Suitability For Automation Research Articles

Which clinical decisions benefit from automation? A task complexity approach

Objective: To describe a model for analysing complex medical decision making tasks and for evaluating their suitability for automation. Method: Assessment of a decision task's complexity in terms of the number of elementary information processes (EIPs) and the potential for cognitive effort reduction through EIP minimisation using an automated decision aid. Results: The model consists of five steps: (1) selection of the domain and relevant tasks; (2) evaluation of the knowledge complexity for tasks selected; (3) identification of cognitively demanding tasks; (4) assessment of unaided and aided effort requirements for this task accomplishment; and (5) selection of computational tools to achieve this complexity reduction. The model is applied to the task of antibiotic prescribing in critical care and the most complex components of the task identified. Decision aids to support these components can provide a significant reduction of cognitive effort suggesting this is a decision task worth automating. Conclusion: We view the role of decision support for complex decision to be one of task complexity reduction, and the model described allows for task automation without lowering decision quality and can assist decision support systems developers.

Simple and broadly applicable sample preparation by use of magnetic glass particles.

A key issue in nucleic acid-based assays related to infectious disease testing and genetic testing is the sample preparation. This has to be convenient, efficient and suitable for automation. We describe a new method based on the use of glass magnetic particles. The steps involved are the lysis of bacterial cells and viral particles by chaotropic salts, binding of released nucleic acids to the magnetic glass particles, the removal of inhibitors and the release of purified nucleic acids ready for PCR amplification. The method fulfills most of the requirements for sample preparation such as sensitivity, universality and suitability for automation.

Derivatization reactions for the determination of aflatoxins by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection.

Various derivatization methods for the fluorometric detection of aflatoxins after separation by HPLC are reviewed. In normal-phase chromatography the sensitivity for aflatoxins B1 and B2 was improved by using special mobile phases or a flow cell packed with silica-gel particles. In the nowadays more popular reversed-phase methods, the fluorescence intensity of B1 and G1 can be increased by precolumn derivatization with trifluoroacetic acid or by postcolumn derivatization with iodine or bromine. Optimum conditions for the reactions are discussed. In terms of sensitivity, the three derivatization schemes give similar results. The methods are compared with respect to experimental convenience, selectivity, reproducibility and suitability for automation.

Sensitive amplified immunoenzymometric assays (IEMA) for human insulin and intact proinsulin.

Immunoenzymometric assays (IEMAs) for human insulin and intact proinsulin were developed using the amplification system developed by Johannsson et al. (Clin. Chim. Acta 148 (1985) 119-124) for the detection of the enzyme alkaline phosphatase. The detection limit of the assays was 0.8 pmol/l for proinsulin and 0.8 pmol/l for insulin whereas it was 1.8 pmol/l and 2.3 pmol/l respectively for the homologous immunoradiometric assays (IRMA). These assays are superior to immunoradiometric assays in terms of sensitivity, shelf-life of the labelled antibody and suitability for automation.

New option in capillary zone electrophoresis: Use of a transient ionic matrix (dynamic pulse)

A method which allows the separation possibilities of capillary zone electrophoresis and zone electrophoresis to be improved and extended is described. The analyte, injected into the primary electolyte and migrating from the injection point to the detector, passes during this migration through the zone of a transient ionic matrix which separates selectively some of the components, and before detection (the analyte) returns to the primary electrolyte. The zone of the transient ionic matrix also migrates through the separation column (in the demonstrated cases in the direction from the detector to the sampling point) and both its composition and effective time can easily be changed in order to attain complete separation of all components as well as the minimum separation time. The transient ionic matrix may be advantageously formed by solvolytic (H +, OH −) and/or complex forming ions. This method extends the working p K a of weak acids or bases separated in one analysis, i.e., it enables single stage analyses which are not normally realizable. The advantages of the method are its speed, its suitability for automation and its perfect quantitative interpretation of the record (detection always proceeds in the original background electrolyte). It is in principle also possible to use more than one type of transient ionic matrix in a single analysis.

Mass spectrometric techniques as aids in the diagnosis of gangrene in potatoes caused by Phoma exigua var. foveata

Current diagnosis of gangrene in potato tubers, caused byPhoma exigua var.foveata, is based on isolation and identification of the causal organism or on thin-layer chromatographic (TLC) detection of the anthraquinone pigment pachybasin (1-hydroxy-3-methylanthraquinone). In this paper alternative diagnostic approaches are described based on detection of specific ions by pyrolysis mass spectrometry (Py-MS), direct probe mass spectrometry (DIP-MS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The advantages and disadvantages of these methods are discussed in comparison with the TLC approach. GC-MS is a promising technique because of its high specificity, sensitivity and suitability for automation. Moreover, the MS approaches may lead to a reduction of total expertise time.

New techniques for the digestion of biological materials — application to the determination of tin, iron and lead in canned foods

SummaryA new technique for the digestion of biological materials has been developed and this has been applied to the determination of trace metals in canned foods. It is based on sample digestion in concentrated acid under pressure in a disposable polystyrene container. The digest can be analysed directly by atomic absorption or plasma emission and has the advantages of simplicity, high sensitivity (low blank value), rapid batch sample throughout rate, economy and suitability for automation. Various foods have been classified empirically into three groups on the basis of the ease with which they can be decomposed chemically to a form suitable for analysis. After classification, preparation follows one of two different procedures depending on the elements to be determined.The system has been verified for tin, iron and lead by comparison with other more conventional procedures.

Measurement of serum ferritin by a 2-site immunoradiometric assay

A 2-site immunoradiometric assay (2-site IRMA) for human serum ferritin is carried out by reaction of the ferritin solution with a solid-phase anti(human ferritin), followed by a second reaction in which the insoluble product is incubated with purified, radioactively labeled anti(human ferritin). Unreacted labeled antibodies remain in solution and are washed away. As the amount of ferritin increases, the radioactivity in the solid-phase increases. Factors affecting the assay were evaluated including (a) concentration and stability of solid-phase antibody, (b) variation in temperature, reaction times, and reagent concentrations, (c) stability and storage of antibody coated tubes, (d) effect of tube washing cycles, (e) effect of serum proteins and anticoagulants, (f) organ specificity of ferritin. A paradoxical fall in dose-response was seen at high dose. Statistical analysis, dose interpolation, and automatic data processing were carried out by a generalization of the logit/log method and computer programs used in conventional radioimmunoassay. The dependence of the variance on the position on the dose-response curve is different than that seen in radioimmunoassay systems and is reflected in a greater effective assay range. 2-Site IRMA may also have advantages in reagent stability, specificity, antigen protection, and suitability for automation. The properties of 2-site IRMA are closely related to the usual IRMA assay system, but 2-site IRMA is more economical in antigen, is unlikely to be subject to deleterious allosteric reactions, and has a lower zero dose-response (0.5–2% of the total radioactivity in the system).

Liquid chromatography —columns or thin layers?

Recent progress in liquid chromatography has developed along two independent lines —thin-layer chromatography, in which the equipment is cheap, simple and easy to use; and the complex, expensive but more powerful technique of high-performance column chromatography, which has recently emerged as a logical extension of the theories and practices developed in gas chromatography. In this paper detailed comparison of the two lines is provided, with particular emphasis placed on cost of equipment, materials and analysis, resolving power, speed and simplicity of the techniqued, suitability for automation, accuracy, precision and sensitivity in quantitative analysis and effectiveness in qualitative analysis. It is concluded that the two techniques are comlplementary; there is a genuine need for both of them and the paper tries to define the areas in which each technique is particularly powerful.

Information transfer in reconstruction of data from sampled points

Evaluation of the fidelity of data, reconstructed from sampled points, particularly in digital form, appears to be still a crucial problem in photogrammetry and cartography. Of special interest is the coherent point sampling because of its suitability for automation. For the analysis of the information transfer in the sampling and reconstruction process an analytical approach has been devised. The concept of the analytical approach is based on the fact that input data can be represented by the Fourier series. The effect of sampling on the fidelity of reconstructed data can therefore be studied on sine waves. Typical for this approach is that the effects of sampling density and measuring errors can be evaluated separately. These two partial effects can be combined by mutual multiplication of the corresponding transfer ratios. For the purpose of planning the procedure is reversal of that applied in evaluation. The specifications for the output should be defined in suitable quantitative terms. The required density of sampling and measuring accuracy can then be established theoretically.