Michigan State University

About: Michigan State University is a education organization based out in East Lansing, Michigan, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Poison control. The organization has 60109 authors who have published 137074 publications receiving 5633022 citations. The organization is also known as: MSU & Michigan State.

Dexterous articulated linkage for surgical applications

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an actuator, a tool, and a positioning apparatus. The positioning apparatus includes a gear link structure operably coupling the tool to the actuator for moving the tool in a first direction defining a first degree of freedom and in a second direction defining a second degree of freedom.

An introduction to biometrics

Abstract: Summary form only given. Biometrics refers to the automatic identification (or verification) of an individual (or a claimed identity) by using certain physical or behavioral traits associated with the person. By using biometrics it is possible to establish an identity based on `who you are?, rather than by `what you possess? (e.g., an ID card) or `what you remember? (e.g., a password). Therefore, biometric systems use fingerprints, hand geometry, iris, retina, face, vasculature patterns, signature, gait, palmprint, or voiceprint to determine a person?s identity. The purpose of this tutorial is two-fold: (a) to introduce the fundamentals of biometric technology from a pattern recognition and signal processing perspective by discussing some of the prominent techniques used in the field; and (b) to convey the recent advances made in this field especially in the context of security, privacy and forensics. To this end, the design of a biometric system will be discussed from the viewpoint of four commonly used biometric modalities - fingerprint, face, hand, and iris. Various algorithms that have been developed for processing these modalities will be presented. Methods to protect the biometric templates of enrolled users will also be outlined. In particular, the possibility of performing biometric matching in the cryptographic domain will be discussed. The tutorial will also introduce concepts in biometric fusion (i.e., multibiometrics) in which multiple sources of biometric information are consolidated. Finally, there will be a discussion on some of the challenges encountered by biometric systems when operating in a real-world environment and some of the methods used to address these challenges.

The Relationship between Residents’ Attitudes toward Tourism and Tourism Development Options

Abstract: Many rural communities view tourism as an economic development strategy. This study explores the relationship between resident attitudes toward tourism and support for specific tourism development options. In addition, attitudes and support for development in seven diverse communities are compared. Results indicate that communities differ with respect to residents’ support for specific tourism development options and attitudes toward tourism. In general, residents perceive tourism positively and support most specific types of development. There is a relationship between attitudes and support for development, although the nature of the relationship is different for each community.

The relative importance of physician communication, participatory decision making, and patient understanding in diabetes self-management.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Patients’ self-management practices have substantial consequences on morbidity and mortality in diabetes. While the quality of patient-physician relations has been associated with improved health outcomes and functional status, little is known about the impact of different patient-physician interaction styles on patients’ diabetes self-management. This study assessed the influence of patients’ evaluation of their physicians’ participatory decision-making style, rating of physician communication, and reported understanding of diabetes self-care on their self-reported diabetes management.

Gender and the Internet: Women Communicating and Men Searching

Abstract: This research examined gender differences in Internet use and factors responsible for these differences. A sample of 630 Anglo American undergraduates completed the Student Computer and Internet Survey that contained questions about e-mail and Web use, and about potential affective and cognitive mediators of use. Based on a general model of Internet use, we predicted and found that females used e-mail more than did males, males used the Web more than did females, and females reported more computer anxiety, less computer self-efficacy, and less favorable and less stereotypic computer attitudes. Path analysis to identify mediators of gender differences in Internet use revealed that computer self-efficacy, loneliness, and depression accounted in part for gender differences, but that gender continued to have a direct effect on use after these factors were considered. Implications for realizing the democratizing potential and benefits of Internet use are discussed.