A metric to represent the evolution of CAD/analysis models in collaborative design

Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) models are often used during product design. Various interactions between the different models must be managed for the designed system to be robust and in accordance with initially defined specifications. Research published to date has for example considered the link between digital mock-up and analysis models. However design/analysis integration must take into consideration the important number of models (digital mock-up and simulation) due to model evolution in time, as well as considering system engineering. To effectively manage modifications made to the system, the dependencies between the different models must be known and the nature of the modification must be characterised to estimate the impact of the modification throughout the dependent models. We propose a technique to describe the nature of a modification which may be used to determine the consequence within other models as well as a way to qualify the modified information. To achieve this, a metric is proposed that allows the qualification and evaluation of data or information, based on the maturity and validity of information and model

Quantifying critical thinking: Development and validation of the Physics Lab Inventory of Critical thinking (PLIC)

Introductory physics lab instruction is undergoing a transformation, with increasing emphasis on developing experimentation and critical thinking skills. These changes present a need for standardized assessment instruments to determine the degree to which students develop these skills through instructional labs. In this article, we present the development and validation of the Physics Lab Inventory of Critical thinking (PLIC). We define critical thinking as the ability to use data and evidence to decide what to trust and what to do. The PLIC is a 10-question, closed-response assessment that probes student critical thinking skills in the context of physics experimentation. Using interviews and data from 5584 students at 29 institutions, we demonstrate, through qualitative and quantitative means, the validity and reliability of the instrument at measuring student critical thinking skills. This establishes a valuable new assessment instrument for instructional labs.Comment: 16 pages, 4 figure

Engineering simulations for cancer systems biology

Computer simulation can be used to inform in vivo and in vitro experimentation, enabling rapid, low-cost hypothesis generation and directing experimental design in order to test those hypotheses. In this way, in silico models become a scientific instrument for investigation, and so should be developed to high standards, be carefully calibrated and their findings presented in such that they may be reproduced. Here, we outline a framework that supports developing simulations as scientific instruments, and we select cancer systems biology as an exemplar domain, with a particular focus on cellular signalling models. We consider the challenges of lack of data, incomplete knowledge and modelling in the context of a rapidly changing knowledge base. Our framework comprises a process to clearly separate scientific and engineering concerns in model and simulation development, and an argumentation approach to documenting models for rigorous way of recording assumptions and knowledge gaps. We propose interactive, dynamic visualisation tools to enable the biological community to interact with cellular signalling models directly for experimental design. There is a mismatch in scale between these cellular models and tissue structures that are affected by tumours, and bridging this gap requires substantial computational resource. We present concurrent programming as a technology to link scales without losing important details through model simplification. We discuss the value of combining this technology, interactive visualisation, argumentation and model separation to support development of multi-scale models that represent biologically plausible cells arranged in biologically plausible structures that model cell behaviour, interactions and response to therapeutic interventions

How Concurrent Engineering Reconfigures Process Engineering Activity - The Case of the Chemical Industry

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Indicators of prescribing quality in drug utilisation research: report of a European meeting (DURQUIM, 13-15 May 2004)

An invitational expert meeting on indicators of prescribing quality was held on 13-15 May 2004, bringing together-from 19 European countries, the US, Canada, and Australia-40 researchers specialized in the development and application of indicators. The meeting was organized by the European Drug Utilization Research Group (EuroDURG), the Belgian National Health Insurance Institute (RIZIV-INAMI), and the World Health Organisation Regional Office for Europe (WHO-Euro). The field of prescribing quality was defined and delineated from the medical error field. A conceptual grid for classifying quality indicators was discussed, combining two axes (a drug/disease/patient axis and a structure/process/outcome axis). In addition, available databases were listed for continuous monitoring of drug utilization in Europe, with a description of the content and the richness of the collected data, as well as the impact on the potential and limitations to develop quality indicators. The importance of the origin of data for validity assessment was stressed, as data on drug utilization may originate from physician sources (prescribing data), from pharmacist or health insurer sources (distribution data), or directly from patient sources (compliance data). The different aspects of validity and their methods of assessment were listed. An overview of the (in)appropriate uses of indicators was given. The state of the art of the development and application of prescribing quality indicators in all represented countries was made, together with a first draft of a database of prescribing quality indicators, already subjected to validation procedures

AOSpine—Spine Trauma Classification System: The Value of Modifiers: A Narrative Review With Commentary on Evolving Descriptive Principles

Study Design: Narrative review. Objectives: To describe the current AOSpine Trauma Classification system for spinal trauma and highlight the value of patient-specific modifiers for facilitating communication and nuances in treatment. Methods: The classification for spine trauma previously developed by The AOSpine Knowledge Forum is reviewed and the importance of case modifiers in this system is discussed. Results: A successful classification system facilitates communication and agreement between physicians while also determining injury severity and provides guidance on prognosis and treatment. As each injury may be unique among different patients, the importance of considering patient-specific characteristics is highlighted in this review. In the current AOSpine Trauma Classification, the spinal column is divided into 4 regions: the upper cervical spine (C0-C2), subaxial cervical spine (C3-C7), thoracolumbar spine (T1-L5), and the sacral spine (S1-S5, including coccyx). Each region is classified according to a hierarchical system with increasing levels of injury or instability and represents the morphology of the injury, neurologic status, and clinical modifiers. Specifically, these clinical modifiers are denoted starting with M followed by a number. They describe unique conditions that may change treatment approach such as the presence of significant soft tissue damage, uncertainty about posterior tension band injury, or the presence of a critical disc herniation in a cervical bilateral facet dislocation. These characteristics are described in detail for each spinal region. Conclusions: Patient-specific modifiers in the AOSpine Trauma Classification highlight unique clinical characteristics for each injury and facilitate communication and treatment between surgeons

Modelling iteration in engineering design

This paper examines design iteration and its modelling in the simulation of New Product Development (NPD) processes. A framework comprising six perspectives of iteration is proposed and it is argued that the importance of each perspective depends upon domain-specific factors. Key challenges of modelling iteration in process simulation frameworks such as the Design Structure Matrix are discussed, and we argue that no single model or framework can fully capture the iterative dynamics of an NPD process. To conclude, we propose that consideration of iteration and its representation could help identify the most appropriate modelling framework for a given process and modelling objective, thereby improving the fidelity of design process simulation models and increasing their utility

The applicability of the decisional conflict scale in nursing home placement decision among Chinese family caregivers: A mixed methods approach

This study aimed to 1) examine relationships between uncertainty, perceived information, personal values, social support, and filial obligation among Chinese family caregivers faced with nursing home placement of an older adult family member with dementia; and 2) describe the applicability of the Decisional Conflict Scale in nursing home placement decision making among Chinese family caregivers through the integration of quantitative and qualitative data. We used a mixed-methods approach. Quantitative data analysis consisted of descriptive and correlational statistics. We utilized a thematic analysis for the qualitative data. Data transformation and data comparison techniques were used to combine qualitative and quantitative data. Thirty Chinese family caregivers living in Taiwan caring for an older adult with dementia participated in this study. We found a significant association among the quantitative findings, which indicated that perceived information, personal values, social support, and filial obligation, and nursing home placement decisional conflict. Mixed-method data analysis additionally revealed that conflicting differences existed between the traditional role of Chinese family collective decision making and the contemporary role of single family member surrogate decision making. Although the Decisional Conflict Scale can be utilized when exploring nursing home placement for an older adult with dementia among Chinese family caregivers, applicability issues existed regarding cultural beliefs and values related to filial piety and family collectivism. Findings strongly support the need for researchers to consider cultural beliefs and values when selecting tools that assess health-related decision making across cultures. Further research is needed to explore the role culture plays in nursing home decision making

Extended Model of Managing Risk in New Product Development Projects

The aim of this research was to study new product development (NDP) projects-related risks and the literature in this field, as well as to develop a specific extendedmodel of managing risks in npd projects, which will consider the nature of npd projects. Data were collected with the help of the developed questionnaire, and project managers with several years of experience in the field of NPD projects were included. The data and hypotheses were tested with the use of statistical methods. Results of the study show that for NPD projects, it seems to be crucial to plan risks in the early stages of the project, especially focused on the definition of the technical requirements for the product and the related clear project objectives. Poorly defined technical requirements for the product present an important risk related with the design uncertainty of the product. The more imprecise the technical requirements for the product before the project starts, the higher is the design uncertainty of the product after its development. Unclear project objectives have a significant effect on the time-delay of NPD projects. The more imprecisely the project objectives are defined before the project starts, the greater is the time-delay on the NPD project.project management risk, factors, product development, planning, model