Showing papers on "System integration published in 2010"

Integration of targeted health interventions into health systems: a conceptual framework for analysis

Abstract: The benefits of integrating programmes that emphasize specific interventions into health systems to improve health outcomes have been widely debated. This debate has been driven by narrow binary considerations of integrated (horizontal) versus non-integrated (vertical) programmes, and characterized by polarization of views with protagonists for and against integration arguing the relative merits of each approach. The presence of both integrated and non-integrated programmes in many countries suggests benefits to each approach. While the terms 'vertical' and 'integrated' are widely used, they each describe a range of phenomena. In practice the dichotomy between vertical and horizontal is not rigid and the extent of verticality or integration varies between programmes. However, systematic analysis of the relative merits of integration in various contexts and for different interventions is complicated as there is no commonly accepted definition of 'integration'-a term loosely used to describe a variety of organizational arrangements for a range of programmes in different settings. We present an analytical framework which enables deconstruction of the term integration into multiple facets, each corresponding to a critical health system function. Our conceptual framework builds on theoretical propositions and empirical research in innovation studies, and in particular adoption and diffusion of innovations within health systems, and builds on our own earlier empirical research. It brings together the critical elements that affect adoption, diffusion and assimilation of a health intervention, and in doing so enables systematic and holistic exploration of the extent to which different interventions are integrated in varied settings and the reasons for the variation. The conceptual framework and the analytical approach we propose are intended to facilitate analysis in evaluative and formative studies of-and policies on-integration, for use in systematically comparing and contrasting health interventions in a country or in different settings to generate meaningful evidence to inform policy.

Benefits of Power Electronic Interfaces for Distributed Energy Systems

Abstract: With the increasing use of distributed energy (DE) systems in industry and its technological advancement, it is becoming more important to understand the integration of these systems with the electric power systems. New markets and benefits for DE applications include the ability to provide ancillary services, improve energy efficiency, enhance power system reliability, and allow customer choice. Advanced power electronic (PE) interfaces will allow DE systems to provide increased functionality through improved power quality and voltage/volt-ampere reactive (VAR) support, increase electrical system compatibility by reducing the fault contributions, and flexibility in operations with various other DE sources, while reducing overall interconnection costs. This paper will examine the system integration issues associated with DE systems and show the benefits of using PE interfaces for such applications.

Power Quality in Grid Connected Renewable Energy Systems: Role of Custom Power Devices

Abstract: This paper presents a technical review of power quality problems associated with the renewable based distributed generation systems and how custom power devices (CPD) such as STATCOM, DVR and UPQC play an important role in power quality improvement. IEEE and IEC standards for grid connected renewable energy systems are one of the critical points of interest for the selection of custom power devices. PV and wind energy systems integration issues and associated PQ problems are discussed. The role of CPDs in enhancing the integration of renewables and providing quality power through custom power park are described.

The Java Image Science Toolkit (JIST) for Rapid Prototyping and Publishing of Neuroimaging Software

Abstract: Non-invasive neuroimaging techniques enable extraordinarily sensitive and specific in vivo study of the structure, functional response and connectivity of biological mechanisms. With these advanced methods comes a heavy reliance on computer-based processing, analysis and interpretation. While the neuroimaging community has produced many excellent academic and commercial tool packages, new tools are often required to interpret new modalities and paradigms. Developing custom tools and ensuring interoperability with existing tools is a significant hurdle. To address these limitations, we present a new framework for algorithm development that implicitly ensures tool interoperability, generates graphical user interfaces, provides advanced batch processing tools, and, most importantly, requires minimal additional programming or computational overhead. Java-based rapid prototyping with this system is an efficient and practical approach to evaluate new algorithms since the proposed system ensures that rapidly constructed prototypes are actually fully-functional processing modules with support for multiple GUI’s, a broad range of file formats, and distributed computation. Herein, we demonstrate MRI image processing with the proposed system for cortical surface extraction in large cross-sectional cohorts, provide a system for fully automated diffusion tensor image analysis, and illustrate how the system can be used as a simulation framework for the development of a new image analysis method. The system is released as open source under the Lesser GNU Public License (LGPL) through the Neuroimaging Informatics Tools and Resources Clearinghouse (NITRC).

GPU computing for systems biology

Abstract: The development of detailed, coherent, models of complex biological systems is recognized as a key requirement for integrating the increasing amount of experimental data. In addition, in-silico simulation of bio-chemical models provides an easy way to test different experimental conditions, helping in the discovery of the dynamics that regulate biological systems. However, the computational power required by these simulations often exceeds that available on common desktop computers and thus expensive high performance computing solutions are required. An emerging alternative is represented by general-purpose scientific computing on graphics processing units (GPGPU), which offers the power of a small computer cluster at a cost of approximately $400. Computing with a GPU requires the development of specific algorithms, since the programming paradigm substantially differs from traditional CPU-based computing. In this paper, we review some recent efforts in exploiting the processing power of GPUs for the simulation of biological systems.

Patient safety - the role of human factors and systems engineering.

Abstract: Patient safety is a global challenge that requires knowledge and skills in multiple areas, including human factors and systems engineering. In this chapter, numerous conceptual approaches and methods for analyzing, preventing and mitigating medical errors are described. Given the complexity of healthcare work systems and processes, we emphasize the need for increasing partnerships between the health sciences and human factors and systems engineering to improve patient safety. Those partnerships will be able to develop and implement the system redesigns that are necessary to improve healthcare work systems and processes for patient safety.

Health systems, communicable diseases and integration

Abstract: The HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria pandemics pose substantial challenges globally and to health systems in the countries they affect. This demands an institutional approach that can integrate disease control programmes within health and social care systems. Whilst integration is intuitively appealing, evidence of its benefits remains uncertain and evaluation is beset by lack of a common understanding of what it involves. The aim of this paper is to better define integration in health systems relevant to communicable disease control. We conducted a critical review of published literature on concepts, definitions, and analytical and methodological approaches to integration as applied to health system responses to communicable disease. We found that integration is understood and pursued in many ways in different health systems. We identified a variety of typologies that relate to three fundamental questions associated with integration: (1) why is integration a goal (that is, what are the driving forces for integration); (2) what structures and/or functions at different levels of health system are affected by integration (or the lack of); and (3) how does integration influence interactions between health system components or stakeholders. The frameworks identified were evaluated in terms of these questions, as well as the extent to which they took account of health system characteristics, the wider contextual environment in which health systems sit, and the roles of key stakeholders. We did not find any one framework that explicitly addressed all of these three questions and therefore propose an analytical framework to help address these questions, building upon existing frameworks and extending our conceptualization of the 'how' of integration to identify a continuum of interactions that extends from no interactions, to partial integration that includes linkage and coordination, and ultimately to integration. We hope that our framework may provide a basis for future evaluations of the integration of programmes and health systems in the development of sustainable and effective responses to communicable diseases.

Power electronics system integration for electric and hybrid vehicles

Abstract: The paper gives an overview of the basic requirements, concepts, and trends regarding a system integration of power electronics in hybrid (HEV) and electric vehicles (EV). A site-of-action system integration of the various power electronics subsystems minimizes costs and construction space requirements. New technologies that foster a system integration of power electronics and a merging with the mechanical environment are presented. The focus is on power modules and passive components.

Beyond modelling: an integrated environment supporting co-execution of tasks and systems models

Abstract: This paper focuses on the articulations of task models and system models. Tasks models are meant to be used by human factor specialists whilst system models are supposed to be produced by software engineers. However, tasks models and systems models represent two different views on how users interacting with a computing system to reach a goal. This paper presents an integration framework aiming to take full advantage of task models and system models that have been developed initially in a separated manner and how these two views can be integrated at the model level and additionally at the tool level. The main contribution of the paper lies in the definition of such integration at the tool level to be used at runtime (while the user is operating the system). Indeed, thanks to this integration contextual help can be offered to the users supporting the construction of the mental bridge between what they have to do (defined in the tasks model) and what the interactive system allows (defined in the system model). The approach, the tools and the integration are presented on a case study of a Weather Radar System (WXR) embedded in aircraft cockpits.

An overview on development of miniature unmanned rotorcraft systems

Abstract: In this article, we attempt to document a technical overview on modern miniature unmanned rotorcraft systems. We first give a brief review on the historical development of the rotorcraft unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and then move on to present a fairly detailed and general overview on the hardware configuration, software integration, aerodynamic modeling and automatic flight control system involved in constructing the unmanned system. The applications of the emerging technology in the military and civilian domains are also highlighted.

Four Trends Leading to Java Runtime Bloat

Abstract: Today, programmers work in an environment of rapid global development of large-scale applications that have become increasingly interconnected. These drivers are the backdrop for four important software engineering trends: the wide adoption of object-oriented principles, the pervasive use of abstractions, system and data integration, and the increasing need for software flexibility. Programmers no longer write monolithic applications; they assemble code from a sea of reuseable libraries and frameworks. Many programmers believe that improved productivity always outweighs any resulting loss in performance, but experience with large Java applications doesn't support this belief.

Wireless sensor networks: application-centric design

Abstract: Over the past decade, there has been a prolific increase in the research, development and commercialisation of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) and their associated technologies. This rise has been a result of a number of contributing factors, including continued miniaturisation (leading towards an era of truly ‘pervasive’ and ‘invisible’ computing); low-power circuits, devices and computation (for example, the ultra-low-power sleep states now found in microcontrollers); and efficient short-range communication (such as ZigBee and Bluetooth). The dramatic rise in WSN activity, fuelled by the prospect of a new computing paradigm, has resulted in the topic being researched (and taught) in the electronics and computer science departments of Universities around the world. While enabling technologies such as low-power circuitry have permitted the conception and growth of WSNs (for example a microcontroller’s ultra-low-power sleep states enable a vast reduction in the average power consumption obtained through duty cycled operation, a technique which underpins the operation of most implementations), the principal reason for the explosion of research is, in my opinion, due to the volume of WSN applications that can be conceived and realised. To name a few, they have found use in healthcare, defence and security, environmental monitoring, process control, structural health monitoring, condition monitoring, building automation, multimedia provision and advertising. However, as a result of the broad array of pertinent applications, WSN researchers have also realised the application specificity of the domain; it is incredibly difficult, if not impossible, to find an application-independent solution to most WSN problems (be it a routing algorithm, MAC protocol, energy harvesting architecture, or data processing algorithm). Hence, research into WSNs dictates the adoption of an application-centric design process. Research into WSN applications not only concerns the technical issues and system integration strategies of deployment, but also the communication and processing of data, alongside the analysis, understanding and modelling of the application parameters that are of interest. As such, this book is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all WSN applications and deployments to date. Instead, it is a collection of state-of-the-art research papers discussing current applications and deployment experiences, but also the communication and data processing technologies that are fundamental in further developing solutions to applications. Whilst a common foundation is retained through all chapters, this book contains a broad array of often differing interpretations, configurations and limitations of WSNs. I believe that these aid to highlight the rich diversity and sheer scale of this ever-changing research area. The chapters of this book have been categorised into three distinct sections: applications and case studies (section A), communication and networking technologies (section B), and information and data processing technologies (section C). These are described below: Applications and Case Studies: The first chapter of this section serves as an introduction to the book, providing a concise overview of WSNs, discussing their history, platforms and architectures, research challenges, and application. The remainder of the section discusses current applications and their implementation, from experiences of monitoring agricultural processes to the different methods by which accidental falls of the elderly can be detected and classified. Communication and Networking Technologies: Alongside the predominant theme of this book, this section contains a collection of state-of-the-art technical papers on application-specific communication and networking problems. These include modelling wireless propagation through water, routing strategies for hybrid radio frequency/fibre optic WSNs, through to an overview of radio transceiver design. Information and Data Processing Technologies: The final section of this book provides an insight into current research on information and data processing, including data fusion, target tracking, fault tolerance and multimedia provision in WSNs. The readership of this book is intended to be postgraduate/postdoctoral researchers, and professional engineers. Some of the chapters may also be of interest to master’s level students that are undertaking modules that are particularly relevant to this field.

3D System-on-Chip technologies for More than Moore systems

Abstract: 3D integration is a key solution to the predicted performance problems of future ICs as well as it offers extreme miniaturization and cost-effective fabrication of More than Moore products. Through silicon via (TSV) technologies enable high interconnect performance compared to 3D packaging. At present TSVs are associated with a relatively high fabrication cost, but research world wide strive to bring the cost down to an acceptable level. An example of a 3D System-on-Chip (3D-SOC) technology is to introduce a post backend-of-line TSV process as an optimized technology for heterogeneous system integration. The introduced ICV-SLID process, that combines both TSVs and bonding, enables 3D integration of fabricated devices. Reliability issues related to thermo-mechanical stress caused by the TSV formation and the bonding are considered. 3D-SOC technology choices made to realize a heterogeneous ultra-small IC stack for a wireless tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) as an automotive application are described.

Evolvable Production Systems: An Integrated View on Recent Developments

Abstract: Evolvable Production Systems (EPS) is a fundamentally new paradigm to design, maintain and evolve industrial systems. It is a holistic approach supporting product/shop floor co-evolution and ensuring a tailored and balanced solution for sustainable enterprise development. Its core is engineered by distributed intelligence materialized in proactive and interacting shop floor assets. These intelligent building blocks include a wise interface design that ensures plug-ability and promotes system integration and bio-inspired interaction mechanisms (control and monitoring/diagnosis) to emerge a consistent self-organizing response to production disturbances. In this article a short survey on recent technical and theoretical developments supporting the EPS paradigm is held.

Integration of IEEE 1451 and HL7 Exchanging Information for Patients' Sensor Data

Abstract: HL7 (Health Level 7) is a standard developed for exchanging incompatible healthcare information generated from programs or devices among heterogenous medical information systems. At present, HL7 is growing as a global standard. However, the HL7 standard does not support effective methods for treating data from various medical sensors, especially from mobile sensors. As ubiquitous systems are growing, HL7 must communicate with various medical transducers. In the area of sensor fields, IEEE 1451 is a group of standards for controlling transducers and for communicating data from/to various transducers. In this paper, we present the possibility of interoperability between the two standards, i.e., HL7 and IEEE 1451. After we present a method to integrate them and show the preliminary results of this approach.

Embedded wafer level ball grid array (eWLB) technology for system integration

Abstract: Silicon front-end and assembly and packaging technology more and more merge. In addition interconnect density reaches limits for advanced CMOS technology. In this paper we introduce the fan-out embedded wafer level packaging technology, which is an example to link front-end and packaging technology and offers additional freedom for interconnect design. We demonstrate capabilites for system integration of the eWLB technology, which includes system on chip (SoC) integration and system in package (SiP) integration like side by side and stacking of devices. We highlight the importance of understanding properties of new materials, which influence warpage or heat dissipation. We also show the excellent performance of the eWLB package for mm-wave applications.

Using Machine Learning on Sensor Data

Abstract: Extracting useful information from raw sensor data requires specific methods and algorithms. We describe a vertical system integration of a sensor node and a toolkit of machine learning algorithms for predicting the number of persons located in a closed space. The dataset used as input for the learning algorithms is composed from automatically collected sensor data and additional manually introduced data. We analyze the dataset and evaluate the performance of two types of machine learning algorithms on this dataset: classification and regression. With our system settings, the experiments show that augmenting sensor data with proper information can improve prediction results and also the classification algorithm performed better.

Business intelligence tools for radiology: creating a prototype model using open-source tools.

Abstract: Digital radiology departments could benefit from the ability to integrate and visualize data (e.g. information reflecting complex workflow states) from all of their imaging and information management systems in one composite presentation view. Leveraging data warehousing tools developed in the business world may be one way to achieve this capability. In total, the concept of managing the information available in this data repository is known as Business Intelligence or BI. This paper describes the concepts used in Business Intelligence, their importance to modern Radiology, and the steps used in the creation of a prototype model of a data warehouse for BI using open-source tools.

A Mobile Agent-Based Framework for Flexible Automation Systems

Abstract: Modern manufacturing systems are increasingly becoming highly dynamic due to the integration with advanced information technology in response to rapid changes in products and market conditions. A more flexible platform is critically needed for developing a new generation of manufacturing systems in order to address the challenges of uncertainty and flexibility requirements. This paper presents a mobile agent-based framework that supports dynamic deployment of control algorithms and tasks in automation systems. The framework is based on a mobile agent system called Mobile-C. It uses Ch, an embeddable interpretive C/C++ environment for mobile agent execution. Since Ch has been ported to most existing computing platforms, the framework can control automation systems that work in different operating systems. This mobile agent-based framework has been applied to the control of an automation work cell. Using an automaton package in Ch as a middleware, automation tasks can be described as high-level control programs and are portable to heterogeneous mechatronic devices that comprise the automation cell. The validation of the dynamic deployment of different tasks has been conducted in an experimental automation work cell that consists of a Puma 560, an IBM 7575, and a conveyor system. The results show that the mobile agent approach can effectively deploy and execute new control algorithms and tasks as mobile agents on any subsystem in a network.

Integrated health systems

Abstract: Before meaningful gains in improving the value of health care in the US can be achieved, the fragmented nature in which health care is financed and delivered must be addressed. One type of healthcare organization, the Integrated Delivery System (IDS), is poised to play a pivotal role in reform efforts. What are these systems? What is the current evidence regarding their performance? What are the current barriers to their establishment and how can these barriers be removed? This chapter addresses these important questions. Although there are many types of IDS' in the US healthcare landscape, the chapter begins by identifying the necessary healthcare components that encompass an IDS and discusses the levels of integration that are important to improving health care quality and value. Next, it explores the recent evidence regarding IDS performance which, while generally positive, is less than what it could be if there were greater focus on clinical integration. To highlight, the chapter discusses the efficacy of system engineering initiatives in two examples of large, fully integrated systems: Kaiser-Permanente and the Veterans Health Administration. The evidence here is strong that the impact of system engineering methods is enhanced through the integration of processes, goals and outcomes. Reforms necessary to encourage the development of IDS' include: 1) the development of payment mechanisms designed to increase greater inter-dependency of hospitals and physicians; 2) the modification or removal of several regulatory barriers to greater clinical integration; and 3) the establishment of a more robust data collection and reporting system to increase transparency and accountability. The chapter concludes with a framework for considering these reforms across strategic, structural, cultural, and technical dimensions.

Smart grid education models for modern electric power system engineering curriculum

Abstract: The emerging clean-energy smart grid environment in the electric power sector has necessitated that related educational programs evolve to meet the needs of students, faculty, and employers alike. In order to prepare the next generation of power engineering professionals to meet the challenges ahead in the electric power sector, a new curriculum must be developed that includes core power engineering principals coupled with emerging aspects of smart grid technologies and clean energy integration. Such curriculum also needs to consider not only the end-use side of the power system within the smart grid definition, such as smart metering, communications and demand response aspects, but also other key enabling technologies throughout the whole transmission and distribution system and the entire energy supply chain. These include areas such as energy storage technologies, advanced power electronics at the transmission and distribution levels, networked control systems, automation, renewable and alternative energy systems integration, system optimization, real-time control, and other related topics. In addition, the evolution of power programs and curriculum in this emerging area must take into account significant input from industry constituents engaged in the manufacturing, implementation, operation, and maintenance of the new smart grid technologies and systems. By working collaboratively with industry to meet future employer needs, programs with newly developed course offerings will be able to better prepare students and existing professionals alike for the rapidly growing clean-energy, smart grid environment. This paper will provide an overview of a potential model for program structures and course developments in this critical area, including examples of initiatives already being developed and deployed.

Addressing the Integration Challenge for Avionics and Automotive Systems—From Components to Rich Services: Rich services include capabilities that concern the flow of business, while messenger-based communications connect these services to other component systems that provide dependable service with enhanced quality

Abstract: Automotive and avionics systems are complex, distributed, software-intensive systems-of-systems (SoS). Con- sequently, system integration is a central challenge in both domains. Important cross-cutting requirements aspects, such as security, authorization, and failure management, are best understood as properties of the interplay among sub-systems. Yet, traditional development processes address the integration challenge only late, at the level of implementation and deployment. Consequently, potentials for reuse within and across product lines are left unrealized. Furthermore, late integration leads to high calibration, configuration and rede- sign costs. Service-Oriented Architectures (SOAs) have emerged as a solution to the integration challenge. However, inappropriate application of SOA-principles results in a high degree of fragmentation and scattering of functionalityVthis leads to additional difficulties in requirements traceability and quality assurance. In this article, we give a comprehensive overview of these SOA-challenges, and present Rich Services as a hierarchical SOA blueprint and development process en- abling SoS integration in a dependable way. Rich Services introduce services as hierarchical, partial interaction patterns; these interactions are then augmented with infrastructure elements to inject behaviors that address cross-cutting re- quirements aspects. Rich Services also seamlessly address the mapping from logical to deployment architectures. Using end- to-end failure management as an example, we illustrate the utility of Rich Services.

IT requirements of business process management in practice - an empirical study

Abstract: Substantial use of dedicated software characterizes the highest level of Business Process Management (BPM) maturity. Currently, companies are far below this level. This situation is due to the fact that the existing BPM tools don't satisfy key requirements of BPM. We have conducted a worldwide survey of major public companies to elicit these requirements, which are grounded in the nature of processes and the usage of software. The analysis of 130 responses indicates that human-oriented process modeling languages and BPM tools as well as BPM tools with software integration capabilities are most urgently required.

Improving information flow within the production management system with web services

Abstract: The efficiency of the production planning and control process in construction depends significantly on the reliability and timely availability of resource information. The Last Planner system for production control mandates that a construction task should not be started unless all the seven resource prerequisites are in satisfactory condition. Failure to do so results in wasteful processes. However, this information is not readily available due to the lack of systems integration that prevails within the industry. Current implementations of the last planner system mostly rely on the team leaders‘ and foreman‘s ability to gather the required information for the weekly planning meetings and also for the look-ahead planning. However, much time is wasted chasing relevant information due to the above-mentioned problems. Also, the reliability of planning could be much improved if there is a system available, which aggregates resource information from various project stakeholders in one place. In such a situation, web services could provide an ideal platform for integration as they provide a flexible way to integrate disparate systems, with choreography based on identified business processes drawn from Last Planner and implemented using BPMN/BPEL. With the improvement in connectivity as a result of better availability of high speed Internet through mobile and fixed networks, there is a better opportunity for information integration through web services. A conceptual framework based on web services is put forward which aims to improve the information flow within the industry and provide the right information at the right time to enable better planning and control within the production system.

Addressing the Integration Challenge for Avionics and Automotive Systems—From Components to Rich Services

Abstract: Automotive and avionics systems are complex, distributed, software-intensive systems-of-systems (SoS). Consequently, system integration is a central challenge in both domains. Important cross-cutting requirements aspects, such as security, authorization, and failure management, are best understood as properties of the interplay among sub-systems. Yet, traditional development processes address the integration challenge only late, at the level of implementation and deployment. Consequently, potentials for reuse within and across product lines are left unrealized. Furthermore, late integration leads to high calibration, configuration and redesign costs. Service-Oriented Architectures (SOAs) have emerged as a solution to the integration challenge. However, inappropriate application of SOA-principles results in a high degree of fragmentation and scattering of functionality-this leads to additional difficulties in requirements traceability and quality assurance. In this article, we give a comprehensive overview of these SOA-challenges, and present Rich Services as a hierarchical SOA blueprint and development process enabling SoS integration in a dependable way. Rich Services introduce services as hierarchical, partial interaction patterns; these interactions are then augmented with infrastructure elements to inject behaviors that address cross-cutting requirements aspects. Rich Services also seamlessly address the mapping from logical to deployment architectures. Using end-to-end failure management as an example, we illustrate the utility of Rich Services.

Using machine learning on sensor data

Abstract: Developing hardware, algorithms and protocols, as well as collecting data in sensor networks are all important challenges in building good systems. We describe a vertical system integration of a sensor node and a toolkit of machine learning algorithms. Based on a dataset that combines sensor data with additional introduced data we predict the number of persons in a closed space. We analyze the dataset and evaluate the performance of two types of machine learning algorithms on this dataset: classification and regression.