bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of an Adolescent Depression Ontology for Analyzing Social Data
Authors: Jung Hyesil  , Park Hyeoun-Ae  , Song Tae-Min  , Jeon Eunjoo  , Ran Kim Ae  , Yun Lee Joo
Published: February 2025

Depression in adolescence is associated with significant suicidality. Therefore, it is important to detect the risk for depression and provide timely care to adolescents. This study aims to develop an ontology for collecting and analyzing social media data about adolescent depression. This ontology was developed using the ‘ontology development 101’. The important terms were extracted from several clinical practice guidelines and postings on Social Network Service. We extracted 777 terms, which were categorized into ‘risk factors’, ‘sign and symptoms’, ‘screening’, ‘diagnosis’, ‘treatment’, and ‘prevention’. An ontology developed in this study can be used as a framework to understand adolescent depression using unstructured data from social media.
A Pilot Ontology for Healthcare Quality Indicators
Authors: White Pam  , Roudsari Abdul
Published: February 2025

Computerisation of quality indicators for the English National Health Service currently relies primarily on queries and clinical coding, with little use of ontologies. We created a searchable ontology for a diverse set of healthcare quality indicators. We investigated attributes and relationships in a set of 222 quality indicators, categorised by clinical pathway, inclusion and exclusion criteria and US Institute of Medicine purpose. Our pilot ontology could reduce duplication of effort in healthcare quality monitoring.
Fuzzy-Arden-Syntax-based, Vendor-agnostic, Scalable Clinical Decision Support and Monitoring Platform
Authors: Adlassnig Klaus-Peter  , Fehre Karsten  , Rappelsberger Andrea
Published: February 2025

This study's objective is to develop and use a scalable genuine technology platform for clinical decision support based on Arden Syntax, which was extended by fuzzy set theory and fuzzy logic. Arden Syntax is a widely recognized formal language for representing clinical and scientific knowledge in an executable format, and is maintained by Health Level Seven (HL7) International and approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Fuzzy set theory and logic permit the representation of knowledge and automated reasoning under linguistic and propositional uncertainty. These forms of uncertainty are a common feature of patients' medical data, the body of medical knowledge, and deductive clinical reasoning.
Oncotherapy: A System for Requesting Chemotherapy Protocols
Authors: Righi Laura Vera
Published: February 2025

A clinical decision support system is able to provide oncologists with suitable treatment options at the moment of decision making regarding which chemotherapy protocol is the best to apply to a particular oncological case. The National Cancer Institute has created a Guidelines Committee that establishes therapeutical options for each clinical case. The Health Informatics Department has developed Oncotherapy, a knowledge database that incorporates information provided by the Guidelines Committee. Oncotherapy includes a tailored information repository to provide oncologists in the public health system with the chemotherapy protocols available given three types of data: clinical diagnosis, clinical stage and therapy criteria. The protocol selected by the treating oncologist is sent back to Oncotherapy, which may create new knowledge that can be incorporated into the knowledge database. In this way, the system supports making the best decision according to the chemotherapy protocol options available. Furthermore, it can warn of errors that could result from mistakenly chosen therapies.
Building a Semantic Interoperability Framework for Care and Research in Fibromuscular Dysplasia
Authors: Jaulent Marie-Christine  , Assélé-Kama Ariane  , Savard Sébastien  , Giavarini Alessandra  , Touzé Emmanuel  , Jeunemaître Xavier  , Ugon Adrien  , Plouin Pierre-François  , Toubiana Laurent
Published: February 2025

Identifying patients with Fibromuscular Dysplasia (FMD) at the international level will have considerable value for understanding the epidemiology, clinical manifestations and susceptible genes in this arterial disease, but also for identifying eligible patients in clinical trials or cohorts. We present a two-step methodology to create a general semantic interoperability framework allowing access and comparison of distributed data over various nations, languages, formats and databases.
PancreApp: An Innovative Approach to Computational Individualization of Nutritional Therapy in Chronic Gastrointestinal Disorders
Authors: Stawiski Konrad  , Strzałka Alicja  , Puła Anna  , Bijakowski Krzysztof
Published: February 2025

Medical nutrition therapy has a pivotal role in the management of chronic gastrointestinal disorders, like chronic pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel diseases (Leśniowski-Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis) or irritable bowel syndrome. The aim of this study is to develop, deploy and evaluate an interactive application for Windows and Android operating systems, which could serve as a digital diet diary and as an analysis and a prediction tool both for the patient and the doctor. The software is gathering details about patients' diet and associated fettle in order to estimate fettle change after future meals, specifically for an individual patient. In this paper we have described the process of idea development and application design, feasibility assessment using a phone survey, a preliminary evaluation on 6 healthy individuals and early results of a clinical trial, which is still an ongoing study. Results suggest that applied approximative approach (Shepard's method of 6-dimensional metric interpolation) has a potential to predict the fettle accurately; as shown in leave-one-out cross-validation (LOOCV).
Quantifying the Activities of Self-quantifiers: Management of Data, Time and Health
Authors: Almalki Manal  , Martin Sanchez Fernando  , Gray Kathleen
Published: February 2025

Current self-quantification systems (SQS) are limited in their ability to support the acquisition of health-related information essential for individuals to make informed decisions based on their health status. They do not offer services such as data handling and data aggregation in a single place, and using multiple types of tools for this purpose complicates data and health self-management for self-quantifiers. An online survey was used to elicit information from self-quantifiers about the methods they used to undertake key activities related to health self-management. This paper provides empirical evidence about self-quantifiers' time spent using different data collection, data handling, data analysis, and data sharing tools and draws implications for health self-management activities.
Towards the Implementation of an openEHR-based Open Source EHR Platform (a vision paper)
Authors: Pazos Gutiérrez Pablo
Published: February 2025

Healthcare Information Systems are a big business. Currently there is an explosion of EHR/EMR products available on the market, and the best tools are really expensive. Many developing countries and healthcare providers cannot access such tools, and for those who can, there is not a clear strategy for the evolution, scaling, and cost of these electronic health products. The lack of standard-based implementations conduct to the creation of isolated information silos that cannot be exploited (i.e. shared between providers to promote a holistic view of each patient's medical history). This paper exposes the main elements behind a Standard-based Open Source EHR Platform that is future-proof and allows to evolve and scale with minimal cost. The proposed EHR Architecture is based on openEHR specifications, adding elements emerged from research and development experiences, leading to a design that can be implemented in any modern technology. Different implementations will be interoperable by design. This Platform will leverage contexts of scarce resources, reusing clinical knowledge, a common set of software components and services.
Electronic Health Record System Contingency Plan Coordination: A Strategy for Continuity of Care Considering Users' Needs
Authors: Fernández Marcela T.  , Gómez Adrián R.  , Santojanni Américo M.  , Cancio Alfredo H.  , Luna Daniel R.  , Benítez Sonia E.
Published: February 2025

Electronic Health Record system downtimes may have a great impact on patient care continuity. This paper describes the analysis and actions taken to redesign the Contingency Plan Procedure for the Electronic Health Record System of Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires.
Human Factors Predicting Failure and Success in Hospital Information System Implementations in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Verbeke Frank  , Karara Gustave  , Nyssen Marc
Published: February 2025

From 2007 through 2014, the authors participated in the implementation of open source hospital information systems (HIS) in 19 hospitals in Rwanda, Burundi, DR Congo, Congo-Brazzaville, Gabon, and Mali. Most of these implementations were successful, but some failed. At the end of a seven-year implementation effort, a number of risk factors, facilitators, and pragmatic approaches related to the deployment of HIS in Sub-Saharan health facilities have been identified. Many of the problems encountered during the HIS implementation process were not related to technical issues but human, cultural, and environmental factors. This study retrospectively evaluates the predictive value of 14 project failure factors and 15 success factors in HIS implementation in the Sub-Saharan region. Nine of the failure factors were strongly correlated with project failure, three were moderately correlated, and one weakly correlated. Regression analysis also confirms that eight factors were strongly correlated with project success, four moderately correlated, and two weakly correlated. The study results may help estimate the expedience of future HIS projects.
Classifying the Indication for Colonoscopy Procedures: A Comparison of NLP Approaches in a Diverse National Healthcare System
Authors: Patterson Olga V.  , Forbush Tyler B.  , Saini Sameer D.  , Moser Stephanie E.  , DuVall Scott L.
Published: February 2025

In order to measure the level of utilization of colonoscopy procedures, identifying the primary indication for the procedure is required. Colonoscopies may be utilized not only for screening, but also for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. To determine whether a colonoscopy was performed for screening, we created a natural language processing system to identify colonoscopy reports in the electronic medical record system and extract indications for the procedure. A rule-based model and three machine-learning models were created using 2,000 manually annotated clinical notes of patients cared for in the Department of Veterans Affairs. Performance of the models was measured and compared. Analysis of the models on a test set of 1,000 documents indicates that the rule-based system performance stays fairly constant as evaluated on training and testing sets. However, the machine learning model without feature selection showed significant decrease in performance.
Consumer Health Information Needs and Question Classification: Analysis of Hypertension Related Questions Asked by Consumers on a Chinese Health Website
Authors: Guo Haihong  , Li Jiao  , Dai Tao
Published: February 2025

This study built up a classification schema of consumer health questions which consisted of 48 quaternary categories and 35 annotation rules. Using such a schema, we manually classified 2,000 questions randomly selected from nearly 100 thousand hypertension-related messages posted by consumers on a Chinese health website to analyze the information needs of health consumers. The results showed questions in the categories of treatment, diagnosis, healthy lifestyle, management, epidemiology, and health provider choosing were 48.1%, 23.8%, 11.9%, 5.2%, 9.0%, and 1.9% respectively. The comparison of the questions asked by consumers and physicians showed that their health information needs were significantly different (P<0.0001).
The Effect of Mobile App Follow-up Care on the Number of In-person Visits Following Ambulatory Surgery: A Randomized Control Trial
Authors: Armstrong Kathleen  , Coyte Peter  , Semple John
Published: February 2025

Women's College Hospital (WCH) in Toronto offers specialized ambulatory surgical procedures. A feasibility study using a mobile appliciation (app) to supplement in-person follow-up care after surgery suggests that the mobile app adequately detects postoperative complications, eliminates the need for in-person follow-up care and is cost-effective. This is concordant with other postoperative telemedicine studies.
Augmented Reality: Real-Time Information Concerning Medication Consumed by a Patient
Authors: Diodati Gloria  , Gómez Adrián  , Martínez Marcela  , Luna Daniel  , González Bernaldo de Quiros Fernán
Published: February 2025

This paper describes a mobile prototype capable of recognizing characters from a photograph of a medication package. The prototype was built to work on the iOS platform and was developed using Objective-C and C programming languages. The prototype, capable of recognizing text out of an image, included image processing algorithms, text processing algorithms, and techniques to search and handle information from a database. This prototype is presented as an option for capturing reliable and validated information by using new technologies available to the general population.
Development and Usability Evaluation of the Mobile Delirium Assessment App Based on Confusion Assessment Method for Intensive Care Unit (CAM-ICU)
Authors: Ji Meihua  , Wu Ying  , Chang Polun  , Yang Xin  , Yang Fangyu  , Xu Shuang
Published: February 2025

Delirium is a common complication among patients in ICU settings. The accuracy of using the assessment tool CAM-ICU to detect delirium is relatively low during routine practice among bedside nurses. The aim of this study is to develop a mobile application (app) to detect delirium in early stage and to test its usability among ICU nurses. The app was developed with Java and installed on a mobile device. A questionnaire was created based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) measuring their response to the four domains of TAM: perceived usefulness (PU), perceived ease of use (PEOU), attitudes towards usage (ATU) and behavioral intention to use (BIU). One hundred and two ICU nurses completed the survey. The result indicated that the app we developed has easy to use interfaces and is easier to use compared to the regular CAM-ICU.
Developing an Online Decision Aid for Osteoarthritis
Authors: Salkeld Glenn  , Wortley Sally  , Hunter David  , Umapathy Hema  , Dowie Jack
Published: February 2025

A decision aid for osteoarthritis was developed using the best available evidence on effect size, potential harms and self-rated performance for other attributes. The aid was developed using a multi-criteria decision analytic tool capable of combing evidence and an individual's preferences for the attributes related to treatment.
Design and development of an EMR for Ebola Treatment Centers in Sierra Leone using OpenMRS
Authors: Jazayeri Darius  , Oza Shefali  , Ramos Glauber  , Fraser Hamish  , Teich Jonathan M.  , Kanter Andrew S.  , Ball Ellen
Published: February 2025

Ebola treatment presents unique challenges for medical records because strict infection control requirements rule out most conventional record-keeping systems. We used the OpenMRS platform to rapidly develop an EMR system for the recently opened Kerry Town, Sierra Leone Ebola Treatment Centre. This system addresses the need for recording patient data and communicating it between the infectious and non-infectious zones, and is specifically designed for maximum usability by staff wearing cumbersome protective equipment. This platform is interoperable with other key eHealth systems in the country, and is extensible to other sites and diseases.
An Exponential Increase in Regional Health Information Exchange With Collaborative Policies and Technologies
Authors: Downing N. Lance  , Lane Steven  , Eisenberg Mathew  , Sharp Christopher  , Palma Jonathan  , Northern California HIE Working Group  , Longhurst Christopher
Published: February 2025

In the United States, the ability to securely exchange health information between organization has been limited by technical interoperability, patient identity matching, and variable institutional policies. Here, we examine the regional experience in a national health information exchange network by examining clinical data sharing between eleven Northern California organizations using the same health information exchange (HIE) platform between 2013–2014. We identify key policies and technologies that have led to a dramatic increase in health information exchange.
Interoperable Archetypes With a Three Folded Terminology Governance
Authors: Pederson Rune  , Ellingsen Gunnar
Published: February 2025

The use of openEHR archetypes increases the interoperability of clinical terminology, and in doing so improves upon the availability of clinical terminology for both primary and secondary purposes. Where clinical terminology is employed in the EPR system, research reports conflicting a results for the use of structuring and standardization as measurements of success. In order to elucidate this concept, this paper focuses on the effort to establish a national repository for openEHR based archetypes in Norway where clinical terminology could be included with benefit for interoperability three folded.
Hospitalization Discharge Summary: Standardization of Information Model
Authors: de Souza Andréia Cristina  , Moro Claudia  , Reis Zilma S. N.
Published: February 2025

Brazil has a long tradition in the use of health information systems, however – until now – there is no consensus on the minimum data set from which to compose discharge summaries. This article describes the metdodology used by a group of experts – members of WG1 of ISOTC 215 Health Informatics Brazilian mirror committe – to define the information model of the discharge summary. This paper describes the current status of the standardization process and the first pilot tests with this infomation content.
Clinical Decision Support Based on Integrated Patient Models: A Vision
Authors: Denecke Kerstin
Published: February 2025

Clinical decision making is non-trivial given the amounts of data and knowledge that needs to be considered. So far, medical knowledge, biological knowledge and patient data are separated from each other and need to be integrated mentally by a physician to form an overarching patient model. In this paper, we describe a vision for future decision support systems that link knowledge about organ functions, biological processes, treatment decisions and clinical data represented in repsective models. Requirements and challenges for realizing this vision will be collected.
Stigma and On-line Health Information Seeking of U.S. South Asian Cancer Survivors
Authors: George Sheba M.  , Kagawa Singer Marjorie
Published: February 2025

The internet has replaced physicians as primary health information source for cancer-survivors.It is important to uncover barriers/facilitators to cancer information seeking, particularly on-line.Asian Americans are the fastest growing U.S racial/ethnic minority, 2) cancer is the leading cause of r death and 3) cancer knowledge is low among them and little research is done on their cancer information seeking strategies. This study aims to examine qualitatively cancer information-seeking patterns of the Asian American group, South Asians, using in-depth interview methods. Family members and social networks are highly engaged in providing informational support to South Asian cancer survivors. such collaborative information seeking is limited by stigma related to cancer and must be taken into consideration when developing culturally appropriate cancer health information seeking interventions in such communities.
Designing an Assistive Learning Aid for Writing Acquisition: A Challenge for Children with Dyslexia
Authors: Latif Seemab  , Tariq Rabbia  , Tariq Shehla  , Latif Rabia
Published: February 2025

In Pakistan, the biggest challenge is to provide high quality education to the individuals with learning disabilities. Besides the well known affordance issue, there is a lack of awareness regarding the term dyslexia and remedial teaching training that causes the identification as well as remediation of the dyslexic individuals at early stages in Pakistan. The research was focused to exploit the benefits of using the modern mobile technology features in providing a learning platform for young dyslexic writers. Based on potential usability requirements of young dyslexic writers stated by remedial teachers of dyslexics, an android based application is designed and implemented using the usability engineering process model to encourage the learning process and help dyslexic children improve their fundamental handwriting skill. In addition, a handwriting learning algorithm based on concepts of machine learning is designed and implemented to decide the learning content, evaluate the learning performance, display the performance results and record the learning growth to show the strengths and weaknesses of a dyslexic child. The research was also aimed to assess the usability of the learner-centered application by the targeted population by conducting a user acceptance test to evaluate their learning experience and benefits of the developed application to dyslexic users. The results of the evaluation provided by the participants revealed that application has potential benefits to foster the learning process and help children with dyslexia by improving their foundational writing skills.
Magnetic, Angular Rate and Gravity Sensor System Fusion for Orientation Estimation
Authors: Alfonso Manuel R.  , Frizera Anselmo  , Côco Klaus F.
Published: February 2025

This paper presents the development of a fusion strategy to integrate and calibrate signals from magnetometers, gyroscopes and accelerometers to implement a magnetic, angular rate and gravity (MARG) sensor system. The aim of such algorithms is to capture signals from the individual sensors and identify, compensate and reduce external and internal errors such as bias, scale factor and drifts, which highly depend on the noise levels. The necessary calibrations to ensure the reliability of captured data are also presented. The orientation data obtained by the proposed algorithm will be compared with a commercial motion capture system, which are currently being used by researchers in biomechanical analysis and in clinical motor rehabilitation studies.
Visual functioning of aging care professionals and the influence of light, a brief literature study
Authors: Apodoulianaki Efthymia  , van Tilborg Mirjam  , Kort Helianthe S.M.
Published: February 2025

Ageing is an important factor that affects visual functioning. In the Netherlands the average age in healthcare facilities is on increase. The current study is a preliminary literature review regarding the influence of light on the visual functioning of the aging workforce and their related tasks.
Measurements of speech intelligibility in common rooms for older adults as a first step towards acoustical guidelines
Authors: Reinten Jikke  , van Hout Nicole  , Hak Constant  , Kort Helianthe
Published: February 2025

Adapting the built environment to the needs of nursing- or care-home residents has become common practice. Even though hearing loss due to ageing is a normal occurring biological process, little research has been performed on the effects of room acoustic parameters on the speech intelligibility for older adults. This article presents the results of room acoustic measurements in common rooms for older adults and the effect on speech intelligibility. Perceived speech intelligibility amongst the users of the rooms was also investigated. The results have led to ongoing research at Utrecht University of Applied Sciences and Eindhoven University of Technology, aimed at the development of acoustical guidelines for elderly care facilities.
Visibility of LED Blocks Mounted on Crosswalk Boundaries for low Visual Capacity
Authors: Ikeda Norihiro  , Takahashi Kazuya  , Inagaki Tomoyuki  , Sato Katsuya  , Ito Sin-Ichi  , Seiyama Motohiro  , Takeuchi Kiyohito  , Ogino Hiroshi  , Fujisawa Shoichiro
Published: February 2025

According to the WHO, about 80% of visually impaired persons in the world are with low visual capacity. It is considered that LVs' safe independent mobility will be improved as employing Tactile Walking Surface Indicators (TWSIs). In the night, guidelines for constructing warning blocks, a kind of tactile surface indicator, have not been well established. Therefore, crossing crosswalks is one of the most dangerous situations for visually impaired persons. We thus developed novel LED blocks that indicate crosswalk boundaries between sidewalks and roadways. This study addresses the LED blocks under various environmental illuminations and illumination from the opposite side of the crossing.
4D-Joystick – New Possibilities for Persons with Motor Disabilities
Authors: Nussbaum Gerhard  , Thaller David
Published: February 2025

The 4D-Joystick is a new type of Assistive Technology which enables people with severe motor disabilities to fully control remote controlled (RC) toys i.e. models. In 2013 the authors started to develop a feasibility study and built the first prototype of the 4D-Joystick which allowed to control up to 4 analogue and up to 2 digital channels. The second prototype of the 4D-Joystick allows to control up 4 analogue channels and 4 digital channels concurrently with very low latency. Furthermore the second prototype of 4D-Joystick supports functionality like Dual Rates, Expo, Invert and Dead Zone on each channel which offers additional adaptability to the users' needs. This is sufficient to control complex RC Models like airplanes, helicopters, multicopters, boats and cars. Furthermore the 4D-Joystick offers an interface to the open source software AsTeRICS. In combination with AsTeRICS the 4D-Joystick can be used as music instrument, a computer game controller and a computer input device. This paper discusses the second prototype of the 4D-Joystick and its functionality.
Developing an Animal Counting Game in Second Life for a Young Adult with Down Syndrome
Authors: Boleracki Miklós  , Farkas Ferenc  , Meszely Attila  , Szikszai Zoltan  , Sik Lányi Cecilia
Published: February 2025

Down syndrome is caused by trisomy of all or part of human chromosome 21 (HSA21) and is the most common genetic cause of significant intellectual disability. It is the most common chromosome abnormality in humans, occurring in about one per 1000 babies born each year. It is typically associated with physical growth delays, characteristic facial features, and mild to moderate intellectual disability [1]. The average IQ of a young adult with Down syndrome is 50, equivalent to the mental age of an 8- or 9-year-old child, but this varies widely [2]. The purpose of this study is to create a tool in the virtual world Second Life [3] to develop basic counting skills for young adults with Down syndrome. Following an international literature review, our project explored and used pre-programmed equipment, Linden Scripting Language, tables and intellectual interfaces with educational intentions. The study suggests that the product will not only aid the development of counting skills for young adults with Down syndrome, but will also create an entertaining environment for all visitors, furthermore promoting imagination and motivation within a virtual community.
Hybrid Instruction Method of Brush Strokes with Haptic Device
Authors: Nomura Yoshihiko  , Kato Hirotsugu  , Sakamoto Ryota
Published: February 2025

This paper proposes an instruction method of brush strokes utilizing haptic devices. Focusing attention to the magnitude difference between the horizontal and the vertical in brush strokes, we introduced a position/force hybrid scheme for determining traction forces to be fed back to users: the horizontal component of the force was given to reduce the horizontal position deviation of a learner from an expert, and the vertical component was given as reaction forces of the expert-exerted forces. As an example, a bush stroke experiment was conducted for some Brahmi characters.
Development of Augmentative and Alternative Communication Assessment Tools for Patients with ALS
Authors: Yonezaki Jiro  , Ikeda Maki  , Tsubaki Takuya  , Sato Katsuya  , Ito Sin-Ichi  , Sueda Osamu  , Fujisawa Shoichiro
Published: February 2025

ALS patients usually use augmentative and alternative communication tools to communicate with other people, but the assessment tools, including the selection of an input switch, are very difficult to operate. In this study, we developed a novel device to measure the physical ability of patients to operate the input switch with a push lever. The study focused on the amount of pushing and the power required to operate the input switch, and the effectiveness was verified.
Service Dogs for People with Spinal Cord Injury: Outcomes Regarding Functional Mobility and Important Occupations
Authors: Vincent Claude  , Gagnon Dany H.  , Routhier François  , Dumont Frédéric  , Poissant Lise  , Corriveau Hélène  , Tousignant Michel
Published: February 2025

No research using standardized tests based on direct observations along with longitudinal studies have shown the effects of service dogs on persons with mobility impairment. Our research objectives were to document the consequences of the use of the service dog on wheelchair propelling, grasping objects, shoulder pain, occupational performance, reintegration into normal living and psychosocial impacts for people with spinal cord injury (SCI). A cross sectional study was conducted with 45 males and 21 females with SCI (average age = 41.2). They were assessed in their homes and their communities, two to five years after they received their service dogs. Observations were based on four testing methods. An ongoing longitudinal study is reported, based on 9 months (n = 8 to 16) of data from four standardised questionnaires. Results demonstrate that services dogs are an efficient assistive technology for persons with SCI.
Example of the application of the PERSONA methodology in the definition of needs and requirements for the WeTakeCare system
Authors: Barbera-Guillem Ricard  , Poveda-Puente Rakel  , Neumann Silke  , Becker Heidrun  , Ramírez Miguel  , Wienholtz Arno  , Schaedler Inge
Published: February 2025

In user-centred design and marketing, personas are fictional characters created to represent the different user types that might use a site, brand, or product in a similar way [1]. As in other projects, the main application and use value of the persona approach in WeTakeCare project has been to depict and thus make “vivid” the characters and the milieus created and selected. It has helped to better understand and communicate the differences among the potential users. It has also helped to understand the heterogeneity and diversity of the users' lives and to focus on how to meet their actual needs [2].
A Brief Introduction of Assistive Technology Service Delivery System in Republic of Korea
Authors: Lim MyungJoon  , Jung SungMin
Published: February 2025

Social participation of People with Disability in Republic of Korea has been grown last few years. Also demand of Assistive Technology has been increased as well. Responding these needs, the public benefits of Assistive Technology Device in Republic of Korea in 2014 was USD 1.7 billion which had been increased by 27 percent during the last five years. Despite an increase in the budget, effort to build Assistive Technology Service Delivery System (ATSDS) was not enough. Therefore, Ministry of Health and Welfare in Korea decided to build ATSDS in Republic of Korea in 2009. In this paper, the process of establishing ATSDS and 2014 outcomes of ATSDS are presented in details. For more than six years efforts of establishing national-wide ATSDS, nine Assistive Technology Centers were actively running in their delivery of service in 2014. As of 2014 outcomes of ATSDS, 14,056 cases were delivered through nine Assistive Technology Centers. The presence of ATSDS proved increase in accessibility for Assistive Technology for People with Disability followed by improvement of the quality of life of them.
The Contextualization of Archetypes: Clinical Template Governance
Authors: Pedersen Rune  , Ulriksen Gro-Hilde  , Ellingsen Gunnar
Published: February 2025

This paper is a status report from a large-scale openEHR-based EPR project from the North Norway Regional Health Authority. It concerns the standardization of a regional ICT portfolio and the ongoing development of a new process oriented EPR systems encouraged by the unfolding of a national repository for openEHR archetypes. Subject of interest; the contextualization of clinical templates is governed over multiple national boundaries which is complex due to the dependency of clinical resources. From the outset of this, we are interested in how local, regional, and national organizers maneuver to standardize while applying OpenEHR technology.
Distance-based Kernels for Dynamical Movement Primitives
Authors: Escudero-Rodrigo Diego  , Alquezar René
Published: February 2025

In the Anchoring Problem actions and objects must be anchored to symbols; and movement primitives as DMPs seems a good option to describe actions. In the bottom-up approach to anchoring, the recognition of an action is done applying learning techniques as clustering. Although most work done about movement recognition with DMPs is focus on weights, we propose to use the shape-attractor function as feature vector. As several DMPs formulations exist, we have analyzed the two most known to check if using the shape-attractor instead of weights is feasible for both formulations. In addition, we propose to use distance-based kernels, as RBF and TrE, to classify DMPs in some predefined actions. Our experiments based on an existing dataset and using 1-NN and SVM techniques confirm that shape-attractor function is a better choice for movement recognition with DMPs.
Screening for Diabetic Retinopathy through Retinal Colour Fundus Images using Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: Torrents-Barrena Jordina  , Melendez Jaime  , Valls Aida  , Romero Pere  , Puig Domenec
Published: February 2025

Diabetic Retinopathy is one of the main causes of blindness and visual impairment in developed countries for diabetic patients. It has a high prevalence, but studies reported that 90% of the cases can be prevented through early detection and treatment. Eye screening through retinal images is used by ophthalmologists to detect lesions. In this paper we propose a new convolutional neural network architecture for supervised segmentation of these images to detect microaneurysm abnormalities. The method is validated by comparing at pixel level the lesions detected to medical experts' hand-drawn ground-truth.
Teaching Grasping Points Using Natural Movements
Authors: Isleyici Yalim  , Alenyà Guillem
Published: February 2025

The research on robots performing every-day tasks at home has pursued the problem of the manipulation of everyday objects. Among them, grasping a cloth is a challenging task, as the textile is highly-deformable and it is not straightforward to define a generic grasping point. In this paper, we address this problem by introducing a new robot interaction method that enables unexperienced users to control the robot in a natural way. When the robot proposes a grasping point, the user is able to teach the robot a new one. The data collected using this method is then used for training a system using linear regression method, which produces better grasping points and allowing better manipulation actions. The experiments demonstrates the validity of the new interaction method and its potential to improve the point-grasping selection algorithm.
Proprioceptive Feedback and Intrinsic Motivations in Early-Vocal Development
Authors: Acevedo-Valle J.M.  , Angulo C.  , Agell N.  , Moulin-Frier C.
Published: February 2025

This work introduces new results on early-vocal development in infants and machines using artificial intelligent agents. It is addressed using the perspective of intrinsically-motivated learning algorithms for autonomous exploration. The agent autonomously selects goals to explore its own sensorimotor system in regions where a certain competence measure is maximized. Unlike previous experiments, we propose to include a somatosensory model to provide a proprioceptive feedback to reinforce learning. We argue that proprioceptive feedback will drive the learning process more efficiently than algorithms taking into account only auditory feedback. Considering the proprioceptive feedback to generate a constraint model, which is unknown beforehand to the learner, guarantees that the agent is less prone to selecting goals that violated the system constraints in previous experiments.
Probabilistic VHM Failure Envelopes for Skirted Foundations in Spatially Variable, Normally Consolidated Clay
Authors: Charlton T.S.  , Rouainia M.
Published: February 2025

Skirted foundations are used in offshore applications to resist the large horizontal and moment loads that are characteristic of the ocean environment. The ultimate capacity of a skirted foundation subjected to vertical-horizontal-moment (VHM) loading combinations can be described using failure envelopes in VHM load space. This represents a far more versatile design approach than classical bearing capacity solutions and is able to accommodate complex loading scenarios and similarly complex stress conditions in the soil. Typically, VHM envelopes are constructed using deterministic plastic limit analyses or numerical methods. However, soil is a natural material and as such is inherently variable. The value of soil parameters fluctuates through the ground, as evident in field or laboratory test results. In this study, the ultimate capacity of a skirted foundation in spatially variable undrained clay under VHM loading is investigated. Spatial variation is taken into account using a random field representation of undrained shear strength and the increase of strength with depth typical of a normally consolidated marine clay is considered. The random field is coupled with a finite element method to assess the ultimate limit state. The failure mechanism and ultimate capacity are consequently direct results of the spatial variation of undrained shear strength. Monte Carlo simulation is used to produce probabilistic failure envelopes, based on the probability that the true combination of VHM loads causing failure will fall inside on or inside that envelope. Hence, this method allows designers to select a capacity envelope that is associated with an acceptable level of risk.
Is There Anything Better Than LRFD For Simplified Geotechnical RBD?
Authors: Phoon Kok-Kwang  , Ching Jianye
Published: February 2025

Geotechnical design codes, be it reliability-based or otherwise, must cater to diverse local site conditions and diverse local practices that grew and adapted over the years to suit these conditions. One obvious example is that the COVs of geotechnical parameters can vary over a wide range, because diverse property evaluation methodologies exist to cater to these diverse practice and site conditions. Another example is that deep foundations are typically installed in layered soil profiles that vary from site to site. These diverse design settings do not surface in structural engineering. If the performance of geotechnical RBD were to be measured by its ability to achieve a more uniform level of reliability than that implied in existing allowable stress design over these diverse settings (which is recommended in Section D.5, ISO2394:2015), then LRFD and comparable simplified RBD formats widely used in structural design codes are not adequate. While it is understandable for geotechnical RBD to adopt structural LRFD concepts at its initial stage of development over the past decades, it is timely for the geotechnical design code community to look into how we can improve our state of practice in simplified geotechnical RBD. This paper demonstrates that improved formats such as the Quantile Value Method coupled with an effective random dimension (ERD-QVM) can cater to a more realistic and diverse range of design scenarios. Specifically, ERD-QVM can maintain an acceptably uniform level of reliability over a wide range of COVs of geotechnical parameters and a wide range of layered soil profiles. It can achieve this while retaining the simplicity of an algebraic design check similar to the traditional factor of safety format and LRFD. ERD-QVM is a step in the right direction to develop geotechnical RBD for geotechnical engineers. More research is urgently needed for geotechnical RBD to gain wider acceptance among practitioners.
Safety Assessment of a Shallow Foundation Using the Random Finite Element Method
Authors: Zaskórski Łukasz  , Puła Wojciech
Published: February 2025

In this paper, the reliability assessment of the bearing capacity of a shallow strip footing was conducted using a reliability index β. In applicable standards (Eurocode 7) there is not presented any explicit method of an evaluation of characteristic values of soil parameters. Therefore some approaches of an estimation of characteristic values of soil properties were compared by evaluating values of reliability index β. Method of Orr and Breysse, Duncan's method, two Schneider's methods and suggestion included in Eurocode 7 were examined. Design values of the bearing capacity based on these approaches were referred to the stochastic bearing capacity estimated by the random finite element method (RFEM). A probability distribution of the bearing capacity was estimated basing on 3000 simulations. Assessed probability distribution was applied to compute design values of the bearing capacity and related reliability indices β. Conducted analysis were carried out for a cohesive soil. Hence a friction angle and a cohesion were defined as a random parameters and characterized by two dimensional random fields. Design values of the bearing capacity were evaluated for various widths and depths of a foundation in conjunction with design approaches DA defined in Eurocode 7.
Reliability Analysis of Heterogeneous Slope Considering Effect of Distribution Types
Authors: Jiang Shuihua  , Li Dianqing  , Wei Bowen
Published: February 2025

The effect of probability distributions on the slope reliability is highlighted in this study since the lognormal distribution is often used to characterize the variability of soil properties to avoid negative values. A multiple response-surface based MCS method for slope reliability analysis in spatially variable soils is proposed. A heterogeneous slope consisting of three soil layers (including a weak layer) is studied to demonstrate the validity of the proposed method and explore the effect of probability distributions for soil shear strength parameters on the reliability of the heterogeneous slope. The results indicate that the proposed method provides a practical tool for evaluating the reliability of heterogeneous slopes. It can greatly improve the computational efficiency especially when the probability of slope failure is at relatively low levels (pf<10−3). The difference in the probabilities of failure of the heterogeneous slope associated with the lognormal, normal, gamma and beta distributions is significant when the spatial variability of soil properties is incorporated. In general, the probability of failure may be underestimated as the lognormal distribution is used for characterization of the random fields of soil properties.
Laboratory Tests for Backwards Piping Erosion
Authors: Robbins Bryant A.  , Sharp Michael K.  , Corcoran Maureen K.
Published: February 2025

Efforts are currently underway by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to perform risk assessments of all dams and levees within their portfolio. The majority of these dams and levees are earthen structures. Findings from the assessments show that the major risk drivers, which contribute to failure modes or reduced performance of these earthen structures, are related to internal erosion, surface erosion from overtopping, slope instability, poorly-designed and constructed intrusions (such as pipe crossings), and other factors to a lesser degree (such as burrowing animals). By far, the greatest risk driver is seepage leading to internal erosion. Therefore, the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) is conducting research to investigate internal erosion, specially backward erosion piping, by use of laboratory-scale model testing to understand and properly capture the physics of the problem. Preliminary results show that lower void ratio models, using poorly-graded soils with a coefficient uniformity of 1.5, required a higher critical gradient to initiate backward erosion.
Mapping Geotechnical Risk for Infrastructural Works in Deltaic Areas
Authors: Venmans Arjan  , Schokker Jeroen  , Dambrink Roula  , Maljers Denise  , Heerema Jan Jaap
Published: February 2025

This paper presents method and first results of a study to quantify and communicate geotechnical risk for highway construction on soft soil and large building pits associated with infrastructural works in the Netherlands. A set of easy-to-read maps will inform the end users, geotechnical consultants at the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment, in the early stage of projects of the most important subsoil-related geotechnical risks and their spatial distribution. The method involves risk identification, risk assessment, identification of critical geological features contributing to this risk, and development of maps reflecting the magnitude of the geotechnical risk. Geological information is derived from the detailed 3D geological model GeoTOP. GeoTOP allows quick data assessment and creation of maps on a regional to nationwide scale. Close cooperation between geologists, geotechnical engineers and end users is the key success factor in application of the method. Geotechnical consultants will use the maps to identify risks, determine early risk mitigation measures and design site-investigation schemes.
Effect of Prior Knowledge on Site-Specific Selection of Regression Model for Characterization of Geotechnical Properties
Authors: Aladejare Adeyemi Emman  , Wang Yu
Published: February 2025

During geotechnical site characterization, many geotechnical properties might be difficult to measure directly and have to been estimated using indirect measurement and regression models. For example, when there is no possibility of direct compression test, geotechnical engineers and practitioners may utilize regression models (i.e. equations) to estimate the uniaxial compressive strength, UCS, of rock from point load index, Is(50). However, there are many equations relating Is(50)to UCS in the literature. This leads to the problem of how to select the most appropriate model for a particular rock deposit out of the numerous models available. This study presents a method that rationally compares different regression models and selects the most appropriate model for a specific site or deposit considered herein. The most appropriate model is selected using only a limited number of site-specific Is(50)data. The selected model is then used in a Bayesian framework to integrate the prior knowledge about UCS with the limited number of site-specific Is(50)data available for probabilistic characterization of UCS. The approach is shown to perform properly, particularly when the prior knowledge reflects information from the site.