bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Applications of infrared and Raman micro-spectroscopy of cells and tissue in medical diagnostics: Present status and future promises
Authors: Diem Max  , Miljković Miloš  , Bird Benjamin  , Chernenko Tatyana  , Schubert Jen  , Marcsisin Ellen  , Mazur Antonella  , Kingston Erin  , Zuser Evgenia  , Papamarkakis Kostas  , Laver Nora
Published: February 2025

This review summarizes the progress achieved over the past fifteen years in applying vibrational (Raman and IR) spectroscopy to problems of medical diagnostics and cellular biology. During this time, a number of research groups has verified the enormous information content of vibrational spectra; in fact, genomic, proteomic and metabolomic information can be deduced by decoding the observed vibrational spectra. This decoding process is aided enormously by the availability of high power computer workstations, and advanced algorithms for data analysis. Furthermore, commercial instrumentation for the fast collection of both Raman and infrared microspectral data has rendered practical the collection of images based solely on spectral data. The progress in the field has been manifested by a steady increase in the number and quality of publications submitted by established and new research groups in vibrational biological and biomedical arenas.
Fluorescence lifetime imaging of propranolol uptake in living glial C6 cells
Authors: Bisby Roger H.  , Botchway Stanley W.  , Crisostomo Ana G.  , Parker Anthony W.  , Scherer Kathrin M.
Published: February 2025

Uptake of the β-blocker drug propranolol by living glial C6 cells has been observed using fluorescence lifetime imaging with two-photon excitation at 630 nm. Both uptake and release of propranolol occur within minutes and are temperature dependent, being about 5 times faster at 37°C than at 20°C. The intracellular fluorescence lifetime of propranolol is generally shorter than the value of 9.8 ns determined in dilute neutral aqueous solution and the difference is ascribed to concentration quenching. Within the cells propranolol is accumulated within intracellular acidic vesicles and the cytoplasm, but is excluded from the cell nucleus. On incubation of cells in medium containing 100 μM propranolol, the drug is accumulated to reach intracellular concentrations up to 10 mM in a process that is believed to be driven by protonation within acidic cellular compartments.
Characterization of type I and IV collagens by Raman microspectroscopy: Identification of spectral markers of the dermo-epidermal junction
Authors: Nguyen T.T.  , Gobinet C.  , Feru J.  , Brassart-Pasco S.  , Manfait M.  , Piot O.
Published: February 2025

Type I and IV collagens are important constituents of the skin. Type I collagen is found in all dermal layers in high proportion while type IV collagen is localized in the basement membrane of the dermo-epidermal junction (DEJ). These proteins are strongly altered during aging or cancer progression. Although they possess amino acid compositions which are close, they present also important structural differences inducing specific physicochemical properties. Raman spectroscopy is based on a non-destructive interaction of the light with the matter. This technique permits to probe the intrinsic molecular composition of the samples without staining nor particular preparation. The aim of our research is to study the correlation between the molecular conformations of the type I and IV collagens and their Raman features. We showed that signals specific of each protein can be revealed and that they translate structural differences between the two collagens. From this collagens spectral characterization, the analysis of skin sections also permitted to identify spectral markers of dermis, epidermis and epidermis/dermis interface. These preliminary results represent basic data for further studies, particularly to probe skin molecular alterations induced by chronologic aging.
Influence of fixation products used in the histological processing in the FTIR spectra of lung cells
Authors: Pereira T.M.  , Dagli M.L.Z.  , Mennecier G.  , Zezell D.M.
Published: February 2025

Among the optical characterization techniques, the Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) can offer high sensibility and accuracy to detect minimal chemical changes into the biological sample and in principle, can be used to differentiate the normal from neoplastic tissues. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the differences on FTIR spectra of the normal cell due to different fixation protocols for histological processing. Immortalized, non-cancerous mice lung epithelial cell line e10 (American Type Culture Collection, Rockville, MD, USA) was maintained in complete e10 culture medium (CMRL-1066 (Gibco), 10% SUF and L-glutamine 200 mM). The cultures were fixed with following substances: 5% formalin in PBS, methacarn (60% methanol, 30% chloroform and 10% acetyl acid), 70% alcohol and also the unfixed cells, were cultured and maintained in PBS. The FTIR spectra were acquired on a Nicolet 6700 (Thermo Scientific Nicolet™, Waltham, MA, USA) spectrophotometer at 4 cm−1resolution, 30 scans, in the 4000–500 cm−1spectral range. Nine infrared spectra were obtained from each fixation protocol. Main region of spectra used in the analysis was 1800–800 cm−1. All spectra were analyzed by vector normalization, to determine any possible difference in bands and peak position. These results indicate that all fixing protocol change some of the specific characteristics of FTIR spectra. The formalin fixation was the protocol that caused less modification on the spectra related to the unfixed one. Therefore the choice of the fixing protocol depends on the specific information wanted from the spectra.
Pt(II) complexes with linear diamines. I – Vibrational study of Pt-diaminopropane
Authors: Batista de Carvalho Ana L.M.  , Fiuza Sónia M.  , Tomkinson John  , Batista de Carvalho Luís A.E.  , Marques M. Paula M.
Published: February 2025

A conformational analysis of the Pt(dap)Cl2complex (dap = 1,3-diaminopropane) was performed by vibrational spectroscopy (FTIR, Raman and INS), coupled to quantum mechanical methods within the Density Functional Theory (DFT) and Effective Core Potential (ECP) approaches.
A new method for D
Authors: Malferrari Marco  , Venturoli Giovanni  , Francia Francesco  , Mezzetti Alberto
Published: February 2025

In this article, we describe a new method to obtain D2O/H2O exchange in photosynthetic reaction centres from Rhodobacter sphaeroides. The method is characterized by: (i) a very high efficiency of the isotopic replacement; (ii) an extremely low amount of D2O needed; (iii) the short time required for dehydration and D2O rehydration; (iv) the possibility of controlling concomitantly the hydration state of the sample. The proposed method can be applied to other proteins.
Evaluation of biochemical changes in skin-derived mesenchymal stem cells during in vitro neurodifferentiation by FT-IR analysis
Authors: Parfejevs V.  , Gavare M.  , Cappiello L.  , Grube M.  , Muceniece R.  , Riekstina U.
Published: February 2025

Recently FT-IR analysis has been employed to study changes in molecular signatures during embryonic stem cell differentiation. We were interested to find out whether FT-IR spectroscopy could be applied to analyze changes in human skin mesenchymal stem cell (S-MSC) biochemical profile during in vitro neurodifferentiation.
A comparison between vanadyl, vanadate and decavanadate effects in actin structure and function: Combination of several spectroscopic studies
Authors: Ramos S.  , Moura J.J.G.  , Aureliano M.
Published: February 2025

The studies about the interaction of actin with vanadium are seldom. In the present report the effects of vanadyl, vanadate and decavanadate in the actin structure and function were compared. Decavanadate clearly interacts with actin, as shown by51V-NMR spectroscopy. Decavanadate interaction with actin induces protein cysteine oxidation and vanadyl formation, being both prevented by the natural ligand of the protein, ATP. Monomeric actin (G-actin) titration with vanadyl, as analysed by EPR spectroscopy, indicates a 1:1 binding stoichiometry and a kdof 7.5 μM. Both decavanadate and vanadyl inhibited G-actin polymerization into actin filaments (F-actin), with a IC50of 68 and 300 μM, respectively, as analysed by light scattering assays. However, only vanadyl induces G-actin intrinsic fluorescence quenching, which suggest the presence of vanadyl high affinity actin binding sites. Decavanadate increases (2.6-fold) actin hydrophobic surface, evaluated using the ANSA probe, whereas vanadyl decreases it (15%). Finally, both vanadium species increased ϵ-ATP exchange rate (k=6.5×10−3and 4.47×10−3s−1for decavanadate and vanadyl, respectively). Putting it all together, it is suggested that actin, which is involved in many cellular processes, might be a potential target not only for decavanadate but above all for vanadyl.
The V30M amyloidogenic mutation decreases the rate of refolding kinetics of the tetrameric protein transthyretin
Authors: Jesus Catarina S.H.  , Vaz Daniela C.  , Saraiva Maria J.M.  , Brito Rui M.M.
Published: February 2025

Transthyretin (TTR) is a homotetrameric protein implicated in several amyloid diseases. The mechanism by which TTR is converted into elongated fibrillar assemblies has been extensively investigated, and numerous studies showed that dissociation of the native tetrameric structure into partially unfolded monomeric species precedes amyloid formation. The small differences observed in the crystal structures of different TTR variants, as well as the thermodynamics and kinetics of tetramer dissociation, do not seem to completely justify the amyloidogenic potential of different variants. With this in mind, we have studied the refolding kinetics of WT-TTR and its most common amyloidogenic variant V30M-TTR, monitoring changes in intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence at different urea and protein concentrations. Our results demonstrate that the in vitro refolding mechanisms of WT- and V30M-TTR are similar, involving a dimeric intermediate. However, there are large differences in the refolding rate constants for the two variants, specially at nearly native conditions. Interestingly, tetramer formation occurs at a much slower rate in the amyloidogenic variant V30M-TTR than in WT-TTR, which in the in vivo setting may promote the accumulation of monomeric species in the extracellular environment, resulting in higher susceptibility for aggregation and amyloid formation instead of spontaneous refolding.
Cross-border Cooperation and Regional Policy Coordination: The Role of BSEC
Authors: Manoli Panagiota
Published: February 2025

This article examines how inter-governmental institutions such as regional organizations may affect cross-border cooperation. In doing so the focus of analysis becomes the wider Black Sea area where there is a parallel process of border areas cooperation and of regional, inter-governmental policy coordination, the latter led by the organization of Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC). Institutionalized collaboration between sub-state actors across borders has been encouraged in the Black Sea area as a means of practical problem-solving in a broad range of fields reflecting a top-down approach. Still, regional, inter-governmental institutions such as BSEC by adhering to politics of state interest have played a limited role in providing resources for cross-border cooperation as they have been neglecting the role of non-state actors. The securitization of cross-border cooperation comes as the outcome of the seriousness of transnational organized crime harbored, destined to or transiting the Black Sea countries and the high security dilemma among the Black Sea states.
The Influence of Pre-Deployment VR Computer-Assisted Stress Inoculation Training on the Anxiety Level in the Polish ISAF Soldiers
Authors: Maciolek Justyna  , Ilnicki Stanislaw  , Wiederhold Brenda K.  , Kosinska Ludmila  , Szymanska Sylwia  , Zbyszewski Maciej  , Opalko-Piotrkiewicz Ewelina  , Siatkowska Anna  , Glibowska Anna  , Borzetka Dorota  , Ilnicki Piotr  , Filarowska Monika  , Pleskacz Katarzyna  , Murawski Piotr
Published: February 2025

Abstract. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of Stress Inoculation Training (SIT) on the anxiety level measured by State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) both as temporary/emotional state anxiety (X1) and stable personality trait anxiety (X2) in soldiers preparing for their mission in Afghanistan (ISAF).
Personality and Stress-Coping Factors in VR Computer-Assisted Stress Inoculation Training of Polish ISAF Soldiers
Authors: Zbyszewski Maciej  , Ilnicki Stanislaw  , Wiederhold Brenda K.  , Maciolek Justyna  , Kosinska Ludmila  , Szymanska Sylwia  , Opalko-Piotrkiewicz Ewelina  , Swierczynska Anna  , Filarowska Monika  , Glibowska Anna  , Borzetka Dorota  , Pleskacz Katarzyna  , Murawski Piotr
Published: February 2025

Abstract. The main goal of this study was to evaluate the impact of personality, temperament and stress coping factors in Stress Inoculation Training (SIT) in soldiers preparing for their first deployment to Afghanistan (ISAF).
Expert Knowledge-based Game Models to Increase Defence Effectiveness against Threats
Authors: Pogossian Edward
Published: February 2025

This paper studies the construction of expert knowledge-based game models with the objective of increasing defence strategy effectiveness against threats. The running assumption is that combat situations and competition problems are reducible to a standard kernel problem, labelled K, where a methodology called Reproducible Game Trees (RGT) is used to search for solutions. Tools have been developed to support this methodology. The validity of the approach is being demonstrated for chess-like combinatorial games, network intrusion, naval threats, and for management and marketing problems.
Towards Characterizing Maritime Piracy Problems and Solution Spaces: Preliminary Results from Study Group Discussions
Authors: Bossé Éloi  , Shahbazian Elisa  , Herrero Jesús García  , Rogova Galina  , Steinberg Alan
Published: February 2025

The main objective of the NATO HSD.MD.ASI.984016 on Prediction and Recognition of Piracy Efforts Using Collaborative Human-Centric Information Systems is to provide discussions on prediction, recognition and deterrence of maritime piracy through the use of collaborative human-centric information support systems. A group of more than 70 specialists and students gathered in Salamanca, Spain during the period of 19-30 September 2011 to examine maritime piracy problems and possible solutions. The ASI involved both technology and domain experts who exchanged their knowledge through lectures, plenary and brainstorming breakout study sessions in smaller interdisciplinary groups. They certainly improved their mutual awareness of the requirements, issues, policy as well as technology capable of helping to predict, recognize and deter maritime piracy. This paper presents the results of the discussions of the four interdisciplinary groups formed to study the various aspects of the maritime piracy problem.
Situation Management to Counter Piracy
Authors: Steinberg Alan N.
Published: February 2025

Traditional deductive recognition-based methods – whether model-based or anomaly-based – are not appropriate to the counter-piracy application. Both threats and normal activity are often extremely difficult to model. Furthermore, an intelligent adversary can be expected to maximize ambiguity and exploit the defence response cycle. Rather than a deductive recognition-based approach, we recommend a diagnostic (abductive) one: (a) focus on potential victims rather than potential pirates, (b) detect and diagnose potential encounters and estimate time-to-go, and (c) manage assets for situation resolution and interdiction, based on assessed encounter impact, likelihood, available and required time to respond, and confidence in these factors. An interactive situation management concept is presented, in which the operator is able to visualize the predicted evolution of the maritime situation, together with the predicted evolution of the system's state of knowledge and of response opportunities.
Contextual Knowledge and Information Fusion for Maritime Piracy Surveillance
Authors: Rogova Galina  , Garcia Jesus
Published: February 2025

Though piracy accounts for only a small fraction of the general losses of the maritime industry, it poses a serious threat to maritime security because of the connections between organized piracy, and wider criminal networks and corruption on land. Fighting piracy requires monitoring waterways, harbors and criminal networks on land to increase decision makers' ability to predict piracy attacks, and to manage operations to prevent or contain them. Piracy surveillance involves representing and processing a huge amount of heterogeneous information, often uncertain, unreliable and irrelevant, within a specific context to detect and recognize suspicious activities, and alert decision makers on vessel behaviors of interest with minimal false alarm. The paper discusses the role of information fusion, and context representation and utilization in building an piracy surveillance picture.
Risk-driven Engineering of Requirements for Dependable Systems
Authors: van Lamsweerde Axel
Published: February 2025

Engineering the right software requirements under the right environment assumptions is a critical precondition for developing the right software. Requirements completeness, in particular, is known to be among the most critical and difficult software engineering challenges. Missing requirements often result from poor risk analysis at requirements engineering time. A natural inclination to conceive over-ideal systems prevents adverse conditions from being properly identified and, when likely and critical, resolved through adequate countermeasure requirements.
NATO's New Energy Role and Turkey: Possibilities and Restraints
Authors: İşeri Emre  , Dilek A. Oğuz
Published: February 2025

Energy-related issues gained a prominent place within the NATO's new strategic concept declared during the Lisbon Summit (November 20, 2010). The resource nationalism and the energy terror, two underlying security menaces emanating from the New Energy Geopolitics, are believed to have prompted the Allies to device this (Seventh) Strategic Concept. Lisbon Summit to alleviate, if not remove, these security challenges tasked NATO with a set of duties. Turkey is a would-be fourth energy artery of Europe and a melting pot of these two energy related risks, thus, stands for an excellent litmus test for NATO's new energy role. However the Alliance could deliver a formidable contribution to Turkey's energy security under this double-barrelled challenge, the Turkish state's acute reliance on Russian energy wealth seems to greatly diminish the scope of such partnership.
Text Messaging with Pictures and Speech Synthesis for Persons with Cognitive and Communicative Disabilities – Professionals' Advice for Successful Use
Authors: Buchholz Margret  , Mattsson Müller Ingrid  , Ferm Ulrika
Published: February 2025

Communication problems can restrict people from communication over the phone. Text messaging is a way of using the phone without speech, but requires good cognitive skills. People who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and have limited skills in reading and writing can write text messages by using symbols representing words or phrases. This interview study examines the views of professionals regarding criteria for successful use of text messaging with symbols. The professionals worked with project participants with cognitive and communicative disabilities who tried text messaging with picture symbols and speech synthesis in smartphones. The users' experiences of text-messaging are reported elsewhere. Results point to the necessity of individual assessments and that this is a time consuming task. It also shows a need of a supportive environment and of good cooperation with everybody involved to make remote communication and introduction of new technology work.
Modern Technologies for Securing Critical Energy Infrastructures
Authors: Vaněk Ondřej
Published: February 2025

The growing interconnection of the world and steep development of technologies increase the demand for large and complex critical energy infrastructures. In parallel, the task of optimal security of such infrastructures becomes a challenging task. Comprehensive area surveillance and effective mobile asset monitoring are two main tasks requiring non-trivial reasoning and planning. State of the art advances in mobile robotics provide means to optimally conduct these tasks using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and a number of algorithms and techniques was developed to be able to deploy multiple UAVs able to act autonomously and perform high-level tasks specified by an operator. In seaborne transportation infrastructures the large space prohibits usage of UAVs and another means of security of oil and gas transport has to be sought. We present a brief overview of techniques used in the domain of contemporary maritime piracy, where the vulnerable assets need to transit pirate infested waters. In the center stands a multi-agent simulation which provides means to capture main structure of the problem and thus is able to evaluate countermeasures proposed by domain experts.
Respecting Human Rights while Countering Terrorism
Authors: Švarc Dominika
Published: February 2025

The fight against terrorism requires the maximum respect for human rights. If a nation disregards human rights in fighting terrorism, the nation loses respect as well as complicates the counterterrorism battle. This article examines the general requirement for States to uphold human rights while countering terrorism, focusing particularly on the main normative developments prompted by the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 and the ensuing intensification of international counterterrorism efforts.
WMD Terrorism: Countermeasures
Authors: Jaspal Zafar Nawaz
Published: February 2025

Recent changes in the world order have made it easier for terrorists to obtain materials associated with weapons of mass destruction. As the use of such materials would help the terrorists achieve their goals, it would be logical for them to conduct such terrorism. There have been a number of attempts made at terrorism with weapons of mass destruction, but thankfully the results have been generally unsuccessful. However, that could change in the future, so states need to be prepare to counter and recover from such acts. This article discusses this threats and the need for a comprehensive strategy to deal with it.
The 21
Authors: Shultz Richard
Published: February 2025

Post-Cold War, armed groups of various kinds began to proliferate and the patterns of conflict were changing, but only a handful of specialists interpreted these developments as a harbinger of a changing international security and conflict environment. In the forefront was Martin van Creveld who contended that non-state actors would increasingly challenge the dominance of state power. With the exception of the U.S. Marine Corps, throughout the 1990s the line of reasoning advanced by van Creveld and a handful of others was persona non grata in the institutions that comprise the U.S. government's national security system. They rejected this argument as flawed and devoted few resources and attention to the challenges posed by terrorists, criminal syndicates and other non-state armed groups. They did so based on two main propositions: that nothing about these groups was new and that these groups did not pose a first-order security challenge to major states to include the United States, but rather they were ancillary security nuisances. Each of these arguments ignored the changing context in which armed groups operated in the 1990s and into the 21stCentury that now make it possible for an armed group to challenge even major states strategically and in some cases to do so across the globe.
Cardiac Arrhythmia Classification Using KNN and Naive Bayes Classifiers Optimized with Differential Evolution (DE) and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO)
Authors: Padilla-Navarro Christian  , Baltazar-Flores Rosario  , Cuesta-Frau David  , Alanis-Garza Arnulfo  , Zamudio-Rodríguez Victor
Published: February 2025

In the present investigation we are looking for improve the features classification of a cardiac arrhythmias database using metaheuristics (Differential Evolution and Particle Swarm Optimization) and classifiers (KNN and Naive Bayes), with the purpose of select the main features and increase the percentage of classification. The classification percentage in some cases increased until 100% and the number of features was significantly reduced.
Simulation of Visitor Flow Management with Context-based Information System
Authors: Olševičová Kamila  , Cimler Richard
Published: February 2025

We discuss utilization of agent-based models and agent-based social simulations in the process of smart application development. We present the concept of personalized context-based information system for visitors of the ZOO. The visitor flow model is enhanced with simulation of smart application that assists visitors by sending information and recommendations to their mobile devices. In general our model illustrates the idea of smart application in tourism and it allows exploring possibilities of how to manage visitor flow in natural and cultural destinations, how to eliminate crowding or how to increase the satisfaction of visitors by relevant scenarios.
Mobile Monitoring System for Elder People Healthcare and AAL
Authors: Suba Petr  , Tucnik Petr
Published: February 2025

The mobile monitoring system is intended for elder people capable of independent living on their own, requiring only minimum assistance, but suffering from minor health problems which require constant monitoring. The system should be able to detect especially life-threatening situations like heart failure, respiratory problems or fall detection, etc. which requires quick response from medical staff, but may be easily failed to notice if not under continuous observation. Our aim is to create cost-effective portable monitoring system based on smart phone hardware equipment. Reliable recognition of critical situations is the main purpose of the proposed system while the precise diagnosis is left to trained medical professionals and specialized equipment. System is combining input data of several sensors at the same time which results in more reliable functioning. This text is focused primarily on use of one of sensors used in the system – accelerometer sensor.
Simplified Method of Analysis of the Stability of River Banks Subjected to Tide Variation
Authors: Chhun Soksan  , Martinez Juan  , Dupont Pascal  , Huynh Thanh Son
Published: February 2025

The research is conducted to model the stability of river banks subjected to tide variation, with particular reference to the Mekong delta. Dupuit assumption is supposed to find the variation of water level in the soil using a numerical solution by an explicit finite difference method which results are compared to field measurements. Under periodic tide variation, a stable ground water level is obtained far from the river bank and higher than the mean river water level. A limit equilibrium analysis (slice method) is developed to find the safety factor of the riverbank. Validation of the results is conducted by comparing to finite element calculations. The safety factors vary with the change of water level in the river. The critical instant (minimum safety factor) occurs during the low tide period. The soil permeability has an influence both on the critical moment and on the corresponding safety factor. Furthermore, the soil cohesion has an effect on the shape of the failure surface.
Stabilization of a Weak Low Plasticity Clay Soil Using Nanomaterial
Authors: Seyedi Gelsefidi Seyed Alireza  , Mamaghanian Jaber
Published: February 2025

The application of nanotechnology in geotechnical engineering is a novel concept, in which there are little investigations in this scope. The use of this technology in some talented fields such as soil improvement, seepage and grouting will offer great advantages in geotechnics. In this way, the stabilization of a low plasticity clay soil was investigated using nanomaterial in this study. The weak soil was extracted from Boodian Road in North of Iran. The numbers of 80 unconfined compression strength (UCS) tests were performed in this research. At the first part, the effect of lime on the enhancement of the original soil was studied. The results demonstrated the little effect of lime in the soil improvement. At the second part, the effect of nano-silica was investigated on the stabilization of the soil-lime mixture. The selection of this nanomaterial was based on the XRD and XRF tests on the original soil. The results illustrated the meaningful and significant effect of nano-silica in the soil-lime mixture, in which adding nano-silica increased the strength of the soil and soil-lime mixture up to 7.5 and 3 times respectively. The effects of curing time were also evaluated in this study and the results showed that the strength of the soil-lime mixture increases more rapidly with adding nano-material. In this research, the optimum mixture design for stabilization of the Boodian weak soil was selected as 5% lime and 3% nano-silica into the soil.
Case Study of Current Practice of Anchor Design in Relation to Limit States
Authors: Stephenson Paul
Published: February 2025

Anchor design in Ireland is currently carried out in accordance with British Standard BS8081 and the corresponding regime of load testing post installation. This regime requires verification of anchor capacity in tests which are based on the working load of the anchor, which is poorly defined and it is unclear whether it represents an SLS or ULS anchor load. Section 8 of Eurocode 7 is being revised and a draft has been circulated to member states for acceptance. It will give countries the option to consider the ultimate and serviceability resistance of the anchor in design, which will include consideration of lock-off loads and post lock-off effects. This paper reviews the current practice of anchor design in Ireland and looks at a case study where anchors were used to support a temporary sheet piled excavation. The ability of the testing regime to give confidence that the ULS and SLS limit states are satisfied is assessed to show how current levels of testing relate to these limits states.
Geotechnical Investigations of Historical Monuments of Central Asia
Authors: Issina Assem
Published: February 2025

Central Asia historically always associated with the nomadic people occupying its open spaces and the Great silk way. The countries of Central Asia is meeting of monuments of the architecture having important archaeological value.
Application of an Undrained and a Partially Drained Cyclic Accumulation Model for Monopile Design
Authors: Page Risueño Ana María  , Jostad Hans Petter  , Saue Morten
Published: February 2025

Monopile design for offshore wind turbines has traditionally considered sand layers as drained in conventional beam spring analyses and in finite element analyses. However, with the large diameters commonly used in practice, the sand is generally close to undrained during one load cycle. The recently developed partially drained cyclic pore pressure accumulation model (PDCAM) has been implemented in the 3D FE program PLAXIS. This model accounts for the soil degradation under partially drained cyclic loading. For the clay layers, the undrained cyclic strain accumulation model (UDCAM), which accounts for soil degradation under undrained cyclic loading is used. The performance of both models is demonstrated by 3D finite element analyses of a monopile subjected to cyclic loading, with a soil stratigraphy that includes both undrained and partly drained material behavior. Results in terms of displacements of the pile and soil reactions are compared with traditional beam-spring analyses.
Three-dimensional Bearing Capacity Envelopes for a Circular Footing Resting on Sand over Clay
Authors: Poirriez Catherine  , Edwards David H.
Published: February 2025

The bearing capacity envelopes for a circular foundation are a fundamental problem in geotechnics. Bearing capacity envelopes for combined vertical, horizontal and/or moment loading are well-documented in the literature based on laboratory model tests and numerical analysis for the case of a footing resting on uniform sand or clay soils. Soils are, in reality, rarely homogeneous and often layered and in such situations it is important to consider the non-uniformity of the soil. This paper reports a suite of finite element analyses performed to examine the bearing capacity envelopes of circular footings resting on a soil profile comprising sand over clay and their evolution with the thickness of the sand layer under combined vertical and horizontal loading. The resulting envelopes are compared with those for uniform sand and clay stratigraphies and a framework for the evolution of the envelopes is established.
3D FEM Simulation of Groundwater Flow During Backward Erosion Piping
Authors: Vandenboer Kristine  , Van Beek Vera  , Bezuijen Adam
Published: February 2025

Backward erosion piping is an important failure mechanism for cohesive water retaining structures which are founded on a sandy aquifer. At present, the prediction models for safety assessment are often based on 2D assumptions. In this work, a 3D numerical approach of the groundwater flow leading to the erosion mechanism of backward erosion piping is presented and discussed. Comparison of the 2D and 3D numerical results explicitly demonstrates the inherent 3D nature of the piping phenomenon. In addition, the influence of the dike length is investigated and discussed for both piping initiation and piping progression. The results clearly indicate the superiority of the presented 3D numerical model compared to the established 2D approach. Moreover, the 3D numerical results enable a better understanding of the complex physical mechanism involved in backward erosion piping and thus can lead to a significant improvement in the safety assessment of water retaining structures.
Analysis of Longitudinal Cracks in Road Embankments
Authors: De Abreu Sidney
Published: February 2025

One of the most adverse types of pathology in road embankments is the longitudinal cracks. As the cracks appear in a random way, the understanding of the causes leading to the formation and evolution of the cracks and the specification of measures to reduce their occurrence becomes a major challenge. This paper presents possible causes underlying this type of cracks. The aim of this study phase was to analyze the deformation and stress distribution in a typical road embankment in order to get an idea of how sensitive the development of longitudinal cracks is to the variation of some geotechnical parameters of the embankment and the foundation. Tensile stresses appearing at the top of the embankment do not justify the development of longitudinal cracks by itself. As cracks may be the result of tensile stresses combined with other factors, such as degree of compaction, vegetation growth, changes in moisture and shrinkage, the contribution of these factors deserves further attention.
Modeling of the Strength's Loss and Void Appearance in the Underground Structures of Paris Metro
Authors: Kamel Taous  , Limam Ali  , Silvani Claire
Published: February 2025

Several tests as drilling, impedance or georadar, were performed in order to know the current state of Paris Metro galleries and tunnels. The tunnel linings of these underground structures appear slightly fragmented and very fragmented in the extrados of the abutments. The aim of our study is to propose a numerical model which can represent the tunnel's behavior over its life. The main aspects taken into account in this model are the loss of strength due to different alteration processes and creation of voids which are caused by the timbering rot and disaggregation of ancient masonry. Viscoplastic with strain softening model is used to reproduce localization of the deformation associated to crack appearance. The numerical results show that we can reproduce the underground structure's behavior during degradation and assess the state of different structure components. Several simulations were conducted, and the robustness of the numerical model gauged, which allows us to confirm that this approach is applicable to this kind of construction and/or other structures designed by this type of building materials and undergo the same weathering process.
Field Performance of Pipe-Jacking in Soft Deposit of Xiangshui, Jiangsu, China
Authors: Xu Ye-Shuang  , Cui Qing-Long  , Shen Shui-Long  , Yin Zhen-Yu
Published: February 2025

This paper presents a case history on the performance of soft deposit during the excavation of a series of jacked pipes in Xiangshui, Jiangsu, China. The soft deposit of the construction site is forms a multi-aquifer-aquitard system, in which the aquitard is situated above the aquifers. The deposit consists of a deltaic deposit from the ancient Yellow River. Four parallel pipes with a diameter of 4.2 m were jacked under the River Guan at a depth of about 20 m. The jacked pipes passed through the silty sand which has very high hydraulic conductivity. During construction, ground surface settlement, lateral displacement, pore water pressure, and earth pressure were monitored. The results showed that during construction there is insignificant impact on the surroundings.
Tailings Management in Canada's Oil Sands
Authors: Beier Nicholas  , Sego David
Published: February 2025

Tailings management practices in the Canadian oil sands industry over the last four decades have resulted in massive inventories of fluid fine tailings (850 million m3) requiring long term storage within fluid containment structures. Managing these fluid tailings has become a significant environmental challenge. In lieu of tailings management regulations set forth through the Alberta Government and increased public awareness, industry has stepped up efforts to improve their tailings management practices. These initiatives aim to transform the fluid fine tailings into sustainable components of a reclaimable, closure landscape. The paper will outline the historic oil sand tailings management practices, the geotechnical challenges associated with current and planned tailings dewatering technologies, and the research initiatives underway at the University of Alberta aimed at resolving these geotechnical challenges.
Analysis of the Punching Failure Mechanism in Working Platforms
Authors: Białek Katarzyna
Published: February 2025

Paper presents an analysis of the shear failure mechanism which occurs from the punching of a working platform layer in relation to its thickness, grain size arrangement and mechanical properties, taking into consideration the interaction with soft subgrade. The study is based on the observations of performance of natural scale structures (Streefkerk) and the results of model investigations numerically represented with the use of FEM capabilities, constitutive models for soft soils (Soft soil model) and real characteristics of the soil. Two analyzed cases are presented – unreinforced and reinforced working platforms.
The Influence of Particle Shape and Density Index on Shear Strength Parameters of Transylvanian Sands
Authors: Molnar Iulia
Published: February 2025

The main purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of particle shape and density index on shear strength parameters of Transylvanian sands and to provide accurate information for better understanding of sands behavior. The paper contains two parts. First part refers to the study of physical parameters in terms of density index, particle size distribution and particle shape and provides an analysis of particle shape influence on density index of the sands. The second part of the paper refers to the study of the influence of particle shape and density index on shear strength parameters of Transylvanian sands. Drained triaxial tests were performed on each type of sand at three different densities and both effective and critical values of shear strength parameters were determined.
Multiple Correlations Between Young's Modulus and Identification's Properties of Building Materials
Authors: Tsala Florette  , Mpeck Emile  , Kana Marcelin  , Mpele Mamba
Published: February 2025

Theoretical formulas for rheological characteristics, and particularly the Young's modulus of grained sized material, notably lateritic soils and crushed gravels, are commonly simply correlated with CBR. Due to the high cost, for some laboratory, of the tools used for its direct measurement (Triaxial apparatus with repetitive charges), the present study has been carried out to find out a multiple correlation between the Young modulus and the simple identification's properties of those building materials. The results obtained has been adjusted both with the Sikali et al and LCPC's simples correlations which used CBR relation, and the Billang et KANA's formula for Young's modulus, which is related to deflection's characteristics. The data used came from LABOGENIE's archive. We first estimated the correlation's matrices and retained pertinent parameters related with the Young's modulus. The correlations obtained seemed to be suitable, the percentage of errors obtained are less than 10%.
Prediction of the Shear Wave Velocity V
Authors: Amoroso Sara
Published: February 2025

The paper examines the correlations to obtain rough estimates of the shear wave velocity VSfrom non-seismic dilatometer tests (DMT) and cone penetration tests (CPT). While the direct measurement of VSis obviously preferable, these correlations may turn out useful in various circumstances. The experimental results at six international research sites suggest that the DMT predictions of VSfrom the parameters ID(material index), KD(horizontal stress index), MDMT(constrained modulus) are more reliable and consistent than the CPT predictions from qc(cone resistance), presumably because of the availability, by DMT, of the stress history index KD.
Study on Long-Term Subsidence of Soft Clay due to 2007 Niigata Prefecture Chuetsu-Oki Earthquake
Authors: Isobe Koichi  , Ohtsuka Satoru
Published: February 2025

Long-term subsidence has been observed in Kashiwazaki City after the 2007 Niigata Prefecture Chuetsu-Oki Earthquake. The present study was conducted to investigate the mechanism of this long-term subsidence through ground investigations in the form of a boring survey and laboratory tests on soil samples. The results showed that the samples were very soft and relatively highly structured. In the study's second part, ground subsidence was simulated via soil-water coupling elasto-plastic FE analysis. In the simulation, the Cyclic Mobility model developed by Zhang et al. (2007), which incorporates the concepts of subloading and superloading used as the constitutive model with parameters determined in line with the laboratory test results. Based on the outcomes of the simulation, the post-quake behavior of soft clay and the related mechanism were elucidated, and the progress of subsidence was predicted.
Pressure of Isotropic Granular Medium on Closely Spaced Walls of Arbitrary Curvature
Authors: Aniskin Aleksej
Published: February 2025

In this paper normal pressure on nearby positioned walls of arbitrary curvature for symmetric plane problem are determined. Further the effect of the wall form influence, its convexity or concavity, on the normal pressure on wall is assessed. In the case of the wall of an arbitrary curvature there is a problem of determining of the coefficient of lateral pressure at each point of side wall, thus a function of the coefficient of lateral pressure for isotropic granular medium is adapted for this purpose.
Deep Supported Excavations in the Center of Zagreb
Authors: Đidara Matilda
Published: February 2025

The article is primarily concerned with the problem of deep ground excavation in urban area of Zagreb. Obstacles have an effect on design, but also lead to numerous alterations during the construction period. In urban areas, especially downtown centres and old cores, most of the buildings fall under special laws and regulations of the Conservation Office. Very often various boundary conditions appear within a small building site. There are unresolved ownership issues, bad relationship amongst the neighbours, decay and undocumented changes in the geometry of existing buildings to be dealt with. All of the above limits designer's freedom. It also calls for additional investigation which may exceed funding and occasionally extend the deadline. The problems and solutions are presented throughout series of deep ground excavations located in Zagreb's centre. Original and alternative solutions will be discussed, stressing out advantages and disadvantages of each.
Code Requirements for Site Investigations: An International Comparison
Authors: Maddah Layal  , Briaud Jean-Louis
Published: February 2025

Site investigation is the first step in any geotechnical engineering project. Typically, a satisfactory geotechnical study requires the availability of crucial geotechnical data complemented by sound engineering judgment. Whereas the geotechnical engineer requires gathering as much data as possible necessary for an adequate and feasible design, the client is inclined to minimize the site investigation expenses which are typically less than 1% of the project construction cost. Where is the optimum? This is the topic of this paper. The specifications in codes and guidelines for buildings in 12 different countries are summarized and compared
End-User Involvement in E-MOSION Focusing on Mobility Services
Authors: Mayer Christopher  , Hochgatterer Andreas  , Roedl Lukas  , Sanchez Jose Manuel  , Fornés Francisco  , Van Harten Ciska  , Niittyla Laura
Published: February 2025

The main objective of E-MOSION is to provide mobility services for older adults with age-related impairments. The idea is to help older adults in their daily routine activities far from home. The development and innovation process follows an iterative method where older adults are involved in the project from the beginning till the end. In the initial stage end-users were involved by means of a questionnaire and in focus groups. A result from the questionnaire was as expected that the reasons for getting around are manifold. Most of the participants mention shopping as the main reason for frequent mobility followed by visiting friends and cultural activities. Regarding the ways how people get around outside the responses show a broad spectrum. Walking, by car and by public transport services are the most prominent means. All in all the results highlighted the usefulness of the intended solution and revealed interesting insights which will be envisaged in the course of the project.
Relationships between Effectiveness, Psychological Functioning, and Satisfaction Outcomes of Power Mobility Interventions
Authors: Brandt Åse  , Sund Terje  , Anttila Heidi
Published: February 2025

A number of assessment instruments are available for assessing outcomes of mobility device interventions, but it is unclear to which degree the outcome dimensions are overlapping. In this study the relationship within and between three categories of selfreported power mobility outcome dimensions each encompassing two dimensions, delimited on basis of the CATOR taxonomy, was investigated utilizing data from a Nordic study, which included 137 persons using powered wheelchair or scooter. The study showed that the outcome dimensions only correlated weakly or modestly, and in some cases no correlation at all was found. This indicates that each dimension constitutes a separate construct, and that assessment of one outcome dimension cannot replace another. Overall the outcome dimensions within each category correlated more with each other than with outcome dimensions from other categories, lending support to the CATOR taxonomy.