Advanced Computer Applications Research Articles

What does systems biology mean for biomarker discovery?

The global, integrated analysis of large-scale data sets encoding different levels of biological information opens up new possibilities to discover new biomarkers and elucidate complex mechanisms driving health and disease. This article reviews fundamental systems approaches and applications for biomarker discovery in different biomedical domains. It introduces key challenges and requirements for the development of advanced computational techniques, resources and applications. It discusses how these approaches can fill in some of the current gaps in traditional biomarker discovery and disease classification. The reader will be introduced to recent advances, techniques and applications of systems approaches to biomarker discovery and disease classification. The reader will learn fundamental research principles and tasks required in the implementation of these approaches and applications. The reader will gain a better understanding of the role of systems biology, as well as of potential opportunities and advances. Systems approaches to biomarker discovery may contribute to the discovery of more accurate and robust predictors of disease and clinical responses. Moreover, they can provide new and deeper clues of potential causal mechanisms underpinning physiological and pathological conditions.

Information system needs in health promotion: a case study of the Safe Community programme using requirements engineering methods

The international Safe Community programme was used as the setting for a case study to explore the need for information system support in health promotion programmes. The 14 Safe Communities active in Sweden during 2002 were invited to participate and 13 accepted. A questionnaire on computer usage and a critical incident technique instrument were distributed. Sharing of management information, creating social capital for safety promotion, and injury data recording were found to be key areas that need to be further supported by computer-based information systems. Most respondents reported having access to a personal computer workstation with standard office software. Interest in using more advanced computer applications was low, and there was considerable need for technical user support. Areas where information systems can be used to make health promotion practice more efficient were identified, and patterns of computers usage were described.

Immersive learning technologies: Realism and online authentic learning

THE DEVELOPMENT of immersive learning technologies in the form of virtual reality and advanced computer applications has meant that realistic creations of simulated environments are now possible. Such simulations have been used to great effect in training in the military, air force, and in medical training. But how realistic do problems need to be in education for effective learning to occur? Some authors and researchers argue that problems should be real, or that simulations should have ultrarealistic physical similarity to an actual context. This paper proposes that physical verisimilitude to real situations is of less importance in learning than “cognitive realism,” provided by immersing students in engaging and complex tasks. The paper presents a description of the theory and research that provide the foundations for this approach. Examples of courses employing cognitive, rather than physical, realism are presented together with the views of teachers, authors and instructional designers. Finally, the implications of this approach are discussed.

Local Government Agencies’ Use of Hazard Analysis Information

This study examined 97 Texas government agencies’ access to in formal ion about hazards in their communities. The data indicate that printed products are still used more extensively than Internet products, which suggests that the transition from print to electronic dissemination of hazard analysis information should not exceed local agencies’ ability to access the Internet. Moreover, land use planners (LUPs) consistently were found to use computer applications more than emergency management coordinators (EMCs). This suggests that federal and state agencies should consider facilitating EMCs’ access to hazard analysis information by utilizing the computer applications with which their target audience is most familiar. Moreover, EMCs are more likely to make use of sophisticated hazard modeling applications if they have successfully mastered more basic computer applications or if they have partnered with LUPs in their communities who have mastered the advanced computer applications.

Next generation internet and related initiatives

The Next Generation Internet (NGI) program would advance the current state of the Internet and university research capabilities, and assist federal agencies to achieve their missions. The NGI is part of a larger federal policy umbrella that also includes the High Performance Computing and Communications (HPCC) initiative. On September 28,1998, President William Jefferson Clinton signed into law the Next Generation Research Act (P.L. 105-305), which extends congressional authorization for both NGI and the HPCC initiatives through FY2000. For FY2000, the Clinton administration has asked for $1.8 billion for information technology federal research and development (R&D) funding. This includes $1.46 billion for the HPCC initiative (and $100 million for the NGI), and $366 million for Information Technology for the 21st Century (or IT2). This last initiative is a request for an additional increase in federal funding for fundamental, long-term research; advanced computational applications; and research on the economic and social impacts of IT.

Distributed and parallel Ada and the Ada 9X recommendations

Recently, the DoD has sponsored work towards a new version of Ada, intended to support the construction of distributed systems. The revised version, often called Ada 9X, will become the new standard sometimes in the 1990s. It is intended that Ada 9X should provide language features giving limited support for distributed system construction. The requirements for such features are given. Many of the most advanced computer applications involve embedded systems that are comprised of parallel processors or networks of distributed computers. If Ada is to become the widely adopted language envisioned by many, it is essential that suitable compilers and tools be available to facilitate the creation of distributed and parallel Ada programs for these applications. The major languages issues impacting distributed and parallel programming are reviewed, and some principles upon which distributed/parallel language systems should be built are suggested. Based upon these, alternative language concepts for distributed/parallel programming are analyzed.

Personal computers in psychiatric rehabilitation: a new approach to skills training.

A rehabilitation program called the Learning Center provides computer-assisted instruction to patients with long-term psychiatric illnesses. Clients in the program, located at a New York State psychiatric facility serving a mostly minority, low-income population, are enrolled in either a vocational component that teaches advanced computer applications or a general education component to improve basic math, spelling, vocabulary, and grammar. Participants work at their own pace to achieve mastery of material. They have shown unusual enthusiasm about the program, as evidenced by high attendance rates, ability to concentrate and sustain interest in tasks, acquisition of skills, and favorable perceptions of the program. Computer-assisted instruction offers persons with chronic mental illness the potential to compensate for cognitive and motivational problems that interfere with learning.

Advanced computer applications in safety and reliability assessment and management

Advanced computer applications in safety and reliability assessment and management

The ITHACA office object model

This paper presents an object-oriented approach to modeling an office, including both its content and the activities that are carried out within it. This is a part of a larger research effort---the ITHACA Project (Integrated Toolkit for Highly Advanced Computer Applications). Its purpose is to provide software engineers and application programmers with a generic framework within which to develop large, distributed office support systems. The set of interrelated models contains: the active object, the passive object and the procedure models. The active object model represents persons (or actors), organizational structures and their linkages through roles. Office facilities (e.g., cabinets, tables, tops-of-desks, wastebaskets) and information (e.g., documents, letters) are captured by the passive object model. The relationships among the various objects are expressed by both specified relationship attributes and other attributes that can be derived from them. The procedure model consists of office operators (e.g., Move, Edit, Create, Send) that are used as basic building blocks for defining office procedures.The model is presently being used to develop software for the ITHACA Project. A prototype of the active office object model has been developed, written in CooL---Combined object-oriented Language. The prototype will be used as a basis for developing a more complete systems architecture, also described in the paper.

Advanced computer applications in radiology: clinical applications.

Computers play a major role in bridging the gap between image generation and patient care by providing enhanced images that better meet the needs of referring physicians. Spiral computed tomography allows generation of three-dimensional images that are not affected by motion artifact. Volume rendering, a three-dimensional reconstruction algorithm, yields images free of computer-generated artifacts and superior in quality. Currently, technologic computer advances play an important role in three clinical areas: orthopedic applications, oncologic applications, and prosthetic design. Three-dimensional imaging is especially valuable in fracture assessment because it allows exploration of image data to define the location of fracture fragments, the integrity of the joint space, and any possible displacement. With three-dimensional imaging, the extent of tumor spread into adjacent soft tissue or involvement of blood vessels can be determined, even in difficult anatomic areas. Volume rendering and increased computer speed allow greatly improved treatment planning for radiation therapy and custom design of orthopedic prostheses. Through the mutual understanding of goals between physicians and computer scientists, the computer can reach its full potential in medicine, resulting in improved patient care.

Symbolic and numerical methods in hybrid multi-criteria decision support

Abstract During the development of an expert system for regional planning (The Shanxi Province Decision Support System) by IIASA's Advanced Computer Applications (ACA) group, two spatial planning systems evolved. PDAS, a system for the optimization of the industrial structure of an area, which is based on numerical multicriteria optimization techniques; and REPLACE, a site-selection system, implemented in PROLOG, which is based on a qualitative, constraint-satisfaction method. Although both approaches partially overlap, each approach has certain advantages over the other. As a natural extension of the Shanxi DSS, within the framework of a project on Hybrid Decision Support Tools sponsored by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, an attempt has been made to integrate the two approaches by developing a hybrid multicriteria alternative selectiion module (HYDAS-HYbrid Discrete Alternative Selection) which will work as a postprocessor for both modules. In HYDAS, artificial intelligence (AI) paradigms and numeric multicriteria optimization techniques are combined to arrive at a hybrid approach to discrete alternative selection. These techniques include: (1) qualitative analysis, (2) various statistical checks and recommendations, (3) robustness and sensitivity analysis, and (4) help for defining acceptable regions for analysis. HYDAS is implemented on high performance workstations using C, PROLOG, and the X graphics library and window system.

Advanced Human Factors Engineering Tool Technologies

This paper presents the results of a study to identify the human factors engineering (HFE) technologies or tools presently used, and projected for use, by HFE specialists. Both traditional and advanced tools were candidates for inclusion in the study, although emphasis of the study was placed on advanced computer applications. Human factors practitioners representing the government, academia and private industry were surveyed to identify those tools most frequently used or viewed as most important for conducting HFE related work. If advanced tool capabilities did not meet existing job requirements, the specialists identified the types of tools they would like to see developed to fill the existing technology gaps. To facilitate the inclusion of new technologies as they become available, and to aid in the search and retrieval of a tool's capabilities, information obtained on the tools was entered into a database. The survey resulted in the identification of 88 advanced tools. The results of the study suggest that although a large number of tools presently exist that are capable of supporting human factors specialists in the practice of their profession, the HFE community needs additional tools, especially those configured to run on a desktop microcomputer. Future emphasis in tool development should focus on expert systems, human factors database compendiums, computer-assisted design (CAD) applications, workload prediction tools, and automated task analysis programs.

Design and Manufacture of Dies and Molds

Summary The technology of designing and manufacturing dies and molds is increasingly based on the application of Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing (CAD/CAM), i.e. true 3D computer graphics, and Computer Numerical Control (CMC) machining. The use of CAD/CAM reduces lead time and improves communication between design and manufacturing activities, as well as quality and reproducibility. Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) uses various analysis techniques to simulate material flow to predict and avoid defects and improve die design. This paper has been prepared with input from various CIRP colleagues and reviews the application of CAD/CAM/CAE in metal forming, and discusses the status of advanced computer applications such as Expert Systems and process modeling techniques.

Automation of Quality and Process Control in a Printing Paper Mill

The objective of process control at the Rauma paper mill is to maintain a certain output and quality level at minimum cost. Computerized process control systems include an automated laboratory measurement and data transmission system and on-line test equipment combined with local automatic control systems. There is clear trend towards more automated laboratory routines and on-line measurements. Some of the laboratory measurements are difficult to automate, and the poor reliability of on-line test equipment still causes problems. However, the increased demands set on process control today cannot be fulfilled without advanced computer applications.