Arthur A. Eggert

Implementation of a multirule, multistage quality control program in a clinical laboratory computer system

We developed a computer subsystem that permits users to implement multirule, multistage quality control procedures. The subsystem runs as a task in the RelationaLABCOM™ information system and permits the collection of data from on-line instruments, as well as through manual (keyboard) entry. The choices of control rules and their combinations are at the discretion of each laboratory section, with the system automatically administering the chosen protocols for all the technologists working with the computer. Retrospective data analysis and statistics are available for review by laboratory personnel. The subsystem provides a significant improvement in the availability of real-time quality control at the bench.

An oxidation number assignment expert for CHEMPROF

To construct a computer program module for CHEMPROF capable of tutoring students in the assignment of oxidation number to inorganic compounds, we have studied the constraints on oxidation number assignment and developed a model that is both reliable for computer implementation and comprehensible by students. The model strives to precisely define and circumscribe this domain and to give it a complete declarative description. This rule-based approach will allow computer-aided instruction to expand beyond the limitations of predefined drill and prescripted solutions to problems

Converting chemical formulas to names: an expert strategy

The ability to name inorganic chemicals, given their chemical formulas, is essential not only to chemists and students of chemistry but also to computers if they are going to assume the role of intelligent assistants in the chemical laboratory. To study the problems in this formula-to-name conversion, we have developed a model in the form of a PC-based expert system that maps formulas into chemical names. The model strives to precisely define and circumscribe the domain of commonly encountered inorganic chemicals and to handle both systematic and common names. This rule-based approach also provides a trace of its actions in arriving at a name to permit the expert to be used in computer-aided instruction.

CHEMPROF: The Chemical Literacy Problem

The intelligent tutoring system CHEMPROF has been developed over the last five years to give students better access to tutoring in chemical problem-solving and to provide a laboratory for comparing different teaching strategies. Experts have been written to solve chemistry problems to aid the teaching logic and to interpret student inputs. Developing these experts and identifying student weaknesses in the subarea of chemical literacy have helped both to codify chemical knowledge and to identify student preferred modes of learning. Two semesters of evaluation of CHEMPROF have revealed the strengths and weaknesses of using a computer tutor in place of a human tutor as well as strategies for using educational software.

Effects of system tuning and RAM disk on the performance of a clinical laboratory information system

Improvements in the performance of a laboratory computer system do not necessarily require the replacement of major portions of the system and may not require the acquisition of any hardware at all. Major bottlenecks may exist in the ways that the operating system manages its resources and the algorithm used for timesharing decisions. Moreover, significant throughput improvements may be attainable by switching to a faster storage device if substantial disk activity is performed. In this study the fractions of time used for each of the types of tasks a laboratory computer system performs (e.g. applications programs, disk transfer, queue cycler) are defined and measured. Methods for reducing the time fractions of the various types of overhead are evaluated by doing before and after studies. The combined results of the three studies indicated that a 50% improvement could be gained through system tuning and faster storage without replacement of the computer itself

Analysing the effects of hardware upgrades on the performance of a LABCOM+ clinical laboratory computer system.

The performance ofall computer systems is limited by the speed of their components. Moreover, it is rare that anyone believes their computer system’s speed is adequate for the tasks to be performed, particularly those using interactive systems. The clinical laboratory is no exception to those areas where speed is important. The difference in the time spent using a system with slow response time and fast response time can be the equivalent of several technologist positions in a large laboratory. Replacing a slower piece of hardware with a faster one is therefore always appealing, but the actual effects of the replacement may be hard to quantitatively evaluate and may not be as substantial as indicated by the manufacturer or as might appear likely from the equipment’s specifications. Statements such as ’it seems to run faster’ or ’we haven’t noticed any change’ made by the laboratory staff are not an adequate or necessarily accurate reflection of what has occurred. As a consequence, some type of benchmarking procedure is necessary to give a quantitative measurement of performance changes.