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PubMed1982

Shared-resource computing for small research labs.

A real time laboratory computer network is described. This network is composed of four real-time laboratory minicomputers located in each of four division laboratories and a larger minicomputer in a centrally located computer room. Off the shelf hardware and software were used with no customization. The network is configured for resource sharing using DECnet communications software and the RSX-11-M multi-user real-time operating system. The cost effectiveness of the shared resource network and multiple real-time processing using priority scheduling is discussed. Examples of utilization within a medical research department are given.

Computers↗
PubMed1989

A compact, flexible and cheap system for acquiring sequence data from autoradiograms with a digitizer and transferring it to an arbitrary host computer.

In this article we describe MS-EdSeq, an integrated system for fast and accurate gel reading combined with safe and automatic file transfer to an arbitrary host computer. The uniqueness of MS-EdSeq is its way of forming a link between the interactive sequence editor on the PC and the potential of the minicomputer acting as a host, thus making optimal use of both systems. This is especially suited for the moderately sized research group, using DNA-sequencing as one of various biochemical methods, where PCs are already in use for other tasks and a minicomputer is available. The gel reading algorithm described is fast, accurate and simple and the file transfer relies on the safe and well-known Kermit programs.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1984

Computer analysis of cross sectional echocardiogram for quantitative evaluation of left ventricular asynergy in myocardial infarction.

Left ventricular asynergy in myocardial infarction was assessed quantitatively by computer analysis of the cross sectional echocardiogram. Short axis cross sectional images of the left ventricle at the levels of the mitral valve, papillary muscle, and apex were recorded by a phased array sector scanner in 30 patients with healed myocardial infarction and 15 normal controls. Endocardial and epicardial short axis images of the left ventricle were transferred from video tape to a minicomputer through the interface circuits, then digitised and processed automatically by a minicomputer. Automatic edge detection of the endocardial and epicardial wall was performed by applying sequential steps including smoothing, second derivative technique, dynamic thresholding, and approximation of boundaries by a spline curve. To quantify regional wall motion, the short axis cross sectional left ventricular wall of each level was divided into eight octants with eight axes at 45 degrees angles from the initial standard axis which was constructed from the geometric centre of the end diastolic left ventricular cavity to the posterior end of the right side of the interventricular septum. Segmental hemiaxis, segmental area, segmental wall thickness, and those changes during cardiac cycle were measured and calculated in each segment automatically by a computer. Regional contractility of the left ventricle was evaluated by percentage systolic changes of the segmental hemiaxis, area, and wall thickness. These values were significantly reduced in the infarcted left ventricular wall as defined by left ventriculography and electrocardiography. Moreover, percentage hemiaxis changes obtained by quantitative left ventriculography described by Herman and colleagues correlated well with those using our analytical method of cross sectional echocardiography in the corresponding segments. The geometric centre of the left ventricular cavity determined by the computer moved slightly towards the anterior wall during systole in normal subjects, possibly reflecting the anterior swinging motion of the heart. The geometric centre of the left ventricular cavity in myocardial infarction moved towards the infarcted wall, showing that the floating reference system was inferior to the fixed reference system for the quantification of abnormal wall motion in myocardial infarction. In conclusion, a computer analysis of the short axis cross sectional echocardiogram of the left ventricle using the fixed reference system has shown its ability to evaluate left ventricular contraction abnormalities, especially systolic wall thickening, which is relatively free of arbitrary interpretation of the wall motion caused by the anterior swinging motion of the heart.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

From mainframe to micro: decentralization of perinatal epidemiology.

To evaluate the feasibility of analyzing large perinatal datasets on smaller computers, the 1980 National Natality Survey was downloaded first to a minicomputer and then to a microcomputer. Operating system utilities were used to minimize programming and storage requirements. Accuracy was confirmed by comparing descriptive statistics with published values derived on mainframes. Based on a typical analytic problem, implementation on the microcomputer compared favorably to implementation on the minicomputer. Our results suggest that the microcomputer may be a practical alternative to the mainframe for perinatal epidemiological analysis.

Computers↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Building a cytology report database: a computer-assisted system for documentation, evaluation and hospital-wide recall of haematological biopsy reports.

Owing to an increasing number of biopsies from different organ systems in our institution and referring institutions there was need to develop a computer-based system to improve documentation, analysis and reports of pathological findings, as well as speed of transmission of information in a clinical haematology/oncology unit. As terminals connected to a central minicomputer are located on all wards of our hospital, we have now provided a faster way of moving information from the cytology reporting site to all hospital departments. Using the hospital's minicomputer we developed an easy-to-use system based on five different codes for each cytological specimen: organ biopsied, quality of specimen, cytological diagnosis including information as to status of patient (i.e. pretherapy), and an additional code describing the degree of remission obtained after chemotherapy of acute leukemias. After microscopic analysis of the specimen these five codes are read into a terminal; minutes after the diagnosis is made, a short version of the report can be accessed from all wards in the hospital.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1985

Electroencephalographic Cartography. I. By means of mini- or microcomputers. Reliability and interest of this electrical non-invasive brain imagery.

We have recorded control subjects, neurological and psychiatric patients (n = 217 sequences recorded over both hemispheres). Minicomputers (HP Fourier analyzer, HP 1000) for spectral analysis provided 10 spectral parameters over 5 spectral frequency bands (delta, theta, alpha, beta 1, beta 2, raw EEG). For each recorded sequence, 90 EEG maps could be computed over both hemispheres. Topo-EEGs were stored in an EEG image data bank. An EEG mapping microcomputer system linked with a digital polygraph (Alvar Electronic, REEGA 2000) has been used simultaneously. White noises have been fed into both computers for testing spatial resolution. Ten topo-EEGs have been recorded in control subjects and patients. The microcomputer system has provided very reliable topographical results when compared to similar maps generated by the minicomputer. A common average reference has been used. First clinical applications have been studied (brain strokes, brain tumors). The method appears very reliable in comparison with CT scans.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

[Current methods in automated statistical analysis].

The advantages and disadvantages of the so called minicomputers (e.g. type NOVA) and microcomputers (e.g. type NR 95) are compared in their use for statistical analysis. In spite of some advantages - autonomy, possibilities for immediate use, etc. of microcomputers, the minicomputers, type NOVA, were established to enable the elimination of their non-specific work for the non-mathematical specialists, their direction to the most proper and complexly applied statistical method in the organized statistical processing, existing at the Institute of Hygiene and Occupational Diseases, hence the expenditures would be lower and reability - higher.

Bulgaria↗
PubMed1981

[Possibilities for the application of electronic data processing in surgical departments (author's transl)].

The primary precondition for the application of electronic data processing (EDP) are organisational measures including adequate personnel who are needed for preparatory work. Special documentation and coding systems must be introduced for the purpose of data preparation, whereby the size of the EDP equipment (hardware) depends on the problem to be tackled. The EDP programms (software) should be designed in such a way that every doctor is able to operate the EDP equipment even with little knowledge of data processing. Equipment ranges from minicomputers and centralized computer systems to integrated information systems. Whereas today well-designed application models for minicomputers already exist, the integrated information system is still in a development stage.

Computers↗
PubMed1982

Design and feasibility of a flexible computerized system for the clinical laboratory, based on the IEEE 488 standardized interface.

Our target is to build a flexible computerized system based on an informational study of the clinical laboratory, which would leave the laboratory staff free to use equipment or modules from different manufacturers interchangeably. This applies to hardware and software. To fulfil this objective, it is necessary that automatic analyzers, microcomputers and minicomputers, have built-in standardized hardware and software interfaces. Technical specifications of the IEEE 488 standardized interface, recommended by the authors, are presented here; this interface is already widely used in instrument interfacing with low-cost microcomputers are minicomputers but has not yet been used for clinical laboratory automatic analyzers. A design for a flexible laboratory based on this interface is presented, with a discussion of the feasibility of such a project.

Autoanalysis↗
PubMed1980

Graphical computer techniques for improving the detection of myocardiac ischemia.

Traditional investigative methods to detect and localise cardiac abnormalities are often difficult and time consuming. The use of minicomputers has made a dramatic impact on non-invasive diagnostic techniques in cardiac patients. The Cardiology Division of the Geneva University Hospital has assembled a minicomputer-based data acquisition/visualisation system to study cardiac structures and their associated motions using radionuclide techniques.

Computers↗
PubMed1987

A reliable and inexpensive microprocessor system for collection and transfer of raw immunoassay data.

A very low cost microprocessor system has been designed to ease data handling problems in a large workload immunoassay laboratory. The microprocessor collects and stores data from many immunoassay detection devices simultaneously, and transfers the data to a minicomputer for analysis as each measurement batch is completed. Stored data are protected against a mains power failure during collection and against non-availability of the minicomputer at transfer time. The system provides fast and reliable transfer of very large amounts of raw data from measurement devices to computer, and therefore facilitates the use of a statistically sound data reduction software package.

Computers↗
PubMed1985

Microcomputers and consultation psychiatry in the general hospital.

The microcomputer allows for the design of a system that functions integrally with both the day-to-day and long-term needs of a consultation-liaison psychiatric service. This article describes a microcomputer system and data structure that can accomplish many of the same research tasks as a minicomputer system. In addition, the same data item inputs can be used to develop management reports that can facilitate the administrative as well as the pedagogic needs of a consultation-liaison service. Because of the daily availability and review of output reports, supervisors' corrections are made that enhance the reliability of the data. The program format provides 1) an intake form with pertinent identifying demographic data; 2) an activity file that contains every encounter between the consultant and the patient as well as research, supervisory, and liaison activities (which permit cost-effectiveness analysis); 3) a master clinical data base containing 255 variables for each case seen; 4) a computer-generated chart note; 5) letters to referring physicians; 6) clinical activity descriptions for billing; and 7) a file for pertinent literature searches. Since certain analyses may be limited in the microsystem, its interactive capacity with mainframe computers allows for complex functions. The microsystem described presently emphasizes flexibility, accessibility, and step-by-step development of files as needed by a particular consultation-liaison service. Finally, microcomputers are available at a fraction of the cost of the minicomputer or mainframe systems.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

A computer controlled tele-cobalt unit.

A computer controlled cobalt treatment unit was commissioned for treating patients in January 1980. Initially the controlling computer was a minicomputer, but now the control of the therapy unit is by a microcomputer. The treatment files, which specify the movement and configurations necessary to deliver the prescribed dose, are produced on the minicomputer and then transferred to the microcomputer using minitape cartridges. The actual treatment unit is based on a standard cobalt unit with a few additional features e.g. the drive motors can be controlled either by the computer or manually. Since the treatment unit is used for both manual and automatic treatments, the operational procedure under computer control is made to closely follow the manual procedure for a single field treatment. The necessary safety features which protect against human, hardware and software errors as well as the advantages and disadvantages of computer controlled radiotherapy are discussed.

Cobalt Radioisotopes↗
PubMed1976

Organic micropollutants in air and water. Sampling, gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis and computer identification.

Organic micropollutants are sampled by dynamic enrichment on a porous polymer column and subsequently thermally eluted in a flow of helium. The eluted compounds enter gas chromatograph inlet and then pass into two parallel glass capillary columns with different stationary phases, in which they are separated. The separated compounds are detected by gas chromatographic (GC) detectors and by a mass spectrometer that is connected to one or other of the two capillary columns by "heart cutting" systems. The GC and mass spectrometric (MS) signals are fed via interfaces into a minicomputer which controls the MS scan and performs data acquisition, reduction and treatment on-line and off-line. The resulting GC and MS data are displayed on a line printer or a visual display unit. The minicomputer is connected by a telephone line to an IBM 370/165 computer, where a library search system has been implemented. Some difficulties encountered, data on the sampling recovery of model compounds and the identification of compounds in air and water samples by GC-MS data and library searches are discussed.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed1980

Probabilistic modeling of oxygen transport in brain tissue.

A three-dimensional model of a subregion of the microcirculation was developed. The model employed parallel probabilistic distributions of reaction and convection of oxygen. A Green's function solution to oxygen transport in this system was derived and applied in a series of dynamic solutions on a minicomputer. Results include the transient response of oxygen tension at grid points throughout the system and a correlation of the oxygen demand and surplus supply. Results clearly represent anticipated oxygen partial pressure behavior trends of a countercurrent flow system and in pertinent ways compared favorably with the results obtained by previous investigators. The technique is conservative and employs from 2,000 to 3,600 time steps to achieve precision of seven significant figures. Excellent stability was observed as well. The simulation provides a reliable means to represent the transient response of oxygen partial pressure in a three-dimensional system. Case studies show effects of changing arterial oxygen partial pressure as well as the importance in this system of the convection of dissolved oxygen. It is concluded that the system adequately simulates the anticipated broad profiles of a probabilistically distributed system and provides a rather original insight into neuronal viability through a correlation of oxygen supply and demand. Adaptation of such a complex, dynamic, three-dimensional stimulation to a minicomputer is a step toward simulation of more sophisticated geometries.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

A method for determination of fractal dimensions of sialographic images.

A method for measuring the fractal dimension of radiographic images was devised by the modified pixel dilation (PD) method, and its accuracy was examined by two types of image analyzers: one controlled by a minicomputer and based on the hexagonal array of the pixels, and the other controlled by a personal computer and based on the square array of the pixels. It was shown that the fractal dimensions measured by using the image analyzers for three curves (straight line, Koch curve, and Sierpinski gasket) were deviated by less than 2.1% from the theoretical dimension. The time required for the measurements fell within 10 seconds by the minicomputer-controlled image analyzer, and within 12 minutes by the personal computer-controlled image analyzer, which contrasts to the 30 minutes or more required for measuring fractal dimensions by other available methods. Analysis of the ductal patterns in sialograms by this method indicated that the fractal dimensions were significantly different between normal parotids and parotids with Sjögren syndrome. The modified PD method can be used for measuring the fractal dimension of ductal patterns in sialograms. The measurements may serve as numerical gradings of the progression of disease.

Humans↗
PubMed1989

Development of an ultrasonic system for three-dimensional reconstruction of the fetus.

The ultrasonic diagnostic devices available at present can only represent one section of the fetus. We have developed a system for three-dimensional reconstruction of the ultrasonic fetal image in order to facilitate the understanding of the 3-D structure of the fetus and also to make 3-D recordings of this image. Either a real-time linear array probe or a convex array probe of the ultrasonic scanner was mounted on a position sensing arm of a manual compound scanner in order to detect the position of the probe. A microcomputer was used to convert the positional information to a recording of a visual image of videotape. This image was superimposed onto the ultrasonic tomographic image simultaneously using a superimposer and was recorded on the video tape, thereafter, being recalled by the image processing minicomputer. The minicomputer VAX11/780 (DEC) system was used for 3-D reconstruction and 3-D display. In the memory system the image of the anterior uterine wall was identified and subsequently excluded in order to visualise the fetus more clearly. The threshold of brightness was set to a high level so that the fetus could be separated from the amniotic fluid. The fetus was displayed three-dimensionally using computer graphics. Using this system, we have made it possible to observe the whole image of the fetus in utero non-invasively. This system offers a method for easier understanding of the 3-D structure of the fetus in utero and also makes 3-D recording possible. In the future, we confidently expect that this system will be used for screening for fetal anomalies and abnormalities of fetal growth.

Equipment Design↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Radiology capital asset management.

Radiology administrators are expected not only to take on the ultimate accountability for meeting the needs and challenges of present day-to-day operations, but also to plan for the future. Computer Aided Facility Management (CAFM), as a tool, enables radiology managers to obtain up-to-date data to manage their services. Using Autocad on a unix-based minicomputer as the graphical base generator and integrating information from a MUMPS-based minicomputer, the CAFM process can define areas to be studied for productivity and life cycle costs. From an analysis of radiology service, management was able to make solid judgement calls for equipment replacement and facility project renovation to effectively manage radiology resources.

Cost Control↗