Computer-assisted planning for minimally invasive anterior two-thirds laser corpus callosotomy: A feasibility study with probabilistic tractography validation.

BACKGROUND: Anterior two-thirds corpus callosotomy is an effective palliative neurosurgical procedure for drug-refractory epilepsy that is most commonly used to treat drop-attacks. Laser interstitial thermal therapy is a novel stereotactic ablative technique that has been utilised as a minimally invasive alternative to resective and disconnective open neurosurgery. Case series have reported success in performing laser anterior two-thirds corpus callosotomy. Computer-assisted planning algorithms may help to automate and optimise multi-trajectory planning for this procedure. OBJECTIVE: To undertake a simulation-based feasibility study of computer-assisted corpus callostomy planning in comparison with expert manual plans in the same patients. METHODS: Ten patients were selected from a prospectively maintained database. Patients had previously undergone diffusion-weighted imaging and digital subtraction angiography as part of routine SEEG care. Computer-assisted planning was performed using the EpiNav™ platform and compared to manually planned trajectories from two independent blinded experts. Estimated ablation cavities were used in conjunction with probabilistic tractography to simulate the expected extent of interhemispheric disconnection. RESULTS: Computer-assisted planning resulted in significantly improved trajectory safety metrics (risk score and minimum distance to vasculature) compared to blinded external expert manual plans. Probabilistic tractography revealed residual interhemispheric connectivity in 1/10 cases following computer-assisted planning compared to 4/10 and 2/10 cases with manual planning. CONCLUSION: Computer-assisted planning successfully generates multi-trajectory plans capable of LITT anterior two-thirds corpus callosotomy. Computer-assisted planning may provide a means of standardising trajectory planning and serves as a potential new tool for optimising trajectories. A prospective validation study is now required to determine if this translates into improved patient outcomes

Computer assisted mathematical programming

A Computer Assisted Mathematical Programming (Modelling) System (CAMPS) is described in this paper. The system uses program generator techniques for model creation and contrasts with earlier approaches which use a special purpose language to construct models. Thus no programming skill is required to formulate a model. In designing the system we have first analysed the salient components of the mathematical programming activity. A mathematical programming model is usually constructed by progressive definition of dimensions, data tables, model variables, model constraints and the matrix coefficients which connect the last two entities. Computer assistance is provided to structure the data and the resulting model in the above sequence. In addition to this novel feature and the automatic documentation facility, the system is in line with recent developments, and incorporates a friendly and flexible user interface

Implementation of a Human-Computer Interface for Computer Assisted Translation and Handwritten Text Recognition

A human-computer interface is developed to provide services of computer assisted machine translation (CAT) and computer assisted transcription of handwritten text images (CATTI). The back-end machine translation (MT) and handwritten text recognition (HTR) systems are provided by the Pattern Recognition and Human Language Technology (PRHLT) research group. The idea is to provide users with easy to use tools to convert interactive translation and transcription feasible tasks. The assisted service is provided by remote servers with CAT or CATTI capabilities. The interface supplies the user with tools for efficient local edition: deletion, insertion and substitution.Ocampo Sepúlveda, JC. (2009). Implementation of a Human-Computer Interface for Computer Assisted Translation and Handwritten Text Recognition. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/14318Archivo delegad

Autism and Computer Assisted Learning

Autism is a learning and social disorder that has seen increased diagnosis within school-age populations. As educators grapple with overwhelmed and understaffed classrooms, finding ways to address the educational needs of this particular population can be very challenging. However, technology may serve to create alternative “virtual” world opportunities and thus, begin to expand learning possibilities for these students

Preface : CAA 2010: Computer assisted assessment: supporting student learning

The Preface for the first special issue for the International Journal of e-Assessment highlights the role of the assessment for learning agenda. It also points to papers within the special issue which relate to: (a) Overcoming the barriers to supporting student learning with computer-assisted assessment; (b) Marking and computer-assisted assessment; (c) Harnessing the technology to improve efficiency and pedagogy. The papers in this issue stress the general recognition that times are changing and that assessment needs to become embedded in the teaching/learning cycle and not purely as a checking device for the awarding institution. These papers encourage us to rise to the challenge of developing more sophisticated computer-assisted assessment systems that support student learning and there is still a lot to do

Computer-assisted access to the kidney

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this paper is to introduce the principles of computer-assisted access to the kidney. The system provides the surgeon with a pre-operative 3D planning on computed tomography (CT) images. After a rigid registration with space-localized ultrasound (US) data, preoperative planning can be transferred to the intra-operative conditions and an intuitive man-machine interface allows the user to perform a puncture. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Both CT and US images of informed normal volunteer were obtained to perform calculation on the accuracy of registration and punctures were carried out on a kidney phantom to measure the precision of the whole of the system. RESULTS: We carried out millimetric registrations on real data and guidance experiments on a kidney phantom showed encouraging results of 4.7 mm between planned and reached targets. We noticed that the most significant error was related to the needle deflection during the puncture. CONCLUSION: Preliminary results are encouraging. Further work will be undertaken to improve efficiency and accuracy, and to take breathing into account

A COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN ICT LEARNING RESULTS USING INTERACTIVE COMPUTER-ASSISTED LEARNING AND THE ONES USING TEXTBOOKS FOR GRADE VII STUDENTS AT SMP N 4 WATES

This research aims to examine the comparison between interactive computer assisted-learning and textbook-based learning on the ICT learning results upon computer software of the grade VII students at SMP N 4 Wates Kulon Progo. The research methods employed was quasi-experimental. The research design selected was non-equivalent control group design. The research was conducted towards the grade VII students, they were class VIIA (by using interactive computer assisted-learning) as the experimental class and class VIIB (by using textbook-based learning) as the control class in which each class consisted of 32 students, at SMP N 4 Wates Kulon Progo in the semester 2. The sample collection technique of the research employed purposive sampling. The data collection of the research used documentations which comprised of the ICT subject syllabus and the result of the initial condition by using pre-test and the final condition by using post-test. The trials of the instruments utilized the test of item validity according to the expert judgement and the reliability test using Cronbach's Alpha. The data analysis technique to examine the research findings employed tests for normality and homogeneity as well as T-test using SPSS 17.0 program to analyze the data obtained. The research finding suggested that interactive computer-assisted learning was the better media to deliver the learning materials of the ICT subject than textbooks-based learning in term of students’ learning results. This was confirmed by the post-hypothesis test. Using T-test, the significance value of the posthypothesis test result was less than the value of α = 0,05, therefore Ho was rejected and Ha was accepted, meaning that the textbooks based-learning was different from interactive computer-assisted learning as the media to deliver the learning materials of ICT subject in term of students’ learning results. Based on the descriptive analysis upon the post-test data, it could be concluded that the interactive computer-assisted learning was the better media to deliver the learning materials of the ICT subject than textbooks-based learning in term of students’ learning results on computer software. Key Words: Comparison, learning media, interactive computer-assisted learning, textbooks, learning results

Computer-assisted Structure Elucidation of Humulene Epoxide and Caryophyllene Epoxide Mixture of Turraea Brownii

An experiment was carried out to isolate active material from Turraea brownli for biological insectislde. The isolated component obtained by using TLC was elucidated with iH NMR, and 13C NMR techniques. It was found that the compound was unknown triterpenoid (C30H48O). Further elucidation using 2D NMR with COSY, HMBC, and HMQC combined with computer techniques showed that the component was an approximately equimolar mixture of two sesqulterpenes (C15H24O) which were identified as humulene epoxide and B-caryophyllene epoxide