bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Determining of Some Basin Characteristics Using Topographical Map and Digital Elevation Model ‘A Case of Kazandere Stream Basin’
Authors: Özdemir Yasemin  , Akara İrfan
Published: February 2025

In basin researches, quantitative data available from Topographical maps and Digital Elevation Model (DEM) make significant contributions to researchers in line with database created making use of Geographical Information Systems (GIS). Technological developments in the last 10 years, in particular, rendered GIS and Remote Sensing methods fit-for-use to achieve the objectives in geology-related applications. To identify applications of GIS in relation to basin researches, we selected the basin of the Kazandere Stream Basin of the castle located in Marmara Region as the field of study. In this study, we generated drainage network features of the basin using Arcinfo 9.2 GIS software from streams on 1/25000 scaled topographical map and from 10 m grid spaced DEM. We used Archydro Tool in line with the objectives of study. We obtained parameters in relation to stream directory analyses such as branching rate, drainage density and stream frequency of the field of study making use of topographical maps. And for DEM-related applications, we obtained information about sub-basins by way of Flow Accumulation and Flow Direction model. DEM's are a general source of data for field analyses and 3-dimensional applications. Such basin characteristics as basin field, sub-basin fields, water running directions, drainage networks, catchment centreoid etc., are easily generated through DEM. Stream morphometric features found using such two data sources provide reliable information on drainage characteristics of the stream basin and its lower branches. Analyses and applications conducted within the framework of database created on GIS environment indicated that GIS could be used for multi-purposes under scope of geographical researches.
Basic Elements of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance for Use in Medical Diagnostics: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS)
Authors: Niederer Peter F.
Published: February 2025

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has established itself as a major imaging modality in life science research and clinical practice. It is characterized by high spatial resolution, high soft tissue contrast, non-invasiveness, and universal applicability in terms of orientation and location of imaging areas. The procedure allows furthermore the investigation of physiological and pathophysiological processes, in particular in combination with magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). MR methodology is not exhausted, new procedures and areas of application develop widely in life science and medicine. This article is limited to basic physical aspects.
Gait Analysis and Synthesis: Biomechanics, Orthotics, Prosthetics
Authors: Matjačić Zlatko
Published: February 2025

This contribution presents and establishes the biomechanical principles that underlie human walkin. This is done by using a range of simplified biomechanical models of bipedal walking to explain the laws of movement and associated energetic requirements. Based on these simplified models, the measurements of normal walking are described. Selected pathological cases are used to illustrate the changes that occur in abnormal walking patterns. Finally, the basic design principles used when applying orthotics and prosthetics to enhance or restore impaired or missing function in walking are described for these case studies.
Electrical Safety
Authors: Jossinet Jacques
Published: February 2025

Correct use of medical equipment within the clinical environment is of prime importance. This includes awareness of the safety issues regarding equipment, particular when it is an electrically powered device. Incidents can occur in the clinic in which a medical device is suspected of contributing to patient or staff injury. It is important that one can identify in advance any potential hazards which may arise with electrical equipment due to technical or environmental factors. This paper gives an overview of electrical safety.
Electrograms (ECG, EEG, EMG, EOG)
Authors: Reilly Richard B.  , Lee T. Clive
Published: February 2025

There is a constant need in medicine to obtain objective measurements of physical and cognitive function as the basis for diagnosis and monitoring of health. The body can be considered as a chemical and electrical system supported by a mechanical structure. Measuring and quantifying such electrical activity provides a means for objective examination of heath status. The term electrogram, from the Greek electro meaning electricity and gram meaning write or record, is the broad definition given to the recording of electrical signal from the body. In order that comparisons of electrical activity can be made against normative data, certain methods and procedures have been defined for different electrograms. This paper reviews these methods and procedures for the more typical electrograms associated with some of the major organs in the body, providing a first point of reference for the reader.
Systems engineering and management
Authors: Rouse William B.  , Compton W. Dale
Published: February 2025

This chapter offers a systems view of healthcare delivery and outlines a wide range of concepts, principles, models, methods and tools from systems engineering and management that can enable the transformation of the dysfunctional “as is” healthcare system to an agreed-upon “to be” system that will provide quality, affordable care for everyone. Topics discussed include systems definition, design, analysis, and control, as well as the data and information needed to support these functions. Barriers to implementation are also considered.
Knowledge Driven Software and “Fractal Tailoring”: Ontologies in development environments for clinical systems
Authors: Rector Alan
Published: February 2025

Ontologies have been highly successful in applications involving annotation and data fusion. However, ontologies as the core of “Knowledge Driven Architectures” have not achieved the same influence as “Model Driven Architectures”, despite the fact that many biomedical applications require features that seem achievable only via ontological technologies – composition of descriptions, automatic classification and inference, and management of combinatorial explosions in many contexts. Our group adopted Knowledge Driven Architectures based on ontologies to address these problems in the early 1990s. In this paper we discuss first the use cases and requirements and then some of the requirements for more effective use of Knowledge Driven Architectures today: clearer separation of language and formal ontology, integration with contingent knowledge, richer and better distinguished annotations, higher order representations, integration with data models, and improved auxiliary structures to allow easy access and browsing by users.
Training Presence: the Importance of Virtual Reality Experience on the “Sense of Being There”
Authors: Gamito Pedro  , Oliveira Jorge  , Morais Diogo  , Baptista André  , Santos Nuno  , Soares Fábio  , Saraiva Tomaz  , Rosa Pedro
Published: February 2025

Nature and origin of presence are still unclear. Although it can be characterized, under a neurophysiological perspective, as a process resulting from a synchrony between cognitive and perceptive systems, the multitude of associated processes reduces the chances of brain mapping presence. In this way, our study was designed in order to understand the possible role of VR experience on presence in a virtual environment. For our study, 16 participants (M=28.39 years; SD=13.44) of both genders without computer experience were selected. The study design consisted of two assessments (initial and final), where the participants were evaluated with BFI, PQ, ITQ, QC, MCSDS-SF, STAI, visual attention and behavioral measures after playing an first person shooter (FPS) game. In order to manipulate the level of VR experience the participants were trained on, a different FPS was used during the 12 weekly sessions of 30 minutes. Results revealed significant differences between the first and final assessment for presence (F(1,15)=11.583; MSE=775.538; p<01) and immersion scores (F(1,15)=6.234; MSE=204.962; p<05), indicating higher levels of presence and immersion in the final assessment. No statistical significant results were obtained for cybersickness or the behavioral measures. In summary, our results showed that training and the subsequent higher computer experience levels can increase immersion and presence.
Analysis of Distributed-Collaborative Activity during Augmented Reality Exposure Therapy for Cockroach Phobia
Authors: Wrzesien Maja  , Burkhardt Jean-Marie  , Alcañiz Raya Mariano  , Botella Cristina  , Bretón López Juana Maria
Published: February 2025

Recent research presents Augmented Reality Exposure Therapy (ARET) for treatment of phobia of cockroaches as a potentially effective technique. However, to the authors' knowledge no studies have been published concerning the Human-Computer-Interaction issues of such a system. The aim of this paper is to report some preliminary data on how patients, therapists and an Augmented Reality system collaborate and interact during the therapeutic process. The results show that the therapeutic process is distributed between individuals (patient and therapist) and artifacts (e.g. AR cockroaches, a computer screen, a Head Mounted Display (HMD), a keyboard, a swatter and therapists' notes on paper). The results are discussed in terms of possible improvement of the ARET system.
Virtual/Real Transfer of Spatial Learning: Impact of Activity According to the Retention Delay
Authors: Wallet Grégory  , Sauzéon Hélène  , Rodrigues Jérôme  , Larrue Florian  , N'Kaoua Bernard
Published: February 2025

Within the framework of cognitive rehabilitation using virtual reality (VR), one of the major challenges is to study beforehand the effectiveness of the virtual-real transfer of learning and to define cognitive aids. The aim of this experiment was to verify if, after learning spatial knowledge (i.e., a route) in VR, performances can be transferred to reality, then maintained in real time, and improved with the aid of an active navigation (i.e., using a joystick). Ninety student volunteers from the University of Bordeaux 2 (45 men and 45 women) participated in the experiment. The virtual environment (VE) used for learning was a replica of an area of Bordeaux. The factors tested were retention delay (Immediate vs. 48 hours) and type of navigation (Passive virtual vs. Active virtual vs. Real), using three recall tasks: wayfinding, freehand sketch and photograph classification. Our results showed that the virtual-real transfer was not degraded by a retention delay of 48 hours and that active navigation allowed performances to be optimized.
Lean on Wii: Physical Rehabilitation With Virtua Reality Wii Peripherals
Authors: Anderson Fraser  , Annett Michelle  , Bischof Walter F.
Published: February 2025

In recent years, a growing number of occupational therapists have integrated video game technologies, such as the Nintendo Wii, into rehabilitation programs. ‘Wiihabilitation’, or the use of the Wii in rehabilitation, has been successful in increasing patients' motivation and encouraging full body movement. The non-rehabilitative focus of Wii applications, however, presents a number of problems: games are too difficult for patients, they mainly target upper-body gross motor functions, and they lack support for task customization, grading, and quantitative measurements. To overcome these problems, we have designed a low-cost, virtual-reality based system. Our system, Virtual Wiihab, records performance and behavioral measurements, allows for activity customization, and uses auditory, visual, and haptic elements to provide extrinsic feedback and motivation to patients.
Development of a Computer Based Symmetry Arrangement Symptoms Measures in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Authors: Roh Daeyoung  , Kim Kwanguk  , Kim Chan-Hyung
Published: February 2025

Background: Epidemiological studies indicated that compulsive ordering and arranging, and a preoccupation with symmetry are common presentations of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Objective: The goal of the current study was to develop and obtain preliminary psychometric data for the objective and quantitative measurement of symmetry and arrangement symptoms in OCD. Method: Twenty-eight normal volunteers were administered computer based assessment tasks with 4 different conditions with or without target and distraction. Primary dependent variables included several indices of time and click of arranging behaviors. Construct validity for the task was examined by comparing the novel behavioral measures with standardized measures such as Symmetry, Ordering and Arranging Questionnaire (SOAQ), Obsessive Compulsive Inventory-Revised (OCI-R), Beck depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Quality of life scale (QOL). Result: We found significant positive correlation between behavioral parameters and standardized scales for OCD (total time and SOAQ: r2=0.623, P<0.001; total number of clicks and ‘ordering’ subscore of OCI-R: r2=0.541, P<0.01). There was no significant correlation between behavioral parameters and other scales measuring constructs less relevant to ordering and arranging. A main effect of target only was observed on behavioral parameters. Conclusion: This study therefore provides preliminary data to support the use of this task as a novel behavioral measure of compulsive symptoms related with symmetry, ordering and arranging.
Executive Functions in a Virtual World: a Study in Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Albani Giovanni  , Raspelli Simona  , Carelli Laura  , Morganti Francesca  , Weiss Patrice L.  , Kizony Rachel  , Katz Noomi  , Mauro Alessandro  , Riva Giuseppe
Published: February 2025

In Parkinson's disease executive functions are altered. We used a Virtual Reality version of the Multiple Errand Test in order to evaluate decision-making ability in 12 patients and 14 controls. Patients with Parkinson's disease, even if not-demented, showed strategies full of errors, suggesting that impulse control disorder, very frequent in course of disease, could precede cognitive dysfunctions.
Presence, Involvement and Efficacy of a Virtual Reality Intervention on Pain
Authors: Gutierrez-Maldonado Jose  , Gutierrez-Martinez Olga  , Loreto Desiree  , Peñaloza Claudia  , Nieto Ruben
Published: February 2025

We explored the impact of an interactive VR environment on pain cognitions (in vivo catastrophizing and pain self-efficacy) and pain-related measures: pain threshold, pain tolerance, Pain Sensitivity Range (PSR), pain intensity and time estimation in a sample of healthy students. Sense of presence is essential to conduct a psychological treatment; if patients are not able to involve themselves in a virtual world they cannot experience relevant emotions, and the desired processes that are necessary for most psychological treatments will not occur. However, some authors argue that presence must be distinguished from the degree of engagement, involvement in the portrayed environment. The results obtained in our study are consistent with this view, since the Involvement scale of the IPQ did not correlate with any of the measures related with the treatment's efficacy.
Ontology-based Interoperability Service for HL7 Interfaces Implementation
Authors: González Carolina  , Blobel Bernd  , López Diego M.
Published: February 2025

Sharing information and knowledge among heterogeneous health information systems requires semantic interoperability. Most integration projects address semantic interoperability by implementing HL7 version 3 standard interfaces. However, it is challenging to achieve computable semantic interoperability with HL7 because of i) the complexity of the standard, requiring HL7 experts in the interface implementation process ii) inconsistencies and overlapping of the different HL7 information models (RIM, D-MIMs, R-MIMs, C-METs), and iii) instability of the different HL7 version 3 models. In this paper, an ontology-based service for health systems´ semantic interoperability is proposed. This service includes three main components: i) the conceptual model formalization component, responsible to represent the conceptual information models of the applications to be integrated as formal application ontologies; ii) the ontology mapper component; responsible to realize the semantic mapping between the formal application ontologies using a domain ontology, therefore solving inconsistencies found in the source application ontologies; (iii) the automatic interface generator, responsible to create and to maintain HL7 version 3 interfaces. The service presented in this paper is primary focused on the implementation of HL7 interfaces to integrate legacy systems. However being supported in an ontology-based mapping of HL7 information models, it can also support semantic interoperability among healthcare services and applications.
The Role of Architecture and Ontology for Interoperability
Authors: Blobel Bernd  , González Carolina  , Oemig Frank  , Lopéz Diego  , Nykänen Pirkko  , Ruotsalainen Pekka
Published: February 2025

Turning from organization-centric to process-controlled or even to personalized approaches, advanced healthcare settings have to meet special interoperability challenges. eHealth and pHealth solutions must assure interoperability between actors cooperating to achieve common business objectives. Hereby, the interoperability chain also includes individually tailored technical systems, but also sensors and actuators. For enabling corresponding pervasive computing and even autonomic computing, individualized systems have to be based on an architecture framework covering many domains, scientifically managed by specialized disciplines using their specific ontologies in a formalized way. Therefore, interoperability has to advance from a communication protocol to an architecture-centric approach mastering ontology coordination challenges.
Patients' Empowerment of their Personal Health Record Requires Strong Traceability to Guarantee Patients Health Care Security
Authors: Allaert François André  , Quantin Catherine
Published: February 2025

Giving patients power over their personal health record is an unavoidable evolution in all industrialized countries which will reflect their active participation in the management of their own health. This would lead to patients sharing management with health professionals, which would need traceability of the data provider to maintain trust and transparency. The systematic use of electronic signatures by medical practitioners will be essential to provide sufficient guarantees and to clearly determine who has added what in the PEHR.
Holism, Health and Data – Managing the Person-centred Digital Haystack
Authors: Rigby Michael
Published: February 2025

There is currently very legitimate pressure to change the function of health information systems to more explicitly serve and support the individual. Concurrently other support services to health, including condition monitoring, social care and intelligent housing, add to the complexity of patient health related data. A paradigm shift is needed, to recognize that many agencies and systems outside as well as within the health sector all work to support the citizen's health, yet the essential integrated view is not being provided, even though much needed not least by the citizen and their agents. Broker technologies can enable this new paradigm. Moreover, a move to identifying the patient's appointments and support services would enable a daily life dimension to be given due weight, and would recognize the patient's viewpoint in wanting to live an ordered life, not one subservient and reactive to the delivery of care by providers.
Standardized Nursing Work: Works in Practice but not in Theory?
Authors: Pedersen Rune  , Ellingsen Gunnar  , Monteiro Eric
Published: February 2025

Socio-technical approaches have established that ICT-supported standardization of healthcare work is difficult, if not impossible. We argue that standardization is neither straightforward nor uncontroversial, but discuss an interpretative case study where standardization of nursing work – to an interesting degree – has been achieved. Our case suggests that co-constructing of the standards is essential to standardization in practice. This is partly imposed from the top, and partly accomplished through the active involvement and ingenuity of users.
Analysis of Postural Stability Following Posterior Spinal Fusion in Adolescents with Idiopathic Scoliosis
Authors: Bustamante Valles K.D.  , Long J.T.  , Riedel S.A.  , Graf A.  , Krzak J.  , Hassani S.  , Riordan M.  , Zaharski K.  , Sturm P.F.  , Harris G.F.
Published: February 2025

This study uses experimental data acquired from adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis to assess their postural control during quiet standing before and after posterior spinal fusion. Statistically significant differences were seen when comparing the pre- and post-surgical measures of balance calculated from data for three different test conditions.
Familial Kyphoscoliosis: Association with the IRX Homeobox Gene Family
Authors: Miller Nancy H.  , Justice Cristina M.  , Cruz Pedro D.  , Maskeri Baishali  , Mullikin Jim C.  , Swindle Kandice  , Wilson Alexander F.
Published: February 2025

Introduction: Genetic analyses of families in which members had kyphoscoliosis (lateral spinal curvature and a thoracic kyphotic curve) identified a 3.5 MB area on chromosome 5p containing genes of the Iroquois (IRX1, IRX2, IRX4) homeobox family which were then sequenced.
Porcine Scoliosis Model Based on Animal Growth Created with Non Invasive Offset Tethering
Authors: Odent Thierry  , Cachon Thibault  , Peultier Bertrand  , Gournay José  , Jolivet Erwan  , Elie Caroline  , Viguier Eric
Published: February 2025

Objective: The purpose of the study is to create a porcine scoliosis model that mimics an infantile scoliosis deformity without chest wall injuring.
Construction of Pubertal Growth Curve in Healthy Chinese Children
Authors: Li Hai-bo  , Wang Wei-jun  , Yeung Hiu-yan  , Cheng Jack C.Y.  , Qiu Yong
Published: February 2025

Introduction: An understanding on normal pubertal growth pattern is of great importance in understanding the abnormal peripubertal growth in many diseases conditions such as adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). The timing of the onset of puberty depends on both genetic and environmental factors. Economy in China improved significantly in the past decades. The latest normal pubertal growth pattern of Chinese, however, is not available.
High Circulating Levels of Osteopontin Are Associated with Idiopathic Scoliosis Onset and Spinal Deformity Progression
Authors: Moreau Alain  , Franco Anita  , Azeddine Bouziane  , Rompré Pierre H.  , Roy Gagnon Marie-Hélène  , Bagnall Keith M.  , Poitras Benoît  , Labelle Hubert  , Rivard Charles-Hilaire  , Grimard Guy  , Ouellet Jean  , Parent Stefan
Published: February 2025

Introduction: The study of the molecular changes occurring in scoliosis animal models revealed an increased production of Osteopontin (OPN), at the mRNA and protein levels and led us to study the role of this multifunctional cytokine in idiopathic scoliosis (IS) pathomechanism.
Intra-operative Determination of the Three Dimensional Load-displacement Behavior of Scoliotic Motion Segments
Authors: Reutlinger Christoph  , Gédet Philippe  , Kowal Jens  , Burger Jürgen  , Hasler Carol  , Bücher Philippe
Published: February 2025

Finite Element Models can be a helpful tool to investigate new, motion preserving means of treatment of spinal deformities. However, an effective validation is even more challenging than for a healthy spine, as in-vitro experiments are very hard to perform due to the limited availability of human cadaver specimens. Measuring the stiffness of scoliotic motion segments intra-operatively offers the possibility to acquire data in an in-vivo situation and at the pathology of interest. We developed a measurement setup to determine the lateral bending stiffness of motion segments after the opening of the back and before the corrective surgery of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis. The apparatus includes a distraction forceps modified to measure force and displacement and an optelectronic camera to track motion. The combination of geometric computer models (vertebral models derived from MRI or CT), motion tracking and forceps data enables the determination of moment and angular displacement measurements for each distraction. The feasibility of this method was validated in a cadaver study using lumbar ovine spines. Measurements were performed with the distraction forceps and compared to equivalent experiments on a spinal loading simulator, as we consider this to be the gold standard for the determination of spinal stiffness. The stiffness computed with the proposed concept was within a range of 15% compared to data obtained with the spinal loading simulator under applied loads of less than 3 Nm. First, intraoperative trials have been performed. The preliminary results confirm the observation that the coupling is such that the anterior portion of the vertebra always rotates into the convexity of the curve when exposed to a left lateral bending.
Study of Somatosensory Evoked Potentials in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis with Different Curve Magnitudes
Authors: Qiu Yong  , Chen Zhi-jun  , Zhu Ze-zhang  , Qian Bang-ping  , Wang Bing  , Yu Yang  , Zhu Feng  , Sun Xu  , Ma Wei-wei
Published: February 2025

Introduction: Abnormal somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) have been documented in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients with a small curve. However, SEPs patterns in large curve AIS patients are seldom reported.
Development of Zebrafish as a Natural Model System for Studying Scoliosis
Authors: Tomasiewicz H.G.  , Liu X.C.  , Tassone C.  , Thometz J.
Published: February 2025

Introdcution: The lack of a good animal model system for studying spinal deformities has hindered studying the etiology of scoliosis. Previously, the only animal model available for studying scoliosis was chickens exposed to copper, which caused spinal deformities. Recently, it has become clear that several fish species appear to exhibit spinal curvatures.
Reproducibility of Bone Density Assessed Using Quantitative Computed Tomography
Authors: Levasseur A.  , Tremblay J.  , Soliman H.A.G.  , Mac-Thiong J.-M.  , Petit Y.
Published: February 2025

Introduction: Quantitative computed tomography (QCT) is a powerful imaging that allows 3D evaluation of bone quality according to apparent density. Its clinical potential is well recognized and it continuously gains popularity as an important diagnostic tool. However, reproducibility of this measure is still unclear.
Automated Calibration of Stereo Camera Systems for Imaging Scoliosis Patients
Authors: Kumar Anish  , Durdle Nelson
Published: February 2025

The study of external back shape deformity in scoliosis is often dependent on 3D imaging of the torso, which use 3D laser scanners, rasterography etc. Use of a stereo digital camera imaging system to construct the 3D image provides a cheaper alternative. Calibration of the pair of digital cameras is an essential part of this process. Calibration is done to determine the geometry between the pair of cameras and the patient. Firstly, calibration requires acquisition of one or more images of an object containing landmarks of known position and dimensions such as checkerboard, pegboard etc. Then, manual identification of these landmarks are performed. Both of these steps are tedious and time consuming. This paper presents a novel approach of automated template matching on a pegboard image followed by Hartley's 8-Point algorithm to determine the underlying geometry. We use a pair of stereo cameras, the pegboard and the subject in a unique setup to eliminate the need for aquiring images as part of the calibration process. The method was compared to commonly used methods of calibration such as Direct Linear Transform (DLT) and the Camera Calibration Matlab Toolbox developed by Jean-Yves Bouguet. Results indicate that the procedure was atleast 75% faster than the existing methods. It‘s accuracy ranged from 90–100% compared to 75–100% for existing methods. This work provides a faster alternative to existing calibration processes which are prone to human errors. It is an important step towards making stereo digital camera systems a useful clinical tool in 3D torso imaging.
Influence of the Loading Rate, Kyphosis Angle and Vertebral Segment Level on Fracture Pattern, Spinal Instability and Canal Encroachment
Authors: Boisclair Dominic  , Mac-Thiong Jean-Marc  , Parent Stefan  , Petit Yvan
Published: February 2025

Introduction: Several experimental techniques are reported to create vertebral compression fractures. However, identification of criteria used to select loading parameters is often missing even though those parameters are suspected to have an influence on the resulting fractures.
Effect of Surgery on Gait in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis
Authors: Mahaudens P.  , Mousny M.  , Banse X.  , Detrembleur C.
Published: February 2025

Introduction: We previously demonstrated that pelvis, hips and shoulders motion were significantly reduced in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients with thoracolumbar/lumbar curve. Decreased muscular mechanical work (Wtot), increased energy cost (C) and prolonged timing activity of lumbo-pelvic muscles (LPMTA) were observed.
Effect of Trunk Position on Spinal Topography Measurements Using Newly Developed System
Authors: Rankine Leah  , Liu Xue C.  , Tassone Channing  , Tarima Sergey  , Thometz John  , Lyon Roger
Published: February 2025

Introduction: A variety of noninvasive methods of curve analysis, such as Moir photography, Integrated Shape Imaging System (ISIS), and the Quantec Spinal Imaging System (QSIS), were developed. Based upon our experience with the use of QSIS for more than 12 years in clinics, recently we have developed a new userfriendly raster stereography system (Milwaukee Spinal System, MSS).
DSS Framework for Analysis of the Impact of Objects to People at Visitors' Area
Authors: Kiss Ferenc  , Török Marianna
Published: February 2025

We have established virtual exhibitions on the web to preserve and present displays. Now, we would like to present objects and exhibits in a way that it does not only reflect museologists' points of view of visiting the showcases but, with the help of cameras, we are following the regular visitors' movements in the physical space and can make the classification of them. With this system, we will be able to produce visits of a virtual exhibition that will be very close to real-life personal visits of an exhibition as there can be various stopover and direction selections reproduced that provide the same experience and feeling as in the course of a real visit.
A Multi-agent Negotiation Decision Support System for Australian Family Law
Authors: Abrahams Brooke  , Zeleznikow John
Published: February 2025

The paper describes the development of an integrated multi-agent negotiation decision support system designed to assist parties involved in Australian family law disputes achieve legally fairer negotiated outcomes. The system extends our previous work in developing negotiation support systems Family_Winner and AssetDivider. In this environment one agent uses a Bayesian Belief Network expertly modeled with knowledge of the Australian Family Law domain to advise disputants of their Best Alternatives to Negotiated Agreements via a percentage property split. Another agent incorporates this percentage split into an integrative bargaining process and applies heuristics and game theory to equitably distribute marital property assets and facilitate further trade-offs. The purpose of the system is to add greater fairness to family property law negotiations.
Drivers of B2B Software Purchase Decisions
Authors: Loebbecke Claudia  , Weiss Thomas  , Powell Philip  , Krooss Christin
Published: February 2025

Organizations are increasingly turning to large, enterprise-wide software systems as potential solutions to managing complex business-to-business (B2B) relationships. These systems become so embedded into the business that they are best understood as socio-technical. The procurement process for such systems needs to be better understood. The purchase decision is seen as being based upon information-related and feature-related drivers. This paper develops a model of software purchase decisions and investigates seven resulting hypotheses. Testing with a sample of customers from a major, global software supplier demonstrates that information-related drivers, customer references and expert network recommendations, and feature-related drivers, price performance, functionality, and sales team service, play a major role in B2B software purchase decisions.
Grid Heterogeneity in In-silico Experiments: An Exploration of Drug Screening Using DOCK on Cloud Environments
Authors: Yim Wen-wai  , Chien Shu  , Kusumoto Yasuyuki  , Date Susumu  , Haga Jason
Published: February 2025

Large-scale in-silico screening is a necessary part of drug discovery and Grid computing is one answer to this demand. A disadvantage of using Grid computing is the heterogeneous computational environments characteristic of a Grid. In our study, we have found that for the molecular docking simulation program DOCK, different clusters within a Grid organization can yield inconsistent results. Because DOCK in-silico virtual screening (VS) is currently used to help select chemical compounds to test with in-vitro experiments, such differences have little effect on the validity of using virtual screening before subsequent steps in the drug discovery process. However, it is difficult to predict whether the accumulation of these discrepancies over sequentially repeated VS experiments will significantly alter the results if VS is used as the primary means for identifying potential drugs. Moreover, such discrepancies may be unacceptable for other applications requiring more stringent thresholds. This highlights the need for establishing a more complete solution to provide the best scientific accuracy when executing an application across Grids. One possible solution to platform heterogeneity in DOCK performance explored in our study involved the use of virtual machines as a layer of abstraction. This study investigated the feasibility and practicality of using virtual machine and recent cloud computing technologies in a biological research application. We examined the differences and variations of DOCK VS variables, across a Grid environment composed of different clusters, with and without virtualization. The uniform computer environment provided by virtual machines eliminated inconsistent DOCK VS results caused by heterogeneous clusters, however, the execution time for the DOCK VS increased. In our particular experiments, overhead costs were found to be an average of 41% and 2% in execution time for two different clusters, while the actual magnitudes of the execution time costs were minimal. Despite the increase in overhead, virtual clusters are an ideal solution for Grid heterogeneity. With greater development of virtual cluster technology in Grid environments, the problem of platform heterogeneity may be eliminated through virtualization, allowing greater usage of VS, and will benefit all Grid applications in general.
An approach to using care pathway records for research
Authors: Olive Mark  , Lashwood Alison  , Solomonides Tony
Published: February 2025

Previously, we have examined the use of integrated care pathways, a fine-grained form of medical guideline including the explicit recording of any deviation, or ‘variance’, for research purposes. Feeding the results of the analysis of variance into the development of a pathway could be an effective way of capturing evidence from practice. Building on this concept, in our principal case study we propose a system for extracting data from integrated care pathways (ICPs) using ontologies and a method for inferring ICPs from other patient records, combining these with data collected for retrospective and prospective studies in preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) for assisted reproduction.
Effects of Alloying Si and Cu to Al Alloys on Interfacial Reaction and Joint Strength in Dissimilar Metals Joints of Al Alloys Steel
Authors: Hirose Akio  , Umeshita Hidetaka  , Saito Yuichi  , Ogura Tomo
Published: February 2025

In the present study, dissimilar joining of 6000 type Al alloys and a low-carbon steel was carried out using diffusion bonding process. The influences of alloying elements, such as Si, and Cu, in the Al alloys were fundamentally investigated, and the quantitative relationship between the growth of the reaction layer and the joint strength was also evaluated. The IMC at the interface of the steel side was identified to be Fe2Al5in all cases. The reaction layer at the Al alloy side changed from a FeAl3layer to an Al-Fe-Si ternary compound layer with increasing Si content in Al alloy more than 1.0mass%. The Al-Fe-Si ternary compound layer uniformly formed at the initial stage of the interfacial reaction. Alloying of Cu to the Al alloy promoted the formation of the Al-Fe-Si ternary compound including Cu. It was suggested that the growth of these intermetallic layers exhibited diffusion-controlled growth behavior. The strength of the Al alloys to the steel joint showed a maximum value at a certain thickness of reaction layer in all kinds of the joints. Moreover the joint strength obviously increased with Si contents of the Al alloys. Moreover, the combined alloying of Si and Cu to Al alloys notably improved joint strength. Thus, the formation of the Al-Fe-Si ternary compounds had a beneficial effect on the strenght of the dissimilar metals joints. This is thought to be because the Al-Fe-Si ternary compounds thinly and uniformly form at the interface in the early stage of bonding. In conclusion alloying of Si and Cu to Al alloys improved bondability in dissimilar joining of the Al alloys to the steel.
Record Linkage System in a Complex Relational Database - MINPHIS Example
Authors: Achimugu Philip  , Soriyan Abimbola  , Oluwagbemi Oluwatolani  , Ajayi Anu
Published: February 2025

In the health sector, record linkage is of paramount importance as clinical data can be distributed across different data repositories leading to duplication. Record Linkage is the process of tracking duplicate records that actually refers to the same entity. This paper proposes a fast and efficient method for duplicates detection within the healthcare domain. The first step is to standardize the data in the database using SQL. The second is to match similar pair records, and third step is to organize records into match and non-match status. The system was developed in Unified Modeling Language and Java. In the batch analysis of 31, 177 “supposedly” distinct identities, our method isolates 25, 117 true unique records and 6, 060 suspected duplicates using a healthcare system called MINPHIS (Made in Nigeria Primary Healthcare Information System) as the test bed.
Verification & Validation of the Knowledge Base for the Hypertension Management CDSS
Authors: Kim Hyun Young  , Ji Hyun Kim  , Cho InSook  , Jae Ho Lee  , Yoon Kim
Published: February 2025

To implement a knowledge-based clinical decision support system for clinical information systems, it is crucial to verify and validate the knowledge base. This study developed and tested the hypertension management CDSS, named LIGHT. This study used a knowledge representation framework based on SAGE and developed a knowledge converter to translate knowledge encoded into the knowledge engine. To verify knowledge converted through the knowledge converter that is included in the knowledge representation framework, expected recommendations were made according to the knowledge encoded based on 201 test cases. The expected recommendations were compared to those generated by the knowledge engine. To validate the knowledge base, two physicians reviewed the test cases and made medication orders according to the knowledge base. These medication orders were compared to recommendations generated by the LIGHT. The concordance rates for compelling indication and absolute contraindication were 85% and 100%, respectively. Another senior physician reviewed and analyzed the discrepancy cases between the orders of the two other physicians and system recommendations. Accordingly, the authors conclude that the knowledge base for hypertension management became more accurate and practical through the testing process.
Using Local Context Information to Improve Automatic Mammographic Mass Detection
Authors: Velikova Marina  , Lucas Peter J.F.  , Karssemeijerb Nico
Published: February 2025

Despite their promising application, current Computer-Aided Detection (CAD) systems face difficulties, especially in the detection of malignant masses –a major mammographic sign for breast cancer. One of the main problems is the large number of false positives prompted, which is a critical issue in screening programs where the number of normal cases is considerably large. A crucial determinant for this problem is the dependence of the CAD output on the single pixel-based locations initially detected. To refine the initial detection step, in this paper, we propose a novel approach by considering the context information between the neighbouring pixel features and classes for every initially detected suspicious location. Our modelling scheme is based on the Conditional Random Field technique and the mammographic features extracted by image processing techniques. In experimental study, we demonstrated the practical application of the approach and we compared its performance to that of a previously developed CAD system. The results demonstrated the superiority of the context modelling in terms of significantly improved accuracy without increase in computation efforts.
10 Years Experience with Pioneering Open Access Publishing in Health Informatics: The Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR)
Authors: Eysenbach Gunther
Published: February 2025

Peer-reviewed journals remain important vehicles for knowledge transfer and dissemination in health informatics, yet, their format, processes and business models are changing only slowly. Up to the end of last century, it was common for individual researchers and scientific organizations to leave the business of knowledge transfer to professional publishers, signing away their rights to the works in the process, which in turn impeded wider dissemination. Traditional medical informatics journals are poorly cited and the visibility and uptake of articles beyond the medical informatics community remain limited. In 1999, the Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR; http://www.jmir.org) was launched, featuring several innovations including 1) ownership and copyright retained by the authors, 2) electronic-only, “lean” non-for-profit publishing, 3) openly accessible articles with a reversed business model (author pays instead of reader pays), 4) technological innovations such as automatic XML tagging and reference checking, on-the-fly PDF generation from XML, etc., enabling wide distribution in various bibliographic and full-text databases. In the past 10 years, despite limited resources, the journal has emerged as a leading journal in health informatics, and is presently ranked the top journal in the medical informatics and health services research categories by impact factor. The paper summarizes some of the features of the Journal, and uses bibliometric and access data to compare the influence of the Journal on the discipline of medical informatics and other disciplines. While traditional medical informatics journals are primarily cited by other Medical Informatics journals (33%-46% of citations), JMIR papers are to a more often cited by “end-users” (policy, public health, clinical journals), which may be partly attributable to the “open access advantage”.
Reaching for the Cloud: On the Lessons Learned from Grid Computing Technology Transfer Process to the Biomedical Community
Authors: Mohammed Yassene  , Dickmann Frank  , Sax Ulrich  , von Voigt Gabriele  , Smith Matthew  , Rienhoff Otto
Published: February 2025

Natural scientists such as physicists pioneered the sharing of computing resources, which led to the creation of the Grid. The inter domain transfer process of this technology has hitherto been an intuitive process without in depth analysis. Some difficulties facing the life science community in this transfer can be understood using the Bozeman's “Effectiveness Model of Technology Transfer”. Bozeman's and classical technology transfer approaches deal with technologies which have achieved certain stability. Grid and Cloud solutions are technologies, which are still in flux. We show how Grid computing creates new difficulties in the transfer process that are not considered in Bozeman's model. We show why the success of healthgrids should be measured by the qualified scientific human capital and the opportunities created, and not primarily by the market impact. We conclude with recommendations that can help improve the adoption of Grid and Cloud solutions into the biomedical community. These results give a more concise explanation of the difficulties many life science IT projects are facing in the late funding periods, and show leveraging steps that can help overcoming the “vale of tears”.
Model-Driven Traceability in Healthcare Information Systems Development
Authors: Walderhaug Ståle  , Hartvigsen Gunnar  , Stav Erlend
Published: February 2025

To improve the quality of software used in healthcare information systems, traceability can play an important role. The concept of traceability establishes explicit trace links in the design, development and maintenance processes, keeping documentation complete and updated. Trace information allows validating bodies, domain experts, system designers and programmers to easily navigate along artefact dependencies and perform simple traceability analysis such as coverage and change impact. This paper presents a novel solution for traceability applied in model-driven development for services in a distributed healthcare environment. The results demonstrate the feasibility of explicitly modelling dependencies using a formal language such as UML. Based on the experience from implementing two full-scale homecare systems in the EU-IST MPOWER project, the potential improvements and challenges with a traceability solution are discussed.
eVisit: A Pilot Study of a New Kind of Healthcare Delivery
Authors: Padman Rema  , Shevchik Grant  , Paone Suzanne  , Dolezal Carl  , Cervenak Jody
Published: February 2025

Patient online eVisits are gaining momentum due to increasing consumer demand for improved access to clinical services, availability of new technologies to deploy such services and development of reimbursement initiatives by major payers. The eVisit service provides patients with an online consultation through a series of structured, secure message exchanges with a physician, providing an alternative for onsite office visits and non-reimbursed phone-based care. In this study, we evaluate a pilot deployment of eVisits in a primary care clinic providing online consultation service for 7 simple health conditions at its three locations. We examine usage data over 3 months and survey and interview results for trends in adoption, demographic and temporal patterns of usage, clinician and patient expectations and experiences, and challenges to sustainability of the service. Based on our analysis, we conclude that the eVisit pilot was a success. Patients valued the new service being offered as demonstrated by a rapid increase in usage. The quality of service was good with fast turnaround times and few exchanges to resolve a request. These positive outcomes combined with a reimbursement model are promising indications of sustainability but several challenges remain.