bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Single Source Information Systems can Improve Data Completeness in Clinical Studies: an Example from Nuclear Medicine
Authors: Herzberg Susanne  , Dugas Martin
Published: February 2025

Data for clinical documentation and medical research are usually managed in separate systems. A documentation system for myocardial scintigraphy (SPECT/CT-data) was developed, implemented and assessed in order to integrate clinical and research documentation. This paper presents concept, implementation and results regarding data completeness of this single source information system. Completeness of documentation increased highly significantly (p<0.0001) after implementation of this system.
Cell seeding of Tissue Engineering Scaffolds studied by Monte Carlo simulations
Authors: Robu Andreea  , Neagu Adrian  , Stoicu-Tivadar Lacramioara
Published: February 2025

Tissue engineering (TE) aims at building multicellular structures in the laboratory in order to regenerate, to repair or replace damaged tissues. In a well-established approach to TE, cells are cultured on a biocompatible porous structure, called scaffold. Cell seeding of scaffolds is an important first step. Here we study conditions that assure a uniform and rapid distribution of cells within the scaffold. The movement of cells has been simulated using the Metropolis Monte Carlo method, based on the principle that cellular system tends to achieve the minimum energy state. For different values of the model parameters, evolution of the cells' centre of mass is followed, which reflects the distribution of cells in the system. For comparison with experimental data, the concentration of the cells in the suspension adjacent to the scaffold is also monitored. Simulations of cell seeding are useful for testing different experimental conditions, which in practice would be very expensive and hard to perform. The computational methods presented here may be extended to model cell proliferation, cell death and scaffold degradation.
Contextual Inquiry Method for User-Centred Clinical IT System Design
Authors: Viitanen Johanna
Published: February 2025

Little can be found in the literature about the applicability of field study methods, particularly contextual inquiry, in the health informatics field. This paper aims to inform and promote the use of contextual inquiry for user-oriented design of clinical information technology (IT) systems. The paper describes how the method was applied in two empirical studies to gather data about end-users' needs, as well as the use and usability of dictation solutions and electronic nursing documentation systems from the viewpoint of their end-users' in real working surroundings. Experience indicates that, compared to typical usability evaluation methods, contextual inquiry may provide valuable support for user-centred design activities: the method is suitable for increasing researchers' understanding of clinical practices, contexts of work, and end-users' interaction with numerous IT systems. However, in clinical settings there are special challenges related to recording and privacy issues, a wide variety of clinical practices and contexts of technology usage, as well as the hectic nature of clinical work.
eMeasures: A standard format for Health Quality Measures
Authors: Chronaki Catherine  , Jaffe Charles  , Dolin Bob
Published: February 2025

Health quality measures can be used to improve the effective use of Electronic Health Record systems (EHRs) in health care delivery. The Health Quality Measures Format (HQMF) is a standard for representing a health quality measure as an electronic document. This presentation will present the standard, review the development process of quality measures for EHR system using HL7 CDA R2, and reflect on the outlook for eMeasures implementation and adoption.
Patient Centered Integrated Clinical Resource Management
Authors: Hofdijk Jacob
Published: February 2025

The impact of funding systems on the IT systems of providers has been enormous and have prevented the implementation of designs to focused on the health issue of patients. The paradigm shift the Dutch Ministry of Health has taken in funding health care has a remarkable impact on the orientation of IT systems design. Since 2007 the next step is taken: the application of the funding concept on chronic diseases using clinical standards as the norm. The focus on prevention involves the patient as an active partner in the care plan. The impact of the new dimension in funding has initiated a process directed to the development of systems to support collaborative working and an active involvement of the patient and its informal carers. This national approach will be presented to assess its international potential, as all countries face the long term care crisis lacking resources to meet the health needs of the population.
Dynamic behaviour of transition zones in railways
Authors: Coelho B.E.Z.  , Hölscher P.  , Barends F.B.J.
Published: February 2025

Transitions between the free track and fixed structures such as bridges and culverts often require substantial additional maintenance to preserve line and level and ride quality. This extra maintenance not only increases costs but causes delays.
Optimization of a deep foundation with diaphragm wall panels employing 3D FE analysis
Authors: Tschuchnigg F.
Published: February 2025

The project discussed in this paper is a tower located in Bucharest with a height of 137 m. To find the optimal layout of the foundation elements with respect to minimising vertical displacements, conventional calculations are in general not sufficient and advanced numerical modelling of the soil-structure interaction is essential. The paper shows results from numerical analyses with the objective to assess the settlement behaviour of the tower. Due to the geometric layout 2D analyses proved to be too conservative and therefore a number of 3D analyses have been performed. Different arrangements of diaphragm wall panels have been investigated to find an economical and technical feasible solution for the layout of the foundation elements. For the executed deep foundation concept a parametric study based on soil data recently published in the literature is presented. Finally results from 3D finite element simulations of an in situ load test, performed to obtain additional information of the settlement behaviour of the deep foundation, are presented. The test was conducted on a diaphragm wall element (barrette) using the “Osterberg Method”.
Skill Analysis of Ground Handling Staff and Delay Impacts for Turnaround Modeling
Authors: Oreschko Bernd  , Schultz Michael  , Fricke Hartmut
Published: February 2025

Insufficient ground operation performance with excessive process durations is one major contributor for flight delays caused on ground. Many European airports implemented first A-CDM but still need an automated ground process understanding and prediction system. Catching up our previous research activities we focused on explanations for turnaround process variations caused by staff skills. Therefore we analyzed the skills and the training of the ground handling staff in several steps, including a document analysis and interviews of different Ground Handlin companies within Germany. The analysis of public documents showed up a huge gap in the obligatory skills for turnaround staff. A slope of professional trained staff from airports with high traffic numbers to lower ones is also apparent. Additional we will show new findings in our research of delay impacts to process variations. As an outlook, all our efforts will approach in a complex Turnaround model predicting process duration for a satisfactory determination of the Turnaround Time and TOBT.
Election of a hypothesis asserting that supportability implies quality
Authors: Rijsdijk C.  , Ghobbar A.A.
Published: February 2025

This paper proposes a hypothesis asserting that maintenance supportability implies an equipment's quality. From four tentative hypotheses a preference has been enunciated whose precision, efficiency and modesty may suit an observer who is unaware of any previous test in this subject matter. Quantifiers have been chosen that should reflect common sense of quality and supportability under the constraint of an observational study design. Further research should reveal truth or falsity of the elected hypothesis and direct opportunities for its improvement.
Understanding Aspects of Air Transportation Systems through an Agent Based Impact Analysis
Authors: Davies G.  , Price M.  , Early J.  , Connally P.
Published: February 2025

The prediction of the behaviour of complex systems remains a costly and time consuming activity due to their data intensive nature. Such dynamic systems do not always lend themselves to a quantitative behavioural analysis. Davies et al have developed a novel qualitative approach aimed at determining how a system element deviates from a pre-defined “normal” operational mode due to a change in the operation of another element existing within the same architecture, or due to an interaction with an external environmental condition. This qualitatively determines the elements in the system that would be affected by a modification, and can aid in system development by identifying relationships and interdependencies prior to implementation. Previous analyses have shown it to difficult to comprehend the impact results due to large numbers of fluctuations in impact arising from noise. In Air Traffic Management systems there are many minor delays occuring daily but they do not affect the system operations or the stakeholders, these have been classed as noise. This paper introduces the application of a noise level into the impact analysis and, through a modelled scenario and variance in the computational boundary, demonstrates that it improves the understanding and transparency of the results, and an optimum level can be determined. The capability and potential for analyzing large scale complex systems has been demonstrated further.
An advanced calibration process for a thermo-hydro-mechanical triaxial testing system
Authors: Seiphoori Ali  , Ferrari Alessio  , Laloui Lyesse
Published: February 2025

This paper presents an innovative double cell triaxial system developed for better understanding of the complex thermo-hydro-mechanical behaviour of soils. In addition to the conventional triaxial mechanical testing, the equipment is aimed to perform suction controlled tests under wide range of temperature and confining pressure. Suction controlled tests are implemented by the axis translation as well as vapor techniques to control the matric and total suction. The device is provided with two advanced features; the double-wall system which allows precise measurement of volume variation of the sample in unsaturated conditions, and the hydraulic and pneumatic circuits, which allow several testing layouts to apply. Both complexity of the mechanical components of the system, and their evolutions under thermal and mechanical loading impose several aspects to the calibration process. An analytical approach is presented for the calibration of the force-displacement and soil sample volume change of the system under high axial loading. The calibration has been done using solid PVC (Polyvinyl chloride) samples. Results show the efficiency of the approach in order to formulate the force-displacement and sample volume change relationships in closed form equations. This approach can be efficiently used to calibrate such complex experimental testing systems working under wide range of mechanical loading.
Automatic soil water retention testing system with volume change measurement
Authors: Liu Qiang  , Yasufuku Noriyuki  , Omine Kiyoshi  , Kobayashi Taizo
Published: February 2025

The complete determination of soil water retention curves requires volume to be measured in order to calculate its void ratio and degree of saturation. The volume change of sample during drying and wetting recycles in soil water retention test is obvious and non-ignorable, especially for the soils with deformability. The soil water retention curve is generally superimposed with the volume change of soil matrix. However, in general, traditional apparatus cannot measure the volume change during test process. In this study, a modified experimental system, which can measure and record volume change during test and the whole process of the test can be controlled by computer, is proposed to determine soil water retention curve. The new system has several advantages over existing apparatus: especially, it is fully automated, is capable of determining both wetting and drying characteristics in significantly less time, and is capable of measuring volume change during test using only one sample. This technical note presents the design detail and algorithm of control software. Water retention curves considering volume change are determined for four types of soil, ranging from sandy to silty. The effect of volume change on soil water retention curve is also discussed.
Hardening of kaolin clay mixed with different binders
Authors: Flores R.D. Verástegui  , Di Emidio G.
Published: February 2025

A nondestructive technique was used as an alternative method to monitor the hardening of cement-treated clay as a function of time. This monitoring technique makes use of bender elements to measure the small-strain shear modulus (G0) at various time intervals. The strength increase was evaluated by conventional unconfined compression testing. Experimental work was carried out on kaolin clay treated with Portland cement and blast furnace slag cement at different dosages. The results showed that G0, as well as strength, of cement-treated samples increases logarithmically with time. However, blast furnace slag cement produces a slower hardening rate early after mixing. It was found that for each binder type, the G0increase and the strength increase, when normalized, follow a common trend. Such hardening trend may be used as the basis of a strength prediction rule. The functions obtained are in good agreement with data on other cement-treated inorganic clays published in the literature.
On the Modularity of Industrial SAT Instances
Authors: Ansótegui Carlos  , Levy Jordi
Published: February 2025

Learning, re-starting and other techniques of modern SAT solvers have been shown efficient when solving SAT instances from industrial application. The ability to exploit the structure of these instances has been proposed as the responsible of such success. Here we study the modularity of some of these instances, used in the latest SAT competitions. Using a simple label propagation algorithm we show that the community structure of most of these SAT instances can be identified very efficiently. We also discuss how this structure may be used to speed up SAT solvers.
Lazy Learning Methods for Quality of Life Assessment in People with Intellectual Disabilities
Authors: Armengol Eva  , Dellunde Pilar  , Ratto Carlo
Published: February 2025

In this paper we present a preliminary work applying machine learning techniques to the assessment of quality of life (QOL). In 2008 the Government of Catalonia introduced the GENCAT scale, a QOL questionnaire for dependent people users of the social and human services of Catalonia. Using data from a QOL research of 50 people with intellectual disabilities and/or mental illness of the Taller Jeroni de Moragas, we have applied a lazy learning method to discover relations between the different dimensions considered in the GENCAT scale. Our goal is to provide a basis to refine the model of QOL in a way that could support general intervention programs and a better understanding of the necessities of dependent people. This study is an interdisciplinary research of computer scientists, psychologists and human service practitioners.
Benefits and Threats of New Technologies
Authors: Bakker A.R.
Published: February 2025

In this paper first the effect of new hardware and software technologies on threats to data integrity and usage integrity is considered. Next the potential is considered of new technical facilities for improving the protection. It is concluded that the increasing risks for data and usage integrity are not counter balanced at present by new protection measures. A concerted action is proposed to face this problem. Especially action is proposed to develop methods for quality assurance of software, for access control in networks and to improve data/usage integrity around PC's.
Administrative Aspects of Data Protection
Authors: Hartleb Uwe
Published: February 2025

This contribution tries to find out which legal and administrative measures would have to be taken for the sake of data protection in case a medical data card is generally introduced.
MIMI: Specification and Implementation of a Multimodal Medical Imaging Workstation
Authors: Malone J.F.  , Hamilton D.  , van der Putten W.J.M.  , Fitzsimons M.  , Cooney P.  , Kennedy F.  , Mulvin G.  , Loupas T.  , McDicken W.N.
Published: February 2025

This paper details the steps undertaken to define a Functional Specification of a Multimodal Imaging Workstation for use with those imaging modalities in which, at some point between capture and display, the image is available in digital form. An evaluation of the requirements of such a workstation was made in relation to the computer architecture, data pathways, image formats, direct accessibility of data, and availability and utilisation of image manipulation and processing functions on currently used image acquisition systems. It was found that the architecture of the majority of such systems are based on industry standard computer hardware but that the image formats vary from system to system. Neither the hardware nor the image data conform to the proposed standards on medical image formats. There is a wide variation in the number of image manipulation and processing functions provided and their utilisation. A specification for an imaging workstation was derived by a consideration of six factors: the functions performed, input and output modes, system structure, user interface, equipment configuration, and software requirements. Clinical studies were performed to investigate whether the diagnostic process could be improved by introducing added functionality into the single modality image interpretation systems presently available. These studies were extended to an evaluation of multimodality image interpretation systems using a test platform. The conclusion was reached that it is practical to produce an imaging workstation, at modest cost, which would be suitable for clinical multimodality use and have a high level of functionality. It was also concluded that the definition of the function and role of imaging workstations is far from clear, and that there is a requirement for a workstation such as that proposed to fill the gap that exists in workstation development.
COMPUTER ANALYSIS OF PRESSOR TESTS
Authors: Mormino Paolo  , Marco Attilio Di  , Palatini Paolo  , Pessina Achille Cesare
Published: February 2025

Pressor tests are considered a useful method to better understand the pathophysiology of hypertension. However, the blood pressure response to the pressor tests is frequently evaluated with indirect blood pressure measurements, which have been proven to be insufficiently accurate. The intraarterial Oxford Instruments system represents a unique method to reliably assess blood pressure changes during these manoeuvres. A computer programme is presented for the automatic analysis of blood pressure and heart rate response to pressor tests performed during intraarterial monitoring.
HEART RATE VARIABILITY AND PHYSICAL TRAINING
Authors: Coats Andrew J.S.
Published: February 2025

The analysis of oscillations in heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) has been used to assess indirectly the control of the circulation by the autonomic nervous system. Little is known of the effect of physical fitness on these measures. Fitness is associated with reductions in rest and exercise heart rate, probably to be due to increased vagal drive and reduced sympathetic tone. Training has been assessed in two conditions associated with abnormal autonomic control.
SPATIO-TEMPORAL CHARACTERISTICS OF MULTICHANNEL ELCTROMYOGRAPHY
Authors: Chen Jia-Jin J.  , Yang Jyh-Woei  , Chen Wen-Ling
Published: February 2025

This paper discusses the spatio-temporal properties of multichannel electromyographic (EMG) signals and investigates muscle force estimates obtained by multichannel myoprocessor. The multichannel design is adopted to include the spatial information and thus enhances the sensitivity of the myoprocessor. In our experiment, fourteen pairs of electrodes with differential preamplifiers are applied to four major muscles about knee movement. Multichannel EMG signals and torque generated are measured during isometrical extension and flexion contraction in burst and ramp movements. To investigate the relationship between EMG signals recorded at different sites, the coherence function measuring the linear relationship in frequency between two EMG signals is utilized. To remove the spatial coupling effect between multichannel EMG signals, the spatial prewhitening processing is used to eliminate this effect. In this research, the power and shape of EMG spectra are found to be useful for determining the activation level and signature of a specific movement. It can be seen that the EMG signals measured from two adjacent electrodes have higher coherence values indicating better linear relationship in frequency. The frequency relationship of EMG signals measured at different electrode sites seems to be in a Gaussian distribution form. The results of muscle force estimation indicate that the more the electrodes are used, the less the estimate error is obtained. In the study of using model obtained in ramp force estimation to estimate constant force, the superiority of multichannel myoprocessor is observed. In addition, the result shows that the estimation error at lower contraction levels is less than that of higher contraction levels. The results of this research show the advantage of multichannel EMG processing. The extension of this study could be applied to functional neuromuscular stimulation and active prosthesis control. This study would be helpful in determining the applicability of multichannel surface EMG signals as a diagnostic and assessment tool for rehabilitation and neurology studies.
Standardisation Work in the European Workshop for Open Systems' Expert Group Healthcare (EG MED)
Authors: Stokes Adrian V
Published: February 2025

Following the issue of a “Study and Investigation” mandate by the European Commission in 1989, there has been a very substantial amount of work in the field of Medical Informatics, mainly undertaken by CEN and EWOS. This paper discusses the work being undertaken by the EWOS Healthcare Expert Group.
HEALTH LEVEL 7 A Protocol for the Interchange Of Healthcare Data
Authors: Hammond W. Ed
Published: February 2025

This paper discusses the progress in the development and implementation of the HL7 standard, describes briefly the HL7 standard, provides an example of a typical data interchange, and presents advances in the management organisational structure of HL7.
Computer-based Medical Terminology and Knowledge Representation
Authors: Gabrieli Elmer R.
Published: February 2025

This paper briefly summarizes the characteristics of a computer-based medical terminology constructed by the author. Its size is around 140,000, systematized by meaning using a single attribute as key: similarity among instances covered by the term. This systematization resulted in a single hierarchical tree. Initial term typing was based on the knowledge patterns of the terms, represented by the arcs (relationships) among terms (nodes). Six different types of medical terms could be identified. For coding of a medical term, its position on the hierarchical tree was used, the semantic address. It is recommended that the semantic address should be used for worldwide compatibility.
THE EVALUATION OF THE EFFICACY OF TECHNOLOGY IN THE ASSESSMENT AND REHABILITATION OF BRAIN-DAMAGED PATIENTS
Authors: Stachowiak Franz Josef
Published: February 2025

The concerted action established a pool of primarily computer-based assessment and rehabilitation programmes for the treatment of brain-damaged patients. This pool contains the following assessment procedures: batteries for the diagnosis of attention disorders, visual hemi-neglect, disorders of short-term visual memory and procedural learning, aphasia type and severity, naming disorders and acalculia. Normative data have been collected for all test batteries; standardization has been achieved for the attention and aphasia test batteries. The following rehabilitation programmes were developed, adapted for the respective languages and partially evaluated in multi-centric studies: training programmes for attention disorders, visual hemi-neglect, everyday memory disorders (imagery as a therapeutic mnemonic), several aphasia therapy programmes and a selfadapting training programme (expert system) for the treatment of acalculia. This pool of programmes provides the basis for the development of a European Standardized Computerized Assessment Procedure for the Evaluation and Rehabilitation of Brain-Damaged Patients.
2.4 Multimedia Documents
Authors: KLEINHOLZ Lutz
Published: February 2025

The data used by the health professional in patient care is multimedia in the true sense of the word. For example, information required for diagnosis or planning of therapy may be derived from the images of a multitude of examination techniques, from reports, graphs, charts, reference books, hand written notes, film and video sequences, audio recordings, and conversations with the patient and colleagues. The data required is most often distributed. Although the true integration and processing of the multimedia information is performed by the physician, the modern computer workstation can provide significant help through the storage, integration, retrieval, processing, filtering, and presentation of much of the required data.
“THE PROVISION OF SERVICES FOR DISABLED AND ELDERLY CUSTOMERS”
Authors: Worsley Richard
Published: February 2025

This paper offers an introduction to the session of the Congress concerned with “Market and Service Delivery”. It does so by reference to the experiences of the author's company, BT, of providing products and services to disabled and elderly people in the UK.
Evaluation of Products which are Intended to Ease the Lives of Elderly People: The Hi-Riser Chair
Authors: Isaacs Bernard  , Barnea Tamara  , Bentur Netta  , Mizrahi Ilana  , Simkin Ariel
Published: February 2025

The evaluation of a prototype of a new chair, the Hi-Riser chair, equipped with an innovative mechanism for assisting the user to rise and sit, has proved beneficial to the manufacturer, and raised critical issues that relate to applied industrial research. In this paper we use data from the research to illustrate key examples of these issues. Special emphasis is given to the involvement of the potential consumer in the evaluation process.
SYMBOL: Multilingual and multicode lexical learning system on CD-I environment
Authors: Rensonnet Georges
Published: February 2025

The project SYMBOL has been developed within the framework of the European Community program in support of technological initiatives for handicapped and elderly persons. It is positioned at the intersection of two areas : development of new technologies and application of pedagogic innovations for the purposes of rehabilitation.
A SAFE AND EASY TO USE INTEGRATED CONTROL AND COMMUNICATION METHOD, M3S
Authors: van Woerden J.A.
Published: February 2025

Integrated Control Systems allow disabled and elderly people access to multiple functions from a single input device (for example a joystick with a switch). Multiple handicapped users are thereby able to switch efficiently between wheelchair control, manipulator control, control of their environment, computer access and communication without help. The control of integrated systems is a safe and easy to use possibility with the general purpose interface M3S.
Needs and constraints in modelling medical knowledge using semantic networks: A medical point of view
Authors: Lovis C  , Baud R  , Alpay L  , Rassinoux A-M  , Wagner J  , Scherrer J-R
Published: February 2025

The point of view discussed here is that of a clinician in the Medicine Department of the Geneva University Hospital. This is a non computer scientist approach of a generalised representation of medical knowledge. Two important issues are discussed in this paper. The first issue is concerned with defining the necessary contents of what should be modelled. An attempt is made to define domains that should be included in the model. The extent of the model may be defined in two ways. Horizontally, by meaning the various domains to be included such as anatomy, therapy, and vertically to define the granularity or the precision with which each domain will be defined. The knowledge included in such a model may cover natural language processing, expert and alert systems, coding schemes and bibliographic retrieval.
KAVAS's Conditioning of the Induction Algorithm
Authors: McNair P.  , Karthaus V.  , Talmon J.  , Thygesen H.  , Schiøler T.  , Brender J.
Published: February 2025

Conditioning refers to the specification of users' goal as regards quality and other characteristics of the classification model(s) aimed at by the application of machine learning tools. The KAVAS-2 AIM Project has identified and implemented the elicitation of a set of medical concerns and their transformation into directives to be used in the machine learning algorithms.
MODELS FOR MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE REPRESENTATION AND MEDICAL REASONING IN A C.A.I SYSTEM
Authors: Riou Ch.  , Le Beux P.  , Lenoir P.  , Leclet D.
Published: February 2025

We present in this paper a model for medical knowledge representation in a computer Assisted Instruction system. Entities used in medical reasoning and relations between these objects are described. We explained the difficulties in modeling medical diagnosis in order to help students to structure their reasoning.
Groningen Edge Contrast Chart (GECKO) and Glare measurements
Authors: KOOIJMAN Aart C.  , STELLINGWERF Nynke  , van SCHOOT Edith A.J.  , CORNELISSEN Frans W.  , van der WILDT Ger-Jan
Published: February 2025

A new edge contrast chart (60x60 cm) has been designed to use in a population study and for contrast sensitivity assessment in visually impaired people. The chart contains 16 circular test targets (diam. 8 cm), one half of each target has a lower reflectance than the other half and a sharp transition edge in between. Edge contrasts vary between 40 and 0.7 % in steps of about 0.15 log units. Normal population data are collected at viewing distances of 6, 3, and 1 meter and at illumination levels of 65, 500, and 2000 lux.
Appraisal of Visual Behavior: The Use of a Checking List
Authors: Lindstedt Eva
Published: February 2025

When assessing vision and practising visual rehabilitation in the very young and/or handicapped child we need an instrument by which we might be able to use behavioural observation in appraisal of vision.
Advice on Illumination during Home Visits
Authors: van Dijck E.H.J.
Published: February 2025

The Visual Advice Centre Eindhoven (VAC-E) is specialised in the rehabilitation of visually impaired persons with visual aids and illumination. Low vision aids are loaned to the patients to try them at home before a final prescription is given. During home visits the occupational therapist gives instruction in using these aids and provides advice and information on illumination. In this paper the main points of attention with respect to the illumination at home are discussed and illustrated with examples taken from daily practice.
On the Relationship between Letter Acuity and Reading Acuity
Authors: ARDITI Aries
Published: February 2025

Despite the elemental relationship of letters to written words, letter acuity is well-known to be a poor predictor of several indices of reading performance. This is why direct measurement of reading acuity is necessary in prescription of effective reading aids in low vision rehabilitation.
The attitudes of family or friends towards orientation and mobility training
Authors: SEYBOLD Diana  , GLEESON Maurice
Published: February 2025

This study examines the attitudes of family or friends towards a vision impaired person undertaking a mobility program. The aim is to measure the degree to which these attitudes impede or enhance a person’s ability to learn mobility skills. A series of interviews with vision impaired people and their family or friends ascertained the value of family or friends playing a more active role in a training program. As a result, these findings demonstrate the importance of the participation of family or friends in the design of any mobility training program. This vision impaired person will, in turn, be given greater opportunity and encouragement to develop optimum mobility skills.
VISUALLY AND MENTALLY - MULTIHANDICAPPED CHILDREN AND ADULTS:
Authors: van DELDEN Geert W.  , LOPES CARDOZO-HOOGWATER Nynke J.
Published: February 2025

Visually and mentally multihandicapped people ask for a special training and education. Next to their visually and mentally handicaps they quite often have motor handicaps, epilepsy, disturbances in information processing and coordination problems. The aquisition of daily living skills needs special training in a methodological way. After a general introduction and a summary of the special needs of the multihandicapped persons, several suggestions for a programma are given in this paper.
A Questionary for Assessment of Visual Needs and Wishes
Authors: Jorritsma F.F.  , Neve J.J.  , Kinds G.F.
Published: February 2025

The Visual Advice Centre Eindhoven (VAC–E) provides the partially sighted with advice and prescriptions for low vision aids and illumination. As a first step an assessment interview is held. The visual problems of the patient are inquired and the demands for help defined. The assessment interview provides information on the desirability for intervention by the social worker and the need for ADL and mobility training, advice on illumination at home and information about the visual handicap. An inventarisation of the demands for help, present low vision aids and other than visual restrictions is made during this interview.
Let's Meet the Users with Natural Language Understanding
Authors: Baud Robert  , Alpay Laurence  , Lovis Christian
Published: February 2025

Knowledge engineering should meet the users, that is, physicians, nurses and other health care providers. They all handle natural language medical texts. Natural Language Understanding is thus a rapidly growing field of direct concern to medical informatics. Its potential for tomorrow's applications is important although it is limited by its ability to ground its components on a solid model of the domain. This paper considers the benefit of a closed connection between a semantic network modelling a medical domain, and a Natural Language Understanding system working in this same domain. It overviews a number of natural language applications foreseen in the future and provides some recommendations about the future use and benefits of natural language techniques.
Some New Challenges for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine
Authors: Console Luca  , Molino Gianpaolo  , Torasso Pietro
Published: February 2025

Artificial Intelligence in Medicine (AIM) made significant progresses over the last years. In this position paper we analyse four aspects and research themes that, in our opinion, deserve particular attention and should be taken into account in the next years. All of them require the analysis and solutions of new problems both on the computer science and the medical points of view and we believe that their achievement can provide important advantages for AIM as a whole.
KBS in a Telemedical Prospective - Needs and Challenges
Authors: McNair Peter  , Brender Jytte
Published: February 2025

This opinion paper discusses the potentials of telemedicine in relation to the user needs as well as the challenges that are foreseen in medical informatics research and development. Given the developments in telecommunications (ie. the ENS) and the fact that Knowledge Based Systems (KBS) become integrated functionalities the perspective emerges of an open health care information system profiting from the access to a net of multiple KBS. Particular user needs in this respect are: I) means to assess the validity of the KBS applications, 2) features for getting access to more than one KBS when seeking advice, ie. a Decision Support System (DSS) functionality, and 3) a generic interfacing system towards knowledge based DSS. Subsequently the challenges for medical informatics are: 1) validity and applicability assessment, 2) transferability of medical data, information and knowledge, and 3) managing a bidding approach for seeking advice.
Non-Neural vs Neural Factors in the Genesis of Respiratory — Induced Heart Rate Variability of Heart Transplanted Subjects
Authors: BERNARDI L.  , LEUZZI S.  , RADAELLI A.  , VALLE F.  , FALCONE C.  , MARCHESI E.  , MARTINELLI L.  , JOHNSTON J.A.  , VIGANO’ M.  , FINARDI G.  , SLEIGHT P.
Published: February 2025

In normal subjects the respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) is considered an index of efferent vagal activity to the heart. The human transplanted heart is thought to be denervated and hence any fluctuation present in the RR variability can be either due to reinnervation or to represent the effect of a non autonomic activity, such as a direct effect of respiration on atrial stretch. We evaluated the presence of spontaneous fluctuations in RR interval by simultaneous power spectrum analysis of RR interval and respiration variability, using uni- and bivariate algorithms.
Assessing Variability in Cardiovascular Series during Autonomic Tests
Authors: POLA S.  , MARCHESI C.  , MACERATA A.  , EMDIN M.
Published: February 2025

A comparative evaluation has been made among some methods of power spectrum density estimation, suited to non stationary time series. The evaluation has been performed on artificial and on real data which were obtained during autonomic tests. The study has documented the superiority of the estimation based on time-frequency joint distributions, particularly when a sharp time resolution is required for the analysis of the cardiovascular system variability. The problem of the rejection of cross terms artefacts has been considered as well, by implementing several techniques.
Modelling of Facet Joints in a Global Finite Element Model of the Spine: Mechanical Aspects
Authors: DESCRIMES Jean-Luc  , AUBIN Carl-Éric  , BOUDREAULT Francis  , SKALLI Wafa  , ZELLER Reihnard  , DANSEREAU Jean  , LAVASTE François
Published: February 2025

Facet joints appear to have a major role in the mechanical behaviour of the spine and the thorax. In order to quantify their role and to represent with precision their behaviour, a previously existing finite element model of the global spine and thorax was improved. The input geometry to the model was obtained using a method which includes stereoradiographic 3-D reconstructions of a given patient as described in the joined paper of Aubin et al.. Zygapophyseal facets were parametrized using simple surface shapes (plane or cylinder) and were modelled by shell, point-to-surface contact and cable elements. Posterior arch and ligaments were also represented. Mechanical and geometrical properties necessary to complete the model were taken from. Geometric and material non-linearities were taken into account. Simulations were done on functional units as well as lumbar segments extracted from the model and results were compared to experimental data. Adequation of results was found, which supports the modelling method. However, further simulations are still in progress on global segments to complete the validation.
Superior Costotransverse Ligaments Contribute to Lateral Bending Stiffness of the Thoracic Spine
Authors: JIANG HX  , RASO VJ  , MOREAU MJ  , RUSSELL GG  , BAGNALL KM
Published: February 2025

The location of the lateral spinal ligaments suggests that they may be important structures for maintaining lateral stability of the spine and may be involved in the development of idiopathic scoliosis. This study assessed the contribution made by the superior costotransverse ligament (SCTL) to the lateral bending stiffness of the thoracic spine. The width, length, thickness, distance from the midline and orientation of the SCTL were measured from T7 to T10 on 35 cadavers. The modulus of elasticity for the SCTL was estimated from the literature and the bending stiffness developed by the SCTL in response to 1 degree of lateral bending was calculated by multiplying these estimates by the predicted strain. The strain caused by 1 degree of lateral bending in the SCTL varied from 4% at TIO to 6% at T7. The lateral bending stiffness provided by the SCTL ranges from 0.05 NM/deg to 1.1 NM/deg for low and high values of elastic modulus repectively. This is 2% to 38% of the total bending stiffness for a thoracic motion segment, suggesting that the SCTL has the potential to affect the lateral stability of the thoracic spine.
Screening for Scoliosis in Slovenia: Results of 15 Years
Authors: CUCEK-PLENICAR Marjana
Published: February 2025

4770 referred schoolchildren was examined in 15 years. The diagnosis of scoliosis was not confirmed in 45,2% of cases. The large number of children referred is due to concern of the referring physicians and has subsided with years. 1440 curves under 15 degrees Cobbs angle were checked every 6 -12 month. Juvenile curves showed no progression until one year prior menarche; only 1,5% progressed rapidly. The progression was 16,8 degrees. (853 scoliosis exceeded 20 degrees Cobb angels. 45 children receiving at first brace treatment latter demonstrated a Cobb angel 45-55 degrees (mean 49°), one third of children receiving brace treatment stopped wearing the brace before completing of treatment, the remainder demonstrated less then 40 degrees curve at the end of treatment. The observed decline in the number of patient with no scoliosis and patient given unnecessary treatment encouraged us to keep early detection of scoliosis as a routine procedure in Slovenia.
Results of Treatment of Scoliosis with the Cotrel-Dubousset Technique
Authors: FRASSI G.A.  , VIGANO P.  , FAVA G.  , PERONI D.
Published: February 2025

96 cases which had been operated on between 1987 to 1993were reviewed; 61 had been operated on before reaching full skeletal development while 35 were adults. This technique does not require the use of plaster cast corsets in the post-operative phase and is parti cularly suitable for adult patients who undergo a minimum reduction of relation life in the post-operative phase. The case histories are examined and the results underline the validity of the method for obtaining three-dimensional correction of rachis scoliotic deformity. The difficulties of the technique are highlighted and the most frequent cause of failure is seen to be the incorrect choice of vertebral level or incorrect positioning of the instrumentation.
Reproducibility and Reliability of the Quantec Surface Imaging System in the Assessment of Spinal Deformity
Authors: SAKKA Samir A.  , WOJCIK Andrzej  , MACINDOE Simone  , MEHTA Min H.
Published: February 2025

Diagnostic imaging plays an important role in the clinical practice. It facilitates making an accurate diagnosis and evaluates the outcome of treatment. It is also an important tool in medical research. Recently new non invasive techniques such as ultrasound and MRI have made significant impact on clinical practice. Surface topography is a new non invasive technique which has evolved from simple clinical methods such as the body formulator to the Moiré fringe technique (1,2), the ISIS (3) and finally to the Computerised Raster Stereophotography (4,5,6,7). We believe the last has practical clinical use in spinal orthopaedic surgery. We set to investigate the effectiveness and the usefulness of this technique using the Quantec System in scoliosis. Our experimental and clinical data showed good reproducibility and reliability of the “QUANTEC” System in the assessment of backshape in patients with spinal deformity. We recommend the system for further clinical evaluation in longitudinal studies.
From Guidelines to Decision Support in the Management of Asthma
Authors: Modell M.  , Iliffe S.  , Austin A.  , Leaning M.S.
Published: February 2025

Asthma is a common chronic disease of the lungs caused by inflammation of the airways affecting 6-7% of the population. Asthma is becoming commoner and there is evidence of under-diagnosis and poor management. Guidelines have been developed aimed at improving quality of care and in reducing social costs of asthma. The paper discusses an approach to implementing guidelines through decision-support systems in primary care, based on methods developed in the AIM GAMES-II project. We also describe a prototype system that has been developed and a programme of clinical evaluation.
Computerized Assessment with Primary Care Guidelines in the Netherlands
Authors: Zanstra P.E.  , Beckers W.P.A.
Published: February 2025

To promote quality assurance and expertise in primary health care in the Netherlands the Dutch College of General Practitioners develops protocols, called standards. These standards concern medical action-taking in case of regular complaints and diseases in common practice. To improve dissemination of the standards and to develop effective and useful methods for quality assurance on the basis of the standards a project, called the Guidelines Automation Project (Richtlijnen Automatiseringsproject) was started to develop a computer program that can support quality assurance of medical action-taking in general practice on the basis of the NHG-standards. The main feature of the program is educational assessment. Other features of the program are: guidance for case data collection, stating of differential diagnoses, and disease profiles. These features also use patient case data as a starting point. In conclusion it is argued that all efforts towards an ‘electronic’ use of protocols in the health care delivery system will fail, unless we arrive at a care record that both with respect to its structure and to its content, is being founded on sound formal principles. Several problems need to be solved first. The implementation, and exploitation of protocols, though relatively simple from a knowledge representation point of view, is not a straightforward task.
The KANDID Way to ESTEEM
Authors: Otte G.  , Vingtoft S.  , Sieben G.  , Johnsen B.  , Fuglsang-Frederiksen A.  , Rønager J.  , Veloso M.  , Barahona P.  , Vila A.  , Fawcett P.  , Scofield I.  , Ladegaard J.  , Talbot A.  , Liguori R.  , Nix W.  , Guieu J.D.  , Carvalho M.S.
Published: February 2025

From the prospective multi-center evaluation study of the knowledge based system (KBS) KANDID, pronounced variations were revealed or indicated particularly in local epidemiology, local examination techniques, local preferred examination protocols and local diagnostic criteria among seven European EMG laboratories. Due to this study a clinical network consisting of eight Electromyographic (EMG) centres has harmonised the used terminology and the interpretation process structure of EMG examinations. Based on these specifications the ESTEEM project has developed the EMG-Platform which provides a set of different applications to the clinical users of ESTEEM for EMG data acquisition, storage and interpretation locally and for the telecommunication between the clinical ESTEEM centres. Having such a framework established a medical audit and consensus process across Europe is now continuously ongoing on a daily basis. Within this emerging infrastructure it will in the near future be able to apply evaluation tools for the assessment of different EMG KBSs.