International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 20-23, 2003 / Riviera Hotel and Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada / The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighter aircraft program is currently flight testing a Fibre Channel Network (FCN), which will initially replace certain Avionics Systems’ MIL-STD-1553 communications. The Advanced Mission Computers and Displays (AMC&D) and the Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) RADAR are replacing their MIL-STD-1553 counterparts to fulfill performance enhancements and growing data requirements. The maximum amount of data that can be transferred between these systems is significantly increasing. Each remote terminal on a MIL-STD-1553 bus can transmit or receive approximately 1Mbps. Each node on a FCN can simultaneously transmit and receive 1Gbps. With a Fibre Channel Network Switch (FCNS), multiple systems can communicate concurrently, thus increasing overall system throughput even further. Several other systems will be replaced in the near future utilizing the FCNS. The Fibre Channel Interface Unit (FCIU) was designed for the F/A-18E/F AESA program as a nonintrusive way to monitor multiple nodes, extract node specific information, and record this information using conventional on-board recorders. In order to reduce the risks associated with developing hardware and software concurrently with the Avionic System’s protocol, the FCIU was developed as an upper-level-protocol (ULP) (layer FC-4) independent device. Two big advantages of ULP independence are the avoidance of complex protocol programming for each different type of monitored network system and the non-intrusive nature of the FCIU connection to the FCN. This facilitates the quick installation of the FCIU to monitor any FC network and the FCIU IRIG-106 PCM type output lends itself to be integrated quickly into a typical Flight Test data recording or telemetry system.

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 30-November 02, 1995 / Riviera Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada / This paper describes a novel Radiating Antenna Digital Pattern Analysis Test system (RADPAT). The RADPAT system consists of a portable computer and a compact electronic module (EM) that interfaces to the antenna under test . The EM has standardized inputs and outputs that make it easy to adapt to any antenna or antenna system. In addition to functioning as a standard radiation pattern recorder, the RADPAT system can record conically scanning (CONSCAN), single channel monopulse, or sequential lobing patterns with only one sweep per axis . Since the radiation pattern is recorded digitally, it can automatically extract actual system data such as the error slope, crosstalk, 3 or 10 dB beamwidths, sidelobe levels, boresight shift, etc.. The briefcase size RADPAT system is portable, weighing only 18 lbs (8 kg). This can be a significant advantage for either verification of system parameters or for troubleshooting a component or system problem . Thus, the RADPAT system combined with a standard pattern receiver or a telemetry receiver can provide instantaneous, on-site evaluation of the radiation characteristics of an installed antenna system.

No description available.

Pressure ulcers (PUs) are a very common health problem. Nurses in clinical practice collect large volumes of PU data every day, which must be recorded and used appropriately. With this in mind, this research explored how PU data is recorded and used in clinical settings. In addition, the magnitude of PU problem in Jordan was assessed. A mixed methods approach was utilised to address the research objectives. As a first stage, Tissue Viability Nurses (TVNs) in the UK from the Tissue Viability Society (TVS) and the National Health Service (NHS) were asked to complete an online questionnaire. Subsequently, a number of them (n=16) participated in semi-structured interviews in order to complement and explain the questionnaire responses. In Jordan, a cross sectional point prevalence survey employing the European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (EPUAP) methodology was conducted to measure the prevalence rate of pressure ulcers. Integration between the questionnaire and interview results occurred on a number of different occasions. The questionnaire findings (n=167) showed there to be a difference in the prevalence rate between the primary and secondary settings (X2=20.59, df=3, p<0.001), with an overall mean of 7%, and a range of 0.5-25%. It was also found that the prevalence survey and clinical audits (71.8%, n=120), conducted annually (40.9%, n=67) or monthly (22.6%, n=37) by TVNs (63.6%, n=105), were the most common methods of calculating the reported prevalence rate. The field notes taken during the interviews, which were analysed thematically using the template analysis approach, highlighted that PU audits can be conducted via additional methods to those reported in the questionnaires. These include: actual audits where patients are inspected by TVNs or link nurses; relying on the nurses to complete audit forms; and, finally, reviewing the recording systems to generate reports. Moreover, the questionnaire findings showed that PU data is mainly recorded on a combination system (48.2%, n=79), or in some cases recorded on a computerised system (9.8%, n=16). The interviews again complement these findings by expanding that PU data can be recorded, reported and referred using paper, electronic or combination records. The advantages and disadvantages of each recording system were explored and defined into separate themes. Additionally, conducting a PU audit requires certain tools. It was clear from the questionnaire that the Waterlow risk assessment scale (RAS) (88.8%, n=142), and the EPUAP classification tool (83%, n=132) were the most commonly used in the UK. Regarding the uses of PU data, the interview findings showed that there are several. For example, it can be used to generate reports about PU in a given organisation, and these reports can be used to provide feedback to the nurses, TVNs, and management, and could also prompt decisions about purchasing equipment, employing nurses or offering training in areas where there are high levels of PU cases. Prevalence and incidence data, in particular, can be used to evaluate intervention, to monitor quality, to ensure best practice is provided, as educational tools for conducting audits, and for initiating safeguarding and investigating procedures. Despite all these potential uses, however, some interviewees think that some PU data, especially the prevalence data, is useless and difficult to capture, and that incidence data is more reliable and powerful. In Jordan, the researcher examined the skin of all inpatients aged eighteen or above, except patients in the emergency, day care and maternity wards, in both university and general hospitals. This yielded a sample of 302 patients. Any PU identified was graded according to the EPUAP grading scale (GS). The risk of PU development was assessed using the Braden scale. Data was also collected on preventive measures used in the clinical setting. Of the patients examined, 11.9% (n=36) had PU grade 1-4 (excluding grade 1: 6.6%, n=20). Interestingly, this PU prevalence rate is lower than that published in most studies which have employed the same methodology but it is thought that the differences in age and frailty in the Jordanian sample, compared with most others, could explain the low prevalence. The sacrum and heel were the most commonly affected sites (55.6%, n=20). Grade one was the most common grade (44.4%, n=16) and 85 (28.1%) patients were considered at risk of developing pressure damages. Despite the relatively low prevalence, very few patients at risk received adequate prevention measures (16.5%, n=14), and there is therefore a need to raise awareness of the need for PU prevention in Jordan.

No description available.

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 25-28, 1993 / Riviera Hotel and Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada / The increasing availability of powerful yet relatively inexpensive data acquisition and processing techniques has precipitated a radical reappraisal of the methods used to capture, manipulate and store data of all kinds. Some of the recently introduced recording systems can be used both for fast data capture and for high capacity archival/back-up applications - effectively bridging a long-standing divide between these two formerly diverse aspects of data recording and processing. This paper offers a brief overview of a new technology known as micro-track recording, and suggests ways in which system designers and integrators may take full advantage of its important new facilities and features.

Aim: To describe and analyse the epidemiology and management of asthma, atopy and related morbidity in a Scottish Primary Care population by exploiting the Continuous Morbidity Recording database. Methods: The patient information used in this thesis was extracted from the computerised data of general practices contributing to the Continuous Morbidity Recording project. Results: A significant increase in the prescribing of short-acting beta2 (p<0.005) and adjunct therapy prescribing (p<0.001) occurred over the four study years. There was a significant shift to treatment steps 3 and 4 of the British Asthma Guidelines (p<0.002) in asthma patients followed up over the four study years. Significant declines in the incidence of asthma were observed in children (p<0.001), with no apparent compensatory diagnostic shift. There was a significant increase in the risk of presenting with a Th1 mediated autoimmune condition in patients with a history of allergic disease. There was a particularly strong association between current psoriasis and current eczema. Conclusions: The concurrence of morbidity and prescribing epidemiology with external sources of data such as surveys suggest high quality of data stored by the Continuous Morbidity Recording database. General practitioners prescribed higher doses of inhaled corticosteroids and more new adjunct therapies during the study period, possibly due to the impact of new British Asthma Guidelines completed in 1995 and published in 1997. The decrease in asthma prevalence suggests that the burden of this disease on general practitioner workload is in decline. The decrease of the incidence of asthma gives the first indication of either a permanent or temporary decline of this disease in Scotland after reported increasing prevalences over several decades. The new finding that Th1 and Th2 mediated diseases are significantly associated in a large general practice population supports the proposal that these diseases share risk factors that increase the propensity of the immune system to generate both Th1 and Th2-mediated inappropriate responses to non-pathological antigens.

ABSTRACT The small professional independent recording studio (commonly known as a ‘home recording studio’) has arisen in South Africa as it has in other countries over the past fifteen years. It has become an alternative service to that of major recording studios such as EMI and Gallo. My research discusses the history and development of the home studio with relation to technologic and socio-economic expansion in the commercial industry. I use ten established home studios in Johannesburg and its surrounding areas as case studies, working towards a definition of this phenomenon and exploring its influence on the South African music industry as a whole.

No description available.

No abstract available. / Thesis (M.Mus.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1999.