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Biomedical subjects

W Moran

Publications and source records attributed to W Moran.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Potential particulate impacts at the Grand Canyon from northwestern Mexico.

Project MOHAVE was a major air quality and visibility research program conducted from 1990 to 1999 to investigate the causes of visibility impairment in the Grand Canyon National Park region. At Meadview, a remote monitoring site just west of the Grand Canyon National Park, on September 1 and 2, 1992, the concentrations of sulfate (3.1 and 4.3 microg sulfate/m3) were the highest seen in 6 years of monitoring at this site. During this period, the concentrations of SO2 at Meadview were also abnormally high and approximately three times the sulfate concentrations, on a nmol/m3 basis. High concentrations of sulfate and SO2 extended south into southern Arizona and northwestern Mexico. Based on ambient atmospheric conditions, emissions from the Mohave Power Project (MPP) 110 km upwind of Meadview could not have been responsible for the majority of the regionally observed sulfur oxides. The geographical distribution of SO2 and sulfate, and available source information suggest that northwestern Mexico was a significant source of the unusually high observed sulfur oxides. A CMB model developed during Project MOHAVE was used to apportion sulfur oxides at Meadview and other sampling sites throughout the study region for August 31-September 2, 1992. The results indicate that the contribution of MPP to sulfate at Meadview was typical. However, the transport of SOx from northwestern Mexico was elevated throughout much of the region during this time period. This led to the large increase in sulfate concentrations at Meadview on September 1 and 2. These results indicate that emissions from Mexico can be a significant source of particulate material in the Grand Canyon.

Air Movements↗
PubMed1998

Application of fuzzy-classifier system to coronary artery disease and breast cancer.

This paper presents an application of a genetic-algorithm-based representation of fuzzy rules for the classification of coronary artery disease data and breast cancer data. The performance of this fuzzy classifier for classification of coronary artery disease and breast cancer data is evaluated. In this study the concept of fuzzy if-then has been applied of rules proposed by Ishibuchi et al. for a multi dimensional data classification problem which leads to higher classification power. The fitness value of each fuzzy if-then rule was determined by the numbers of correctly and wrongly classified training patterns for that rule. The classification power on real world data for coronary artery disease and breast cancer was thus demonstrated by computer simulations.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1995

Hydroxyurea with continuous infusion paclitaxel, 5-fluorouracil, and concomitant radiotherapy for poor-prognosis head and neck cancer.

Concomitant chemoradiotherapy holds promise in the therapy of advanced head and neck cancer. We have previously reported on the combination of 5-fluorouracil, hydroxyurea, and concomitant chemoradiotherapy administered on an alternate-week basis. In this ongoing study, we are testing the feasibility of adding continuous-infusion paclitaxel (Taxol; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Princeton, NJ) to this combination. Background information and early clinical data are presented.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMed1995

Biomedical image processing in pathology: a review.

Pathologists make a diagnostic decision by viewing a specimen and measuring various diagnostically important attributes of an isolated object such as size, shape, darkness, colour and texture. This is a complex process. In recent years, computer-aided image processing and analysis systems have played a significant role in quantitative pathology. This paper summarises basic image processing and analysis techniques and reviews related work in pathology and cytology based on computational image processing since 1987. Firstly, we present a general introduction to image enhancement, segmentation, morphometry and visualisation for those medical colleagues who may not have the necessary background in this area. (The mathematical treatment is kept to minimum and appropriate references are cited to satisfy the more mathematically oriented readers. Selected examples are provided to demonstrate the effects of various basic image processing algorithms on a MRI scan. It should be emphasised that the reviewed techniques are generally used as preprocessing steps in analysing microscopic images and powerful algorithms are more sophisticated and problem-specific.) Secondly, we review image cytometric and histometric methods, standards, calibration and applications. Finally, we touch upon three dimensional confocal image processing and analysis, applications of artificial neural networks, and optical disk database management for recording and retrieving a large number of digitised high resolution images. The development of integrated optical microscope and computer, systems is also briefly described.

Artificial Intelligence↗
PubMed1990

Spatial patterns of attendance at general practitioner services.

Geographical theory suggests that consumers will travel to the centre nearest to their residence which offers a particular service. This is a weak indicator of surgery attendance patterns in Gisborne, New Zealand. Nearby surgeries were attended, rather than the nearest available. Various attributes of the practices and the patients were examined to discover their influence on attendance patterns. The distribution of the practices themselves had a significant effect upon relative surgery attendance. Prior knowledge of services was particularly important in determining surgery selection and continued attendance. This accounted for the spatially unconstrained attendance of many Maori. Greater personal mobility enabled higher income households to travel further to attend. Conversely, the less mobile were spatially bounded.

Catchment Area, Health↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Clinic-based interventions to promote breast and cervical cancer screening.

BACKGROUND: Breast and cervical cancer continue to claim the lives of women. Early detection modalities for these cancers are available; however, utilization rates are far from optimal. Studies have documented the motivating effect that physician recommendations have on compliance with preventive health behaviors. The goal of this study was to develop and implement strategies to improve the use of cervical and breast cancer screening among African-American women age 40 and older who resided in low-income housing communities. METHODS: Baseline surveys among clinic providers and a random sample of women in the target population indicated areas to be included in intervention material. Community health center-based strategies included educational interventions for providers and patients, follow-up interventions for abnormal screening tests, and the implementation of a computer tracking system. Pap smear and mammogram utilization rates at the health center were tracked throughout the project period to assess the effect of the clinic-based interventions. RESULTS: Both Pap smear and mammography rates increased over time. Fifteen cases of breast cancer and 1 case of invasive cervical cancer have been detected. Compliance rates for follow-up for cervical dysplasia have increased from 50 to 90%. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that clinic-based interventions can improve the use of breast and cervical cancer screening and follow-up among low-income women.

Adult↗