Automatic Data Transfer Research Articles

Public Trust and Privacy in Shared Electronic Health Records

The development of information and communication technology in health care, also called eHealth, is expected to improve patient safety and facilitate more efficient use of limited resources. The introduction of electronic health records (EHRs) can make possible immediate, even automatic transfer of patient data, for health care as well as other purposes, across any kind of institutional, regional or national border. Data can thus be shared and used more effectively for quality assurance, disease surveillance, public health monitoring and research. eHealth may also facilitate patient access to health information and medical treatment, and is seen as an effective tool for patient empowerment. At the same time, eHealth solutions may jeopardize both patient safety and patients' rights, unless carefully designed and used with discretion. The success of EHR systems will depend on public trust in their compatibility with fundamental rights, such as privacy and confidentiality. Shared European EHR systems require interoperability not only with regard to technological and semantic standards, but also concerning legal, social and cultural aspects. Since the area of privacy and medical confidentiality is far from harmonized across Europe, we are faced with a diversity that will make fully shared EHR systems a considerable challenge.

A quick and automated method for profiling heroin samples for tactical intelligence purposes

A computerized procedure is presented for the profiling and comparison of illicit heroin seizures. The system involves the derivation and gas chromatographic separation of five major constituents followed by a fully automatic data analysis and transfer to a PHP/MySQL database. Comparisons via the square cosine function between a single chromatographic profile and the whole database (several hundred of samples) are performed in a few seconds. Advantages of this profiling method compared to the classical minor constituents one are discussed.

High-Throughput Screening Application for the Determination of Enantiomeric Excess Using ESI-MS

Methods for the rapid determination of the enantiomeric excess (ee%) of organic substrates, especially for HTS, are often the “bottleneck” in a process. For this purpose, a new process of entirely automated sample preparation and the determination of ee% using electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) has been developed. Various substrates and new auxiliaries were explored to enhance the methodical scope. In combination with a very versatile liquid-handling system (HTS-PAL) and a comprehensive processing equipment, a multitude of standardized reaction vessels can be managed with the presented system. As an example of use, the ee% determination of I-phenylethanole via ESI-MS is compared to state-of-the-art GC analysis. In addition, a HTS suitable data processing network was constructed that allows postrun data manipulation and the automated data transfer to analysis and visualization templates with a maximum amount of automation.

Point‐scale energy and mass balance snowpack simulations in the upper Karasu basin, Turkey

AbstractSince snowmelt runoff is important in the mountainous parts of the world, substantial efforts have been made to develop snowmelt models with many different levels of complexity to simulate the processes at the ground (soil–vegetation), within the snow, and at the interface with the atmosphere. Snow modifies the exchange of energy between the land surface and atmosphere and significantly affects the distribution of heating in the atmosphere by changing the surface albedo and regulating turbulent heat and momentum fluxes at the surface. Thus, for computing the amount of melt, the only strictly correct way is using an energy budget. A two‐layer point model (SNOBAL) was applied to calculate the energy and mass balance of snowmelt in the upper Karasu basin, in eastern Turkey, during the 2002–04 snow seasons. The data on snow and climate were provided from automated snow and meteorological stations installed and upgraded to collect high‐quality time series data of snow and meteorological variables, such as snow water equivalent, snow depth, precipitation and radiation, with automated data transfer. A number of analyses of snowpack energy and mass balance were carried out to understand the key processes that have major impacts on the snow simulation. Each form of energy transfer was evaluated during snow accumulation and ablation periods using a 2 h computational time step. The model results are appraised with respect both to temporal distribution (the model application for three consecutive snow seasons at one site) and to areal evaluation (the model application to three different sites for one season). The model performance is evaluated by comparing the results with observed snow water equivalent, snow depth and lysimeter yield. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Automated generation of environmental reports with Umberto

In environmental reports contained environmental data must be updated and edited regularly (e.g. according to the reporting period). An important part of each environmental report is a systematic representation and evaluation of the substantial material and energy flows in a enterprise. In an ideal case specialized software systems exist for eco‐balancing, which makes external access to its data possible. These data can be transferred automatically and thus rationally into the document structure of an environmental report. In this article a basic approach is introduced for automatic transfer of ecological balance data into a XML form and the integration into an environmental report using the software tool Umberto.

"Plasma Quest" Code for Pulse Scenario Synthesis and Transient Electromagnetic Studies in Tokamaks

A "Plasma Quest" code has been developed in a frame of the ITER activity. This is a new interactive numeric tool with user-friendly graphic interface, aimed at pulse scenario synthesis, plasma vertical displacement episodes (VDE) and disruption simulation in tokamak devices. In the synthesis mode, it creates design-constrained pulse operating scenarios with coil currents, voltages, fields and forces fitted into the given limits. At any time the code can be switched from the synthesis mode to the analysis one, to evaluate the vertical instability increment, simulate VDE and plasma disruption. Automatic data transfer to 3-D analysis tools makes a step toward the codes integration. Testing results for the ITER operating scenario are reported.

From a Urinalysis Strategy to an Evaluated Urine Protein Expert System

Urine single protein analysis has developed into a routine method for the screening and monitoring of kidney diseases. In order to support clinical decision making by an interpretative report, a urine protein expert system (UPES) has been developed. Based on a database containing more than 500 excretion patterns, a modular knowledge base was extracted in production rules and implemented in a modern expert system shell. The resulting interpretation system has been thoroughly verified and validated. After the need of interpretation of the complex findings had been documented in a survey, its usability in routine and its knowledge representation was evaluated in 11 hospitals. A user conference confirmed a high quality level of the reports proposed by UPES. It revealed that the problem of automatic data transfer as well as the common definition of diagnostic terms by laboratorians and clinicians play a crucial role for the use of knowledge-based systems in laboratory medicine.

Experiences fo three year's routine operation of an anesthesia information management system (AIMS) at a university clinic in Giessin

In 1994, the Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine of the Justus Liebig University at Giessen decided to install an Anaesthesia Information Management System (AIMS). Individual aspects and results from routine operation are presented, demonstrating the quality of the documentation and the value of information at the anaesthesiological workstation. The paper discusses which adaptations are necessary according to the experience gathered. For the installation of the system Apple Macintosh Clients (Apple Computer, Inc., Cupertino, California) and a File Server were integrated into the partially existing hospital network. The hospital network had to be enlarged during the project according to the Anaesthesiological requirements. The software of the Hospital Information System (HIS) and an HTML browser were installed at individual workstation computers in addition to the Anaesthesia documentation software NarkoData (ProLogic GmbH, Erkrath). The remote control software Timbuktu (Farallon, Alameda, USA) has been added to facilitate remote administration. The file administration programme FileWave (Wave Research, Berkeley, USA) is used for file distribution. Since 1995, all anaesthesia procedures have been documented with the system, either by online or postoperative recording. Since 1997, the recorded information has been stored in a relational Oracle 7 data bank (Oracle Corporation). From 1995 to 1997, 60,405 anaesthesiological procedures have been recorded with the help of this AIMS at 111 decentralised workstations. In 1997, 87.8% of the 21,130 performed anaesthesia procedures have been recorded online with the system and 12.2% postoperatively. From 1995 to 1997, the number of recorded procedures increased by 6.4% from 19,854 to 21,130. Because of lacking interfaces at some patient monitoring stations, the automatic recording of patient data could only be implemented at 69 workstations (62%). With the corresponding access rights, important patient information from the HIS (diagnoses, laboratory results, etc.), records of previous Anaesthesia procedures, numerous statistics, and the whole information from the hospital's intranet (including e-mail) are available at the anaesthesiological workstation at any time. The implementation of the AIMS and an effective user support have been able to increase significantly the quality of documentation, the flow of information at the anaesthesia workplace and the number of recorded Anaesthesia procedures. All recorded data can be analysed immediately The expansion of the automatic data transfer from the patient monitoring, interfaces to other computer subsystems of the hospital and a practicable evaluation programme are necessary for further enhancing the efficiency of the AIMS.

Developing a national addiction treatment information system. An introduction to the Drug Evaluation Network System.

The purpose of this article is to test the applicability and utility of the Drug Evaluation Network Study (DENS), a timely electronic information system that tracks trends in substance abuse treatment. This article examines existing large-scale data collection efforts, discusses the rationale and design of the DENS system, and presents results of the DENS pilot phase. Clinical staff from more than 40 service delivery units in five cities were trained to conduct intake assessments on laptop computers with the computerized Addiction Severity Index (ASI). The DENS computer system also included an automatic data transfer protocol to allow regular transmission of ASIs and other data to a central server at Treatment Research Institute. Descriptive information and discharge status were also collected. Several problems were encountered during the early stages of the pilot phase, including obtaining consecutive cases from treatment programs, computerization and software application, treatment staff turnover, and assuring quality of data. Data is presented on 4,300 adults entering drug and/or alcohol treatment at the nonrandomly selected DENS pilot programs between June 1996, and April 6, 1998. Various examples of how DENS data can be used are presented.

The S2 baseband processing system for phase-coherent pulsar applications

The S2 baseband processing system (S2-BPS) is designed for a variety of pulsar measurements such as ultrafast signal fluctuations and pulse timing. Its key features are: the S2 recorder; the S2 Tape-to-Computer Interface (S2-TCI) which provides an efficient high data rate transfer from S2 tapes to computer; and the tightly coupled control interface to the computer which enables automated data transfer and processing. Developed originally for VLBI applications, the S2 recorder is based on the use of commercial VHS tape transports (VCR's), modified for use in digital high density, high data rate applications. A single S2 recorder tape-set of eight SVHS tapes provides up to 500 GBytes of data storage, and an unattended operating time of up to 8.5 hours at the maximum data rate of 128 Mbits/s or 16 MBytes/s, corresponding typically to 16 MHz bandwidth in two circular polarizations at 2-bit quantization, which generates a data rate of up to 1 GByte/minute. With 16 MHz individual record channels, a single S2 yields a sample time resolution of 31 ns. For more challenging applications, multiple S2's may be used for increased bandwidth and higher time resolutions. In this paper, we present an overview of the S2 baseband processing system and plans for future implementations of the system, and demonstrate first results of Vela pulsar recordings at Parkes in September 1995. We pay specific attention to the S2-TCI, a system designed to transfer S2 recorded data from tape to computer memory (RAM) via direct memory access (DMA). Computer data may be processed locally or sent to a more powerful remote (super) computer for processing.

Possible applications of the KAMEDIN teleradiology system with special reference to an economic analysis

Different concepts and applications of teleradiology systems have been realised. However, their cost-effectiveness is still questionable. Therefore, a cost-benefit analysis of three different scenarios of the new teleradiology system Kamedin (Kooperatives Arbeiten und rechnergestützte Medizinische Diagnostik auf innovativen Netzen der Deutschen Telekom) was performed. CT examinations were transmitted from an Advantage Windows (GE) workstation to a Kamedin workstation using DICOM 3 protocol. Afterwards a teleconference was established with a Kamedin workstation in the intensive care unit within the hospital via FDDI/Ethernet, with an external workstation in a radiology department 6 km away via ISDN and with a Kamedin PC located with radiologist on duty 22 km away via ISDN. On average, 36 CT slices per patient were transferred. A break-even analysis was performed with respect to costs of hardware, software, support, use of ISDN and staff, as well as benefits like the decrease in transportation or film documentation costs. Owing to the different reductions in transportation costs, two applications (intensive care unit and external PC) showed a break-even of 1817 and 528 teleconferences/year, respectively. Further optimisation of cost-effectiveness is possible on condition that existing hardware can be used and an automatic data transfer without staff control is available. When all optimisation factors were combined, the break-even decreased to a minimum of 167 and 77 teleconferences/ year, respectively. Teleconferences with high image quality can be set up between workstations and PCs using the Kamedin system. Depending on the possible decrease in transportation costs, teleconferencing is cost-effective under certain conditions. Teleradiology has additional advantages, such as the acceleration and optimisation of patient management.

COCSY II: CAD/CAM Integration for On-Site Robotics

This paper discusses the need for automatic data extraction, processing, and transfer [computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) interfacing] between the design and construction phases as a key element in computer-integrated construction (CIC). The CAD/CAM interface eliminates the need for manual interfacing between these two computer-aided phases. The CAD/CAM interface improves the process of the constructed facility realization by eliminating the manual data processing and thereby reducing many sources of errors. It also makes the process more cost-effective because it reduces labor inputs, especially those presently invested in robot programming. A model for automatic data extraction, processing, and transfer is proposed for the tile-setting paradigm. The model generates construction management data as well as data needed for automatic on-site construction (robotics). The model is implemented in the AutoCAD and AutoLISP environments. The model and the implementation system were tested in the laboratories with a scaled robot adapted to perform interior finishing tasks.

ITER Safety Analyses with ISAS

Detailed analyses of accident sequences for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), from an initiating event to the environmental release of activity, have involved in the past the use of different types of computer codes in a sequential manner. Since these codes were developed at different time scales in different countries, there is no common computing structure to enable automatic data transfer from one code to the other, and no possibility exists to model or to quantify the effect of coupled physical phenomena. To solve this problem, the Integrated Safety Analysis System of codes (ISAS) is being developed, which allows users to integrate existing computer codes in a coherent manner. This approach is based on the utilization of a command language (GIBIANE) acting as a “glue” to integrate the various codes as modules of a common environment. The present version of ISAS allows comprehensive (coupled) calculations of a chain of codes such as ATHENA (thermal-hydraulic analysis of transients and accidents), INTRA (analysis of in-vessel chemical reactions, pressure built-up, and distribution of reaction products inside the vacuum vessel and adjacent rooms), and NAUA (transport of radiological species within buildings and to the environment). In the near future, the integration of S AFALY (simultaneous analysis of plasma dynamics and thermal behavior of in-vessel components) is also foreseen. The paper briefly describes the essential features of ISAS development and the associated software architecture. It gives first results of a typical ITER accident sequence, a loss of coolant accident (LOCA) in the divertor cooling loop inside the vacuum vessel, amply demonstrating ISAS capabilities.

LabLink — the key to multi-computer interfacing

The growing complexity of computing environments requires creative solutions to prevent the gain in productivity promised by computing advances from being swallowed up by the necessity of moving information from one environment to another. LabLink is an interfacing tool for accomplishing such transfers in a clinical laboratory environment. It handles the automated data transfer among four systems, as well as providing substantial back-up capacity for critical operations when systems are down for saves or maintenance.

Data processing in prehospital emergency medicine.

Information about the use of data processing systems in prehospital emergency medicine were collected, using a questionnaire sent to all German rescue helicopter bases. Twenty-seven of the 42 German rescue helicopter bases returned the questionnaire. At present, only 15 of them take advantage of electronic data processing. All of them enter their data manually by keyboard, automatic data transfer by means of a bar code reader is available at one base only. The stored data are used for statistical analysis (n = 15), quality assessment (n = 10), administration (n = 10), research (n = 9) and education (n = 7). Based on the data of this survey, one fifth of those who replied use their computer only for administrative purposes, the other also manage patient and mission data with their computer systems. Today, documentation of a rescue mission consists of patient data, vital data, mission data and information about the procedures carried out. The use of a computer system, however, requires more time and work than a handwritten record, when most of the data have to be entered manually using a keyboard. Future developments may include automated data transfer and digitization of handwritten documents to decrease the workload of the staff. For the automation of data transfer, configuration and synchronisation a standardized interface in all medical devices is required. There is a clear need for the use of data processing systems in emergency medicine.

Towards automation in architectural photogrammetry: CAD-based 3D-feature extraction

Improvements and new developments in the fields of sensor and computer technology have had a major influence on photogrammetry and today a large variety of cameras and photogrammetric systems is available. The application of the CAD-based 3D-feature extraction routine within a system for digital photogrammetry and architectural design (DIPAD) is described. This system enables the operator to perform the whole reconstruction of the three-dimensional object without any manual measurement. His task is only to interpret the scene qualitatively while selecting the features to be measured, whereas the quantitative measurement and calculations are performed by the computer. An automatic data transfer of the photogrammetrically generated three-dimensional object description to a CAAD (computer aided architectural design) system provides new capabilities for architects and conservationists.

An automatic data reduction and transfer method to aid pattern recognition analysis and classification of NMR spectra.

A method of automatically generating reduced NMR data and transferring it between computers is proposed. These data can then be used as descriptors for input to non-parametric statistical routines for classification of the samples.

Design for a comprehensive maintenance planning recording and optimization system

The proposed new maintenance management software differs from most currently available software in two ways. Firstly, it would provide automatic lateral data transfer to financial, stores, production control and quality control systems. Secondly, it is proposed to use data feedback and O.R. to continually review preventive and surveillance schedules.

Automatic data capture in anaesthesia

Automatic data capture in anaesthesia implies the automatic transfer of data from a biomedical monitor, to a microcomputer or to a printer, with no manual input or manipulation of that data being required. The arrival of inexpensive microcomputers has made automatic data capture in anaesthesia an achievable reality. Additionally, more manufacturers of medical equip- ment are now providing the necessary hardware outputs on their products to allow automatic transfer of data. The advantages of on-line data capture to produce an automatic anaes- thetic record are many. The number of patient monitors present in the operating theatre is growing, and it is becoming increasingly laborious to transcribe the data they produce on to the anaesthetic record at regular intervals. During an intraoperative crisis, the anaesthetist will probably only have time to write down some of the figures immediately, filling the rest in from memory later or, worse still, not at all. Also, various studies have shown that anaesthetists tend to bias handwritten records towards more normal values (Zollinger et al, 1977; Logas et al, 1987; Lerou et al, 1988; Whitcher, 1988). The absence of a properly documented anaesthetic record may be a disadvantage to the anaesthetist if such a case should end in litigation (Gravenstein and Feldman, 1989). An automatic record-keeping system will continuously record all data such as heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen saturation, allowing the anaesthetist to concentrate on the patient. A further benefit is that the resulting anaesthetic record is legible. Another area of interest is in the manipulation, storage and retrieval of information. Data that are too complicated or are produced too rapidly to analyse in real time can be stored for later analysis. Parameters that are not available from a particular monitor's digital display may be derived in real time, for example automatic measurement of pulmonary capillary wedge pressure or rate-pressure product. Automatic data capture is essential in the use of closed-loop control systems of blood pressure, neuromuscular blockade or depth of anaesthesia (Ty Smith et al, 1984). For example, in the closed-loop control of blood pressure with a vasodilating agent such as sodium nitroprusside (SNP), the system is designed to maintain the patient's blood pressure (BP) around a preset value (Colvin and Kenny, 1989). Blood pressure is continuously measured from an intra-arterial cannula; the analogue waveform is collected

Daily Morning Production Report System

Summary This paper describes a PC-based database system used by Chevron U.S.A.’s Eastern Region to input, store, gather, and report daily oil and gas production information from remote field locations. The system provides the following functions. Data input at any location with data-integrity checks. Automated data transfer between locations by modem using in-place company telecommunications facilities. Data aggregation at field, base, and divisional levels. Retransmission of any data changes to appropriate locations. Compiled program written in DBASE III™. "User-friendly" menu interfaces. Fast report generation using arrays. The system, known as the daily morning production report (DMPR), replaces faxing of paper between locations. The DMPR system is faster than the old reporting method and allows data to be sent to the mainframe computer or outloaded to spreadsheets. The DMPR system reduces the time needed for generating production data reports for operations management. The data-gathering system is set up so that field locations enter and validate the data and generate reports. The field data are automatically sent to a shore base location and aggregated with data from other fields, analyzed, and reported on. Shore base locations send the aggregated data to the division office, where the data are further aggregated and stored and reports are generated for management. Reports may be produced at any location. Telecommunication is managed by commercially available software and is initiated within the program. The user does not need to leave the program to perform any of these functions. This paper covers database and program design, program installation, user training, and field experience with the DMPR system.