bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Capabilities of the New Member States
Authors: Giegerich Bastian
Published: February 2025

This chapter draws together data on the NATO members who joined the alliance since 1999. It shows that the new members face many similar problems as the ‘older’ Alliance members. However the challenges of defence spending and international deployments are more difficult for new members. The increasingly difficult economic situation makes it important to focus on reforming essential capabilities while dispensing with others.
A Moment of Truth
Authors: Ruehle Michael
Published: February 2025

Maintaining a transatlantic Alliance of sovereign nation-states over six decades remains a unique historic achievement that deserves praise. Yet the achievements of NATO's past cannot hide the challenges of the present. The mismatch between an ever growing number of operational commitments and limited military means and insufficient political will, on the other, could lead to a failure. Questions are raised about the proper balance between NATO's collective defense at home and expeditionary missions abroad. Afghanistan, restoring Allied consensus on Russia and defining NATO's response to new threats are the three key areas in which NATO needs to demonstrate progress.
The Baltic States' Rocky Road to NATO
Authors: Mälksoo Maria
Published: February 2025

This chapter shows how the initial Western perception of the Baltic states as falling within the Russian sphere of legitimate interests and therefore outside the area of potential NATO enlargement, changed in response to an US-led evolution of NATO from a defensive alliance to the framework of a democratic security community.
Montenegro
Authors: Dedović Aleksandar
Published: February 2025

Although the same political leadership has been in power in Montenegro for 18 years, its attitude towards NATO has changed considerably. Among Montenegro's major challenges related to Montenegro's membership in NATO are low public opinion support, insufficient capacities of the state administration, the slowness of necessary reforms and of their poor implementation in real life.
Using Security Policies to Write Secure Software
Authors: Myers Andrew C.
Published: February 2025

We explore the idea of integrating security policies into the programming environment and the run-time system. A programming language that incorporates security policies can help programmers reason about the security of the software they are building. We examine how this approach works in the context of the security- typed programming language Jif, which allows programmers to express both information flow policies for confidentiality and integrity, and access control policies. The compiler and run-time system use this added information to enforce strong security properties such as noninterference and robustness.
Intelligent Environments and e-Health Assistance for Aging Citizens, the AmIE Project
Authors: Iturburu Miren  , Gómez de Segura Nuria  , Lozano Sara  , Ruíz Ricardo  , Martínez Alberto  , Acinas Víctor  , de las Heras Ricardo
Published: February 2025

AmIE is an intelligent and innovative system that offers to the elderly people a new way of giving advice on healthy habits and monitoring their health status and daily habits in order to prevent potential problems and diseases, as for example the obstructive sleep apnea, and to help them remain healthy for a longer time. Among the AmIE's innovative aspects there is the use of multimodal interfaces depending on the location of the user, information that will be provided by an indoor location system, and also the profile of the user.
Ambient Intelligence, Agents and NetLogo
Authors: Olševičová Kamila
Published: February 2025

Ambient Intelligence applications are designed for large numbers of users who share the same physical environment. Agent-based models and simulations allow us to experiment with populations of heterogeneous agents and therefore represent a promising approach applicable in AmI research. In the paper we introduce the principles of agent-based simulations and we explain the process of simulation experimenting in NetLogo programming environment.
Bioterrorism and Biodiversity
Authors: Manolescu Nicolae
Published: February 2025

Terrorists have an incredible arsenal at their hand, for which they have to make minimal efforts and expenses, since it is provided by nature, thanks to biodiversity. Bioterrorism is difficult to combat. In comparison with the general types of terrorist actions against civil society, bioterrorism represents a huge advantage for terrorists. We should give the first priority to the absolute knowledge of biodiversity which offers us the key to the successful actions of combat and prevention of bioterrorism. This paper attempts to unravel the mystery of biodiversity and its applications in bioterrorism.
EU Approach to Bioterrorism: EC Green Paper on Bio-Preparedness
Authors: Casale Davide
Published: February 2025

Bio-terrorism has emerged in recent years as one of the key challenges for European security. The possibility that terrorists may resort to non-conventional weapons such as the usage of biological agents is particularly worrying for the disruptive capacity that such means may have on public health and the environment. To respond to such a threat, the European Union has stepped up its efforts to reduce risks and enhance preparedness in Member States through a comprehensive approach taking into consideration all possible sources of threat deriving from naturally occurring incidents as well as deliberate terrorist attacks. Beyond a series of communications on the topic, the European Commission launched in 2007 a consultation process releasing a Green Paper on Bio-preparedness aimed at stimulating the debate with all stakeholders involved.
Lessons from the Fall 2001 Anthrax Attacks in America
Authors: Heyman David
Published: February 2025

This paper is a summary of a presentation. It discusses the 2001 Anthrax attacks in the United States making observations and analyzes then providing discussion about possible improvements to systems responsible for emergency response.
The Evolution of Terror Medicine
Authors: Shapira  , Richman Aaron  , Sharan Yair  , Perelman Michael
Published: February 2025

Terror medicine is defined as a planned medical response to terror attacks. A model for establishing a terror medicine program is presented. Methods are provided for confirming the validity of a terror medicine program.
Radiological Terrorism
Authors: Hammond Jeffrey
Published: February 2025

Radiological terrorism is distinguished from other forms of terrorism and its most significant physical and psychological effects are noted. A detailed model for immediate response and long term recovery is illustrated. A single page guide containing key points in planning for and managing radiation injuries is included for easy reference. It is concluded that training and regular drills are essential to prepare for radiological terrorist attacks.
Policies and Procedures for Law Enforcement Response to Terror
Authors: Richman Aaron
Published: February 2025

The increase in the use of the suicide bomber tactic globally calls for an immediate assessment of current emergency response practices, including policies relating to: lockdown, emergency notification and communication, and active shooter tactics within a suicide bomber incident. The adversary is utilizing very clear strategies and tactics that have been proven over time. The capability and intent of the adversary are present. Order needs to be put into place at the local and state level under the guidance of the federal government for a standardized policy for handling suicide terrorism. This paper will discuss the viewpoints of response considerations to suicide bombing incidents and will evaluate the aspects associated with the numerous response models and associated hazards. In addition, the importance for law enforcement agencies to have an operating procedure will be addressed, as well as the impact on the development of a standard for effective responses to such a lethal mass casualty incident.
International Human Rights Law and Terrorism
Authors: Yeşilkaya Olcay
Published: February 2025

Although almost all states agree that all forms of terrorist activities should be condemned, states do not agree upon a definition of terrorism. Terrorism is a major threat to fundamental human rights, especially the right to life, and violates human rights grossly and systematically. No matter what pretext terrorists may use for their deeds, terrorism in all its manifestations and forms should be treated as a crime against humanity. The measures taken by states against terrorism should comply with the requirements of international human rights law. In this respect, any measure has to respect the human rights of both innocent civilians as well as terrorism’s perpetrators. As a result, respecting human rights is sine qua non when fighting terrorism; at least minimum human rights standards should be provided, and a balance between liberties and security must be established in every area by states. However, this does not mean that human rights law can be perceived as law to protect terrorism for political purposes.
Organizational Communication in Routine and Crisis Situations: Public Relations and Crisis Communication Strategies
Authors: Mace Robyn R.
Published: February 2025

Although Public Relations has largely become associated with advertising media, this paper discusses how organizational communication (a kind of Public Relations) is a vital component for organizations who are charged with maintaining the safety of the public. This paper examines the nature and role of organizational communication both internal to organizations as well as communication with the public. It also considers the importance of such communications in normal operations as well as in times of public crisis such as natural disasters, terrorist activities and social and civil unrest.
A Parallel Implementation of the Davidson Method for Generalized Eigenproblems
Authors: Romero Eloy  , Roman Jose E.
Published: February 2025

We present a parallel implementation of the Davidson method for the numerical solution of large-scale, sparse, generalized eigenvalue problems. The implementation is done in the context of SLEPc, the Scalable Library for Eigenvalue Problem Computations. In this work, we focus on the Hermitian version of the method, with several optimizations. We compare the developed solver with other available implementations, as well as with Krylov-type eigensolvers already available in SLEPc, particularly in terms of parallel efficiency.
Parallel Genetic Algorithm Implementation for BOINC
Authors: Smaoui Feki Malek  , Nguyen Viet Huy  , Garbey Marc
Published: February 2025

In this paper we present our implementation of a Genetic Algorithm on the BOINC volunteer computing platform. Our main objective is to construct a computational framework that applies to the optimum design problem of prairies. This ecology problem is characterized by a large parameter set, noisy multi-objective functions, and the presence of multiple local optima that reflects biodiversity. Our approach consists in enhancing the iterative (synchronous) master-worker genetic algorithm to overcome the limitations of volatile and unreliable distributed computing resources considering a sufficiently large number of volunteer computers. Though volunteer computing is known to be much less performing than parallel environments such as clusters and grids, our GA solution turns to exhibit competitive performance.
Performance Measurement of Applications with GPU Acceleration using CUDA
Authors: Mayanglambam Shangkar  , Malony Allen D.  , Sottile Matthew J.
Published: February 2025

Multi-core accelerators offer significant potential to improve the performance of parallel applications. However, tools to help the parallel application developer understand accelerator performance and its impact are scarce. An approach is presented to measure the performance of GPU computations programmed using CUDA and integrate this information with application performance data captured with the TAU Performance System. Test examples are shown to validate the measurement methods. Results for a case study of the GPU-accelerated NAMD molecular dynamics application application are given.
Conflict Analysis for heap-based Data Dependence Detection
Authors: Castillo Rosa  , Corbera Francisco  , Navarro Angeles  , Asenjo Rafael  , Zapata Emilio L.
Published: February 2025

In this paper we address the problem of detecting carried data dependences on loops or recursive functions for codes that create and traverse dynamic data structures. We propose a data dependence detection test based on a new conflict analysis algorithm. This algorithm requires two pieces of information: i) abstract shape graphs that represent the state of the heap at the code section under analysis and ii) path expressions that collect the traversing information for each statement. Our algorithm projects the path expressions on the shape graphs and checks over the graph if one of the sites reached by a write statement matches one of the sites reached by another statement on a different iteration, in which case a conflict between the two statements is reported. The proposed approach may improve other previous works by some orders of magnitude.
A Historic Knowledge Based Approach for Dynamic Optimization
Authors: Feki Saber  , Gabriel Edgar
Published: February 2025

Dynamic runtime optimization is a means to tune the performance of operations on a given platform while executing the application itself. However, most approaches discussed in literature so far fail for applications which have an adaptive and irregular behavior. In this paper, we present an algorithm which is able to incorporate knowledge gathered from previous optimizations to speed up the dynamic tuning procedure. We present the integration of the algorithm within a dynamic runtime optimization library along with a smoothing mechanism of the historic data entries to deal with outliers and inaccuracies in the knowledge base. The approach is evaluated for two separate parallel adaptive application kernels on three different platforms.
Optimized Checkpointing Protocols for Data Parallel Programs
Authors: Bertolli Carlo  , Vanneschi Marco
Published: February 2025

A main issue of fault tolerance techniques for High-Performance applications, based on checkpointing and rollback recovery, is related to the feasibility of statically analyzing the induced overhead. In this paper we show that, under the hypothesis of a general unstructured parallelism model (e.g. MPI, OpenMP), it is difficult, where not impossible, to achieve such an analysis. To overcome this issue we propose an approach to fault tolerance based on structured parallel programming (e.g. divide-and-conquer and parallel sort). We show which are the gains of assuming such a programming model in the case of data parallel programs: we introduce an optimized checkpointing protocol and we compare it with a Communication-Induce-Checkpointing (CIC) protocol, representing one of the most advanced solution for general “unstructured” parallelism models.
Constructing Resiliant Communication Infrastructure for Runtime Environments
Authors: Bosilca George  , Coti Camille  , Herault Thomas  , Lemarinier Pierre  , Dongarra Jack
Published: February 2025

High performance computing platforms are becoming larger, leading to scalability and fault-tolerance issues for both applications and runtime environments (RTE) dedicated to run on such machines. After being deployed, usually following a spanning tree, a RTE needs to build its own communication infrastructure to manage and monitor the tasks of parallel applications. Previous works have demonstrated that the Binomial Graph topology (BMG) is a good candidate as a communication infrastructure for supporting scalable and fault-tolerant RTE. In this paper, we present and analyze a self-stabilizing algorithm to transform the underlying communication infrastructure provided by the launching service into a BMG, and maintain it in spite of failures. We demonstrate that this algorithm is scalable, tolerates transient failures, and adapts itself to topology changes.
DEISA Extreme Computing Initiative (DECI) and Science Community Support
Authors: Kennedy Alison  , Lederer Hermann
Published: February 2025

The DEISA Consortium continues its work in the DEISA2 project with EU FP7 support from 2008 to 2011. DEISA2 focuses on the provisioning and operation of infrastructure services which allow its users to work efficiently within a distributed high performance computing environment. DEISA supports both single projects (via DECI) and Virtual Communities.
Porous Rock Simulations and Lattice Boltzmann on GPUs
Authors: Aksnes Eirik O.  , Elster Anne C.
Published: February 2025

Investigating how fluids flow inside the complicated geometries of porous rocks is an important problem in the petroleum industry. The lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) can be used to calculate porous rockst' permeability. In this paper, we show how to implement this method efficiently on modern GPUs. Both a sequential CPU implementation and a parallelized GPU implementation is developed. Both implementations were tested using three porous data sets with known permeabilities. Our work shows that it is possible to calculate the permeability of porous rocks of simulations sizes up to 3683, which fit into the 4 GB memory of the NVIDIA Quadro FX 5800 card. Our single floating-point precision simulation resulted in respectbale 0.95-1.59 MLUPS whereas our GPU implentation achieved remarkable 180+ MLUPS for several lattices in the 1603to 3683range allowing calculations that would take hours on the CPU to be done in minutes on the GPU. Techniques for reducing round-off errors are also discussed and implemented.
An efficient multi-algorithms sparse linear solver for GPUs
Authors: Jost Thomas  , Contassot-Vivier Sylvain  , Vialle Stéphane
Published: February 2025

We present a new sparse linear solver for GPUs. It is designed to work with structured sparse matrices where all the non-zeros are on a few diagonals. Several iterative algorithms are implemented, both on CPU and GPU. The GPU code is designed to be fast yet simple to read and understand. It aims to be as accurate as possible, even on chips that do not support double-precision floating-point arithmetic. Several benchmarks show that GPU algorithms are much faster than their CPU counterpart while their accuracy is satisfying.
Abstraction of Programming Models Across Multi-Core and GPGPU Architectures
Authors: Beach Thomas H.  , Grimstead Ian J.  , Walker David W.  , Avis Nick J.
Published: February 2025

Work in the field of application acceleration devices is showing great promise, but still remains a tool largely for computer scientists with domain knowledge, given the complexity of porting existing algorithms to new architectures or environments. Such porting is hindered by the lack of abstraction available.
Throughput Computing on Future GPUs
Authors: Hovland Rune J.  , Elster Anne C.
Published: February 2025

The focus on throughput and large data volumes separates Information Retrieval (IR) from scientific computing, since for IR it is critical to process large amounts of data efficiently, a task which the GPU currently does not excel at. Only recently has the IR community begun to explore the possibilities, and an implementation of a search engine for the GPU was published recently in April 2009. This paper analyzes how GPUs can be improved to better suit such large data volume applications. Current graphics cards have a bottleneck regarding the transfer of data between the host and the GPU. One approach to resolve this bottleneck is to include the host memory as part of the GPUs' memory hierarchy. Benchmarks from NVIDIA ION, 9800m and GTX 240 are included. Several suggestions for future GPU features are also prensented.
A Highly Parallel FPGA-based Evolvable Hardware Architecture
Authors: Cancare Fabio  , Castagna Marco  , Renesto Matteo  , Sciuto Donatella
Published: February 2025

This work describes a new Evolvable Hardware (EHW) system, based on Xilinx Virtex-4 FPGAs, able to exploit two-dimensional dynamic reconfigurability and direct bitstream manipulation. The focus of this paper is on the performance of this new system. It will be shown how the system components have been designed in order to exploit parallelism and to mask the reconfiguration time. The system is compared to similar solutions in order to show its advantages.
Parallel Programming for Multi-core Architectures
Authors: Morel Jean-Marc  , the ParMA Project Partners
Published: February 2025

This paper gives an overview of the European ITEA2 project named ParMA (“Parallel Programming for Multi-core Architectures”), which aims at developing advanced technologies for exploiting multi-core architectures both for conventional High Performance Computing (HPC) and for Embedded Computing. It presents the main components of the ParMA technology and describes how application developers applied it and improved the performance of their applications.
Parallel simulations of seismic wave propagation on NUMA architectures
Authors: Dupros Fabrice  , Pousa Ribeiro Christiane  , Carissimi Alexandre  , Méhaut Jean-François
Published: February 2025

Simulation of large scale seismic wave propagation is an important tool in seismology for efficient strong motion analysis and risk mitigation. Being particularly CPU-consuming, this three-dimensional problem makes use of parallel computing to improve the performance and the accuracy of the simulations. The trend in parallel computing is to increase the number of cores available at the shared-memory level with possible non-uniform cost of memory accesses. We therefore need to consider new approaches more suitable to such parallel systems. In this paper, we firstly report on the impact of memory affinity on the parallel performance of seismic simulations. We introduce a methodology combining efficient thread scheduling and careful data placement to overcome the limitation coming from both the parallel algorithm and the memory hierarchy. The MAi (Memory Affinity interface) is used to smoothly adapt the memory policy to the underlying architecture. We evaluate our methodology on computing nodes with different NUMA characteristics. A maximum gain of 53% is reported in comparison with a classical OpenMP implementation.
Aitken-Schwarz and Schur complement methods for time domain decomposition
Authors: Linel Patrice  , Tromeur-Dervout Damien
Published: February 2025

New parallel methods, based on the Schwarz and Schur domain decomposition technique, are proposed for time domain decomposition of Cauchy problem. Firstly, the initial value problem is transformed in a time boundary values problem. Then the demonstration of the pure linear divergence/convergence of the Schwarz algorithm, applied to systems of linear ODE, allows us to accelerate the convergence of the solution at the time slices boundaries with the Aitken's acceleration technique of the convergence. Secondly, a Schur complement method is developed for linear problem. Numerical results show the efficiency of the proposed method on the linear system of ODEs modeling the harmonic oscillator problem.
Narrow-band reduction approach of a DRSM eigensolver on a multicore-based cluster system
Authors: Imamura Toshiyuki  , Yamada Susumu  , Machida Masahiko
Published: February 2025

This paper presents a performance review and reconsideration of the conventional algorithm for the eigenvalue problem for dense-real-symmetric matrices (DRSM's) on multicore parallel computer systems. We examine a narrow-band reduction approach on a multicore based cluster system.
The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Reflected Through the Internet
Authors: Halevi Jonathan Dahoah
Published: February 2025

This study investigates attitudes about Israeli and Palestinian public relations policies as it is reflected in the Internet arena. It shows that in the information war, Israel lags far behind the Palestinians and suggests that the key to changing the situation is first of all recognizing the Internet’s importance and in providing suitable resources for research and the construction of online data bases which will present Israel’s official position. Ignoring the Internet means giving others a free hand to write their own versions of history.
Silent Jihad - Dissimulating Fundamentalist Messages in Promoting Islamic Values
Authors: Vladescu Andrei
Published: February 2025

Seeking to gain and preserve their doctrinaire supremacy, the fundamentalist groups strive to dissimulate their ideology by building convenient discoursive realities that diminish Islam phobic reflexes and allow speculating on the breaches within the non-Muslim cultural system. We intend to prove that the border between moderate and radical Islamism is extremely thin. In developing a cooperation strategy with Muslim moderates, a thorough analysis of their discourse and actions should be made, by referring to the way they relate to the essence of the Islamist ideology (restoring the Caliphate and imposing the Sharia as a legal system) besides the declarative rejection of violence. This analysis becomes even more significant as the simple declarative rejection of violence might be misleading and the alleged “intermediary ideology” (as “wassatiyya” introduces itself) might stand for the ideal camouflage of radical Islamists.
Jihadist Propaganda on the Internet: Impact and Challenges for the Security Community
Authors: Eiffler Sven
Published: February 2025

It seems to be paradox that the real restriction of operational abilities of Al Qaeda (AQ) and its affiliated Islamist terrorist organisations, caused by the pressure exerted by the security authorities worldwide in general and NATO forces in particular, is accompanied by a virtual extension of both the personnel potential and the sphere of action. Searching for the causes, we notice the propagandistic exaggeration of the organisation’s objectives and actions, which however, has to be considered a crucial point for extending the circles of adherents and sympathisers and thus its sphere of activity. No matter to what extent AQ may actually have been involved in the operational perpetration of attacks nowadays – its video messages, in particular those given by its protagonists like Usama Bin Ladin, Ayman Al-Zawahiri and Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi, the Al Qaeda leader in Iraq, who was killed in the summer of 2007 show how the organisation sees itself, namely as an inspiring force aiming at the community of all Muslims. Via the Internet, Arab television channels, but also through the sale of DVD’s and CD’s, masses of these messages reach interested people all over the world. Any effort to develop a counterstrategy is bound to fail if we do not understand what actual attraction these video messages hold for young and mostly male Muslims. The global impact of this propaganda and therefore its challenges for the security community are caused by a set of stylistic devices, metaphors and symbols from which the addressees in the Middle East and the West – due to the recipients’ different horizons of experience – will in different ways establish semantic links all of which will eventually strengthen, if not even generate their wish to get involved in the violent Jihad, though. The Joint Internet Center (Gemeinsames Internet Zentrum GIZ), which brings together experts of different German security authorities, faces this challenge. Within the short period of its existence it has proved already that any strategy meant to counter Islamist terrorism and the radicalizing effects of Islamist propaganda in particular requires an interdisciplinary examination approach which combines scientific and empirical expertise. Based on this experience all means which help to understand the radicalizing effects of jihad propaganda and strengthen the mutual exchange of ideas and knowledge as well as the monitoring capacities of all relevant authorities are without doubt a good investment in the security architecture of the West.
Quantum algorithms for formula evaluation
Authors: Ambainis Andris
Published: February 2025

We survey the recent sequence of algorithms for evaluating Boolean formulas consisting of NAND gates.
Superadditivity of multiple access gaussian channels
Authors: Czekaj Łukasz  , Korbicz Jarek K.  , Chhajlany Ravindra W.  , Horodecki Paweł
Published: February 2025

We study classical capacity regions of quantum Gaussian multiple access channels (MAC). In classical variants of such channels, whilst some capacity superadditivity-type effects such as the so called water filling effect may be achieved, a fundamental classical additivity law can still be identified, viz. adding resources to one sender is never advantageous to other senders in sending their respective information to the receiver. Here, we show that quantum resources allow violation of this law, by providing an illustrative scheme of an experimentally feasible Gaussian MAC.
Continuous variable entanglement creation by means of small cross-Kerr nonlinearity
Authors: Mikhalychev Alexander B.  , Kilin Sergei Ya.
Published: February 2025

We propose a protocol of continuous variable entanglement creation at distances of 100 km using small cross-Kerr nonlinearity χ ≥ χmin≈ 0.01. The protocol corresponds to the contemporary level of experimental equipment and can be used for such practical applications as quantum key distribution.
Atomic quantum memories for light
Authors: Sheremet Alexandra S.  , Mishina Oxana S.  , Giacobino Elisabeth  , Kupriyanov Dmitriy V.
Published: February 2025

We consider the coherent stimulated Raman process developing in an optically dense and disordered atomic medium in application to the quantum memory scheme. Our theoretical model predicts that the hyperfine interaction in the excited state of alkali atoms can positively affect the quantum memory efficiency. Based on the concept of the coherent information transfer we analyze and compare the memory requirements for storage of single photon and macroscopic multi-photon light pulses.
Quantum voting via NV centers in diamond
Authors: Horoshko Dmitri B.  , Kilin Sergei Ya.
Published: February 2025

We describe a scheme for quantum anonymous voting of n participants based on the single nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond. The scheme requires a bipartite entanglement creation between the electronic spins of the two distant NV centers, unitary operation of NV electronic spin together with n nearby nuclear spins of carbon isotopes, and one projective measurement of the electronic spin state - optical readout. As a result, the quantum anonymous voting protocol can be realized, making any attempt of the tallyman to learn who voted which way detectable.
Optimal local protocols for processing of entangled states – local cloning and eavesdropping
Authors: Demkowicz-Dobrzański Rafał
Published: February 2025

The problem of looking for the optimal local operations assisted by classical communication (LOCC) is investigated. A method based on semi-definite programming is presented providing the optimal solutions or in worst case the upper bounds. The method is applied successfully to two problems: local cloning of entangled states and local eavesdropping on secret sharing protocols.
Critical Eddy Current Probe Parameters
Authors: Benson Craig
Published: February 2025

This paper assesses the impact of various eddy current probe parameters in terms of the probe's crack using Wyle's fully automated Eddy Current Inspection Station (ECIS). Probes were manipulated by the ECIS to simulate a certain coil orientation, rotation, or tilt then scanned and indexed across 15 × 8 × 3 mil EDM notch for calibration. Following calibration a set of fatigue cracks ranging from 3 to 23 mils in depth were inspected in both transverse and longitudinal (in-line) orientations with respect to the scan direction with indexing consistent with calibration. Layers of tape were also added to the probe shoe to simulate liftoff, and a potentiometer was added in series with the drive coil to vary the field produced by the drive coil. Drive frequency was varied to assess the system response as a function of drive frequency, and probes of various degrees of imbalance were used to assess the impact of probe balance. For all tests the gain calibration sensitivities were recorded and used to normalize crack responses to effectively obtain un-calibrated crack responses. Calibrated and un-calibrated results were then compared and the experimental results were analyzed and reported. Some work was done to evaluate possible techniques to compensate for various critical probe parameters, but that work will be the topic of a future paper.
Notches Versus Cracks: Effects on Eddy Current Nde Signals from Defect Volume and from Crack Morphology Altered by Mechanical Loading
Authors: Larson B.F.  , Lo C.C.H.  , Nakagawa N.
Published: February 2025

This paper reports on a comprehensive study of eddy current (EC) signal comparisons between those arising from artificial defects (notches) and from laboratory-grown fatigue cracks. This study builds upon our previous work, which studied the effects of the notch volume [1] and of the externally altered crack morphology [2] separately. To understand the relationship between notches and cracks more fully, the two studies have been combined into one research project on notch vs. crack signals, and expanded the scope of the work to apply the previous analyses comprehensively to both aerospace engine materials (titanium-base and nickel-base alloys) and airframe materials (aluminum alloys). To this end, additional samples with notches of various widths have been produced, and a larger number of Ti and Ni base alloy samples with fatigue cracks have been procured. This paper specifically reports on EC signal measurements and calculations aimed at understanding how calibration notch width and crack morphology (closure) affect the eddy current signal.
A New Database Generation Method Combining Maximin Method and Kriging Prediction for Eddy-Current Testing
Authors: Bilicz Sándor  , Lambert Marc  , Vazquez Emmanuel  , Gyimóthy Szabolcs
Published: February 2025

The numerical simulation of eddy-current testing (ECT) methods involves high complexity and expensive computational load. However, one needs reliable solutions (within a reasonable CPU time) for these problems to be able to solve the related inverse problem. One possible approach is to build a problem specific database, containing well-chosen samples (corresponding input data – output signal pairs). Once the database is constructed, the retrieval of the sought information can be done in no time. However, the selection of “well-chosen” samples is not a straightforward task. This paper presents a method which aims to achieve databases being optimal in a certain sense. The classical maximin method is applied, and the realization is based on the kriging prediction.
Crack Shape Reconstruction from ECT Using Topology Constrained Optimization (TOPCSA) Algorithms
Authors: Calvano Flavio  , Caturano Gennaro  , Cavaccini Giovanni  , Rubinacci Guglielmo  , Tamburrino Antonello  , Ventre Salvatore
Published: February 2025

In this contribution the reconstruction of crack shapes from experimental data acquired on a damaged test plate at eddy current frequencies is performed by means of two different zero-order iterative optimization methods: the Genetic Algorithm (GA) and the Clonal Selection Algorithm for Topology Optimization (TOPCSA). A comparison of the performances of the algorithms on ECT experimental data shows the superior behavior of the TOPCSA with respect to the one of the GA.
Neutron Irradiation Embrittlement in Fe-Based Model Alloys Studied by Magnetic Hysteresis Measurements
Authors: Kobayashi Satoru  , Kikuchi Hiroaki  , Takahashi Seiki  , Kamada Yasuhiro  , Yamamoto Takuya  , Klingensmith Doug  , Odette Robert G.
Published: February 2025

Effects of neutron irradiation on magnetic hysteresis loops have been studied in pure Fe, Fe-1wt% Mn, Fe-0.9wt% Cu, and Fe-0.9wt% Cu-1wt% Mn model alloys, which were irradiated at 290°C to a fluence of 3.32 × 1019n/cm2. Minor-loop coefficients which are obtained from scaling relations between minor-loop parameters and are indicators of internal stress, decrease in all model alloys. The decrease of the coefficients is larger for alloys including Cu and is enhanced by 1wt% Mn addition. These changes are inversely proportional to yield stress changes. The results were qualitatively explained on the basis of nanoscale features of irradiation defects and were compared with our previous results of Fe-Cu-Mn-Ni model alloys.
Quantitatively Controllable Left-handed Material Using Parallel LC Resonance Elements
Authors: Zhang Hong Xin  , Huang Yue Wang  , Zhang Yi  , Lu Ying Hua
Published: February 2025

A sort of Left-handed materials (LHMs), which are called PLHMs, were designed by inserting parallel LC resonance elements (PLCREs) into traditional LHMs as isomerization units. The effects of PLCREs were studied numerically by evaluating the transmission spectra of microwaves with both Finite-difference Time-domain (FDTD) and CST simulator. A brand-new pass-band, which is tunable from 2.0GHz to 7.0GHz by varying the capacitance and inductance of the PLCREs, was detected in a lower frequency range. In addition, the PLCREs with capacitors and inductors of different parameters could shift and expand the basic left-handed pass-band of PLHMs. With these novel phenomena, we could achieve the quantitative controllability to design LHMs with desired transmission properties by varying the electrical parameters of PLCREs.
Experimental Investigation of Low Frequency Electromagnetic Wave Interaction with Metallic Nanoparticles
Authors: Nalladega Vijayaraghava  , Sathish Shamachary  , Murray Terry  , Shin Eunsung  , Jata Kumar  , Blodgett Mark  , Knopp Jeremy S.
Published: February 2025

The interaction of electromagnetic radiation with small metallic particles has been studied in greater detail during the last decade. It is well known that the noble metallic nanoparticles, like gold and silver exhibit remarkable optical properties, viz, strong colors exhibited by these nanoparticles. These particles acquire a characteristic color due to plasmon resonance. Plasmon resonance occurs due to coherent oscillation of the conduction band electrons induced by the incident electromagnetic field at optical frequencies. Optical techniques are conventionally used to detect the surface plasmon resonance modes in metallic nanoparticles with nanometer resolution. In these techniques, the electric field around the nanoparticle is usually sensed and imaged. Moreover, these techniques are used at optical frequencies. The imaging of magnetic field around the nanoparticles at high frequencies is very complicated. The imaging of magnetic field around nanoparticles at low frequency electromagnetic radiation has not been reported so far in the literature, to the knowledge of the authors. In this paper, we report a new methodology to image magnetic moments of metallic nanoparticles in low frequency electromagnetic fields. To accomplish this, a traditional atomic force microscope (AFM) is externally modified to detect near-field magnetic fields of the nanoparticles. Samples of silver and platinum nanoparticles are kept in the electromagnetic field excited at frequencies in the range of 30-100 kHz. The magnetic field around the nanoparticles is then detected by a magnetic AFM tip-cantilever positioned at a distance of few nanometers. The output of the cantilever is used to separate topography and magnetic field image using external electronic instrumentation. Magnetic field images are obtained at different frequencies and the effect of size, shape and frequency on the magnetic field distribution is studied. The results of the magnetic field distribution are analyzed in view of the possibility of using the methodology for sensing application.
Evaluation of Eddy Current Probe Signals Due to Interaction with Edge Cracks
Authors: Theodoulidis Theodoros P.  , Poulakis Nikolaos  , Bowler John R.
Published: February 2025

Eddy current coil signals due to a crack at the edge of a right angled conductive wedge have been calculated using a boundary element scheme based on an electric field integral equation with a quarter space kernel. We consider the case in which the edge is perpendicular to plane of a crack which intersects both horizontal and vertical surfaces of the conductive wedge. The properties of the kernel mean that numerical solutions based on boundary or volume elements, can be found by using discrete approximation of the field in the domain of the flaw. Here we describe in general terms the development of a quarter space kernel for finding the quasi-static field due to a corner crack. Coil impedance variations due to the flaw have been calculated from the field and compared with experimental measurements to validate the predictions.
The Man Dancing with Death: The Case of a Soldier Suffering from PTSD, Who was Treated by Means of the Controlled Stress Exposition Method Using Virtual Reality and Behavioral Training
Authors: Tworus Radosław  , Szymańska Sylwia  , Zbyszewski Maciej  , Ilnicki Stanisław
Published: February 2025

This paper presents a case of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a 30-year old soldier of the Polish Military Contingent in Iraq who has narrowly escaped death three times. The first time was during a change of guard when he was unintentionally shot by his colleague from his personal weapon. The projectile penetrated the victim’s helmet, slid along its internal shell curvature and left the shell causing only a scratch on the scalp skin. This incident resulted in an acute stress reaction that vanished without any treatment. The soldier a month after the first incident experienced another traumatic incident. As a guard of honor he was “shot” in the same rear head area with the cap of a tube of cream, inadvertedly stepped on by a colleague. This incident caused a strong reaction to stress that could not be eliminated despite therapeutic activities undertaken by a psychologist and psychiatrist. The third event happened a couple of days later, during a rocket attack on the Diwaniyah base. Just before the attack the soldier was heading for the laundry but he returned from the laundry building as he forgot to take some of his dirty clothes. Right at that time a large-caliber projectile hit the laundry building, destroying it completely and killing an American civilian employee. After this incident the soldier was evacuated to the Clinic of Psychiatry and Combat Stress in Warsaw. Multi-form post-trauma stress disorders that developed in this soldier are described. The course of his comprehensive therapy during his two stays, totaling eight months in duration, in the Clinic are discussed. Also, a detailed description of the therapy using the method of controlled exposure to combat stressors in virtual reality (VR), supplemented with behavioral training consisting in a desensitization of an aversive reaction to contact with weapons at a shooting range, is presented. The comprehensive treatment activities resulted in an actual full remission of the PTSD symptoms. The soldier continues his service in a logistic support unit.
An Explorative Study into a Tele-delivered Multi-patient Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy System
Authors: Paping Christian  , Brinkman Willem-Paul  , van der Mast Charles
Published: February 2025

The use of Virtual Reality (VR) technology to support the treatment of patients with phobia, such as the fear of flying, is getting considerable research attention. VR treatment may provide substantial improvement in efficient use of therapist resources and accessibility by delivering the treatment over the internet, to multiple patients simultaneously. This motivated initial exploration into the possibilities of a multiple-patient Virtual Reality Exposure Treatment (VRET). With such a setup, one therapist can monitor and treat multiple-patients simultaneously, each having their own personal VR treatment at their own personal location. The approach taken was (1) a scenario-based investigation with six therapists that had extensive experience in treating patients with VRET, and (2) a controlled lab experiment with 27 (students) participants to examine the effect of an automated assistance function on the therapists’ workload and performance when treating three computer-simulated patients over the internet. The findings of both the scenario-based investigation and lab experiment are encouraging. They imply that a tele-delivered multi-patient VRET system might be possible in the future, thereby providing treatment at remote locations and making efficient use of therapist resources.
Environment and Human Security in the Eastern Mediterranean: Regional Environmentalism in the Reframing of Palestinian-Israeli-Jordanian Relations
Authors: Schoenfeld Stuart
Published: February 2025

A regional environmental movement reaches across Palestinian, Israeli, and Jordanian political and geographic boundaries. This chapter describes the structure, outlook, achievements, and challenges of several regional environmental civil society initiatives that have been active since the 1990s: the water and environment department of the Israel Palestine Center for Research and Information, EcoPeace/Friends of the Earth Middle East, and the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies. Particular attention is paid to the challenge of frame alignment. Dominant nationalist discourses in the region do not align well with a discourse of a fragile ecosystem that requires robust regional institutions. On the other hand, a discourse of regional ecosystem fragility aligns well with the discourses of sustainable development and of a global and regional environmental crisis in which the Eastern Mediterranean will be particularly harshly impacted by climate change.
Ecosystem Services in the Context of Human Development
Authors: Bobylev Nikolai
Published: February 2025

This paper discusses the role of ecological systems and manmade physical infrastructure in provisioning services and human welfare. The first section discusses concepts of human welfare, human development, environmental security, quality of life, and ecosystem services. The author discusses how these concepts interact and integrates them to lay the foundation for further analysis. The paper reviews ecosystems and manmade infrastructure characteristics, as well as characteristics of their services. Further analysis reveals a general trend that manmade infrastructure substitutes ecosystem services in line with human development and technological progress. The author draws on some examples, which show ecosystem deterioration and inability to provide as many services as needed, dense consumption of infrastructure services in urban areas, and an emerging trend of artificial development of ecosystems to provide services of a better quality. The author thinks that comparative analysis of efficiency in services provision by ecosystems and infrastructure remains an important open research question.