Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) are being investigated by the research community for resilient distributed monitoring. Multiple sensor data fusion has proven as a valid technique to improve detection effectiveness and reliability. In this paper we propose a theoretical framework for correlating events detected by WSN in the context of critical infrastructure protection. The aim is to develop a d...

Information sharing is a mission critical key element in rescue and emergency operations. Mobile ad-hoc networks (MANETs) could provide a useful infrastructure to support information sharing, but appropriate applications are needed. To facilitate efficient application development for this type of infrastructure, middleware support is needed. In the Ad-Hoc InfoWare project, we are currently deve...

BACKGROUND The rapid onset and offset of action of remifentanil could make it quickly adjustable to the required level of sedation in critically ill patients. The authors hypothesized that the efficacy of a remifentanil-based regimen was greater than that of a morphine-based regimen. METHODS Forty intent-to-treat patients were randomly allocated to receive a blinded infusion of either remifen...

Coordinated and targeted cyber-attacks on Critical Infrastructures (CIs) and Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems are increasing and becoming more sophisticated. Typically, SCADA has been designed without having security in mind, which is indeed approached by reusing solutions to protect solely Information Technology (IT) based infrastructures, such as the Security Informati...

Event processing engines are used in diverse mission-critical scenarios such as fraud detection, traffic monitoring, or intensive care units. However, these scenarios have very different operational requirements in terms of, e.g., types of events, queries/patterns complexity, throughput, latency and number of sources and sinks. What are the performance bottlenecks? Will performance degrade grac...

BACKGROUND Omni® (B. Braun, Germany) is a new-generation, continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) machine designed to improve user interface, minimize downtime and optimize renal dose delivery. It was never tested in humans. METHODS We used Omni® to provide CRRT in 10 critically ill patients. We collected therapy data, metabolic parameters and evaluated user's satisfaction with a survey. ...

With the advent of advanced technology in smart grid, the implementation of renewable energy in a stressed and complicated power system operation, aggravated by a competitive electricity market and critical system contingencies, this will inflict higher probabilities of the occurrence of a severe dynamic power system blackout. This paper presents the proposed stochastic event tree technique use...

A pilot audit of case records of consecutively discharged patients from a district general hospital was undertaken by specialist registrars, SHOs and senior nurses in order to identify adverse events (AEs) and critical incidents (CIs) related to hospital care. Experienced external assessors taught the clinical staff to use a previously validated structured method of case record review that faci...

BACKGROUND Recent studies in anaesthesia and intensive care indicate that a team's ability to adapt its coordination activities to changing situational demands is crucial for effective teamwork and thus, safe patient care. This study addresses the relationship between adaptation of team coordination and markers of clinical performance in response to a critical event, particularly regarding whic...

In modern advanced emergency management systems many solutions for decision support have been provided as attempts to support humans to take important decisions for the critical situations recovery. The critical situation detection is a complex procedure that involves both human and machine activities and leads to take a decision for the management and situation recovery. This paper presents an...