, 2006. / Abstract. Includes bibliographic references.

Postage stamp is widely consumed in our daily life. In most of the cases, citizens need to purchase stamps in the post office or the local shop and may even need to wait in a long queue. This paper provides a stamp recognition system for supporting auto postage stamp selling machine, in order to convenient citizens and save labor cost for shops. Both citizens and stamp collectors can benefit from this system. This recognition system uses image processing is programmed using MATLAB®. Having scanned different pieces of postage stamps, our system could detect and recognize which type each piece of postage stamp belongs to. Besides, the coordinate information of each piece of stamp can be accessed  for localization.

Post stamp perforation recognition is important factor in authentication of post stamps. Type and perforation size have major influence on price of post stamps. This Masters thesis is handling suggestion of detector of post stamp perforation. Goal of this work is to create application, which will recognize perforation size from photography of post stamp. Application is using OpenCV library.

This dissertation is composed of three essays that analyze the significance of the Food Stamp Program (FSP) for low-income households. The first essay entitled “Intensity of Food Stamp Use and Transient and Chronic Poverty: Evidence from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics” examines the impact of intensity of use of FSP benefits on household exposure to transient and chronic poverty with respect to food and housing expenditures. The study finds that FSP is used for both long-term expenditure support and as a smoothing mechanism before the welfare reform, and only for smoothing expenditures after the welfare reform. Factors that influence both components of poverty are number of children, human capital, minority status and local economic conditions. Another finding is that shorter recertification periods reduce the length of FSP use, and indirectly result in higher poverty. The second essay entitled “The End of the Paper Era in the Food Stamp Program: The Impact of Electronic Benefits on Program Participation” documents the impact of the implementation of the statewide Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) system on household participation behavior in the entire period of nationwide implementation. The major finding is that the switch from paper coupons to EBT cards induces participation among eligible households, most likely by reducing the stigma associated with FSP participation. The effect of the EBT system on participation probabilities is the largest among households residing in the rural South, those not headed by a single mother or those with a White household head. The third essay entitled “The Dynamics of Food Stamp Program Participation: A Lagged Dependent Variable Approach” investigates the existence of state dependence and its sources by analyzing the dynamics of participation in the FSP using a lagged dependent variable approach. Results show that FSP receipt in the previous period is an important determinant of current FSP receipt. Estimated persistence rates declined significantly after 1996, suggesting that long-term welfare dependency was reduced after the welfare reform, at least with respect to the FSP. The source of state dependence in FSP participation among low-income households is mostly structural implying that a welfare trap does exist for these households. / Ph. D.

The purpose of the present study was to gain insight on the real and perceived needs of food stamp recipients for use in developing nutrition education programs. Six focus group interviews with 26 food stamp recipients were conducted in six Virginia counties. Transcripts of the meetings were analyzed to identify themes prevalent in all of the focus group interviews. Ninety-two 24-hour food recalls from a different sub-group of food stamp recipients were also analyzed for food consumption frequencies, trends in food preparation, and common food purchasing locations. A key finding was that most focus group participants made food-related decisions while in the grocery store. Explanations for incidences of food resource scarcities included beliefs that the amount of food stamps was insufficient and that poor food purchasing decisions were made. Predominant food behavior changes that had been previously attempted were decreasing consumption of fat and fried foods and reducing portion sizes. Most of the reasons for attempting those behavior changes involved a desire for weight loss. Prevalent nutrition education interests were low-fat cooking and child nutrition. Results of the 24-hour food recall analysis indicated an inadequate consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grain cereals, and dairy products. Seventy-five percent of the subjects purchased food in a grocery store and prepared meals at home. / Master of Science

En vue d’éviter ou de diminuer l’importance des dégâts causés par les accidents majeurs, il convient de modéliser les fonctions et les relations entre les composants d’un système industriel. Pour cela, dans cette thèse, on utilise la démarche de modélisation par la méthode STAMP (Systems-Theoretic Accident Model and Processes) pour représenter la structure hiéarchique du système, ainsi que les mécanismes de contrôle nécessaire pour préserver la sécurité d’un processus industriel. Afin de traiter les problématiques liées aux contrôles de la sécurité industrielle, on propose l’utilisation de l’outil de simulation Anylogic. Cet outil, permet modéliser et de simuler le comportement du système en fonction du temps en mode normal et en mode dégradé.L’objectif de ces travaux est donc de proposer une démarche basée à la fois sur la modélisation et la simulation pour analyser les risques et prévenir les accidents d’un site de stockage et distribution de GPL (Gaz Pétrole liquéfié). / System thinking concepts and simulation tools are used to model the risk prevention plan and operational modes designed to enforce safety constraints at a French liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) storage and distribution facility. In France, such facilities are classified and the subject of special legislation and safety regulations. Their supervision is the responsibility of a control and regulatory body. A technological risk and prevention plan is provided, where all the dangerous phenomena likely to occur in addition to the safety control measures are listed in the safety report. Safety is therefore addressed through rules, and control mechanisms ensure that the system complies with safety constraints. Taking this facility as a case study, we use the STAMP theoretical framework together with AnyLogic simulation software to model technical elements and human and organizational behavior. We simulate how the system evolves over time and the strategies that are deployed in a loss of control scenario. The aim is to assess whether the prescribed safety program covers all of the system's phases; namely operations and audits. The results enrich other research that focuses on the contribution of system dynamics to risk analysis and accident prevention.

Cette thèse concerne l'étude des risques associés aux projets de CTSC (Captage, Transport et Stockage de CO2) dont le développement est prévu à l'échelle industrielle. Les projets de CTSC sont des systèmes sociotechniques complexes pour lesquels une approche systémique de management des risques est nécessaire. L'approche doit couvrir les différents aspects du risque pour analyser l'influence de la dynamique des risques sur la dynamique des projets. Une méthodologie systémique de management des risques est proposée. Cette méthodologie est fondée sur les concepts de la pensée systémique, de l'approche STAMP (Systems-Theoretic Accident Model and Processes) développée au sein du Massachusetts Institute of Technology, et de la dynamique des systèmes. L'objectif est de modéliser et d'analyser la structure de contrôle de sécurité impliquée dans un projet de CTSC. La structure de contrôle de sécurité est la structure organisationnelle des parties prenantes (contrôleurs) qui sont responsables de maintenir les contraintes de la sécurité. L'objectif de cette structure de contrôle de sécurité dans cette thèse est d'éviter le retard ou l'échec des projets de CTSC. Cet objectif a été reformulé comme étant la définition et le management des risques majeurs qui pourraient empêcher ou limiter le maintien des contraintes de sécurité. Les risques ont été d'abord identifiés et classés selon huit catégories : Technique, SSE (Santé, Sécurité et Environnement), Politique/Stratégie, Réglementation, Organisationnel/Humain, Financier/Economique, Social et Projet. Les risques majeurs liés aux phases amont ont été extraits et modélisés en utilisant la méthodologie proposée. Les rétroactions affectant la propagation et l'amplification de chaque risque ont été étudiées. Les structures de contrôle de sécurité, le contexte et les risques associés des projets de Barendrecht, de Lacq et de Weyburn ont été analysés. L'application de la méthodologie sur ces trois retours d'expériences permet de proposer un modèle générique de contrôle de sécurité pour les projets de CTSC. L'accent est mis sur le rôle majeur des facteurs endogènes conduisant à l'échec des projets de CTSC. Ce modèle met en évidence les flux d'information et de communication entre les parties prenantes qui conduisent à améliorer leurs modèles mentaux et leurs décisions. / This thesis is concerned with understanding the risks associated with the development of CTSC (Capture, Transport & Storage of CO2) projects up to industrial scales. CTSC projects are complex sociotechnical systems for which a systemic risk management approach is required. The approach has to cover different aspects of risk in order to analyze how dynamics of risks affect dynamics of projects. A systemic risk management framework is proposed based on the concepts of systems thinking, STAMP (Systems-Theoretic Accident Model and Processes), developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and system dynamics. The objective is to model and analyze the safety control structure involved in a CTSC project. Safety control structure is the organizational structure of stakeholders (controllers) who are responsible for maintaining safety constraints. The goal of safety control structure in this work is to prevent CTSC project delay or failure. This goal has been rephrased as definition and treatment of major risks that could avoid maintaining safety constraints. The risks have been firstly identified and classified in eight main categories including Technical, HSE (Health, Safety and Environment), Policy/Strategy, Legal, Organizational/Human, Financial/Economic, Social and Project. The major risks related to the phases prior to engineering have been extracted and modeled by the proposed methodology. Feedback networks affecting the amplification of each risk have been studied. Safety control structures, context and associated risks of Barendrecht, Lacq and Weyburn projects have been analyzed in order to propose a generic safety control model for CTSC projects. Emphasis is placed on the significance of finding endogenous explanations for the failure of CTSC projects. The model highlights the flow of information and communication among stakeholders leading to improve their mental models and decisions.