bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prostaglandin E2 stimulates expression of osmoprotective genes in MDCK cells and promotes survival under hypertonic conditions
Authors: Neuhofer Wolfgang , Steinert Daniela , Fraek Maria‐Luisa , Beck Franz‐X
Published: June 2007

The cells of the renal medulla produce large amounts of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) via cyclooxygenases (COX)‐1 and ‐2. PGE2 is well known to play a critical role in salt and water balance and maintenance of medullary blood flow. Since renal medullary PGE2 production increases in antidiuresis, and since COX inhibition is associated with damage to the renal medulla during water deprivation, PGE2 may promote the adaptation of renal papillary cells to high interstitial solute concentrations. To address this question, MDCK cells were exposed to a gradual tonicity increase in the presence or absence of 20 μm PGE2 prior to analysis of (i) cell survival, (ii) expression of osmoprotective genes (AR, BGT1, SMIT, HSP70 and COX‐2), (iii) subcellular TonEBP/NFAT5 abundance, (iv) TonEBP/NFAT5 transcriptional activity and (v) aldose reductase promoter activity. Cell survival and apoptotic indices after raising the medium tonicity improved markedly in the presence of PGE2. PGE2 significantly increased tonicity‐mediated up‐regulation of AR, SMIT and HSP70 mRNAs. However, neither nuclear abundance nor TonEBP/NFAT5‐driven reporter activity were elevated by PGE2, but aldose reductase promoter activity was significantly increased by PGE2. Interestingly, tonicity‐induced COX‐2 expression and activity was also stimulated by PGE2, suggesting the existence of a positive feedback loop. These results demonstrate that the major medullary prostanoid, PGE2, stimulates the expression of osmoprotective genes and favours the adaptation of medullary cells to increasing interstitial tonicities, an effect that is not explained directly by the presence of TonEs in the promoter region of the respective target genes. These findings may be relevant in the pathophysiology of medullary damage associated with analgesic drugs.
Glucocorticoids and insulin both modulate caloric intake through actions on the brain
Authors: Dallman Mary F. , Warne James P. , Foster Michelle T. , Pecoraro Norman C.
Published: June 2007

Glucocorticoids act primarily in a feed‐forward fashion on brain to activate CNS pathways that implement wanting appropriate to physiological needs. Thus, depending on the available conditions, elevated glucocorticoids may augment the behavioural want to run, fight or feed. Although glucocorticoids stimulate intake of chow, fat and sucrose, insulin appears to sculpt calorie‐associated desires toward foods high in fat, acting through hepatic branch afferents of the vagus nerve. Both conditions of reduced food allowance and chronic stress excite glucocorticoid‐augmented central neural networks that may lead toward ultimate abdominal obesity.
Self-Reflection: Lessons Learned in a New Product Development Class
Authors: Hey Jonathan , Pelt Alan Van , Agogino Alice , Beckman Sara
Published: June 2007

New product development (NPD) classes based around problem-based learning and mediated by design coaches from industry provide an effective vehicle for authentic learning and realistic design experiences within the constraints of academic settings. Little is known, however, about what students actually learn in these courses or whether the learning corresponds to what is required by industry. To address these questions, we: (1) analyzed data from a structured “lessons learned,” or self-reflection, exercise performed by NPD students in a graduate, multidisciplinary NPD class at the University of California, Berkeley each year for the past 6 years; and (2) conducted interviews with our industrial partners who coached the students’ projects. We present an analysis of over 2300 lessons learned and compare the students’ views with the reflections of the industry coaches. In the lessons learned analysis, students highlighted skills for working in multidisciplinary teams as their most important learning experience, and secondarily, within lessons about the NPD process itself, identified the gathering and analysis of customer and user needs. Students commonly referenced skills that are not part of a traditional engineering design curriculum: listening, observation, and performing research in context. The interviews with the design coaches largely confirmed the importance of both the realistic teamwork experience that accompanies NPD and user research skills. Our findings reinforce the importance of providing students with real multidisciplinary team experience for NPD projects and suggest that greater emphasis be given to the teaching and practice of “softer” skills, such as listening, negotiation, empathy, and observation. The research also indicates that more guidance, tools, and frameworks are needed to assist student product developers in the complex task of gathering, managing, and applying user needs.
Influence of anthropometry on race performance in extreme endurance triathletes: World Challenge Deca Iron Triathlon 2006
Authors: Knechtle Beat , Knechtle Patrizia , Andonie Jorge Luis , Kohler Götz
Published: June 2007

Objective:

To investigate the influence of anthropometric variables on race performance in ultra-endurance triathletes in an ultra-triathlon.

Design:

Descriptive field study.

Setting:

The “World Challenge Deca Iron Triathlon 2006” in Monterrey, Mexico, in which everyday for 10 consecutive days athletes had to perform the distance of one Ironman triathlon of 3.8 km swimming, 180 km cycling and 42.195 km running.

Subjects:

Eight male ultra-endurance athletes (mean (SD) age 40.6 (10.7) years, weight 76.4 (8.4) kg, height 175 (4) cm and body mass index (BMI) 24.7 (2.2) kg/m2).

Interventions:

None.

Main outcome measures:

Direct measurement of body mass, height, leg length, skinfold thicknesses, limb circumference and calculation of BMI, skeletal muscle mass (SM), percentage SM (%SM) and percentage body fat (%BF) in order to correlate measured and calculated anthropometric variables with race performance.

Results:

Race time was not significantly (p>0.05) influenced by the directly measured variables, height, leg length, body mass, average skinfold thicknesses, or circumference of thigh, calf or upper arm. Furthermore, no significant (p>0.05) correlation was observed between race time and the calculated variables, BMI, %SM and %BF.

Conclusions:

In a multistage ultra-triathlon over 10 Ironman triathlon distances in 10 consecutive days, there was no effect of body mass, height, leg length, skinfold thicknesses, limb circumference, BMI, %SM or %BF on race performance in the only eight finishers.
Indefinite for non-invasive neoplasia lesions in gastric intestinal metaplasia: the immunophenotype
Authors: Cassaro Mauro , Rugge Massimo , Tieppo Chiara , Giacomelli Luciano , Velo Daniela , Nitti Donato , Farinati Fabio
Published: June 2007

Background:In the Padova International Classification, gastric precancerous lesions are labelled as “indefinite for non-invasive neoplasia” (Indef-NiN) cytohistological alterations mimicking non-invasive neoplasia (NiN), but lacking all the attributes required for a definite NiN categorisation.

Aim:To apply a panel of immunohistochemical (IHC) markers of cell proliferation (Mib1), intestinal differentiation (Cdx2), apoptosis (pro-caspase 3) and cell immortalisation (hTERT) to compare the IHC profiles of a series of precancerous lesions arising in gastric intestinalised (ie, IM-positive) glands.

Materials and methods:By applying the histological criteria consistently provided by both the Padova Classification and the World Health Organization International Agency, 112 consecutive cases were considered: intestinal metaplasia (IM; n = 54), Indef-NiN in IM-positive gastric glands (n = 28) and low-grade (LG) NiN (n = 30). In each histological category, the expression of the marker was separately scored in superficial, proliferative and coil compartments.

Results:In all glandular compartments, Mib1, Cdx2, hTERT and pro-caspase 3 were consistently more expressed in LG-NiN than in either IM or Indef-NiN lesions (analysis of variance: p<0.001). Significant ORs (calculated by ordinal logistic regression analysis for each glandular compartment) associated IM, Indef-NiN and LG-NiN with the expression of the considered markers.

Conclusions:A consistent overexpression (unrestricted to the proliferative zone) of IHC markers of cell proliferation, intestinal differentiation, decreased apoptosis and cell immortalisation differentiates LG-NiN from both (simple) IM and Indef-NiN (arising in IM). An increased proliferative activity in the proliferative zone discriminates Indef-NiN lesions (ie, hyperproliferative IM) from IM. Such divergent IHC profiles may provide a rationale for scheduling follow-up protocols more properly tailored on the patient’s risk for cancer.
THE EXCURSION SET THEORY OF HALO MASS FUNCTIONS, HALO CLUSTERING, AND HALO GROWTH
Authors: ZENTNER ANDREW R.
Published: June 2007

I review the excursion set theory with particular attention toward applications to cold dark matter halo formation and growth, halo abundance, and halo clustering. After a brief introduction to notation and conventions, I begin by recounting the heuristic argument leading to the mass function of bound objects given by Press and Schechter. I then review the more formal derivation of the Press–Schechter halo mass function that makes use of excursion sets of the density field. The excursion set formalism is powerful and can be applied to numerous other problems. I review the excursion set formalism for describing both halo clustering and bias and the properties of void regions. As one of the most enduring legacies of the excursion set approach and one of its most common applications, I spend considerable time reviewing the excursion set theory of halo growth. This section of the review culminates with the description of two Monte Carlo methods for generating ensembles of halo mass accretion histories. In the last section, I emphasize that the standard excursion set approach is the result of several simplifying assumptions. Dropping these assumptions can lead to more faithful predictions and open excursion set theory to new applications. One such assumption is that the height of the barriers that define collapsed objects is a constant function of scale. I illustrate the implementation of the excursion set approach for barriers of arbitrary shape. One such application is the now well-known improvement of the excursion set mass function derived from the "moving" barrier for ellipsoidal collapse. I also emphasize that the statement that halo accretion histories are independent of halo environment in the excursion set approach is not a general prediction of the theory. It is a simplifying assumption. I review the method for constructing correlated random walks of the density field in the more general case. I construct a simple toy model to illustrate that excursion set theory (with a constant barrier height) makes a simple and general prediction for the relation between halo accretion histories and the large-scale environments of halos: regions of high density preferentially contain late-forming halos and conversely for regions of low density. I conclude with a brief discussion of the importance of this prediction relative to recent numerical studies of the environmental dependence of halo properties.
What's computer ethics, anyway?
Authors: Nagarajan Nilakantan
Published: June 2007

ETHICS has, of late, become almost a buzzword, bandied around by key-note speakers, media pundits and practical politicians. We have been inundated with a born-again awareness of morality and ethical behavior in every walk of life, as an aftermath of adverse impact of numerous GATEs and SCAMs involving cover-ups and crimes committed by persons held at high pedestal of trust and responsibility in business, government and other spheres of activity.
The language problem for small systems (Panel Session)
Authors: Mackie Eric , Jacobson Mark , Yoes E. , Desautels Edward , Slonim Jacob , Farrell Michael W. , Fisher Paul S. , Solomon Susan L. , Maguire R. Brien
Published: June 2007

A survey of minicomputer data base management systems was conducted to determine the current state of the industry. The results of the survey are highlighted in this paper to provide a broad view of the features of commercially available mini-data base systems. Among the topics presented are hardware requirements, software implementation, data independence, binding, integrity, privacy controls, installation base, availability, and user considerations. In addition, the relationship between the growth of the minicomputer market and mini-DBMS market in the second half of the 70's is emphasized.
The conticomputer system a commodities database
Authors: Martin Daniel
Published: June 2007

A computer system used to support the technical research department of Conti Commodity is described. The system is installed on a Data General Eclipse S/200 computer and has been in operation since June, 1976. It is centered around a 12MB database of commodity prices and includes plotter and communication software.
Software reliability and validation (Panel Session)
Authors: Leubity Joseph A. , Wortz Charles , Glass Bradford L. , Marino Richard , Oliver S. Ron
Published: June 2007

Minicomputers are the newest tool adopted by businesses to improve their efficiency and profitability. The typical small business which seeks such a system, however, lacks the technical skills which have characterized computer installations in the past. They also lack the financial resources to establish such a function. As a result, these businesses have turned to systems houses, consultants and the hardware vendors for a “turnkey” approach. “I just want to plug it in and run it” is the typical businessman's comment.

Unfortunately, that approach is frought with problems. The turnkey vendor does not have the same understanding of the small business as its management has. The vendor may have a “package” which he wants to fit his customer into, rather than fitting the programs to the business. There may be contract problems - and most lawyers for small businesses do not understand the special status of a computer turnkey system. There may be problems in training operators or converting data. And on and on.

These problems can be avoided. Proper planning and knowing when to get help and from where will go a long way. The purpose of this presentation will be to discuss these problems and solutions in the context of the small business.
Visual interactive production language systems
Authors: Ireland Patrick W. , Savage Herbert V. , Schweppe Earl J.
Published: June 2007

In earlier work on anticipation and prompting systems for programming languages it was recognized that a more formal approach to development of such interactions with programmers at display terminals was needed. It was observed that the bulk of the data involved in these interactions was in the displays themselves and that certain display drivers operated on action strings similar to those in production language systems. The development of special Floyd-Evans production languages oriented toward a visual interactive environment was therefore undertaken. Based on two experimental interpreters which have been implemented, the language itself has now been substantially refined and compilers for a common language have been designed with one being implemented. In the first implementation which was accomplished on a Datapoint 2200, a substantial portion of the effort was devoted to a pedagogic display of the parsing process. In the second implementation on an Interdata 85, all of the programming was made reentrant so that multiple users can be served using the same or different target languages. Furthermore, some of the basic functions were reduced to microcode, although it was not possible to carry this as far as had been hoped. It was also learned during development of the second system that left-part matching and right-part replacement could be treated as generalized actions—thus simplifying the internal structure of the interpreter. Development of these systems is part of ongoing research with programming languages and automated programmer assistance.
Basic for realtime control applications
Authors: Buxton John E.
Published: June 2007

Basic is a general purpose programming language commonly used in business applications. There are many versions of Basic with varying capabilities, ranging from simple games to large multi-terminal business applications. However, Basic is seldom used to implement a large realtime control system. The purpose of this paper is to describe a realtime control system and discuss the advantages and the disadvantages of implementing the system using Basic.
Data management in Electronic Funds Transfer Systems
Authors: Mandt Hans W.
Published: June 2007

Although Electronic Funds Transfer Systems (EFTS) encompass a large group of financial transaction systems including funds transfers between major banks and transfers among the Federal Reserve Banks over their private network (FEDWIRE), the scope of this paper will be limited to the major application of EFT systems which utilize mini and microcomputers: networks of automatic banking transaction terminals.
The concept of attached processing and attached resource computer systems (Paper Session)
Authors: Thomas Paul A.V.
Published: June 2007

Attached Processing, a new concept in business data processing, specifies a new system architecture constituting an on-line computer system of arbitrary size, made up of an arbitrary number of functionally dispersed processors which nevertheless maintain common data bases. Information stored in such a system is immediately accessible, under user-configured security controls, by any processor attached to it.

Such a system can expand by simple accretion, without economic penalty. To obtain more processing throughput, one attaches more processors. To obtain more data storage, one attaches additional disk drives as needed.

In its practical realization, Attached Processing assumes the form of an Attached Resource Computer. The Attached Resource Computer does not employ a central, controlling host computer. System control is decentralized. Failure of any individual processor in the system cannot bring all processing to a halt. Functional reconfigurations are easy since no processor is hard-wired to a specific task or tasks.
A mini-micro computer link promotes distributed processing in scientific and engineering computations
Authors: Gruber Shmuell , Tahan Meir , Hanani Michael Z.
Published: June 2007

Engineering and scientific work often requires complex computations of different types that should be carried out on different types of computers on the one hand, but must communicate and support each other on the other. To facilitate efficient execution of such computations, a network composed of mini and micro computers (DEC PDP 11/40 and Intel 8080) with the support of a large computer (CDC CYBER 73) has been built and is described in this paper. The network enables the realization of involved scientific computations that could not be carried out by any one of the computers on its own. A general description of the entire set-up is followed by a more detailed discussion of the micro-mini link, and examples of projects using the network.
Design of decision support systems
Authors: Moore Jeffery H. , Chang Michael G.
Published: June 2007

This paper focuses on design difficulties encountered in the implementation of effective DSS. The key point is that the standard MIS development life-cycle approach is dysfunctional in a DSS design setting. Four major ideas are introduced: system/problem migration, subset evolution, soft/hard capabilities, and weak/strong design process.
An experimental message management system using linguistic filters
Authors: Chang S. K. , Chan P. , Donnadieu T. D. , Leung L. , Montenoise F.
Published: June 2007

We describe an experimental message management system which consists of three modules: the message manager, the message filter, and the adaptive protocol handler. The message manager utilizes a relational database for message management. To control message traffic in an office information system, the message filter determines whether the full message is to be sent, or a short alert message should be sent. Message filter and linguistic filter design algorithms are presented. The adaptive message protocol handler can transmit the short message several times to increase message reliability, and the desirable number of transmissions is determined adaptively. Comparison with usual protocols indicates the superiority of the adaptive protocol under noisy channel conditions. The experimental message management system was implemented using the C language on a PDP 11/70 minicomputer running under the Unix operating system.
A galvanic skin response interface for people with severe motor disabilities
Authors: Moore Melody M. , Dua Umang
Published: June 2007

Biometric input devices can provide assistive technology access to people who have little or no motor control. We explore a biometric control interface based on the Galvanic Skin Response, to determine its effectiveness as a non-muscular channel of input. This paper presents data from several online studies of a locked-in subject using a Galvanic Skin Response system for communication and control. We present issues with GSR control, and approaches that may improve accuracy and information transfer rate.
UMA
Authors: Karshmer A. I. , Gupta G. , Pontelli E. , Miesenberger K. , Ammalai N. , Gopal D. , Batusic M. , Stöger B. , Palmer B. , Guo H-F.
Published: June 2007

We describe the UMA system, a system developed under a multi-institution collaboration for making mathematics universally accessible. The UMA system includes translators that freely inter-convert mathematical documents transcribed in formats used by unsighted individual (Nemeth, Marburg) to those used by sighted individuals (LaTeX, Math-ML, OpenMath) and vice versa. The UMA system also includes notation-independent tools for aural navigation of mathematics. In this paper, we give an overview of the UMA system and the techniques used for realizing it.
Automating accessibility: the dynamic keyboard
Authors: Trewin Shari
Published: June 2007

People with motor disabilities may need to adjust the configuration of their input devices, but often find this an obscure and difficult process. The Dynamic Keyboard exemplifies a potential solution. It continuously adjusts fundamental keyboard accessibility features to suit the requirements of the current user, based on a keyboard use model. Early field results indicate that users have not chosen to take control of these accessibility features from the Dynamic Keyboard, and that a variety of settings are being used. A more detailed ongoing study suggests that automatic adjustment of the key repeat delay feature is acceptable to users, while the debounce feature may not be appropriate for dynamic adjustment.
MEMOS
Authors: Schulze Hendrik
Published: June 2007

The Mobile Extensible Memory Aid System (MEMOS) is an electronic memory aid system which was developed to support patients with deficits in the prospective memory after a brain injury. A special palmtop computer, the Personal Memory Assistant (PMA), reminds the patient of important tasks and supervises the patient's actions. The PMA communicates with a stationary care system via a bidirectional cellular radio connection (GPRS). MEMOS features structured interactive reminding impulses, a flexible task scheduling, integration of a heterogeneous group of caregivers and integration in the patient's everyday life. The bidirectional communication allows for reporting of critical situations back to a responsible care-giver, so MEMOS can be used even in a critical context. This paper describes the requirements for a memory aid system, the design and functionality of MEMOS as well as its application in the practical care of patients.
Eyedraw
Authors: Hornof Anthony , Cavender Anna , Hoselton Rob
Published: June 2007

This paper describes the design and development of EyeDraw, a software program that will enable children with severe mobility impairments to use an eye tracker to draw pictures with their eyes so that they can have the same creative developmental experiences as nondisabled children. EyeDraw incorporates computer-control and software application advances that address the special needs of people with motor impairments, with emphasis on the needs of children. The contributions of the project include (a) a new technique for using the eyes to control the computer when accomplishing a spatial task, (b) the crafting of task-relevant functionality to support this new technique in its application to drawing pictures, and (c) a user-tested implementation of the idea within a working computer program. User testing with nondisabled users suggests that we have designed and built an eye-cursor and eye drawing control system that can be used by almost anyone with normal control of their eyes. The core technique will be generally useful for a range of computer control tasks such as selecting a group of icons on the desktop by drawing a box around them.
Image pre-compensation to facilitate computer access for users with refractive errors
Authors: Alonso Miguel , Barreto Armando , Cremades J. Gualberto
Published: June 2007

The use of computer technology for everyday tasks has become increasingly important in today's world. Frequently, computer technology makes use of Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs), presented through monitors or LCD displays. This type of visual interface is not well suited for users with visual limitations due to refractive errors, particularly when they are severe and not correctable by common means. In order to facilitate computer access for users with refractive deficiencies, an algorithm was developed, using a priori knowledge of the visual aberration, to generate an inverse transformation of the images that are then displayed on-screen, countering the effect of the aberration. The result is that when the user observes the screen displaying the transformed images, the image perceived in the retina will be similar to the original image. The algorithm was tested by artificially introducing a spherical aberration in the field of view of 14 subjects, totaling 28 individual eyes. Results show that when viewing the screen, this method of compensation improves the visual performance of the subjects tested in comparison to viewing uncompensated images.
visiBabble for reinforcement of early vocalization
Authors: Fell Harriet , Cress Cynthia , MacAuslan Joel , Ferrier Linda
Published: June 2007

The visiBabble system processes infant vocalizations in real-time. It responds to the infant's syllable-like productions with brightly colored animations and records the acoustic-phonetic analysis. The system reinforces the production of syllabic utterances that are associated with later language and cognitive development. We report here on the development of the visiBabble prototype and field-testing of the system.
A web accessibility service: update and findings
Authors: Hanson Vicki L. , Richards John T.
Published: June 2007

We report here on our progress on a project first described at the ASSETS 2002 conference. At that time, we had developed a prototype system in which a proxy server intermediary was used to adapt Web pages to meet the needs of older adults. Since that report, we field tested the prototype and learned of problems with the proxy approach. We report on the lessons learned from that work and on our new approach towards meeting the Web needs of older adults and users with disabilities. This new software makes adaptations on the client machine, with greater accuracy and speed than was possible with the proxy server approach. It transforms Web pages "on the fly", without requiring that all Web content be re-written. The new software has been in use for a year and we report here on our findings from the usage. We discuss this approach in the context of Web accessibility standards and Web usability.
Accessibility designer
Authors: Takagi Hironobu , Asakawa Chieko , Fukuda Kentarou , Maeda Junji
Published: June 2007

These days, accessibility-related regulations and guidelines have been accelerating the improvement of Web accessibility. One of the accelerating factors is the development and deployment of accessibility evaluation tools for authoring time and repair time. They mainly focus on creating compliant Web sites by analyzing the HTML syntax of pages, and report that pages are compliant when there are no syntactical errors. However, such compliant pages are often not truly usable by blind users. This is because current evaluation tools merely check if the HTML tags are appropriately used to be compliant with regulations and guidelines. It would be better if such tools paid more attention to real usability, especially on time-oriented usability factors, such as the speed to reach target content, the ease of understanding the page structure, and the navigability, in order to help Web designers to create not simply compliant pages but also usable pages for the blind. Therefore, we decided to develop Accessibility Designer (aDesigner), which has capabilities to visualize blind users' usability by using colors and gradations. The visualization function allows Web designers to grasp the weak points in their pages, and to recognize how accessible or inaccessible their pages are at a glance. In this paper, after reviewing the related work, we describe our approach to visualize blind users' usability followed by an overview of Accessibility Designer. We then report on our evaluations of real Web sites using Accessibility Designer. After discussing the results, we conclude the paper.
Semantic bookmarking for non-visual web access
Authors: Mukherjee Saikat , Ramakrishnan I. V. , Kifer Michael
Published: June 2007

Bookmarks are shortcuts that enable quick access of the desired Web content. They have become a standard feature in any browser and recent studies have shown that they can be very useful for non-visual Web access as well. Current bookmarking techniques in assistive Web browsers are rigidly tied to the structure of Web pages. Consequently they are susceptible to even slight changes in the structure of Web pages. In this paper we propose semantic bookmarking for non-visual Web access. With the help of an ontology that represents concepts in a domain, content in Web pages can be semantically associated with bookmarks. As long as these associations can be identified, semantic bookmarks are resilient in the face of structural changes to the Web page. The use of ontologies allows semantic bookmarks to span multiple Web sites covered by a common domain. This contributes to the ease of information retrieval and bookmark maintenance. In this paper we describe highly automated techniques for creating and retrieving semantic bookmarks. These techniques have been incorporated into an assistive Web browser. Preliminary experimental evidence suggests the effectiveness of semantic bookmarks for non-visual Web access.
Are we speaking slower than we type?
Authors: Feng Jinjuan , Sears Andrew
Published: June 2007

As computers are becoming capable of doing numerous things, it is hard to find an office without a computer. Most users depend on the standard keyboard and mouse to communicate with a computer. However, typing is not natural, and requires significant practice or training. Many people never learn to type both fast and accurately. Typing using the standard keyboard is even more difficult for users whose native language does not use the basic Roman character set. In addition, extensive typing puts excessive burden on hands, arms, necks and upper body, which may induce various computer-related problems such as Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI).
Trends in applications
Authors: Helmers Carl
Published: June 2007

Where is the small computer field headed? In order to talk about the future of small computers and their applications, I have to take on the role of a prognosticator, a predictor of future trends and events. Prognostication is an art to which mystical or magical qualities are often attributed, but which in reality is nothing more than a combination of reasoning and imagination based upon observation. The injection of imagination about possible trends and developments makes prognostication a bit different from a narrow linear extrapolation of identified trends. The imagination component is heavily influenced by personal values and philosophies, and represents a feedback of oughts and shoulds into the course of events as they develop. Prognostication is thus a method of extrapolating observed current trends into the future coupled with the prognosticator's opinions of what should be happening. In the terms of the scientist or engineer, prognostication is like an operational amplifier system in which the input signal is the observed set of trends and the feedback network is the prognosticator's personal philosophy and imagination. For example, in predicting the fate of civilization, if one is a congenital pessimist like the members of the Club of Rome, then the predictions will come out claiming disaster and ruin. If one is an optimist about the expanding possibilities created by advancing technology, then a totally different character of prediction will result. When you listen to what I have to say, be warned that I have a definite personal point of view regarding computer technology and its proper uses, and that this shapes the nature of the imagination content and the trends I select to emphasize.
Some further comments on interrupt driven FORTRAN
Authors: Alpert Stephen R.
Published: June 2007

This article will present a few of the design considerations that were necessary in the implementation of the assembly language support for Interrupt Driven FORTRAN. Preliminary information appeared in an article in the previous issue of the SIGMINI Bulletin. Although that article described a single FORTRAN-callable subroutine for the control of an A/D subsystem, the Laboratory Support Library consisted of routines to control the entire interface, including D/A subsystems, relays and digital I/O.
It's a small, small world
Authors: Ryan Philip
Published: June 2007

Much of the research and development for early computers was done in university research laboratories. Colleges and universities were quick to acquire computer facilities for research and for administration. During the early 1960's computers became widely available for instructional purposes. Thus most colleges and universities now have 10-15 years of experience in using computers, and many secondary school systems have 5-10 years of experience. However, in spite of all this effort, most members of our society do not have an adequate understanding of computers or any reasonable likelihood of getting one. Although administrative use has progressed more rapidly than instructional use, it is evident that both areas leave much to be desired. One can give good arguments that computers have not lived up to their promise as an aid to education.
Real-time applications
Authors: Barkley John F.
Published: June 2007

If asked to name every programming language he knows, a person who considers himself knowledgeable in computers should be able to name at least ten. The list probably breaks down into three categories; those which he speaks, those which he does not speak but whose purpose is known, and those for which even the meaning of the name is unknown.
The subsystem approach to enhancing small processor operating systems
Authors: Lane Malcolm G.
Published: June 2007

Operating systems for small processors often do not take full advantage of a small processor's resources. The implementation of a subsystem to enhance the standard operating system has proved to be an effective method to increase the utilization of a small processor's resources.
The design of a space efficient compiler
Authors: Donegan Michael K.
Published: June 2007

Writing a compiler for a small machine with minimal software support can be quite difficult because the program is long and debugging is difficult. This paper describes a method which can be used to reduce the amount of code written and can simultaneously provide good debugging tools. The resulting compiler sacrifices little in terms of speed of execution and with a little more work can be made quite competitive with other techniques. We have used this method to write an MPL (1) compiler for a Microdate 32/S minicomputer. The compiler requires approximately 12K bytes as opposed to 32K bytes required by the compiler produced by the manufacturer and can compile itself in 60 seconds (real time).
Employee computer abusers
Authors: BloomBecker Jay
Published: June 2007

On Thursday, July 2, 1981, Theodore Weg was arraigned in Brooklyn's Criminal Court on the charge of theft of services, a misdemeanor. A programmer for the New York City Board of Education, Weg is alleged to have used the Board's computer to store extensive files of horse geneology, video equipment (which he offered for sale), his own personal financial records, and even a copy of his resume. With Weg's plea of not guilty, the stage is set for an interesting exercise in the application of traditional laws to a very untraditional sort of behavior. Employee use of computers runs the gamut from producing an occasional biorythmn chart to using the company computers to go into a high-volume data processing business.
Standard setting and SIGSAC
Authors: Bariff Martin L.
Published: June 2007

Presently, standards for integrity, security and auditability of information systems are developed by ANSC X3 and X9, IEEE-CS, DoD, NBS, AICPA, GAO, IIA and EDPAA. Other organizations are considering such efforts. As concerned members of SIGSAC, we have an interest, a responsibility and an opportunity to help shape relevant standard-setting activities. ACM is a formal voting member of ANSC X3.
A computer fraud survey
Authors: Richards Thomas C.
Published: June 2007

The informed reader will agree that it is very difficult to obtain hard facts regarding computer fraud. The literature contains many articles quoting one or two of the primary studies discussed below. One of these studies of computer related crime is the SRI project, which has been underway for over ten years. This study has resulted in the publication of numerous reports during the last ten years (3,4,8), plus a number of articles (6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16). The SRI project includes statistics from some 700 to 800 cases of computer crime. Unfortunately, for privacy and confidentiality reasons, the complete details of these cases are not readily available to the interested researcher. The National Computer Centre in Manchester, England is developing a case file similar to SRI's. The Caulfield Institute of Technology in Australia also has a file of computer crime cases. Another source of cases is the National Center for Computer Crime Data in Los Angeles. The General Accounting Office (17) produced a study of sixty-nine cases of improper use of computers within Federal Goverment agencies about ten years ago.
Information security and office automation
Authors: Schweitzer J.
Published: June 2007

The very nature of the traditional office environment makes the task of securing information in the automated office a difficult one. But automation provides a great opportunity to implement controls and to bring order to an often chaotic office working situation.
Patient auditing with potent results
Authors: Rubin Hanan
Published: June 2007

The role of Internal Auditing is to provide Protection at a level that management requires and, beyond that, to influence the manner of conducting business operations so that high Quality of performance results.
The 'people problem' issue of data security
Authors: Forcht Karen A.
Published: June 2007

Every computer installation is vulnerable to criminal activity. In the computer environment today, the possibilities of fraud, abuse, and theft are limited only by the criminal's imagination.
RTFILE
Authors: Natale Robert C.
Published: June 2007

The main purpose of this paper is to discuss about RTFILE and its utilities.
Minimal multitasking operating systems for real-time controllers
Authors: Kuenning Geoffrey H.
Published: June 2007

In many dedicated microprocessor applications, a full-feature operating system is not required. A methodology is presented for the design of extremely minimal operating systems for such applications. The emphasis is on providing the most basic facilities quickly, without precluding later improvements and additions.
A programming environment for small business
Authors: Leigh James , Leigh William
Published: June 2007

In order to provide cost effective applications programming for small businesses, it is necessary to have the proper programming tools, including a structured high level language, file access methods, terminal interface routines, and a data dictionary.

The approach to provide a stable and portable programming environment incorporating a consistent set of programming tools is discussed in this paper.
Adaptive power management a hierarchical/distributed system
Authors: Honey William F.
Published: June 2007

The automatic control of electrical system (ACES) for aircraft shipboard applications was first demonstrated at the Westinghouse Aerospace Electrical Division in 1970 [4]. This system was implemented on a single computer which controlled the hardware directly with discrete signals. Presently Hierarchical and Distributed computer architectures are being evaluated [3, 14], to perform the ACES task. Westinghouse is pursuing a combined Hierarchical/Distributed architecture for its Adaptive Power Management (APM) system [5]. The Hierarchical network performs system control, conflict resolution, and top level resource monitoring and adaption/reconfiguration. The Distributed network performs the system Input/Output functions, all direct control and coordination of the peripherial hardware and the adaption/reconfiguration of their resource/control tables (see Figure 10). In addition, APM complies with the Air Forces requirement to use the standard DAIS AN/AYK-15A processor [10, 11]; the standard higher order programming language as defined in MIL-STD-1589 [12], and interface and data bus multiplex system standard MIL-STD-1553B [8, 9].
Software-fault detector for microprocessors
Authors: Itano Kozo , Ida Tetsuo
Published: June 2007

For the realization of the means to develop more reliable software for the microcomputers especially in real time environments, we design a hardware tool called “software-fault detector” which detects software faults such as misaccess to an element beyond the range of an array. The implementation of the mechanism for such address range checks is generally difficult in microprocessor environment, since internal registers are not readily visible to external logics. We introduce an “incremental” key-lock protection scheme into the fixed microcomputer architecture of the INTEL 8080 because of its popularity and simplicity. In this scheme, a “lock” is a protection code associated with the storage cell, and a “key” is associated with access capability such as address. In each memory access to a cell, a check is made whether a key matched against the lock of the addressed cell. In this paper, we present the details of the scheme and its analysis. Further, we present an actual hardware design of the software fault detector. Our design methodology is to realize a dector by the use of identical microprocessor 8080s, as an independent one-board module which could be connected to the memory bus of the host system.
The micro actuarial calculator - a case study
Authors: Jackson F. P. , Heabich W.
Published: June 2007

This paper describes an attempt to implement a large but well understood program on a microcomputer. The problems encountered are a lesson to any who think that the microprocessor revolution has provided full computer facilities at bargain prices.
The automated desk
Authors: Yedwab Laura , Herot Christopher F. , Rosenberg Ronni L. , Gross Carol
Published: June 2007

The
Automated Desk
is an online, spatial interface to a time-shared computer utility. It supports a user in organizing, locating, and handling computerized information and tools. Naive computer users benefit from the ability to use the power of an operating system without knowing operating system commands. Experienced programmers benefit from the ability to “browse” a large number of “virtual terminals,” each running instances of various software programs. All users benefit from the ability to access computer-resident information while retaining the familiar visual orientation of the office desk.

The user sees his “desk top” through an intelligent display terminal that is connected to a host computer. The desk top is a large flat surface about 100 times the size of an ordinary desk top. On it, the user can place objects in groupings that are meaningful to him. Processes can be associated with these objects to perform any online information handling function.

The Automated Desk is a derivative of the Spatial Data Management System (SDMS) implemented by Computer Corporation of America. In the Automated Desk, the essential SDMS concepts of spatial organization and pictorial identification are implemented in simple ways on equipment of modest cost. The objective of the Automated Desk is to put key SDMS-like capabilities into an inexpensive product that runs on widely-available equipment. It is intended for widespread use in practical applications.
An architecture for a relational dataflow database
Authors: Bic Lubomir , Herendeen Mike
Published: June 2007

A relational database system based on the principles of functional, data-driven computation is proposed. An architecture composed of a large number of independent, asynchronously operating processing units, each equiped with a separate memory unit holding a portion of the database is shown which implements the relational database system. All processing units are interconnected via 1) a circular shift-register bus, and 2) a daisy chain connection.

Relations are represented as streams of values (tuples) where each value is carried by a unique token. To perform a query on the data base, relations involved in the query are replicated from the database as streams and used as inputs to dataflow programs (graphs) implementing the relational algebra.

All operators represented within the dataflow program are executed by independent processing units and are data-driven. Proceeding asynchronously as stream values needed as inputs are produced.

A time complexity of O(n) is achieved for any relational algebra query assuming a sufficient number of processing units are available.
Data bases for microcomputers
Authors: Bouchet P. , Chesnais A. , Feuvre J. M. , Jomier G.
Published: June 2007

In this paper we present PEPIN, a relational data base management system implemented on microcomputers, written in PASCAL and developped by the performance evaluation project at INRIA.

At the moment, as we work towards a totally distributed system, the base versions of PEPIN are operational and support tasks oriented to office automation applications.
Cognition and learning
Authors: Rose David H.
Published: June 2007

Recent advances in the cognitive sciences, and especially in the cognitive neurosciences, have made one thing abundantly clear -- there is no simple way to characterize, or localize, cognition. The journal Cognitive Psychology takes a typical approach to this problem; instead of directly defining cognitive psychology, the journal lists the kinds of processes that are commonly included -- memory, language processing, perception, problem solving, and thinking.
Digital divide and learning disabilities
Authors: Pieper M.
Published: June 2007

A 1998 inquiry by the U.S. government showed that 42% of all U.S. households had a computer and 26% regularly used e-mail or more far-reaching Internet-based services. More recent but not fully comparable studies have revealed, that gradually, the originally extremely remarkable differences in Internet use between men and women and young and elderly have decreased, which is probably due primarily to the increasing user-friendliness and controllability of graphical user interfaces. But at present, income-caused, educationally conditioned differences in Internet use are increasing dramatically.