bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Applying Visualisation to Validating Software System Requirements
Authors: Parry Paul  , Siddiqi Jawed
Published: February 2025

This paper describes the application of visualisation to the validation of software system requirements. It enhances the popular validation technique of prototyping because the execution of prototypes offer minimalistic or rudimentary presentation styles with little or no regard to customer comprehension. Visualisation enables the results generated by prototype execution to be presented using a rich repertoire of representations and more importantly, using imagery that is borrowed directly from the customer's own domain. This paper presents some of the pertinent issues in applying visualisation to this area, and describes the results of our efforts in developing an approach that visualises prototype execution behaviour.
Formal Modeling of Clinical Processes: Experiments in Oncology and Future Perspectives
Authors: Eccher Claudio  , Ferro Antonella  , Pisanelli Domenico M.
Published: February 2025

Interest is growing throughout the world in the use of clinical guidelines as instruments for facilitating the spread of medical knowledge. In this paper we present the UML formalization of the breast cancer care process carried out in the S. Chiara Hospital in the context of the ONCOCURE project, which aims at developing a guideline-based decision support system embedded in a legacy patient management system.
Links Between Quantum Physics and Thought
Authors: Robson Barry
Published: February 2025

Quantum mechanics (QM) provides a variety of ideas that can assist in developing Artificial Intelligence for healthcare, and opens the possibility of developing a unified system of Best Practice for inference that will embrace both QM and classical inference. Of particular interest is inference in the hyperbolic-complex plane, the counterpart of the normal i-complex plane of basic QM. There are two reasons. First, QM appears to rotate from i-complex Hilbert space to hyperbolic-complex descriptions when observations are made on wave functions as particles, yielding classical results, and classical laws of probability manipulation (e.g. the law of composition of probabilities) then hold, whereas in the i-complex plane they do not. Second, i-complex Hilbert space is not the whole story in physics. Hyperbolic complex planes arise in extension from the Dirac-Clifford calculus to particle physics, in relativistic correction thereby, and in regard to spinors and twisters. Generalization of these forms resemble grammatical constructions and promote the idea that probability-weighted algebraic elements can be used to hold dimensions of syntactic and semantic meaning. It is also starting to look as though when a solution is reached by an inference system in the hyperbolic-complex, the hyperbolic-imaginary values disappear, while conversely hyperbolic-imaginary values are associated with the un-queried state of a system and goal seeking behavior.
Maintaining Your Health from Within: Controls for Nanorobot Swarms in Fluids
Authors: Hogg Tad
Published: February 2025

Molecular electronics and nanoscale chemical sensors could enable the construction of microscopic sensors capable of detecting patterns of chemicals as they flow passively in a fluid. Information from a large number of such devices allow the estimation of properties of tiny chemical sources in a macroscopic tissue volume. Although such devices cannot yet be fabricated, estimates of plausible device capabilities in small blood vessels allow the evaluation of their performance for typical chemicals released by tissues in response to localized injury or infection. The devices can readily discriminate a single cell-sized chemical source from the background chemical concentration, providing high resolution sensing in both time and space. By contrast, such a chemical source would be difficult to distinguish from background when diluted throughout the blood volume as obtained with a blood sample. These microscopic, programmable devices could also aid treatments, such as precisely targeting drug delivery and improving speed and accuracy of microsurgery.
Future of Obesity Prevention and Treatment
Authors: Ness-Abramof Rosane  , Apovian Caroline M.
Published: February 2025

The prevalence of obesity has risen sharply during the last 4 decades imposing a serious health burden to modern society. Obesity is known to cause and exacerbate many chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, coronary heart disease, stroke, obstructive sleep apnea and certain cancers, among many others. The rise in obesity prevalence is mainly caused by overconsumption of energy, coupled to a sedentary life in susceptible individuals. Weight homeostasis is paramount for survival and its control is coordinated by neural and endocrine signals emanating from the fat tissue, digestive system and brain. During thousands of years humans were challenged by nutrient deprivation, developing an efficient mechanism to store energy. It explains the difficulty in losing weight, making obesity prevention the main effective health approach to halt the obesity epidemic.
Model Driven Development based Framework for Autonomic Mobile Commerce Engineering
Authors: Abuseta Yousef  , Taleb-Bendiab A.
Published: February 2025

Mobile Commerce is composed of applications and services that are accessible from Internet-enabled mobile devices such as phones and PDAs. However, this device and location independent accessibility has brought a set of technical challenges that needs to be addressed so mobile devices users can make business and use different services in an easy and secure environment. Such challenges may include guaranteed service provision, assurance, and security. To overcome and address the latter challenges, we propose in this paper an autonomic computing based framework that serves as a complete lifecycle process for autonomic mobile commerce development. Such s framework is compliant with the Model Driven Development (MDD) approach to minimise the technology change effect and to include the domain expert in the design loop. Since a set of models is involved, one for each stage and these models are very likely to be modified in order for the system under study to evolve and respond to some events, a synchronisation mechanism should be put in place to maintain the stability and integrity characteristics. A model synchronisation framework is presented here which is based on the autonomic computing idea where the model at any stage is treated as a managed element. The model here is also seen as a service that can be queried to view some specific information and enables (via the sensing and actuation layer in this case) making required changes and modifications.
Using a Simulated Annealing to Enhance Learning in Adjustment Processes
Authors: Samà Albert  , Ruiz Francisco J.  , Agell Núria  , Angulo Cecilio
Published: February 2025

This paper introduces a new approach to enhance learning in adjustment processes by using a support vector machine (SVM) algorithm as discriminant function jointly with an action generator module. The method trains a SVM with state-action patterns and uses trained SVM to select an appropriate action given a certain state in order to reach the target state. The system incorporates a simulated annealing technique to increase the exploration capacity and improve the ability to avoid local minima. The methodology has been tested in an example with artificial data.
Secure and Optimal Base Contraction in Graded Łukasiewicz Logics
Authors: Pardo Pere  , Dellunde Pilar  , Godo Lluís
Published: February 2025

The operation of base contraction was successfully characterized for a very general class of logics using the notion of remainder sets. Nevertheless, in the general case, this notion is inadequate for revision, where it is replaced by maximal consistent subsets. A natural question is whether this latter notion allows for a definition of contraction-like operators and, in case it does, what differences there exist w.r.t. standard contraction. We make some steps towards this direction for the case of graded expansions of one of the most prominent fuzzy logics, Łukasiewicz logic. We characterize contraction operators with a fixed security-threshold ϵ>0; we prove soundness of (an optimal) ω-contraction operation, and a collapse theorem from ω- to some ϵ-contraction for finite theories.
A boost in exchange rate forecasting: qualitative variables, technical indicators and parameters selection
Authors: Sanabria José Antonio  , Sánchez Germán  , Agell Núria
Published: February 2025

This paper tries to determine, through the use of Support Vector Machines (SVM), the impact that technical indicators, a qualitative variable and the choice of free parameters selection have on a model's forecasting performance, power and accuracy applied to currency exchange rate prediction. This approach was applied to the weekly currency exchange rate between the European euro andc the US dollar. The results obtained show that the proposed factors can significantly impact the model's forecasting performance compared to traditional models where no qualitative information is incorporated.
Role of temporally asymmetric synaptic plasticity to memorize group-synchronous patterns of neural activity
Authors: Scarpetta Silvia  , Giacco Ferdinando  , Marinaro Maria
Published: February 2025

Many experimental results have generated renewed appreciation that precise temporal synchronization, and synchronized oscillatory activity in distributed groups of neurons, may play a fundamental role in perception, memory and sensory computation, especially to encode relationship and increase saliency. Here we investigate how precise temporal synchronization of groups of neurons can be memorized as attractors of the network dynamics. Multiple patterns, each corresponding to different groups of synchronized oscillatory activity, are encoded using a temporally asymmetric learning rule inspired to the spike-timing-dependent plasticity recently observed in cortical area. In this paper we compare the results previously obtained for phase-locked oscillation in the random phases hypothesis, to the case of patterns with synchronous subgroups of neurons, each pattern having neurons with only Q = 4 possible values of the phase.
Neural Networks and Metabolic Networks: Fault Tolerance and Robustness Features
Authors: Conti Vincenzo  , Lanza Barbara  , Vitabile Salvatore  , Sorbello Filippo
Published: February 2025

The main objective of this work is the comparison between metabolic networks and neural networks (ANNs) in terms of their robustness and fault tolerance capabilities. In the context of metabolic networks errors are random removal of network nodes, while attacks are failures in the network caused intentionally. In the contest of neural networks errors are usually defined configurations of input submitted to the network that are affected by noise, while the failures are defined as the removal of some network neurons. This study have proven that ANNs are very robust networks, with respect to the presence of noise in the inputs, and the partial removal of some nodes, until it reached a critical threshold; while, metabolic networks are very tolerant to random failures (absence of a critical threshold), but extremely vulnerable to targeted attacks.
A Partitioned Frequency Block Algorithm for Blind Separation in Reverberant Environments
Authors: Scarpiniti Michele  , Picaro Andrea  , Parisi Raffaele  , Uncini Aurelio
Published: February 2025

In this paper a blind source separation algorithm in reverberant environment is presented. The algorithms working in such adverse environments are usually characterized by a huge computational cost. In order to reduce the computational complexity of this kind of algorithms a partitioned frequency domain approach is proposed. Several experimental results are shown to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Generating Cases for E-Learning
Authors: Sonntag Michael
Published: February 2025

Real life law cases can be analyzed and modeled, but the reverse direction is possible, too: Creating artificial cases based on an ontology. Combined with adaptivity, such cases can be used in E-Learning as exercises for learners. This paper presents an approach for generating cases based on assembling text fragments combined with an ontology for verifying whether these fragments are compatible and the resulting case is factually and legally possible. An exemplary implementation of the subject area of domain name disputes is shown as a proof of concept.
Health Care Services, Information Systems & Sustainability
Authors: Hovenga Evelyn J.S.
Published: February 2025

This chapter gives an educational overview of:
Practice-Based Evidence for Clinical Practice Improvement: An Alternative Study Design for Evidence-Based Medicine
Authors: Horn Susan D.  , Gassaway Julie  , Pentz Leah  , James Roberta
Published: February 2025

This chapter gives an educational overview of
On formalization of object model by unifying intensional and extensional representations
Authors: Savnik Iztok
Published: February 2025

In this paper we present the consequences of unifying the representation of the schema and the instance levels of an object programming language to the formal representation of object model. The uniform representation of schema and instance levels of object languages is achieved, as in the frame-based knowledge representation languages [9], by representing them using a uniform set of modeling constructs. We show that, using such an approach, the structural part of the object language model can be described in a clear manner providing the simple means for the description of the main constructs of the structural model and the relationships among them. Further, we study the consequences of releasing the boundary between the schema and the instance levels of an object programming language by allowing the definition of objects which include data from both levels. We show that few changes are needed in order to augment the previously presented formal definition of the structural part of object language to represent the extended object model.
Towards Information Modeling Framework in Business Network Research
Authors: Aaltonen Jukka  , Kuru Juhani  , Turunen Annamari  , Kurtti Tytti
Published: February 2025

The governance of diverse organizational information is salient for successful business. In inter-organizational environments timely, controlled and targeted sharing and exchange of business knowledge is even more critical in creating new collaborative business opportunities and benefiting from the trustworthy and efficient existing economic relationships. Especially in travel industry supply chains, information technology based solutions that support trustworthy and timely sharing of the managerial and operational business information are needed. For this reason, research that focuses on the variety of generic and domain specific phenomena that manifest in knowledge intensive business network contexts requires a suitable theoretical framework to enable the design of novel information modeling, knowledge acquisition and information system design requirements eliction methods that are applicable at business network stakeholder level. As this kind of business network study is inherently multidisciplinary, the interoperability of the individual research disciplines and therein generated artifacts should be facilitated by the iterative evolution of research field specific conceptualizations. The creation of such concept models are a gateway to depicting the relevant business information and to developing software systems that support inter-organizational collaborations. In this research a framework is presented that supports the development of theoretically produced conceptualizations, that aid in organizing and analyzing the gathered intra- and inter-organizational data that represents the static structures of organizations and dynamic network behaviors (for example, in form of application use scenarios, business rules or legal agreements). Additionally it can be used to organize these essential research constructs to be continually elaborated and enhanced and on which other theoretical, multidisciplinary and practical solutions can be founded on.
Prototype Systems of Life Support Network for Rural Living People
Authors: Sasaki Jun  , Yamada Keizo  , Tanaka Michiru  , Funyu Yutaka
Published: February 2025

. Life Support Network (LSN) has been proposed to support childcare, healthcare and safety monitoring for people living in rural areas. Our projects discussed the requirement and designed concrete services of LSN. Based on those studies, the prototype systems are developed for Shiwa town and Tono city of Iwate Prefecture in Japan. In this paper, the system structure and architecture of LSN are described at first, then, main developed functions of the prototype systems and those experimental results are introduced. Finally, some obtained issues and future works to construct an ideal LSN are discussed.
Changes in surface roughness in multi-reverse sand-steel interface tests
Authors: Dietz M.  , Lings M.
Published: February 2025

The mechanical response of sand-steel interfaces evolves with shear displacement. Whereas the peak and immediate post-peak stages have often been the main focus, the response at substantially larger displacements has received much less attention. Here it is demonstrated that sand-steel interfaces are subject to wear processes and that interfacial wear can have a profound effect on ultimate response. Multi-reverse interface tests conducted within a modified direct shear apparatus demonstrate the occurrence of both sand particle attrition and steel surface abrasion even at low stress levels. Fractal geometry is used to show that surface abrasion can increase or decrease surface roughness. At quite modest shear displacements a ‘run-in’ angle of friction is mobilized that is both constant and virtually independent of the initial surface roughness. It may represent the most appropriate operational angle of interface friction in many field situations.
Archive and catalogue system for receiving satellite data as a part of academic SDI
Authors: Grill Stanislav  , Jedlička Jan  , Schneider Michal  , Štefanová Eva
Published: February 2025

With an increasing number of satellite systems and applications one can see a growing demand for data at universities and research institutions. Department of Applied Geoinformatics and Cartography have installed a receiving station for continuously acquiring data from the following selected satellite systems – Envisat (Meris), MSG second generation, NOAA and Metop. This system represents a very intensive daily data flow. Received data are filtered and stored within disk arrays and magnetic tapes. These steps need to be taken prior to data storage in file systems. SDI was created with an emphasis on a simple common gateway to the spatial data at the Faculty of Science.
Factors that Affect the Recording and Exploration of Archaeological Sites Using Remote Sensing and GIS Techniques
Authors: Perakis Konstantinos  , Moysiadis Athanasios
Published: February 2025

This study aims to register existing archaeological sites and the most probable localisation of new ones by means of Remote Sensing and GIS techniques. Archaeological sites have to be recorded in all phases of an archaeological dig, not only for coordinating the dig itself but also for monitoring and protection purposes. The factors such as environmental, historical and geological that justify the existence and contribute to the discovery of an archaeological site are analysed. Suitable land use zones that are most indicative for the existence of a site can be defined. An existing archaeological site can be recorded by means of aerial and satellite imagery. The limitations and advantages of each are examined. The registration of land use and land cover around archaeological remains support the environmental impact assessment. The analysis of the afore-mentioned factors in initially realized by geo-referencing the factors in a projection system. Scaling the resulting thematic maps into probability ones leads to the application of the “orthogonal sum” operation between them. The final resulting probability map, incorporating all the existing information, shows the most probable locations of the existence of archaeological sites. The same methodological chain can be applied in other regions of the same area in order to define the probabilities of existence of other archaeological sites.
An adaptive condition-based maintenance policy with environmental factors
Authors: Deloux Estelle  , Castanier Bruno  , Bérenguer Christophe
Published: February 2025

This paper deals with the construction and optimisation of accurate condition-based maintenance policies for cumulative deteriorating systems. In this context, the system condition behavior can be influenced by different environmental factors which contribute to increasing or reducing the degradation rate. The observed condition can deviate from the expected condition if the degradation model does not embrace these environmental factors. Moreover, if more information is available on the environment variations, the maintenance decision framework should take advantage of this new information and update the decision. The question is how shall we model the decision framework for this? A gamma process-degradation model with randomized parameters is proposed to model the influence of the random environment on the system behavior. An adaptive maintenance policy is constructed which takes into account the environmental changes. The mathematical framework is presented here and a numerical experiment is conducted to highlight the benefit of our approach.
Realism for scientific ontologies
Authors: Dumontier Michel  , Hoehndorf Robert
Published: February 2025

Science aims to develop an accurate understanding of reality through a variety of rigorously empirical and formal methods. Ontologies are used to formalize the meaning of terms within a domain of discourse. The Basic Formal Ontology (BFO) is an ontology of particular importance in the biomedical domains, where it provides the top-level for numerous ontologies, including those admitted as part of the OBO Foundry collection. The BFO requires that all classes in an ontology are actually instantiated in reality. Despite the fact that it is hard to show whether entities of some kind exist or do not exist in reality (especially for unobservable entities like elementary particles), this criterion fails to satisfy the need of scientists to communicate their findings and theories unambiguously. We discuss the problems that arise due to the BFO's realism criterion and suggest viable alternatives.
Revisiting the Ontological Square
Authors: Schneider Luc
Published: February 2025

Considerations regarding predication in ordinary language as well as the ontology of relations suggest a refinement of the Ontological Square, a conceptual scheme used in many foundational ontologies and which consists of particular substrates as well as their types on the one hand and particular attributes as well as their types on the other hand. First, the distinction between particulars and universals turns out to be one of degree, since particulars are merely the least elements in the subsumption hierarchy. Second, relations may be analysed in terms of roles as ways of participating in events. In consequence, the Logic of the Ontological Square proposed in [1,2] has to be revised accordingly.
IDentity Engineered Architecture (IDEA)
Authors: Girao Joao  , Sarma Amardeo
Published: February 2025

This paper introduces an identity engineered approach for the Future Internet that puts usability and privacy concerns at the core. The goal is to achieve a solution that scales to billions of users and entities that could want to connect to the Internet. Digital Identities that conceptualize the properties of users under their control play a key role in making sure the needs of the user become part of the target architecture. The concept of intentity makes the initiation of communication and services depend on the intention of the user or, more generally, the entity.
The ‘Catastrophe’ of Aerospace Design
Authors: Hollingsworth Peter
Published: February 2025

The design of modern aerospace systems is commonly an exercise in creating and working with complex systems. This complexity stems from a combination of the complexity of the system itself, the interaction with environment that it operates in and often the organization which is creating the system. Historically, this complexity has been seen as a source of risk and uncertainty, especially with respect to future the future performance and utility of the system. Consequently actions were taken to minimize the downside risk, and especially eliminate what were considered significant failure modes. This risk minimization encompasses both technical and programmatic aspects. As a response the behavior of the program becomes inherently ‘stiff’ and is less likely to evolve to meet changes in the environment. Consequently it may actually be more likely that the program will fail suddenly and late in its development. One possible theory that helps to describe these behaviors and may unlock some of this information is Catastrophe Theory. When combined with a utility approach, specifically a Value-Driven approach this has the option to help organize the concept exploration and decision making phases of design.
Short-term allocation of Time Windows to flights through a distributed market-based CDM mechanism
Authors: Castelli Lorenzo  , Ranieri Andrea  , Pesenti Raffaele
Published: February 2025

In the case of multiple capacity constrained air traffic resources we propose an Individual Rational and weakly Budget Balanced market mechanism which allows flights to pay for reducing their delays or get compensations if they accept an increased delay with respect to the First-Planned-First-Served rule. To each flight we associate a set of Time Windows, i.e., a sequence of time periods through which flights execute their Business Trajectories. We derive Time Window prices and their corresponding allocation by means of a primal heuristic using a distributed approach based on the Lagrangian relaxation. Some computational experience based on a real case instance is reported.
Virtual Reality Adaptive Stimulation of Limbic Networks in the Mental Readiness Training
Authors: Ćosić Krešimir  , Popović Siniša  , Kostović Ivica  , Judaš Miloš
Published: February 2025

A significant proportion of severe psychological problems in recent large-scale peacekeeping operations underscores the importance of effective methods for strengthening the stress resilience. Virtual reality (VR) adaptive stimulation, based on the estimation of the participant's emotional state from physiological signals, may enhance the mental readiness training (MRT). Understanding neurobiological mechanisms by which the MRT based on VR adaptive stimulation can affect the resilience to stress is important for practical application in the stress resilience management. After the delivery of a traumatic audio-visual stimulus in the VR, the cascade of events occurs in the brain, which evokes various physiological manifestations. In addition to the “limbic” emotional and visceral brain circuitry, other large-scale sensory, cognitive, and memory brain networks participate with less known impact in this physiological response. The MRT based on VR adaptive stimulation may strengthen the stress resilience through targeted brain-body interactions. Integrated interdisciplinary efforts, which would integrate the brain imaging and the proposed approach, may contribute to clarifying the neurobiological foundation of the resilience to stress.
The Use of Virtual Reality for a Human Classical Conditioning Procedure
Authors: Gutierrez-Martinez Olga  , Gutierrez-Maldonado José  , Loreto Desirée
Published: February 2025

The present study investigated the use of a VR stereoscopic figure as conditioned stimulus (CS). A differential conditioning procedure was applied on 67 participants, where a VR stereoscopic figure (CS+) was paired with electric shock and other VR stereoscopic figure (CS−) was presented without shock. Evaluative and expectancy measures were taken. Results showed that, after acquisition, the CS+ by itself became a more negative stimulus, as evidenced by the evaluative ratings. Besides, the presentation of the CS+ evoked an active expectancy of the unconditioned stimulus (US). The use of VR stereoscopic figures as CSs seems feasible to design innovative experimental paradigms.
What is Missing in Health Informatics Standardization for pHealth?
Authors: Blobel Bernd  , Oemig Frank  , Gonzáles Carolina  , López Diego
Published: February 2025

Health systems turn everywhere, but with different speed, from organization-centered to personalized eHealth or pHealth, i.e. ubiquitous care delivery independent of time and location of the resources involved. As interoperability is an important issue in such distributed, fully integrated, intelligent and individualized environment, pHealth solutions have to comply with advanced architectural solutions based on international standards. Representing concepts and their interrelations, such architectural framework perspectives' system architecture, domains, and development process can be described by the domains' ontologies. Therefore, advanced interoperability approaches have to refer to ontology principles, finally resulting in ontology-driven approaches to semantically interoperable and sustainable health information systems. The paper investigates functional requirements, interoperability levels, architectural approaches to pHealth systems, thereby analyzing and classifying related existing or emerging standards.
The Potential of RFID Technology in Blood Center Processes
Authors: Kebo V.  , Klement P.  , Čermáková Z.  , Gottfried J.  , Sommerová M.  , Paleček A.
Published: February 2025

Current RFID technology deployment is limited by safety, procedural and physical limitations in healthcare field. It is important to define and ensure safe operation of technologies without actual deployment in real operation. Potential problems could arise due to the consequences of technical and physical characteristics of RFID technology and its improper location. This article deals with manipulation of blood products and the definition of suitable places for radio identification. Each suitable place must undergo laboratory experiments and tests. The results can provide a convenient base for defining efficient and safe deployment of RFID technology in Blood Centers with substantial financial savings for Czech healthcare.
From Safe Systems to Patient Safety
Authors: Aarts Jos  , Nøhr Christian
Published: February 2025

In this introduction we summarize the contributions to the Fourth International Conference Information Technology in Health Care: Socio-technical Approaches. We argue that putting to use information systems in health care is a difficult and winding road. Systems may even compromise instead of improving patient safety. Designing and implementing systems requires a thorough understanding of the context in which technology is being used. But this understanding should also lead to better design and implementation methods. Therefore this conference wishes to address the challenges of safe systems and patient safety, ten years after the publication of the landmark reports on human error and quality of health care by the Institute of Medicine.
Relationship between Compression Loading and Biochemical Composition of Swine Growth Plates
Authors: Amini Samira  , Veilleux Daniel  , Sun Jun  , Hoemann Caroline D.  , Villemure Isabelle
Published: February 2025

Introduction: Mechanical loading, which can regulate longitudinal bone growth, has clinical implications in progressive skeletal deformities. Nevertheless, the mechanisms underlying this process, occurring in growth plates with structurally distinct zones, are not well understood.
Are there Posturographic Parameters, which Could Predict the Progression of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis?
Authors: Haumont Thierry  , Gauchard Gérome C.  , Lion Alexis  , Perrin Philippe P.  , Journeau Pierre  , Lascombes Pierre
Published: February 2025

Introduction: Vision, proprioception and vestibule are involved in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). The aim of this study was to determine if some posturographic parameters could predict the progression of AIS just at the first screening when the spine deformation is very mild.
Using Ultrasound to Assess the Spinal Deformity
Authors: Lou E.  , Hill D.  , Le Lawrence H.  , Raso J.  , Moreau M.  , Hedden D.  , Mahood J.
Published: February 2025

Introduction: Most scoliosis clinics use radiographs to assess the spinal deformity, to make treatment decisions and to evaluate the treatment outcomes. Although radiographs are an excellent way to diagnose and evaluate curve progression, an adolescent with scoliosis can be exposed to high levels of ionizing radiation over a lifetime.
Implantable Wireless Sensor Platform to Monitor Loads during and after Scoliosis Surgery
Authors: Zbinden Daniel  , Lou E.  , Durdle N.
Published: February 2025

Introduction: Spinal surgery is a complicated mechanical process that stops and corrects scoliosis. Monitoring the loads on the spinal instrument during and after scoliosis surgery may prevent overloading and improve patient safety. Also, collecting the data during and after provides information to better understand the biomechanics.
Optimized Use of Multi-Functional Positioning Frame Features for Scoliosis Surgeries
Authors: Driscoll Christopher  , Aubin Carl-Eric  , Labelle Hubert  , Dansereau Jean
Published: February 2025

A multi-functional positioning frame (MFPF) has been developed which includes a number of positioning features allowing for hip flexion and extension, thorax vertical displacement, lateral leg displacement, pelvic torsion and thorax lateral displacement. The objective of this study was to develop a method allowing for optimized combined use of the MFPF features. Finite element models (FEMs) representing the osseo-ligamentous structures of the spine, ribcage, pelvis and lower limbs, including muscles, were created for three different curve types (main thoracic, double major, and triple major) using a radiographic bi-planar reconstruction technique. Each FEM was subjected to an experimental design in which MFPF features were independently and simultaneously varied between extreme positions and the resultant changes in spinal geometry measured. Optimization of individual spinal geometrical parameters showed variability between curve types and some patterns such as minimum Cobb with lower limbs displaced laterally towards the convexity, pelvis raised on the side of concavity, and thorax laterally displaced towards the thoracic concavity. A weighted and normalized global optimization equation was developed which accounts for the relative importance and desired values of each geometrical parameter. Combined use of MFPF features and adjustments offers a wider range of possible intra-operative spinal geometries than their individual use.
Biomechanics of the Intra-Operative Lateral Decubitus Position for the Scoliotic Spine: Effect of the Pelvic Obliquity
Authors: Lalonde Nadine M.  , Aubin Carl-Éric  , Parent Stefan  , Pannetier Romain  , Villemure Isabelle
Published: February 2025

The intra-operative prone position used for the posterior instrumentation of scoliotic patients has been shown to reduce the spinal deformities prior to instrumentation by 37% on average. However, the effects of the lateral decubitus position used for anterior approaches and minimally invasive techniques have not been investigated. The objectives were to characterize, model and study the biomechanics of this intra-operative posture. Several clinical indices were measured on the pre- and intra-operative radiographs of six scoliotic patients. A personalized finite element mode (FEM) was developed using the pre-op 3D reconstruction, and a three-step method was developed to simulate the lateral decubitus positioning. Two additional intra-op postures, simulating different pelvic obliquities, were also tested by varying the inclination of L5. The radiographic evaluation of the lateral decubitus position showed a significant reduction of 44% of the major curve with 18 mm of apical vertebra translation. The FEM was able to reproduce the intra-op spine geometry with no significant difference with the measured values. Simulations also showed that the pelvic obliquity had different effects on the lumbar and major Cobb angles depending on the scoliotic curve type. The lateral decubitus posture reduces significantly the scoliotic curvatures prior to instrumentation, which was dependent on the pelvic obliquity.
A GIS embedded decision support system for bicriteria location problems
Authors: Fernandes Sérgio  , Captivo M. Eugénia  , Clímaco João N.
Published: February 2025

In this paper we describe and exemplify the embedment of a Geographical Information System (GIS) platform in a decision support tool previously developed for bicriteria location problems. When the facilities to be located have environmental effects, they usually depend on different factors like the altitude and the morphology of the potential locations, the winds, the temperature, the humidity, etc., most of which can be more easily evaluated with a GIS. Given that Geographical Information Systems can be used to manipulate different kind of data from various sources, they can be a significant aid to obtain and manage information quite useful in location problems, particularly if they involve the installation of facilities with environmental effects.
Framing decision making at two levels
Authors: Brézillon Patrick  , Pomerol Jean-Charles
Published: February 2025

We propose a modeling of decision making that offers a unified framework for what are generally contrasted—procedure versus practice, task versus activity, logic of functioning versus logic of use, and allows the identification of two types of contextualization. Human behavior often is described on policy, strategy, tactic and operation levels. From the upper level (policy) to the lower (operation), the decision making process goes through two successive contextualizations. At the first level, decision making has a fix part (policy and strategy) and a dynamic part (tactic and operation) at the second level. Real-time aspects of a decision making are on the dynamic part, i.e. in strong connection with the context in which an actor makes his decision. A contextual methodology has been proposed in road safety domain (in which the car driver is continuously in situation of real-time decision making) and now used in another application in Open Source domain.
Inter-Organizational Decision Support Systems for Supply Chain Planning: Current State
Authors: Eom Sean B.
Published: February 2025

Over the past decade, many firms invested in their core information technology infrastructures including the business intelligence system. The infrastructure includes data warehousing, business intelligence software tools, pre-packaged analytical applications, and telecommunications and internet technologies. A noteworthy development in decision support systems, among others, is the emergence of inter-organizational DSS. The second generation of ERP systems consists of several modules to deal with supply chain planning activities. However, there are a large number of issues in supply chain management that cannot be adequately managed by ERP systems. This paper discusses those issues in supply chain management and introduces various decision support systems that has been proposed, or developed to augment the functionalities of the second generation of ERP planning systems.
OR-based Decision Support in Paper Production Industry
Authors: Claassen G.D.H.  , Hendriks Th.H.B.
Published: February 2025

We describe the development and continuous improvements of an OR-based Decision Support System (DSS) in the paper production industry. The first pilot system was handed over to the R&D-department of a Dutch paper production company in 1990. After two decades the basic concepts of the initial system are still used on a regular basis. However, the constantly advancing technology and physical knowledge of large scale paper production did have a substantial impact on the latest upgrade in which mixed integer (0-1) fractional programming in a multi criteria decision making context, was introduced. We describe the main characteristics of the DSS, the application of a new combination of OR-techniques in a practical context including the impact of the system on different levels within the company.
A decentralized collaborative replenishment decision-making model in the automobile supply chain sector
Authors: Hernández Jorge E.  , Mula Josefa  , Poler Raúl  , Lario Francisco C.
Published: February 2025

Fulfilling the order requirements from costumers at the right time and with minimum costs has been an important study approached by supply chain management researchers. One of the main aspects addressed is the replenishment process which considers demand forecasting, customer orders, inventory levels, and production and transport planning. Generally, replenishment processes are carried out traditionally by no considering sharing information among the nodes and neither by coordinating the transport planning with the production planning. With this in mind, this paper mainly focuses on proposing a novel decentralized collaborative replenishment model applied to the automobile sector in order to support the decision-making process among automobile supply chain decision-makers. This has been based on the replenishment information that is already used by supply chain members. This work hypothesizes that a collaborative replenishment process could imply a reduction in inventory levels and, in turn, in inventory costs, and that the number of trucks needed to support the replenishment process would be optimized.
Provability-Based Semantic Interoperability for Information Sharing and Joint Reasoning
Authors: Shilliday Andrew  , Taylor Joshua  , Clark Micah  , Bringsjord Selmer
Published: February 2025

We describe provability-based semantic interoperability (PBSI), a framework transcending syntactic translation that enables robust, meaningful, knowledge exchange across diverse information systems. PBSI is achieved through translation graphs that capture complex ontological relationships, and through provability-based queries. We work through an example of automating an unmanned aerial vehicle by reasoning over information from a number of sources.
Ontologies, Semantic Technologies, and Intelligence: Looking Toward the Future
Authors: Obrst Leo  , Ceusters Werner  , Janssen Terry
Published: February 2025

This chapter looks at the intersection of intelligence and ontologies and semantic technologies, and tries to characterize the impact of these in the future. It provides a view into some emerging technologies such as query languages and rule standards for the Semantic Web. It also provides some guidance from a different domain, the biomedical domain, and tries to show that realist ontologies, ontologies based on common real world characterizations, have an effective impact on applications in those domains. Finally, it looks at the potential impact of these technologies on intelligence collection and analysis in the future, and makes some predictions.
Grid-based International Network for Flu Observation (g-INFO)
Authors: Doan Trung-Tung  , Bernard Aurélien  , Da-Costa Ana Lucia  , Bloch Vincent  , Le Thanh-Hoa  , Legre Yannick  , Maigne Lydia  , Salzemann Jean  , Sarramia David  , Nguyen Hong-Quang  , Breton Vincent
Published: February 2025

The 2009 H1N1 outbreak has demonstrated that continuing vigilance, planning, and strong public health research capability are essential defenses against emerging health threats. Molecular epidemiology of influenza virus strains provides scientists with clues about the temporal and geographic evolution of the virus. In the present paper, researchers from France and Vietnam are proposing a global surveillance network based on grid technology: the goal is to federate influenza data servers and deploy automatically molecular epidemiology studies. A first prototype based on AMGA and the WISDOM Production Environment extracts daily from NCBI influenza H1N1 sequence data which are processed through a phylogenetic analysis pipeline deployed on EGEE and AuverGrid e-infrastructures. The analysis results are displayed on a web portal (http://g-info.healthgrid.org) for epidemiologists to monitor H1N1 pandemics.
Hitting the ground running: Healthgrid deployment and adoption
Authors: Gwadry-Sridhar Femida  , Olabarriaga Silvia D.  , van Kampen Antoine  , Bauer Michael  , Solomonides Tony
Published: February 2025

We consider the issues of healthgrid development, deployment and adoption in health care and research environments. While healthgrid technology could be deployed to support advanced medical research, we are not seeing its wide adoption. Understanding why this technology is not being exploited is one purpose of this paper. We do so in light of the seminal Healthgrid White Paper and the SHARE roadmap. We also address barriers to adoption and successes by presenting experiences in North America and Europe. By critically appraising where we are, we hope that we can hit the ground running in the near future.
Integrating TRENCADIS Components in gLite to Share DICOM Medical Images and Structured Reports
Authors: Blanquer Ignacio  , Hernández Vicente  , Salavert José  , Segrelles Damià
Published: February 2025

The problem of sharing medical information among different centres has been tackled by many projects. Several of them target the specific problem of sharing DICOM images and structured reports (DICOM-SR), such as the TRENCADIS project. In this paper we propose sharing and organizing DICOM data and DICOM-SR metadata benefiting from the existent deployed Grid infrastructures compliant with gLite such as EGEE or the Spanish NGI. These infrastructures contribute with a large amount of storage resources for creating knowledge databases and also provide metadata storage resources (such as AMGA) to semantically organize reports in a tree-structure. First, in this paper, we present the extension of TRENCADIS architecture to use gLite components (LFC, AMGA, SE) on the shake of increasing interoperability. Using the metadata from DICOM-SR, and maintaining its tree structure, enables federating different but compatible diagnostic structures and simplifies the definition of complex queries. This article describes how to do this in AMGA and it shows an approach to efficiently code radiology reports to enable the multi-centre federation of data resources.
Modeling, building and evaluating an ontology for the automatic characterization of adverse drug effects during pharmacovigilance
Authors: Duclos Catherine  , Soualmia Lina F.  , Krivine Sonia  , Jamet Anne  , Lillo-Louët Agnes
Published: February 2025

Background: The characterization of spontaneous reported cases is fundamental for pharmacovigilance. This task is time consuming and its reproducibility is low. Objective: To develop a system founded on an ontology that automatically instantiates spontaneous reported cases as “known” adverse drug effects (ADE) only if the reported ADEs are described in drug compendia. Methods: A simple ontology of drugs and their related adverse effects represented in description logics was developed from a drug database. Manual evaluation was carried out on 378 spontaneous reported cases instantiated as “known ADE of a chemical class”. The initial manual characterization was reviewed by a pharmacovigilance expert to validate the generated automatic characterization. Results: The ontology is composed by 57,04 concepts and 5 relations. It was successfully validated thanks to Pellet reasoner and it contains neither inconsistencies nor cycles. In this validation, 86% of the instantiated spontaneous reported cases effectively concerned notorious ADEs, whereas only 75% were initially identified manually as related to notorious ADEs. Conclusion: This system can assist characterization by applying a reasoning process similar to that used by experts in the search for ADEs.