Detailed investigation on biomechanics of a complex structure such as the human lumbar spine requires the use of advanced computer-based technique for both the geometrical reconstruction and the stress analysis. In the present study, the computer-assisted tomography (CAT) and finite element method (FEM) are merged to perform detailed three dimensional nonlinear analysis of the human ligamentous...

This quasi-experimental study aims to investigate the effects of Sustained Silent Reading (SSR), Assisted Repeated (ARR), and Traditional (TR) instructions integrated into an EFL reading program on comprehension, silent rate, motivation, attitudes toward reading, by also addressing potential effect proficiency level. Adopting a mixed-method pretest-posttest research design, this 10-week was con...

BACKGROUND Total knee arthroplasty is one of the most clinically successful and cost-effective interventions in medicine. However, implant malalignment, especially in the coronal plane, is a common cause of early failure following total knee arthroplasty. Computer-assisted surgery has been employed during total knee arthroplasty to improve the precision of component alignment. The purpose of th...

Computer-assisted neurosurgery has become so successful that it is rapidly becoming indistinguishable from, quite simply, neurosurgery. This trend promises to accelerate over the next several decades, bringing considerable benefit to the patients we care for. From a pragmatic point of view, can we identify specific instances in which clinical practice has been altered by computer assistance? Du...

The constantly workload increase has led to the development of Computerised Decision Support Systems (CDSS) for a better management of patient care. Many clinical situations have been investigated to verify the utility of CDSS: few have demonstrated stable effects. One area where success has been reported is the field of oral anticoagulation management. CDSS system has demonstrated to be able t...

To address the subjectivity in manual scoring of polysomnograms, a computer-assisted sleep staging method is presented in this paper. The method uses the principles of segmentation and self-organization (clustering) based on primitive sleep-related features to find the pseudonatural stages present in the record. Sample epochs of these natural stages are presented to the user, who can classify t...

THIS ARTICLE reports on a program designed to develop computer literacy by offering instruction in a wide range of programming languages. Beginning in 1968, a computer-assisted course in computer programming was conducted through the Business Department of Woodrow Wilson High School, an "inner city" school in the Hunter's Point-Bayview area of San Francisco. Each day for three semesters, betwee...

When inserting screws into a vertebral pedicle, the surgeon usually exposes the back part of the vertebra and uses his or her anatomic knowledge to align the drill in the proper direction. A slight error in direction may result in an important error in the position of the tip of the screw. This is done with no direct visibility of crucial structures (spinal cord, pleura, vessels). Statistical a...

From 15.07. to 20.07.07, the Dagstuhl Seminar 07291 Scienti c Visualization was held in the International Conference and Research Center (IBFI), Schloss Dagstuhl. During the seminar, several participants presented their current research, and ongoing work and open problems were discussed. Abstracts of the presentations given during the seminar as well as abstracts of seminar results and ideas ar...