Computer programs in biomedicine最新文献

This paper describes shortly some aspects of the MEDDOK retrieval language especially the methods for making vertical retrieval. In addition the question is investigated how this retrieval can be done without scanning and searching most of the data pool. Another subject of the paper is the description of the underlying data structure.

The program PEDPLO supports the graphical presentation of inheritance. The plot produced is a tree ramifying towards the younger generation. There is only little dependence on the special software and hardware of the plot.

A general ‘coherent signal averager’ software package which can be run on a small laboratory computer is presented as an application of a new approach to medical instrumentation. The combination of the minicomputer, preprocessing hardware and the above-mentioned software yields a flexible multipurpose averaging system for electrophysiological signals. The possibilities of the system are discussed with reference to visual evoked potential measurements in a clinical function laboratory.

Aspects of a computer-based education (CBE) are described. Recent developments in the use of computer in health-sciences education are highlighted. An interactive computer system (CALE) has been developed to provide individualised instruction and testing for biomedical and medical sciences students. CALE is a system for computer assisted learning of electrocardiography which consists of an organizer program and few subprograms. The system has a self-instruction mode which is equivalent to lecturing. Moreover, review questions are supplied either in multiple choice questions (MCQ) and/or matched questions and answers (MQA) forms. Furthermore, the system can simulate normal as well as abnormal electrocardiograms. A statistical program is included to evaluate the performance of the students while using the CALE-system. A comment file is created so that the users can register their comments about the CALE and the difficulties they have faced in using the system. CALE is easy to use and requires no knowledge of programming. The feedback obtained from the students currently using the system is encouraging. CALE is written in Data General FORTRAN 5.

Transducers employing a spatial electrode pattern in the form of a Fresnel zone plate (FZP) are useful in acoustic imaging systems for focusing an ultrasonic beam. A technique has been developed to predict the spatial acoustic output of such a transducer from a knowledge of the spatial electrode pattern. It has been shown that, due to mechanical aberration, sharp edges in the electrode pattern are not reproduced in the output pattern. The mechanism producing the aberration can be modeled as a low-pass spatial filter. A desired acoustic spatial pattern may be generated by a synthesized electrode pattern obtained through inverse filtering. The approach is to assume that the desired acoustic pattern is the output of a linear spatial system and then to synthesize the electrode pattern that would produce it by multiplying it with the inverse of the aberrating low-pass filter. The synthesized electrode pattern will then generate an acoustic pattern which replicates the desired acoustic pattern very closely.

A FORTRAN program for computing the generalized Mantel-Haenszel χ²-test statistic for multiple 2 × J tables is presented. The output contains the additional information of expected cell values and the individual odds ratios for each stratum. For the case of 2 × 2 tables, an internal check of the expectation is made to assure that the asymptotic assumptions are met. Optionally, the Yate's correction for continuity can be employed for 2 × 2 tables. The program can handle frequency count data as found in contingency tables or fractional values as in life table procedures.