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Distributed computer system for capture, analysis and display of biological data.

A distributed real-time computer system has been developed to automate the collection, analysis and display of biological (pharmacological) data. It comprises a series of laboratory interface devices (CED 1401/1609) connected to a micro-VAX II via multiple IEEE-488 buses. The micro-VAX II is integrated to the main site computers using Ethernet running DECnet. The micro-VAX II system supports a multi-user, multipreparation and multitasking environment and it provides rapid transfer, storage, analysis and display of data. The system saves the pharmacologists from the manual analysis of their data, typically saving them four days of analysis per experiment and has improved both the quality of data detected and their subsequent analysis. Also, the development of a standard data capture procedure on common hardware along with the modular design of application software has almost quartered project development times.

Computer Communication Networks

The integration of theoretical constructs into the design of computer assisted instruction.

The authors believe that for computer assisted instruction to be an effective instructional tool, it must incorporate the most current theoretical principles related to learning and instruction. To assist future developers of computer assisted instruction, the authors review some of the major constructs from the theoretical foundations of various disciplines and then illustrate the integration of these constructs in the design of a software program entitled SOS--Strategies for Problem Solving.

Computer-Assisted Instruction

Intuitive user interfaces (IUI): a CASE starting point for design and programming.

The acceptance of a software product depends to a considerable extent on the user interface. The class of graphic-oriented user interfaces that are called Intuitive User Interfaces (IUI) is described. These interfaces allow the user to learn to operate software programs quickly. In the following the graphical layout put to use in an IUI is elaborated. All images the layout consists of are created with the aid of a paint program. Using these images, a procedure for creating, programming and linking an IUI to software applications is discussed and recommendations are made concerning software and hardware demands for easily creating IUIs. Practical experience of the authors with this procedure, mainly in the medical area, is described.

Computer Graphics

Improving the fit of press-fit hip stems.

The implant-bone fit is critical to the longevity of press-fit total hips. Maximum contact on the internal cortical bone surface, especially proximally, produces more normal strain values and reduces micromotion and sinkage. Stem design computer software was developed to design both individualized hip stems that maximize implant-bone contact for a unique anatomy, and average anatomic hip stems in which the mean error of fit is minimized for many patients. Cadaver femurs were used to test the following two hypotheses: (1) Average anatomic stems, designed using the optimal-fit software for an average femoral geometry, improve implant-bone fit when compared with standard stems; and (2) Individualized optimal-fit stems provide an even better fit than average anatomic stems. Results showed that the average anatomical stems fit better than the standard stems. However, the individualized hip stems, designed from individual three-dimensional geometry data, fit the best.

Aged

Strategic approaches to drug design. I. An integrated software framework for molecular modelling.

An integrated molecular graphics and computational chemistry framework is described which has been designed primarily to handle small molecules of up to 300 atoms. The system provides a means of integrating software from any source into a single framework. It is split into two functional subsystems. The first subsystem, called COSMIC, runs on low-cost, serial-linked colour graphics terminals and allows the user to prepare and examine structural data and to submit them for extensive computational chemistry. Links also allow access to databases, other modelling systems and user-written modules. Much of the output from COSMIC cannot be examined with low level graphics. A second subsystem, called ASTRAL, has been developed for the high-resolution Evans & Sutherland PS300 colour graphics terminal and is designed to manipulate complex display structures. The COSMIC minimisers, geometry investigators, molecular orbital displays, electrostatic isopotential generators and various interfaces and utilities are described.

Computer Graphics

[Computer-assisted design in removable partial dentures. Expert system and software for framework tracing].

Stelligraph, a software program for designing the removable partial denture offers many possibilities in computer assisted technology. The design can be realized on any particular case, based on three different concepts. This software program can also provide on individual, manual and personalized design this offening complete freedom in the conception. This software program is an expert system in removable partial denture by providing the general practitioner with a rational design as well as clinical guidance for oral rehabilitation.

Denture Design

Researcher's Workbench.

The Researcher's Workbench, developed at the University of Utah College of Nursing, is a computer toolkit for nurse researchers. Workbench includes a set of software tools, most of which are commercially available, to support each stage of the research process. The tools reside on a Macintosh II desk-top computer (Apple Computer, Cupertino, CA) that houses processors to run both Macintosh and MS-DOS (Microsoft Corporation) software. The Workbench is available to all College of Nursing faculty, research associates, and graduate students. This article describes the purpose, methods, design, and implementation of the Workbench. The article assumes familiarity with personal computer terminology.

Computers

Managing research data with self-documenting files.

Processing biomedical research data is frequently complex due to the evolutionary nature of experiments and the requisite modification of analysis software. For the past several years we have been evolving a set of software tools designed to improve our ability to respond to evolving experimental designs. These tools allow the investigator to easily manipulate the research data and specify desired data transformations at run time. Coupling of analysis software to research data files is dependent on data files that are commented in a manner similar to that used in programming languages. The resulting annotated data files are self-documenting, and their use facilitates visual interpretation of displayed data as well as automatic processing of subsets of data. Here we present a formal description of a self-documenting file and describe several software tools that facilitate processing of biomedical research data.

Electronic Data Processing

A personal computer-based maintenance management expert system for hospitals.

In this paper a Maintenance Management Expert System (MMES) is developed. This system is suitable for hospitals as well as for manufacturing organizations. This expert system consists of five sections. These are work order management, equipment management, craftsmen management, material and supply control, and monitoring of maintenance activities. In addition the MMES provides several reports that can be utilized for improving maintenance effectiveness.

Expert Systems

A program for the computation of power and determination of sample size in hierarchical experimental designs.

We have devised a program that allows computation of the power of F-test, and hence determination of appropriate sample and subsample sizes, in the context of the one-way hierarchical analysis of variance with fixed effects. The power at a fixed alternative is an increasing function of the sample size and of the subsample size. The program makes it easy to obtain the power of F-test for a range of values of sample and subsample sizes, and therefore the appropriate sizes based on a desired power. The program can be used for the 'ordinary' case of the one-way analysis of variance, as well as for hierarchical analysis of variance with two stages of sampling. Examples are given of the practical use of the program.

Analysis of Variance

Teaching problem handling in general practice: a computer assisted learning software package for medical students.

A computer assisted learning software package for medical students, EnMesh, designed to increase understanding of the problem-handling skills needed in general practice has been developed at the University of Liverpool. Users access the system anonymously and respond in sequence to problems in the form of clinical vignettes. Responses to each problem, in the form of up to six two-line text statements, are generated by the user with a simple word processing facility. Users compare their responses with those of established general practitioners, searching for similar or matching ideas. After completing not less than four problems users are provided with feedback on their performance in relation to the physical, psychological and social dimensions of the problems. The frequency with which the system is being used and the results of self scoring are monitored by a parallel teacher programme. The programmes are designed to run on a wide range of microcomputers. EnMesh was designed to provide an informal learning resource within an established clinical course. The challenge of valid problems, the option to respond anonymously, self scoring and feedback on performance are features designed to attract student participation in computer assisted learning. Although in EnMesh the expert data is categorized in three dimensions, in designing such software the number of categories is limited solely by the range of responses which feedback is required to reflect.

Computer-Assisted Instruction

TDAT--time domain analysis tool for EEG analysis.

An interactive design and analysis tool for displaying and quantifying multiple channels of data is presented. The system allows one to easily visualize multiple data channels and simultaneously observe the effects of filters on the data and to evaluate signal detection algorithms. The software is designed for a workstation environment; it will find application in a variety of applications where one needs to simultaneously visualize multiple data channels. TDAT is being used for the design and evaluation of filters and detection algorithms for electroencephalogram (EEG) waveforms, and it is serving as a prototype of a paperless system to be used by electroencephalographers. This paper describes the general software structure of the system and illustrates many of the system features with examples.

Algorithms

Portable image-manipulation software: what is the extra development cost?

A hospital-wide picture archiving and communication system (PACS) project is currently under development at the University Hospital of Geneva. The visualization and manipulation of images provided by different imaging modalities constitutes one of the most challenging component of a PACS. It was necessary to provide this visualization software on a number of types of workstations because of the varying requirements imposed by the range of clinical uses it must serve. The user interface must be the same, independent of the underlying workstation. In addition to a standard set of image-manipulation and processing tools, there is a need for more specific clinical tools that can be easily adapted to specific medical requirements. To achieve this goal, it was elected to develop a modular and portable software called OSIRIS. This software is available on two different operating systems (the UNIX standard X-11/OSF-Motif based workstations and the Macintosh family) and can be easily ported to other systems. The extra effort required to design such software in a modular and portable way was worthwhile because it resulted in a platform that can be easily expanded and adapted to a variety of specific clinical applications. Its portability allows users to benefit from the rapidly evolving workstation technology and to adapt the performance to suit their needs.

Costs and Cost Analysis

PROSOFT: a general purpose software in protein chemistry.

Applesoft and 6502 Assembler software was designed to quickly perform operations commonly encountered in protein chemistry. It was not designed for a specific application but can be conveniently used to speed up the determination of protein primary structure.

Algorithms

ACNUC--a portable retrieval system for nucleic acid sequence databases: logical and physical designs and usage.

ACNUC is a database structure and retrieval software for use with either the GenBank or EMBL nucleic acid sequence data collections. The nucleotide and textual data furnished by both collections are each restructured into a database that allows sequence retrieval on a multi-criterion basis. The main selection criteria are: species (or higher order taxon), keyword, reference, journal, author, and organelle; all logical combinations of these criteria can be used. Direct access to sequence regions that code for a specific product (protein, tRNA or rRNA) is provided. A versatile extraction procedure copies selected sequences, or fragments of them, from the database to user files suitable to be analysed by user-supplied application programs. A detailed help mechanism is provided to aid the user at any time during the retrieval session. All software has been written in FORTRAN 77 which guarantees a high degree of transportability to minicomputers or mainframes.

Base Sequence

Human-computer interface evaluation: not user-friendliness but design for operation.

This paper considers human-computer interface evaluation in the context of design and development. It is argued that it is not helpful to view evaluation as a method for achieving user-friendliness, rather it should be seen as a participating activity within design and development. The centre of concern is the operation of the system when employed in practice. Such evaluation is not necessarily to be conducted by independent observation and experiment, but may be closely integrated with other design activities. In fact the very theory underlying the evaluation finds its embodiment in the artifact of the user interface. Taking this view has technical, as well as human factors, implications.

Decision Making, Computer-Assisted

Full integration of the beam's eye view concept into computerized treatment planning.

A complete set of beam's eye view (BEV) and beam portal design features have been integrated into a computerized 3-dimensional radiotherapy treatment planning system. Among the features implemented is the ability to mix BEV graphics with gray-scale images such as simulator and verification radiographs, and digital reconstructed radiographs. Image processing techniques have been developed to both enhance verification images and to detect radiation field boundaries. These portal simulation and presentation techniques are being used clinically to design and verify radiation fields with manual or automatically-designed field shaping blocks. The ability to perform computer dose calculations for planes which are parallel or perpendicular to a specified beam's central axis is available and this feature has also proven useful for treatment plan evaluation and optimization. Finally, direct comparison of computer-generated portal images with actual simulation and verification radiographs is also possible. These techniques allow the direct integration of "CT-directed treatment planning" with block design, simulator films and port films, and other Beam's Eye View-type displays.

Computer Simulation