A comparative study of three simulation languages as applied to manufacturing facility simulation

A study was conducted to compare and evaluate the three prominent simulation languages; GPSS/H, SLAM, and SIMSCRIPT II.5. The main objective of the research was to identify the most appropriate language among the three as applied to manufacturing facility simulation. The most important qualitative features of the three languages were discussed and compared based on a pre-defined set of criteria. The performances of the three languages were evaluated based on another set of criteria. A hypothetical model of a manufacturing facility was used for the evaluation. An experiment was designed to measure the performances of the languages under different conditions. Three model configurations and five different simulation periods were considered in the design of the experiment. Intensive statistical analyses were conducted to analyze the results that were collected from the various trials of the simulation models;In all the cases that were considered in the experiment, GPSS was found to be the most appropriate language among the three. In comparison of period lengths and scale of model, it compiled and executed faster, it used less CPU and memory time, and the rates of change in execution, CPU, and memory times variables were much less than those of the other two languages due to increases in the simulation period and to enlargements in the model size

Maternity Departments’ supervisors

This course will enable the supervisor midwife to participate in the research process in midwifery. Contents will focus on problem identification, research design, sampling, data collection and analysis and interpretation of findings. Special attention will be given to develop the ability to criticize research studies in women's and maternal issues and to the selection of a researchable problem and the development of a plan

Using a Mobile Multimedia System to Improve Information Exchange in EMS.

This research uses multiple research methodologies guided by Information Systems Design Theory (ISDT) to design and evaluate a mobile multimedia information system for Emergency Medical Services (EMS). We examined the impact of multimedia information for EMS information exchange and decision-making. A field study was designed and conducted in the Boise, Idaho region for three months to evaluate the system and validate ISDT design propositions. Findings from qualitative analysis illustrated the value of digital images and audio recordings for improving information exchange and augmenting medical decision-making. This paper describes the problem and justification, presents the system design, the pilot test methodology and findings and overall implications and future research directions

Naturally occurring autoantibodies against beta-amyloid: investigating their role in transgenic animal and in vitro models of Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder primarily affecting regions of the brain responsible for higher cognitive functions. Immunization against β-amyloid (Aβ) in animal models of AD has been shown to be effective on the molecular level but also on the behavioral level. Recently, we reported naturally occurring autoantibodies against Aβ (NAbs-Aβ) being reduced in Alzheimer's disease patients. Here, we further investigated their physiological role: in epitope mapping studies, NAbs-Aβ recognized the mid-/C-terminal end of Aβ and preferentially bound to oligomers but failed to bind to monomers/fibrils. NAbs-Aβ were able to interfere with Aβ peptide toxicity, but NAbs-Aβ did not readily clear senile plaques although early fleecy-like plaques were reduced. Administration of NAbs-Aβ in transgenic mice improved the object location memory significantly, almost reaching performance levels of wild-type control mice. These findings suggest a novel physiological mechanism involving NAbs-Aβ to dispose of proteins or peptides that are prone to forming toxic aggregates

Lung-derived macrophage migration inhibitory factor in adult patients with septic shock, and its role in cardiocirculatory depression

Migration inhibitory factor (MIF), a critical proinflammatory mediator in sepsis, has a profound affect on cardiovascular function. Our animal studies show that the lungs release MIF into the systemic circulation during late sepsis. MIF released in this way has direct and immediate access to cardiac cells. The purpose of our study was to assess the lung as a source of MIF in human septic shock patients and to further study the MIF-associated pathways involved in cardiovascular depression