Knowledge environments representing molecular entities for the virtual physiological human

In essence, the virtual physiological human (VPH) is a multiscale representation of human physiology spanning from the molecular level via cellular processes and multicellular organization of tissues to complex organ function. The different scales of the VPH deal with different entities, relationships and processes, and in consequence the models used to describe and simulate biological functions vary significantly. Here, we describe methods and strategies to generate knowledge environments representing molecular entities that can be used for modelling the molecular scale of the VPH. Our strategy to generate knowledge environments representing molecular entities is based on the combination of information extraction from scientific text and the integration of information from biomolecular databases. We introduce @neuLink, a first prototype of an automatically generated, disease-specific knowledge environment combining biomolecular, chemical, genetic and medical information. Finally, we provide a perspective for the future implementation and use of knowledge environments representing molecular entities for the VPH.     

A service-oriented grid infrastructure for biomedical data and compute services

Service-oriented Grid technologies are increasingly utilized for the realization of future biomedical IT infrastructures since they offer unprecedented opportunities for the integration of advanced analysis and simulation applications as well as distributed heterogeneous data sources and information systems. The European Union's @neurIST project is developing a Grid-based IT infrastructure for the management of all processes linked to research, diagnosis, and treatment development for complex and multifactorial diseases encompassing data repositories, computational analysis services, and information systems handling multiscale, multimodal information at distributed sites. This paper provides an overview of the @neurIST Grid middleware and outlines the infrastructure offered for the provision of advanced compute and data services to support computationally demanding modeling and simulation tasks and to access heterogeneous distributed data sources through semantic integration.     

Computer-aided reverse engineering of the human musculoskeletal system

The objective of this study is to extend the applications of reverse engineering technology from manufacturing industries to the biomedical industry. By obtaining nearly exact geometric data of human tissues, such as bones, tendons, and ligaments, in a high-speed and inexpensive manner, potentially groundbreaking research becomes possible for applications in injury rehabilitation, injury prevention and strengthening. Previous applications of reverse engineering technologies in the biomedical community have dealt largely with prosthetic design and plastic surgery. This study expands this research to include muscular and skeletal applications. The primary advantage provided by scanning technologies is an improved quality of data. Secondly, the time investment for the medical researcher is greatly reduced. And finally, the use of a scanning technology will occasionally provide a less expensive alternative to the medical imaging counterparts. The goal of the research is to develop guidelines and methodologies for reverse engineering human structures.     

Computer-aided reverse engineering of the human musculoskeletal system

The objective of this study is to extend the applications of reverse engineering technology from manufacturing industries to the biomedical industry. By obtaining nearly exact geometric data of human tissues, such as bones, tendons, and ligaments, in a high-speed and inexpensive manner, potentially groundbreaking research becomes possible for applications in injury rehabilitation, injury prevention and strengthening. Previous applications of reverse engineering technologies in the biomedical community have dealt largely with prosthetic design and plastic surgery. This study expands this research to include muscular and skeletal applications. The primary advantage provided by scanning technologies is an improved quality of data. Secondly, the time investment for the medical researcher is greatly reduced. And finally, the use of a scanning technology will occasionally provide a less expensive alternative to the medical imaging counterparts. The goal of the research is to develop guidelines and methodologies for reverse engineering human structures.     

Zinc Oxide Particles Catalytically Generate Nitric Oxide from Endogenous and Exogenous Prodrugs

Nitric oxide (NO) is a potent biological molecule that contributes to a wide spectrum of physiological processes. However, the full potential of NO as a therapeutic agent is significantly complicated by its short half‐life and limited diffusion distance in human tissues. Current strategies for NO delivery focus on encapsulation of NO donors into prefabricated scaffolds or an enzyme‐prodrug therapy approach. The former is limited by the finite pool of NO donors available, while the latter is challenged by the inherent low stability of natural enzymes. Zinc oxide (ZnO) particles with innate glutathione peroxidase and glycosidase activities, a combination that allows to catalytically decompose both endogenous (S‐nitrosoglutathione) and exogenous (β‐gal‐NONOate) donors to generate NO at physiological conditions are reported. By tuning the concentration of ZnO particles and NO prodrugs, physiologically relevant NO levels are achieved. ZnO preserves its catalytic property for at least 6 months and the activity of ZnO in generating NO from prodrugs in human serum is demonstrated. The ZnO catalytic activity will be beneficial toward generating stable NO release for long‐term biomedical applications.     

NASA Space Radiation Transport Code Development Consortium

Recently, NASA established a consortium involving the University of Tennessee (lead institution), the University of Houston, Roanoke College and various government and national laboratories, to accelerate the development of a standard set of radiation transport computer codes for NASA human exploration applications. This effort involves further improvements of the Monte Carlo codes HETC and FLUKA and the deterministic code HZETRN, including developing nuclear reaction databases necessary to extend the Monte Carlo codes to carry out heavy ion transport, and extending HZETRN to three dimensions. The improved codes will be validated by comparing predictions with measured laboratory transport data, provided by an experimental measurements consortium, and measurements in the upper atmosphere on the balloon-borne Deep Space Test Bed (DSTB). In this paper, we present an overview of the consortium members and the current status and future plans of consortium efforts to meet the research goals and objectives of this extensive undertaking.     

Information Technology Measurement and Testing Activities at NIST

Our high technology society continues to rely more and more upon sophisticated measurements, technical standards, and associated testing activities. This was true for the industrial society of the 20th century and remains true for the information society of the 21st century. Over the last half of the 20th century, information technology (IT) has been a powerful agent of change in almost every sector of the economy. The complexity and rapidly changing nature of IT have presented unique technical challenges to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and to the scientific measurement community in developing a sound measurement and testing infrastructure for IT. This measurement and testing infrastructure for the important non-physical and non-chemical properties associated with complex IT systems is still in an early stage of development. This paper explains key terms and concepts of IT metrology, briefly reviews the history of the National Bureau of Standards/National Institute of Standards and Technology (NBS/NIST) in the field of IT, and reviews NIST’s current capabilities and work in measurement and testing for IT. It concludes with a look at what is likely to occur in the field of IT over the next ten years and what metrology roles NIST is likely to play.     

An integrated fuzzy approach for information technology planning in collaborative product development

Collaborative product development (CPD) processes are generally based on technological infrastructures. Various information technologies (IT) are proposed every day to facilitate collaboration, integration, co-design and co-development processes. In this highly uncertain environment, a systematic methodology is essential to plan the IT infrastructure needed to start and maintain a collaborative process. This study offers an integrated IT planning methodology combining fuzzy quality function deployment, fuzzy axiomatic design and fuzzy rule-based systems. The methodology is tested in a CPD case and the outcome presents an improvement path for IT for each of the collaborative parties.     

Vapor‐Phase Hydrothermal Transformation of HTiOF3 Intermediates into {001} Faceted Anatase Single‐Crystalline Nanosheets

For the first time, a facile, one‐pot hydrofluoric acid vapor‐phase hydrothermal (HF‐VPH) method is demonstrated to directly grow single‐crystalline anatase TiO₂ nanosheets with 98.2% of exposed {001} faceted surfaces on the Ti substrate via a distinctive two‐stage formation mechanism. The first stage produces a new intermediate crystal (orthorhombic HTiOF₃) that is transformed into anatase TiO₂ nanosheets during the second stage. The findings reveal that the HF‐VPH reaction environment is unique and differs remarkably from that of liquid‐phase hydrothermal processes. The uniqueness of the HF‐VPH conditions can be readily used to effectively control the nanostructure growth.     

How does the improved DB mode degrade the complex integrity of infrastructure mega-projects? Evidence from the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge project in China

Complex integrity is one of the main characteristics of infrastructure mega-projects (IMPs). Cost, technology, risk, duration, environmental impact, and other uncertain complexities are interrelated and constitute a challenging and complex management problem. At present, there is no unified understanding of or solutions to these complex integrity problems. This study analyzes the complex integrity of the island-tunnel subproject of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) project and proposes an improved design-build (DB) mode in which the owner provides a preliminary design and has the right to form and manage consortium. This improved DB mode creatively degrades the special complexities that arise from multiple dimensions. On this basis, it is an efficacious way to grasp the main contradictions, integrate the effective resources, and degrade the complex integrity in multiple dimensions and at multiple levels so as to effectively deal with the complexity management of IMPs.     

Developing new products in a network with efficiency and innovation

When managing a new product development (NPD) problem, a firm needs to consider the cooperation with its strategic partners in a network because surviving independently in the industry is almost impossible. However, due to the large variances among partners in terms of leadership, management, IT infrastructure and organizational cultures, it may lead to poor communication and cooperation and slow responses. A severe impact on the process and outcome of NPD may result. To facilitate buyer–supplier cooperation, suitable knowledge management and product development process management need to be adopted to match the characteristics of the selected NPD mix. In this paper, a supermatrix analytic network process (ANP) model with sensitivity analysis is first developed to select the most appropriate NPD mix. A balanced scorecard (BSC) using ANP with sensitivity analysis is used next to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed model in the execution of NPD process.     

Electronic data capture (EDC)--a new mantra for clinical trials.

Pharmaceutical companies, over a period of time, have attempted to use innovative and modern technologies for quicker and more efficient methods of clinical data capture and analysis. In today's scenario, Electronic Data Capture (EDC) is considered to be the preferred technology that can provide significant benefits over existing manual methods. This article highlights the lacunae of the traditional data capture method and discusses the advantages of using EDC for better data quality, improved performance and productivity, and reduced cost in clinical trial management. It also emphasizes the need for IT infrastructure, training, and 21 CFR Part 11 compliance issues. The authors have also described the challenges to be faced by the investigators and sponsors in implementing EDC. Finally, the article concludes emphasizing the fact that EDC is the future mantra for the clinical trials and all stake holders should face challenges of infrastructure, technology, regulations, and training to make it a success.     

New center for IT research

August 1, 2002 marked the launch of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Science and Technology Center (STC) on Materials and Devices for Information Technology Research (MDITR). The Center will strive to develop new materials and device concepts that will complement existing semiconductor and inorganic electronic and photonic materials in information technology (IT). An initial five_year award of $18.35 million supports this development and the training of a workforce capable of implementing that technology. Education, human resource development, and technology transfer are also important components of this Center and approximately 30% of the NSF funding is committed to these activities.The motivation for creating such a center is quite obvious. Despite the ‘dot com’ crash, IT continues to be the fastest growing and dominant component of world economy. Computing power and the ability to rapidly move information around the world are, of course, important drivers of that IT economy.     

Large-scale software engineering questions ? expert opinion or empirical evidence?

A recent report on the state of the UK information technology (IT) industry based most of its findings and recommendations on expert opinion. It is surprising that the report was unable to incorporate more empirical evidence. This paper aims to assess whether it is necessary to base IT industry and academic policy on expert opinion rather than on empirical evidence. Current evidence related to the rate of project failure is identified and the methods used to accumulate that evidence discussed. This shows that the report failed to identify relevant evidence and most evidence related to project failure is based on convenience samples. The status of empirical research in the computing disciplines is reviewed showing that empirical evidence covers a restricted range of subjects and seldom addresses the 'Society' level of analysis. Other more robust designs that would address large-scale IT questions are discussed. We recommend adopting a more systematic approach to accumulating and reporting evidence. In addition, we propose using quasi-experimental designs developed and used in the social sciences to improve the methodology used for undertaking large-scale empirical studies in software engineering.     

Cryogenic tests of volume-phase holographic gratings: results at 100 K

We present results from cryogenic tests of volume-phase holographic (VPH) gratings at approximately 100 K. The aims of these tests are to see whether the diffraction efficiency as a function of wavelength is significantly different at a low temperature from that at room temperature and to see how the performance of a VPH grating is affected by a number of thermal cycles. We have completed ten cycles between room temperature and 100 K and find no clear evidence that the diffraction efficiency changes with temperature or with a successive thermal cycle.     

生物医学图像信息技术相关研究

生物医学图像信息技术是一门计算机技术与生物医学相结合的综合性学科,其隶属于医学信息学。生物医学图像信息技术的研究对象为生物体,其主要根据不同光源在不同设备中所显示的图像差异,结合现代信息处理技术,实现对图像信息的收集整理、分析、储存、检索、利用和传播。本文主要对现代生物医学图像信息技术的应用领域及发展情况进行了综述。     

Engineering management for high-end equipment intelligent manufacturing

The high-end equipment intelligent manufacturing (HEIM) industry is of strategic importance to national and economic security. Engineering management (EM) for HEIM is a complex, innovative process that integrates natural science, technology, management science, social science, and the human spirit. New-generation information technology (IT), including the internet, cloud computing, big data, and artificial intelligence, have made a remarkable influence on HEIM and its engineering management activities, such as product system construction, product life cycle management, manufacturing resources organization, manufacturing model innovation, and reconstruction of the enterprise ecosystem. Engineering management for HEIM is a key topic at the frontier of international academic research. This study systematically reviews the current research on issues pertaining to engineering management for HEIM under the new-generation IT environment. These issues include cross-lifecycle management, network collaboration management, task integration management of innovative development, operation optimization of smart factories, quality and reliability management, information management, and intelligent decision making. The challenges presented by these issues and potential research opportunities are also summarized and discussed.     

模块化的STEP模型管理器实现

在STEP模型管理的实现过程中应用模块化方法,定义其内部结构,并给出了相应的模型[管理器（PD－Manager)的实现结构,通过模块化模型管理,使应用领域的集成更为方便,并支持产品数据的共享,在与产品数据管理（PDM）系统结合使用后,提供了一种更灵活支持产品全生命周期产品数据管理的方式。     

提高科技创新实力实现我国炼油工业的持续发展

指出21世纪我国炼油工业要持续发展，国际竞争能力要大力提高，涉及到的原油资源战略、现代化企业管理、行业体制和机制、企业结构调整、人才机制以及科技创新等多方面问题。并就产品质量、深度加工、油化一体化、信息技术和运输燃料替代技术，以及如何提高科技创新力度、加强科技开发等技术发展战略，提出了一些对策和建议。     

Metal matrix composites – From science to technological significance

Over the past two decades – a period coinciding with publication of Composites Science and Technology – metal matrix composites (MMCs) have been transformed from a topic of scientific and intellectual interest to a material of broad technological and commercial significance. The worldwide MMC markets in 1999 accounted for 2500 metric tons valued at over $100M. Important MMC applications in the ground transportation (auto and rail), thermal management, aerospace, industrial, recreational and infrastructure industries have been enabled by functional properties that include high structural efficiency, excellent wear resistance, and attractive thermal and electrical characteristics. A suite of challenging technical issues has been overcome, including affordable primary and secondary processing, material design and development methodologies, and characterization and control of interfacial properties. This article describes the technological features that characterize the MMC industry. Matrix/reinforcement systems and primary and secondary processes of commercial significance will be broadly described. Several metrics that underscore the growing maturity of the MMC industry will be discussed, including the emergence of a second tier support industry and the growth of standardized materials and methods. MMC applications in the major markets of ground transportation, thermal management, aerospace, industrial, recreational and infrastructure will be described. Successful commercialization strategies will be discussed and insights for achieving expanded MMC applications will be given. A forward look at candidate approaches for the next generation of MMCs will be provided, including projections of new MMC paradigms.