bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ultrafast 2D-IR Vibration Echo Spectroscopy of Proteins
Authors: Ishikawa Haruto  , Kim Seongheun  , Finkelstein Ilya J.  , Fayer Michael. D.
Published: February 2025

The investigation of protein structural dynamics on short time scales (100 fs to 100 ps) using ultrafast two dimensional (2D-IR) vibrational echo spectroscopy is presented. Under thermal equilibrium conditions, a protein's structure is constantly fluctuating among conformations associated with different positions on the broad rough minimum on the free energy landscape. Although different conformational substates may be apparent in a vibrational absorption spectrum, linear IR absorption spectra cannot provide information on structural dynamics because dynamical information is masked by inhomogeneous broadening of the lineshapes. 2D-IR vibrational echo spectroscopy makes structural fluctuations a direct experimental observable. Changes in structure manifest themselves through the time evolution of the 2D-IR line shape (spectral diffusion). Here details of the experimental method including the pulse sequence, heterodyne detection to provide full phase information, and the extraction of the molecular dynamics from 2D-IR spectra are outlined. The method and the nature of the information that can be obtained are illustrated with four examples: the influence of mutations on myoglobin dynamics, differences between the dynamics of neuroglobin and myoglobin, the effect of the disulfide bond in neuroglobin on its structural dynamics, and how substrate binding to the enzyme horseradish peroxidase influences its structural fluctuations.
Urban Water Governance as Part of a Strategy for Risk Mitigation, What is Different in Third World Cities?
Authors: Van Dijk Meine Pieter
Published: February 2025

Climate change and other challenges force cities to reconsider their governance structure. Are they ready to deal with the consequences of flooding, more rain or sea level rise? After presenting one approach to dealing with such urban issues in an integrated way, a classification of risks is presented, focusing in particular on what that means for Third World cities. Current governance structures are often not able to deal with these challenges, which require reform and appropriate decision making structures. Some proposals are made for such structures. The issue is illustrated for China and Ghana. In the latter case the strategic directions for integrated urban water management are developed in cooperation with a group of concerned local experts.
Command or Cooperate? Rethinking Traditional Central Governments' Hazard Mitigation Policies
Authors: Burby Raymond J.  , May Peter J.
Published: February 2025

In this chapter we compare and evaluate two systems of governance for planning and managing urban development in areas at risk from natural hazards. Command-and-control systems feature a high degree of prescription and coercion by higher-level governments to put in place local planning processes that emphasize technical rationality in identifying and overcoming barriers to mitigation. Cooperative systems feature a high degree of flexibility and use of incentives by higher-level governments to put in place local planning processes that emphasize communicative rationality by increasing community understanding of and political support for safe development patterns and building standards. Our empirical analysis of planning systems in the United States and Australia finds merit in aspects of each system. We conclude that hybrid central government mandates are needed to harness the ability of command-and-control policy designs to bring about local government participation in hazard mitigation planning with the ability of cooperative designs to build community understanding of problems and support for their solution.
Use of Emerging InSAR and LiDAR Remote Sensing Technologies to Anticipate and Monitor Critical Natural Hazards
Authors: Necsoiu Marius  , Hooper Donald
Published: February 2025

Recent advances in geospatial technologies, including InSAR and LiDAR, are improving our ability to reduce the potentially disastrous consequences of natural hazards. While some physical limits ultimately constrain what information on surface and subsurface conditions can be obtained from remote sensors, technological advances continue to improve quality, quantity, and diversity of remote sensing data. This chapter provides several examples of remote sensing technologies that could be used to anticipate and monitor hazards from volcanoes, earthquakes, and landslides. We then briefly examine emerging trends in remote sensing in the next decade, such as the global availability of these data, existing and planned major international collaborations and data-sharing partnerships, and data interpretation and dissemination.
Patterns of Risk: Spatial Planning as a Strategy for the Mitigation of Risk from Natural Hazards
Authors: Etkin David
Published: February 2025

The mitigation of natural hazards requires an understanding of how risk is distributed, both geographically and socially. Fundamental to this is the notion that aspects of risk are socially constructed, and therefore this paper explores the subject from both data and conceptual perspectives. These risk patterns evolve over time due to the changing structure of social-economic, demographic and constructed systems, and also due to changes in the physical environment. Risk must therefore be viewed as a constantly changing dynamic system. A review of the literature suggests that risk is increasing in some very significant ways, and that mitigation strategies should pay close attention to those trends if they are to be effective.
On Exposure to Natural Hazards: Revisiting a Neglected Primal Action
Authors: Fra Paleo Urbano
Published: February 2025

Escalating human and material losses produced by natural hazards point to a failure not only in risk governance but also to a lack of success in human adaptation to environmental conditions. The effort made in developing our system of response to disasters has diverted attention away from the root causes of risk. This paper examines the nature and drivers of risk exposure in order to develop a framework for analysis and to achieve more effective governance. Risk transference between agents and historical exposure, the satisfaction of basic needs and economic wants, and poor risk knowledge have been identified as key drivers. The concept of exposure challenges the complementary notion of vulnerability elaborated by scholars and practitioners from various disciplines. In this context, exposure implies a potential for loss, while vulnerability implies the potential for differential loss.
Classifying Collective Motion
Authors: Wood Zena  , Galton Antony
Published: February 2025

Collective phenomena and their associated movement patterns are ubiquitous in everyday life. However, formal reasoning about these phenomena is currently hampered by the lack of adequate tools. We have previously developed a classification of collectives but this is incomplete with regards to movement and therefore needs to be integrated with a classification of collective motion. This paper analyses existing research into the movement patterns of collectives. Although there has been some research into the movement patterns of particular kinds of collectives, most of this is found to focus on the level of the individuals; vital information about the collective is lost. Existing research that focuses on movement patterns improves on this but still leaves many questions unanswered and important features of collectives unable to be represented. Therefore, we develop a list of goals which we believe a classification of collective motion needs to satisfy, and introduce the foundations of a system that we believe will satisfy these goals. We hope that this work will provide a sound basis for the development and formalisation of a comprehensive classification of collectives and their motions.
The Praxis of Cognitive Assistance in Smart Homes
Authors: Giroux Sylvain  , Leblanc Tatjana  , Bouzouane Abdenour  , Bouchard Bruno  , Pigot Hélène  , Bauchet Jérémy
Published: February 2025

The current and prospective situation of cognitively impaired people entails great human, social, and economical costs. Smart homes can help to maintain at home cognitively impaired people, to improve their autonomy, and accordingly to alleviate the burden put on informal and professional caregivers. This chapter will provide a comprehensive view of the research performed at DOMUS lab. This research aims at turning the whole home into a cognitive prosthetic, especially by providing cognitive assistance. The first part of the chapter presents research on the infrastructure, both sensors networks and middleware. Research work on autonomic computing, multi-person localization, context awareness, and personalization are presented. The next part of the chapter illustrates by means of DOMUS research prototypes how cognitive assistance can help to address four kinds of cognitive deficits: initiation, attention, planning, and memory. Studies involving cognitively impaired people are also be presented. In the final part of the chapter, the role of AI, context awareness and behavior tracking are questioned. To what extend are they compulsory? Does design can provide smart and simple solutions to complex issues?
Cloud Computing for on-Demand Grid Resource Provisioning
Authors: Llorente Ignacio M.  , Moreno-Vozmediano Rafael  , Montero Rubén S.
Published: February 2025

The use of virtualization, along with an efficient virtual machine management, creates a new virtualization layer that isolates the service workload from the resource management. The integration of the cloud within the virtualization layer, can be used to support on-demand resource provisioning, providing elasticity in modern Internet-based services and applications, and allowing to adapt dynamically the service capacity to variable user demands. Cluster and grid computing environments are two examples of services which can obtain a great benefit from these technologies. Virtualization can be used to transform a distributed physical infrastructure into a flexible and elastic virtual infrastructure, separating resource provisioning from job execution management, and adapting dynamically the cluster or grid size to the users' computational demands. In particular, in this paper we analyze the deployment of a computing cluster on top of a virtualized infrastructure layer, which combines a local virtual machine manager (the OpenNebula engine) and a cloud resource provider (Amazon EC2). The solution is evaluated using the NAS Grid Benchmarks in terms of processing overhead due to virtualization, communication overhead due to the management of nodes across different geographic locations, and elasticity in the cluster processing capacity.
Protecting Critical Information Infrastructures: Domestic Experience and Competencies of the Postal and Communication Service of the Italian National Police
Authors: Vulpiani Domenico  , Staro Sergio
Published: February 2025

The Postal and Communications Police Service is the central agency of the Italian National Police that has been entrusted with the prevention of and response to the various and multiple forms of cyber crime; approximately 2000 officers are located throughout the Italian territory. The protection of national critical information infrastructures (hereafter C.I.I.) that support and operate the vital points of the community has recently been added to its competences. The possibility that the security of a countrymay be compromised by cyber attacks on C.I.I. of terrorist or criminal nature, represents a real threat that is presently felt at both the national and international level. In Italy, in particular, a twofold solution had to be reached; firstly, the prevention of and response to any type of cyber crimes against C.I.I. computer systems and networks; secondly, the exclusive assignment of this task to a specialized agency. In fact, art. 7 bis of Law 155 of 31.07.2005 states that the exclusive competence of protecting the critical information infrastructures of national relevance is devolved upon the Postal and Communications Police Service. Following the enactment of the Minister of the Interior's Decree on 09.01.2008, a National Cyber Crime Centre for the Protection of Critical Information Infrastructures (Italian acronym, CNAIPIC) was instituted within the Postal and Communications Police Service. This Centre is equipped with high technology resources and staffed with highly skilled personnel, and will be the sole office in charge of the prevention of and response to cybercrimes (common crimes, organized crime and terrorism) targeting national critical information infrastructures that have institutional functions or provide operating or controlling services strategic to the security and prosperity of the country.
Intrusion in a Mission Critical Network: A Tutorial on Intrusion Detection Systems and Intrusion Prevention Systems
Authors: Sgobbi Dario A.M.  , Paggio Marco
Published: February 2025

Both Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) and Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS) are technologies that will help to enhance the security environment of private sector companies and government agencies. These technologies provide visibility and also offer many other benefits related to the network monitoring activity. The IDS and IPS provide the real time monitoring of network activity, while contemporaneously consenting for the relevant information to be stored in order to perform data analysis and/or reporting at a later date. In the decision-making process, visibility has an important role since it allows a security policy, based on quantifiable real world data, to be envisaged. The Intrusion Detection technologies, and, specifically, the host-based and network-based technologies, are divided into two categories depending on which technique is used to detect security events. The first is the Anomaly-Based technology, which is based upon behaviour, and the second is the Signature-Based technology, which is based upon knowledge. IPS and IDS technologies are only two of the many resources that can be deployed to increase visibility and control in a complex and critical network infrastructure. With these two technologies, the network will have a perimeter and core defence that can combat zero day attacks and counter existing threats, as well as being able to render activity in the internal network visible and be capable of providing forensic analyses.
A World-Wide Financial Infrastructure to Confront Cyber Terrorism
Authors: Campobasso Paolo
Published: February 2025

Considering that one of the most dynamic and attractive segments of the commercial world is the financial sector, it naturally becomes a favourite target for information warfare, due to the direct impact an attack on this sector could have on economic stability. Our reliance on infrastructures that support the use of information is subject both to being used for violence itself or to being the target of violent acts; industries such as broadcasting, or banks, stock markets, and telecommunication companies are dependant on technologies and a disruption of their systems can potentially cause serious harm to basic societal interests. All corporate leaders must be aware of the diversity of potential attacks and should plan and implement measures to defend their organisations. In order to assure secure information exchange between business partners, it is mandatory that all involved parties secure their business environments by implementing the appropriate security measures. There is need for international response wherein the authorities and organisations alike use military expertise as consultancy or knowledge transfer in order to establish appropriate frameworks.
A Cyber Security Approach for Smart Meters at ERDF
Authors: Sitbon Pascal
Published: February 2025

In this article, we discuss the cyber security approach taken by ERDF (Electricité Réseau Distribution France) as a preliminary step in its smart meters deployment project. First, we focus on the emerging risks introduced by the new technologies and their usages. Then, we explain how and why we have to define high-level security objectives independently of the technical solutions, and conclude by emphasising the committed involvement needed from the whole metering community and supply-chain in order to achieve these objectives.
Pathways to Jihad. Radicalisation and the case of Pakistan: A way forward?
Authors: Bokhari Laila
Published: February 2025

The aim of this chapter is to review some of the issues relevant to radicalisation towards violent extremism and terrorism. Section I is based on both the author's own research and on findings by colleagues within the field of radicalisation and conflict, and sets the background for an ongoing discussion of the issues at stake. The findings are based on research mostly in Muslim majority countries or in Europe among Muslim populations. A serious part of the research conducted by the author is based on fieldwork in Pakistan, and a separate section is devoted to this context (Section II). Finally, Section III tries to identify some practical steps forwards and some policy recommendations.
Societal fit and radicalisation: Poorly managed absorption of immigrants and poor fit between the society of origin and the host society as predisposing factors to radicalisation
Authors: Pick Thomas M.
Published: February 2025

Two variables hypothesized to be relevant to the radicalisation of immigrants are examined. The first one is the degree to which the host society makes them feel welcome and helps them fill a role in society-at-large, which facilitates their integration. A comparison is offered between European societies on the one hand, and long-standing immigration countries such as the US, Australia, and Canada on the other hand. It is argued that a significant ingredient is that the latter do not define themselves as nation-states, and, on the whole, define belonging to the nation as independent of descent. The second variable is the fit between the culture of origin of the immigrant and that of the host country. It has been shown that adjustment is a function of that fit. In individualistic countries, people with an allocentric orientation tend to be poorly adjusted, whereas the reverse is true in collectivist countries, where the ones with an idiocentric orientation are at a disadvantage. This has implications for people from an Islamic background coming to a nation with a Western culture.
The impact of an actuated ankle/foot on the walking performance in healthy subjects and following neurologic injuries: a systematic review
Authors: Duerinck S.  , Swinnen E.  , Vaes P.  , van Roy P.  , Meeusen R.
Published: February 2025

This systematic review summarizes scientific papers concerning the impact of actuation of the ankle/foot on biomechanical function of the ankle/foot in the lower extremity during gait in healthy subjects and spinal cord injured patients (SCI). The results show significant changes in 3D joint angles, joint moments and muscular activity for the different designs in actuated ankle/foot orthosis (AFO).
Do arm motions help to recover from a trip?
Authors: Kingma I.  , Pijnappels M.  , van Dieën J.H.
Published: February 2025

When someone is tripped during gait, an angular momentum is induced in all planes of motion. We measured full-body 3D kinematics in subjects who were tripped during mid-swing. We analyzed the effect of the arm swing on body rotations in all planes of motion during recovery from the trip.
Activities of daily living and CHD risk factors among individuals with chronic spinal cord injury
Authors: Hetz S.P.  , Latimer A.E.  , Martin Ginis K.A.  , Buchholz A.C.
Published: February 2025

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the relationships between participation in activities of daily living (ADL) and coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors in individuals with SCI. Participants completed the Physical Activity Recall Assessment for People with Spinal Cord Injury (PARA-SCI) and CHD risk factor assessment including waist circumference, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol (LDL), HDL-cholesterol (HDL), and triglycerides. Using generalized linear models, controlling for leisure time physical activity and covariates, increased Mobility ADL (transferring and wheeling) were associated with lower plasma total cholesterol and LDL. No other significant relationships emerged. Further investigation is needed to determine causality between Mobility ADL and CHD risk.
The physical activity scale for individuals with physical disabilities: limited validity in people with spinal cord injury
Authors: de Groot S.  , Post M.W.M.  , Smit C.A.J.  , van der Woude L.H.V.
Published: February 2025

The purpose of this study was to determine the construct and divergent validity of the Physical Activity Scale for Individuals with Physical Disabilities (PASIPD) in people with spinal cord injury (SCI). The construct validity was examined by relationships between PASIPD and measures of fitness (peak oxygen uptake, peak power output, muscular strength) and activities (wheelchair skills, Utrecht Activity List, mobility range and social behaviour subscales of the SIP68) in 139 persons with SCI 1 year after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation. Divergent validity was determined by comparing PASIPD scores of people with different personal (age, gender, body mass index) and lesion characteristics (paraplegia/tetraplegia, completeness, time since injury). PASIPD scores showed low correlations with fitness parameters (0.25-0.36, p<0.05) and low to moderate correlations with activities (0.36-0.51, p<0.01). Persons with a tetraplegia or longer time since injury had significantly lower PASIPD scores compared to those with a paraplegia (p<0.02; effect size: 0.17) or those with a short time since injury (p<0.03; effect size: 0.30). It can be concluded that the PASIPD showed weak to moderate relationships with fitness and activity parameters. This construct validity is comparable to self-report questionnaires from the general population. The divergent validity of the PASIPD was low. Therefore, the PASIPD should be used with caution in persons with SCI.
Return to work after spinal cord injury: Is it related to wheelchair capacity at discharge from clinical rehabilitation?
Authors: van Velzen J.M.  , de Groot S.  , Post M.W.M.  , Slootman H.R.  , van Bennekom C.A.M.  , van der Woude L.H.V.
Published: February 2025

The purpose of the study is to evaluate whether return to work (RTW) can be predicted from wheelchair capacity (WC) at discharge from inpatient rehabilitation, after correction for confounders. 118 Subjects with recent spinal cord injury (SCI) from 8 Dutch rehabilitation centers participated. Main outcome measure was RTW (≥1hr/wk). Outcome variables of WC were peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak), peak aerobic power output (POpeak), and wheelchair skill scores (ability, performance time and physical strain). Possible confounders were age, gender, lesion level and completeness. Where necessary, corrections were made for education level. 33% of the subjects returned to work. POpeak(persons with a 10 Watt higher POpeakwere 1.37 times more likely to RTW), ability score (persons with a one-point higher score were 2.22 times more likely to RTW) and performance time (an increase, or worsening, of one second gave an odds ratio of 0.87, so persons with lower and therefore better scores were more likely to RTW) were significant predictors of RTW after correction for confounders and education level. It can be concluded that RTW was successful in 33% of the subjects. Outcomes for WC were independently related to RTW. Therefore it is recommended to train WC in the context of RTW.
The impact of exercise training on oxidative stress in spinal cord injured individuals
Authors: van Duijnhoven N.T.L.  , Hesse E.O.  , Janssen T.W.J.  , Knippenberg M.  , Scheffer P.  , Hopman M.T.E.
Published: February 2025

Spinal cord-injured (SCI) individuals have a high risk for cardiovascular diseases. An imbalance in (anti)oxidative status would be associated with an increased cardiovascular risk. OBJECTIVE: To compare baseline levels of oxidative stress and antioxidative capacity in SCI individuals and able-bodied (AB) subjects, and to assess acute and long-term effects of functional electrical stimulation (FES) exercise on oxidative stress and antioxidative capacity in SCI. METHODS: Venous blood was taken from SCI (n=9) and age-matched AB subjects (n=9) to examine oxidative stress through malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, while superoxide dismutase (SOD) and gluthatione peroxidase (GPx) enzyme levels represented anti-oxidative capacity. Subsequently, SCI subjects performed an 8 week FES exercise training period. Blood was taken at fixed time points to examine the acute and chronic effect of FES exercise. RESULTS: Baseline levels of MDA, SOD and GPx were not different between SCI and AB subjects. Both, a single FES exercise bout and 8 weeks FES training, had no effect on MDA, SOD and GPx levels. CONCLUSION: The preserved (anti)oxidative status in SCI suggests that the increased prevalence for CVD in SCI is unlikely explained by (anti)oxidative imbalance. Furthermore, the stimulus induced by FES exercise is possibly insufficient to change (anti)oxidative status in SCI individuals.
Validity of the international wheelchair basketball and rugby classification systems
Authors: West C.R.  , Taylor B.J.  , Campbell I.G.  , Romer L.M.
Published: February 2025

The classification systems used in wheelchair sport are based primarily upon sensory and motor ability. We asked whether the classification systems are also related to respiratory function at baseline and during exercise. Purpose: To investigate the relationship between functional class and respiratory function in GB Paralympic wheelchair basketball and rugby players. Methods: 11 wheelchair basketball and 15 wheelchair rugby players were classified using the IWBF (2004) and IWRF (2006) systems, respectively. Pulmonary function (spirometry) and respiratory muscle strength (mouth pressures) were assessed at rest. Additionally, for 11 wheelchair rugby players, ventilation and pulmonary gas exchange were assessed during maximal incremental arm-cranking exercise. Results: For wheelchair basketball, there were significant (P < 0.01) correlations for functional class vs. pulmonary function (% predicted FEV1, r = 0.76; % predicted FVC, r = 0.78). For wheelchair rugby, there were also significant (P < 0.05) correlations for functional class vs. pulmonary function (% predicted FEV1, r = 0.63; % predicted FVC, r = 0.64). For the wheelchair rugby players assessed during exercise, there were significant (P < 0.05) correlations for functional class vs. peak exercise responses (VO2/kg, r = 0.66; VE, r = 0.62; VT, r = 0.75). Conclusion: Based on selected measures of respiratory function, IWBF and IWRF classification systems group athletes into the appropriate functional class.
Does heart rate correlate velocity during wheelchair basketball competition? Some reflections in relation to functional classification
Authors: Pérez J.  , Aragón C.  , Rabadán M.  , Navarro E.  , Sampedro J.
Published: February 2025

Purpose: To study the relationship between individual heart rate and velocity during wheelchair basketball (WB) competition depending players' functional classification (FC). Methods: Two highly trained players were monitored using a heart rate (HR) monitor during one period of high – level competition match (Eurocup Finals). Physical strain was evaluated from personal percentage of HR (%HRR). At the same time, bidimensional photogrammetry techniques were applied to competition video images and used for kinematic analysis of the players' movement. 2D coordinates obtained from every player-wheelchair system (one-point mechanical model) respect to a defined inertial reference system were calculated two times per second. Results: For player 1 (class 3 FC, poliomyelitis both legs) mean (± SD) and maximum HRR (%) were 85,5 (±6,1) and 98,4 and for velocity (m/s) were 1,6 (±0,7) and 3,7. For player 2 (class 1 FC, complete spinal injury D5 level) mean and maximum HRR were 75,4 (±16,0) and 95,8 and for velocity were 1,3 (±0,6) and 2,9. Pearson correlation coefficient between HRR and velocity was r=0,21 (p<0.05) for player 1 and r=0,06 (p=0.48) for player 2. Conclusion: HRR correlates velocity for player 1, but not for player 2. Higher data dispersion in player 2 for this variable seems to be affected by type of disability/functional classification.
Pilot evaluation of a wheelchair accessible treadmill
Authors: Cramer A.T.  , Karpinski A.P.  , Rodriguez R.  , Guo L.  , Westing N.  , Richter W.M.
Published: February 2025

This pilot study tested the hypothesis that exercising on a wheelchair accessible treadmill improves cardiovascular fitness for manual wheelchair users without adverse effects on propulsion biomechanics or shoulder pain. Three manual wheelchair users participated in 30 minute exercise sessions three times per week for six-weeks using self-selected programs on a wheelchair accessible treadmill. Exercise capacity and propulsion biomechanics were assessed before and after the six week program. On average, subjects displayed increases in maximum VO2(22.9%) and maximum heart rate (9.6%), while resting heart rate decreased (14.7%). Propulsion biomechanics and shoulder pain did not change. There were no adverse effects associated with extended use of the treadmill. The results suggest that persons with paraplegia can improve cardiovascular fitness through the regular aerobic exercise with a wheelchair accessible treadmill.
Reliability and validity of the extended wheelchair circuit in persons with spinal cord injury
Authors: Wolvers M.D.J.  , Zwinkels M.  , de Groot S.  , van der Woude L.H.V.
Published: February 2025

To evaluate the reliability and validity of the extended Wheelchair Circuit fifteen dependent subjects with Spinal Cord Injuries performed the extended Wheelchair Circuit two times with 9.3 ± 11.3 days between the trials. Test-retest reliability and validity were calculated for the three outcome measures: ability score, the performance time score and the physical strain score. Validity was assessed by analyzing the scores of the Wheelchair Circuit on age, lesion level and completeness of the lesion. The intraclass correlation coefficients of the Wheelchair Circuit were 0.94 for ability score, 0.99 for performance time score and 0.82 for physical strain score at confidence level p<0.05. Validity was good using lesion level on both ability and performance time scores: a significant difference between scores of persons with para- and tetraplegia was found (p<.05). Age did not correlate with any of the scores and also completeness of the lesion was no factor for wheelchair skill performance. Comparing the original Wheelchair Circuit with the ability score of the extended Wheelchair Circuit showed that the variability and discrimination between subjects and groups improved, but floor and ceiling effect remained. The Extended Wheelchair Circuit is a reliable research tool. The ability and performance time score are valid scores. Further research should focus on validity (especially of the physical strain score) and floor and ceiling-effect reducing tasks using a larger and more varied study population.
Outcomes after wheelchair configuration changes for postural support in persons with truncal paralysis; a pilot study
Authors: Hastings J.D.  , Schepp K.G.  , Goldstein B.  , Logsdon R.  , Demonbreun D.
Published: February 2025

Purpose: To determine whether pain, posture and satisfaction with life change in persons with spinal cord injury after improvement in sagittal plane alignment via customized orthotic wheelchair configuration. Methods: Prospective repeated measure study. Participants: Eleven men with T1-T10 motor complete spinal cord injury. Main Outcome Measures: Seated Height (SH), Wheelchair User's Shoulder Pain Index (WUSPI), Posture Scale for Wheelchair Users (PSWU), pain intensity, and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). Results: Increase in SH was significant (p=.03), mean change of 2.57 centimeters (1.01 inches); 95% C.I.: 0.33 to 4.82. At two weeks, participants reported significantly less pain (-9.6) on the WUSPI (p=.03); C.I.: -18.34 to -0.87, and significantly lower ‘worst pain’ intensity (-1.18) (p=.04); C.I.: -2.3 to -0.4. Remaining outcomes did not show significant change. Conclusion: The results of this study support the use of wheelchair configuration to provide orthotic stabilization in the sagittal plane to the paralyzed trunk. Improved postural alignment was shown to decrease shoulder pain and intensity of pain measured two weeks post intervention. Early orthotic postural support via wheelchair configuration may prevent the negative sequelae of postural deviations and promote improved health outcomes.
Shoulder joint moment contribution to movement during manual wheelchair propulsion
Authors: Desroches G.  , Louis N.  , Dumas R.  , Vaslin P.  , Gorce P.  , Chèze L.
Published: February 2025

The purpose of this study was to establish the contribution (e.g. driving or stabilizing) of net shoulder joint moment to shoulder movement during manual wheelchair (MW) propulsion. Two male able-bodied propelled in a wireless wheelchair ergometer. Kinetics and kinematics of propulsion were recorded simultaneously bilaterally. An inverse dynamic method was used to compute net joint moment and angular velocity at shoulder level. The 3D angle between net shoulder joint moment and angular velocity was computed over the propulsive cycle to determine if net moment mainly drove (angle close to 0 or 180 degrees) or stabilized (angle close to 90 degrees) the shoulder joint. During the push phase, shoulder joint moments mainly propelled the joints but with an important combined stabilization action. Assuming that joint moments are mainly the result of muscle action, net shoulder joint moments for both subjects were mainly due to the dynamic stabilizers of the shoulder, the rotator cuff muscles. High and repetitive demand on the rotator cuff muscles could accelerate the onset of fatigue and increase risk of overuse injuries.
The power balance model: Useful in the study of elite handcycling performance
Authors: Groen W.G.  , van der Woude L.H.V.  , de Koning J.J.
Published: February 2025

Purpose: To apply the power balance model to elite handcycling, to obtain realistic values for power output and power losses on a range of regular velocities on a treadmill and on a track in association to the physiological responses under these conditions. Methods: Four elite Dutch handcyclists rode at three intensities (~70, 85 and 100% of estimated peak race-power output) in a standardized instrumented handcycle, both on a treadmill and on an indoor cycling track (250m). Biomechanical and physiological data were obtained. Results: VO2on the treadmill ranged from 1661 to 2825 mL·min-1at 98 and 167 W respectively. VO2on the track ranged from 1356 to 2555 mL·min-1at 102 and 168 W respectively. The empirically derived relationship between velocity and power output on the track was: PO=0.20v3+2.90v (R2=0.95). Mean gross mechanical efficiency during submaximal performance was 16.0 ± 2.1 on the treadmill and 18.8 ± 2.6 on the track (p=0.12). Conclusion: Handcycling is a relatively efficient mode of propulsion with associated high metabolic demand at race velocities. The power balance model enabled simulation of realistic power conditions on a treadmill. In addition, it gained insight into the magnitude of power dissipation during elite handcycling.
Monitoring and Opposing the Misuse of Incapacitants – Exploring the Potential Roles for Independent Scientists
Authors: Crowley Michael
Published: February 2025

This chapter explores the potential threats arising from the development and weaponization of incapacitants – chemical or biochemical agents that act on biochemical and physiological systems, especially those affecting the higher regulatory activity of the central nervous system to produce a disabling condition. The chapter then explores the roles for independent scientists in monitoring incapacitant research and development, utilising open source material, national oversight and transparency mechanisms, field missions, etc. It also explores how independent scientists can build a culture of responsibility, and promote and contribute to effective intergovernmental mechanisms to address the potential misuse of incapacitants.
How Deadly Are Non-Lethal Weapons?
Authors: Babievsky Krill K.  , Rodionov Daniil S.
Published: February 2025

A concept of non-lethal weapons might be used as an alternative not only to weapons of mass destruction but, in a certain sense, to conventional weapons also. However this concept is very questionable: for example, immobilizing chemicals and mini-nukes are considered by some, unfairly, to be non-lethal weapons. This example suggests that the concept of ‘non-lethality’ is essentially a relative one: in reality, non-lethal weapons may be rather lethal depending on specific conditions. Therefore, problems of reduction, non-proliferation and prohibition are also of importance for many types of these so-called non-lethal weapons.
Dual-Use Biotechnological Research Oversight – an Israeli View
Authors: Friedman David
Published: February 2025

The Twin-Tower terrorist attacks and anthrax envelope scares of 2001 were a watershed for public perceptions of the threat of unconventional terror in general and of biological terror in particular. Biotechnology, genetic engineering and molecular biology began to develop at an unprecedented pace towards the end of the last century. Advances in DNA synthesis and cloning will soon make it possible to produce any desired gene rapidly on an industrial scale at minimal cost. Forecasts indicate that this pace will continue to increase exponentially. Many areas of modern biological research are unavoidably dual use by nature. Thus hostile forces could also take advantage of recent and future biotechnological advances to harm humans on a catastrophic scale. Much information is freely available, and the list of organisms whose genomes have been sequenced is hardly selective in terms of biological risk. Regulation of life science and biomedical research in Israel is largely limited to biosafety concerns. Israeli researchers are no strangers to a certain amount of well-justified regulation. The big challenge now is to incorporate biosecurity concerns into this system, in particular, to upgrade measures to prevent the leakage of dangerous organisms, information and technologies to terror organizations. To this end the Israel National Security Council and the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities initiated a national project, Biotechnological Research in an Age of Terrorism, and formed a special Steering Committee to analyze and report on the current situation and to recommend future action. In this article I will elaborate mainly on the risks of biotechnological dual-use research, the overview mechanisms and legislation aimed to encounter those risks.
A Macedonian View on NATO's Role in South-East Europe in the Light of WMD Threat Assesment
Authors: Aleksoski Mile
Published: February 2025

Macedonia lies at the crossroad of the main routes of trade, terrorism, illegal migration, human trafficking, and the smuggling of drugs, light weapons and components for production of weapons of mass destruction from Asia and Africa towards Western Europe. With the help of the international community, Macedonia hopes that it will achieve its projected goals of full NATO and EU membership. The country continues to contribute to collective defense through developing different capabilities and more effective and deployable forces that are trained for expeditionary warfare.
Global Security, Weapons of Mass Destruction and The Responsibility of Scientists
Authors: Šlaus Ivo
Published: February 2025

The usefulness of military power and deterrence are analyzed and it is concluded that most of the threats and dangers facing the contemporary world can be neither prevented nor reduced by military power and deterrence. It is argued that the best solution is a knowledge-based society, and that NATO, through its pillar ‘Science for Peace and Security’, is a unique alliance that is capable of assuring global security.
Scientists and Chemical Weapons Policies
Authors: Perry Robinson J.P.
Published: February 2025

Roles for independent scientists in the formation of public policy on chemical weapons are specified by identifying different types of risk associated with chemical weapons and asking whether independent scientists could contribute usefully to their assessment and therefore to their management. Attention is paid to three sources of novel risk: the changing utility of chemical weapons; changing science and technology; and CW arms control. Having particular regard to the disappointing outcome of the April 2008 conference to review the operation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and to the impending shift in the primary focus of the CWC oversight organization from disarmament to non-proliferation, twelve different roles are suggested. These include work on better implementation of the ‘general purpose criterion’, on expansion of the CWC Schedules, and on convergence of the Biological and Chemical Weapons Conventions.
The Chemical Weapons Convention and the Role of Engineers and Scientists
Authors: Matoušek Jiří
Published: February 2025

Chemical weapons, like all military technology, are associated with activities of scientists and engineers. However, chemical weapons differ from any other military technology because they were invented, and their first mass use directly developed by famous chemists. The active contribution of engineers and scientists and their organisations in the negotiations on chemical disarmament, including drafting the Chemical Weapons Convention, is described. Their present and future role in implementing the Convention is analysed, taking into consideration the threats and benefits of advances in science and technology, and stressing the independent expertise of the OPCW Scientific Advisory Board.
Modern Biooptical Instruments for the Express Control of Total Toxicity, Individual Chemicals, Viral and Bacterial Infections to Prevent Bio- and Medical Threats
Authors: Starodub Nickolaj F.
Published: February 2025

The main attention is paid to some chemicals related to the group named as endocrine disrupting factors. First of all, it is observed the proposed methods based on the biosensorics principles and intended for the express estimation of total toxicity at the screening analysis of environmental objects, revealing of individual toxins and for the diagnostics of diseases induced by viruses. At the beginning the efficiency of the developed biosensor is analyzed in case of the work with the standard solution. Then the obtained results are compared with that received at the application of biosensors in real conditions. The working prototypes of biosensors are created for the application in the area of human and veterinary medicine, ecology and biotechnology.
Globalization of Public Health Communication: Preparing Local Leaders using the Supercourse
Authors: Linkov Faina  , Shubnikov Eugene  , LaPorte Ronald
Published: February 2025

Public health communications is a serious concern worldwide. Improved information exchange is the most cost effective means to improve public health. There needs to be access to high quality epidemiological educational data and information as to how best to do research for public health professionals and instructors world wide. Existing Internet based materials on public health awareness, disaster communications, and environmental health are poorly organized, their scientific quality is questionable, and they are often difficult to obtain due to high cost. The Supercourse project (www.pitt.edu/~super1) is a collection of over 3600 lectures on public health, prevention, and Internet, targeting the teacher vs. the student. It is being developed by over 56000 faculty from 174 countries who are sharing for free their best lectures. Just in Time knowledge Supercourse network is currently being developed in order to foster the exchange of high quality prevention information and to create a trusted source of epidemiological information in the area of public health and preparedness. Supercourse project is aiming to close the digital divide through the development of low bandwidth lectures, opening mirrored servers in the developing countries, distribution of Supercourse CDs, and networking public health professionals from across the world. Quality control mechanisms for the lectures are developed based on our unique approach of multilayered quality control. Inadequate public health information exchange among health professionals may lead to poorly trained public health and medical students, inadequate prevention systems, and ultimately sicker population. Global, low cost, low bandwidth, high impact projects like Supercourse are needed to improve public health and preparedness world wide and foster communications between local and global scientists.
Model of the Adaptive Hierarchical Information Security System
Authors: Antipov A.L.  , Trufanov A.I.
Published: February 2025

The model of the adaptive hierarchical information security system is considered in this article. The interdisciplinary approach is based on an immune reaction concept of a biological organism on an entered antigen. Math description of this study represents a system of kinetic differential equations of second order with saturation. Some dynamic interaction of an information security system attacked by threats has been explored.
Pseudotuberculosis – Epidemiology, Clinic and Prevention Measures
Authors: Shurygina Irina A.
Published: February 2025

Y. pseudotuberculosis possesses a high ecological adaptation. Y. pseudotuberculosis has many factors of pathogenicity (108 kDa chromosome-encoded peptide invasin, pili, adhesin, endotoxin, pYV plasmid encoded Yop protein systems (YopE, H, T, M, J, N, K, B, D, R, JpkA, LcrV), superantigen YPM, heat-stabile and heat-labile enterotoxins, cytotoxin). There are 21 serological variants of Y. pseudotuberculosis. In Irkutsk region only :1b serological variant has been registered. 10 outbreaks of pseudotuberculosis were analyzed. Almost 75% of Y. pseudotuberculosis cases involve patients from 5 to 20 years old. Preventive measures includes control of the environment (general sanitation; identification of the common-source vehicles; water chlorination, in order to kill Yersinia spp.), education, sanitary preparation of food (especially, uncooked food), avoiding contamination of water supplies and food from animal feces.
Tools Against Terrorist Threats: Considerations on How to be Prepared
Authors: Ranghieri Massimo  , Guidotti Matteo  , Rossodivita Alessandra
Published: February 2025

While the availability and production of CBRN weapons cannot be controlled as in the case of conventional weapons, the increase in number of nuclear and petrochemical plants, as well as the developments in biological sciences, has increased the risk of non-conventional industrial disasters defined as ROTA events. Therefore, many countries have started to take serious measures for the protection of civilians and military against the effect of CBRN disasters. The use of special teams to organize Emergencies Preparedness Offices (EPO) is vital: this overview will explain duties and assessments of EPO in a modern society.
East Germany: NATO's First Eastward Enlargement
Authors: Adomeit Hannes
Published: February 2025

This chapter analyzes the circumstances of NATO's first eastward enlargement: the inclusion of East Germany in the Alliance as part of a unified Germany. The opening of the Berlin wall on 9 November 1989 had elevated German reunification from a mere theoretical possibility to the single most important topic on the agenda of international politics. The key question then was whether a unified Germany should be a member of NATO, neutral or a member of both NATO and the Warsaw Pact. In the end, even the Soviet leadership had to acknowledge that unified Germany's NATO membership was the only feasible option.