bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bridging the gap between high school and University studies for student with disability
Authors: Ciampi Luca  , Curreri Alfonso  , Donati Massimiliano  , Fanucci Luca  , Gorrasi Federica  , Landucci Stefano  , Mancarella Paolo  , Savoia Fiammetta
Published: February 2025

The choice of the university program represents an important and difficult step for a large part of high school students, especially for those who have to change city and lifestyle to follow their ambitions. In particular, for students with disabilities this choice is even more complicated due to their specific needs concerning both their educational and everyday life. In order to bridge the gap between high school and the University of Pisa, supporting the students during the selection of the program and their stay in Pisa, this paper presents a new model for matching the needs of the students and the existing services in Pisa, with particular attention to those with disabilities. It is based on questionnaires to assess the needs of the students and an accessible website to make available information about places and services offered in Pisa and its surrounding.
Development of safety concept of electric wheelchair driving support system based on assessment of risk
Authors: Kurozumi Ryota  , Yamamoto Toru  , Fujisawa Shoichiro
Published: February 2025

In this research, we pay attention to the electric wheelchair driving support. We look at the functional safety of the electric wheelchair. Based on intrinsically-safe electric wheelchair, we add driving support system to increase functional safety. The driving support system processes the environmental information sensor data including the 3D laser Range scanner and biological monitoring sensor data including electrooculogram, and assists avoidance of dangerous objects. We have developed safety concept that based on assessment of risk.
Work System Characteristics Impacting the Performance and Quality of the Discharge Letter Process
Authors: Watbled Ludivine  , Beuscart-Zephir Marie-Catherine  , Guerlinger Sandra  , Douze Laura  , Lepage Eric  , Darmoni Stéfan J.  , Marcilly Romaric
Published: February 2025

Studies on the impact of a Health Information Technology seldom consider socio-technical characteristics of the work system in which the technology is implemented. Yet those dimensions may act as hidden variables that could explain the inconsistency of impact studies' results in terms of performance, quality and satisfaction. This paper reports on the identification of those variables in the discharge letter (DL) process. Human Factors experts performed an analysis of the work system of the DL process in 17 medical units. The DL process is composed of three sub-processes running with work system differing according to the distribution of tasks, the technology implemented and the work organization. Hidden variables identified are: verification by the physician, technology's integration, number of editing cycles, physicians' preferences etc. Those variables can be collected automatically or by questionnaire. Statistical analyses will have to be performed to know which variable explain impact indicators.
Teaching Nursing Informatics in Australia, Canada and Denmark
Authors: Cummings Elizabeth  , Borycki Elizabeth M.  , Madsen Inge
Published: February 2025

Whilst there is a strong interest in nursing informatics in the graduate nurse population, nursing informatics has been slow to be incorporated into the undergraduate nursing curriculum. Nursing schools in Australia, Canada, and Denmark are all currently involved in redeveloping their curricula to include nursing informatics in a meaningful way. This paper provides a brief historical description of the uptake of nursing informatics in each of the three countries and discusses the required future directions and strategies towards incorporating nursing informatics into the undergraduate curriculum.
Nurse Practitioner Perceptions of the Impact of Electronic Medical Records Upon Clinical Practice
Authors: Borycki Elizabeth M.  , Sangster-Gormley Esther  , Schreiber Rita  , Feddema April  , Griffith Janessa  , Swamy Mindy
Published: February 2025

A survey was conducted in the province of British Columba, Canada with nurse practitioners (NP). This paper reports on the quantitative and qualitative findings of the survey questions specifically focused on NP perceptions of the clinical impacts associated with using electronic medical records (EMRs) in a primary care setting. Findings suggest that although NPs perceived EMRs to improve the overall quality of clinical decisions, challenges remain in terms of tailoring the design of EMRs to address NP needs.
Towards Evidence Based Usability in Health Informatics?
Authors: Marcilly Romaric  , Peute Linda W.  , Beuscart-Zephir Marie-Catherine  , Jaspers Monique W.
Published: February 2025

In a Health Information Technology (HIT) regulatory context in which the usability of this technology is more and more a critical issue, there is an increasing need for evidence based usability practice. However, a clear definition of evidence based usability practice and how to achieve it is still lacking. This paper underlines the need for evidence based HIT design and provides a definition of evidence based usability practice as the conscientious, explicit and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions in design of interactive systems in health by applying usability engineering and usability design principles that have proven their value in practice. Current issues that hamper evidence based usability practice are highlighted and steps needed to achieve evidence are presented.
Safer Design - Composable EHRs and Mechanisms for Safety
Authors: Senathirajah Yalini
Published: February 2025

As the deployment of health information technology progresses, issues of usability and safety, including the possibility of technology-induced errors have come to the fore. Increased complexity of care delivery models and emergent conditions such as the Ebola scare in the US point to the difficulty of design that allows for human cognitive limits while meeting complex needs. We previously described a modular composable approach to health information systems, which gives the end-user some control of design and allows for creation of systems meeting myriad and varied needs. Here we discuss how the different drag/drop interaction paradigm has implications for health IT safety via several mechanisms. These include display fragmentation and the need to changeably prioritize information elements, interruptions, fit to tasks and contexts, and rapid changeability allowing low-cost readjustments when lack of fit is found.
Stability Analysis of Unsaturated Soil Slope Considering the Variability of Soil-water Characteristic Curve
Authors: Zhang L.  , Yan W.M.
Published: February 2025

Soil slopes are generally unsaturated in which the soil-water characteristic curve (SWCC) plays an important role in its hydro-mechanical response. The commonly used Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion in saturated soil mechanics could be extended to take SWCC into account which is then able to determine the shear strength of unsaturated soil. Like many other soil properties, spatial variation of SWCC within a soil domain is expected. It therefore gives a spectrum of varying shear strength across the unsaturated soil slope. In this study, the effect of this spatial variability on slope stability will be investigated. As a first trial, the true cohesion, friction angle and degree of saturation of the unsaturated ground are assumed to be deterministic. SWCC of the soil is described by the van Genuchten model parameters, which are assumed to follow a prescribed probability density function. Therefore, a random field of apparent cohesion due to unsaturation can then be generated using the Cholesky decomposition method. The necessary statistical information for the random fields could be obtained by the Monte Carlo approach based the varied SWCC. The slope stability analysis is carried out using the finite element analysis method. For a given saturation degree, thousands of realizations of the random fields will be generated and the probability of failure is then evaluated. The relationship between the degree of saturation and probability of failure will be examined. Besides, the influence of correlation length of soil shear strength on the probability of failure will also be analyzed.
Uncertainties in redesigning an existing quay wall
Authors: Oung Oubbol  , Brassinga Henk
Published: February 2025

A feasibility study was carried out on the redesigning of an existing quay wall of a core harbor in the Netherlands, which was more than 45 years old. The geotechnical behavior of the existing quay wall, especially because of its age, as a response to the maximum load change is undoubtedly the uncertain parameter here. The design and redesign aspects have been considered: the evaluation of the current situation, the remaining lifetime of the structure and other aspects like corrosion and fatigue of the construction materials and the change in design standards between the past and the future situations. No monitoring and measurements were available. Inspection on steel structural elements showed some corrosion, to which extend was unknown. The history of load usage of the quay wall was not registered. After a preliminary redesign, it is clear that some uncertainties would remain. It was concluded that the lack of information in the current situation constitutes the main obstacle to a straightforward redesign and the use of Finite Element Method modelling reveals a failure mechanism, which was not encountered earlier. Because of the technical risks, a redesign of such existing and complex quay wall would necessitate an extensive design procedure to increase reliability.
Reliability of GBInSAR Monitoring in Ingelsberg Landslide Area (Bad Hofgastein, Austria)
Authors: Romeo Saverio  , Kieffer Daniel Scott  , Di Matteo Lucio
Published: February 2025

The present work shows and discusses the GBInSAR measurements for the Ingelsberg area, where one of the most dangerous landslide of Salzburg region is located (Bad Hofgastein – Austria). It is a rockfall developing on an area of about 40000 m2which is characterized by the outcropping of anti-dip stratified green and calc-mica schists. The GBInSAR monitoring campaign started on March, 2013 (scan time of about 5 minutes): data acquired by the radar instrument were integrated with those from other traditional monitoring systems consisting in 3 cameras placed near the slope and 5 extensometers placed in the landslide Head Area. In order to evaluate the reliability of GBInSAR monitoring, a comparison with displacement data from extensometers was made. During March-December 2013 at least 5 events were observed, the main of which occurred during April-May-June period (3 events), representing a key period for the landslides occurrence in this region. Taking as reference this period, the comparison of the two monitoring techniques showed a good correlation, indicating that the monitoring system of the Ingelsberg landslide is reliable and useful for further analysis, such as the application and checking of the techniques to predict the time to slope failure (TSF).
GETSmart: Guided Education and Training via Smart Phones to Promote Resilience
Authors: Roy Michael J.  , Highland Krista B.  , Costanzo Michelle A.
Published: February 2025

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is common in U.S. military service members (SMs) returning from Afghanistan and Iraq. SMs with PTSD symptoms that fall short of meeting full diagnostic criteria also experience devastating effects on their quality of life and daily functioning. Though evidence based treatments are indicated for those meeting diagnostic criteria, less attention has been given to interventions for those with subthreshold symptoms. The advent of novel technologies affords a unique opportunity to meet these intervention needs. Here we describe the feasibility and preliminary findings testing a smartphone-based intervention program to reduce PTSD symptoms in post-deployment SMs. Participants were randomized to a control or intervention condition. Those in the intervention condition engaged in one Skype session and six weeks of daily directive text messages guiding application (app) use. Apps primarily included those developed by the Department of Defense or VA. Participants completed the PTSD Checklist online at baseline, post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up. Overall, participant feedback was positive, regardless of treatment condition. Preliminary findings (with 10% of the overall target population having enrolled) indicate PCL scores decrease significantly from baseline to post-intervention, and these effects are maintained at 3-month follow-up. Additional analyses will be performed upon completion of the study. The present findings demonstrate the feasibility and acceptability of a smartphone-based resiliency training program for those with subthreshold PTSD.
InSPAL: A Novel Immersive Virtual Learning Programme
Authors: Byrne Julia  , Ip Horace H.S.  , Shuk-Ying Lau Kate  , Chen Li Richard  , Tso Amy  , Choi Catherine
Published: February 2025

In this paper we introduce The Interactive Sensory Program for Affective Learning (InSPAL) a pioneering virtual learning programme designed for the severely intellectually disabled (SID) students, who are having cognitive deficiencies and other sensory-motor handicaps, and thus need more help and attention in overcoming their learning difficulties. Through combining and integrating interactive media and virtual reality technology with the principles of art therapy and relevant pedagogical techniques, InSPAL aims to strengthen SID students' pre-learning abilities, promote their self-awareness, decrease behavioral interferences with learning as well as social interaction, enhance their communication and thus promote their quality of life.
A Pilot Study Using Mindfulness-Guided-Relaxation & Biofeedback To Alleviate Stress In A Group
Authors: Theiler Stephen
Published: February 2025

The following study investigated the efficacy of a mindfulness intervention to reduce staff stress at a university in Melbourne that was undergoing a restructure and relocation. Using mindfulness guided-relaxation that incorporated positive emotions, controlled breathing and biofeedback monitors, 13 university staff recorded their sympathetic and parasympathetic activity over a four week period. They also supplied qualitative reflections of their experience. After one session of guided-relaxation and biofeedback there were significant increases in parasympathetic activity. For those people that continued practicing guided-relaxation by listening to a digital recording of the session, these gains continued to increase.
A Numerical Study of Poroelastic Geomechanical Processes during Fluid Injection in Confined Geological Reservoirs
Authors: Monfared Kamelia Atefi  , Rothenburg Leo
Published: February 2025

A new fully coupled axisymmetric numerical model is presented to describe the poroelastic geomechanical processes involved during fluid injection in geological reservoirs. Unlike previous studies, impacts of vertical confinement controlled by seal rock stiffness on the coupled reaction of the reservoir rock during injection are incorporated in the model. Therefore, a more realistic representation of soil's response to injection can be obtained. To evaluate the degree of the impact of seal rock stiffness, three case scenarios are assessed: seal rocks with high stiffness values; flexible seal rocks, and seal rocks with minimal stiffness. For each case, a comprehensive analysis is performed on the evolution of stresses, strains, and pore pressures throughout the transient period of an injection cycle. Numerical results are compared against theoretical expressions for validation.
Determinação de esforços na parede de poços cilíndricos de grande diâmetro escavados pelo método sequencial através de métodos numéricos
Authors: Cortizo Paloma Teles  , de Almeida Barros Pérsio Leister
Published: February 2025

O método de escavação sequencial na vertical tem sido utilizado recentemente na execução de poços de grande diâmetro, principalmente no ataque de obras de sistema de transporte urbano de passageiros, como ventilação e saídas de emergência e na construção de estações destes sistemas, em estações de tratamento de esgoto e em projetos hidroelétricos. Os poços oferecem várias vantagens em relação ao método mais tradicional de valas escoradas e/ou atirantadas, principalmente devido à maior estabilidade das paredes dada pela sua forma curva, além da versatilidade arquitetônica de não se ter escoramentos intermediários. Este trabalho apresenta procedimentos de cálculo dos esforços na parede de poços cilíndricos, sob ação das pressões laterais exercidas pelo maciço circundante, com a finalidade de dimensionamento dessa parede. É apresentado um procedimento baseado em uma modelagem da parede do poço pelo Método dos Elementos Finitos e do solo pelo modelo de Winkler não linear, comparando-se com resultado do método clássico de Terzaghi e por método numérico de diferenças finitas através do programa comercial FLAC.
Load-settlement curve of continuous flight auger piles
Authors: Gusmão Alexandre Duarte  , de Oliveira Karla Patrícia Souza
Published: February 2025

It is estimated that the continuous flight auger piles currently represent about 75% of the market for deep foundations for buildings in Recife. Therefore, it is essential to know the performance of such piles, in order to optimize the design of foundations. This paper presents a case history of construction of a shopping center in Recife, whose foundation was about 4,000 continuous flight auger piles with 20 to 25m deep. The results of 40 static load tests are presented and analyzed, including comparisons with predictions from usual semi-empirical methods. At the end, it is proposed a method to obtain the load-settlement curve for continuous flight auger piles.
Rate Effects in Constant Rate of Strain Compression Tests on Unsaturated Soils to High Pressures
Authors: Mun Woongju  , McCartney John S.
Published: February 2025

This paper presents an investigation into the effect of strain rate on the results from constant rate of strain compression tests on unsaturated soils to isotropic pressures up to 110 MPa. Unsaturated conditions and high pressures lead to complex considerations on the testing methodology, as the strain rate required to maintain constant dissipation of pore water pressure depends on the effects of the degree of saturation and void ratio on the hydraulic conductivity. The rate of loading also has practical concerns in the duration of testing. Experimental results are presented from compression tests on unsaturated, compacted clay using a high pressure true triaxial cell under different rates of strain. Suction was controlled in the tests using the axis translation technique, which provides a constant head boundary condition. This approach also permits evaluation of water outflow during compression and the onset of pressurized saturation. The rate of strain effect was assessed by comparing the constant rate of strain tests having different rates with those from an incremental consolidation test, and it was found that the rates of strain in the constant rate of strain test recommended from empirical methods are too fast to ensure proper dissipation of excess pore water pressure in unsaturated soils at high stresses.
Behavior and Stability of Cohesive Dike Cover Layers
Authors: Achmus Martin  , Pohl Martin  , Temmler Helmut
Published: February 2025

Sea dikes at the German North Sea coast mostly consist of a sand core covered by a cohesive ‘Klei’ layer. The task of the cover layer is the protection of the sand core from erosion by wave attack and the minimization of water seeping through into the core. The usual requirements for Klei soils regarded suitable for a cover layer are presented and discussed. Decisive for the behavior of cover layers are the features of the structured soil, i.e. the soil after formation of aggregates and fissures due to weathering. The knowledge regarding the features of structured Klei is described and design approaches for infiltration capacity and analysis of possible failure states with consideration of soil structure are presented and discussed.
Dry Stacking of Filtered Tailings in the Andean Region of South America – An Engineered and Environmentally Friendly Solution
Authors: Vargas Carlos Cacciuttolo  , Bloch Agustín Holgado
Published: February 2025

South America holds some of the largest mining projects around the world. Over the past centuries, mineral richness have stimulated the development of large mining projects with productions over 50,000 tons per day (tpd), which signified new challenges to manage mine wastes, specially tailings. From the Inca empire era, mining also has resulted in what are still breath taking engineering feats, such as: railways through Andes Mountains, bridges that cross chasms, impressive tunnels and amazing hydraulic management. Nowadays, the efficient water/tailings management and physical stability of tailings storage facilities are a priority need. Considering the extreme site-specific conditions of Andes Mountains - dry weather with rainy season, abrupt mountain topography, complex seismic conditions, community environmental constraints and a stringent regulatory framework, a filtered tailings technology has been positioning like an attractive/effective solution for tailings management.
Numerical simulation of blast response of cemented paste backfills
Authors: Suazo Gonzalo  , Fourie Andy
Published: February 2025

The stopes left after underground ore extraction are sometimes filled with a mixture of recycled full stream tailings, mine process water and a hydraulic binder agent such as cement. This material is usually known as cemented paste backfill (CPB) and has gained great popularity in underground operations in the recent past. In order to retain the fill inside the stope a barricade is constructed across the access drive. These stopes are usually subjected to blast loading resulting from the extraction of contiguous ore body. Understanding the dynamic response of the stopes at early curing ages may improve the design and performance of barricades thus preventing, in extreme cases, their structural collapse and the consequent inrush of fresh CPB to mining areas. In this article, simulations are carried out on a backfilled stope subjected to blasthole explosions using the explicit nonlinear FE code LS-DYNA. To account for the pore water pressure build-up within the fill, a suitable soil model available in LS-DYNA was chosen. In the first part of this article, the propagation of stress waves through rock was studied and results compared to experimentally obtained scaling laws for site specific conditions. In the second part, the effects of single blasthole detonation, and its proximity to the stope, on the total horizontal stress exerted by the fill on the barricade was researched. In addition to this, the blast-induced liquefaction potential of CPB was also numerically examined.
Centrifuge Test to Evaluate Internal Strut Loads in Shallow Underground Retaining Structures
Authors: Hill Adrienne  , Getchell Jill  , Ghayoomi Majid
Published: February 2025

Underground structures are important civil infrastructure in modern urban areas. They are used in a wide range of engineering applications including building foundations, underground transportation systems, and underground storage facilities. The stability of the excavated ground is a major challenge in the design and construction processes. Bracing approaches have been implemented in the current state-of-practice to ensure the safety of the excavation. One common braced excavation system involves vertical retaining walls on both sides of the excavated ground held in place using horizontal internal struts. These struts are designed using empirical lateral pressure distribution envelopes. A set of scaled physical models were designed and tested to evaluate these internal strut loads and compare them with empirically predicted values. The empirical equations predicted lower strut loads than what were measured experimentally. Several reasons could result in the difference, especially the fixity of the structure, construction process, and the depth of the model.
Study of tunnel face stability in soil: A comparison of methods
Authors: Rocha Matheus  , das Graças de Almeida Gardoni Maria  , De Assis André Pacheco  , Costa Vinícius de Sousa
Published: February 2025

There has recently been a surge in the study of tunnel boring in low resistance soils. The study of face stability of tunnels drilled into this type of soil has enhanced with the use of tunnel boring machines. Face stability can be assured by applying pressure to the face of the tunnel in order to equalize forces caused by excavation. The right pressure on the tunnel face can prevent further collapse. A collapse can have disastrous effects which may involve the whole structure, as well as workers and machines. In the present study, the analysis of tunnel face stability was conducted using mathematical models based on the limit analysis of Plasticity Theory and the Finite Element Method. The latter method has been widely used; however, it still requires powerful computers and considerable computational time to generate the results. Simpler mathematical models can be useful in engineering practices. This study presents a comparison of some stability analysis methods for the tunnel face excavated in soil, using the analytical mathematical models based on the limit analysis of Plasticity Theory proposed by Leca and Dormieux [5] and Mollon et al. [6] and the Finite Element Method using Plaxis 3D software.
Estudo do uso de fibra de cana-de-açúcar para fins de melhoramento de solo
Authors: Guimarães Adinele Gomes  , Pons Nívea Adriana Dias  , Rangel Ana Carolina Moraes
Published: February 2025

Este trabalho apresenta os resultados iniciais do estudo de adição de fibra de cana-de-açucar para dois tipos de solos encontrados no Campus José Rodrigues Seabra da Universidade Federal de Itajubá (UNIFEI) em Itajubá/MG. Foram realizadas análises laboratoriais, através dos ensaios de compressão simples e cisalhamento direto, para verificação das melhorias nos parâmetros geotécnicos de resistência, através da adição de fibras de cana-de-açúcar em porcentagens de 0, 0,25, 0,5, 1 e 2% em massa de solo. Os solos estudados foram classificados como ML (Silte Arenoso) de acordo com o método de Classificação Unificado. Observou-se com os resultados dos ensaios um aumento significativo da resistência à compressão com a adição de fibra quando comparado com o solo puro. A coesão e o ângulo de atrito também aumentaram, porém, exibiram diferentes comportamentos em relação a quantidade de fibra adicionada. Ensaios complementares estão sendo realizados, mas a metodologia mostrou-se promissora como alternativa para o correto descarte desse resíduo fibroso.
Ancoragens passivas. Detalhes (I)
Authors: Ferreira Sandra  , Sarra Pistone Raúl
Published: February 2025

O recurso a ancoragens passivas como elementos de estabilização/de reforço dos maciços constitui uma prática de corrente aplicação na geotecnia. Contudo, aspetos como o sistema de selagem e eventual reinjeção, a durabilidade, a previsão do comportamento a longo prazo, assim como confirmação dos pressupostos de projeto e das metodologias de execução, nem sempre são temas abordados de forma relevante e sistemática nas fases de projeto e de obra. Para além dos aspetos mencionados, o presente artigo centra-se nos ensaios de ancoragens passivas como elemento de sustentação e adequação deste tipo de solução. Questões como o programa de ensaio, o sistema de reação e os dispositivos de leitura, constituem aspetos fundamentais para a garantia de resultados fidedignos e realistas, que por sua vez permitirão confirmar os pressupostos de projeto e inferir o comportamento deste tipo de elementos a longo prazo.
Mechanical Modeling of Gas Hydrate Bearing Sediments Using an Elasto-Plastic Framework
Authors: Gai Xuerui  , Sanchez Marcelo
Published: February 2025

Gas hydrates are generally present in oil-producing areas and in permafrost regions. Methane release from gas hydrate sediments negatively impact on greenhouse effects. Furthermore, methane hydrate deposits can lead to large-scale submarine slope failures, blowouts, platform foundation failures, and borehole instability. Gas hydrates constitute also an attractive source of energy as they are estimated to contain very large reserves of methane. This paper presents a new constitutive model to simulate the mechanical behavior of methane hydrate-bearing soil based on the concept of Hierarchical Single Surface (HISS) framework. The core of the proposed model include HISS critical state framework, sub-loading concept and hydrate enhancement factor. The performance of the model has been found satisfactory using triaxial test data from already published laboratory-synthesized samples.
Coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical evaluation of a full scale heat experiment
Authors: Jacinto Abel Carlos  , Ledesma Alberto
Published: February 2025

This work describes the performance, observations and interpretation of the Temperature Buffer Test (TBT), a full-scale field experiment carried out at the Äspö Hard Rock Laboratory in Sweden, simulating repository conditions for high level radioactive waste. The overall objective of the project was to investigate how well the bentonite buffer can endure the high temperatures expected to be found around vitrified waste canisters. In the experiment, two individually powered heaters were emplaced vertically on top of each other in a pit excavated in crystalline rock and simulated the heat production of radioactive waste. The test was run at high temperatures and with controlled hydraulic boundary conditions. An extensive instrumentation of the test gave information about the thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) behaviour of the near-field region constituted by the compacted bentonite barrier surrounding the heater and the immediately adjacent rock. The performance and analysis of the in situ test have significantly enhanced the understanding of a complex THM problem. Interpretation of experimental results was assisted by the performance of a coupled numerical analysis based on a formulation that incorporates the relevant THM phenomena. Special attention was paid to the progress of hydration in the barrier, to the effects of heating and vapour transport, and to the development of swelling pressures in the barrier. The analysis has proven the capability of the numerical formulation to provide adequate predictive capacity.
Prediction of Excess Pore Water Pressure during Undrained Heating of Clays
Authors: Ghaaowd Ismaail  , Mccartney John S.
Published: February 2025

This paper focuses on the prediction of thermally-induced excess pore water pressure generation in saturated clays during undrained heating. This study involves an analysis of experimental data presented in the literature for normally consolidated clays with different mineralogical compositions. In these studies, the clays were heated under isotropic conditions from room temperature to a maximum change in temperature of 80°C using thermal triaxial cells. The magnitude of thermally-induced excess pore water pressure was observed to depend on the porosity, the thermal coefficient of cubical expansion of the soil particles, the change in temperature, the compressibility of the soil skeleton, and the physico-chemical coefficient of structural volume change. A relationship between the physico-chemical coefficient of structural volume change and the plasticity index of the clay was proposed in order to define an empirical model that can be used to predict the thermally-induced excess pore water pressure for saturated soils in general.
Multi-Strategy Term Similarity Relation Recognition Based on Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation
Authors: Yin Xi-Hong  , Qiao Xiao-Dong  , Zhang Yun-Liang
Published: February 2025

Multiple strategies and fuzzy comprehensive evaluation were used to recognize term similarity relation types. First, a variety of similarity algorithms were used to calculate the term similarities, and then the relations and intervals were identified by continuous attribute discretization algorithm. The sample distribution probability was used to determine the membership degree of the interval to the relations, and the weight of elements were determined by particle swarm algorithm and cross validation method. Then, all the calculation results were combined using a fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method to recognize the term similarity relation types. Finally, the precision, recall, and F value were used to evaluate the effect of the results, and the results were compared to the experimental results of the SVM to demonstrate the effectiveness of this method. This experiment regarded the Chinese scientific and technical vocabulary system (new energy vehicles) as the test set. The results showed that the method was able to recognize the term similarity relation types effectively.
Analyzing Privacy Risks of mHealth Applications
Authors: Mense Alexander  , Steger Sabrina  , Sulek Matthias  , Jukic-Sunaric Dragan  , Mészáros András
Published: February 2025

Mobile health applications are expected to play a major role for the management of personal health in the future. For this purpose, the apps collect a lot of sensitive data from sensors or direct user input, combine it with automatic data such as GPS location data, store it locally and pass it on to web-platforms (often running in a public cloud), where the information can be managed and often shared with others in social networks. However, it is usually not transparent for the user how this sensitive information is handled and where it goes to. This paper shows the result of the analysis of mobile health applications regarding the handling of sensitive data especially with respect to transmission to third-parties.
Clinical Data Models at University Hospitals of Geneva
Authors: Vishnyakova Dina  , Gaudet-Blavignac Christophe  , Baumann Philippe  , Lovis Christian
Published: February 2025

In order to reuse data for clinical research it is then necessary to overcome two main challenges – to formalize data sources and to increase the portability. Once the challenge is resolved, it then will allow research applications to reuse clinical data. In this paper, three data models such as entity-attribute-value, ontological and data-driven are described. Their further implementation at University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG) in the data integration methodologies for operational healthcare data sources of the European projects such as DebugIT and EHR4CR and national project the Swiss Transplant Cohort Study are explained. In these methodologies the clinical data are either aligned according to standardised terminologies using different processing techniques or transformed and loaded directly to data models. Then these models are compared and discussed based on the quality criteria. The comparison shows that the described data models are strongly dependent on the objectives of the projects.
Mixed Methods: A Paradigm for Holistic Evaluation of Health IT
Authors: Scott Philip J.
Published: February 2025

This contribution offers an overview of the ‘third research paradigm’, its historical roots and its relevance for health informatics. Using illustrative studies, we explore the concepts of triangulation and integration of quantitative and qualitative data and refute common philosophical objections to mixing different types of knowledge. We consider how the mixed method paradigm relates to two programme design and evaluation frameworks that are important for health informatics: realist evaluation and Theory of Change. We discuss how to manage practical challenges to this approach and explain how mixed method studies support an evidence-based approach to real world policy, planning and investment decisions.
Ensuring Evidence-Based Safe and Effective mHealth Applications
Authors: Vallespin Bárbara  , Cornet Joan  , Kotzeva Anna
Published: February 2025

The Internet and the digitalization of information have brought big changes in healthcare, but the arrival of smartphones and tablets represent a true revolution and a new paradigm is opened which completely changes our lives. In order to validate the impact of these new technologies in health care, it is essential to have enough clinical studies that validate their impact in wellbeing and healthcare of the patient. Traditional regulatory organisations are still looking for their role in this area. If they follow the classical path of medical devices, we get to a technical, administration and economic collapse. This contribution first presents the main indicators showing the potential of mHealth adoption. It then proposes a classification of mobile health care apps, and presents frameworks for mHealth evaluation. Regulation of mHealth as part of the evaluation process is discussed. Finally, the necessary steps and challenges that have to be taken into account by the industry to prepare the entrance of these technologies into the EU market is analysed.
Learning, Training and Teaching of Health Informatics and its Evidence for Informaticians and Clinical Practice
Authors: Hovenga Evelyn  , Grain Heather
Published: February 2025

A globally agreed well structured framework representing the health informatics discipline's body of knowledge is yet to emerge. Considerable progress has been made towards describing this over the fifty or so years of the discipline's evolution. This contribution explains the need for such a structured body of knowledge from an educational and workforce capacity building perspective. Some examples of how education and training has been provided to date by a few key stakeholders/leaders are given and critical reviews of guideline and competency developments and their applications are presented. This is followed by an explanation of the need for linking health informatics research with education, learning and training strategies and desired future directions to overcome the identified health workforce knowledge and skills gaps are explored. Given the increasingly important role of health IT in health care, and the significant investment being made into Health IT systems and infrastructure, it is illogical not to seriously invest in health workforce capacity building.
Impact of Internet on Cytology Information Management
Authors: Luić Ljerka  , Molnar Livia
Published: February 2025

Internet technologies and services impose global information standards in the sphere of healthcare as a whole, which are then implied and applied in the domain of cytology laboratories. Web-based operations form a significant operating segment of any contemporary cytology laboratory as they enable operations by the use of technology, which is usually free of the restrictions imposed by the traditional way of business (geographic area and narrow localisation of activities). In their operations, almost all healthcare organisations currently create and use electronic data anddocuments, which can originate both inside and outside the organisation. An enormous amount of information thus used and exchanged may be processed timely and in a high-quality way only by integrated information systems, given three basic safety requirements: data confidentiality, integrity and availability. In the Republic of Croatia, integration of private and public healthcare information systems has been ongoing for several years but the private healthcare does not yet operate as an integrated system. Instead, each office operates using its own separate information system, i.e. database. This paper elaborates the argument that the sample private cytology laboratory possesses an IT system that meets current market and stakeholder needs of the healthcare sector in Croatia, given that private doctors' offices/polyclinics use IT technologies in their operations but make only partial use of Internet capacities in the segment of communication with their business associates and patients, implying the need to continue the research on a statistically relevant sample of EU countries.
A Process Model for IT Migrations in the Context of a Hospital Merger – Results from an Austrian Case Study
Authors: Steininger Katharina  , Kempinger Birgit  , Schiffer Stefan  , Pomberger Gustav
Published: February 2025

In 2016, a new university hospital merged from three former independent Austrian hospitals started its operation. This paper presents a process model developed to coordinate the IT migration after the merger, using five phases to meet the requirements of the specific setting. A methodological mix of interviews, surveys and workshops was applied during the IT migration process. High stakeholder participation and a transparent methodical approach led to a broad agreement on success factors, migration objectives, and evaluation results. Thus, acceptance for the finally selected migration scenario was very high among employees, which is known to be crucial for the success of migration projects.
How Is My Field Evolving? – Network Based Analysis of Biomedical Scientific Discourse
Authors: Spreckelsen Cord  , Kabino Klaus
Published: February 2025

Background: Gaining overview on a biomedical field of research becomes challenging due to the increasing amount of publications. Computer-supported discourse analysis based on bibliometric data could help scientists to identify focal points and trends.
Interoperability Architecture for a Paediatric Oncology European Reference Network
Authors: Nitzlnader Michael  , Canete Nieto Adela  , Ribelles Antonio Juan  , Brunmair Barbara  , Ladenstein Ruth  , Schreier Günter
Published: February 2025

With the Directive 2011/24/EU on patients' rights in cross-border healthcare and the related delegated decisions, the European Commission defined a legal framework on how healthcare shall be organised by European Union (EU) member states (MS) where patients can move beyond the borders of their home country. Among other aspects, Article 12 of the directive is concerned with supporting MS with the development of so called European Reference Networks (ERN), dedicated to the treatment of “patients with a medical condition requiring a particular concentration of expertise in medical domains where expertise is rare”. In the “European Expert Paediatric Oncology Reference Network for Diagnostics and Treatment” (ExPO-r-Net) project, the establishment of such an ERN in the domain of Paediatric Oncology is currently piloted. The present paper describes the high level use cases, the main requirements and a corresponding interoperability architecture capable to serve as the necessary IT platform to facilitate cross-border health data exchange.
Interactive Public Peer Review™: an innovative approach to scientific quality assurance
Authors: Van Edig Xenia
Published: February 2025

Besides providing open access to the article, Copernicus Publications provides open access to the peer review via its Interactive Public Peer Review™. In this process, a public discussion among the author, two independent referees, and interested members of the scientific community builds the core of the peer-review process.
Health and training monitoring system based on wearable sensors
Authors: Bikulciene Liepa  , Poderiene Kristina
Published: February 2025

ITEA2 project CareWare approach efficiently perform wearable sensor data processing and data fusion in order to visualize the holistic view of user's health and training status personalized, intuitively and trustworthy way and give feedback for user about individualized intensity and time of exercising control.
A computational platform for continuous seizure anticipitation, monitoring and clinical evaluation
Authors: Giannakakis Giorgos  , Pediaditis Matthew  , Stavrinidis George  , Konstantinidis George  , Kritsotakis Vangelis  , Tsakanikas Vasilis  , Ligerakis Michael  , Sakkalis Vangelis  , Vorgia Pelagia  , Tsiknakis Manolis
Published: February 2025

The development of platforms that are able to continuously monitor and handle epileptic seizures in a non invasive manner is of great importance as they would improve the quality of life of drug resistant epileptic patients. In this work, a device and a computational platform is presented for acquiring low noise electroencephalographic signals, for the detection/prediction of epileptic seizures and the storage of ictal activity in an electronic personal health record. In order to develop this platform, a systematic clinical protocol was established including a number of drug resistant children from the University Hospital of Heraklion. Dry electrodes with innovative micro-spike design were proposed in order to increase the signal to noise ratio of the recorded EEG signals. A wearable low cost platform and its corresponding wireless communication protocol was developed focus on minimizing the interference with the patient's body. A computational subsystem with advanced algorithms provides detection/anticipation of upcoming seizure activity and aims to protect the patient from an accident due to a seizure or to improve his/her social life. Finally, the seizure activity information is stored in an electronic health record for further clinical evaluation.
Implementation of a Web Portal for Diabetes Patients Using Open Source Data Visualization Libraries
Authors: Kopanitsa Georgy  , Karpov Anatoly  , Lakovenko Georgy  , Laskovenko Andrey
Published: February 2025

To provide a better doctor-patient communication and to better involve patients into a diagnostic and treatment process we implemented a web portal for diabetes patients using open source libraries to present medical data. The medical data was “archetyped” according to the ISO 13606 standard. Visualization properties were defined using visual medical concepts (VMC) in XML format. JQuery libraries were used to build static and dynamic diagrams. To implement user requirements' based interfaces we conducted interviews with doctors and patient focus groups. To test the usability of the portal we conducted usability testing interviews from January to February 2015.
Non-Contact Heart Rate Monitoring Using Lab Color Space
Authors: Rahman Hamidur  , Ahmed Mobyen Uddin  , Begum Shahina
Published: February 2025

Research progressing during the last decade focuses more on non-contact based systems to monitor Heart Rate (HR) which are simple, low-cost and comfortable to use. Most of the non-contact based systems are using RGB videos which is suitable for lab environment. However, it needs to progress considerably before they can be applied in real life applications. As luminance (light) has significance contribution on RGB videos HR monitoring using RGB videos are not efficient enough in real life applications in outdoor environment. This paper presents a HR monitoring method using Lab color facial video captured by a webcam of a laptop computer. Lab color space is device independent and HR can be extracted through facial skin color variation caused by blood circulation considering variable environmental light. Here, three different signal processing methods i.e., Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), Independent Component Analysis (ICA) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) have been applied on the color channels in video recordings and blood volume pulse (BVP) has been extracted from the facial regions. In this study, HR is subsequently quantified and compare with a reference measurement. The result shows that high degrees of accuracy have been achieved compared to the reference measurements. Thus, this technology has significant potential for advancing personal health care, telemedicine and many real life applications such as driver monitoring.