A Conversion Protocol for 2W Telephone Signal over Ethernet in a Private PSTN

In this paper, we proposed a protocol to convert 2W telephone analog signals to Ethernet data in a private PSTN 2W tactical voice system. There are several kinds of operational problems in the tactical telephone network where 2W telephone copper lines are installed hundreds of meters away from the PBX in a headquarter site. The reason is that it is difficult to install and maintain the 2W telephone copper cable in severe operational fields and to meet safety and stability operational requirements of the telephone line under lighting and electromagnetic environments. In order to solve these challenging demands, we proposed an efficient method that the 2W analog interface signals between a private PBX system and a 2W telephone is converted to Ethernet messages using the optical Ethernet data communication network already deployed in the tactical weapon system. Thus, it is not necessary to install an additional optic cable for the ethernet telephone line and to maintain the private PSTN 2W telephone network. Also it provides safe and secure telecommunication operation under lightning and electromagnetic environments. This paper presents the conversion protocol from 2W telephone signals over Ethernet interface between PBX systems and 2W telephones, the mutual exchange protocol of ethernet messages between two converters, and the rule to process analog signal interface. Finally, we demonstrate that the proposed technique can provide a feasible solution in the tactical weapon system by analyzing its performance and experimental results such as the bandwidth of 2W telephone ethernet network and the transmission latency of voice signal, and the stability of optic ethernet voice network along with the ethernet data network.

Changing Workplace Concepts

As I’ve quipped more than a few times to colleagues over the past year-and-a-half of COVID-19 restrictions, I’ve been practicing for a pandemic for more than 20 years. I am all too familiar with the pros and cons of working from home over extended periods. I was a pioneer in that arena, starting in the days (about 1999) when using a modem and my home telephone line to dial into the Internet was a technology breakthrough. I couldn’t have started my at-home business without that outside link to the world and a way to exchange digital files with my designer, who had moved to the other side of the continent. But, even with the blistering speed that fiber-optic cabling now provides for efficiently exchanging ever larger files between us (we still work together and we still live far away from each other), I appreciate more than most the value of working face-to-face daily with colleagues.

Soins plus — mise en place d’une intervention à trois volets visant à accroître la visibilité et la disponibilité du pharmacien dans un hôpital pédiatrique : une étude randomisée contrôlée

RÉSUMÉ Contexte : Le rôle du pharmacien au sein de l’équipe multidisciplinaire est souvent méconnu. Diverses interventions peuvent être mises en place pour promouvoir le rôle du pharmacien en milieu hospitalier auprès des familles, des patients et des autres professionnels de la santé. Peu d’études décrivent la faisabilité et évaluent l’impact de ces interventions, particulièrement en pédiatrie. Objectifs : Décrire l’implantation d’une intervention à trois volets visant à accroître la visibilité du pharmacien et de son rôle dans l’équipe traitante, pour permettre d’optimiser les soins pharmaceutiques des patients hospitalisés dans les unités de pédiatrie générale du CHU Sainte-Justine, à Montréal (Québec). Comparer la perception et la satisfaction des parents de patients hospitalisés et des soignants recevant soit des soins pharmaceutiques usuels, ou soit des soins pharmaceutiques intégrant l’intervention. Méthode : Étude expérimentale randomisée contrôlée à simple aveugle portant sur des patients admis dans les unités de pédiatrie générale entre le 5 mars et le 8 août 2019. Outre des soins usuels, l’intervention comporte la remise d’une brochure d’information sur les services et soins pharmaceutiques, l’accès à une ligne téléphonique permettant aux familles et aux patients de prendre contact avec un résident en pharmacie pendant leur séjour à l’hôpital et jusqu’à un mois après le congé et le remplissage par le pharmacien responsable du patient d’un formulaire de congé standardisé. Un sondage de perception et de satisfaction a aussi été réalisé auprès des participants et des professionnels de la santé concernés. Résultats : Six cent quarante et un (641) participants ont été inclus dans l’étude, 321 dans le groupe intervention et 320 dans le groupe témoin. La brochure a été remise à tous les parents du groupe intervention. Douze appels téléphoniques ont été faits au moyen d’une ligne téléphonique spéciale. Le formulaire de congé standardisé de 46,7 % (150/321) des participants du groupe intervention a été rempli. Une majorité des parents et des patients ayant répondu au sondage (81,2 %, 298/367) se disent satisfaits des services et des soins pharmaceutiques reçus dans les deux groupes. Une proportion de 83,9 % des participants du groupe intervention se disent satisfaits des soins et services pharmaceutiques reçus comparativement à 78,5 % du groupe témoin (p = 0,18). De plus, 60,3 % (111/184) des participants du groupe intervention disent que l’information transmise pendant l’hospitalisation concernant les médicaments leur a apporté de nouvelles connaissances, contre 48,1 % (87/181) des participants du groupe témoin (p = 0,019). Les résultats du sondage montrent que les soignants sont en accord avec l’intervention. Conclusion : Les trois volets de l’intervention ont été implantés dans les unités de pédiatrie sur une période de cinq mois. Cette intervention est perçue comme étant positive par les parents et les soignants concernés et les répondants ont été majoritairement satisfaits des services et des soins pharmaceutiques offerts. ABSTRACT Background: The pharmacist’s role within the multidisciplinary team is often poorly understood. Various interventions can be put into place to promote the role of the pharmacist in the hospital setting with families, patients, and other health care professionals. Few studies have described the feasibility and assessed the impact of such interventions, particularly in pediatrics. Objectives: To describe the implementation of a 3-part intervention aimed at increasing the visibility of pharmacists and their role on the treatment team, with the goal of optimizing the pharmaceutical care of hospitalized patients in the general pediatric units of CHU Sainte-Justine, in Montréal, Quebec, and to compare the perceptions and satisfaction of patients’ parents and of health care professionals with exposure to either usual pharmaceutical care or to pharmaceutical care incorporating the intervention. Methods: This single-blind, randomized, controlled experimental study involved patients admitted to general pediatric units between March 5 and August 8, 2019. In addition to usual care, the intervention included delivery of an information brochure about pharmaceutical services and care, access to a telephone line (which allowed families and patients to contact a pharmacy resident during their stay in hospital and up to 1 month after discharge), and completion of a standardized discharge form by the pharmacist responsible for the patient. The participants and health professionals concerned were surveyed to determine their perceptions and level of satisfaction. Results: A total of 641 participants were included in the study, 321 in the intervention group and 320 in the control group. The brochure was given to all parents in the intervention group. Twelve phone calls were made through the dedicated telephone line. The standardized discharge form was completed for 46.7% (150/321) of the participants in the intervention group. Most of the parents and patients who responded to the survey, in either group (81.2%, 298/367), reported satisfaction with the pharmaceutical services and care received. Of participants in the intervention group, 83.9% were satisfied with the pharmaceutical care and services received, compared with 78.5% of those in the control group (p = 0.18). In addition, 60.3% (111/184) of participants in the intervention group said that the information about medications that was provided during the hospital stay gave them new knowledge, compared with 48.1% (87/181) of those in the control group (p = 0.019). The results of the survey showed that care providers were in agreement with the intervention. Conclusions: The 3 components of the intervention were implemented in the pediatric units over a period of 5 months. The intervention was perceived as positive by the parents and care providers concerned, and the respondents were mostly satisfied with the services and pharmaceutical care offered.

Conclusions and Recommendations

On 24 June 2019, an hour-long outage hit the Dutch emergency number 112 and 0900–8844, the national police telephone line. It was also impossible to contact hospitals, municipalities, and companies for some time. The primary system of KPN – the telecom provider – was out of action while three back-up systems failed. The incident, which according to KPN was probably due to software error, once again revealed the vulnerability of facilities in the physical world to digital failures. It also underlined the report’s central message: the need to be better prepared for incidents involving a digital dimension. These incidents are all the more critical when they are not limited to the digital domain, but have potentially disruptive consequences in the physical world and for confidence in the core institutions of society.

Implementation of a cardiovascular emergency telephone line in response to lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic

The 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has restricted health care access for patients with cardiovascular (CV) disease.

Behaviour of occupational health services during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background Disasters, crises and pandemics are emergencies which impact on businesses severely. The COVID-19 pandemic reached its peak in mid-April 2020 in the UK. During this period, NHS Occupational Health Services (OHS) were stretched to their limit along with other health services. OHS may have had to change their pattern of operation, operating times, services offered, etc. to cope with the pandemic. Data about business model modifications, services offered by the OHS businesses during the pandemic could help in better utilization of OHS resources in the future. Aims To understand the behaviour of OHS in different parts of the country during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods An online survey link was sent to both accredited and unaccredited UK Occupational Health Physicians (OHPs). Results Sixty-two OHPs responded to the survey. In the current pandemic, 51% of the OHS (95% CI 0.38–0.62) offered weekend or out-of-hours (OOH) services, 21% had to employ extra staff (95% CI 0.13–0.33) and 54% had to change their working hours (95% CI 0.41–0.65). Ninety per cent of the OHS (95% CI 0.78–0.94) continued to offer routine services; however, there was a decline in offering vaccination services. Fifty-six per cent of the OHS (95% CI 0.42–0.67) offered a dedicated telephone line and 46% of the OHS (95% CI 0.32–0.56) started a dedicated COVID-19 queries inbox. Conclusions There was a change in the behaviour of the OHS to cope with the pandemic. Having a dedicated helpline to manage the crisis situation seemed a logical step whilst offering routine services.

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Economic Growth in ASEAN-5 Countries

Digital economy generally refers to a digital technology-based economy. The embrace of digital economy is transforming a nation's economic growth. Countries blessed with successful digitisation will improve their economic performance; hence, it could increase country's GDP growth. In this respect, ASEAN-5 countries becoming a major economic force driver in Asia as well as to the global growth. The goal of this research is therefore to investigate the relationship between ICT and economic growth in the ASEAN-5 countries over the 2003 to 2018 study period. Using static and dynamic panel data estimation, results shows that fixed telephone line subscription has the greatest impact on ICT on economic growth. The findings suggest countries shall focus on the innovation of ICT especially on the mobile-cellular telephone subscription and fixed telephone line subscription to achieve economic growth. Investments in ICT infrastructure foster co-operation in ICT technology as well as advancing ICT particularly on the rise in jobs in the ICT sector, transforming government services into digital form to enhance economic growth in the country.

Analysis of FXS (Foreign Exchange Subscriber) Port on IPPBX (Internet Protocol Private Branch Exchange)

PBX is a telephone communication connection device that is commonly used in buildings that require a telephone connection. However, some PBX products cannot be directly connected to analog telephones, so they require a module called an S2 module. S2 module can converts the port on the PBX to an FXS port that can be connected to an analog phone. Apart from PBX, there is ITG which can be used as telephone line communication. However, ITG already has an FXS port so it does not require additional modules. In Indonesia, there are standard provisions for the use of analog telephone communication devices which have been regulated in SNI for analog telephones. This research examines analog telephone communication devices according to SNI in Indonesia. The results of this test show the TA400 and MyPBX Standard at the impedance value when the on-hook state gets an average value of 64 K?, when the off-hook condition averages a value of 343 ?, the AC voltage test when the call comes on average gets a value of 343 ?. a value of 60 VAC, which means that it meets the SNI standard.

Wireless Local Area Network Integration with Telephone Line

The cell phones or mobile phone are required to be in the range of cell phones tower to work properly but due to the increment of the density of buildings in cities, most of the signals are absorbed by the buildings which make the cell phone services unstable. In this article, we have proposed an idea which combines fixed-line telephones and cellphones technology together to provide the stability of land-line phones and mobility of cell phones. Utilizing the integration of mobile phones and land-line phones user would be able to get a stable voice call service.