bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
KernPaeP – A Web-Based Pediatric Palliative Documentation System for Home Care
Authors: Hartz Tobias  , Verst Hendrik  , Ueckert Frank
Published: February 2025

KernPaeP is a new web-based on- and offline documentation system, which has been developed for pediatric palliative care-teams supporting patient documentation and communication among health care professionals. It provides a reliable system making fast and secure home care documentation possible. KernPaeP is accessible online by registered users using any web-browser. Home care teams use an offline version of KernPaeP running on a netbook for patient documentation on site. Identifying and medical patient data are strictly separated and stored on two database servers. The system offers a stable, enhanced two-way algorithm for synchronization between the offline component and the central database servers. KernPaeP is implemented meeting highest security standards while still maintaining high usability. The web-based documentation system allows ubiquitous and immediate access to patient data. Sumptuous paper work is replaced by secure and comprehensive electronic documentation. KernPaeP helps saving time and improving the quality of documentation. Due to development in close cooperation with pediatric palliative professionals, KernPaeP fulfils the broad needs of home-care documentation. The technique of web-based online and offline documentation is in general applicable for arbitrary home care scenarios.
Designing a Socio-Economic Assessment Method for Integrative Biomedical Research: The Osteoporotic Virtual Physiological Human Project
Authors: Thiel Rainer  , Stroetmann Karl A.  , Stroetmann Veli N.  , Viceconti Marco
Published: February 2025

In integrative biomedical research, methods assessing the clinical or even socio-economic impact of more complex technologies such as Information and Communication Technology (ICT)-based tools for modelling and simulation of human physiology have rarely been applied. The EU funded Osteoporotic Virtual Physiological Human (VPHOP) research project, part of the Virtual Physiological Human (VPH) European initiative, will create a patient-specific hypermodel to predict the absolute risk of bone fracture much more accurately than predictions based on current clinical practice. The project has developed an innovative, multilevel generic methodological framework to assess the clinical and socio-economic impact of biocomputational models. The assessment framework consists of three components: a socio-economic cost benefit analysis, health economic analysis of care pathways, and disease cost simulation models. Through its holistic perspective, the method provides a tool to appraise the overall value of biocomputational models for society.
E-Learning to Train Staff in Danish Hospitals – Three Genres of E-Learning
Authors: Bygholm Ann
Published: February 2025

This paper presents a study of the use of e-learning in education and training of hospital staff in Denmark, in particular in relation with the implementation of electronic patient records (EPR). The study consists of a survey mapping the dissemination and main experience from using e-learning in Danish hospitals. The study shows a widespread use and a considerably agreement on the potentials of e-learning in education and training of hospital staff, but also problems and doubtfulness concerning the actual role of e-learning in the overall educational and organizational strategy for the hospital. The majority of hospitals use some sorts of computer-based training program to support the staff in acquiring necessary knowledge to operate the EPR. I argue that a more differentiated understanding is needed in order to realize the potentials and direct the use of e-learning in hospitals. Three genres of e-learning which differ in regards to qualification addressed are identified and I claim that a more explicit understanding of the differences between them is needed in order to guide the choice of e-learning of hospital staff.
The Role of Ontologies for Sustainable, Semantically Interoperable and Trustworthy EHR Solutions
Authors: Blobel Bernd  , Kalra Dipak  , Koehn Marc  , Lunn Ken  , Pharow Peter  , Ruotsalainen Pekka  , Schulz Stefan  , Smith Barry
Published: February 2025

As health systems around the world turn towards highly distributed, specialized and cooperative structures to increase quality and safety of care as well as efficiency and efficacy of delivery processes, there is a growing need for supporting communication and collaboration of all parties involved with advanced ICT solutions. The Electronic Health Record (EHR) provides the information platform which is maturing towards the eHealth core application. To meet the requirements for sustainable, semantically interoperable, and trustworthy EHR solutions, different standards and different national strategies have been established. The workshop summarizes the requirements for such advanced EHR systems and their underlying architecture, presents different strategies and solutions advocated by corresponding protagonists, discusses pros and cons as well as harmonization and migration strategies for those approaches. It particularly highlights a turn towards ontology-driven architectures. The workshop is a joint activity of the EFMI Working Groups “Electronic Health Records” and “Security, Safety and Ethics”.
Artificial-Intelligence-Based Hospital-Acquired Infection Control
Authors: Adlassnig Klaus-Peter  , Blacky Alexander  , Koller Walter
Published: February 2025

Nosocomial or hospital-acquired infections (NIs) are a frequent complication in hospitalized patients. The growing availability of computerized patient records in hospitals permits automated identification and extended monitoring for signs of NIs. A fuzzy- and knowledge-based system to identify and monitor NIs at intensive care units (ICUs) according to the European Surveillance System HELICS (NI definitions derived from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) criteria) was developed and put into operation at the Vienna General Hospital. This system, named Moni, for monitoring of nosocomial infections contains medical knowledge packages (MKPs) to identify and monitor various infections of the bloodstream, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and central venous catheter-associated infections. The MKPs consist of medical logic modules (MLMs) in Arden syntax, a medical knowledge representation scheme, whose definition is part of the HL7 standards. These MLM packages together with the Arden software are well suited to be incorporated in medical information systems such as hospital information or intensive-care patient data management systems, or in web-based applications. In terms of method, Moni contains an extended data-to-symbol conversion with several layers of abstraction, until the top level defining NIs according to HELICS is reached. All included medical concepts such as “normal”, “increased”, “decreased”, or similar ones are formally modeled by fuzzy sets, and fuzzy logic is used to process the interpretations of the clinically observed and measured patient data through an inference network. The currently implemented cockpit surveillance connects 96 ICU beds with Moni and offers the hospital's infection control department a hitherto unparalleled NI infection survey.
Future of eHealth: Can Consumers Cure Themselves?
Authors: Bushko Renata G.
Published: February 2025

In the next decade e-Health, or Connected Health, based on traditional Information Technology (IT) will expand to include molecular communications due to the emergence of nano-sensors capable of monitoring the health of individual cells. Artificially created boundaries between medicine and IT must be removed in order to take advantage of the new opportunity to dramatically improve the precision of medical diagnosis. Human physicians and nurses who remain unaided will not be able to utilize the new flow of molecular data to their patients' full advantage. Medicine will evolve into a new discipline that could be called “ITicine,” reflecting the ubiquitous use of caring machines by both consumers and health professionals to reason with and learn from petabytes of behavioral, physiological and molecular data. Data about our human lives collected digitally will increase from 10% to 90% due to physical-sensing, socio-sensing & nano-sensing [1]. The final goal is to allow consumers to cure themselves with the help of caring machines supported by omnipresent computing. The strategy for the future must then involve immediate and massive investment in intelligent medical software and adaptive networks [2], radical improvement of software development methodologies and social transition to a “machine trust” mentality, where health decisions can be made by computing agents and medical devices rather than doctors or patients. This could eliminate the error-prone features of the current healthcare system described by Dr. Craig Feied et al in “Indistinguishable from Magic: Health and Wellness in a Future of Sufficiently Advanced Technology”. [3]
Diamond Bio Electronics
Authors: Linares Robert  , Doering Patrick  , Linares Bryant
Published: February 2025

The use of diamond for advanced applications has been the dream of mankind for centuries. Until recently this dream has been realized only in the use of diamond for gemstones and abrasive applications where tons of diamonds are used on an annual basis. Diamond is the material system of choice for many applications, but its use has historically been limited due to the small size, high cost, and inconsistent (and typically poor) quality of available diamond materials until recently. The recent development of high quality, single crystal diamond crystal growth via the Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) process has allowed physcists and increasingly scientists in the life science area to think beyond these limitations and envision how diamond may be used in advanced applications ranging from quantum computing, to power generation and molecular imaging, and eventually even diamond nano-bots.
Strategy for the Future of Health: Goal Formation and ITicine
Authors: Bushko Renata G.
Published: February 2025

This article shows the importance of goal setting in strategy development and presents the Future of Health Technology Institute's www.fhti.org goals as an example of goals that have transformative power. It also provides synthesis and developmental history of the “Strategy for the Future of Health” book while examining collective book design as a strategy development tool. It emphasizes unprecedented technological revolution manifesting itself in the convergence of molecular biology, computer and medical science, electrical, mechanical, genetic and biomedical engineering (including cell, molecular and tissue engineering) resulting in the merger of information technology (IT) with medicine and the formation of “ITicine”.
Sound of a Hug
Authors: Rembrand Raffi
Published: February 2025

Currently all diagnosis of autism is based entirely on behavioral measures. A theory put forward by the author suggests a way toward development of a purely empirical objective diagnostic tool. Focusing on hearing, the most social of the senses and specifically on the intriguing, yet seemingly unrelated phenomena of Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) and Attention Shift Delay (ASD), the author suggests a framework for research on the measurement of OAE that may lead to the development of just such a diagnostic tool. Byproducts of the research already include a patented hearing aid add-on for helping speech in background babble discrimination and an advanced wearable calming device that promises to improve the quality of life not only for people with autism, but many others who find themselves troubled by stress.
Anytime Reasoning Mechanism for Conversational Agents
Authors: Morveli-Espinoza Mariela  , Puyol-Gruart Josep
Published: February 2025

When an agent receives a query from another agent, it tries to satisfy it by building an answer based on its current knowledge. Depending on the available time or the urgency of the requirement the agent can produce answers with different levels of quality. Answers can contain the best one, a provisional one because it can be improved later, or a conditional answer because the agent ignores some information needed to build the answer. Agents always depend on the availability of information obtained from perception or from the communication with other agents. We assume that in the real world normally is better to receive an answer with poor quality than no answer. The answer can be good enough for the receiver or the receiver can spend more time to wait for a better answer. Autonomy implies taking the best decision with the available information, avoiding blocking situations and no action. In this paper, we propose an architecture for deliberative agents using anytime like reasoning to produce better answers as time increases.
Neuro-fuzzy approach for the characterization of building materials
Authors: Traore Adama  , Grieu Stéphane  , Faugeroux Olivier  , Claudet Bernard  , Bodnar Jean-Luc
Published: February 2025

The actual European energy context highlights the building sector as one of the largest sectors of energy consumption. Consequently, the “Energy Performance of Buildings Directive”, focusing on energy use in buildings, requires all the EU members to enhance their building regulations and to introduce energy certification schemes, with the aim of both reducing energy consumption and improving energy efficiency. That is why carrying out an energy performance diagnosis is mandatory. Indeed, invisible defaults could have a detrimental effect on insulating qualities. An in-situ estimation of thermo-physical properties allowing to locate defaults, the present work focuses on testing neuro-fuzzy systems to estimate the thermal diffusivity of building materials using thermograms obtained thanks to a non-destructive method.
Frequency Selection for the Diagnostic Characterization of Human Brain Tumours
Authors: Arizmendi Carlos  , Vellido Alfredo  , Romero Enrique
Published: February 2025

The diagnosis of brain tumours is an extremely sensitive and complex clinical task that must rely upon information gathered through non-invasive techniques. One such technique is magnetic resonance, in the modalities of imaging or spectroscopy. The latter provides plenty of metabolic information about the tumour tissue, but its high dimensionality makes resorting to pattern recognition techniques advisable. In this brief paper, an international database of brain tumours is analyzed resorting to an ad hoc spectral frequency selection procedure combined with nonlinear classification.
Measuring Interest of Human Dyadic Interactions
Authors: Escalera Sergio  , Pujol Oriol  , Radeva Petia  , Vitrià Jordi
Published: February 2025

In this paper, we argue that only using behavioural motion information, we are able to predict the interest of observers when looking at face-to-face interactions. We propose a set of movement-related features from body, face, and mouth activity in order to define a set of higher level interaction features, such as stress, activity, speaking engagement, and corporal engagement. Error-Correcting Output Codes framework with an Adaboost base classifier is used to learn to rank the perceived observer's interest in face-to-face interactions. The automatic system shows good correlation between the automatic categorization results and the manual ranking made by the observers. In particular, the learning system shows that stress features have a high predictive power for ranking interest of observers when looking at of face-to-face interactions.
Evaluation of the SIFT Object Recognition Method in Mobile Robots
Authors: Ramisa Arnau  , Vasudevan Shrihari  , Aldavert David  , Toledo Ricardo  , Lopez de Mantaras Ramon
Published: February 2025

Generic object recognition in mobile robots is of primary importance in order to enhance the representation of the environment that robots will use for their reasoning processes. Towards this aim, the contribution of this paper is an evaluation of the SIFT Object Recognition method in a challenging dataset, focusing on issues relevant to mobile robotics. The method presented robustness to the typical problems of images acquired in the robotics domain, but its good performance was limited mainly to well-textured objects.
Computational Intelligence Methods for Discovering Diagnostic Gene Targets about aGVHD
Authors: Fiasché Maurizio  , Cuzzola Maria  , Fedele Roberta  , Princi Domenica  , Cacciola Matteo  , Megali Giuseppe  , Iacopino Pasquale  , Morabito Francesco C.
Published: February 2025

This is an application paper of applying classical statistical methods and standard technique of computational intelligence to identify gene diagnostic targets for accurate diagnosis of a medical problem – acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD). This is the major complication after allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), an immunomediated disorder that is driven by allospecific lymphocytes since aGVHD does not occur after autologous stem-cell transplantation. In this paper we analyzed gene-expression profiles of 47 genes associated with allo-reactivity in 59 patients submitted to HSCT. We have applied 2 feature selection algorithms combined with a classifier to detect the aGVHD at on-set of clinical signs. This is a preliminary study and the continuance of our works which tackles both computational and biological evidence for the involvement of a limited number of genes for diagnosis of aGVHD. Directions for further studies are outlined.
Notes on Cutset Conditioning on Factor Graphs with Cycles
Authors: Palmieri Francesco
Published: February 2025

Inference on factor graphs with loops with the standard forward-backward algorithm, can give unpredictible results as messages can travel indefinitely in the system with no guarantee on convergence. We apply the exact method of cutset conditioning to Factor Graphs with loops starting from a fully developed three-variable example and providing comments and suggestions for distributed implementations.
Nice and Nasty Lawyers, is the Legal System to Blame?
Authors: Mayor Eunate  , Izquierdo Luis R.  , Sartor Giovanni
Published: February 2025

This paper proposes a novel approach to study legal interactions. In particular, we focus on cases of medical liability and investigate the mechanisms governing legal litigations in different judicial environments. To do that, we use an agent-based model where lawyers are explicitly and individually represented in the model. Lawyers in the model are heterogeneous in the sense that they may follow different argumentation strategies to try to win the cases of medical liability they are assigned. They may also change their strategy if they observe that other strategies work better in the particular context they are embedded. In this way, our agent-based model offers a complementary approach to understanding legal interactions within an evolutionary framework. More concretely, we explore how various factors, such as the magnitude of legal expenses and the accuracy of the judicial system, affect the type of litigation strategies that are successful and prevail in a certain judicial context.
National Standards in Health Informatics
Authors: Hovenga Evelyn J.S.
Published: February 2025

This chapter gives an educational overview of:
Clinical Decision Support Implementations
Authors: Liaw Siaw Teng  , Pradhan Malcolm
Published: February 2025

This chapter gives an educational overview of:
Project Management in Health Informatics
Authors: Ho Jessica
Published: February 2025

This chapter gives an educational overview of:
Interoperability
Authors: Jarvis Dennis H.  , Jarvis Jacqueline H.
Published: February 2025

This chapter gives an educational overview of:
Formal system of interactions on biomedical ontology
Authors: Izumi Naoko  , Yonezaki Naoki
Published: February 2025

A huge amount of interaction knowledge among biological materials has been accumulated and it is most urgent that they are properly used to discover hidden phenomena in life. These data of interactions describe those among many kinds of objects and reactions on different levels of life or different time scales in similar way. In this paper, we formalize two general concepts of biological interaction functions i.e. inhibition and activation, and present a formal system of the ontology of them. This formal system is an axiomatic system which represents the general concepts of interactions not only between objects but also between reactions and on pathways of reactions. We demonstrate the applicability of the formal system to the real world phenomena of drugs poisoning in pharmacy.
Biosensors
Authors: Reilly Richard B.  , Lee T. Clive
Published: February 2025

The ability to accurately measure physiological and chemical changes in the body is fundamental to the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic methods. This chapter provides an introduction to biosensors, devices which convert a biological response into an electrical signal. The interface between the biosensor and the biological system being measured is of critical importance. Awareness of the components and characteristics of a biosensors, allows correct selection of the most appropriate for clinical application. The basic components of a biosensor include a biological element and the physiochemical transducer. The transducer is a device that converts one form of energy to another. The signal produced by the transducer requires amplification and processing to correctly interpret the measurement data. This chapter also provides examples of the application of biosensors in clinical engineering, focusing on direct and indirect blood pressure measurements and also assessing lung function through spirometry. Biosensors have an enormous clinical impact both in diagnosis and therapy, as well for being critical for data collection for biomedical research.
Remote Healthcare Monitoring and Assessment
Authors: Nugent Chris D.  , Finlay Dewar  , Davies Richard  , Donnelly Mark  , Hallberg Josef  , Black Norman D.  , Craig David
Published: February 2025

Remote healthcare monitoring is the process of assessing the well-being of a patient when the patient and their healthcare professional are not located together. Advances in technology, specifically medical devices, sensors and high speed fixed and wireless communication networks have made it possible to bring the assessment process to the patient, as opposed to limiting the assessment to the constraints of hospitals and doctors' surgeries. It is also possible for patients to benefit from expert consultants anywhere in the world and receive their advice, without a face-to-face meeting. We discuss these issues in the context of home based medication management and propose a technical solution using emerging technologies. This uses a base station acting as a reservoir of medication and a means to connect the patient to an Internet based care model. The following details of the system are presented; an Internet portal in the form of a web based interface to support the prescribing of medication; an interface for the pharmacist to support the filling of medication containers; a caregiver's interface that provides a means to assess the patient's adherence to their medication regimen.
What are chemical structures and their relations?
Authors: Hastings Janna  , Batchelor Colin  , Steinbeck Christoph  , Schulz Stefan
Published: February 2025

In chemistry, advances in computational technologies have allowed research into molecules that have not been synthesized yet, and may never be, to become widespread. These are described in terms of their structures, which are expressed as chemical graphs. Chemical graphs are a representational artifact, and as such are of a different ontological nature than the molecular entities which they describe.
Real time energy management in smart cities by Future Internet
Authors: Simonov Mikhail  , Mussetta Marco  , Pirisi Andrea  , Grimaccia Francesco  , Caputo Davide  , Zich Riccardo E.
Published: February 2025

Human behavior, both individually and socially, is aimed at maximizing some objective functions, and this is directly reflected in energy dynamics. New issues are emerging now, such as the unpredictability of some renewable sources generation and the new technologies enabling real time energy optimized use in smart cities. Here the role of the Future Internet in the smart grids is addressed, in particular enlightening how the anticipatory knowledge of the future occurrences of the energy consumption dynamics may be effectively promptly exchanged between competing actors.
Extracting and Merging Contextualized Ontology Modules
Authors: Hussain Sajjad  , Abidi Syed Sibte Raza
Published: February 2025

Ontology module extraction, from a large ontology, leads to the generation of a specialized knowledge model that is pertinent to specific problems. Existing ontology module extraction methods tend to either render a too generalized or a too restricted ontology module that at times does not capture the entire semantics of the source ontology. We present an ontology module extraction method that extracts a contextualized ontology module whilst extending the semantics of the extracted concepts and their relationships in the ontology module. Our approach features the following tenets (i) identifying the user-selected concepts that are pertinent for the problem-context at hand; (ii) extracting the user-selected concepts, their roles and their individuals; and (iii) extracting other concepts, roles and individuals that are structurally-connected with the user-selected concepts. We apply our ontology module extraction method in the Healthcare domain, and demonstrate (a) extraction of ontology modules from three prostate cancer pathway ontologies; and then (b) merging of extracted ontology modules to generate a comprehensive therapeutic work-flow knowledge for prostate cancer care management.
Implementation of the Multiple Errands Test in a NeuroVR-supermarket: a Possible Approach
Authors: Raspelli Simona  , Carelli Laura  , Morganti Francesca  , Poletti Barbara  , Corra Barbara  , Silani Vincenzo  , Riva Giuseppe
Published: February 2025

Our goal was to develop a tool for the assessment of executive functions by customizing a virtual reality (VR) version of the Multiple Errands Test (MET) [Shallice & Burgess, 1991; Fortin et al., 2003]. The MET is an assessment of executive functions in daily life which consists of tasks that abide by certain rules. It is performed in an actual shopping mall-like setting where there are items to be bought and information to be obtained. The specific goal of this study was to conduct a pilot study using the virtual version of MET (VMET) with both control subjects and patients with cognitive impairment derived from stroke.
Internet Delivered Images for Exposure in Specific Phobia, Design Considerations for Self-directed Therapy
Authors: Kirkby Kenneth C.  , Matthews Allison  , Scanlan Joel
Published: February 2025

Exposure to phobic stimuli in subjects with specific phobia typically results in increased anxiety, ranging from mild to severe, followed by gradual habituation. The Internet is a candidate medium for the delivery of phobic stimuli to phobic subjects, such as pictures, video clips or computer animations. Delivery of such images in home settings warrants careful attention to the range and time course of anxiety responses elicited, and to tailoring of progression through hierarchies of images. The agency of the user is paramount, they need to have the final say at all stages of exposure as to whether to proceed or not. We have incorporated solutions to these requirements in the design of an internet-based exposure program (FEARDROP). This employs a database repository of pictures and videos of phobic stimuli. Images are called up by the user engaging a tracking circle with their mouse and following it around the screen. The image fades out if the circle is not followed, a form of ‘dead man's brake’. Anxiety responses are measured at intervals on a visual analogue scale and graphed for the user. Initial results show substantial habituation to spider pictures within minutes, with a controlled comparison to video images in progress.
Citizens, Seamlessness, and Care – Inter-relationships and Inter-operability
Authors: Rigby Michael
Published: February 2025

Health care is currently fragmented, as are its IT systems, and each excludes partner care services which are important in supporting citizen health. Citizens see commercial international interoperability such as in banking, and wonder why the health sector cannot match that even at local level. The focus on inter-operability priorities is on health system interoperability, in the context of a policy of full European interoperability by 2015. However, the priority for citizens is to see coordination of objectives and delivery of care and assurance of day-to-day delivery of integrated care involving not just health but other agencies. A change from international vertical healthcare inter-operability, to horizontal citizen-based inter-operability should be considered the priority.
Empowering Patients with COPD using Tele-Homecare Technology
Authors: Huniche Lotte  , Dinesen Birthe  , Grann Ove  , Toft Egon  , Nielsen Carl
Published: February 2025

This paper discusses how a tele-rehabilitation program using home tele-monitoring may empower patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The paper is based on preliminary findings from an ongoing research and innovation project, called “Tele-homecare, chronic patients and the integrated healthcare system” (the TELEKAT project) that employs triple interventions related to patients, professionals, and the organization of care. The ways COPD patients make use of home tele-monitoring in the TELEKAT project points to the relevance of a concept of empowerment rooted in ideologies of social action, and focusing on the improvement of both personal and social conditions at the intersection of individual, organizational and community development.
Exploring the Link between Populomics and Knowledge Management: Patient-Oriented Case Exemplars
Authors: Bali Rajeev K.  , Gibbons M. Chris
Published: February 2025

The challenge of population-level health problems, such as healthcare disparities, encompasses socio-behavioural, community and biologic factors and advances in information and communication technologies (ICTs). These elements are reflected in the key ethos of contemporary knowledge management (KM), as knowledge emerges from the confluence of people, process and technology. This paper illustrates how knowledge-based health case studies can be used as effective exemplars to illuminate understanding and explore possible connections between populomics and KM.
Quantification of global intervertebral torques during gait: comparison between two subjects with different scoliosis severities
Authors: Raison Maxime  , Aubin Carl-Éric  , Detrembleur Christine  , Fisette Paul  , Mahaudens Philippe  , Samin Jean-Claude
Published: February 2025

The internal forces in the human body in motion could provide valuable information for the evaluation and follow-up of subjects with musculo-skeletal pathologies, such as scoliosis, but are still difficult to accurately measure. In this context, the objective of this study is to quantify the global intervertebral torques along the spine during walking, in order to compare the dynamical behavior between two subjects with different scoliosis severities. Practically, two patients, both with left lumbar adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (lumbar Cobb angles: 40°), but with different apical axial rotations (20° and 30°) and different thoracic Cobb angles (20° and 30°), walked on a treadmill at 4 km/h. The acquisition system included optokinetic sensors (reflective markers), recording the 3D-joint coordinates, and a treadmill equipped with strain gauges, measuring the external forces independently applied to both feet. The global intervertebral torques were computed using an inverse dynamic model of the human body in 3D. As results, significant differences of the subject kinematics and ground reaction forces were recorded, which lead to different internal torque behavior in magnitude, maxima and minima when normalized to the subject mass. In conclusion in this preliminary study, different dynamical behavior was found between two subjects with different scoliosis severities, suggesting that the scoliosis severity could be affected by abnormal internal torques along the spine during gait (different than in the standing posture), which could lead to a supplementary asymmetric growth modulation of the vertebrae and the further progression of the scoliotic deformities in the framework of the Hueter-Volkman principle. Finally, this is a pilot study and the results will inform future studies and biomechanical modeling.
Prevalence of Spondylolisthesis in a Population of Gymnasts
Authors: Toueg Charles-William  , Mac-Thiong Jean-Marc  , Grimard Guy  , Parent Stefan  , Poitras Benoit  , Labelle Hubert
Published: February 2025

Spondylolysis occurs in 6 % of the general population. Of these, approximately 75% will develop spondylolisthesis. According to multiple studies, an increased prevalence of spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis exists in groups of athletes practicing certain sports such as gymnastics. In the literature, prevalence of spondylolisthesis in gymnasts can reach up to 40 to 50 %. However, the specific risk factors associated with the development of spondylolisthesis in gymnasts are not known. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis in a population of gymnasts, as well as the associated epidemiological characteristics. In order to achieve this goal, we presented our project to the two most renowned gymnastics centers in the city of Montreal, which allowed us to recruit a total of 93 gymnasts (19 males and 74 females). A radiological evaluation, with the low emission radiographic system, EOS, allowed us to identify the subjects that were affected by spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis. Additionally, standardized questionnaires allowed us to evaluate and compare different epidemiologic parameters such as age, height, weight, number of years of practice, number of hours of training per week. Of the 93 gymnasts evaluated clinically and radiographically, we identified 6 (1 male, 5 females) gymnasts presenting a spondylolysis and/or spondylolisthesis. This 6.5% prevalence found in our population is similar to the one reported in the general population. Gender did not seem to be a determinant factor. Also, gymnasts with and without spondylolysis and/or spondylolisthesis seemed to be similar in terms of height. However, gymnasts with spondylolysis and/or spondylolisthesis seemed to be heavier than gymnasts without one of these two affections, older and training with greater intensity. These results suggest that the real prevalence rate of spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis in gymnasts may have been overestimated in previous studies. A selection bias, due to the high competitive level in the two gymnastics centers where our recruitment took place, could be involved. Our findings could also be the result of new or different training methods compared to those used in past studies. This might suggest that with intense training schedules, heavier individuals could potentially be prone to increased loads at the lumbo-sacral junction, thus favoring the development of spondylolysis and spondylo-listhesis. These hypotheses should be explored in further details in the near future, especially with investigation of radiological parameters of the spine and pelvis.
Abnormal Melatonin Receptor Expression in Girls with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis
Authors: Man G.C.W.  , Yeung H.Y.  , Wang W.J.  , Lee K.M.  , Ng B.K.W.  , Wang H.  , Ng T.B.  , Qiu Y.  , Cheng J.C.Y.
Published: February 2025

Introduction: Melatonin signaling dysfunction has been suggested in girls with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). The signaling dysfunction was observed in osteoblasts from AIS girls. The associated the occurrence of AIS with melatonin receptor-2 gene polymorphism has been shown previously.
The Role of Tyrosine Phosphatase-x in the Etiopathogenesis of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis
Authors: Elbakry Mohamed  , Taheri Maryam  , Bouhanik Sadallah  , Akoume Marie-Yvonne  , Azedine Bouziane  , Turgeon Isabelle  , Franco Anita  , Moreau Alain
Published: February 2025

Introduction: Scoliosis is a three-dimensional deformity of the spine with lateral curvature combined with vertebral rotation. Occurrence of a melatonin signaling dysfunction in cells derived from patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) was reported by Moreau et al. It was shown that serine phosphorylation of Gi proteins α-subunits was involved although the source of such aberrant phosphorylation remains unknown. The goal of this research project is to identify the kinase(s) and/or phosphatase(s) involved in the melatonin signaling defect observed in AIS. We have used a candidate gene driven approach and found the Tyrosine Phosphatase x (PTPx) and a second molecule termed HSJ-1, which controls the activity of this tyrosine phosphatase.
Coupling 2D/3D Registration Method and Statistical Model to Perform 3D Reconstruction from Partial X-Rays Images Data
Authors: Cresson Thierry  , Chay Ramnada  , Branchaud Dominic  , Humbert Ludovic  , Godbout Benoit  , Aubert Benjamin  , Skalli Wafa  , De Guise Jacques A.
Published: February 2025

Introduction: Automatization of 3D reconstruction of the spine from frontal and sagittal radiographs is extremely challenging. For example, the overlying features of soft tissues and air cavities may interfere with image processing algorithms.
Normal Juvenile Girls and Boys: Evidence Suggesting Central Controls for Upper arm Length and its Asymmetry of Girls Differ from Boys which, in Dysfunction, Predispose Girls to Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis
Authors: Burwell R. Geoffrey  , Aujla Ranjit K.  , Randell Tabitha L.  , Dangerfield Peter H.  , Moulton Alan
Published: February 2025

Introduction: We reported evidence suggesting that in normal juveniles with relatively higher BMI, girls but not boys have central leptin resistance of the somatotropic axis. This may be a mechanism to limit the energy invested in female skeletal growth thereby conserving energy for reproductive development.
Can Spine Sagittal Measures be Assessed Dependably from MRI?
Authors: Vitale Michael G.  , Avendano Javier  , Jameel Omar F.  , Matsumoto Hiroko  , Roye Benjamin D.  , Hyman Joshua E.  , Roye David P.
Published: February 2025

Introduction : There is little research on the reliability, reproducibility and usefulness of assessing sagittal deformity from MRI studies
Scoliometer Measurements are Sensitive to Non-level Pelvis: Implications for Scoliosis Screening
Authors: Kotwicki Tomasz  , Kubiak Agnieszka  , Szulc Andrzej
Published: February 2025

Introduction: In scoliosis screening the angle of trunk rotation (ATR) cut off value is still debated. Static pelvic obliquity is common in growing age. It is not known whether the scoliometer values are sensitive to non-level pelvis.
Selection of Fusion Levels in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) Using the Fulcrum Bending Radiograph Prediction: Verification Based on Pedicle Screw Strategy
Authors: Cheung Kenneth M.C.  , Natarajan Deepa  , Samartzis Dino  , Leung Yee  , Cheung Wai-Yuen  , Wong Yat-Wa  , Luk Keith D.K.
Published: February 2025

Introduction: Selecting fusion levels based on the Luk et al (SPINE, 2008) criteria for operative management of thoracic AIS with hook and hybrid systems yields acceptable curve correction and balance parameters. However, it is unknown whether utilizing a purely pedicle screw strategy is safe and effective.
Identifying the Best Surface Topography Parameters for Detecting Idiopathic Scoliosis Curve Progression
Authors: Parent E.C.  , Damaraju S.  , Hill D.L.  , Lou E.  , Smetaniuk D.
Published: February 2025

There is no consensus on which surface topography (ST) parameters may be used to detect scoliosis progression. The sensitivity to change of common ST parameters has not yet been compared. The goal of this study was to determine which ST parameters are most sensitive to scoliosis progression in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) receiving conservative treatment. Fifty-eight subjects with AIS were included whose Cobb angle had progressed by at least 5° during a 1 year interval. All had had ST scans and frontal radiographs at a 12 month interval at our clinic. Commonly used back-only ST parameters and contributing scores were derived by one evaluator. Standardized response mean (SRM) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using the absolute value of the changes between baseline and follow-up to reflect change in deformity, independent of direction. Decompensation, cosmetic score, Deformity in the Axial Plane Index (DAPI), trunk rotation, Hump Sum, and lordosis angle were highly sensitive to scoliosis progression (SRM>0.8). Cosmetic score, Posterior Trunk Symmetry Index (POTSI), and kyphosis angle had significantly poorer SRM values than the Cobb angle. All other ST parameters had SRM estimates that did not differ significantly from the Cobb angle, suggesting that they have a similar ability to detect progression The ST measures that were most sensitive to detection of scoliosis progression in the frontal, transverse, and sagittal planes were decompensation, trunk rotation, and lordosis angle, respectively. Absolute changes in surface parameters representing either worsening or improvement externally could reflect worsening of the internal deformity. The majority of ST parameters are potentially sensitive to scoliosis progression.
Senior Executive Information Behaviors and Decision Support: A Research Agenda
Authors: Arnott David
Published: February 2025

Business intelligence (BI) is currently the top technology priority of chief information officers (CIOs) and is a major growth area of business IT. BI systems are the IT-based systems that have the greatest impact on organizational strategy. Unfortunately, BI projects are subject to high failure rates and those that are implemented suffer from a utilization problem where only 10 to 20% of intended users actually use the systems. Most decision support systems (DSS) and BI research and practice treats managers as a homogenous group, but management research reports differences between senior executives and other levels of management, and individual differences between managers. This is a significantly more complex development environment than that assumed by current DSS and BI research. There are no specialist methods for analyzing the decision support requirements of senior executives. This paper discusses the rationale and design of a research project that uses a design-science strategy that aims to develop and test such a method. The method will be based on a sound understanding of senior executive information behaviors.
Emergency Preparedness Coordination: Network Approach in Dynamic Disaster Environments
Authors: Kim Kwang Deok  , Hossain Liaquat
Published: February 2025

This study seeks to discover how a network structure prior to catastrophic disasters affects disaster response in terms of property damage in community. In order to do this, coordination theory and network concepts are drawn to explore the problem of effective emergency preparedness coordination (EPC). Although previous coordination models bring useful perspectives in their own domains, they focus on managing coordination based on conditions which are stable and being aware of goals and other actors. Through presenting a new EPC network model suitable for dynamic disaster environments, it is hoped to better understand the value of coordination from the perspective of network concepts. This study empirically investigates the relationship between the network and the potential for coordination: facilitating network performance correlates to increasing the capacity for preparedness. The findings suggest that training and education among responders correlate to preparedness and the effectiveness of a response network.
Geospatial Ontology Trade Study
Authors: Ressler James  , Dean Mike  , Kolas Dave
Published: February 2025

It has been estimated that up to 80% of all information contains some notion of location. This is helping create a greater understanding of the utility of geospatial information as a framework for organizing, portraying and better understanding other information and the relationships of people, places, things and events. Geospatial capabilities are entering the mainstream of information technology and spatial data infrastructures (SDI's) are being implemented to bring together the technologies, policies, standards, and human resources to better utilize geospatial data. SDI's such as the National System for Geospatial-Intelligence (NSG) are using a standards baseline of ISO, Open Geospatial Consortium and other relevant consensus standards and putting service oriented architectures in place to achieve distributed, data-centric, net-centric operations. This stage of development of SDI's is bringing an unprecedented level of interoperability to geospatial data and technology and is setting the stage for an even greater level of future interoperability and data integration. The development of geospatial ontologies and semantic capabilities for integrating well structured geospatial data with unstructured geospatial information existing in other data sets will be the catalyst for this next major step forward.
Development of an Information Platform for New Grid Users in the Biomedical Field
Authors: Skrowny Daniela  , Dickmann Frank  , Löhnhardt Benjamin  , Knoch Tobias A.  , Sax Ulrich
Published: February 2025

Bringing new users into grids is a top priority for all grid initiatives and one of the most challenging tasks. Especially in life sciences it is essential to have a certain amount of users to establish a critical mass for a sustainable grid and give feedback back to the technological middleware layer. Based on the presumable lack of grid IT knowledge it is notably more arduous to satisfy user demands although here the requirements are especially demanding. Therefore, the development of an information- and learning platform could support the efforts of grid experts to guide new users. By providing a platform about grid technology and their feasibilities for users of the community of biomedicine potential, users could be supported using the high potential of their discipline.
Dynamic Behaviour of AA2024 under blast loading: Experiments and Simulations
Authors: Mediavilla Varas J.  , Soetens F.  , van der Meulen R.  , Sagimon M.  , Kroon E.  , van Aanhold J.E.
Published: February 2025

The dynamic behaviour of AA2024-T3 is investigated. Dynamic tensile tests using a servo-hydraulic and a light weight shock testing machine (LSM) have been performed. The servo-hydraulic test machine proves to be more reliable and reaches higher strain rates. Neither test revealed any strain rate effect of AA2024-T3. Two types of fracture tests were carried out to determine the dynamic crack propagation behaviour of this alloy, using prestressed plates and pressurized barrels, both with the help of explosives. The prestressed plates proved to be not suitable, whereas the barrel tests were quite reliable, allowing to measure the crack speeds. Computer simulations with a user defined, rate dependent cohesive zone model were in agreement with experiments, capturing the rate toughening effect.