bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rectangular Plate Finite Element for Triplex Laminated Glass
Authors: Ivanov Ivelin  , Velchev Dimitar  , Georgiev Nikolay  , Ivanov Ivo
Published: February 2025

Laminated glass became a popular safety glass. The very soft PVB-interlayer impedes the slippage between glass layers, bending in parallel under transverse loading, by shear stress. Conventional Finite Elements (FE) are not capable to solve the problem efficiently. Based on the assumption that the glass layers of a laminated glass obey Kirchoff's plate theory and the PVB-interlayer transfer shear stress only, a special rectangular triplex laminated glass plate FE is elaborated. The element is validated by comparison with other computational FE models of commercial software and experimental tests of a laminated glass strip in cylindrical bending.
Design of Glass-Polycarbonate Composite Panels
Authors: Weimar Thorsten
Published: February 2025

Glass-polycarbonate composite panels are mainly used for security glazing applications. Glass possesses a high material stiffness whereas polycarbonate provides high impact strength in combination with low weight. The composite panels combine high resistance against attack with slender cross-sections and reduced dead load in comparison to common laminated safety glass. In consequence, the structural design of glass-polycarbonate composite panels depends mainly on static loads. This requires a profound knowledge of the material properties and the interaction of multiple layers in composite structures. In addition to the structural behaviour of the glazing, the post-breakage performance is also assessed. The results provide the basis for a suitable design concept of glass-polycarbonate composite panels.
Validation and Improvement of Airframe Noise Prediction Tools
Authors: Schram Christophe  , Koloszár Lilla
Published: February 2025

The European project named VALIANT – VALidation and Improvement of Airframe Noise prediction Tools – is a Collaborative Research Project addressing the external noise challenges raised by the development of green aircraft. It focuses on broadband airframe noise (AFN) by tackling both landing gears and high lift devices, which are the two main contributors to AFN of an aircraft at approach. The complexity and diversity of broadband turbulent airframe noise sources make that prediction and subsequent reduction with present numerical tools extremely challenging and far from mature.
DOTNAC – Development and Optimization of THz NDT on Aeronautics Composite Multi-Layered Structures
Authors: Vandewal Marijke
Published: February 2025

Modern aircraft structures have to comply with severe requirements: they have to be light as well as safe. These requirements lead to an increased use of composite materials in the aircraft industry. However, new materials also require new techniques in order to inspect aircraft components during production in a non-destructive way. The European research programme “DOTNAC” proposes to develop a fast, high resolution, non-invasive and non-contact inspection system for assessing aeronautic composite parts during production. The THz spectrum covers a frequency spectrum from the far to the mid-IR.
LTCC: A Packaging Technology Suitable for High Density Integration and High Temperature Applications
Authors: Slater Conor  , Vassy Paul
Published: February 2025

The objective of the European research project “CREAM” – Compact and Reliable Electronic in Actuators and Motors – is to reach new high performance and reliability capabilities of Electro-Mechanical Actuators (EMA) in harsh thermal environmental conditions for use in All-Electric Aircraft (AEA). High Thermal stability, the ability to package a high density of components and interconnects, the possible integration of thick film resistors and a variety of high temperature component attach, and interconnect technologies make LTCC– Low Temperature Co-fired Ceramic – a suitable candidate for the packaging of control electronics for high temperature applications.
Open Access in developing countries: African Open Archives
Authors: Chalabi Lydia  , Dahmane Madjid
Published: February 2025

This paper presents the results of a study on the open archives in developing countries. It provides the elements of type, size and contents of open archives. The methodology is based on information collected from open repository websites. The survey is based on an almost exhaustive sample list of developing countries websites retrieved from directories and a list of open repositories. The purpose of this study, carried out from 2011 up to now, is to measure, at a second level, the impact of open access on the Algerian researchers by analyzing their practices related to open access, through the identification of their scientific publications at a second level in the open archives, in which they can deposit.
Book Design Program: a Transition to a Hybrid Publishing Context
Authors: Silva Ana Catarina  , Borges Maria Manuel
Published: February 2025

This study is developed within the scientific areas of Information Science, Communication Sciences and Editorial Design. It refers to the hybrid publishing context in which there is a coexistence of electronic and print processes, and to the role played by Information and Communication Technologies. This scenario is conditioned by technical, morphological and cultural transformations, in the words of Roger Chartier, and represents a singular moment to observe the book and its construction processes, valuing it in its various embodiments and contexts. Considering this, the present study sought to contribute to an adaptation of the methodological tools; and an optimization of the designer's communication and information flow. In order to achieve these goals we defined two main tasks: (i) comparative analysis of traditional publishing and hybrid publishing, (ii) characterization of the designer's communication and information flows that exist in the context of hybrid publishing. To do so, we adopted qualitative research methods, with literature review and content analysis. This procedure allowed us to conclude that the publishing industry is making major investments (in what concerns organization and capital) in implementing hybrid publishing schemes. Nevertheless, there is still a lack of adequacy of design programs in this scenario. This adaptation involves a redirection of the focus of the design program, not to controlling the final shape of the object (book), but to regulating it. This procedure can only be possible with a dynamic information flow in which the editorial subject is flexible and built inside a participatory scheme by the various agents.
Lombo-sacral joint efforts during gait: comparison between healthy and scoliotic subjects
Authors: Raison Maxime  , Ballaz Laurent  , Detrembleur Christine  , Mahaudens Philippe  , Lebleu Julien  , Fisette Paul  , Mousny Maryline
Published: February 2025

Introduction: The internal efforts in the human body in motion could provide valuable information for the evaluation and follow-up of subjects with musculo-skeletal pathologies, such as scoliosis, but are still difficult to accurately measure. In this context, the objective of this study is to compare the lombo-sacral (L5-S1) joint efforts during gait (i.e.: mediolateral forces, mediolateral torques, and anteroposterior torques) between typically developed adolescents (TDA) and adolescents with left lumbar or thoracolumbar idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), categorized by their Cobb angle (CA).
Operative treatment of isthmic spondylolisthesis with posterior stabilization and ALIF. Cages versus autogenous bone grafts
Authors: Pankowski Rafal  , Smoczynski Andrzej  , Roclawski Marek  , Ceynowa Marcin  , Kloc Wojciech  , Wasilewski Wojciech  , Jende Piotr  , Liczbik Wieslaw  , Beldzinski Piotr  , Libionka Witold  , Pierzak Olaf  , Adamski Stanislaw  , Niedbala Miroslaw
Published: February 2025

In the following study the use of cages and autogenous bone grafts were compared in the operative treatment of isthmic spondylolisthesis with the posterior stabilization and Anterior Lumbosacral Interbody Fusion (ALIF). 55 patients were divided into two groups. Autogenous bone grafts were used in the first group (34 patients) and titanium interbody implants (cages) in the second group (21 patients). The mean follow up period in the first group was 8.6 years and 3.4 years in the second group. The radiological outcome was based upon the evaluation of the degree of spondylolisthesis, the angle of the lumbar lordosis, the height of the interbody space and intervertebral foramen and the evaluation of the spinal fusion. The objective clinical outcome assessment was based on Oswestry Disability Index. Subjective clinical evaluation was performed with the use of Visual Analog Pain Score (VAS) and the two questions concerning the evaluation of success of the operative treatment and a possible agreement to the following operation if necessary. The use of autogenous bone grafts alone in ALIF was related to the significant loss of achieved segmental spine anatomy restoration. The implantation of the cages prevented the loss of slippage correction, permanently reconstructed the anatomical conditions in the area of the operated spinal segment.
Surgical Treatment of Early Onset Scoliosis in Neurofibromatosis
Authors: Greggi Tiziana  , Martikos Konstantinos
Published: February 2025

Case series report of twenty-three patients, aged between 4 and 11 years, were surgically treated at the Authors' Spine Surgery Division in the past 15 years. Mean follow-up is 5 years (range, 18 months to 15 years). Mean age at the time of surgical procedure was 9.1 years (range, 4 years to 11 years). Average scoliosis was 48° (range, 38° to 82°) and skeletal maturity according to Risser sign was 0 in all of the patients. Patients were divided into 2 Groups according to the surgical procedure adopted. Posterior only instrumentation was performed in 16 patients that presented with a thoracic kyphosis lower than 50° (Group A), in the remaining 7 patients showing thoracic kyphosis exceeding 50°, combined anterior and posterior instrumented arthrodesis was performed (Group B). One patient, belonging to Group A, was instrumented with growing rod without fusion. Average correction of scoliosis was 60%, overall complication rate 24% and major 7%. Crankshaft phenomenon was observed in 21% (Group A): in these cases, anterior arthrodesis was performed after a mean 15-month from first surgical procedure. Fusion failure was observed in 1 (Group B) patient who underwent revision of posterior instrumentation. Clinical and radiographic evaluation at F-up showed good outcome in terms of deformity progression and quality of life. Early and aggressive surgery is the most effective management for dystrophic curves in neurofibromatosis has been proven to be. Our experience confirms the need for spinal stabilization even in pediatric age in rapidly progressive spinal deformities.
SpineCor, exercise and SPoRT rigid brace: what is the best for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis? Short term results from 2 retrospective studies
Authors: Zaina Fabio  , Donzelli Sabrina  , Negrini Alessandra  , Romano Michele  , Negrini Stefano
Published: February 2025

Introduction. SpineCor is a dynamic brace that showed good results in scoliosis treatment. But data suggest that its efficacy is reduced as curves magnitude increase, and no comparisons exist versus exercise alone. The objective of this double study is to compare the short term results of the SpineCor versus SEAS exercises and versus rigid SpoRT brace for AIS.
Results of SpineCor dynamic bracing for idiopathic scoliosis
Authors: Szwed Aleksand  , Kołban Maciej
Published: February 2025

Background. Orthopedic bracing is used in conservative treatment of spinal curvatures. Apart from rigid braces, SpineCor dynamic braces with a flexible design have recently become available. The idea behind dynamic bracing is that derotational and correcting forces are transmitted via a system of corrective bands. The essence of this technique is maintenance of spine mobility while effecting a position in which all components of the three-plane deformity are corrected.The aim of this study is to evaluate early outcomes of SpineCor dynamic brace treatment for idiopathic scoliosis according to SRS methodology and criteria. Material and methods. The study group included 50 patients who were using SpineCor braces due to idiopathic scoliosis. The indication for bracing was the finding of a >15° spinal curvature in skeletally immature patients (Risser grade 0-3). Correction or stabilization of the scoliosis (Cobb angle change of ±5°) were recognized as positive outcomes, while a negative outcome was defined as progression of the curve of more than 5° or to a value necessitating operative treatment. The study group was divided in to subgroups at enrolment, according to gender and degree of scoliosis.
Is the SRS-22 able to detect Quality of Life (QoL) changes during conservative treatments ?
Authors: Negrini Stefano  , Donzelli Sabrina  , Dulio Monica  , Zaina Fabio
Published: February 2025

Background. The SRS-22 has been developed to monitor QoL in scoliosis. Only a few studies have evaluated its effects on therapies. Consequently, doubts exist on its utility in conservative treatment.
Association study of IL-17RC, CHL1, DSCAM and CNTNAP2 genes polymorphisms with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis susceptibility in a Chinese Han population
Authors: Zhou Song  , Zhu Zezhang  , Qiu Xusheng  , Wu Weifei  , Wang Weijun  , Liu Zhen  , Lv Feng  , Qiu Yong
Published: February 2025

Recently, several genome wide association studies suggested IL-17RC, CHL1, DSCAM and CNTNAP2 genes polymorphisms were associated with AIS. To confirm these associations, we performed this case-control study using data from 648 AIS patients and 573 healthy adolescent of Chinese Han population. A polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis was performed to detect the genotypes of polymorphic loci: rs708567 rs279545 in IL-17RC gene, and rs2055314, rs331894, rs2272524, rs2272522 in CHL1 gene, and rs2222973 in DSCAM gene, and rs2710102, rs11770843 in CNTNAP2 gene. Statistical analysis of genotype frequencies between AIS patients and controls were performed by χ2 test. Our results show that both the genotype frequency and allele frequency of loci rs708567 were significantly different between AIS patients and controls (P = 0.023, 0.028, respectively). As for polymorphic loci rs279545, rs2222973, rs279545, rs2055314, rs331894, rs2272524, rs2272522, no significant difference was found between AIS patients and controls either genotype or allele frequencies (p>0.05). Overall, our study found a significant association of IL-17RC gene polymorphisms with AIS in a Chinese Han population, indicating IL-17RC gene may be as a susceptibility gene for AIS; While CHL1, CNTNAP2 and DSCAM genes were not associated with AIS, suggesting that those genes may not be involved in the etiopathogenesis of AIS. However, association study of these genes with AIS in other races is needed to clarify the role of these genes in the etiology of AIS.
ZigBee-based Remote Patient Monitoring
Authors: Fernandez-Lopez Helena  , Afonso José Augusto  , Correia José Higino  , Simões Ricardo
Published: February 2025

This paper describes a developed continuous patient monitoring system based on the ZigBee protocol. The system was tested in the hospital environment using six sensor devices in two different modes. For electrocardiogram transmission and in the absence of hidden-nodes, the system achieved a mean delivery ratio of 100% and 98.56%, respectively for star and 2-hop tree network topologies. When sensor devices were arranged in a way that three of them were unable to hear the transmissions made by the other three, the mean delivery ratio dropped to 83.96%. However, when sensor devices were reprogrammed to transmit only heart rate values, the mean delivery ratio increased to 99.90%, despite the presence of hidden-nodes.
pHealth
Authors: Bos Lodewijk
Published: February 2025

This chapter deals with my view on pHealth both as president of ICMCC, an international foundation dealing with the social, societal and ethical implications of the use of ICT in medicine and care and as a cancer survivor.
A Hybrid Decision Support System for Disaster/Crisis Management
Authors: Stanek Stanislaw  , Drosio Stanislaw
Published: February 2025

Computer support for crisis management is currently mostly focused on immediate emergency and rescue operations, while there are few all-in-one systems capable of deploying support to decision making processes in state administration and at international level. The paper presents the concept of a Hybrid Decision Support System for Crisis Management (HSWDK). The idea has been developed with a view to, firstly, demonstrating the potential inherent in systems that would be able to address a wide range of emergency response operations, and secondly, outlining a system architecture proposal. The discussion is placed in the context of Poland's crisis management system, which provides both an inspiration and an underpinning for the proposed “Four Lights” platform. The authors also describe some recent applications and current development trends in the area of crisis/disaster management systems.
Enabling Collaboration in Emergency Management through a Knowledge-Based Decision Support System
Authors: Fogli Daniela  , Guida Giovanni
Published: February 2025

This paper focuses on the collaboration among emergency managers in charge of planning, coordinating and controlling the course of actions necessary to face an emergency. Our experience in different projects has led us to define a novel collaboration model grounded on decision support, considered as the core function that motivates and sustains inter-personal collaboration. According to this approach, a general knowledge-based decision support system is proposed, along with suitable methods for its customization to a specific domain. A case study concerning the emergency situation generated by a pandemic flu is finally analyzed with the purpose of illustrating the application of the proposed approach and demonstrating its practical impact.
Investigation of decision making issues in the use of current clinical information systems
Authors: Mawilmada Pubudika K.  , Smith Susan E.  , Sahama Tony
Published: February 2025

Clinical information systems have become important tools in contemporary clinical patient care. However, there is a question of whether the current clinical information systems are able to effectively support clinicians in decision making processes. We conducted a survey to identify some of the decision making issues related to the use of existing clinical information systems. The survey was conducted among the end users of the cardiac surgery unit, quality and safety unit, intensive care unit and clinical costing unit at The Prince Charles Hospital (TPCH). Based on the survey results and reviewed literature, it was identified that support from the current information systems for decision-making is limited. Also, survey results showed that the majority of respondents considered lack in data integration to be one of the major issues followed by other issues such as limited access to various databases, lack of time and lack in efficient reporting and analysis tools. Furthermore, respondents pointed out that data quality is an issue and the three major data quality issues being faced are lack of data completeness, lack in consistency and lack in data accuracy.
Electronic referrals: What matters to the users
Authors: Warren Jim  , Gu Yulong  , Day Karen  , White Sue  , Pollock Malcolm
Published: February 2025

Background: Between September 2010 and May 2011 we evaluated three implementations of electronic referral (eReferral) systems at Hutt Valley, Northland and Canterbury District Health Boards in New Zealand.
Visualising patient flow
Authors: Jensen Andrew  , Boyle Justin  , Khanna Sankalp
Published: February 2025

We describe the development of a method to distil routinely collected clinical data into patient flow information to aid hospital bed management. Using data from state-wide emergency department and inpatient clinical information systems, a user-friendly interface was developed to visualise patient flow conditions for a particular hospital. The historical snapshots employ a variable time scale, allowing flow to be visualised across a day, week, month or year. Flow information includes occupancy, arrival and departure rates, length-of-stay and access block observations, which can be filtered by age, departure status, diagnosis, elective status, triage category, and admission unit. The tool may be helpful in supporting hospital bed managers in their daily decision making.
The effect of e-health contents on health science students' attitude toward the efficiency of health ICT in care provision
Authors: Lam Mary K.  , Amon Krestina L.  , Nguyen Melanie  , Campbell Andrew J.  , Neville Victoria
Published: February 2025

Objective: This study aimed to examine the effects of e-health education content on the attitude of undergraduate health science students towards the efficiency of health ICT in healthcare provision.
Does your ontology make a (sense) difference?
Authors: Garbacz Pawel
Published: February 2025

The paper defines three logical criteria for semantic adequacy of an applied ontology. All criteria are based on the idea to the effect that when an ontology construed as a formal theory allows for swapping some items in its vocabulary, then it does not sufficiently differentiate between the meanings of these items and, consequently, the semantic aspect of this vocabulary cannot be claimed to be sufficiently characterised. Besides providing the formal definitions of those criteria and proving some simple correlations therebetween I present the empirical results of their implementation.
A Method for Evaluating Ontologies
Authors: Seyed A. Patrice
Published: February 2025

In this paper we review the integration of BFO's theory of types with OntoClean's notion of Rigidity, provide our decision tree procedure for evaluating ontologies based on the integration, while also describing its implementation as a Protégé 4 plugin, the BFO-Rigidity Decision Tree Wizard. Finally we provide a practical analysis of controversial and important ontological topics surrounding the BFO-Rigidity integration work. The decision tree approach allows our wizard plugin to implicitly perform inferences on behalf of a modeler based on answers to questions. This approach is accessible because it does not require familiarity with BFO, OntoClean, or our first-order formal system, and does not require the modeler to make assertions that are not normally considered within the scope of a domain level ontology. Having chosen for our implementation a plugin environment that interoperates with a popular ontology editor, we expect that the principles underlying the integration work will become more accessible to both novice and expert domain modelers.
Suggestions for Galaxy Workflow Design Using Semantically Annotated Services
Authors: Dhamanaskar Alok  , Cotterell Michael E.  , Zheng Jie  , Kissinger Jessica C.  , Stoeckert, Jr. Christian J.  , Miller John A.
Published: February 2025

The wide-scale development of ontologies in the bioinformatics domain facilitates their use in the creation of scientific workflows. To speed up the design of workflows, a Service Suggestion Engine is interfaced to the Galaxy Tool Integration and Workflow Platform. This enables users to ask for suggestions (e.g., what operation should go next) while designing workflows with the Galaxy user interface. The Service Suggest Engine utilizes semantic annotations to suggest appropriate Web service operations to plug into the workflow under design. The enriched Ontology for Biomedical Investigation (OBI) is used as a target for the annotations. The effectiveness of the suggestions provided is evaluated against a consensus of domain experts.
A Role of Three-Dimensional (3D) Reconstruction in the Classification of Lung Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Onozato Maristela L.  , Klepeis Veronica E.  , Yagi Yukako  , Mino-Kenudson Mari
Published: February 2025

Background: Three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction from paraffin embedded sections has been considered laborious and time-consuming. However, the high-resolution images of large object areas and different fields of view obtained by 3D reconstruction make one wonder whether it can add a new insight into lung adenocarcinoma, the most frequent histology type of lung cancer characterized by its morphological heterogeneity.
Consequences of “Going Digital” for Pathology Professionals – Entering the Cloud
Authors: Laurinavicius Arvydas  , Raslavicus Paul
Published: February 2025

New opportunities and the adoption of digital technologies will transform the way pathology professionals and services work. Many areas of our daily life as well as medical professions have experienced this change already which has resulted in a paradigm shift in many activities. Pathology is an image-based discipline, therefore, arrival of digital imaging into this domain promises major shift in our work and required mentality. Recognizing the physical and digital duality of the pathology workflow, we can prepare for the imminent increase of the digital component, synergize and enjoy its benefits. Development of a new generation of laboratory information systems along with seamless integration of digital imaging, decision-support, and knowledge databases will enable pathologists to work in a distributed environment. The paradigm of “cloud pathology” is proposed as an ultimate vision of digital pathology workstations plugged into the integrated multidisciplinary patient care systems.
Working Toward Cancer and Healthy Living Education Around the World: the Experience at La Salle Campus Barcelona
Authors: Forrest Tallulah
Published: February 2025

Health education, especially in the earlier stages of life, is essential for the development of healthy habits for life. Though healthy living messages must first be delivered locally, our goal is to distribute these messages globally using new technology and communications mediums. The La Salle schools, with a global network of primary, secondary, and higher education institutions have the capacity to reach thousands of children. La Salle Campus Barcelona, in collaboration with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and Hospital Sant Joan de Déu , has started to carry out educational activities in schools in Catalonia, as well as supporting the design of video games teaching healthy habits and preparing videos about a healthy lifestyle, with the goal of reaching children around the world.
Maximize Life Global Cancer Awareness Campaign: Improving the Lives of Cancer Patients While Increasing Global Awareness of Their Needs
Authors: Garcia-Gonzalez Pat  , Schwartz Erin L.
Published: February 2025

In October 2010 The Max Foundation, in partnership with 30 cancer patient associations in emerging countries, organized a global cancer awareness campaign.
Human Papillomavirus Vaccination and the Primary Prevention of Cancer: Implications for Survivors of Childhood Cancer
Authors: Klosky James L.  , Foster Rebecca H.  , Hodges Jason  , Peasant Courtney  , Gamble Heather  , Mcdermott Michael J.  , Rao Preeti
Published: February 2025

Effective vaccination is now available to prevent human papillomavirus (HPV), the most common sexually transmitted infection and the cause of cervical cancer, the second most common cancer among women worldwide. HPV vaccine uptake is particularly important for females surviving cancer, who are at high risk for HPV-related complication due to the direct and indirect effects of cancer therapy. Thus, Version 3.0 of the Children's Oncology Group Long-Term Follow-Up Guidelines for Survivors of Childhood, Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer recommends HPV vaccination for all eligible females surviving childhood cancer. Because this vaccine was only FDA approved in 2006, little is known about the complexity of vaccination uptake among those surviving childhood cancer. This chapter describes HPV vaccination and its usefulness in survivors of childhood cancer, provides a rationale for describing survivors as being at increased risk for HPV-related complication, identifies factors that are predictive of HPV vaccination, and discusses the utilization of these predictors in designing strategies to promote adherence to the HPV vaccination recommendations among survivors.
M-Health: Can Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients Use Mobile Phones and Associated Software to Self-Manage Their Disease?
Authors: Borycki Elizabeth
Published: February 2025

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the fourth leading cause of death in Canada. The Internet and mobile phones have revolutionized the ways in which those affected by chronic illnesses obtain health information. Increasingly individuals affected by chronic illnesses are using social media (e.g., blogs, YouTube®, Facebook®, Twitter®) to obtain information about and social support for their conditions. This rate is expected to grow with the increased use of the Internet, mobile phones, and mobile phone/social media software applications. The future of COPD self-management is changing and will likely include the use of a blend of these three technologies. A literature review was undertaken to determine the current state of the research at the intersection of COPD and the use of mobile devices and mobile social media applications in health care.
Understanding IT-Enabled Social Action Networks: Construction, Sustainability, and User Participation
Authors: Banks M. Shane
Published: February 2025

Innovative, humanitarian individuals and organizations are seeking to leverage the power of information technologies by constructing IT-enabled social action networks (ITSANs), networks of actors, connected via an IT platform, working together to improve social conditions and the lives of others. ITSANs are primarily web-based platforms that allow users to collaborate, share information, and pool resources to enhance efforts to address a common social mission. The goal of this research is to investigate how ITSANs are used to positively affect social needs by examining how these platforms are constructed and sustained. Also of interest are factors influencing user participation. To develop an in-depth understanding of ITSANs, this research proposes a qualitative multi-case study approach that seeks to understand ITSANs through the lived experiences of key actors.
A Preliminary Study on Formalization of Motivation Process in Personal Software Process Course
Authors: Ishibashi Keiichi  , Hashimoto Masaaki  , Umeda Masanobu  , Katamine Keiichi  , Yoshida Takaichi  , Akiyama Yoshihiro
Published: February 2025

This preliminary study describes a baseline State Transition Model (STM) of the personal motivation process, which should be extended for monitoring and controlling the Personal Software Process (PSP) training course. First, we present an approach for formalizing the motivation process when introducing a business method into an organization. The baseline STM is then discussed for three kinds of PSP course at the Kyushu Institute of Technology, where a stable state indicates successful or unsuccessful completion of a course and thus an unstable state is one of the main risk factors for the course. Various characteristics of trainees are clarified to extend the baseline STM.
Evaluation of End User Accessibility Support Using Link Content Analysis
Authors: Iwata Hajime  , Kobayashi Naofumi  , Tachibana Kenji  , Shirogane Junko  , Fukazawa Yoshiaki
Published: February 2025

Web pages are used for various purposes. End users must sequentially follow page links to find necessary content, requiring significant time and effort. Our method supports the location of content by analyzing link types. This facilitates end users' access to necessary information on web pages.
The Landmark-based Meta Best-First Search Algorithm for Classical Planning
Authors: Vernhes Simon  , Infantes Guillaume  , Vidal Vincent
Published: February 2025

In this paper, we revisit the idea of splitting a planning problem into subproblems hopefully easier to solve with the help of landmark analysis. This technique initially proposed in the first approaches related to landmarks in classical planning has been outperformed by landmark-based heuristics and has not been paid much attention over the last years. We believe that it is still a promising research direction, particularly for devising distributed search algorithms that could explore different landmark orderings in parallel. To this end, we propose a new method for problem splitting based on landmarks, which has three advantages over the original technique: it is complete (if a solution exists, the algorithm finds it), it uses the precedence relations over the landmarks in a more flexible way (the orderings are explored by way of a best-first search algorithm), and finally it can be easily performed in parallel (by e.g. following the hash-based distribution principle). We lay in this paper the foundations of a meta best-first search algorithm, which explores the landmark orderings and can use any embedded planner to solve each subproblem. It opens up avenues for future research: among them are new heuristics for guiding the meta search towards the most promising orderings, different policies for expanding nodes of the meta search, influence of the embedded subplanner, and parallelization strategies of the meta search.
Symmetries in Itemset Mining
Authors: Jabbour Said  , Sais Lakhdar  , Salhi Yakoub  , Tabia Karim
Published: February 2025

In this paper, we describe a new framework for breaking symmetries in itemset mining problems. Symmetries are permutations between items that leave invariant the transaction database. Such kind of structural knowledge induces a partition of the search space into equivalent classes of symmetrical itemsets. Our proposed framework aims to reduce the search space of possible interesting itemsets by detecting and breaking symmetries between items. Firstly, we address symmetry discovery in transaction databases. Secondly, we propose two different approaches to break symmetries in a preprocessing step by rewriting the transaction database. This approach can be seen as an original extension of the symmetry breaking framework widely used in propositional satisfiability and constraint satisfaction problems. Finally, we show that Apriori-like algorithms can be enhanced by dynamic symmetry reasoning. Our experiments clearly show that several itemset mining instances taken from the available datasets contain such symmetries. We also provide experimental evidence that breaking such symmetries reduces the size of the output on some families of instances.
Delegating Decisions in Strategic Settings
Authors: Kraus Sarit  , Wooldridge Michael
Published: February 2025

We formalise and investigate the following problem. A principal must delegate a number of decisions to a collection of agents. Once the decisions are delegated, the agents to whom the decisions are delegated will act selfishly, rationally, and independently in pursuit of their own preferences. The principal himself is assumed to be self-interested, and has some goal that he desires to be achieved. The delegation problem is then, given such a setting, is it possible for the principal to delegate decisions in such a way that, if all the agents to whom decisions have been delegated then make decisions rationally, the principal's goal will be achieved in equilibrium. We formalise this problem using Boolean games, which provides a very natural framework within which to capture the delegation problem: decisions are directly represented as Boolean variables, which the principal assigns to agents. After motivating and formally defining the delegation problem, we investigate the computational complexity of the problem, and some issues surrounding it.
Hybrid Regression-Classification Models for Algorithm Selection
Authors: Kotthoff Lars
Published: February 2025

Many state of the art Algorithm Selection systems use Machine Learning to either predict the run time or a similar performance measure of each of a set of algorithms and choose the algorithm with the best predicted performance or predict the best algorithm directly. We present a technique based on the well-established Machine Learning technique of stacking that combines the two approaches into a new hybrid approach and predicts the best algorithm based on predicted run times. We demonstrate significant performance improvements of up to a factor of six compared to the previous state of the art. Our approach is widely applicable and does not place any restrictions on the performance measure used, the way to predict it or the Machine Learning used to predict the best algorithm. We investigate different ways of deriving new Machine Learning features from the predicted performance measures and evaluate their effectiveness in increasing performance further. We use five different regression algorithms for performance prediction on five data sets from the literature and present strong empirical evidence that shows the effectiveness of our approach.
Self-Assessing Agents for Explaining Language Change: A Case Study in German
Authors: van Trijp Remi
Published: February 2025

Language change is increasingly recognized as one of the most crucial sources of evidence for understanding human cognition. Unfortunately, despite sophisticated methods for documenting which changes have taken place, the question of why languages evolve over time remains open for speculation. This paper presents a novel research method that addresses this issue by combining agent-based experiments with deep language processing, and demonstrates the approach through a case study on German definite articles. More specifically, two populations of autonomous agents are equipped with a model of Old High German (500–1100 AD) and Modern High German definite articles respectively, and a set of self-assessment criteria for evaluating their own linguistic performances. The experiments show that inefficiencies detected in the grammar by the Old High German agents correspond to grammatical forms that have actually undergone the most important changes in the German language. The results thus suggest that the question of language change can be reformulated as an optimization problem in which language users try to achieve their communicative goals while allocating their cognitive resources as efficiently as possible.
Evolutionary Clustering on CUDA
Authors: Krömer Pavel  , Platoš Jan  , Snášel Václav
Published: February 2025

Unsupervised clustering of large data sets is a complicated task. Due to its complexity, various meta-heuristic machine learning algorithms have been used to automate the clustering process. Genetic and evolutionary algorithms have been deployed to find clusters in data sets with success. The GPU computing is a recent programming paradigm introducing high performance parallel computing to general audience. This work presents an acceleration of a genetic algorithm for density based clustering on the GPU using the nVidia compute unified device architecture (CUDA).
An Android-Enabled Mobile Framework for Ensuring Quality of Life through Patient-Centric Care
Authors: Koufi Vassiliki  , Malamateniou Flora  , Vassilacopoulos George
Published: February 2025

The drive to achieve excellence in healthcare delivery while containing costs, underlies the need for a new generation of applications which facilitate the realization of a patient-centric care model. Under this emerging care model healthcare delivery can be integrated across the continuum of services, from prevention to follow up, and care can be coordinated across all settings. With care moving out into the community, health systems require real-time information to deliver coordinated care to patients. The integration of leading-edge technologies, such as mobile technology, with Personal Health Records (PHRs) can meet this requirement by making comprehensive and unified health information available to authorized users at any point of care or decision making through familiar environments such as Google's Android. This paper presents a framework that provides ubiquitous access to patients' PHRs via Android-enabled mobile devices. Where possible health information access and management is performed in a transparent way, thus enabling healthcare professionals to devote more time on practicing medicine and patients to manage their own health with the least possible intervention. This depends heavily on the context, which is collected by both Android-specific core system services and special purpose software agents with the latter being also responsible for preserving PHR data privacy.
Achieving IT-supported Standardized Nursing Documentation through Participatory Design
Authors: Rasmussen Stine Loft  , Lyng Karen Marie  , Jensen Sanne
Published: February 2025

In the Capital Region of Denmark a full-scale pilot project on IT-supported nursing documentation is – after running for two months at one full university hospital – showing promising results. In this paper we discuss participatory design as a method to design clinical documentation templates that support guideline-based highly structured standard documentation in a large organization with many stakeholders. Applying a participatory design (PD) approach at many organizational levels has involved the stakeholders actively in the design process. Developing a set of design principles has concurrently made it possible to frame the discussions among the different stakeholders. Both PD and design principles have been instrumental in designing and implementing a set of standard templates that support the daily work and coordination between the nurses.
Integration of Data Analysis Methods in Syndromic Surveillance Systems
Authors: Zikos Dimitrios  , Diomidous Marianna
Published: February 2025

Syndromic surveillance systems perform real-time analysis of health data to enable early identification of potential public health threats, evaluating whether distributional parameters have been increased beyond a threshold. This paper presents the applied data analysis methods in five non-industrial surveillance systems. Four time series and spatial cluster analysis methods were found to be implemented: SMART, EWMA, CuSum and WSARE. Combined use both spatial and time series methods is found in the presented surveillance applications. Data analysis methods for syndromic surveillance are a constantly emerging field, while new statistical methods and algorithms are implemented into surveillance systems.
Psychological evaluation of 24-hour home nursing care: application of an analytic hierarchy process to improve quality of life
Authors: Shibata Takeo  , Shimizu Yoko  , Wada Hiroko
Published: February 2025

Twenty-four-hour home nursing care services for patients with severe diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis have been started in Japan. To improve the quality of home nursing care as well as the patients quality of life (QOL), we undertook a psychological evaluation of the care services. An analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was applied to the psychological evaluation. Forty-eight staff replied to our questionnaire, of which twenty-nine staff showed a consistency index of less than 0.1. In the first hierarchy, the intensities of importance were 0.436 for “quality of care”, 0.351 for “staff awareness”, and 0.213 for “economic efficiency”. Most staff appeared to feel that the relationships among patients, their families, and staffs were the most important criteria. While many staff might have increased their “physical profit” and “burden”, the intensities of importance for those criteria were low.
An Encapsulated R Application for the Guided Analysis of Genomic Data
Authors: Ganzinger Matthias  , Kesselmeier Miriam  , Fabian Jasmin  , Knaup Petra
Published: February 2025

Microarrays are widely used in biomedical research. However, researchers conducting the biomedical assays are often not skilled to perform the necessary biostatistical preprocessing of the resulting data. As a result, researchers with different backgrounds contribute to the analysis, but often without documenting how the data were transformed. For a biomedical research network on liver cancer, we implemented a prototype that has two major aims: First, it should guide biomedical researchers through the analysis of microarray data by providing a limited amount of appropriate choices for the biostatistical procedures to be applied. Second, it should help to ensure data quality by documenting all transformations applied to the data set.
Introducing a Composite Index of Information Quality for Medical Web Sites
Authors: Cabitza Federico
Published: February 2025

In this paper we present the MIR index, a composite index of Medical Information Reliability. This percentage index is intended as a simple indicator of Information Quality of medical online resources from the perspective of their potential consumers. We exemplify its application in the domain of the Non Conventional and Complementary Medicine (NCM/CAM) for its lack of institutional professional figures; yet the structure of the index makes it suitable also for other healthcare-related domains where guidelines for IQ assurance exist.
E-learning for Neurological Bladder Management
Authors: Rognoni Carla  , Fizzotti Gabriella  , Pistarini Caterina  , Mazzoleni M. Cristina
Published: February 2025

Regarding the impact of visceral dysfunction on quality of life, bowel and bladder management is a very important problem. The management of the patient with neurological bladder is often a source of uncertainty for both patients and healthcare personnel. Since the need of specialized training is growing, two CME e-learning courses have been developed to provide physicians and nurses competencies for the enhancement of the daily life of the patients. The present study aims at evaluating courses attendance and outcomes. Attendance data confirm the interest for both courses. The results document a pretty good objective and subjective effectiveness of the e-learning courses but low attitude to exploit he support of an asynchronous tutor. The analysis of test results gives some hints for eventual quality improvement of the courses themselves.
Automated Versus Interactive Spectral Analysis of Heart Rate Variability from 24-Hour Holter Recordings in Heart Failure Patients
Authors: Maestri Roberto  , La Rovere Maria Teresa  , Pinna Gian Domenico
Published: February 2025

Accurate spectral analysis of 24-hour heart rate variability (HRV) requires time consuming interactive control of the overall processing, limiting its feasibility in large scale clinical trials. Fully automatic procedures allow a dramatic reduction of analysis time but the level of accuracy loss is unknown. In this study we compared automatic and interactive measurements of HRV indexes in a sample of 246 Holter recordings from chronic heart failure patients. We measured the total power of HRV and the power in the very low (0.01-0.04 Hz), low (0.04-0.15 Hz) and high (0.15-0.4 Hz) frequency bands. The comparison between the two methods was performed by computing the normalized difference between automatic and interactive measurements and estimating the bias and 95% limits of agreement. Automatic measurements showed a small bias (< ±8%) compared to interactive measurements, while the limits of agreement were ≤±23% in all spectral indexes. Our results indicate that the systematic and random difference between automatic and interactive measurements of spectral indexes of HRV are acceptable for clinical studies.