Semi-analytical Q parameter estimate in linear and nonlinear transmission systems

We compare the Q parameter obtained from the semi-analytical model with scalar and vector models for two realistic transmission systems. First a linear system with a compensated dispersion map and second a soliton transmission system.

Appropriate wage rate and estimate of labour availability for a public works based safety net in Cambodia

Employment generating public works (EGPW) are an important part of Royal Government of Cambodia’s (RGC’s) strategy being developed through Council for Agriculture and Rural Development (CARD) to develop a comprehensive social safety net (SSN) to provide a measure of protection from shocks for the poor and vulnerable and to contribute to poverty alleviation through short-term unskilled employment.

Simple eye-closure penalty estimate for amplitude noise-degraded signals

We present a simplified model for a simple estimation of the eye-closure penalty for amplitude noise-degraded signals. Using a typical 40-Gbit/s return-to-zero amplitude-shift-keying transmission, we demonstrate agreement between the model predictions and the results obtained from the conventional numerical estimation method over several thousand kilometers.

Using DEA to estimate potential savings at GP units at medical specialty level

The aim of this paper is to identify benchmark cost-efficient General Practitioner (GP) units at delivering health care in the Geriatric and General Medicine (GMG) specialty and estimate potential cost savings. The use of a single medical specialty makes it possible to reflect more accurately the medical condition of the List population of the Practice so as to contextualize its expenditure on care for patients. We use Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to estimate the potential for cost savings at GP units and to decompose these savings into those attributable to the reduction of resource use, to altering the mix of resources used and to those attributable to securing better resource 'prices'. The results reveal a considerable potential for savings of varying composition across GP units. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.

Use of general practice prescribing data as a surrogate estimate of statin compliance

Background and Objective: To maximise the benefit from statin therapy, patients must maintain regular therapy indefinitely. Non-compliance is thought to be common in those taking medication at regular intervals over long periods of time, especially where they may perceive no immediate benefit (News editorial, 2002). This study extends previous work in which commonly held prescribing data is used as a surrogate marker of compliance and was designed to examine compliance in those stabilised on statins in a large General Practice. Design: Following ethical approval, details of all patients who had a single statin for 12 consecutive months with no changes in drug, frequency or dose, between December 1999 and March 2003, were obtained. Setting: An Eastern Birmingham Primary Care Trust GP surgery. Main Outcome Measures: A compliance ratio was calculated by dividing the number of days treatment by the number of doses prescribed. For a once daily regimen the ratio for full compliance_1. Results: 324 patients were identified. The average compliance ratio for the first six months of the study was 1.06 ± 0.01 (range 0.46 – 2.13) and for the full twelve months was 1.05 ± 0.01 (range 0.58 – 2.08). Conclusions: The data shown here indicates that as a group, long-term, stabilised statin users appear compliant. However, the range of values obtained show that there are identifiable subsets of patients who are not taking their therapy as prescribed. Although the apparent use of more doses than prescribed in some patients may result from medication hording, this cannot be the case in the patients who apparently take less. It has been demonstrated here that the compliance ratio can be used as an early indicator of problems allowing targeted compliance advice can be given where it will have the most benefit. References: News Editorial. Pharmacy records could be used to enhance statin compliance in elderly. Pharm. J. 2002; 269: 121.

Numerical estimate of BER in optical systems with strong patterning effects

A statistical approach to evaluate numerically transmission distances in optical communication systems was described. The proposed systems were subjected to strong patterning effects and strong intersymbol interference. The dependence of transmission distance on the total number of bits was described. Normal and Gaussian distributions were used to derive the error probability.

Simple eye-closure penalty estimate for amplitude noise-degraded signals

We present a simplified model for a simple estimation of the eye-closure penalty for amplitude noise-degraded signals. Using a typical 40-Gbit/s return-to-zero amplitude-shift-keying transmission, we demonstrate agreement between the model predictions and the results obtained from the conventional numerical estimation method over several thousand kilometers.