Computer-aided Data Processing Research Articles

AI-Based Decision Support System for Traumatic Brain Injury: A Survey.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the major causes of disability and mortality worldwide. Rapid and precise clinical assessment and decision-making are essential to improve the outcome and the resulting complications. Due to the size and complexity of the data analyzed in TBI cases, computer-aided data processing, analysis, and decision support systems could play an important role. However, developing such systems is challenging due to the heterogeneity of symptoms, varying data quality caused by different spatio-temporal resolutions, and the inherent noise associated with image and signal acquisition. The purpose of this article is to review current advances in developing artificial intelligence-based decision support systems for the diagnosis, severity assessment, and long-term prognosis of TBI complications.

LEADERSHIP POTENTIAL IMPACT ON PERFORMANCE OF SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZES BUSINESS

Small and medium-sized business (SMB) as a special type of economic activity and one of the levers of the national economy functioning is being recognized by leading economies as a key form of business. However, in most cases, the development of SMB depends on the features of government support and tax preferences. At the same time, human resources are considered to be the most valuable assets in meeting the economic challenges. Therefore, the current study dwells on the ways for SMB to overcome the challenges utilizing human resources leadership potential development since human resources determine either integral or inconsistent nature of any business activity. The current paper presents the research results on the leadership potential development and its impact on the performance of SMB.
 On top of that the authors have determined some indicators to measure leadership potential of the country’s economy and establish the correlation between the SMB development index, the ease of doing business index, and the human development index.
 The methodological foundation of the research is a system of general scientific and special methods applied to investigate the impact of leadership potential phenomenon on the performance of small and medium-sized enterprises. The following methods have particularly been applied: the general method of comparing followed by generalization — to specify and formalize the essence of the concept; correlation and regression analysis — to build multifactorial regression models, to calculate the predictable characteristics of leadership potential integral indicators for each subsystem, to determine the degree of leadership potential influence on the performance of SMB; the graphical-analytical method — to provide visual clarity of the material and schematic representation of some theoretical and practical provisions of the current study. In order to perform the complex analysis of the research results, the computer-aided data processing methods have been applied, performed via Microsoft Excel, STATISTICA software. The statistical materials of the State Statistics Service of Ukraine, official publications of international organizations, expert evaluations of rating agencies, monographs, fundamental scientific developments of Ukrainian and foreign authors, materials of scientific conferences, national and foreign publications, electronic resources on the Internet have been the information database of the current study [7—10].

Confocal laser endomicroscopy of head and neck squamous cellcarcinoma: a systematic review

Confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE), with a magnification of up to 1000 ×, offers the possibility to visualize intercellular spaces in vivo. CLE has already established itself in different disciplines. This article gives an overview of the current research on CLE in the diagnosis of the head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Systematic bibliographic research in the following online databases: PubMed, MEDLINE, Thompson Reuters Web of Science, SPIE using the following keywords: confocal laser endomicroscopy, CLE, endomicroscopy, head and neck, larynx. Evaluation of the scientific relevance according to defined criteria. All studies were analyzed concerning the clinical application, clinical findings, and computer-aided data processing. The recently published data suggest that CLE has a high potential to improve the diagnosis of malignant mucosal lesions in the upper aerodigestive tract.

Application of Field Survey and Graphic Language in Cultural Relics Building——Taking Liuzi Temple as an Example

This article is a comprehensive and in-depth study of the shape and cultural connotation of cultural relics to achieve the protection and utilization of cultural relics. Using modern measurement techniques and advanced equipment, such as laser range finder and electronic theodolite, traditional measurement methods such as leveling surveying and detailing surveying are used for Liuzi Temple to obtain a large amount of actual data. At the same time, the stone carvings, textures and murals of the Liuzi Temple were investigated through close-range photography. In addition, through computer-aided data processing, it is transformed into a graphical form to deeply analyze the Liuzi Temple, providing a reference for the basic data mapping of cultural relics.

Multidimensional Information-Based HPLC Technologies to Evaluate Traditional Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) are usually complex mixtures and contain hundreds of chemically different constituents, which make the quality control (QC) of crude drugs and their medical preparations extremely difficult. In the past years, with the rapid development of modern instrumental analysis and computer-aided data processing techniques, great progress has been made in the research of quality standards and the development of QC techniques. Among them, the use of the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) technique is one of the best approaches because of its high separation efficiency. However, one-way separation, single detection methods or data processing cannot meet the needs of the QC of TCMs. Multidimensional information-based HPLC technologies such as two-dimensional HPLC, HPLC coupled with several different detection methods and HPLC fingerprint combined with multicomponent quantification have solved this problem with their comprehensive analysis; these methods have gradually been accepted by more researchers for further in-depth study. The present work provides an overview of the development of QC for TCMs based on HPLC technologies with modern hyphenated techniques, multiseparation methods and some common data processing methods in fingerprint spectra over the last six years.

Half a Century of Computing in the Serbian Copper Mining and Metallurgy Industry

The Copper Mining and Smelting Complex Bor (RTB Bor) in the Republic of Serbia has a long history of computer control and computer-aided data processing. Working within the confines of the Cold War era, RTB implemented and developed four generations of computers, becoming a major influence in the IT sector and the primary computer training resource in the region.

Breast Image Registration and Deformation Modeling

Image-based examination of the breast facilitates the detection of breast diseases, particularly of present benign and malignant lesions. For computer-aided processing of serial and multimodal clinical data, both for visual correlation and quantitative analysis, automated image-registration methods are an indispensable tool. The wide range of modalities and the high variability of breast appearance have led to a large diversity of proposed approaches for tissue deformation modeling and image registration. In this article, we review current developments in breast image registration techniques, and comment on their clinical relevance, individual capabilities, and open challenges.

Tautomerism in structure-based 3D pharmacophore modeling

Tautomeric rearrangements on molecules lead to distinct equilibrated structural states of the same chemical compound, and evidently, have an impact on nearly all aspects of computer-aided chemical data processing [1] where the knowledge of the exact chemical structure is required (e.g. the calculation of chemical properties or interpretation of ligand-protein interactions). Although tautomerism is a well-known and well-documented phenomenon, it has long been disregarded in the field of drug design, which, as a consequence, leads to a possible misinterpretation of ligand binding interactions. Especially heuristic approaches, like structure-based pharmacophore modeling, are techniques that allow for consideration of several tautomeric forms, although this has not been done systematically by now. Recent approaches in the area of drug design mainly focus on virtual screening and tautomer enrichment of existing compound databases [2]. However, the effect of tautomerism in deriving interaction patterns within the protein-ligand complex (structure-based 3D pharmacophore modeling) has not yet been sufficiently addressed and thus leaves a wide and interesting field for future investigations. In the presented work various protein-ligand complexes have been studied where the tautomeric states of the ligand have a significant impact on derived 3D pharmacophores and the perception of binding modes, and also, tautomer-invariant pharmacophore patterns are introduced. Furthermore, an algorithm will be presented which enumerates all possible tautomers on both the receptor and ligand side under the constraints of a fixed active ligand conformation.

A method for the production and characterization of fractionated libraries from Chinese herbal formulas

High-throughput screening (HTS) for pharmaceutical leads requires sufficient number of samples with vast chemical diversity. In this paper, we proposed Chinese herbal formulas as an attractive source for HTS and introduced a strategy for the production of high-quality fractionated libraries. An offline two-dimension liquid chromatography protocol was developed to separate medium- and low-polar extract (MLPE) of Chinese herbal formulas, which implemented the production of semi-purified mixture libraries. HPLC coupled with diode-array detector (DAD) and mass spectrum (MS) analysis was performed to obtain MS and UV spectrum of library components. The detected components were characterized by retention, molecular weight and UV absorbance assisted by WiseProcessor, a customer-developed software to automatically process analytical data. Based on the current understanding in pathophysiology and pharmacology, multiple cell-based bioassays were performed to screening the library samples. Through validation and dereplication process, bioactive compounds could be identified rapidly. The combination of off-line two-dimension liquid chromatography separation, HPLC-DAD-MS analysis and computer-aided data processing is reliable and efficient for the utilization of Chinese herbal formulas as valuable sources for HTS. As a demonstration, a library sample set was generated from Qi-Xue-Bing-Zhi Formula, an efficient Chinese herbal formula to treat atherosclerosis. Several bioactive compounds were quickly identified from this library through the screening and dereplication process.

Biobanks as basis for personalised nutrition? Mapping the ethical issues.

Biobanks are defined as “collections of samples of human bodily substances (e.g., cells, tissue, blood, or DNA as the physical medium of genetic information) that are or can be associated with personal data and information on their donors. Biobanks have a twofold character, as collections of both samples and data [1]”. In this context, the terms “data” and “information” mean the (genetic) information of individuals obtained from these samples as well as health-related and life style-related information about these individuals. This linkage of material samples with personal data and information, the two-fold function of biobanks, is what makes these collections of samples so important. The subject of this article is biobanks that have been set up or that are used for research purposes. Biobanks that are operated for the purpose of transplantation medicine are not my subject here. Being a member of the German National Ethics Council that has written an opinion on biobanks for research, I will draw upon my work for and within the Council as well as on our opinion Biobanks for research. Procuring, storing, handling and utilizing human biological material and the associated personal data that were gathered with the samples constitute a long-standing practice. This practice, however, is currently undergoing considerable technological change due to the increasingly improved means available to molecular genetics. There is hope that it will be possible to establish correlations between genetic make-up and physical condition through the large-scale collection and comparison of human biological material and the personal data and information associated with it—correlations that could lead in the long term to valuable diagnostic and therapeutic knowledge and that could be also useful for pharmacogenomics and for nutrigenomics. It could also lead to insights into characteristics that are particular to specific groups, communities or populations. Thus, establishing (large) biobanks could be of decisive importance to the development of the life sciences, medicine and health care. Biobanks should serve both the well-being of individuals and the public interest. In addition to the developments seen in the molecular genetics field, another important aspect here is the continually improving means available for the computer-aided processing and electronic transmission of personal data and information. As a result of this technology, personal data and information have the status of existing independently in time and space, so to speak. Although this type of data is acquired from actual biological material, it can be disseminated and utilized rapidly and globally with the help of electronic media. In view of the information content of biobanks, we could also speak of biolibraries (“biotheques”), a term that is sometimes used in France, for instance by the French National Ethics Committee CCNE [2]. Biobanks are not just a source of hope for the future; they also trigger fear and distrust in people. The question arises, whether, to what extent and in what ways can biobanks affect fundamental rights of individuals or of communities and populations. I am defending the claim that biobanks require special regulation. What are the particular reasons for this need and what specific ethical and legal problems exist in this connection?

Modeling failure of geomaterials around a hole under internal pressure

The paper presents the deformation measurement procedure for granular materials by using step-by-step shooting of surface of a sample and the computer-aided data processing in the course of loading. Based on the procedure, the results of laboratory modeling of plastic flow and failure around a hole under internal pressure are considered.

Plotting the Temperature Field of Permafrost in the Foundation Bed of a Structure from Hole-Observation Data

A method is examined for the computer-aided processing of data derived from temperature observations in the foundation beds of engineering structures, and its accuracy is assessed in an example of observations made in the foundation bed of an experimental building located in a proving ground established by the Scientific-Research Institute of Foundations and Underground Structures in Vorkuta.

Classification of Microbial Defects in Milk Using a Dynamic Headspace Gas Chromatograph and Computer-Aided Data Processing. 2. Artificial Neural Networks, Partial Least-Squares Regression Analysis, and Principal Component Regression Analysis

Objective, yet cost-effective evaluation of flavor is difficult in quality control of milk. Inexpensive gas chromatographs in conjunction with computer models make it feasible to construct an objective flavor evaluation system for routine quality control purposes. The purpose of this study was to classify milk with microbial off-flavors using a low-cost headspace gas chromatograph and computer-aided data processing. Principal component similarity (PCS) analysis was discussed in part 1. In part 2, artificial neural networks (ANN), partial least-squares regression (PLS) analysis, and principal component regression (PCR) analysis are examined. UHT milk was inoculated with various bacteria (Pseudomonas fragi, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Lactococcus lactis, Enterobactor aerogenes, and Bacillus subtilis) and a mixed culture (P. fragi:E. aerogenes:L. lactis = 1:1:1) to approximately 4.0 log10 CFU mL-1. ANN were able to make better predictions than PLS and PCR. The prediction ability of PLS was better than PCR. The ...

Classification of Microbial Defects in Milk Using a Dynamic Headspace Gas Chromatograph and Computer-Aided Data Processing. 1. Principal Component Similarity Analysis

There is a need for reliable objective tests for the detection of off-flavors of milk, some of which are caused by bacteriological growth. The objective of the study was to distinguish abnormal from normal milk samples using a low-cost headspace gas chromatograph and principal component similarity analysis. UHT-sterilized milk was inoculated with Pseudomonas fragi, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Bacillus subtilis, Enterobactor aerogenes, Lactococcus lactis, and a mixed culture (P. fragi:E. aerogenes:L. lactis = 1:1:1) to approximately 4.0 log10 CFU mL-1. The samples were stored at 4 °C for 10 days for P. fragi and P. fluorescens and 30 °C for 24 h for the remaining bacteria. A new multiavariate analysis technique, principal component similarity analysis, was capable of distinguishing milk samples inoculated with P. fragi, P. fluorescnes, L. lactis, E. aerogenes, and a mixed culture from uninoculated samples. Keywords: Dynamic headspace gas chromatography; principal component similarity analysis; mulivariate ana...

Development of innovative indentation system and its application to cyclic ball indentation test for small-sized specimens

An innovative indentation system has newly been developed with major features of precise measurements of load and profile of indentations, a wide range of load and test temperature, setting of two indenters, automatically controlled operations with various patterns and computer aided data processing. The system was applied to the cyclic ball indentation test for small-sized specimens. Since the test results showed poor reproducibility, improvements of the test technique have been made. Results of the improved test on FeMnCuC and Al3 at.% Mg alloys to evaluate stress-strain curves, strain-hardening exponents, strength coefficients and yield strengths as a function of heat treatment are shown in comparison with tensile test results. It is also presented that cracks occur around indents, which is the first to observe in the ball indentation test of metals. Empirical relationships between the critical strain, ε c at which the crack formation may start and the uniform elongation, ε u or the fracture strain, ε f are shown.

Recording the Corpus Cavernosum Electromyogram: Principles and Problems

Purpose To apply digital signal acquisition and analyzing techniques to the collection and interpretation of electromyographic data of the cavernous body. Materials and Methods Electromyographic recordings were performed in the cavernous bodies of anesthetized, spontaneously breathing dogs under resting conditions and after intracavernous pharmacostimulation with norepinephrine, angiotensin II, phentolamine/papaverine, diethylether and T61. Results Resting corpus cavernosum activity was ill-coordinated and provided little information. Signal energy was confined largely to the range below 20 Hz. Pharmacostimulation with norepinephrine or angiotensin increased frequency and amplitude of the potential transients and decreased the random components. Administration of a combination of phentolamine and papaverine made the signals very regular and increased periodicity. Blockade of electrical membrane events with diethylether removed all signal components except for electrical and biological noise. Conclusions Our findings indicate that electromyograms from the corpus cavernosum can be recorded even under adverse conditions. Signal properties, however, are such that the application of computer-aided data processing and analysis to the evaluation of these myograms is imperative.

Quantitative analysis of multiple V-region interactions among normal human IgG.

There is to date no quantitative method for scoring putative V-region interactions among serum antibodies, and the available qualitative techniques are not amenable to routine utilization. This deficit may explain the paucity of observations on the characteristics of the immune network, in contrast with the multiplicity of phenomenological descriptions on idiotype regulation. We describe here a novel methodology that uses isoelectric focusing (IEF) to resolve human F(ab')2 preparations from large pools of normal serum IgG into multiple bands, and computer-aided data processing to analyze interactions between the resulting blotted proteins and normal serum IgG from individual donors. Our results show that in all normal human sera tested, there are IgG-mediated interactions with a large number of IEF fractions of human F(ab')2. These interactions are V region specific, as assessed by inhibition experiments and by lack of binding of IgG monoclonal antibodies, and are characterized by average affinities that are in the micromolar range, as measured by surface plasmon resonance.

Seismic Observation Networks in Japan.

More than five hundred permanent stations are included in seismic observation networks in Japan. Those observation stations belong to a numbers of networks; the nation-wide network operated by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), and subregional to local networks operated by national universities and other institutions, including the National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention (NIED). Most of the non-JMA networks were established under the national program for earthquake prediction, which began in 1965. The JMA network has history of more than 100 years, and it now includes about 190 stations which are equipped with both short- and/or intermediate-period seismometers. The other networks, for the most part, are instrumented by highly sensitive short-period seismometers typically with a natural period of 1.0s. Almost all of the networks are linked by digital telemetry, and are supported by a computer-aided data processing systems which execute seismogram reading and hypocenter determination automatically or semi-automatically. The networks of national universities are basically independent of one another, but they carry out on-line and off-line exchange of observation data to some extent. Currently, the earthquakes occurring in Japan are uniformly located down to magnitude 3.0 except for the Ryukyu region by the JMA network, and down to magnitude 2.0 except for northern Hokkaido and Kyushu-Ryukyu arc by integrating data from the university networks. A total of about ninety thousand hypocenters per year are located by Japanese seismic networks.

The 1991 Max Jakob Memorial Award Lecture: Image-Forming Optical Techniques in Heat Transfer: Revival by Computer-Aided Data Processing

Increasing possibilities of computer-aided data processing have fostered a revival of image-forming optical techniques in heat and mass transfer as well as in fluid dynamics. Optical measuring techniques can provide comprehensive and detailed information on the formation of phase interfaces, particle movement, or the size distribution of droplet swarms. Holographic interferograms contain full information, not only about boundary layers restricting transport processes, but also on local coefficients of heat and mass transfer. Laser-induced fluorescence promotes a better understanding of combustion processes by conveying insights into the concentration and the temperature in and around a flame. For describing complicated phenomena in fluid dynamics or in heat transfer by computer programs, global experimental information is not sufficient. Optical techniques provide local data without disturbing the process and with a high temporal resolution. By using the results of optical measuring techniques, it is possible to improve computer programs that describe physical processes. Optical techniques are also very sensitive touchstones for checking the quality of such programs.

Statistical characteristics of an integrated oceanographic data processing system

Integration of special- and general-purpose application packages is considered as an efficiency improving technique, A package integration system is defined and its statistical characteristics are computed. Parallel and sequential package integration systems are analyzed. A real-life system, developed on the basis of sequential integration principles is described. This is a computer-aided oceanographic data processing system for the ES OS environment, which includes preprocessing and data preparation programs, a number of special-purpose application packages, and interfaces between these packages.