bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Security for Electronic Patient Record Systems
Authors: Pronkin M.A.  , Shifrin M.A.
Published: February 2025

The presentation is devoted to the problem of security for Electronic patient record system with EPRS for N.N.Burdenko Neurosurgical Institute (NSI) as an example.
A NEURAL NETWORK ACTIVEX BASED INTEGRATED IMAGE PROCESSING ENVIRONMENT
Authors: Ciuca loan  , Jitaru Elena  , Alaicescu Mihai  , Moisil Ioana
Published: February 2025

The paper outlines an integrated image processing environment that uses neural networks ActiveX technology for object recognition and classification. The image processing environment which is Windows based, encapsulates a Multiple-Document Interface (MDI) and is menu driven. Object (shape) parameter extraction is focused on features that are invariant in terms of translation, rotation and scale transformations. The neural network models that can be incorporated as ActiveX components into the environment allow both clustering and classification of objects from the analysed image. Mapping neural networks perform an input sensitivity analysis on the extracted feature measurements and thus facilitate the removal of irrelevant features and improvements in the degree of generalisation. The program has been used to evaluate the dimensions of the hydrocephalus in a study for calculating the Evans index and the angle of the frontal horns of the ventricular system modifications.
Designing, Specifying and Evaluating a New Repeat Prescribing Process for UK General Practice
Authors: Wilson Robert G  , Bojke Chris  , O'Neill Sarah  , Winter Melanie J  , Jones Neill K  , Sugden Robert C  , Purves Ian N  , Kennedy James G
Published: February 2025

Research carried out on repeat prescribing indicates the low quality of repeat medication management. This paper reports on the project methodology, some initial results and ongoing work on the UK NHS Repeat Prescribing Project currently under way in the North East of England aimed at developing an intervention to improve the quality of repeat prescribing.
Prototype of a JAVA/DICOM Image Server with Integrated Findings and Data Security
Authors: Bernarding Johannes  , Thiel Andreas  , Decker Ingmar  , Grzesik Alexander  , Wolf Karl-Jürgen  , Tolxdorff Thomas
Published: February 2025

The transfer of medical data within heterogeneous hard- and software infrastructures requires platform-independent standardized protocols and data formats such as DICOM. To avoid costly vendor-specific solutions a DICOM server was implemented in JAVA thereby enabling the data access via internet browser technology. The most important patient and image acquisition information were extracted from the DICOM images and stored into a relational database. For an integrated view patient information such as radiological findings were transferred from the Radiological Information System (RIS) into the data base. Image data were accessed either by a fast preview tool or using a DICOM viewer. Since DICOM does not include inherent data security mechanisms, a second tool allowed the DICOM-conform encryption of DCIOM data for a secure long term storage on CD-R or across unsecure networks.
Recommendations on the Design of Hospital Intranets
Authors: Leiner Florian  , Verhey Janko  , Rienhoff Otto
Published: February 2025

Intranets are being widely introduced in hospitals like in many other organisations. Although their development is just like setting up any other information system in a hospital, there is a tendency to neglect well established principles of software engineering and information system design in that area. Starting from a functional definition of an intranet, we illustrate its potential importance for a hospital from different aspects. A systematic framework for an iterative design and maintenance process is suggested. Some important design principles are depicted.
Quality, Safety and Ethics in using Computers to Advise on Patient Care: What Are the Issues?
Authors: Fox John  , Rogers Ray
Published: February 2025

This workshop will discuss issues that are in danger of being neglected in the rapid introduction of software for clinical decision-making and disease management. The workshop will explore the potential downside of such technologies (particularly safety and ethical issues) and seek to find a consensus on good practice which will gain the trust of healthcare professionals who are expected to use them and patients affected by them.
Indexing of Medical Diagnoses by Word Affinity Method
Authors: Surján György  , Héja Gergely
Published: February 2025

Automated coding of medical diagnoses is still an unsolved problem. Our goal in recent work was to find efficient, cheap and easy to implement method to assist the work of human encoders in hospitals. The proposed method is based on a vector-space model especially adapted to deal with short expressions, like clinical diagnoses. Using a set of coded diagnoses the co-occurrence of codes and words is more or less characteristic. The method describes these characteristics mathematically, by introduction of the socalled word adhesion. Two human encoders were asked to code the same set of 92 clinical diagnoses. Their results were compared to the ranked list of codes, produced by the computer. The results were better where the two human encoders agreed, and the overall results demonstrate the feasibility of the approach.
An Informatics System to Support Knowledge Management in the Health Sector –The South African National Health Knowledge Network
Authors: Louw Jacobus Adriaan  , Seebregts Christopher John  , Makgoba William Malegapuru  , Fouché Benjamin
Published: February 2025

This paper discusses the planning and development of a South African national health knowledge network. The methodology is in essence based on the principles of knowledge management and the drivers of a system of innovation. The knowledge network, SA Healthlnfo, aims to provide a one-stop interactive forum/resource, for quality-controlled and evidence-based health research information, to a wide spectrum of users, at various levels of aggregation, with the necessary security arrangements and facilities for interaction among users to promote explicit (codified) and tacit knowledge flow. It will therefore stimulate the process of innovation within the South African health system.
Medical Decision Support via the Internet: PROforma and Solo
Authors: Humber Michael  , Butterworth Huon  , Fox John  , Thomson Richard
Published: February 2025

This paper describes the development and application of an integrated technology to support the authoring of intelligent medical knowledge services, such as decision and guideline support, and disseminate them over the Internet. Decision support and guideline enactment are provided by the PROforma technology which is described in detail elsewhere. Solo is a communications infrastructure that supports the delivery of PROforma services over the Internet using a web browser. The PROforma-Solo technology brings together techniques from knowledge engineering and artificial intelligence with software engineering and the Internet to flexibly support decision making and patient management at the point of care. A variety of clinical applications have been implemented and are briefly described.
Automatic Identification of Patients Eligible for a Pneumonia Guideline: Comparing the Diagnostic Accuracy of Two Decision Support Models
Authors: Lagor Charles  , Aronsky Dominik  , Fiszman Marcelo  , Haug Peter J.
Published: February 2025

Background: In busy clinical settings, physicians often do not have enough time to identify patients for specific therapeutic guidelines. As a solution, decision support systems could automatically identify eligible patients and trigger computerized guidelines for specific diseases. Applying this idea to community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), we developed a Bayesian network (BN) and an artificial neural network (ANN) for identifying patients who have CAP and are eligible for a pneumonia guideline. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether the diagnostic accuracy of these two decision support models differs in terms of identifying CAP patients. Methods: We trained and tested the networks with a data set of 32,662 adult patients. For each network, we (1) calculated the specificity, the positive predictive value (PPV), and the negative predictive value (NPV) at a sensitivity of 95%, and (2) determined the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) as a measure of overall accuracy. We tested for statistical difference between the AUCs using the correlated area z statistic. Results: At a sensitivity of 95%, the respective values for specificity, PPV, and NPV were: 92.3%, 15.1%, and 99.9% for the BN, and 94.0%, 18.6%, and 99.9% for the ANN. The BN had an AUC of 0.9795 (95% CI: 0.9736, 0.9843), and the ANN had an AUC of 0.9855 (95% CI: 0.9805, 0.9894). The difference between the AUCs was statistically significant (p =0.0044). Conclusions: The networks achieved high overall accuracies on the testing data set. Because the difference in accuracies is statistically significant but not clinically significant, both networks are equally suited to drive a guideline.
The Telematic Network of Referee Hospital “V. Monaldi” in Naples: State of the Art and Perspectives
Authors: Pepino Alessandro  , Colasante Aniello  , Rossi Antonio
Published: February 2025

The new advances in I.T. both in Hardware (wideband network) and in Software are rapidly changing the Health Information Systems scenario. In many hospitals of Campania Region this leads in many case to rebuild, starting from zero, both infrastructure and applications.
Secure communication and co-operation of distributed Electronic Patient Records
Authors: Blobel Bernd
Published: February 2025

Electronic Health Records (EHR) are moving towards the core application of health information systems. Enabling informational interoperability of shared care environment including EHR, structure and function of components used have to follow open standards and publicly available specifications. This comprises also methods and tools applied. Security services needed have to be an integral part of architecture and operation of the specified and implemented components.
A New Method for Matching a Document to Potential Users' Information Needs
Authors: Kagolovsky Yuri  , Pantazi Stefan  , Moehr Jochen R.
Published: February 2025

This paper explores approaches to finding out how the information needs that a document can address can be captured. This is important in order to improve indexing strategies applied to document collections. We propose and implemented a cognitive science approach, the "jeopardy game" method of evaluation combined with "think aloud" analysis. The results of the demonstration study are presented and discussed. Some possible improvements to the method for matching a document to potential users’ information needs are identified.
On Distance Computation in Space of Mixed- type Variables in Medical Data Mining
Authors: Juhola Martti  , Laurikkala Jorma
Published: February 2025

In the next study we consider two distance metrics that were presented in the machine learning literature for mixed-type variables. We show that they are not really metrics, but pseudometrics. The problem arose from missing values. The metrics can be redefined to satisfy the metricity definition. Distance computation can then be performed reliably without a possibility that a distance between exactly similar patient cases would not be zero. We experimented with both procedures and so-called ignore mode using two medical data sets and observed that the redefined procedure was as good as the original approach as measured with the classification ability of one-nearest neighbour searching. It is noticeable that the described problem caused by missing values can be with any distance measure if its missing values are treated in the pessimistic manner as in the original version of these distance measures.
Test-Based E-Learning: a New Path in Training Médical Students
Authors: Van Grimbergen B.  , Thienpont G.  , De Moor G.J.E.  , Buysse H.
Published: February 2025

TENDO is a project conducted by the Department of Medical Informaties and Statistics of the Ghent University in the field of E-Leaming and more specificly E-Testing (Electronic, on line testing). At this stage, the main goal of Tendo is to measure the knowledge of (medical) students making use of the Internet. The on line Tendo E-Testing tooi has been used to examine students of the 4thyear studying Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation. The aim of this document is to give an overview of the features of E-Testing and more specificly of the Tendo product.
Evaluation of a Novel Electronic Fetal Monitor Simulator
Authors: Murphy Allison A.  , Halamek Louis P.  , Lyell Deirdre J.  , Druzin Maurice L.
Published: February 2025

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the content validity and construct validity of a novel electronic fetal monitor (EFM) simulator.
Development of a Computer Assisted Craniofacial Surgery Planning System
Authors: Zhao Linping  , Patel P.K.  , Widera G.E.O.  , Harris G.F.
Published: February 2025

Based upon the idea that both facial appearance and functional outcomes of the craniofacial surgery need to be predicted in the pre-surgery planning stage, a CACSP system has been established. In this system, the input is in vivo CT/MRI scan data of patient with craniofacial deformity, anatomical restoration is simulated using the medical visualization packages ANALYZE, and the finite element analysis of the masticatory system has been integrated to predict the functional improvement such as bite force alteration. Preliminary studies in this laboratory have revealed the potential of this system.
Engineering Requirements for a Haptic Simulator for Knee Arthroscopy Training
Authors: Zivanovic Aleksandar  , Dibble Edward  , Davies Brian  , Moody Louise  , Waterworth Alan
Published: February 2025

This paper describes the initial development of an innovative haptic device that will be integrated into an existing virtual reality training system for knee arthroscopy. The resulting system will be called WISHKATS (Warwick, Imperial, Sheffield Knee Arthroscopy Training System). This haptic device will enable the trainee to feel realistic forces on the probing tool and will work together with software, which will simulate tissue deformation. The proposed haptic system is a compact, multi-degree of freedom, motorised mechanism with force sensors, and will be used to simulate the diagnostic aspects of knee arthroscopy. There are a number of problems associated with the development of a suitable haptic system and this paper explores the engineering requirements of such a device.
A calculation method for semi automatic follow up of multiple sclerosis by Magnetic Resonance Eco Planar Perfusion Imaging
Authors: Placidi Giuseppe  , Sabatini Mylene  , Gallucci Massimo  , Sotgiu Antonello
Published: February 2025

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most common chronic and disabling inflammatory and demyelinating disorders of the central nervous system (CNS). Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) allows the observation of pathological changes in vivo. It has provided a number of important insights into the spatial-temporal evolution of MS pathology in vivo. Conventional MRI with T2-weighted images is useful in the assessment of oedema early in the inflammatory stage, tissue destruction with demyelination and axonal loss, and gliosis later in the chronic stage. Examination by conventional MRI usually requires more than one hour and it does not completely reveal rapid dynamic changes in blood flow. Recently introduced rapid MRI techniques, MR perfusion imaging and MR diffusion imaging, allow measurement of pathophysiological changes at the cellular level with a good temporal resolution. Nevertheless, until now there were no adequate analytical methods available within the clinical routine to differentiate between types of MS lesions using fast perfusion MRI. We present an analytical method capable of recognizing, and distinguishing, the status of MS lesions by calculating some numerical parameters from the MR perfusion images. The method has been tested on 14 patients affected by MS with different lesions and the results have been compared with those obtained with more expensive conventional MRI examinations. The proposed method made it possible to recognize the nature of the MS lesions in 100% of the examined cases without the need to perform long conventional MRI examinations, using instead perfusion MRI eco planar imaging which takes no more than two minutes. Moreover, the reduced time also allowed reduction of the quantity of contrast medium administered to the patient. Further studies may lead to the use of this technique for differential diagnoses in other white matter diseases.
Indexing method of digital audiovisual medical resources with semantic Web integration
Authors: Cuggia Marc  , Mougin Fleur  , Le Beux Pierre
Published: February 2025

Digitalization of audio-visual resources combined with the performances of the networks offer many possibilities which are the subject of intensive work in the scientific and industrial sectors. Indexing such resources is a major challenge. Recently, the Motion Pictures Expert Group (MPEG) has been developing MPEG-7, a standard for describing multimedia content. The goal of this standard is to develop a rich set of standardized tools to enable fast efficient retrieval from digital archives or filtering audiovisual broadcasts on the internet. How this kind of technologies could be used in the medical context? In this paper, we propose a simpler indexing system, based on Dublin Core standard and compliant to MPEG-7_ We use MeSH and UMLS to introduce conceptual navigation. We also present a video platform with enables to encode and give access to audio-visual resources in streaming mode.
EHR Requirements
Authors: Lloyd David  , Kalra Dipak
Published: February 2025

Published requirements for the EHR are principally available via ISO 18308. They are statements defining the generic features necessary in any Electronic Health Record for it to be communicable and complete, retain integrity across systems, countries and time, and be a useful and effective ethico-legal record of care. Examples of requirements are provided in four themes: EHR functional requirements; Ethical, legal, and security requirements; Clinical requirements; Technical requirements. The main logical building blocks of an EHR are described using the terminology of CEN TC251 ENV 13606. Examples are given of the placement of attributes to satisfy contextual and other requirements at the level of specific building blocks. A worked example of the use of the building blocks is given for the request-report cycle for an imaging investigation.
Mobile Technology for Global Health
Authors: Marsh Andy
Published: February 2025

Maturing telemedicine technologies, struggling mobile networking revenues and increased personal healthcare awareness have provided the foundations for a new market niche that of ‘3G Medicine’ . During the last 5 years, telemedicine (based on internet and web technologies) is becoming a reality both in terms of developing technologies and supportive legislation. Within Europe wireless infrastructures (3G Networking) has received a huge investment and although not well defined in how it will be achieved healthcare has been identified as a major stream of revenue with personal healthcare (e.g. EHCR on the handset) being a key issue especially for the handset manufactures. Combined with an increased awareness not only for outpatients but also for the “well-worried” (healthy and health conscious) 3G Medicine Services will play an important role in personal healthcare management. Subsequently, the development of supportive 3G Medicine products and services will also create a new niche market economy for companies, especially SME’s , to develop a range of collaborative technologies.
An Endoscopic Sinus Surgery Training System for Assessment of Surgical Skill
Authors: Yamauchi Yasushi  , Yamashita Juli  , Morikawa Osamu  , Hashimoto Ryoichi  , Yokoyama Kazunori
Published: February 2025

The apprenticeship of procedures in endoscopic sinus surgery has several limitations, including potential risk for the patients and lack of feedback to the trainees. In this paper, we present a new surgical training system that combines a head dummy, force and position sensors: this system can be used to assess surgical skills and provide visual feedback to the trainees.
Acquiring Laparoscopic Manipulative Skills: A Virtual Tissue Dissection Training Module
Authors: Zhang Hui  , Payandeh Shahram  , Dill John  , Lomax Alan J.
Published: February 2025

Virtual environments for training manipulative skills in laparoscopic surgery are now well established as research areas. Tissue dissection however has not yet been adequately addressed. We have developed a virtual training module in which the task is to dissect a 3D tissue model using a simulated L-hook. Three metrics have been designed to assess performance. 1) Total deviation of actual cut path from the drawn path. 2) Total contact time between the instrument and tissue. 3) Contact discontinuity. The objective of the research was to design a basic tissue dissection module to train, in part, laparoscopic manipulative skills.
Power to the Patient, using DI@L-log
Authors: Black Lesley-Ann  , McTear Mike  , Black Norman
Published: February 2025

Chronic care patients are demanding to be more actively involved in the care of their condition. Self-monitoring of blood glucose and blood pressure is strongly advocated for people with type 2 diabetes. We are developing a DI@L-log system that replaces the traditional paper logbook used by diabetes patients, enabling them to send their data to the point of care on a weekly basis using spoken dialogue technologies over the telephone. The motivation for our system is to enhance care by providing patients with a voice and therefore empowering individuals to become active self-managers of diabetes.
Design of a Patient-Centered, Multi-Institutional Healthcare Information Network Using Peer-to-peer Communication in a Highly Distributed Architecture
Authors: Geissbuhler Antoine  , Spahni Stéphane  , Assimacopoulos André  , Raetzo Marc-André  , Gobet Gérard
Published: February 2025

Objective: to design a community healthcare information network for all 450’000 citizen in the State of Geneva, Switzerland, connecting public and private healthcare professionals. Requirements include the decentralized storage of information at the source of its production, the creation of a virtual patient record at the time of the consultation, the control by the patient of the access rights to the information, and the interoperability with other similar networks at the national and european level.
Causal Discovery Using A Bayesian Local Causal Discovery Algorithm
Authors: Mani Subramani  , Cooper Gregory F.
Published: February 2025

This study focused on the development and application of an efficient algorithm to induce causal relationships from observational data. The algorithm, called BLCD, is based on a causal Bayesian network framework. BLCD initially uses heuristic greedy search to derive the Markov Blanket (MB) of a node that serves as the “locality” for the identification of pair-wise causal relationships. BLCD takes as input a dataset and outputs potential causes of the form variable X causally influences variable Y. Identification of the causal factors of diseases and outcomes, can help formulate better management, prevention and control strategies for the improvement of health care. In this study we focused on investigating factors that may contribute causally to infant mortality in the United States. We used the U.S. Linked Birth/Infant Death dataset for 1991 with more than four million records and about 200 variables for each record. Our sample consisted of 41,155 records randomly selected from the whole dataset. Each record had maternal, paternal and child factors and the outcome at the end of the first year—whether the infant survived or not. Using the infant birth and death dataset as input, BLCD output six purported causal relationships. Three out of the six relationships seem plausible. Even though we have not yet discovered a clinically novel causal link, we plan to look for novel causal pathways using the full sample.
International Training in Health Informatics: A Brazilian Experience
Authors: Marin Heimar F.  , Massad Eduardo  , Marques Eduardo P.  , Ohno-Machado Lucila
Published: February 2025

Technology is transforming not only the practice of healthcare but also professional training and educational models. Developing countries, such as Brazil, are increasingly suffering from a severe shortage of health informatics specialists. Training of professionals in this field is expensive, and there is a limited supply of high-quality teaching resources available. We envision that training in health informatics can be better achieved if cultural and technological barriers are anticipated and the training program is prepared accordingly. We describe our four-year experience of a Brazil/USA training program and discuss lessons learned during its implementation. Eleven onsite courses, one seminar, and two conferences were developed under this unique initiative, which made possible the collaboration among different countries and distinguished leaders in the field of medical informatics.
Using Knowledge Management Practices to Develop a State-of-the-Art Digital Library
Authors: Williams Annette M.  , Giuse Nunzia Bettinsoli  , Koonce Taneya Y.  , Kou Qinghua  , Giuse Dario A.
Published: February 2025

Diffusing knowledge management practices within an organization encourages and facilitates reuse of the institution’s knowledge commodity. Following knowledge management practices, the Eskind Biomedical Library (EBL) has created a Digital Library that uses a holistic approach for integration of information and skills to best represent both explicit and tacit knowledge inherent in libraries. EBL's Digital Library exemplifies a clear attempt to organize institutional knowledge in the field of librarianship, in an effort to positively impact clinical, research, and educational processes in the medical center.
An Information Flow Analysis of a Distributed Information System for Space Medical Support
Authors: Zhang Tao  , Aranzamendez Gina  , Rinkus Susan  , Gong Yang  , Rukab Jamie  , Johnson-Throop Kathy A.  , Malin Jane T.  , Zhang Jiajie
Published: February 2025

In this study, we applied the methodology grounded in humancentered distributed cognition principles to the information flow analysis of a highly intensive, distributed and complex environment - the Biomedical Engineer (BME) console system at NASA Johnson Space Center. This system contains disparate human and artificial agents and artifacts. Users and tasks of this system were analyzed. An ethnographic study and a detailed communication pattern analysis were conducted to gain deeper insight and better understanding of the information flow patterns and the organizational memory of the current BME console system. From this study, we identified some major problems and of fered recommendations to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of this system. We believe that this analysis methodology can be used in other distributed information systems, such as a healthcare environment.
Vision and emotional flow in a cognitive architecture for human-machine interaction
Authors: Gaglio S.  , Infantino I.  , Pilato G.  , Rizzo R.  , Vella F.
Published: February 2025

The detection and recognition of a human face should meet the need for social interaction that drives a humanoid robot, and it should be consistent with its cognitive model and the perceived scene. The paper deals with the description of the potential of having a system of emotional contagion, and proposes a simple implementation of it. An emotional index allows to build a mechanism which tends to align the emotional states of the robot and the human when a specific object is detected in the scene. Pursuing the idea of social interaction based on affect recognition, a first practical application capable of managing the emotional flow is described, involving both conceptual spaces and an emotional/motivational model of cognitive architecture
Second Life Foraging: An Ecologically-Inspired Task to Drive Biologically-Inspired Cognitive Architectures
Authors: Veksler Vladislav D.
Published: February 2025

Current work examines how Second Life (a popular virtual environment) may be used for the development of cognitive agents. Specifically, it was used for complex foraging task simulations by an upper-level undergraduate computer science class. A concurrent class in cognitive robotics allowed for direct comparisons between setup and development efforts for the two simulation platforms. The conclusions are that (1) SL offers enough complexity and ecological validity to drive long-term progress in cognitive system research, and (2) agent development and debugging is much faster using SL than robotics.
What Makes a Story Plausible? The Need for Precedents
Authors: Bex Floris  , Bench-Capon Trevor  , Verheij Bart
Published: February 2025

When reasoning about the facts of a case, we typically use stories to link the known events into coherent wholes. One way to establish coherence is to appeal to past examples, real or fictitious. These examples can be chosen and critiqued using the case-based reasoning (CBR) techniques from the AI and Law literature. In this paper, we apply these techniques to factual stories, assessing a story about the facts using precedents. We thus show how factual and legal reasoning can be combined in a CBR model.
An experiment to find the deep structure of Estonian legislation
Authors: Täks Ermo  , Vohandu Leo  , Lohk Ahti  , Liiv Innar
Published: February 2025

Normative systems evolve over time and, due to several reasons, form huge and complex, yet not very systematic nor consistent collections of legal norms. So far qualitative, thus subjective methods are used to create a structure in legislation. A new, experimental and quantitative approach is presented, that opens a rough structure of Estonian legislation with the help of graph theory and visualization. As a test case, a deep structural analysis, based on a part of Estonian legislation is introduced.
Whole of Government in Theory and Practice: an Exploratory Account of how Australian and Dutch Governments Deal with Wicked Problems in an Integrated Way
Authors: Karré Philip Marcel  , Alford John  , van der Steen Martijn  , van Twist Mark
Published: February 2025

The governments of Australia and the Netherlands have to deal with wicked problems, that cut across neat departmental boundaries and exceed the problem-solving capabilities of individual governmental institutions. In this chapter, we discuss how they dealt with two pressing problems (child abuse, immigration and integration) by adopting so-called joined-up or whole of government approaches to policy-making. These entail coming to new ways of organizing by decoupling traditional governmental structures. We explore how joined-up government works in practice, discuss its limitations and develop an agenda for further research.
Conductometric Catheter-Mounted Pressure Sensor
Authors: Tan Robert  , Schulam Peter  , Schmidt Jacob
Published: February 2025

We are developing an in vivo pressure sensor that measures the change in conductance of a deformable electrolyte-filled catheter resulting from external pressure. The sensor design and materials are easily scaled and inexpensive. The compact, in vivo nature of the device may result in the compact instrumentation being unobtrusively affixed to the patient externally and removing the tethered to an external apparatus, the current practice. We describe our initial device construction and in vitro pressure measurements.
Design of a 4 DOF Laparoscopic Surgery Robot for Manipulation of Large Organs
Authors: Alamdar Alireza  , Mirbagheri Alireza  , Farahmand Farzam  , Durali Mohammad
Published: February 2025

In this paper, a 4-DOF robotic arm for tool handling in laparoscopic surgery is introduced. The robot provides sufficient force to handle endoscopic tools used for large organ manipulation and is capable of measuring the tool-tissue forces. The RCM constraint is achieved using a spherical mechanism and roll and insertion motions are provided using time pulley and spindle-drive, respectively. The forward and inverse kinematics of the robot was solved and the dimensions of its links were determined, using particle swarm optimization method, so that the maximum kinematic and dynamic performance could be achieved.
A User-Friendly Tool for Medical-Related Patent Retrieval
Authors: Pasche Emilie  , Gobeill Julien  , Teodoro Douglas  , Gaudinat Arnaud  , Vishnyakova Dina  , Lovis Christian  , Ruch Patrick
Published: February 2025

Health-related information retrieval is complicated by the variety of nomenclatures available to name entities, since different communities of users will use different ways to name a same entity. We present in this report the development and evaluation of a user-friendly interactive Web application aiming at facilitating health-related patent search. Our tool, called TWINC, relies on a search engine tuned during several patent retrieval competitions, enhanced with intelligent interaction modules, such as chemical query, normalization and expansion. While the functionality of related article search showed promising performances, the ad hoc search results in fairly contrasted results. Nonetheless, TWINC performed well during the PatOlympics competition and was appreciated by intellectual property experts. This result should be balanced by the limited evaluation sample. We can also assume that it can be customized to be applied in corporate search environments to process domain and company-specific vocabularies, including non-English literature and patents reports.
MedCom: Laboratory Test Ordering – Fully Implemented Nationwide in Less than 3 Years
Authors: Johansen Ib  , Rasmussen Margit
Published: February 2025

Lab test result reporting has been fully implemented in Denmark since early 2000. Labtest ordering is much more complicated due to different handling and labeling procedures in more than 70 Danish labs. Until 2004 all orders were based on preprinted paper forms. A new electronic national lab test order solution based on national MedCom standards and codes was introduced in 2005 and it was fully implemented in all 2100 GP clinics and 1000 private specialist clinics in 3 years. It also included 42 biochemistry labs, 14 Microbiology labs and 16 histopathology and cytology labs. Implementation was organized by MedCom and planned in rough details. During the implementation period a set of planed and ad-hoc activities to reach 100 % implementation was successfully launched. Today more than 6.000.000 lab test orders (100%) are now handled electronically each year. The implementation process, the challenges: organizational and technically as well as outcome is described in the paper.
Science Gateways for Semantic-Web-Based Life Science Applications
Authors: Ardizzone Valeria  , Bruno Riccardo  , Calanducci Antonio  , Carrubba Carla  , Fargetta Marco  , Ingrà Elisa  , Inserra Giuseppina  , La Rocca Giuseppe  , Monforte Salvatore  , Pistagna Fabrizio  , Ricceri Rita  , Rotondo Riccardo  , Scardaci Diego  , Barbera Roberto
Published: February 2025

In this paper we present the architecture of a framework for building Science Gateways supporting official standards both for user authentication and authorization and for middleware-independent job and data management. Two use cases of the customization of the Science Gateway framework for Semantic-Web-based life science applications are also described.
Experimental and Numerical Analysis of Edge Seal Spacers of Insulated Glass Units for Structural Sealant Glazing Applications
Authors: Hagl Anneliese
Published: February 2025

For applications beyond the European Technical Guideline ETAG 002 for structural sealant glazing (SSG), a detailed knowledge of the mechanical characteristics of all components is required. While the physical properties of glass, steel and aluminum and silicone adhesives are quite well known or in the focus of current research activities, edge seal spacers of insulated glass units have not been investigated yet in detail. Edge seal spacers show a high level of design variations and thus their behavior differ significantly with respect to the various designs. This paper focuses on experimental results of compressive tests of edge seal spacers which build the basis for the derivation of numerical models allowing to analyze SSG designs and applications beyond ETAG 002.
Structural Design of Composite Steel-Glass Elements
Authors: Netusil Michal  , Eliasova Martina
Published: February 2025

Composite glass beams, stiffened by adhesively bonded high-strength element, show high load bearing capacity and robustness (post breakage behavior) in comparison with pure glass beams or fins. Wide range of polymer adhesives can be used in composite structure with real load bearing role to provide horizontal shear interaction between both materials and on the other hand to keep all other requirements on compliancy. Numerical and analytical approach was developed and calibrated by the results of full scale tests of composite steel-glass beams. Reached load carrying capacity of the beam was very high and influence of a lot of parameters was defined and included to analytical model. Generalized results of performed experiments, numerical and analytic studies can say, how to predict an ultimate load of such a hybrid structure, where the key element is the semi-rigid shear connection, provided by modern and progressive polymer adhesives used to be known mainly from industry until now, although their potential is very high.
RTD Support for Aeronautics in Spain – CDTI
Authors: Cortés Pulido Juan Carlos
Published: February 2025

The Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI) is a Spanish public organisation, under the Ministry of Science and Innovation, whose objective is to help Spanish companies to increase their technological profile. CDTI has become a key organisation for the promotion of innovation and technology development in Spain, since its creation in 1977.
Evolving Definitions of Authorship in Ebook Design
Authors: Martin Celeste  , Aitken Jonathan
Published: February 2025

The development of ebooks for tablet devices offers a rich space for collaboration between writers and designers. This paper examines how this emerging media affects ideas around collaboration and authorship. Specifically it considers the changing role of designers in shaping meaning and content and how this may affect existing paradigms of authorship. Using class-based projects as case studies, the paper presents and discusses examples of how designers have shifted their role from historic notions of “crystal goblet” design or expressive design to genuine collaborators and authors.
Upper arm length model suggests transient bilateral asymmetry is associated with right thoracic adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (RT-AIS) with implications for pathogenesis and estimation of linear skeletal overgrowth
Authors: Burwell R Geoffrey  , Aujla Ranjit K  , Grevitt Michael P  , Randell Tabitha L  , Dangerfield Peter H  , Cole Ashley A  , Kirby Alanah S  , Polak Frances J  , Pratt Roland K  , Webb John K  , Moulton Alan
Published: February 2025

Introduction. In girls with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) the finding of abnormal extra-spinal bilateral skeletal length asymmetries in upper limbs, periapical ribs, and ilia begs the question whether these bilateral asymmetries are connected in some way with pathogenesis.
Early Development of the Costovertebral Joints
Authors: Chen Po-Jung  , Wozniak Witold
Published: February 2025

Researches on the development of the vertebral column were focused mainly on the growth of lumbar and cervical regions. However, none of them were related to the development of costovertebral joints. To our knowledge, the relationship between ribs and thoracic vertebrae has never been addressed. The aims of the presented study are: (1) to trace the formation of processes of vertebral arches and articular surfaces of the vertebral bodies, and (2) to trace the development of the ribs, particularly their joint surfaces. Study subjects are staged human embryos (from the 5th week) from the collection of the Department of Anatomy, Poznan University of Medical Sciences in Poland. Serial sections were stained according to methods allowed for tracing the development of investigated structures. The primordia of costovertebral joints are interzones from which differentiate all structures of synovial joints such as joint surfaces, capsule and cavity. Based on the result of this study, these interzones appeared in the embryonic stages 17 and 18 with approximately 40 to 42 postfertilizational days, and the cavitation within the interzone was observed in some embryos from stage 19 with approximately postfertilizational 44 days.
Smart Brace versus Standard Rigid Brace for the Treatment of Scoliosis: A Pilot Study
Authors: Lou Edmond  , Hill Douglas  , Raso Jim  , Donauer Andreas  , Moreau Marc  , Mahood James  , Hedden Douglas
Published: February 2025

The outcomes of brace treatment for scoliosis depend on how the brace is used. Simply prescribing a brace does not mean it will be worn properly. A smart brace has been developed to control the brace wear tightness with the expectation that appropriately worn braces will improve outcomes. Twelve brace candidates (10F; 2M) agreed to participate into this study and were randomly divided into 2 groups. The smart brace group used the smart brace for the first year, and then wore the standard brace for the following year. The standard rigid brace group wore their TLSO for 2 years. Both groups were followed for 3 years after they finished the brace treatment. The smart brace group showed better quality of brace wear, wearing their brace at the prescribed tightness level a higher proportion of time than the standard brace group. All subjects in the smart brace group had successful outcomes, Cobb angle changed less than 5°, whereas 2/6 subjects in the standard brace group had unsuccessful bracing. One had 7° increment and 1 underwent surgery. The smart brace group also reported that the smart brace was more comfortable to wear than the standard rigid brace.
The effect of pressure pad location of spinal orthosis on the treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS)
Authors: Wong M.S.  , Li M.  , Ng B.  , Lam T.P.  , Ying M.  , Wong A.  , Cheng J.
Published: February 2025

Patient with moderate AIS is usually prescribed with spinal orthosis aiming to mechanically support and prevent the spine from further deterioration. In the conventional fitting method, pre-brace X-ray is the main reference, thus, the pressure pad of spinal orthosis may not be accurately located to the strategic areas because the spinal deformities could change 3-dimensionally once pressure pad is applied. A high correlation (r > 0.98) between Cobb's angle and spinous process angle (SPA) was found in the recent studies. With the advancements of 3D clinical ultrasound (3D CUS), tracing SPA along a scoliotic spine becomes possible and this can be used to estimate Cobb's angle. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of pressure pad location of spinal orthosis in the treatment of AIS and 3D CUS was used to trace SPA for estimation of Cobb's angle. The in-brace X-rays were assessed for confirmation of treatment effectiveness. The subjects were divided into ultrasound-guided fitting group A (n=21) and conventional fitting group B (n=22). In the group A, pressure pads were tested at 5 locations - the prescribed location as in the conventional fitting (referred to the pre-brace X-ray), and 1 cm and 2 cm above and below the prescribed location, and 3D CUS was applied to trace the SPA in these 5 pad locations, and the pad location with the lowest estimated Cobb's angle was selected in the final fitting. The assessments of in-brace X-rays showed that the mean Cobb's angle of group A decreased from 28.9° (pre-brace) to 18.6° (immediate in-brace) while the mean Cobb's angle of group B decreased from 27.1° (pre-brace) to 22.5° (immediate in-brace). There was a significant difference (p < 0.05) in the correction of Cobb's angle between the two groups. The results showed that accurate pressure pad location does play an important role in the reduction of Cobb's angle and 3D CUS can be considered as a non-invasive and effective assessment tool to improve orthotic treatment of AIS.
Brace treatment in infantile/juvenile patients with progressive scoliosis is worthwhile
Authors: Weiss Hans-Rudolf
Published: February 2025

Little information exists about successful brace treatment of progressive early onset scoliosis. Even less information is available about the early treatment of scoliosis patients with Marfan's syndrome at age < 6 years. Purpose of this case report is to demonstrate the possibility of successful brace treatment in a patient with early onset scoliosis due to Marfan's syndrome.
Heart Development and Cardiac Stem Cells
Authors: Rochais Francesca  , Kelly Robert G.
Published: February 2025

Cardiomyocyte deficiency is the leading cause of heart failure. The recent discovery of resident adult cardiac progenitor cells together with the rapid evolution of the stem cell research area have begun to re-evaluate the clinical relevance of regenerative cardiac therapies. Uncovering the developmental origins of adult cardiac progenitors, understanding how these populations are set aside and characterizing the molecular mechanisms regulating their fate during development are of crucial importance for regenerative medicine and will bring new insights into cardiac repair strategies.
Cell Therapy for Muscular Dystrophies
Authors: Vilquin Jean-Thomas  , Yada Erica  , Catelain Cyril
Published: February 2025

Cell therapy is considered a potential therapeutic avenue for the treatment of skeletal muscle diseases. Heterologous approaches have been attempted in the context of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a generalized degenerative disease. Cell transplantation trials, however, have been first hampered by the poor survival and the limited migratory ability of the cells, and a first wave of optimizations defined conditions of cell injection and recipient immunosuppression, allowing the achievement of a second set of clinical trials. Further investigations identified anoikis, oxidative stress, fusion inability and some administration methodologies as causes of early massive cell death. New concepts have emerged contemporaneously regarding the correction of gene expression (gene supplementation, exon skipping, gene surgery...), and new myogenic cell types have been identified, mainly in the family of perivascular cells, that can be administered systemically. Then, preclinical models were proposed to adapt the injection strategies, to combine them with genetic modifications of the cells or with pharmacological interventions on the environment to improve the success of implantation. In the meantime, autologous approaches have been attempted in the context of localized repairs. Therefore the continuous identification of new stem cell candidates, the invention of new strategies to restore correct gene expression, the technical and pharmacological improvements of transplantation success, are justified by yet unmet social and medical needs.
Mesenchymal Stem Cell Characterization
Authors: Charbord Pierre
Published: February 2025

In this chapter we review the criteria that allow to define the Mesenchymal Stem Cell as a stem cell. The methods implemented for this demonstration are well documented. This chapter will provide guidelines for the study of clonogenicity, self-renewal ability, phenotype, differentiation potential and regeneration capacity of human MSCs.