Use Of Computer-aided Research Articles

Inter- and intra-rater reliability of new application software for computerised paediatric version of Wisconsin Gait Scale

The paediatric version of Wisconsin Gait Scale (WGS) is a reliable tool for gait assessment in children with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy (CP). We decided to develop a solution which will make it possible to objectify the descriptive paediatric version of the WGS, and which, consequently, will allow researchers/clinicians to more easily perform accurate assessment of gait patterns in patients. The aim of the study was to assess inter- and intra-rater reliability of new application software for computerised paediatric version of the WGS in children with hemiplegic CP. The study involved 31 children with hemiplegic CP. The app was designed using a model based on thematic categories of the paediatric WGS, and utilising auxiliary lines between specific points on the patient’s body, and taking into account angular values, duration and length of the specific gait phases, in order to enable acquisition of quantitative data corresponding to the components of the WGS. The gait of the study participants was recorded, in series of videos. These provided material for three independent raters who reviewed the recordings twice and assessed the participants’ gait using the app. After the evaluation was completed, the data were retrieved from the software. The new application software for the computerised paediatric WGS presents very good inter- and intra-rater reliability. Intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) was very high in measurement 1 (ICC > 0.9) and 2 (ICC > 0.8), which reflects a very high degree of agreement between the three examiners; there was also high agreement for the specific examiners, between the two measurements (ICC > 0.9). The observational gait scale, objectified through the new software, and enabling computer-aided use of the paediatric WGS, presents practical advantages for examiners since it facilitates decisions taken in the process of WGS-based assessment in children with spastic hemiplegic CP.

Research on College English Teaching System Based on Computer Big Data

With the development and maturity of computer and multimedia technology, computer-aided teaching represents advanced teaching ideas and teaching methods. Computer-aided learning systems can dynamically generate personalized teaching content and strategies through intelligent system inferences. The diagnosis mechanism is used to judge the learning level of students and provide a favorable basis for teachers to adjust teaching content. Based on the advancement of the current English teaching reform, the use of computer aid has become a trend in English teaching. It analyzes the current design requirements of computer aided English teaching systems and designs a teaching system based on C++ and Windows. The results prove that based on C++ and Windows, the design and realization of computer-assisted English teaching cannot increase the actual teaching efficiency by 20%, and can also play the value of computer-assisted English teaching, improve the level of English teaching by 12.0%. The conclusion shows that in the design of computer-assisted English teaching system, the design system based on C++ and Windows can effectively improve the quality of computer-assisted English teaching and have a positive impact..

Secondary Repair of the Zygoma

AbstractSecondary deformities of the zygoma are a rare entity, thanks to the adoption and refinement of open reduction and internal fixation techniques. These injuries are often difficult to treat due to the unique structural, functional, and aesthetic properties of the zygoma. Purely cosmetic defects can often be managed with implants; however, functional deficits generally require mobilization, correction, and subsequent fixation of the defect(s). Performing the necessary osteotomies to mobilize the zygoma is the most crucial part of the procedure, and had traditionally been executed without the use of computer aids. Planning for and performing this step was very difficult and frequently resulted in unsatisfactory outcomes. Recent advancements in virtual mapping and planning have obviated the need for guesswork and have resulted in improved functional and aesthetic outcomes following repositioning. This article will discuss the use of implants, osteotomies, and computer-assisted design/modeling (CAD/CAM) in addressing secondary deformities of the zygoma.

A Low Cost Implementation of an Existing Hands-on Laboratory Experiment in Electronic Engineering

In engineering the pedagogical content of most formative programmes includes a significant amount of practical laboratory hands-on activity designed to deliver knowledge acquisition from actual experience alongside traditional face-to-face classroom based lectures and tutorials; this hands-on aspect is not always adequately addressed by current e-learning platforms.
 An innovative approach to e-learning in engineering, named computer aided engineering education (CAEE) is about the use of computer aids for the enhanced, interactive delivery of educational materials in different fields of engineering through two separate but related components; one for classroom and another for practical hands-on laboratory work. The component for hands-on laboratory practical work focuses on the use of mixed reality (video-based augmented reality) tools on mobile devices/platforms. 
 This paper presents the computer aided engineering education (CAEE) implementation of a laboratory experiment in micro-electronics that highlights some features such as the ability to closely implement an existing laboratory based hands-on experiment with lower associated costs and the ability to conduct the experiment off-line while maintaining existing pedagogical contents and standards.

Quantitative Assessment and Classification of Tissue-Based Biomarker Expression With Color Content Analysis

The use of computer aids has been suggested as a way to reduce interobserver variability that is known to exist in the interpretation of immunohistochemical staining in pathology. Such computer aids should be automated in their usage but also they should be trained in an automated and reproducible fashion. To present a computer aid for the quantitative analysis of tissue-based biomarkers, based on color content analysis. The developed system incorporates an automated algorithm to allow retraining based on the color properties of different training sets. The algorithm first generates a color palette containing the colors present in a training subset. Based on the palette, color histograms are derived and are used as feature vectors to a pattern recognition system, which returns an output proportional to biomarker continuous expression or a categorical classification. The method was evaluated on a database of HER2/neu digital breast cancer slides, for which expression scores from a pathologist panel were available. The system was retrained and evaluated on different transformations of the database, including compression, blurring, and changes in illumination, to examine its robustness to different imaging conditions frequently met in digital pathology. Results showed high agreement between the results of the algorithm and the truth from the pathologist panel as well as robustness to image transformations. The results of the study are encouraging for the potential of this method as a computer aid to assess biomarker expression in a consistent and reproducible manner.

A Quadratic Model for Combining Quantitative Diagnostic Assessments from Radiologist and Computer in Computer-Aided Diagnosis

Some computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) methods produce a quantitative diagnostic assessment (eg, likelihood of malignancy) based on computer image analysis that a radiologist who uses the computer aid must combine with his or her own assessment. Observer studies show that although CAD helps radiologists improve diagnostic performance, ad hoc use of computer aid can produce performance inferior to that of computer alone, indicating that radiologists are unable to incorporate computer assessment optimally into their final assessment. We describe a mathematical model for combining two correlated diagnostic assessments that may provide a basis for merging radiologists' ratings with computer assessments in a way that yields greater diagnostic accuracy than ad hoc merging by radiologists. We calculate a likelihood ratio from the bivariate binormal model that describes joint probability density functions of latent decision variables of two correlated diagnostic assessments. To the extent that the bivariate binormal model is valid and that the model's parameters can be estimated reliably, results obtained in this way will be optimal because the likelihood ratio is the decision variable used by the ideal observer in any two-group classification task. We evaluated this method on two observer study datasets and in Monte Carlo simulations. This method produced better performance than achieved by radiologists when they incorporated computer assessment in an ad hoc way. Simulations show that with a large number of cases, this method can produce results indistinguishable from the ideal observer performance. This method can potentially help radiologists use quantitative computed diagnostic assessments optimally, thereby surpassing the computer in accuracy.

Time-Overcurrent Relay Coordination: A Review

When two protective apparatus installed in series have characteristics, which provide a specified operating sequence, they are said to be coordinated or selective. The coordination of directional overcurrent relays poses serious problems in the modern complex power system networks, which are interconnected. Researchers have looked upon the problem of coordination from different considerations by making use of computer aids. Many efforts have been made to the automation of the coordination process in the area of relay coordination. This paper compiles the most of the significant developments in the area of time-overcurrent relay coordination using different techniques and methodologies. It is hoped that this work will be useful for future generation researchers to find the relevant references to advance the research work in future.

Potential of computer-aided diagnosis to reduce variability in radiologists' interpretations of mammograms depicting microcalcifications.

To evaluate whether computer-aided diagnosis can reduce interobserver variability in the interpretation of mammograms. Ten radiologists interpreted mammograms showing clustered microcalcifications in 104 patients. Decisions for biopsy or follow-up were made with and without a computer aid, and these decisions were compared. The computer was used to estimate the likelihood that a microcalcification cluster was due to a malignancy. Variability in the radiologists' recommendations for biopsy versus follow-up was then analyzed. Variation in the radiologists' accuracy, as measured with the SD of the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, was reduced by 46% with computer aid. Access to the computer aid increased the agreement among all observers from 13% to 32% of the total cases (P <.001), while the kappa value increased from 0.19 to 0.41 (P <.05). Use of computer aid eliminated two-thirds of the substantial disagreements in which two radiologists recommended biopsy and routine screening in the same patient (P <.05). In addition to its demonstrated potential to improve diagnostic accuracy, computer-aided diagnosis has the potential to reduce the variability among radiologists in the interpretation of mammograms.

Taguchi-Controlled Knowledge-Based Assistant for Improving Quality of Hollow Cylindrical Sections

Abrasive reaming has been successfully applied for internal finishing of cylindrical sections to produce highly accurate bore characteristics, i.e. diameter, cylindricity, surface finish, straightness and roundness. The process is an alternative to honing and cylindrical grinding whose mechanics are more complex and expensive. This success has, however, been manually orientated with little use of computer aids. To achieve a given bore geometry and maintain low scrap rates, a knowledge-based system may be used to optimise the reaming process. This paper proposes a generic knowledge-based system, called SAR using parameters which significantly influence the reaming process, identified from Taguchi-based experimental analysis. The main objective of the system is to determine process limits, detect uncontrollable situations, identify causes and suggest corrective actions, in order to achieve a better overall bore profile.

Metadata for units of measure in social science databases

Statistical social science databases present many unique data management problems. Among them is the fact that computer-aided use of statistical social science data is subject to serious but preventable errors in data manipulation and analysis, particularly given the increasing number of non-expert users. Two incremental prototype solutions to the problem of correctly manipulating units of measure when manipulating data are described. These implementations use rudimentary metadata representing measurement-theoretical and category attribute information to support error checking of data derivations common in research and reference using social science data. The specification of the metadata structures and the implementation of its processing is informed by relevant principles from literature in statistical and scientific data models, dimensional analysis, and knowledge representation with formal ontology. Design parameters useful in the effort to establish appropriate variable-level metadata specifications for social science databases used in digital environments are discussed. The integrated use of the proposed metadata appears to be a promising method of better supporting the manipulation and analysis of social science data. While measurement theoretical metadata has further application to the cataloging and retrieval of collections of statistical databases, the importance is argued of metadata for social science databases to serve users beyond these purposes.

Concepts in Submarine Design

This book explores the many engineering and architectural aspects of submarine design and how they relate to each other and the operational performance required of the vessel. Concepts of hydrodynamics, structure, powering and dynamics are explained, in addition to architectural considerations which bear on the submarine design process. The interplay between these aspects of design is given particular attention, and a final chapter is devoted to the generation of the concept design for the submarine as a whole. Submarine design makes extensive use of computer aids, and examples of algorithms used in concept design are given. The emphasis in the book is on providing engineering insight as well as an understanding of the intricacies of the submarine design process. It will serve as a text for students and as a reference manual for practising engineers and designers.

Engineering Design with a ‘User-fluent’ Finite Element Package: MECHANICA/Applied Structure

Abstract Low cost computing and ‘user-fluent’ (what used to be termed user-friendly) computer packages have led to widespread use of computer aids in engineering design. In stress or strain-limited design of engineering components with relatively complex geometries, finite element methods (FEMs) have been widely used. Older and more conventional FEM packages required careful formulation of the problem and considerable expertise in interpreting the results of stress or strain analyses. User-fluent FEM packages have attempted to de-skill the process, so to making FEM packages more accessible to a broader range of designers and applications. However, there are some dangers in de-skilling FEM technology, because of some of the special application-dependent constraints often not apparent to the novice user. This paper presents a comparative evaluation of a user-fluent FEM package, i.e. MECHANICA/Applied Structure, and compares some of its benchmark performances with theory and a more conventional FEM package, ...

Cognitive and sociotechnical issues in design for manufacturability

AbstractThe decision to invest in manufacturing is a complex problem. In the past engineers have often focused on the promises and possibilities of technologies, but failed to analyze issues related to human factors and organizational constraints. As a result, many investments have failed. This article reviews three problem areas where greater emphasis must be spent on human factors issues: (1) incorporation of human factors evaluation criteria in concurrent engineering, (2) use of computer aids to support the cognitive requirements of the design process, and (3) organizational impact of the introduction of computer systems for manufacturing, planning, and production. A planning model for manufacturing is proposed that unifies these problem areas.

The use of computer aids in IC technology evolution : Robert W. Dutton and Mark R. Pinto. Proc. IEEE74, 1730 (1986)

The use of computer aids in IC technology evolution : Robert W. Dutton and Mark R. Pinto. Proc. IEEE74, 1730 (1986)

The use of computer aids in IC technology evolution

Computer-aided analysis of integrated circuit devices has played a critical role for more than three decades of technology evolution. In the 1950s and early 1960s simulation was used extensively to characterize the operating principles of both bipolar and MOS devices. Bipolar effects such as base-width modulation and base pushout were characterized as well as MOS phenomena including gradual channel and channel-length modulation effects. During the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s simulation provided critical insight in the scaling of devices leading to the advent of very large scale integration (VLSI). Starting in the mid-1970s the modeling of fabrication technology became an important adjunct to device analysis. The need to control threshold and subthreshold behavior of scaled devices played a significant role in this synergistic coupling. Now in the mid-1980s the role of both device and process analysis have each come to new plateaus of both performance and utility. The scaling of submicrometer channel-length MOS devices poses a new set of constraints and challenges. This paper traces the evolution of computer-aided analysis over the past three decades. Unique aspects of the device physics and the role of device and process analysis at each phase of development will be presented. The progression from device conception towards stabilizing the technologies for large-scale product are presented. Problems of submicrometer technology including both production issues as well as new physical requirements for both process and device modeling will be dealt with, including the opportunity presented with the rapid advances in computer technology and the seemingly inevitable computational bottleneck posed by the growing needs for three-dimensional simulation.

CAE - a user's case history and reflections

Aish & Company is considered to be one of the leaders in the use of computer aids in engineering and was the first user demonstration company under the UK Department of Trade and Industry's CADCAM (now AMT) awareness programme. This article shares Aish's experience gained through the various stages of initial investigation, authorisation, implementation and development of CAD and CAE plans.

CAE—a user's case history and reflections

Aish &amp; Company is considered to be one of the leaders in the use of computer aids in engineering and was the first user demonstration company under the UK Department of Trade and Industry&apos;s CADCAM (now AMT) awareness programme. This article shares Aish&apos;s experience gained through the various stages of initial investigation, authorisation, implementation and development of CAD and CAE plans.

Design and innovation

A colloquium was organised by the Design Group [M1] of the IEE&apos;s Management and Design Division, and took place on the 9th February 1984 at the Institution of Electrical Engineers, Savoy Place, London. The papers of four contributors are presented. They deal with four aspects of design: central function, education, use of computer aids and cost. An outline of the Thorn EMI Ferguson TX project is given to illustrate how cost can be efficiently reduced by good design. A summarised discussion of the colloquium is given, which concludes with the fact that more information should be presented to engineers at the start of the design process.

Small-signal MOSFET models for analog circuit design

Presents first-order large-signal MOSFET models and derives corresponding small-signal models. The parameters of the small-signal models are related to operating-point bias and to the parameters of the IC process used to fabricate the device. The impact upon small-signal performance of many second-order effects present in small-geometry MOSFETs is explored. A representative analog circuit, fabricated with a 1 /spl mu/m feature-size NMOS technology, is analyzed using the small-signal models derived. Results of approximate analysis, without the use of computer aids, are compared with detailed computer simulation results.

1980 CANDE committee activities

The Computer Aided Network Design (CANDE) subcommittee of the Circuits and Systems Society was involved in a number of activities during 1980. These activities supported the basic charter of providing a forum for supporting the investigation and discussion of topics associated with the use of computer aids in the design, analysis, and verification of electrical circuit design with emphasis on LSI and VLSI circuits.