Computers and biomedical research, an international journal
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Comput. Biomed. Res. · Apr 1998
Comparative StudyDeveloping online support for clinical information system developers: the FAQ approach.
We investigate a knowledge-based help system for developers of an integrated clinical information system (CIS). The first objective in the study was to determine the system's ability to answer users' questions effectively. User performance and behavior were studied. The second objective was to evaluate the effect of using questions and answers to augment or replace traditional program documentation. ⋯ A knowledge-based help system built by collecting questions and answers can be a viable alternative to large documentation files, providing the questions and answers can be collected effectively.
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Comput. Biomed. Res. · Apr 1998
Computer-assisted analysis of the impact of respiratory quotient on blood CO2 tension and pH changes.
A computer model for the accurate quantification of blood gas exchange components was used to assess the impact of respiratory quotient (RQ) on venoarterial CO2 tension and pH differences over a large group of patient measurements. The combined use of measured and computer-generated data has shown that, for any given increase in blood CO2 concentration (i.e., when the arterial blood becomes venous), the associated increase in CO2 tension and decrease in pH are inversely related to the RQ, and that this relationship is mediated by the Haldane effect. These results are useful for a through understanding of blood gas and metabolic interactions in normal and abnormal states, and for improving the interpretation of changes in venoarterial CO2 tension gradient in clinical monitoring.
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Comput. Biomed. Res. · Jun 1997
A system for analysis of arterial blood pressure waveforms in humans.
Recent developments in arterial hemodynamics have indicated that the human arterial pressure waveform contains more information than is available from conventional sphygmomanometry. This information includes indices describing left ventricular systolic function and arterial properties. A cheap and reliable system was designed and implemented using readily available hardware for recording, analysis, and storage of arterial pressure waveforms. ⋯ Eighteen indices are then derived from arterial pressure waveforms. This system can be used in an outpatient clinic for assisting in current pharmacological management of cardiovascular disease. It can also be extended to the critical care area, where the extra information provided aid in assessing the patient's condition.
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Comput. Biomed. Res. · Aug 1995
Effects of digital filtering on the parameters of sinusoidal tracking eye movements.
In the present study linear nonrecursive (FIR) filters designed with the Hamming window and hybrid median filters were examined in connection with computer analysis of sinusoidal tracking eye movements. It is important that digital filters which do not distort sensitive properties of eye movement signals are employed in order to prevent changes caused by too strict filtering in average parameter values of eye movement signals, indicators of some otoneurological disorders. It turned out that within reasonable limits these filters are valid in filtering of sinusoidal tracking eye movement signals.
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The Arden Syntax, a language designed for writing and sharing task-specific knowledge for Medical Logic Modules (MLMs), has been recently accepted as a standard by the ASTM. The syntax is concerned with the critical task of sharing medical knowledge bases across many institutions. ⋯ In designing a language like the Arden Syntax, the authors make many decisions--but the final document gives only the result of these decisions without any explanation. By writing down the rationale behind the design of the syntax, we hope to aid users of the language, implementors of the language, and future designers of new languages.