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The article demonstrates the use of a holistic systems approach (soft systems methodology [SSM]) in the analysis of the cancer care domain to identify whether this creates a system more appropriate to the needs of cancer care teams within the NHS. It describes the current stage of a research project by the Department of Computer Science at Cardiff University in collaboration with Velindre NHS Trust, the South East Wales cancer centre. The aim of the project is to provide information effectively to cancer care teams by creating a system to extend the current cancer network (the Information System for Clinical Organization [ISCO]) to primary care. This extension will provide a communication bridge between primary care and the cancer network. The article gives an overview of the project, followed by a detailed discussion and justification of the holistic approach adopted by the use of SSM, and concludes with a critical evaluation. © 2004 SAGE Publications [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the design, implementation and testing of a functional prototype interface which enables primary healthcare teams to access the information system supporting clinical oncology specialists in South Wales, UK. A lack of information sharing has been recognized for some time as a barrier to improving the primary care of cancer patients.This extension to the existing ISCO information system will allow sharing of information about patient management at all levels of cancer patient support (general practitioners, hospital-based clinicians and palliative care teams).The application was designed to allow general practitioners to gain access to the existing system. This will give all healthcare professionals interested in a cancer patient's care the advantage of accessing detailed multiple providers' electronic casenotes in almost real time, thus improving communication of information within a care team.However, no attempt was made to include the much bigger issue of patients and their families or carers in the scope of the project at this stage, as this is an area requiring separate investigation.The pilot also enables general practitioners to determine the information they require and the information they need to be able to communicate with the cancer specialists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As automobile noise is dominated by low frequencies, from 50 hertz (Hz) to 300 Hz, it is necessary to measure acoustic impedance of the trim materials at low frequencies. This paper presents a two‐microphone technique to measure impedance at low frequencies. It is found that the location of the two microphones is crucial to the accuracy of measurement. It is recommended that the microphone spacing be close to a quarter wavelength. Microphone spacing of a half wavelength should be avoided.