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At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources

Measurement of facial movement with computer software.

OBJECTIVE: To adapt desktop computer software to objectively grade facial movement. DESIGN: The criteria of the facial nerve grading system by House and Brackmann, the current "gold standard," are prone to ambiguous interpretation. Proposed objective grading systems compare the movement of points on each side of the face or use subtraction and thresholding of digitized images of the face to yield images that represent moving areas of the face. The movement of a point on the face and the area of motion determined by digital subtraction were compared during an increasing smile in healthy subjects. The Nottingham system (calculated using measurement of the movement of 4 points on the face) using desktop computer software (Adobe Photoshop 3.0, Adobe Systems Inc, Mountain View, Calif) to measure movement of the points was compared with the system by House and Brackmann. The computer software was used to subtract digitized images and derive a facial movement score, which was compared with the scores of the systems by Nottingham and House and Brackmann. SETTING: Academic otologic practice. STUDY PARTICIPANTS: Nine patients with varying degrees of facial nerve disability and 7 individuals with normal facial nerve function. RESULTS: The movement of the oral commissure compared with the apparent area of movement of the face determined by digital subtraction had high intersubject variability. In patients with facial weakness, the Nottingham score had a correlation coefficient of -0.97 compared with the House and Brackmann grade, and the digital subtraction score had a correlation coefficient of -0.62 (paired Student t test). CONCLUSIONS: The desktop computer software can be used to calculate the Nottingham score. Digital subtraction as a measure of facial function warrants further study.

CD-ROM↗

Melanie II--a third-generation software package for analysis of two-dimensional electrophoresis images: II. Algorithms.

After two generations of software systems for the analysis of two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) images, a third generation of such software packages has recently emerged that combines state-of-the-art graphical user interfaces with comprehensive spot data analysis capabilities. A key characteristic common to most of these software packages is that many of their tools are implementations of algorithms that resulted from research areas such as image processing, vision, artificial intelligence or machine learning. This article presents the main algorithms implemented in the Melanie II 2-D PAGE software package. The applications of these algorithms, embodied as the feature of the program, are explained in an accompanying article (R. D. Appel et al.; Electrophoresis 1997, 18, 2724-2734).

Algorithms↗

CreateTarget and Analyze This!: new software assisting imaging mass spectrometry on Bruker Reflex IV and Ultraflex II instruments.

Two new software programs are presented which enable matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation imaging mass spectrometry (MALDI-IMS) on Bruker Reflex and Ultraflex instruments. The first program, CreateTarget, creates a high density raster with the dimensions of the tissue section, and converts these parameters into a virtual target plate file that can be imported in the normal mass spectrometer control software. Following automated spectrum acquisition, the second program, Analyze This!, converts the array of spectra into an Analyze 7.5 image format that can be read by image analysis software. These two tools are sufficient to allow IMS, and offer a valid alternative to commercially available software. CreateTarget and Analyze This! are available free of charge.

Animals↗

AVS software for visualization in molecular microscopy.

AVS (Application Visualization System) is commercially available software for analyzing and viewing data. AVS is primarily used in the physical sciences and engineering, and here we describe the application of AVS for examining three-dimensional density maps generated by electron microscopy and image processing. For this purpose, AVS can be applied with relative ease, even though the software is indeed quite sophisticated. The primary advantage is that visualization applications can be generated by combining software components, called modules, into executable flow networks. Simple networks are described for generating ribbon diagrams of macromolecules, surface-shaded views, and contour maps. Easy to use dials, bar sliders, and buttons provide tremendous versatility for real-time manipulation of isosurface values, depth cueing, view orientation, size, and animation. In addition, AVS supplies a framework for building new modules in C or FORTRAN. Modules for excavation and cropping provide tools that are particularly useful for extracting segments of a map and for examining maps of supramolecular complexes such as viruses. We describe a number of modules we have designed for analysis of three-dimensional data sets, as well as modules for importing image data from other software packages into AVS. We also describe xformat, a stand-alone file conversion utility designed to allow import of a variety of image and map file formats into AVS.

Capsid↗

3-D TOP-A software package for the topological analysis of image sequences.

The software package 3-D TOP is a measurement software which has been developed to meet the needs of those who analyze mechanical serial sections in histology and optical sections in laser scanning microscopy. The semiautomatic definition of topological centerlines is the backbone of this software. The three basic advantages in using the concept of topology are (a) resolving ambiguities for surface rendering, (b) flexible definition of objects for automatic identification, labeling, and measurement, and (c) topological quantification of complex forms. A specific application of this software to lung research is demonstrated.

Animals↗

Software tools and databases for bacterial systematics and their dissemination via global networks.

The dynamic expansion of the taxonomic knowledge base is fundamental to further developments in biotechnology and sustainable conservation strategies. The vast array of software tools for numerical taxonomy and probabilistic identification, in conjunction with automated systems for data generation are allowing the construction of large computerised strain databases. New techniques available for the generation of chemical and molecular data, associated with new software tools for data analysis, are leading to a quantum leap in bacterial systematics. The easy exchange of data through an interactive and highly distributed global computer network, such as the Internet, is facilitating the dissemination of taxonomic data. Relevant information for comparative sequence analysis, ribotyping, protein and DNA electrophoretic pattern analysis is available on-line through computerised networks. Several software packages are available for the analysis of molecular data. Nomenclatural and taxonomic 'Authority Files' are available from different sources together with strain specific information. The increasing availability of public domain software, is leading to the establishment and integration of public domain databases all over the world, and promoting co-operative research projects on a scale never seen before.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

[Electronic data processing in the hospital: current status, options, "branch packets", customer-specific software and users' needs].

Data management in hospitals used to be the data management of the hospital-management in the last 15 years, not however the data management the doctors performed. The acceptance for electronic means slowly rising more software is used in the clinics today but still by the doctors privately. Software specialists have registered the growing market available for their products. That is why the danger to accept even unusuable software rises every day, as unexperienced software-beginners as doctors mostly are often relied on offers without being told about their dignity and usefulness.

Electronic Data Processing↗

Introduction to microcomputer hardware and software.

Although general purpose computers have been available for more than 40 years, the dramatic plunge in the cost of electronics in the past 10 years has finally made significant computing power affordable to almost anyone. However, a large number of people including professionals have little idea of how a computer really works or what it can and cannot do. Presented here is an introduction to the hardware and software of microcomputers which assumes no working knowledge of electronics or programming. The fundamental pieces of a microcomputer are explained, giving some insight into the reasons why present microcomputers are built the way they are. This is followed by a discussion of the fundamentals of how software is used to make the hardware compute. The various levels of software are discussed, then the most commonly used types of user application software are described, and finally some suggestions are made on how to choose a personal computer.

Computer Communication Networks↗

"WWW.MDTF.ORG": a World Wide Web forum for developing open-architecture, freely distributed, digital teaching file software by participant consensus.

PURPOSE: To foster a community supported evaluation processes for open-source digital teaching file (DTF) development and maintenance. The mechanisms used to support this process will include standard web browsers, web servers, forum software, and custom additions to the forum software to potentially enable a mediated voting protocol. The web server will also serve as a focal point for beta and release software distribution, which is the desired end-goal of this process. CONCLUSIONS: We foresee that www.mdtf.org will provide for widespread distribution of open source DTF software that will include function and interface design decisions from community participation on the website forums.

Computer Systems↗

Surgical planning of total hip arthroplasty: accuracy of computer-assisted EndoMap software in predicting component size.

PURPOSE: The purpose of our study was to assess the accuracy of a computer-assisted templating in the surgical planning of patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty utilizing EndoMap software (Siemans AG, Medical Solutions, Erlangen, Germany). Endomap Software is an electronic program that uses DICOM images to analyze standard anteroposterior radiographs for determination of optimal prosthesis component size. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the preoperative radiographs of 36 patients undergoing uncomplicated primary total hip arthroplasty, utilizing EndoMap software, Version VA20. DICOM anteroposterior radiographs were analyzed using standard manufacturer supplied electronic templates to determine acetabular and femoral component sizes. No additional clinical information was reviewed. Acetabular and femoral component sizes were assessed by an orthopedic surgeon and two radiologists. Mean and estimated component size was compared with component size as documented in operative reports. RESULTS: The mean estimated acetabular component size was 53 mm (range 48-60 mm), 1 mm larger than the mean implanted size of 52 mm (range 48-62 mm). Thirty-one of 36 acetabular component sizes (86%) were accurate within one size. The mean calculated femoral component size was 4 (range 2-7), 1 size smaller than the actual mean component size of 5 (range 2-9). Twenty-six of 36 femoral component sizes (72%) were accurate within one size, and accurate within two sizes in all but four cases (94%). CONCLUSION: EndoMap Software predicted femoral component size well, with 72% within one component size of that used, and 94% within two sizes. Acetabular component size was predicted slightly better with 86% within one component size and 94% within two component sizes.

Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip↗

Use of 3D imaging in CT of the acute trauma patient: impact of a PACS-based software package.

To evaluate the impact of a picture archiving and communication systems (PACS)-based software package on the requests for 3D reconstructions of multidetector CT (MDCT) data sets in the emergency radiology of a level 1 trauma center, we reviewed the number and type of physician requests for 3D reconstructions of MDCT data sets for patients admitted after sustaining multiple trauma, during a 12-month period (January 2003-December 2003). During the first 5 months of the study, 3D reconstructions were performed in dedicated workstations located separately from the emergency radiology CT interpretation area. During the last 7 months of the study, reconstructions were performed online by the attending radiologist or resident on duty, using a software package directly incorporated into the PACS workstations. The mean monthly number of 3D reconstructions requested during the two time periods was compared using Student's t test. The monthly mean +/- SD of 3D reconstructions performed before and after 3D software incorporation into the PACS was 34+/-7 (95% CI, 10-58) and 132+/-31 (95% CI, 111-153), respectively. This difference was statistically significant (p<0.0001). In the multiple trauma patient, implementation of PACS-integrated software increases utilization of 3D reconstructions of MDCT data sets.

Emergency Service, Hospital↗

OsiriX: an open-source software for navigating in multidimensional DICOM images.

A multidimensional image navigation and display software was designed for display and interpretation of large sets of multidimensional and multimodality images such as combined PET-CT studies. The software is developed in Objective-C on a Macintosh platform under the MacOS X operating system using the GNUstep development environment. It also benefits from the extremely fast and optimized 3D graphic capabilities of the OpenGL graphic standard widely used for computer games optimized for taking advantage of any hardware graphic accelerator boards available. In the design of the software special attention was given to adapt the user interface to the specific and complex tasks of navigating through large sets of image data. An interactive jog-wheel device widely used in the video and movie industry was implemented to allow users to navigate in the different dimensions of an image set much faster than with a traditional mouse or on-screen cursors and sliders. The program can easily be adapted for very specific tasks that require a limited number of functions, by adding and removing tools from the program's toolbar and avoiding an overwhelming number of unnecessary tools and functions. The processing and image rendering tools of the software are based on the open-source libraries ITK and VTK. This ensures that all new developments in image processing that could emerge from other academic institutions using these libraries can be directly ported to the OsiriX program. OsiriX is provided free of charge under the GNU open-source licensing agreement at http://homepage.mac.com/rossetantoine/osirix.

Computer Graphics↗

Multianalytical system (MAS): software for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) data processing with applications to screening and diagnostic tests.

A microcomputer software package for determining the concentration of either the antibody or antigen from ELISA data for IBM PC compatible is presented. In the program optical densities (OD) and fluorescence obtained from 96-well ELISA plate can be input either directly, by interfacing with different brands of microplate reader such as Multiskan II Plus and Organon Teknika to the computer or manually. This software utilizes some mathematical and statistical models to fit the standard curve of each assay and interpolate analyte concentration using data from OD or fluorescence measurements. Cubic spline (Guardabasso et al., 1988), bezier and polynomial (Rodbard, 1979; Baud et al., 1991) interpolation formulas can be used to fit the data over the entire range for estimating the antibody or antigen concentration of the unknown samples whose OD or fluorescence is beyond the entire range. This software package, based on the concentration values of the analyte determined in different fluids (Núnez et al., 1994; Morales et al., 1994) and with some rules and algorithms, is used to calculate the parameters of screening and diagnostic tests such as sensitivity, specificity and predictive values (Coughlin et al., 1992). With the construction of the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve it is possible to analyse different values of the sensitivity and specificity of the screening and diagnostic tests. A comparative statistical test for two populations that are non-normally distributed using a non-parametric Mann-Whitney test is provided. This software is an expandable tool designed for general use in clinical and experimental applications, including diagnostic and screening tests.

Antibodies↗

VisiCalc and VisiPlot software routines and the analysis of data routinely encountered in steroid biochemistry.

The use of VisiCalc and VisiPlot software routines for performing calculations and graphing of data commonly encountered in steroid biochemistry is described. These software routines have utility and are relatively easy to use, requiring little or no programming experience. Use of these routines is demonstrated in terms of data processing associated with chromatography of receptor preparations and equilibrium binding analyses. The execution of these software routines is rapid and can result in a considerable savings of time and personnel. These and other generically similar software routines should have the greatest utility in laboratories where the experimental design is subject to on-going change.

Animals↗

A system for quantitative analysis of associative learning. Part 2. Real-time software for MS-DOS microcomputers.

Microcomputer software was designed and used to control the timing and delivery of sensory stimuli and to acquire and analyze behavioral data during classical conditioning experiments. The software package runs under DOS 4.x through 6.x (earlier versions run under DOS 3.x) on PC AT-compatible microcomputers coupled with appropriate interface hardware (see Thompson et al., 1994). The software controls timed delivery of up to 8 conditional stimuli. It can collect behavioral data from 2 subjects simultaneously performing the same task (e.g., eyeblink responses) or from a single subject performing 2 different tasks (e.g., both eyeblink and conditional discrimination tasks), permitting its use in a number of experimental paradigms. Digital timing signals are adjustable for different stimulus output systems. Behavior is continuously monitored onscreen, ensuring consistent measurement across trials. Real-time performance measures of the presence or absence of conditioned responses allow coordination with external events (e.g., serum sampling, drug delivery, or single-unit recording). Quantitative measures are generated both for each trial and for complete sessions. Records are stored to disk and can be printed or merged for statistical analyses. Data can be archived on standard media, and internal software utilities translate files for export to PC and Macintosh programs. This system and the hardware described in the preceding paper combine ease of use with extremely replicable behavioral measurements across trials, sessions subjects, cohorts, and studies.

Animals↗

Software FIACRE: bioprocess monitoring on the basis of flow injection analysis using simultaneously a urea optode and a glucose luminescence sensor.

Various computer programs for large-scale bioprocess control and optimization have been developed as well as software for simple laboratory routine analysis. In comparison, software can hardly be found that works on laboratory scale and provides the control of complex flow injection analysis (FIA) systems, multisubstrate determination, data evaluation as well as minimal process control abilities. The sensors applied can be of different type (luminometric or other optical as well as electrochemical biosensors). The development of such a software may be very helpful for the transfer of FIA/biosensor systems from the state of development to industrial processes. Hence, each analysing system--even a well established biosensor--has to be individually adapted to the process, a task which is best done under laboratory conditions. Such a flexible, computer-controlled FIA system for research level based on the software FIACRE is presented. Five FIA/(bio)sensor system can be controlled simultaneously. Additionally, common temperature and pH recordings are possible. Determinations of substrate concentrations are performed by means of calibration curves which can be recorded at different times. This allows supervising the activities of the sensors during a cell cultivation and controlling the bioprocess, e.g. by adding substrate to a cell culture. The automated monitoring of the degradation of glucose and urea by two different optical sensing principles during a cell cultivation under the control of one microcomputer is presented for the first time. For this purpose, already well examined biosensors (a urease optode and a luminometric glucose sensor) were employed and their properties discussed under the aspect of working in real cultivation media. It will also be shown that substrates being of interest for bioprocess control can be detected by slight modifications of known reactions. For example, substrates of NADH-dependent enzymatic reactions can be detected by the luminol chemiluminescence system, and optodes can be employed for pH, penicillin and glucose determination.

Alcohol Dehydrogenase↗

The regulation of medical computer software as a 'device' under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

Recent developments in computer software have raised the possibility that federal regulators may claim to control medical computer software as a 'device' under the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDCA). The purpose of this paper is to analyze the FDCA to determine whether computer software is included in the statutory scheme, examine constitutional arguments relating to computer software, and discuss regulatory principles that should be taken into account when deciding appropriate regulation. This paper is limited to computer program output used by humans in deciding appropriate medical therapy for a patient.

Equipment and Supplies↗

VISAUDIO: a Windows software application for Bekesy audiogram analysis and hearing research.

A Windows software system has been designed to facilitate hearing research programs and decision aid for epidemiological surveys in a military context. VISAUDIO provides graphical displays of audiograms with the results of various processing (smoothing, pathological patterns detection and classification), audiograms with pathological patterns like scotoms and recruitments are described (number, impaired frequencies, severity of loss for scotoms). Classical French ORL indexes are calculated (Index 42 which is the French legal index in occupational medicine, PAM or Lafon's index, IPA from the French norm NF S31-013 and IRB, a new occupational medicine index). An audiometric pattern classification is done for each audiogram using discriminant factorial analysis. The program allows audiogram comparisons on the same screen. The processing and analysis results can also be copied to any Windows software package via a PC clipboard. This prototype software is to be tested in a quasi real-time audiological information system comprising audiogram acquisition, processing, analysis and storage in a database. VISAUDIO software functions are illustrated with examples of screen displays.

Adult↗