Use Of Software Tools Research Articles

Development of a combined audiovisual and extremity dose monitoring software tool for use in nuclear medicine

Conventional extremity dose monitoring in nuclear medicine, using thermoluminescent dosimeters, provides a convenient method of determining integral doses from a series of procedures. Although semiconductor extremity probes are able to add time information and allow doses from individual procedures to be determined, it can be difficult to relate individual operations to the dose-time curve. Solutions to this problem have been identified and developed. A novel software tool (Extremity Dose Information Package, EDIP) has been developed that uniquely combines and synchronizes two audiovisual and extremity probe data-streams. The value of this extra information was assessed by acquiring audiovisual and extremity dose information in nuclear medicine and radiopharmacy settings. The ability of the software tool to synchronize audiovisual and dose data-streams was verified. Preliminary studies of handling techniques in radiopharmacy and radioiodine administrations using this tool showed areas in which techniques could be adapted to reduce extremity doses, which would have been difficult or impossible to identify using the dose-time information alone. This low-cost multimedia extremity dose monitoring package can be used, for example, to aid staff training and pinpoint issues with current operating procedures within a clinical nuclear medicine department. Its unique ability to combine and synchronize audiovisual and dosimetry data is also likely to be of benefit to other industries handling unsealed radioactive materials.

A Trip Reconstruction Tool for GPS-based Personal Travel Surveys

ABSTRACT This article reports on the development of a trip reconstruction software tool for use in GPS-based personal travel surveys. Specifically, the tool enables the automatic processing of GPS traces of individual survey respondents in order to identify the road links traveled and modes used by each respondent for individual trips. Identifying the links is based on a conventional GIS-based map-matching algorithm and identifying the modes is a rule-based algorithm using attributes of four modes (walk, bicycle, bus and passenger-car). The tool was evaluated using GPS travel data collected for the study and a multi-modal transportation network model of downtown Toronto. The results show that the tool correctly detected about 79% of all links traveled and 92% of all trip modes.

Turkish – Ottoman Miniature Art Within the Context of Electronic Information Design Education

The article firstly examines the techniques of miniature art, and attempts to identify those which can serve as an inspiration for artistic aspects of today’s information design in the electronic environment. It also brings forward the idea whether miniature art could be used in our existing new media education models and finally answers the research question: does student really learn something from ‘technology practice’ in the design work using both minimalistic approach of miniature art and interactive media as high-end representation technique? We believe that the answers to above research question will help especially technology educator involved with design, to think what they need to improve students? creativity in parallel with teaching the use of software tools and programming.

Software selection: towards an understanding of forensic software tool selection in industrial practice

As a result of the increasing importance of the forensic examination of computer systems, numerous forensic software tools have appeared in the market. The selection of such tools is an important technical and strategic business decision that may have serious legal implications. This paper examines the main issues surrounding the selection of forensic software tools for use by computer forensic investigators pursuing digital evidence as part of an organisational, civil or criminal investigation. The primary objective of this research was to develop a set of characteristics which highlight the main technical and non-technical selection issues and their relative significance in explaining the selection of a particular forensic software tool in industrial practice. This paper presents the results of interviews with commercial forensic investigators in order to assess their attitudes, opinions and experience in making tool selection decisions. In addition a model is developed which describes the main discriminating selection criteria.

Functional Modelling in Secondary Schools Using Spreadsheets

During the last decade we developed a didactical concept for a mandatory, dedicated subject “informatics” at secondary schools. The proposed teaching approach combines modelling techniques with the use of software tools and programming languages. This paper is focussed on the part of the concept which applies functional modelling on a spreadsheet from a “black box” point of view. The course of lessons starts with the introduction of data flow diagrams which is motivated by the need of a “divide and conquer” strategy in order to describe and structure complex systems. As soon as the students are able to apply data flow diagrams, they start to simulate some data flow diagrams with specific properties using spread sheets. The first step towards the spreadsheet is transforming the diagrams into terms, which consist exclusively of functions that are offered by the used program in a “ready made” way. Thus we combine the benefit of modelling abilities (e.g., education towards strategic planning or proper description of complex systems) with the training of user skills on important and widespread office software tools. The described concept was accepted by the Bavarian government as part of the new mandatory subject “informatics” in Bavarian Gymnasiums (400 secondary schools which prepare to University) and will be taught there in the 9th grade (age 14–15 years) starting in 2007. Currently it is used in an experimental phase at about 40 schools.

What learners use and how they react

This paper outlines the findings of a two-year evaluation of learner use of software tools in a multimedia software package for teaching Indonesian listening comprehension and culture. This software package was introduced into the Introductory language program to help address the need of total beginners for exposure to native speakers using daily language in ordinary ways, on common, everyday topics. The package is designed to introduce, develop, and reinforce appropriate learning strategies at the same time. Data on learner perceptions of the ease of use, and appropriateness of the software interface were investigated, in order to improve our understandings of the perceptions and reactions of novices compared to experienced users of multimedia software packages. This investigation includes an analysis of the differences in strategy use between high, medium and low proficiency learners, and their use of the software Help tools such as grammar reference notes, language laboratory simulation, replay facility, and mid-task answer checking.

RHIC control system

The RHIC control system architecture is hierarchical and consists of two physical layers with a fiber-optic network connection. The Front-End Level systems consist of VME chassis with processors running a real-time operating system and both VME I/O modules and remote bus interfaces. Accelerator device software interfaces are implemented as objects in C++. The network implementation uses high speed, switched Ethernet technology. Specialized hardware modules were built for waveform control of power supplies, multiplexed signal acquisition, and timing services. The Console Level systems are Unix workstations. A strong emphasis has been given to developing highly reusable, standard software tools for use in building physics and diagnostic application software.

Disaggregating and calibrating the CASE tool variable in COCOMO II

CASE (computer aided software engineering) tools are believed to have played a critical role in improving software productivity and quality by assisting tasks in software development processes since the 1970s. Several parametric software cost models adopt "use of software tools" as one of the environmental factors that affects software development productivity. Several software cost models assess the productivity impacts of CASE tools based only on breadth of tool coverage without considering other productivity dimensions such as degree of integration, tool maturity, and user support. This paper provides an extended set of tool rating scales based on the completeness of tool coverage, the degree of tool integration, and tool maturity/user support. Those scales are used to refine the way in which CASE tools are effectively evaluated within COCOMO (constructive cost model) II. In order to find the best fit of weighting values for the extended set of tool rating scales in the extended research model, a Bayesian approach is adopted to combine two sources of (expert-judged and data-determined) information to increase prediction accuracy. The extended model using the three TOOL rating scales is validated by using the cross-validation methodologies, data splitting, and bootstrapping. This approach can be used to disaggregate other parameters that have significant impacts on software development productivity and to calibrate the best-fit weight values based on data-determined and expert-judged distributions. It results in an increase in the prediction accuracy in software parametric cost estimation models and an improvement in insights on software productivity investments.

Creating usable models for re‐usable data — managing electronic project specification information

Small architectural firms (those that employ less than six people) account for an estimated 4525 or 74% of the total number of practices in the UK (RIBA, 2000), and market research has shown that there is a poor uptake of existing project specification information technologies in this sector. We present the results of an analysis of the ways that small practices currently create, manage and communicate project specification information and an overview of our research into new models to support these processes. The research has focused on the creation and population of appropriate, re‐usable information models and we describe these in the context of other modelling initiatives in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry. The research has resulted in the definition of a large pool of domain specific data objects, which have the potential to provide a generic information resource for the industry. The Architectural Informatics Group, in conjunction with the National Building Specification (NBS), have implemented the results of this research through the development of a new commercial software tool for use in small design practices in the UK.

Evaluation of human postures with computer aids and virtual workplace designs

Traditional workplace design and redesign, based on the results of ergonomics evaluations, are time-consuming and often unfeasible in industry. Computeraided workplace design simplifies the analysis of postures and allows a far greater level of detail to be incorporated into the analysis. Several such techniques have been developed including computer-aided video analysis and a postural analysis software tool for use with a man-model. The benefits and limitations of the techniques, and four applications are presented. The techniques provide a high level of postural and temporal detail. Postural analysis can be related to the joint range of motion (ROM) of the operator or to the population ROM. The time required to perform ergonomics analyses of workplaces is shortened using these techniques and it is possible to consider more workplace configurations and design changes while the workplace is still in the virtual design stage, thus reducing the risk of ergonomics problems occurring later on. It forms a necessary part of an integrated process needed for a concurrent engineering approach to work system design.

Una arquitectura de software para la gestión de historias clínicas electrónicas soportada en tecnologías web

Among the activities that it comes carrying out, the CORBA-OSM group has assumed the development of some degree projects that explore the potential of Web technologies. The supported management system of Electronic Clinical Histories in Web Technologies is an application that looks for to outline a possible support to the treatment and administration of the clinical histories inside a Institucion Prestadora de Servicios de Salud (IPS), specifically in the mark of the general medical consultation or external consultation, by means of the use of software tools that rotate around the WEB, such as: Java, JSP (Java Server Pages), XML (Extensible Markup Language) and their related technologies.

Stock exchange game model as an example for graduate level distance studies

AbstractThis paper deals with the development of a Web‐based integrated system for distance graduate studies of theories of optimization, games, and markets, which is aimed to support core curriculum and to provide students with hands‐on experience on effective use of software tools. The main objective is to stimulate and develop creative abilities to work as independent researchers. This can be explained by detailed description of a typical example: the Stock Exchange Game Model (SEGM). That is the purpose of this paper. The web‐site http://mockus.org/optimum includes SEGM and accompanying models. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 10: 229–237, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae.10027

The Conflict between Prosecution and Defense in a Child Sexual Abuse Case and in an Attempted Homicide Case

Trials can be studied from different points of view. They can be examined linguistically, or viewed as drama, strategic interaction, or a kind of human communication. The purpose of what unfolds in a trial is that of monitoring the judge's impressions and inferences. Our present goal is to understand and illustrate what the public prosecutor does in order to achieve the prosecution's objective. In researching this paper, we made use of software tools to analyze transcripts and audio/video materials, which Guglielmo Gulotta-professor of psychology, practicing lawyer and strategiccommunication expert-uses in his second capacity, whereas for Angelo Zappalà(the former's assistant and advisee) they become a way of making sense of the phenomena investigated. Since all the actions of the former are inspired by his strategic-communication expertise, it is interesting to study them from the perspective of the latter author, who is not a lawyer, and therefore approaches the subject more empirically. This study focuses on: (1) a case where the alleged victim, a male child, was purportedly subjected to sexual abuse; (2) the defense of a business owner who, in order to dissuade some strikers who are picketing his factory, loads the hunting rifle but in the moment the hunting rifle fires it wounds two strikers, giving one of them a serious facial injury.1 In Case 1 to graphically represent the content and the manner of what has been advanced and argued by the defense counsel and by the prosecution-distinguishing between the types of evidence presented in court, and encoding the relationship between facts and how they combine to produce the argument as a whole-we resorted to the Wigmore notation (in its modified form as given by Robertson), and the Birnbaum notation. In these, information on the argument structure is represented formally, whereas the argument content is represented informally. In order to study the 'way' to speak of the defendant and the prosecutor we used the software package ERRATACORRIGE. In Case 2 we used DART,2 a computer program written in Common Lisp that implements the model of dialectical argumentation developed by K. Freeman and A. Farley (Computer and Information Science, University of Oregon, USA).

Balancing flexibility for the employer and the employee: a case study of the development of annualized hours employment contracts.

As with many forms of flexible working, Annualized Hours (AH) systems offer potential benefits to both the employer and the employee. However, the flexibility requirements of employers and employees often conflict. Therefore, when a large food manufacturing organization decided to redesign its AH system, it employed an independent consultancy to act as neutral third party. The consultancy provided technical expertise and assistance in developing an AH system that optimised productivity and was acceptable to the workforce. Data are presented, obtained from focus groups conducted throughout the organization, describing some of the potential difficulties of implementing an AH system. Drawing upon these data, a number of new AH systems were proposed and modelled using specialist software tools. The design process is described, together with the advantages and difficulties associated with use of the software tools. It is concluded that the key elements in the process of designing AH systems are centred around issues of trust and communication; the involvement of a broad range of interested parties, through a process of carefully managed group facilitation; and the need for adequate technical support in the development and evaluation of AH systems.

Website review: UK CropNet.

This review explores the UK CropNet site. The project is aimed at aiding the comparative mapping of cereal and other crop genomes. The site provides software tools for use by those working on genome mapping, and access to an array of databases that will be of interest to all members of the plant genomics research community, using several ACeDB interfaces. All screen views from the website are reproduced with the kind permission of Dr Sean May, Director, Nottingham Arabidopsis Stock Centre (NASC).

UK CropNet

This review explores the UK CropNet site. The project is aimed at aiding the comparative mapping of cereal and other crop genomes. The site provides software tools for use by those working on genome mapping, and access to an array of databases that will be of interest to all members of the plant genomics research community, using several ACeDB interfaces. All screen views from the website are reproduced with the kind permission of Dr Sean May, Director, Nottingham Arabidopsis Stock Centre (NASC).

Rehabilitation of water networks: Survey of research needs and on-going efforts

Several water utilities experience and expect a great future challenge due to shortage of water, economical constraints and ageing water supply networks. The current and expected amount of pipe bursts and leaks are important indicators on network condition. Documentation of network properties, failures and water leaks, therefore, are of crucial importance for an efficient management. The paper refers different ways of handling this scope in European countries and in North America. The use of statistical methods for estimating existing and future rehabilitation needs and the use of software tools for prioritising actions are discussed. Current development on technologies for detecting leaks and for measuring pipe wall thinning is commented. It is argued that there is still a knowledge gap, and that joint international research could be a way to improve the knowledge, create new technologies and improve the water network management. A possible frame for an international programme has been presented.

Teaching Technology

Traditionally, computer-based technology classes have been taught in lock-step fashion, moving from one software application to another, emphasizing mastery of specific skills. Although this method has proven effective, at least in relation to short-term use of software tools, new methods are emerging for creating learner-centered environments for teaching computer-based technologies to teachers. In this article, processes and techniques for teaching a technology course using a problem-centered, activity-based approach will be described. Rewards and issues will be discussed.

Software Tools for Use of Prior Knowledge in Design of LQG Adaptive Controllers

A systematic probabilistic approach to off-line design of LQG adaptive controllers can be supported by use of prior information in each design step. The prior information processing and its use is a relative new topic. The article contributes to understanding of the prior knowledge importance by a simulation case study. A toolbox ABET for MATLAB (MathWorks) is presented that makes it possible to carry out each step of design of adaptive controller with use of prior knowledge.

Maximising throughput of the component assembly process

This paper considers how the throughput of the component assembly process can be maximised by the use of software tools. Optimum results are achieved if the tools provide an automatic, detailed analysis of the assembly process while providing the engineer with the opportunity to use his experience to further enhance any automatically generated results. The tools must consider the assembly process as a whole, rather than each stage in the process independently, in order to gain maximum benefit. Finally, the tools must be flexible enough to be able to perform an accurate analysis for all assembly environments.