bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stress and Resilience in the Midst of a Security Tension
Authors: Leykin Dmitry  , Aharonson-Daniel Limor  , Lahad Mooli
Published: February 2025

Following the use of chemical weapons against Syrian citizens, US President Obama began making preparations for a US military attack to punish the regime of the Syrian president. With lines extending at gas-mask distribution points, nervous Israeli citizens were preparing for a possible Syrian attack. The present study explored the associations among individual, community and national resilience, and the sense of danger on perceived stress among Israeli Jews and Arabs in the midst of this security uncertainty. Methods: Using the web-based research software - Qualtrics - a community sample of 435 individuals (n = 244 Jews and n = 191 non-Jews, 57 5% males) completed brief versions of a personal resilience scale (CD-RISC 2; Vaishnavi, Connor & Davidson, 2007), a community resilience scale (CCRAM-10; Leykin, Lahad, Cohen, Goldberg & Aharonson-Daniel, 2013), a national resilience scale (Kimhi et al., 2013), a single item stress question (Elo, Leppanen & Kahkola, 2003) and 3 items from the sense of danger scale (Solomon & Prager, 1992). Results: Jews reported significantly higher levels than Arabs on measures of resilience, ηp2 = .28, p < .001, and levels of general stress and sense of danger, ηp2 = .17 & ηp2 = .10, p < .001. A multiple regression analysis revealed that for both Arabs and Jews, a sense of danger was significantly associated with stress. Individual and community resilience also interacted with ethnicity on stress: among Arabs, individual and community resilience (controlling for age and personal resilience) negatively tended to predict stress, while among Jews this effect was not evident. Discussion: During times of uncertainty, individual and community resilience can be an asset for reducing subjective stress among minority populations in Israel; therefore, it is recommended to maintain and build community capacities during routine.
A History of Political Violence in the Family as a Resilience Factor
Authors: Kazlauskas Evaldas  , Želvienė Paulina
Published: February 2025

Lithuania regained its independence about 20 years ago and is a member of the EU with a population of nearly three million... Traumatic experiences and coping with trauma are important topics for Lithuanians, as a large part of the population experienced persecution during the oppressive Soviet regime before these social changes began. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between psychological well-being, exposure to traumatic events, and exposure to political violence by family members during the Soviet regime in a Lithuanian sample. Method: a non-clinical sample of 626 participants (59.9% female, 40.1% male) with a mean age of 39.00 (SD = 18.13) (range: 18 to 89) participated in the present study. Self-report measures were used to assess trauma exposure and psychological well-being. Life-time trauma exposure was measured using the Brief Trauma Questionnaire (BTQ). Psychological well-being was measured using the 10-item short Psychological Well-Being Questionnaire (WBQ) developed by the authors of the study. Results: the study revealed that 69.8% of our sample experienced at least one traumatic event; 55.4% reported experiences of political violence in their families during the Soviet Regime. A family history of political violence was a more significant factor in predicting psychological well-being than personal life-time trauma exposure. Conclusion: social factors of trauma are important in understanding the resilience of individuals.
Resilience after Trauma
Authors: Cherry Katie  , Galea Sandro
Published: February 2025

In this chapter, the authors discuss resilience after trauma exposure from a public health perspective. We begin with an overview and relevant background information on the concept of resilience to provide a context for discussion. Next we turn to longitudinal trajectories of resilience and present supportive evidence. We then consider relevance, addressing the question of why resilience matters and in doing, so we illuminate core challenges for the trauma and public health fields. We conclude with a hypothetical scenario to illustrate how public health could be improved by increasing resilience at a population level.
Levels of Resilience: A Critical Review
Authors: Kimhi Shaul
Published: February 2025

The present paper focuses on three levels of resilience: individual, community and national. The paper presents the salient limitations of the concept of resilience and the main approaches to the study of resilience. It describes the limited knowledge regarding the associations among the above three levels of resilience and the importance of the associations between them. As a possible conclusion, the paper presents a theoretical model of associations among the three levels of resilience and the ability to withstand harsh events.
Couples in the Line of Fire: Couples’ Resilience in Preserving and Enhancing Their Relationships
Authors: Shamai Michal  , Enosh Guy  , Machmali-Kievitz Ronit  , Tapiro Saray
Published: February 2025

This chapter describes a mixed-method study aimed to explore how civilians living in the line of fire over a period of 12 years experienced and perceived the impact of their exposure to warfare on their couple relationship. In the quantitative part of the study the role of couple resilience, and loss and gain of couple resources as mediators between the level of exposure and the couple relationship was explored. Data were collected from 61 individuals living next to the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip and 112 individuals living some distance from the border. The results revealed no differences between the groups on the couple relationship. However, significant differences were found between the groups in their reporting of negative, positive, and no-implications of the security threat on the couple relationship. The high exposure group reported significantly higher negative and positive implications of the security situation on the couple relationship, whereas the limited exposure group scored significantly higher on their reporting of no-implications. Couple resilience and increased couple resources were found to be mediators between level of exposure and no-implications of the security situation on the couple relationship. Couple resilience was also found to be a mediator between the level of exposure and negative implications, whereas increased couple resources was found to be a mediator between the level of exposure and positive implications. The qualitative part aimed at exploring the way couples construct their experience of the exposure to warfare, using grounded theory methodology. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews with 14 couples. Five main themes were gathered and organized into a model constituting a continuum between no impact and an adverse impact of the security situation on the couple relationship. The significance of these results to understanding couples living under ongoing external stress was discussed.
Syntax-Guided Synthesis
Authors: Alur Rajeev  , Bodik Rastislav  , Dallal Eric  , Fisman Dana  , Garg Pranav  , Juniwal Garvit  , Kress-Gazit Hadas  , Madhusudan P.  , Martin Milo M.K.  , Raghothaman Mukund  , Saha Shamwaditya  , Seshia Sanjit A.  , Singh Rishabh  , Solar-Lezama Armando  , Torlak Emina  , Udupa Abhishek
Published: February 2025

The classical formulation of the program-synthesis problem is to find a program that meets a correctness specification given as a logical formula. Recent work on program synthesis and program optimization illustrates many potential benefits of allowing the user to supplement the logical specification with a syntactic template that constrains the space of allowed implementations. Our goal is to identify the core computational problem common to these proposals in a logical framework. The input to the syntax-guided synthesis problem (SyGuS) consists of a background theory, a semantic correctness specification for the desired program given by a logical formula, and a syntactic set of candidate implementations given by a grammar. The computational problem then is to find an implementation from the set of candidate expressions so that it satisfies the specification in the given theory. We describe alternative solution strategies that combine learning, counterexample analysis and constraint solving. We report on prototype implementations, and present experimental results on the set of benchmarks collected as part of the first SyGuS-Comp competition held in July 2014.
Safety and Dependability
Authors: McDermid John A
Published: February 2025

Computers are key elements of many systems, including utilities and transportation. Such systems are reliant on software to ensure safety, i.e. to protect human life and health. It is important for designers both to achieve safety and to demonstrate that they have done so. This chapter addresses both issues, including ways of demonstrating safety using safety cases. Software also has a role in system availability, reliability, and cyber security. We use the term dependability for this broader set of system attributes; the chapter also considers how to address these attributes, and trade-offs between them, using dependability cases Finally, the chapter considers some of the emerging challenges of achieving and demonstrating the safety of systems of systems, and of autonomous systems.
Evolving Software Ecosystems A Historical and Ecological Perspective
Authors: Mens Tom
Published: February 2025

Software ecosystems are collections of interacting and communicating software projects developed by the same developer community. Dealing with the complex interaction and dynamics of these ecosystems is an important problem that raises additional challenges compared to the maintenance of individual software systems. In particular, the social aspect becomes crucial, requiring to understand evolving ecosystems as dynamic socio-technical networks. Based on software repository mining research advances, in this lecture I explore the state of the art in the empirical analysis of software ecosystems, with a focus on the evolutionary aspect. I present some of the challenges that need to be overcome during the extraction and cleaning of data obtained from different data sources (such as version control repositories, bug trackers, and mailing lists). I draw an analogy between software ecosystems and natural ecosystems, and illustrate through previously reported empirical case studies how ecological diversity metrics and econometric inequality metrics can be used to increase understanding of evolving software ecosystems from dual viewpoints. It should be noted that this article has been conceived as a work of reference. It does not provide any novel research results by itself, but rather introduces the important concepts and challenges in the field. It also provides many pointers for further reading for those researchers that wish to start working in this important research domain.
Numerical simulation of magnetic flux leakage for crack geometrical characterization based on spatial magnetic field vectors
Authors: Gao Yunlai  , Wang Ping  , Tian Guiyun
Published: February 2025

Prediction and characterization of irregular crack geometrical characters from detection signals are major challenges for electromagnetic non-destructive evaluation (ENDE). In this paper, a new approach using spatial leakage magnetic field vectors in three mutually perpendicular coordinate planes is proposed for characterization of crack geometrical features considering defect surface profile, orientation and propagation angles. New signal features of Bα, Bβand Bγextracted from leakage magnetic field in three coordinate planes of X-Y, X-Z and Y-Z are provided to improve detection sensitivity and capability for crack geometrical features evaluation. Sample including four irregular surface-breaking cracks is employed and finite element method (FEM) simulations of magnetic flux leakage (MFL) in 3D are carried out to analyze leakage magnetic field distribution and verify feasibility of the proposed approach. This approach shows competitive ability for crack shape, orientation and propagation features recognition compared with three axis components in 3D MFL. The validation of this approach for natural RCF cracks evaluation and crack dimension reconstruction is scheduled to be done in a near future.
Fast Calculation of Electromagnetic Scattering in Anisotropic Multilayers and its Inverse Problem
Authors: Rodeghiero Giacomo  , Ding Ping-Ping  , Zhong Yu  , Lambert Marc  , Lesselier Dominique
Published: February 2025

A rigorous and robust algorithm is presented for solving the electromagnetic scattering problems in the planar multilayered anisotropic and composite media. The Lippman-Schwinger integral formulation is exploited and integrated with the wave iterative technique in the derivation of the spectral-domain state equation. The presented algorithm relies on the accurate expressions of the dyadic Green's function and the introduction of polarization tensor. The Padua-Domínguez interpolation-integration technique is used for improving the computational efficiency. Then, the MUltiple SIgnal Classification (MUSIC) method is utilized for dealing with the inverse imaging problem for the planar multilayered composite structure. The validity of the presented algorithm and the effectiveness of the inverse imaging are verified through numerical examples.
Effects of Magnetic Yoke Material on Magnetic NDE using Impedance Measurement
Authors: Kikuchi Hiroaki  , Ito Fumiya
Published: February 2025

The effect of magnetic yoke properties on the results of the magnetic NDE using impedance measurement was investigated. The measurement impedance depends on the yoke materials, thus, an estimation of initial permeability of specimen evaluated from the obtained impedance profile is required, because the initial permeability of the specimen has good correlation with mechanical properties and microstructures. We can calculate the impedance profile on the basis of equivalent magnetic circuit analysis, and therefore, we can estimate an initial permeability of specimens from the experimental results with comparing calculation with experimental results.
Investigation of Pulsed Eddy Current Testing of Flaws in Ferromagnetic and Non-ferromagnetic Metals
Authors: Zhou Deqiang  , Wu Jialong  , Li Yong  , Wang Jun  , You Lihua  , Zhang Hong  , An Wei
Published: February 2025

Aiming at detection of defects in ferromagnetic and non-ferromagnetic metals, the finite element models of circular probes with vacuum and non-vacuum shieldings were built. In the presence of flaws, distribution of eddy currents and magnetic field for two kinds of metal materials were simulated. The validity of simulation analysis was demonstrated by experimental results. The results show that the pulsed eddy current with vacuum magnetic shielding can improve effectively the sensitivity on surface defects of ferromagnetic metals. However, it is not obvious that it is incapable of improving the sensitivity of the non-ferromagnetic metal defects and internal defects of ferromagnetic metal defects.
Study on Polarized Beam Detecting Damage for the First Wall of Tokamak Fusion Reactor
Authors: Qi Junli  , Ma Xiaomin  , Han Jiajia  , Yang Jinghong  , Deng Haifei  , Wu Yunzhi  , Xu Yao  , Wang Rongfei  , Wang Weihua
Published: February 2025

Based on the polarization characteristics of a metal object, the experiment system of polarized beam detecting first wall damage was established. The polarization information variety of the same incident beam reflecting from different metals, including the degree of polarization (DOP), polarization azimuth and ellipicity, was studied. It is found that the DOP and polarization ellipicity can be used to detect different roughness degree Ra and regular degree of the measured surface.
Study on the Effect of Steel Support Plate during Electromagnetic Detection for In-Service Ferromagnetic Nuclear Pipe
Authors: Yang Yun  , Li Long  , He Miao  , Kang Yihua
Published: February 2025

Based on the electromagnetic detection technology inside of the ferromagnetic nuclear pipe, this paper theoretically analyzed the change of the magnetization state of pipe wall caused by steel support plate and studied the redistribution mechanism of the MFL (magnetic flux leakage) of defect that lies underneath the support plate. ANSYS modeling and simulation were used to analyze the MFL distribution characteristics of different located transverse defects which lay outside surface of the pipe and also underneath the support plate. Furthermore, verification experiments were finished with MFL inner detector which was realized by permanent magnet magnetization in consideration of the specificity of nuclear pipe with small diameter and thin wall. Simulation and experimental results show that the leakage magnetic field signal of defect is greatly reduced dues to the existence of support plate, besides, as the distance between the center of defect and support plate increases, the defect signal increases gradually.
Optimized Eddy Current Testing Frequency for Deformed 304 Austenitic Stainless Steel
Authors: Hu Bin  , Liu Yinghua  , Wan Benli
Published: February 2025

Eddy current testing is commonly applied on austenitic stainless steel. 304 austenitic stainless steel always deforms during the process of manufacture or in service. The undesired deformation creates ferrite and martensite which causes a change of permeability. In that case, the non-magnetic austenitic stainless steel turns to be ferromagnetic. Thus, the needed eddy current testing frequency needs to be changed too. Experimental results show that when the deformation of 304 stainless steel specimens is less than 20%, the permeability of specimens increased and shown magnetic properties of ferromagnetic materials. Therefore, the skin depth of eddy current testing decreases and the optimal excitation frequency is no longer the best. The eddy current signal characteristics with different frequency had been studied which got from austenitic stainless steel specimen with a groove. The result shows that the best testing frequency varies with content of martensite. This paper discusses the algorithm of acquiring optimal testing frequency and demonstrates the frequency range can be achieved in the limited deformed range.
Analysis of Pulsed Eddy Current Testing for Ferromagnetic Metallic Materials with Flat-Bottom Hole Defect
Authors: Zhang Qing  , Wu Xinjun  , Li Jian  , Sun Pengfei
Published: February 2025

An analytical modeling is presented for the axially symmetric pulsed eddy currents produced by the driver coil in a ferromagnetic plate with a flat-bottom hole (FBH) defect. The induced voltage in the pickup coil calculated by the analytical model has been compared with signal calculated by numerical model. The results show good agreement.
The case for superelliptic curves
Authors: Beshaj L.  , Shaska T.  , Zhupa E.
Published: February 2025

There is a natural question to ask whether the rich mathematical theory of the hyperelliptic curves can be extended to all superelliptic curves. Moreover, one wonders if all of the applications of hyperelliptic curves such as cryptography, mathematical physics, quantum computation, diophantine geometry, etc can carry over to the superelliptic curves. In this short paper we make the case that the superelliptic curves are exactly the curves that one should study.
Sato-Tate groups of genus 2 curves
Authors: Kedlaya Kiran S.
Published: February 2025

We describe the analogue of the Sato-Tate conjecture for an abelian variety over a number field; this predicts that the zeta functions of the reductions over various finite fields, when properly normalized, have a limiting distribution predicted by a certain group-theoretic construction related to Hodge theory, Galois images, and endomorphisms. After making precise the definition of the Sato-Tate group appearing in this conjecture, we describe the classification of Sato-Tate groups of abelian surfaces due to Fité–Kedlaya–Rotger–Sutherland.
Rational points on Jacobians of hyperelliptic curves
Authors: Müller Jan Steffen
Published: February 2025

We describe how to prove the Mordell-Weil theorem for Jacobians of hyperelliptic curves over ${\mathbb{Q}}$ and how to compute the rank and generators for the Mordell-Weil group.
Graph based cubical multivariate maps and their cryptographical applications
Authors: Klisowski Michał  , Ustimenko Vasyl
Published: February 2025

Encryption based on Walks in Algebraic GRAphs (EWAGRA) is used for protection of authors’ rights, access to electronic books or documents located at certain knowledge base (Information Quality Assurance Support Systems of a university, digital library supporting distance education, various digital archivas and etc). The method allows to generate nonlinear stream ciphers, which have some similarity with a one-time pad: different keys produce distinct ciphertexts from the same plaintext. In contrast to the case of a one-time pad the length of the key is flexible and the encryption map is a nonlinear polynomial map, which order is growing with the growth of the dimension n of the plainspace. The encryption has good resistance to attacks of the adversary when he has no access to plaintext space or has rather small number intercepted plaintext–ciphertext pairs. It is known that encryption and decryption maps are cubical maps. So, interception of n3+ o(n) plaintext–ciphertext pairs allows to conduct a plain linearisation attack for finding the inverse map. We consider the idea of modification of this encryption algorithm after sending each message without use key exchange protocols. So the new algorithm is resistant to plain linearisation attacks. Additionally, we observe some new multivariate El Gamal type cryptosystems and cryptosystems based on highly nonlinear modifications of graph bases cubical maps
Weight distributions, zeta functions and Riemann hypothesis for linear and algebraic geometry codes
Authors: Elezi Artur  , Shaska Tony
Published: February 2025

This is a survey on weight enumerators, zeta functions and Riemann hypothesis for linear and algebraic-geometry codes.
Theta functions of superelliptic curves
Authors: Beshaj Lubjana  , Elezi Artur  , Shaska Tony
Published: February 2025

In this short survey we give a description of the theta functions of algebraic curves, half-integer theta-nulls, and the fundamental theta functions. We describe how to determine such fundamental theta functions and describe the components of the moduli space in terms of such functions. Several open problems are suggested.
CALCULENG: Towards an Intelligent Environment for the Teaching and Learning of Calculus
Authors: Davis Mastaneh  , Dhanbhoora Jeraze  , Hunter Gordon  , Wiesyk Wioleta
Published: February 2025

Development of proficiency in mathematics is an essential aspect of many higher education programmes of study. This applies both to specialist mathematics students, and students of many other disciplines, including engineering, most natural sciences and some social/human sciences, business and commercial subjects. Students' knowledge of and expertise in mathematics (or lack thereof), at least at an elementary level, can have a major impact on many other areas of their studies and their subsequent career prospects. However, mathematics is an area which many students find difficult, particularly those from “non-traditional” academic backgrounds, including disabled and mature students, and they often do not realise its relevance and importance to their other courses, nor do they (or can they) devote as much time or effort as they perhaps ideally should, and face to face tutorial support is often limited. In this paper, we describe the design, development and initial evaluation of CalculEng, a system to offer such tutorial support for learning differential and integral calculus – primarily aimed at Engineering students. This system provides structured questions, which are automatically marked, with the aid of a Computer Algebra System, and intelligent, relevant feedback – based on the mistakes made by the student – provided. At present, this feedback is hard-coded using expert-entered rules. However, ways in which the system could be made to intelligently learn patterns of common student errors, and offer feedback accordingly, are being investigated. Our resources should be of particular benefit to students who, due to disabilities or family commitments, may have difficultly attending classes in person.
A Pilot Study of Using Mobile Platforms (WeChat and WeLearn) in College English Curriculum
Authors: Guo Min  , Wang Minjuan  , Sun Hong
Published: February 2025

Wechat, a mobile application software with functions of communication, social interaction, and platform architecture, is widely used among college students in China and has constructed a new mobile learning support environment. By analyzing the features of Wechat and Welearn and examining related studies, we discuss how to integrate Wechat-based mobile learning into the College English curriculum in Higher-Educational Institutions of China.
gPhysics – Using Google Glass as Experimental Tool for Wearable-Technology Enhanced Learning in Physics
Authors: Kuhn Jochen  , Lukowicz Paul  , Hirth Michael  , Weppner Jens
Published: February 2025

In this paper we argue that to be viable outside specialized domains (e.g., industrial maintenance) HMDs must be seen as part of a broader concept we refer to as Head-Centered, Context-Aware Computing. Therefore we present a fully functional application prototype gPhysics app which is based on the Google Glass platform and designed to perform an educational physical experiment in the area of acoustics. The initial application is intended for students whose task is to find the relationship between the frequency of the sound generated by hitting a glass of water and the amount of water in the glass. With this experiment, we discuss the possibilities for sensing and interaction in the head/face area. The method described here takes previous research into new directions with the specific features provided by Google Glass. We present a concrete example of our research towards a vision of head-centered computing by discussing a Google Glass app for supporting experiments in physics teacher education training and in high-school physics classes. In a first study discussed in this paper, we focus on the implementation of Google Glass as an experimental tool in undergraduate regular physics teacher education courses. Based on the theoretical framework of the Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning (CTML; Mayer, 2005) and the Cognitive Load Theory (CLT; Chandler & Sweller, 1991), we study the variables curiosity and cognitive load in an experimental intervention-control-group design using the nonparametric Mann-Whitney test for independent random samples. The findings indicate that curiosity is indeed affected by the app and device use, while the cognitive load does not differ significantly between the two groups.
Assessment of Task Engagement using Brain Computer Interface Technology
Authors: McCullagh Paul  , Lightbody Gaye  , Galway Leo  , Brennan Chris  , Trainor David
Published: February 2025

The electrical activity of the brain can be quantified by measuring the electroencephalogram (EEG), a technology that underpins emerging commercial Brain Computer Interface (BCI) devices. The EEG can be used to directly assess measures of brain function: sensory, motor and cognitive processes. In this paper we assess the readiness of this technology for application to teaching and learning. We propose a hybrid BCI methodology that can be used to gather EEG metrics during an immersive control task. The changes in EEG provide objective measures regarding user engagement with the task. When used in conjunction with eye tracking technology, a hybrid BCI offers the potential of exploring learning at a more granular level.
Virtual Worlds for 3D Visualizations
Authors: Pirker Johanna  , Gütl Christian
Published: February 2025

This paper presents an analysis and discussion of visual information representations in multi-user avatar-based 3D virtual worlds. We discuss benefits and issues of such environments for displaying scientific and information visualizations. In comparison to traditional two-dimensional representation forms, virtual worlds can be used to display more dimensions of information and illustrate data with real-world metaphors. Additionally, their collaborative and social character allows new ways to explore and experience visualizations. However, the design, implementation, and integration of three-dimensional visual representations in such environments are more challenging than for 2D representations. Thus, only a few visualization forms are reasonable. In this paper we reflect on implications for more useful 3D visualizations and introduce and discuss these on own examples.
Tweedback goes Smart Watch — Why Classroom Response Systems Need Smart Watch User Interfaces
Authors: Cap Clemens H.  , Delfs Christian  , Vetterick Jonas
Published: February 2025

We present classroom response systems (CRS) of the second generation, which are using mobile devices of students. We describe their communicative advantages and aspects of their user interfaces. We explain the requirements for a novel user interface for the lecturer and suggest how smart watches may provide a solution to this problem.
What characteristics of the gamers' profile should be taken into account in player-centred game design?
Authors: Herodotou Christothea  , Kambouri Maria  , Winters Niall
Published: February 2025

In this paper, we introduce the theory of trait Emotional Intelligence (‘trait EI’) as a personality theory that could assist in exemplifying the gamers' profile and contribute to the design of player-center game experiences. Data from two studies (a game-specific and a game-general one) led to a number of player-centered playability principles that could inform the design of adaptable games and games targeting specific gaming audiences. The gamers' emotional characteristics were found to be of prominent importance to the design of good games.
Blended Learning and the Flipped Classroom: The affordances of cloud based, located, and virtual world environments to support student learning
Authors: Grenfell Janette
Published: February 2025

In this paper the author reports on the introduction of the flipped classroom integrating located, online and virtual world learning environments to support the collaborative lived experiences of a group of students and the educator participating in a higher education undergraduate art unit, Navigating the Visual World. A qualitative narrative methodology, A/r/tography, incorporating both image making and textual recording is used to explore and identify interwoven aspects of the artist/ researcher/ educator relationship in the creative artistic process of exploring concepts of identity within inquiry based art practice. Selected student examples, including a collaborative group assessment project demonstrate effective student engagement with experiential blended learning within the flipped classroom.
Advancing Physics Learning Through Traversing a Multi-Modal Experimentation Space
Authors: Kuhn Jochen  , Nussbaumer Alexander  , Pirker Johanna  , Karatzas Dimosthenis  , Pagani Alain  , Conlan Owen  , Memmel Martin  , Steiner Christina M.  , Gütl Christian  , Albert Dietrich  , Dengel Andreas
Published: February 2025

Translating conceptual knowledge into real world experiences presents a significant educational challenge. This position paper presents an approach that supports learners in moving seamlessly between conceptual learning and their application in the real world by bringing physical and virtual experiments into everyday settings. Learners are empowered in conducting these situated experiments in a variety of physical settings by leveraging state of the art mobile, augmented reality, and virtual reality technology. A blend of mobile-based multi-sensory physical experiments, augmented reality and enabling virtual environments can allow learners to bridge their conceptual learning with tangible experiences in a completely novel manner. This approach focuses on the learner by applying self-regulated personalised learning techniques, underpinned by innovative pedagogical approaches and adaptation techniques, to ensure that the needs and preferences of each learner are catered for individually.
Evaluation of a dynamic role-playing platform for simulations based on Octalysis gamification framework
Authors: Economou Daphne  , Doumanis Ioannis  , Pedersen Frands  , Kathrani Paresh  , Mentzelopoulos Markos  , Bouki Vassiliki
Published: February 2025

The use of serious games (SG) in education and their pedagogical benefit is being widely recognized. However, effective integration of SGs in education depends on addressing two big challenges: successful incorporation of motivation and engagement that can lead to learning; and high cost and specialised skills associated with customised development to achieve the required pedagogical results. This paper presents a SG platform that offers tools to educators to dynamically create three dimensional (3D) scenes and verbal and non-verbal interaction with fully embodied conversational agents (ECA) that can be used to simulate numerous educational scenarios. We then evaluate the effectiveness of the platform in terms of supporting the creation of motivating and engaging educational simulations based on the Octalysis gamification framework. The latter includes a number of game design elements that can be used as appropriate in the optimization of the experience in each phase of the player's journey. We conclude with directions of the further extension to our platform to address the aforementioned gamification framework, as well as directions for further development of the Octalysis framework.
A Preliminary Study of a Probabilistic Risk-based Approach for Ambient Intelligence Healthcare Systems
Authors: Cicotti Giuseppe  , Coronato Antonio
Published: February 2025

The Ambient Intelligence (AmI) paradigm applied to the healthcare sector is a promising solution to develop software-based systems capable of supporting medical procedures and activities carried out in a close, high-regulated, and complex healthcare environment. An AmI Healthcare System (AmI-HS) which may impact on the health and life of its users (i.e. doctors, caregivers, patients, etc.) is considered as a Medical Device (MDs), and thus subject to pass through a cumbersome risk-based regulatory process which evaluates and certifies the system safety before it is put on the market. Thus, a human-centred risk analysis is of paramount importance to establish the safety level of an AmI-HS.
Cultivating Regional Maritime Security: Swedish-Finnish Naval Cooperation in the Baltic Sea
Authors: Lundqvist Stefan  , Widen J.J.
Published: February 2025

Maritime security is increasingly important for the coastal states of the Baltic Sea, which collaborate on sea surveillance in pursuit of maritime domain awareness. Finland and Sweden operate a bilateral system and assume lead roles in multilateral projects; Russia’s increasingly aggressive behavior has led them to substantially deepen their defense cooperation by creating a standing bilateral Naval Task Group. We examine this cooperation from a security policy perspective. For the project to succeed, it must operate in harmony with other cooperative strategies and it will also require substantial legislative changes. If Finland and Sweden succeed in adopting new policies, common structures, and organizational norms in their navies, a deep integration is conceivable.
Comprehensive Gene- and Pathway-Based Analysis of Depressive Symptoms in Older Adults
Authors: Nho Kwangsik  , Ramanan Vijay K.  , Horgusluoglu Emrin  , Kim Sungeun  , Inlow Mark H.  , Risacher Shannon L.  , McDonald Brenna C.  , Farlow Martin R.  , Foroud Tatiana M.  , Gao Sujuan  , Callahan Christopher M.  , Hendrie Hugh C.  , Niculescu Alexander B.  , Saykin Andrew J.
Published: February 2025

Depressive symptoms are common in older adults and are particularly prevalent in those with or at elevated risk for dementia. Although the heritability of depression is estimated to be substantial, single nucleotide polymorphism-based genome-wide association studies of depressive symptoms have had limited success. In this study, we performed genome-wide gene- and pathway-based analyses of depressive symptom burden. Study participants included non-Hispanic Caucasian subjects (n=6,884) from three independent cohorts, the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI), the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), and the Indiana Memory and Aging Study (IMAS). Gene-based meta-analysis identified genome-wide significant associations (ANGPT4 and FAM110A, q-value=0.026; GRM7-AS3 and LRFN5, q-value=0.042). Pathway analysis revealed enrichment of association in 105 pathways, including multiple pathways related to ERK/MAPK signaling, GSK3 signaling in bipolar disorder, cell development, and immune activation and inflammation. GRM7, ANGPT4, and LRFN5 have been previously implicated in psychiatric disorders, including the GRM7 region displaying association with major depressive disorder. The ERK/MAPK signaling pathway is a known target of antidepressant drugs and has important roles in neuronal plasticity, and GSK3 signaling has been previously implicated in Alzheimer's disease and as a promising therapeutic target for depression. Our results warrant further investigation in independent and larger cohorts and add to the growing understanding of the genetics and pathobiology of depressive symptoms in aging and neurodegenerative disorders. In particular, the genes and pathways demonstrating association with depressive symptoms may be potential therapeutic targets for these symptoms in older adults.
Using the “Model-based Systems Engineering” Technique for Multidisciplinary System Development
Authors: Eckl Carolin  , Brandstätter Markus  , Stjepandić Josip
Published: February 2025

“Model-based Systems Engineering” is currently a hot topic at INCOSE (International Council on Systems Engineering). It involves multidisciplinary development based on the usage of models as main artifact. The frequent use of models during the development of the pico-satellite MOVE (Munich Orbital Verification Experiment) was attributed to the long history of the chair for astronautics at the TU München with Systems Engineering. The development of MOVE displayed many of the characteristics of a real-world multidisciplinary engineering project and resulted in a successful space flight of the engineered satellite. Within the satellite, communication was lead through a central bus between the different components and required expertise and coordination from all of the involved disciplines. An equivalent task of distributing information and energy can be found in automotive engineering: in the wire-harness. In contrast to the satellite bus, it does not distribute centrally created coordination commands, but supports the orchestration between distributed systems. Even though these two systems and their development processes are inherently different, they exhibit similar difficulties during their design phase (e.g. with compatibility) and can be modeled similarly. This paper uses the design of satellite bus systems and automotive wire-harnesses as examples, describes their common pitfalls, explains “Model-based Systems Engineering” and demonstrates how the development of communication systems in both satellite and automotive engineering can benefit from relying on it in early design and concept phases.
Model-Based Variant Management with v.control
Authors: Junk Christopher  , Rößger Robert  , Rock Georg  , Theis Karsten  , Weidenbach Christoph  , Wischnewski Patrick
Published: February 2025

Manufacturers of products that are instances of variants out of a complex product portfolio have learnt that a rigid process management is mandatory to meet today's standards of quality. An important part are processes that aim at mastering variant complexity. v.control supports these by providing for the first time both a complex product model able to represent detailed engineering, manufacturing, logistics, finance and marketing data in the very same model and a workbench of provably mathematically correct and rigid analysis tools.You want to know whether product changes performed by different engineers are compatible? Press a button and v.control guarantees consistency of all product variants. You want to know whether all your products suggested by marketing can actually be build? Press a button and v.control checks your portfolio and detects problematic variants. You are searching for a product meeting partial customer requirements and being optimal in profit? Press a button and v.control provides the optimal product cash cow. You want to make sure that your product portfolio meets future environmental regulations? Press a button and v.control identifies opportunities. You want to engineer shared parts of your product line to meet manufacturing inventory requirements? Press a button and v.control designs an optimal solution. This paper presents a detailed overview of the functionality of v.control as well as typical industrial applications successfully conducted with the help of v.control. It addresses current research in the field of complexity management, variability management and SAT-solving and their functional integration within v.control.
View Specific Visualization of Proofs for the Analysis of Variant Development Structures
Authors: Grumbach Lisa
Published: February 2025

The importance of variant development structures has increased continuously over the past few years. Nowadays the keyword is mass customization. Manufacturers have to satisfy the personal needs of their clients to keep up with competitors. Individual wishes and increasing demands of customers require the possibility of flexible and nearly limitless adaptations of a product. The result is a diversity of variants in one product line. Issues occur during the development of the corresponding development structures that were related to the complexity of the arising product data. Not only the amount of functionality and therefore individual components is rising, but also the interrelationships among the single components are getting more complex. The number of new evolving variants once a feature is added increases in the worst case exponentially. The resulting complexity cannot be handled manually. Thus, a formal logic based approach has to be used to describe the underlying variability model of the product structure. These formal specifications provide a basis for algorithms, which analyse the structures in terms of finding all kinds of errors like inconsistencies or dead features. Such results include formal proofs, which reason about the derivation of the found errors. As the users who construct and manage the development structures typically have no expert knowledge about formal languages and proofs, the analysis output has to be represented in a role and user-specific way. The presented work concentrates on an approach to visualize the formal results in an understandable, adaptable and user-oriented fashion. Different concepts are elaborated, which cover the information needs of specific user groups to match their respective knowledge level. As feature models are used to represent variant development structures in a simple and compact manner, they are used as a basic visualization technique. Other views represent the proof, in fact a resolution graph, a proof tree and a proof step. One possibility to understand the proof is to simulate through the individual steps. Each of the features and relationships, which play a role in the current step, are highlighted in the feature model. The mapping between proof steps and features and their relationships simplifies the comprehension. Based on these concepts a prototype is implemented, whose functionality respects the common human computer interaction requirements. To conclude, the result is summarized and prospects on future increments, further concepts and possible improvements are given.
Mass Properties Management in Aircraft Development Process: Problems and Opportunities
Authors: De Paula Vera  , Rozenfeld Henrique
Published: February 2025

The product development is a challenging process for any product. However, as aircraft are highly complex and should comply with a multiplicity of interconnected requirements, their design process represents an outstanding challenge. Hence, among the various requirements to be met by a new aircraft, there are cost, performance and sustainability requirements. The mass properties of the aircraft are related to the fulfillment of these three requirements, so it is crucial that realistic estimate of aircraft mass properties be used during early conceptual design, and that it be strictly controlled during later stages. The main mass properties of an aircraft are: weight, center of gravity, moments and products of inertia. The Mass Properties Management (MPM) is an iterative process that has to deal with information in the lowest level of the system and yet be robust enough to answer in the aircraft level, it shall provide accurate and timely mass properties data for design optimization decisions. The main objective of this work is to analyze the MPM problems and solutions encountered during the aircraft development, and identify opportunities and propose best practices for MPM process improvement. A synthesis of literature review and the analysis of an exploratory case study applied in an aeronautical development company were conducted and the primary result is the understanding of the mass properties relationship within the aircraft development process, considering its main perspectives: activities and deliverables, roles and responsibilities, goals and tools. This is a descriptive research and the methodology adopted is the longitudinal participatory case study, since one of the authors has been participating of the MPM during an aircraft development process for three years. A synthesis of the MPM theory is proposed in form of a process reference model to represent the perspective mentioned, in order to allow comparing it with the findings of the case study. Research instruments used were a logbook and a questionnaire for interviewing major stakeholders of the product development process. The findings of this work highlight the differences between MPM theory and practices, mainly considering technical integration, strategy and responsibilities in the aircraft development process.
Product Development Model Oriented for R&D Projects of the Brazilian Electricity Sector – MOR&D: A Case Study
Authors: Pereira João Adalberto  , Canciglieri Júnior Osíris  , Lazzaretti André Eugênio
Published: February 2025

The current article reaffirms MOR&D as a practical application through a case study in order to propose a production line design for a device that was created and developed previously in R&D projects within the R&D ANEEL (National Electric Energy Agency) Program. The lack of specific methodological models for product development in R&D projects in the Brazilian electricity sector generated the need for this specific knowledge. From a comprehensive research about respectable models of product development, the authors developed a suitable model for planning designs framed within the R&D Program of Brazilian Electric Sector regulated by ANEEL. The developed model promotes integration and dynamism between development stages and multidisciplinary teams. The model, named MOR&D, is comprehensive enough to meet the most types of R&D projects assigned to the R&D ANEEL Program and contains the main recurring concepts in product development, reason of its flexibility and adaptability.