bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Evaluation Framework for Software Test Management Tools
Authors: Koppel Evari  , Matulevičius Raimundas
Published: February 2025

Software testing has proven its value for software development increasingly over the last decade. With the recognition of the benefits of software testing, several software test management tools (TMT) have emerged on the market. Although there exist different approaches, there is no method for a systematic TMT assessment. This is a problem because to our knowledge, evaluating TMT is rather a subjective task, heavily depending on the evaluators' opinions rather than based on the objective approach. The same problem applies when test managers are asked to evaluate whether their currently used TMT meets the company's expectations. In this paper based on the survey performed among Estonian testing practitionerswe deliver a TMT evaluation framework. The paper applies structured approach by performing a literature study on software testing processes, existing TMT market research, and mapping together the identified test activities and test artefacts. The results help formulate and design the online questionnaire and perform a TMT survey in the Estonian IT companies. Based on this survey results, a framework for evaluating TMT software is created. Such a framework could potentially help companies to measure the TMT suitability to company's goals and to decrease subjectivity of the TMT assessment. The framework also provides test and project managers the understanding whether their current TMTs meet the company's expectations.
Can we design in geotechnics with seismic factors of safety less than 1?
Authors: Gazetas George
Published: February 2025

The paper outlines the key points of the lecture given in September 2011. Its goals are to demonstrate that: (a) in seismic geotechnical design it is not always feasible to achieve factors of safety (FS) greater than one; (b) under seismic base excitation an “engineering” apparent FS less than 1 does not imply failure of the system; and (c) in many cases it may be beneficial to under-design the foundation by accepting an engineering FS < 1 (even an FS well below 1). Five examples from slopes and foundations illustrate the above points.
Classification: Review of the papers and general comments
Authors: Ledesma A.
Published: February 2025

This report attempts to present the topic of “classification” for further discussion during the session. It includes a brief review of the papers assigned to the session and some general comments about the role of classifications on the development of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, particularly regarding hard soils and soft rocks.
Tunnelling and deep excavations: Ground movements and their effects
Authors: Mair R.J.
Published: February 2025

The paper focuses on ground movements associated with tunnelling and deep excavations in stiff to hard soils. The first part presents field data from case histories of earth pressure balance (EPB) tunnelling. It is shown that, with good control of face pressure and tail void grouting, EPB tunnelling machines are now capable of achieving small volume losses, typically less than 1% and often significantly smaller. An unusual case history is presented of a large diameter tunnel with very shallow cover, using sprayed concrete linings (SCL); such tunnels can be safely constructed in hard soils with an open face, provided the undrained shear strength is high enough to ensure adequate face stability. Ground movements associated with deep excavations in stiff to hard clays are also reviewed. The second part of the paper concentrates on the effects of tunnelling and excavation-induced ground movements on buildings, with particular emphasis on tunnelling. Centrifuge modelling of building response to tunnelling is described; the results are consistent with both finite element analyses reported by Potts and Addenbrooke (1997) and Franzius et al (2006), and with field data of building performance. A new simplified design approach is proposed to take account of relative building stiffness, defined in a new way, based on centrifuge model tests, finite element analyses and field data.
Future position of geotechnical engineering
Authors: Breedeveld Joost
Published: February 2025

In this paper, the future position of Geotechnical Engineering (GE) is discussed through considering the relevance for the GE profession of four significant societal challenges the world is facing: demographic ageing, urbanization, natural hazards and resource efficiency. It is demonstrated that GE can have significant contributions to these challenges. However, the future position of GE in Europe depends to a significant extent on how the profession deals with the consequences of demographic ageing. Therefore, the GE profession (and the ISSMGE) should have a proper focus on inspiring students, by explaining the added value of GE in these global challenges. Inspiration of young people will require honest communication with regard to the uncertainties in the properties of our profession's building material: soil. Moreover, the significance of the field of GE shall increase if interfaces with relevant scientific disciplines are further strengthened, and disciplines like ICT and social sciences are further explored. This highlights the importance of involving young geotechnicians. Recent and future generations have an inherent affinity with modern technologies and have already been trained to work on a multi-disciplinary level. Therefore, young professionals should have a prominent role in ISSMGE activities. Subsequently, the involvement of young people may lead to vivid commitment, which secures a bright future for GE.
Neuroanatomical Basis for Recognition Primed Decision Making
Authors: Hudson Darren
Published: February 2025

Effective decision making under time constraints is often overlooked in medical decision making. The recognition primed decision making (RPDM) model was developed by Gary Klein based on previous recognized situations to develop a satisfactory solution to the current problem. Bayes Theorem is the most popular decision making model in medicine but is limited by the need for adequate time to consider all probabilities. Unlike other decision making models, there is a potential neurobiological basis for RPDM. This model has significant implication for health informatics and medical education.
The Introduction and Evaluation of Mobile Devices to Improve Access to Patient Records: A Catalyst for Innovation and Collaboration at BCCA
Authors: Wu Jonn  , Waldron John  , Hood Shaina  , Kahnamelli Adam  , Khan Mohamed  , Barnett Jeff  , French John  , Slager Stacey  , Melhem Shadi  , Shabestari Omid
Published: February 2025

Prompt and efficient access to patient records is vital in providing optimal patient care. The Cancer Agency Information System (CAIS) is the primary patient record repository for the British Columbia Cancer Agency (BCCA) but is only accessible on traditional computer workstations. The BCCA clinics have significant space limitations resulting in multiple health care professionals sharing each workstation. Furthermore, workstations are not available in examination rooms. A novel and cost efficient solution is necessary to improve clinician access to CAIS. This prompted the BCCA and IMITS to embark on an innovative provincial collaboration to introduce and evaluate the impact of a mobile device to improve access to CAIS. The project consisted of 2 phases with over 50 participants from multiple clinical disciplines across BCCA sites. Phase I evaluated the adoptability, effectiveness and costs associated with providing access to CAIS using a generic viewer (Citrix). Phase II incorporated the feedback and findings from Phase I to make available a customized mobile device-specific application. Phase II also addressed privacy and security requirements.
Computerisation in General Practice: Lessons for Canada from the UK and Australia
Authors: Shaw Nicola T.  , Bainbridge Mike
Published: February 2025

In 2000 Shaw and Kidd published an article on the lessons that could be learned from the UK in general practice computerization. Over a decade later many of these lessons remain yet to be learned. Hence Shaw & Bainbridge felt that it was time to revisit these issues and review progress made against each in both the UK and Australia in an effort to help Canada learn the lessons as it follows behind both countries. Nine lessons are identified, reviewed and discussed in the hope that Canada will choose to take note and leapfrog these jurisdictions by learning from history, rather than being doomed to repeat it.
Public Reporting of Hospital Infection Rates: Ranking the States on Credibility and User Friendliness
Authors: Amini Ava  , Birnbaum David W.  , Black Bernard  , Hyman David A.
Published: February 2025

Health-care associated infections (“HAIs”) kill about 100,000 people annually; most are preventable, but many hospitals have not aggressively addressed the problem. In response, twenty-five states and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services require public reporting of hospital infection rates for at least some types of infections, and other states and private entities are implementing such reporting. The websites and related reports vary widely in ease of access, ease of use, usefulness of information, timeliness of updates, and credibility. We report on work in progress, in which we assess the quality and suitability of different state websites and reports for different target audiences (ordinary consumers; physicians, and infection control professionals) and the extent to which they meet best practices for online communication, including Stanford's “Fogg” Guidelines for Web Credibility and user-friendliness metrics developed by other researchers. We find wide variation in quality, and substantial correlation between measures of website credibility and user-friendliness. We identify ways to improve usability, usefulness, and tailoring for information to different target audiences. Our analysis suggests that the “one website (and report format) fits all users” model may not work well in delivering complex, technical information to users with widely varying needs and sophistication.
Simulation of the Aortic Valve Deformation by Considering Blood Flow Reflection
Authors: Mukai Nobuhiko  , Nakagawa Masashi  , Abe Yusuke  , Chang Youngha  , Niki Kiyomi  , Takanashi Shuichiro
Published: February 2025

We have tried to simulate the aortic valve deformation by considering the reflection of blood flow. The aortic valve opens and closes according to blood flow caused by pressure difference between the heart and the aorta. The aortic valve is elastic body while blood is fluid so that two different types of methods are usually used for the simulation; however, it is difficult to calculate collision detection and force between two different types of models. Then, in this paper, both materials are modeled with particles so that collision detection and force between two different types of models can be easily calculated. In addition, by considering the reflection of blood flow at the end of blood vessel, we have succeeded to simulate the deformation of the aortic valve and found that blood flows differently depending on the length of the aortic valve.
Spatial Ability and Training in Virtual Neuroanatomy
Authors: Plumley Leah  , Armstrong Ryan  , De Ribaupierre Sandrine  , Eagleson Roy
Published: February 2025

Neuroanatomy is one of the most challenging sections of anatomy to learn, partially related to the intricate relation of multiple 3D structures. As part of the medical student curriculum, it is usually taught in 2D using illustrations and plastinated brain section, since the number of hours devoted to anatomy have dropped in the curriculum, making the dissection of brain too time-consuming to be done. In this study we are analyzing the role of innate spatial ability of novices in learning some basic structures and placing them back in a 3D volumetric brain. Two tasks are performed after a short training session: the first one is to localize the ventricular tip as would be required during a temporal lobectomy, and the second task requires that the subject ‘reconstruct’ 3D anatomical structures within the context of our 3D brain model. We report our findings on the performance scores obtained from a population of subjects of differing backgrounds and spatial abilities.
Image-driven Haptic Simulation of Arthroscopic Surgery
Authors: Rasool Shahzad  , Sourin Alexei  , Kagda Fareed
Published: February 2025

Virtual haptic simulation of minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery becomes an extremely important training tool that allows the medical students to acquire necessary motor skills before they can approach actual patients. Normally, 3D simulation of the interior of a joint requires significant efforts from the software developers but yet remains not always photo realistic. In this paper, we propose a pioneering approach of using augmented real arthroscopic images for realistic and immersive image-driven visualization and haptic interaction within the surgical field as if it were actual three-dimensional scene where body parts displayed in the image act and feel as real 3D objects rather than their images.
Low-Cost Quantitative Tool-Tissue Applied Pressure Indication Method for Surgical Training and Assessment in Reality-Based Physical Models
Authors: Sie Astrini  , Winek Michael  , Kowalewski Timothy M.
Published: February 2025

We present a method of quantitatively measuring the pressure distribution applied to synthetic tissues by surgical tools via dye-impregnated microcapsules that rupture at specified pressures. A method utilizing pre-made indicator sheets is evaluated by force applications on synthetic bowel, and methods for creating paint-on indicator slurries were explored. A high spatial resolution of pressure intensity is demonstrated (0.1mm) and preliminary results merit further study.
Face Validity of VIS-Ed: A Visualization Program for Teaching Medical Students and Residents the Biomechanics of Cervical Spine Trauma
Authors: Courteille Olivier  , Ho Johnson  , Fahlstedt Madelen  , Fors Uno  , Felländer-Tsai Li  , Hedman Leif  , Möller Hans
Published: February 2025

This RCT study aimed to investigate if VIS-Ed (Visualization through Imaging and Simulation - Education) had the potential to improve medical student education and specialist training in clinical diagnosis and treatment of trauma patients. The participants' general opinion was reported as high in both groups (lecture vs. virtual patient (VP)). Face validity of the VIS-Ed for cervical spine trauma was demonstrated and the VP group reported higher stimulation and engagement compared to the lecture group. No significant difference in the knowledge test between both groups could be observed, confirming our null hypothesis that VIS-Ed was on par with a lecture.
Magnetic Resonance Microscopy
Authors: Badea Alexandra  , Johnson G. Allan
Published: February 2025

MRI, one of the major clinical imaging modalities, has gained an important role in studying small animal models, e.g., rats and mice. But imaging rodents comes with challenges, since the image resolution needs to be ∼ 3000-times higher to resolve anatomical details at a level comparable to clinical imaging. A resolution on the order of 100 microns or less redefines MR imaging as MR microscopy. We discuss in this chapter the basic components of the MR imaging chain, with a particular emphasis on small animal imaging demands: from hardware design to basic physical principles of MR image formation, and contrast mechanisms. We discuss special considerations of animal preparation for imaging, and staining methods to enhance contrast. Attention is given to factors that increase sensitivity, including exogenous contrast agents, high performance radiofrequency detectors, and advanced MR encoding sequences. Among these, diffusion tensor imaging and tractography add novel information on white matter tracts, helping to better understand important aspects of development and neurodegeneration. These developments open avenues for efficient phenotyping of small animal models, in vivo – to include anatomical as well as functional estimates, or ex-vivo – with exquisite anatomical detail. The need for higher resolution results in larger image arrays that need to be processed efficiently. We discuss image-processing approaches for quantitative characterization of animal cohorts, and building population atlases. High throughput is essential for these methods to become practical. We discuss current trends for increasing detector performance, the use of cryoprobes, as well as strategies for imaging multiple animals at the same time. Ultimately, the development of highly specific probes, with the possibility to be used in multimodal imaging, will offer new insights into histology. MRM, alone or in combination with other imaging modalities, will increase the knowledge of fundamental biological processes, help understanding the genetic basis of human diseases, and test pharmacological interventions.
Interest Propagation for Knowledge Extraction and Representation
Authors: Mulas Francesca  , Del Fabbro Elisa  , Zupan Blaz  , Bellazzi Riccardo
Published: February 2025

Due to the increasing number of available biomedical data repositories, providing a comprehensive and intuitive access to information is still a demanding task for Information Retrieval systems. In this work we present an interactive data exploration system that retrieves relevant information by propagating the user's interest within a network. The developed techniques have been applied to two different retrieval tasks useful for biomedical research: the prioritization of proteins related to a disease of interest and the search of publications in the literature. The method relies on a network of biomedical entities, scoring of entities of interest by the user, and score propagation. The assessment of the relevance of the retrieved information confirmed a high accuracy of the presented algorithms for both the domains considered.
Attitudes and Experience of Dutch General Practitioners Regarding Computerized Clinical Decision Support
Authors: Medlock Stephanie  , Eslami Saeid  , Askari Marjan  , Brouwer Henk J.  , van Weert Henk C.  , de Rooij Sophia E.  , Abu-Hanna Ameen
Published: February 2025

Dutch general practices have a high adoption rate for computerized patient records and clinical decision support. We sought to measure the attitudes and experience of Dutch general practitioners towards clinical decision support. Methods: A preliminary survey was created based on questions from published surveys, modified with the results of interviews. The final web-based survey was administered to 43 general practitioners in a practice area where a decision support implementation is planned. Results: Thirty general practitioners (70%) completed the survey. Most felt that decision support is a good idea (23/30), although fewer reported positive experience with decision support (10/30). Participants were supportive of rules and guidelines, but commonly had the sense that there were too many alerts. Conclusion: Dutch clinicians are positive about decision support, but future efforts should try to reduce the perception of overload, for example by ensuring that alerts are relevant and choosing less interruptive forms of notification for less severe alerts.
Sharing and Reusing Multimedia Multilingual Educational Resources in Medicine
Authors: Zdrahal Zdenek  , Knoth Petr  , Mulholland Paul  , Collins Trevor
Published: February 2025

The paper describes the Eurogene portal for sharing and reusing multilingual multimedia educational resources in human genetics. The content is annotated using concepts of two ontologies and a topic hierarchy. The ontology annotation is used to guide search and for calculating semantically similar content. Educational resources can be aggregated into learning packages. The system is in routine use since 2009.
Optimizing an Environmental Surveillance Network with Gaussian Process Entropy
Authors: Truong Viet Xuan  , Huynh Hiep Xuan  , Le Minh Ngoc  , Drogoul Alexis
Published: February 2025

Finding an optimal design for the environmental surveillance network is a realistic need for any ecosystem manager. There are two main factors related to the optimization of a surveillance network: number of sampling points (deciding the sampling density) and locations of such sampling points. This paper aims at proposing an agent-based model to add k measuring devices into a current surveillance network. The simulation is used to verify multiple possibilities of a heterogeneous environment. A Correlation & Disk graph-based Surveillance Network (CDSN) is also implemented and then optimized. Gaussian process is used to model the measuring data and different covariance functions (e.g. variogram in geostatistics). The experimental results of the model are performed for the insect monitoring in Mekong Delta region, Vietnam.
The PHM-Ethics Methodology: Interdisciplinary Technology Assessment of Personal Health Monitoring
Authors: Schmidt Silke  , Verweij Marcel
Published: February 2025

The contribution briefly introduces the PHM Ethics project and the PHM methodology. Within the PHM-Ethics project, a set of tools and modules had been developed that may assist in the evaluation and assessment of new technologies for personal health monitoring, referred to as “PHM methodology” or “PHM toolbox”. An overview on this interdisciplinary methodology and its comprising modules is provided, areas of application and intended target groups are indicated.
Personalized Use of ICT – From Telemonitoring to Ambient Assisted Living
Authors: Norgall Thomas  , Wichert Reiner
Published: February 2025

Individual availability of information and communications technology (ICT) has enabled “Personal Health” applications like the continuous ubiquitous telemonitoring of vital signs. The concept of Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) goes beyond health and care applications utilizing home automation technology for supporting individuals with specific needs, particularly enabling elderly to live in their accustomed home as long as possible. These users usually suffer from more than one disease and need compensation of several impairments. Most current AAL projects and products however provide insulated solutions addressing only a small selection of these user needs. For comprehensive dynamic system adaptation to changing user needs an open platform supporting interoperable components is required. While the industry-driven Continua Health Alliance developed a corresponding Personal Health ecosystem, the ongoing European project universAAL aims at a universal platform for both AAL and Personal Health applications.
Intelligent Interactive Multimedia Systems on Layered Ontological Video Contexts in a Folksonomy Driven Environment
Authors: Dal Mas Massimiliano  , Simini Marco
Published: February 2025

This paper describes a method for enabling an Intelligent Multimedia Interactive Systems based on ontological interaction on video clip shown on ubiquitous systems as a computer monitor, mobile or tablet. We use a layered representation based on semantic texton forests to obtain spatiotemporal object attributes. The interface is created by extracting object information from the video with an human based computation to obtain a richer semantics of attribute to bridge the semantic gap between words describing an image and its visual features. Users can navigate and manipulate objects displayed on video by associating semantic attributes and comments evaluated by the data and sentiment extraction. Folksonomy tags are extracted from users comments to be used in a dynamical driven system (Folksodriven). We show some example applications of proposed method like advertisement inside the objects displayed on a video and an interface based on objects of interest video navigation.
Methodology for AmI-based Data Acquisition and Context-aware Processing to enable Decision Support related to Energy Efficiency in Manufacturing Industry
Authors: Grosse-Hovest Gunnar  , Wolff Christian  , Faltus Stefan
Published: February 2025

This paper presents the results of initial RTD work that shall provide the methodological foundation for two of the envisaged building blocks to support data acquisition based on Ambient-Intelligence and other measurement systems as well as to support context-aware pre-processing of the acquired data, aiming to build a knowledge base that shall enable decision support related to energy efficiency in manufacturing. The paper describes a step-by-step procedure to support a company in defining an approach for data acquisition and pre-processing as well as an ontology-based approach for data pre-processing with a focus on event detection.
Randomness as the Security Levels of Investments
Authors: Tanaka-Yamawaki Mieko  , Yang Xin  , Mikamori Yuuta
Published: February 2025

We propose to use the degree of randomness of high frequency price time series for the purpose of measuring the security levels of stock investments. We employ the RMT-test (quantitative version) as a tool to measure the randomness. We use the tick-wise prices of selected stocks in Tokyo Stock Exchange Market for three years from 2007 to 2009. We select 14 industrial sectors that satisfy the conditions for the RMT-test to apply. The condition to choose the 14 sectors is that a selected sector has at least 10 stocks having data length longer than 170,000. From each sector, we choose 4 most active stocks and compare their randomness levels. It is shown that the stock of the highest level of randomness performs better than the stock of the lowest level of randomness in each of the 14 selected sectors, throughout the following year.
Integrating a mobile health setup in a chronic disease management network
Authors: Ding Hang  , Ireland Derek  , Jayasena Rajiv  , Curmi Jamie  , Karunanithi Mohan
Published: February 2025

Supporting self management of chronic disease in collaboration with primary healthcare has been a national priority in order to mitigate the emerging disease burden on the already strained healthcare system. However, in practice, the uptake of self-management programs and compliance with clinical guidelines remain poor. Time constraints due to work commitments and lack of efficient monitoring tools have been the major barrier to the uptake and compliance. In this paper, we present a newly integrated mobile health system with a clinical chronic disease management network called cdmNet, which has already been validated to facilitate General Practitioners (GPs) to provide collaborative disease management services. The newly integrated solution takes advantage of the latest mobile web and wireless Bluetooth communication techniques to enable patients to record health data entries through ubiquitous mobile phones, and allows the data to be simultaneously shared by multidisciplinary care teams. This integration would enable patients to self-manage their chronic disease conditions in collaboration with GPs and hence, improve the uptake and compliance. Additionally, the proposed integration will provide a useful framework encouraging the translation of innovative mobile health technologies into highly regulated healthcare systems.
Building an educated health informatics workforce – The New Zealand experience
Authors: Parry David  , Hunter Inga  , Honey Michelle  , Holt Alec  , Day Karen  , Kirk Ray  , Cullen Rowena
Published: February 2025

New Zealand has a rapidly expanding health information technology (IT) development industry and wide-ranging use of informatics, especially in the primary health sector. The New Zealand government through the National Health IT Board (NHITB) has promised to provide shared care health records of core information for all New Zealanders by 2014. One of the major barriers to improvement in IT use in healthcare is the dearth of trained and interested clinicians, management and technical workforce. Health Informatics New Zealand (HINZ) and the academic community in New Zealand are attempting to remedy this by raising awareness of health informatics at the “grass roots” level of the existing workforce via free “primer” workshops and by developing a sustainable cross-institutional model of educational opportunities. Support from the NHITB has been forthcoming, and the workshops started in early 2013, reaching out to clinical and other staff in post around New Zealand.
Physical Activity Classification for Elderly Based on Pulse Rate
Authors: Ahmed Mobyen Uddin  , Loutfi Amy
Published: February 2025

Physical activity is one of the key components for elderly in order to be actively ageing. However, it is difficult to differentiate and identify the body movement and actual physical activity using only accelerometer measurements. Therefore, this paper presents an application of a case-based retrieval classification scheme to classify the physical activity of elderly based on pulse rate measurements. Here, a case-based retrieval approach used the features extracted from both time and frequency domain. The evaluation result shows the best accuracy performance while considering the combination of time and frequency domain features. According to the evaluation result while considering the control measurements, the sensitivity, specificity and overall accuracy are achieved as 95%, 96% and 96%, respectively. Considering the test dataset, the system succeeded to identify 13 physical activities out of 16, i.e,. the percentage of the correctness was 81%.
Exploitation and Commercialization within the EU FP7 Project PASCA
Authors: Gross André  , Zengerle Roland  , Koltay Peter
Published: February 2025

Within recent years, the analysis of single biological cells has emerged as key topic in cell-biology research. Studying cells and cellular functions within large cell populations is still common practice in the life-sciences, but is hampered by several limitations. True access to a cell's physiology, phenotype and genotype can often only be achieved on a single cell level. The European research project “Platform for Advanced Single Cell Analysis” (PASCA) focuses on developing an approach towards inkjet-like printing of single cells. A fully automated prototype instrument for printing of single living cells has been developed, and its potential use is currently being investigated in various biological applications. The various elements of project design, management, and implementation developed within this project to support the commercial exploitation and dissemination of the project results will be discussed. Based on the dedicated project structure of involving external non-funded participants from the beginning of the project and extending it to the preparation of a prototype related market study, various activities aimed at commercializing the project results are presented. We present the lessons learned from those activities alongside the technical results achieved with the PASCA prototype instruments and the perspectives for future commercialization.
Calculating the social cost of illegal drugs: a theoretical approach
Authors: Diomidous Marianna  , Zimeras Stelios  , Mechili Aggelos
Published: February 2025

The use of illegal drugs generates a wide range of social harms depending on various ways, according to the policy definition of the problem. The challenge is the way to model the impact of illegal drugs use during a long time period considering the factors that affects the process. Based on these models, estimation could be measured and prediction could be achieved. The illegal drugs use might affect the economic and social structure of the public system leading to direct and effective decisions to overcome the problematic. For that reason, calculation of social cost related to the use of illegal could be introduced over time (t) as a proposed social measure to define the variability of social indicator on society. In this work, a theoretical approach for the calculation of social cost of illegal drugs is proposed and models over time are defined.
Epidemiological factors affecting “Hepatitis C”
Authors: Diomidous Marianna  , Zimeras Stelios  , Elefsiniotis Ioannis S.
Published: February 2025

Hepatitis C is an infectious disease affecting the liver, caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). The infection is often asymptomatic, but once established, chronic infection can progress to scarring of the liver (fibrosis), and advanced scarring (cirrhosis) which is generally apparent after many years. The main goal of this work is the investigation of the important factors that affect hepatitis C. Epidemiological and Statistical analysis using non-parametric tests (Kruskal-Willis, Mann-Whitney) are considered to present the amount of significant differences between important factors. Proposed model are analyzed when logistic regression is applied.
Telemedicine Systems In Organ Transplantation: A Feasibility And Reliability Study Of The Integrated Teleradiological and Tele-Pathological Evaluation Of Liver Graft
Authors: Mammas Constantinos S.  , Lazaris Andreas  , Geropoulos Spyros  , Saatsakis George  , Lemonidou Chryssa  , Patsouris Eustratios
Published: February 2025

Aim: To determine feasibility and reliability of the integrated Tele-Radiological (TRE) and Tele-Pathological (TPE) evaluation of the Liver Graft (LG) on Telemedicine Systems (TS). Material and Methods: A sensitivity-specificity analysis by a simulation of the TRE of LG on 15 MR abdominal images by a radiologist and of the TPE of LG by 26 specialists based on 130 human LG images assessing damages and lesions. Results: The integrated analysis of TRE and TPE of LG showed: Sensitivity= 96.6%, Specificity=100% and Accuracy=97.5%. Conclusion: The TRE integrated with the TPE of LG is feasible and reliable for LG transplant decision support and planning.
Health Information in the Arab World
Authors: Aldabbagh Dina  , Alsharif Khlood  , Househ Mowafa S.
Published: February 2025

Availability of online health information in the Arab world is growing rapidly, as well as the demand for it. Today, the Arab health consumer is searching for health information that is in Arabic and is culturally relevant. The purpose of this paper is to document the various initiatives around the development of online health information in the Arab world. The paper highlights the status of online health information in Arab counties with a specific focus on Saudi Arabia. A comprehensive search of both academic and gray literature was conducted in October 2012. Google Scholar, PubMed, the Google search engines were searched. Results show that there has been an increase in the number of health information websites being created in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. Examples of some these initiatives are discussed. Future challenges to the growth of health information content in the Arab world are also discussed.
Some Thoughts on Personal Living Environments as New Diagnostic and Therapeutic Areas
Authors: Haux Reinhold  , Marschollek Michael  , Wolf Klaus-Hendrik
Published: February 2025

Some thoughts on personal living environments as new diagnostic and therapeutic areas are presented, considering the following aspects: current potentials for diagnosis and therapy in personal living environments, consequences for care processes and for health information systems architectures and infrastructures, and informational self-determination and privacy. They may stimulate further discussion on respective research.
Avatar-Based Interactive Ileostomy Education in Hospitalized Patients
Authors: Bedra McKenzie  , Wick Elizabeth  , Brotman Daniel  , Finkelstein Joseph
Published: February 2025

Computer-assisted education can be an effective means for patient engagement and empowerment however the feasibility of postoperative computer-assisted ileostomy education has not been studied systematically. The purpose of this study was to assess feasibility and patient acceptance of tablet-based interactive ileostomy education in patients with new stomas, and to evaluate the impact of this education modality on knowledge and self-efficacy. An interactive multimedia education for ileostomy management guided by adult learning theories was tested in 15 hospitalized patients with new ileostomies. After using the avatar-based education, the ileostomy knowledge score improved from 27.8±3.4 to 31.3±1.5 (p < 0.002) and stoma care self-efficacy improved from 78.4±22.7 to 92.7±14.1 (p < 0.05). Attitudinal surveys and qualitative interviews demonstrated high level of acceptance and provided valuable feedback for future improvements. We concluded that avatar-based interactive instruction can potentially be an effective means to deliver health education to hospitalized patients.
Enabling the use of enhanced medical SOPs by an mLearning training solution
Authors: Papakonstantinou Despina  , Poulymenopoulou Mikaela  , Malamateniou Flora  , Vassilacopoulos George
Published: February 2025

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) has been introduced as a way to provide direction, improve communication, reduce training time and improve work consistency. In healthcare, SOPs may be considered as a means that can fundamentally change the way healthcare is provided, affecting all types of healthcare stakeholders and improving healthcare decisions and patient safety. Nowadays, providing ehealth services is a necessity, even though some healthcare organizations are reluctant to fully use them. An online mobile training facility embedded within ehealth services may increase the likelihood of their adoption by healthcare professionals, who feel that, when needed, they are provided the necessary support for performing each task, as handheld devices and other mobile technologies are showing increased adoption rates. This paper presents a mobile service that provides training content on SOPs, that can be embedded in a relevant ehealth service and can be accessed by authorized healthcare professionals where and when needed.
VR Cue-Exposure Treatment For Bulimia Nervosa
Authors: Gutiérrez-Maldonado José  , Ferrer-García Marta  , Riva Giuseppe
Published: February 2025

Several approaches to the treatment of bulimia nervosa have proved effective, including cognitive–behavioral therapy; however, not all patients improve. It is therefore necessary to explore the possibilities of increasing the efficacy of such treatments. One way to attempt this is to incorporate new technologies. This review explores the possibility of developing a new, empirically validated procedure for the treatment of bulimia nervosa patients that involves cue exposure via virtual reality.
Storing Health Data in JPEG: Looking at Exif Area Capacity Limits
Authors: Hiramatsu Tatsuo  , Nohara Yasunobu  , Nakashima Naoki
Published: February 2025

Formats for data storage in personal computers vary according to manufacturer and models for personal health-monitoring devices such as blood-pressure and body-composition meters. In contrast, the data format of images from digital cameras is unified into a JPEG format with an Exif area and is already familiar to many users. We have devised a method that can contain health data as a JPEG file. Health data is stored in the Exif area in JPEG in a HL7 format. There is, however, a capacity limit of 64 KB for the Exif area. The aim of this study is to examine how much health data can actually be stored in the Exif area. We found that even with combined data from multiple devices, it was possible to store over a month of health data in a JPEG file, and using multiple JPEG files simply overcomes this limit. We believe that this method will help people to more easily handle health data regardless of the various device modelsthey use.
Design of the Asthma Treat Smart System in a Pediatric Institution
Authors: Dexheimer Judith W.  , Gu Lijun  , Guo Yuping  , Kercsmar Carolyn
Published: February 2025

Asthma is one of the most common chronic pediatric conditions. Providing evidence-based, guideline-appropriate care for asthma is complex. A computerized system may help providers with guideline compliance. The AsthmaTreatSmart application is a stand-alone web-based system developed in Pulmonary medicine with a multidisciplinary team based on national asthma guidelines. The application collects history and symptom information to assign a severity categorization. Medication reconciliation of asthma medications is performed with input from the patient. Severity and medication recommendation are provided for the provider. A personalized action plan and medication summary including medications, etc. is created. The system is successfully used in 6 outpatient clinics and current work is focused on integration with the electronic health record.
Factors Affecting the Satisfaction of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) from a Physicians' Perspectives in Implementation
Authors: Hong Seung Kwon  , Lim Mi Sun  , Kim Kyung Hwan  , Choi Jin Wook  , Kim Ju Han  , Seo Jung Wook
Published: February 2025

The Purpose of this study is to investigate factors affecting satisfaction of the Electronic Health Records (EHRs) in Seoul National University of Korea, from a physicians' perspectives. Administration of a survey instrument containing 6 items to cover characteristics of the user's population in hospital. A sample of 327 users was selected including medical sectors for the study. The Overall response rate was 16.5%. It is mores satisfaction with EHRs that pharmacy and technician sector than physician sector after implementing the EHRs system. Of the total respondents, there was a significant association between performance ‘System functionality and performance of EHRs’ and ‘overall satisfaction level with EHRs’ (p < 0.01). In addition, physicians stated other factors that actually affected satisfaction of the EHRs systems in Hospital. Among these factors, summary note of discharge and operation factors are most correlation with satisfaction.
Acquisition of Patient Information from Nurses by Other Health Professionals under Electronic Medical Record Implementation
Authors: Kurihara Yukio  , Fujii Hideaki
Published: February 2025

Most electronic medical record (EMR) systems in Japan are equipped with nursing documentation functions. Electronic nursing records (ENRs) are much more accessible to doctors and paramedical staff than paper-based record systems. Face-to-face communication might be used less often to acquire patient information collected by nurses if EMR systems were effectively used. We conducted a questionnaire survey to investigate the methods used by other health professionals to acquire patient information collected by nurses under EMR implementation at two university hospitals. There were 153 responses, which showed that 51% of doctors and 16% of paramedical staff still often used face-to-face communication even though more than 70% of them often accessed the ENR. Only 35% of doctors and paramedical staff recognized that the EMR system helped reduce the time needed to acquire patient information; furthermore, 32% thought that using the EMR system to acquire patient information was bothersome. These results indicate that the operability of EMR systems is still insufficient for health professionals.
Using Visual Tools to Improve Clinical Engagement and Group Understanding of Complex IT Concepts
Authors: Curry Joanne  , Prodan Ante
Published: February 2025

This work describes how the use of a visual patient journey modeling tool significantly improved the engagement of clinical staff and their group understanding of the complex IT concepts associated with event-driven computer simulation. Such group understanding and engagement is acknowledged as critical to the successful implementation of a wide range of quality improvement initiatives [1, 2]. The specific example described in this paper relates to the improved utilisation of chemotherapy unit resources.
A Patient Centered System for Decubitus Prevention based on Nutrition, Drinking, Physical Activity and Sleep Monitoring
Authors: Falgenhauer Markus  , Zöscher Sebastian  , Morak Jürgen  , Schneider Cornelia  , Gugerell Monika  , Liebhart Walter  , Hayn Dieter
Published: February 2025

State-of-the-art decubitus prevention focuses mainly on special decubitus mattresses, which are indicated for extremely high risk only, while other risk factors such as nutrition or physical activity are hardly considered. Therefore, a monitoring system for decubitus prevention for persons with medium risk has been developed. The system consisted of an unobtrusive sensor system and a tablet for manual input of decubitus-relevant data concerning nutrition, drinking behavior and physical activity. The system was tested in a feasibility study. Results indicate that the system is usable and can provide useful information for decubitus prevention. Future work will include a field study, evaluating the system in a long-term study.
A Pilot Study Measuring Changes in Student Impressions before and after Clinical Training Using a Questionnaire Based on the Semantic Differential Technique
Authors: Tamura Naomi  , Terashita Takayoshi  , Ogasawara Katsuhiko
Published: February 2025

Students with a positive impression of their studies can become more motivated. This study measured the learning impact of clinical training by comparing student impressions before and after clinical training. The study included 32 students of radiological technology in their final year with the Division of Radiological Science and Technology, Department of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Hokkaido University. To measure student impressions of x-ray examination training, we developed a questionnaire using the semantic differential technique. The resulting factor analysis identified 2 factors that accounted for 44.9% of the 10 bipolar adjective scales. Factor 1 represented a “resistance” impression of x-ray examination training, and factor 2 represented a “responsibility” impression. The differences in factor scores before and after the clinical training suggest that student impressions are affected by clinical training.
A Methodological Approach for Designing a Usable Ontology-based GUI in HealthCare
Authors: Lasierra N.  , Kushniruk A.  , Alesanco A.  , Borycki E.  , García J.
Published: February 2025

This paper presents a methodological approach to the design and evaluation of an interface for an ontology-based system used for designing care plans for monitoring patients at home. In order to define the care plans, physicians need a tool for creating instances of the ontology and configuring some rules. Our purpose is to develop an interface to allow clinicians to interact with the ontology. Although ontology-driven applications do not necessarily present the ontology in the user interface, it is our hypothesis that showing selected parts of the ontology in a “usable” way could enhance clinician's understanding and make easier the definition of the care plans. Based on prototyping and iterative testing, this methodology combines visualization techniques and usability methods. Preliminary results obtained after a formative evaluation indicate the effectiveness of suggested combination.
Panel Data Analysis of Cardiotocograph (CTG) Data
Authors: Horio Hiroyuki  , Kikuchi Hitomi  , Ikeda Tomoaki
Published: February 2025

Panel data analysis is a statistical method, widely used in econometrics, which deals with two-dimensional panel data collected over time and over individuals. Cardiotocograph (CTG) which monitors fetal heart rate (FHR) using Doppler ultrasound and uterine contraction by strain gage is commonly used in intrapartum treatment of pregnant women. Although the relationship between FHR waveform pattern and the outcome such as umbilical blood gas data at delivery has long been analyzed, there exists no accumulated FHR patterns from large number of cases. As time-series economic fluctuations in econometrics such as consumption trend has been studied using panel data which consists of time-series and cross-sectional data, we tried to apply this method to CTG data. The panel data composed of a symbolized segment of FHR pattern can be easily handled, and a perinatologist can get the whole FHR pattern view from the microscopic level of time-series FHR data.