bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Seismic Risk Management of a Canal System Model
Authors: Hara Takashi  , Kato Tomoo  , Nonoyama Maiko  , Otake Yu  , Honjo Yusuke
Published: February 2025

This paper proposes a seismic risk management scheme for canal systems and describes the applicability of the proposed scheme from an example of the application to a complicate canal system model.
Spatial Variability of Subsurface Soil Conditions Causing Roadway Settlements
Authors: Bilgin Ömer  , Arens Kevin  , Salveter Mark
Published: February 2025

Soil settlements can cause significant damages to structures. In case of transportation projects, settlement of problematic soils constituting subgrade may result in pavement distress and structural failure, requiring periodic pavement patching and resurfacing. Many of these problems occur as a result of the settlement of soft cohesive and organic soils. Due to the extent of roadway projects and the frequency of boring locations, spatial variability of subsurface soil conditions, and sometimes due to inadequate amount of explorations, these problematic soils may not be identified accurately during subsurface investigations. An extensive subsurface exploration program was implemented for detailed characterization of subsurface conditions for a relatively short section of an existing roadway experiencing continuing settlements. This paper presents some of the exploration results, assesses the spatial variability of the subsurface soil conditions, and comments on the effect of spatial variability of subsurface conditions on the roadway's performance.
Assessment of Reliability-Based Serviceability Limit State Procedures using Full-Scale Loading Tests
Authors: Huffman Jonathan C.  , Martin John P.  , Stuedlein Armin W.
Published: February 2025

Geotechnical reliability-based limit state design methodologies are rapidly evolving to meet the demands of various applications. However, the accuracy of these new procedures should be independently assessed and improved as new loading test data is made available. This paper focuses on the assessment of two relatively new serviceability limit state (SLS) procedures developed for immediate displacement of spread footings supported on clay and on aggregate pier improved clay. These procedures were developed using a database of full-scale loading tests reported in the literature, and incorporate estimates of and variability associated with the bearing capacity, or ultimate limit state (ULS) and bivariate normalized bearing pressure-displacement models. Independent evaluations of these two SLS models are made using new full-scale loading tests on unimproved ground and aggregate pier improved ground. Comparison of observed and expected normalized bearing pressure-displacement curves and empirical cumulative distribution functions highlight the importance of footing/soil representation in the source databases and the impact and importance of differentiating between intra- and inter-site variability.
Diagnosis of Earth-Fill Dams by Several Sounding Tests
Authors: Nishimura Shin-ichi  , Shibata Toshifumi  , Shuku Takayuki
Published: February 2025

The spatial distribution of the strength inside an earth-fill dam is identified by sounding tests. In this research, the Swedish Weight Sounding (SWS) test is employed, and the spatially high-density test is possible to identify the spatial correlation structure by the SWS. The correlation structure of an earth-fill could be identified accurately based on the sounding results, and the high resolution of the spatial distribution could be visualized by using the indicator simulation. Consequently, it has been verified the practical use of the spatial distribution of the probability that the N-value is lower than the threshold value, may be used for the maintenance of an earth-fill dam.
The History of Safety Factors for Dutch Regional Dykes
Authors: De Gast T.  , Vardon P.J.  , Jommi C.  , Hicks M.A.
Published: February 2025

Regular dyke assessment is part of reducing the risk of flooding in the Netherlands. 18 000 km of dykes are assessed at regular intervals, of which 14 000 km are classified as regional dykes and their main aim is to defend polders from inundating. The methods of assessing regional dykes are strongly inter-twined with the methods of assessing primary dykes; however, regional dykes differ due to lower consequence levels and significantly shorter individual dyke lengths. Initially, local experience was relied upon for maintaining dykes, prior to the utilisation of soil mechanics calculations to determine the safety/stability of the dykes. Over the years, the approaches have been developed leading to different assessment criteria. This paper aims to give insight into the development of the assessment criteria for regional dykes in Dutch norms/guidelines since the devastating storm surge of 1953, starting with the probabilistic assessment of water heights and global factors for slope stability, through to the adaption of statistical models which enabled the use of partial factors in dyke assessment. Partial factors in assessments allow for improved and more detailed knowledge to limit the uncertainties and lead to more detailed assumptions in the calculations. The introduction of risk-based design enables assessment criteria based on the expected damage due to inundation. The paper discusses assumptions, levels of safety and information required to complete the assessment. Including consequence based assessment and risk based design, leads to a larger possible range in the required factors of safety.
Developments in levee reliability and flood risk analysis in the Netherlands
Authors: Jonkman S.N. (Bas)  , Schweckendiek T. (Timo)
Published: February 2025

This paper presents and overview of advances in flood risk and levee reliability analysis in the Netherlands. It is described how new safety standards – in the form of a target failure probability – have been derived on the basis of nationwide flood risk assessments which taken into account both economic risk and risk to life. The process for derivation of semi-probabilistic design codes (i.e. factors of safety) for various geotechnical failure mechanisms of flood defences is described and it is shown how these semi-probabilistic requirements are consistent with the target probabilities of failure and ultimately with the underlying flood risk acceptance criteria. The newly introduced approach also raises challenges like the introduction of fully reliability based design and assessment techniques, but it also provides opportunities such as the use of reliability updating and data assimilation, which will be highlighted after discussing the framework and its overall coherence.
Risk analysis on cascade breaching of the Tangjiashan landslide dam and two smaller downstream landslide dams
Authors: Zhu Yan  , Peng Ming  , Shi Zhenming  , Zhang Limin
Published: February 2025

The 2008 Mw 7.9 Wenchuan earthquake triggered at least 257 landslide dams, most of which formed in series along rivers. The failure of an upstream dam could cause the failure of dams downstream one after another. The cascade dam breaching may result in sharp increase of flood and more serious damage downstream. This paper aims to analyze the risks on cascade breaching of the Tangjiashan landslide dam and two smaller downstream landslide dams, which were triggered by the Wenchuan earthquake. The paper first simulates the cascade breaching of these three landslide dams. A modified DABA model is applied for this purpose, in which the water-soil interactions are simulated with erosion and shallow water flow theory. A human risk analysis model, named HURAM, is applied to analyze the cascade breach risks of these three dams. Two scenarios, namely, the simulated real case and the case with the highest flood with overlapping effect, will be considered to show the characteristics of the cascade dam breaching risks. It is found that cascading dam breaching is very likely to form multiple-peak floods which may cause multi-round impact to the people downstream. The overlapping effect of cascading dam breaching would amplify the breach flood risk to the people downstream.
Non-Destructive Quality Check on Cast In-Situ Piles
Authors: Hopman Victor  , Hölscher Paul
Published: February 2025

A test field with 20 cast in-situ piles has been built. Flaws (necks, bulges and cracks) are built in. Existing and newly developed detecting methods have been tested. They show interpretable signals and also some challenges to improve the results. The final phase e.g. excavation of a representative number of piles will lead to final conclusions of the usability of these measurement techniques.
Probabilistic Analysis of Velocity Distribution under Earth Embankments for Piping Investigation
Authors: Liu Kang  , Hicks Michael A.  , Vardon Philip J.  , Jommi Cristina
Published: February 2025

Piping has been attributed as a major cause of dam and embankment failures. Current national prediction models to predict piping use the hydraulic difference between the upstream and downstream water levels as an indicator. They are deterministic and take no account of preferential pathways. However, piping usually initiates from a discrete downstream location and recent research indicates that piping happens when the velocity reaches a critical value. The local velocity close to the downstream ground surface is strongly related to the inherent heterogeneity of the soil. This paper takes account of the spatial variability of hydraulic conductivity. Based on stochastic seepage analysis, local velocity in and under an embankment are computed. The results show that, when the coefficient of variation of hydraulic conductivity is small, the locations of the maximum local velocity from 500 realizations aggregate into a small area which is near the downstream toe of the embankment. In contrast, increasing the coefficient of variation scatters the possible locations of the maximum local velocity. Two typical situations are identified: one situation where the maximum local velocity is close to the downstream ground surface, and the other where the maximum local velocity is far from the downstream ground surface and located near the center of the foundation. In the first situation it is easier to reach the critical value to initiate piping because the maximum local velocity is near the ground surface but relatively easy to protect against. In contrast, in the second situation it is easier to form a passage for piping development once piping is initiated. This is due to the velocity towards the center of the foundation increasing. Once piping is initiated near the toe in the second situation, the higher velocity near the center of the foundation may promote piping progression.
Driver Monitoring in the Context of Autonomous Vehicle
Authors: Rahman Hamidur  , Begum Shahina  , Ahmed Mobyen Uddin
Published: February 2025

Today research is going on within different essential functions need to bring automatic vehicles to the roads. However, there will be manual driven vehicles for many years before it is fully automated vehicles on roads. In complex situations, automated vehicles will need human assistance for long time. So, for road safety driver monitoring is even more important in the context of autonomous vehicle to keep the driver alert and awake. But, limited effort has been done in total integration between automatic vehicle and human driver. Therefore, human drivers need to be monitored and able to take over control within short notice. This papers provides an overview on autonomous vehicles and un-obstructive driver monitoring approaches that can be implemented in future autonomous vehicles to monitor driver e.g., to diagnose and predict stress, fatigue etc. in semi-automated vehicles.
Improving the Efficiency of Plan Optimisation Techniques
Authors: Kilani Asma
Published: February 2025

My research area is centred on AI planning, with the current work focused on optimising low quality plans generated by existing planners. Since the beginning of my PhD studies, I have concentrated on studying existing plan-optimisation techniques. Efforts have been made to compare, evaluate and test them on several benchmarks domains and planning engines. From my work, I have concluded that adapting different techniques to work together is pivotal to establishing an efficient technique. Besides this, another very important aspect to study was the theoretical properties of these techniques, including completeness and complexity.
Language in Online Dating Texts: Trait Identification, Homophily, and their Effect on Attraction
Authors: Fox Hamilton Nicola  , Fullwood Chris  , Kirwan Grainne
Published: February 2025

Research has indicated that online daters may pick up on language cues connected to personality traits in online dating profile texts, and act upon those cues. This research seeks to investigate the level of accuracy of detection of personality in dating profile texts, and the extent to which perceived or actual similarity of personality has an effect on attractiveness of the author. An online survey was conducted collecting the Ten Item Personality Inventory (TIPI) for each participant and text author, a peer-report TIPI score by participants for each text author, and an attractiveness rating on a Likert scale for each author. Participants correctly identified Extraversion, though the effect size was small. Contrary to the hypotheses, participants preferred texts when written by an author with a personality they perceived as dissimilar to their own, specifically in Openness and Conscientiousness, and no relationship was found between actual similarity of personality and attractiveness. Online daters may choose partners with complementary or desirable traits rather than similar traits, or other factors in attraction may be more salient in the initial stages of determining attraction.
Rehabilitation Tool: A Pilot Study On A New Neuropsychological Interactive Training System
Authors: Cardullo Stefano  , Gamberini Luciano  , Milan Silvia  , Mapelli Daniela
Published: February 2025

Over the past 20 years, research has led to the development of new technologies to improve the quality of life of brain-damaged user. Introduction of new neuropsychological rehabilitation tools based both on the new knowledge on brain plasticity and on the latest developments in computer sciences is both necessary and scientifically challenging for health professionals, particularly neuropsychologists. Here we present a pilot study in which the use of a new Apple©iPad®software for neuropsychological rehabilitation, has demonstrated high level of appreciation and efficacy in cognitive rehabilitation.
Confronting Auditory Hallucinations Using Virtual Reality: The Avatar Therapy
Authors: Rus-Calafell Mar  , Garety Philippa  , Ward Tom  , Williams Geoff  , Huckvale Mark  , Leff Julian  , Craig Thomas K.J.
Published: February 2025

The AVATAR therapy is a computer-based intervention which aims to reduce the frequency and severity of voices. The approach is based on computer technology which enables each patient to create an avatar of the entity (human or non-human) that they believe is talking to them. The therapist promotes a dialogue between the patient and the avatar in which the avatar progressively comes under the patient's control. Using real-time voice conversion delivery software, the therapist can modify the relationship between the patient and his/her voice. The innovation of this new intervention is discussed in the present paper as well as the advantages of using a computer based system. The subjective view of the technology from a participant's point of view is also presented.
If You Build It, They Will Come, But What Will Wounded Warriors Experience? Presence in the CAREN
Authors: Highland Krista B.  , Kruger Sarah E.  , Roy Michael J.
Published: February 2025

Military service members (SMs) are surviving complex battlefield injuries at higher rates than ever before. Cutting-edge technologies are increasingly being employed to improve assessment and treatment of these complex injuries. The Computer Assisted Rehabilitation Environment (CAREN) is a comprehensive immersive environment, featuring a treadmill, curved panoramic screen, audio array, and infrared cameras to capture movement. While the CAREN has been progressively incorporated in treatment and research, little has been reported regarding participants' subjective experiences, particularly in relation to the signature wounds of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, traumatic brain injury (TBI) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Here we report participant presence, in a cohort of SMs with complex, frequently dual-diagnosis injuries (N=148; 95% TBI; 58% PTSD) engaging in CAREN-driven treatment. Using a presence questionnaire, participants rated aspects of the CAREN on a 7-point Likert scale and a presence score was calculated. The average presence score was 46.83 (SD=6.04; possible score range 7-63), with 95% of participants reporting scores >36. Those with motion sickness and eye discomfort reported lower presence, whereas those with PTSD reported higher presence. Presence did not vary according to TBI severity. Overall, SMs with complex injuries experience presence in the CAREN. However, presence may be adversely affected by CAREN-associated symptoms such as motion sickness.
Um modelo elastoplástico unidimensional para representar a compressibilidade do solo estruturado de Brasília (Brasil)
Authors: Mendoza Cristhian  , de Farias Márcio Muniz  , Zuluaga Robinson
Published: February 2025

Neste trabalho apresenta-se a validação de um modelo unidimensional elastoplástico com estrutura, mediante ensaios de compressão com razão de tensão (q/p') constante em amostras da argila porosa de Brasília. Os experimentos foram realizados com diferentes trajetórias de tensões, com amostras naturais e reconstruídas. O modelo proposto considera o efeito da estrutura por meio de duas variáveis de estado, a primeira se relaciona com a densidade inicial, e a segunda está associada ao nível de estruturação do material. As curvas de compressibilidade obtidas com este modelo mostram uma transição menos abrupta do estado estruturado ao desestruturado que a maioria das propostas encontradas na literatura. Os resultados das simulações do solo estruturado de Brasília mostram que o modelo pode capturar o comportamento qualitativo e quantitativo de forma satisfatória.
Modelo constitutivo “ISA” para arenas: superficie de fluencia en el espacio de deformación intergranular
Authors: Fuentes William  , Triantafyllidis Theodoros
Published: February 2025

En este trabajo se describe el modelo constitutivo ISA, propuesto recientemente para simular cargas cíclicas en suelos. El modelo se basa en el concepto de deformación intergranular, pero contrario a la formulación de Niemunis y Herle 1997, se define una función de fluencia describiendo una superficie en el espacio de deformación intergranular. La definición de la tasa de deformaciones plásticas es distinta a la convencional para garantizar la continuidad de la tasa de esfuerzo en acorde con la nueva superficie de fluencia. Con esto se obtienen varias ventajas, entre ellas, la descripción de un rango elástico en términos de deformaciones (y no de esfuerzos) y la reducción del “overshooting” ante efectos de memoria. Al final del artículo se presenta una simulación de una columna unidimensional de arena saturada sometida en su base a una aceleración sinusoidal. Los resultados son mostrados y analizados.
Geometrically nonlinear fully coupled model for the consolidation of soft partially saturated soils
Authors: Di Rado H. Ariel  , Beneyto Pablo A.  , Mroginski Javier L.  , Manzolillo J. Emilo
Published: February 2025

The main scope of this paper is to present a fully coupled numerical model for isothermal soil consolidation analysis based on a combination of different stress states. Being originally a non symmetric problem, it may be straightforward reduced to a symmetric one, and general guidelines for the conditions in which this reduction may be carried out, are addressed. Non linear saturation-suction and permeability-suction functions were regarded. The model was delivered considering geometric non linear effects using an updated lagrangian description with a co-rotated Kirchhoff stress tensor. This description also leads to a non-symmetric stiffness matrix. An alternative, using a symmetric constitutive matrix is addressed and some of its main mathematical and numerical characteristics are highlighted. The whole equation system was solved using an open finite element code developed by the authors. In order to validate the model, various examples, for which previous solutions are known, were solved. The use of either a strongly non linear and no symmetric formulation or a simple symmetric formulation with accurate prediction in deformation and pore-pressures is extremely dependent on the soil characteristic curves and on the shear efforts level, as well. Numerical examples show the predictive capability of this geometrically non linear fully coupled model for the consolidation of soft partially saturated soils.
Study in laboratory of secondary compresibility parameters and their relationship whith results from field
Authors: Moreno O.  , Rubio C.M.  , Moreno M.C.
Published: February 2025

The stratigraphy in the southern mountain area is characterized by the erratic presence of organic soils, fibrous, with a high proportion of voids, usually saturated and with a strong sensitivity to the settlements. The handling of data from different activities carried out by this University on projects accumulated over the past twenty years has made it possible to provide a significant advance in the interpretation of the under load answer and thereby to respond to different foundations problems in this kinds of soils. This work raises the study of a sensitive soil to the settlement, obtaining their secondary compressibility parameters in the laboratory to relate them with those obtained in the evaluation task of the same soil in the land under real load behavior. This activity is designed to generate specific information about parameters identifying secondary compressibility with which we can predict the deformability evolution of susceptible soils in long consolidation processes in such a way to predict their response. Objectives of this task are, to know the behavior under load during long term of sensitive soils, from an estimate of secondary compressibility parameters, providing the technical solutions in real buildings cases.
Determination of Optimum Lime Content for Volcanic Expansive Clays
Authors: Al-Taie A.Y.  , Disfani M.M.  , Evans R.P.  , Arulrajah A.  , Horpibulsuk S.
Published: February 2025

This paper reports on a new method for determination of the optimum lime content for stabilisation of volcanic expansive clays. The suitability of past methods such as Eades and Grim is also discussed. In this study, Braybrook (West Melbourne, Australia) volcanic expansive clay was stabilized using hydrated lime. Physical properties of untreated samples and those treated with 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, and 10 percentages of lime were obtained. Results of the Loss of Ignition test indicate that some organic material was present in the studied clay. PH concentration of each mixture was determined at different curing periods (1.5hr, 7, 28, and 57 days). In addition, a range of tests such as Atterberg limit, linear shrinkage strain (without curing), swelling potential, and Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS) (under curing periods of 7 and 28 days) were performed to find the Optimum Lime Content (OLC) of treated samples. Test results suggest that there is a drop in pH concentration with curing time. While swelling potential results suggest an OLC of 4%, UCS tests suggest a 6% OLC, same as plasticity indices and linear shrinkage tests. However, the OLC is about 2.64% according to Eades and Grim procedure. Subsequently, Eades and Grim method was found not to be applicable to volcanic expansive soils. The difference in OLC values for untreated and treated samples and the modifications are discussed in this paper.
Effects of Ballast Degradation on Shear Strength Behavior from Large-scale Triaxial Tests
Authors: Qian Yu  , Tutumluer Erol  , Hashash Youssef M.A.  , Ghaboussi Jamshid
Published: February 2025

Ballast, typically comprising large sized aggregate particles with uniform gradation, is an essential layer in the railroad track substructure. Functions of ballast include facilitating load distribution and drainage, maintaining track geometry and track stability, and providing track resilience and noise absorption. Throughout its service life, ballast goes through changes in gradation and particle shape properties due to aggregate breakdown/degradation. In United States freight lines, mineral aggregate breakdown/degradation has been reported as the main mechanism causing ballast fouling, which covers up to 76% of all the fouling cases. To investigate the effects of ballast aggregate breakdown and degradation on the mechanical behavior, a series of Los Angeles (LA) abrasion tests were performed to generate fouled materials caused by particle degradation under a controlled laboratory environment. In what follows, large-scale triaxial tests were performed on both clean and heavily fouled ballast specimens using a triaxial test device recently developed at the University of Illinois specifically for testing ballast size aggregate materials. The triaxial testing efforts also focused on (a) the effects of gradation considering those finer materials or fines, i.e. particles less than 9.5 mm (3/8 in.), generated through ballast degradation and (b) the effects of aggregate shape properties, such as angularity and flatness and elongation, for particles larger than 9.5 mm (3/8 in.). Accordingly, triaxial tests were also performed only on those aggregate particles still kept after the LA abrasion tests larger than 9.5 mm (3/8 in.) in size, which would constitute the skeleton of the fouled ballast layer in the field. The experimental study results indicated that ballast degradation did not necessarily result in significant strength loss from the monotonic compression tests on dry specimens. On the contrary, in most cases, the dry degraded ballast with or without fines yielded higher strength properties than those observed in the new ballast specimens. Smaller particles provided a “stabilizing” effect that caused a strengthening of the aggregate matrix and accordingly, fines served as a “stabilizer” to fill the voids and increase density in the ballast aggregate matrix.
Effect of non saturation on the strength and stiffness of a compacted clayey sand
Authors: Martins João  , Gomes Correia António
Published: February 2025

The present work aims to investigate the influence of compaction water content on the mechanical behavior of a clay sand (SC). A laboratory test campaign was carried out on reconstituted samples of a SC employed in a trial railway embankment. A constant void ratio corresponding to 97% of the modified Proctor was adopted and water content was varied from 4% dry of optimum to 2% wet of optimum. Hydro characterization was conducted through paper filter technique, whereas mechanical behavior characterization was performed through tri- axial consolidated drained tests. A marked influence of molding water content on the mechanical behavior of SC material was found, namely regarding strength and stiffness, which is attributed to suction effect. However, suction effect decreases with increasing stress and strain levels.
Análise probabilística da estabilidade de talude de solo reforçado com geotêxtil
Authors: Zuccolo Paula Lodo  , Da Silva Jefferson Lins  , Cardoso Isabela Domingos
Published: February 2025

Os métodos utilizados para analisar a estabilidade de um talude geralmente se baseiam na teoria do equilíbrio limite e se expressam em tennos de um fator de segumnça. No entanto, uma análise probabilística que aborde a variabilidade dos parâmetros do solo e as incertezas de modelo se faz muitas vezes necessária. Neste trabalho foi escolhido um talude reforçado pré-dimensionado, disponível da literatura técnica, para a realização de uma análise probabilística. As informações estatísticas dos parâmetros foram encontradas na literatura e as simulações numéricas foram realizadas no software SLOPE/W. Além disso, foi feita uma análise paramétrica com variações no coeficiente de variação do peso específico e ângulo de atrito a fim de se investigar 0 efeito da variabilidade na confiabilidade do talude. Ainda foi avaliada a contribuição do nivel d'água ao longo da profundidade do talude. Os resultados mostram que o índice de confiabilidade apresentou variações significativas com a análise paramétrica realizada, indicando a importância desse tipo de análise. Além disso, a influência do aumento do nível d'água no solo tem um impacto decisivo para a diminuição da segurança e confiabilidade do talude. Por fim, os reforços em geotêxtil se mostraram uma técnica eficiente para contribuição na segurança de taludes.
Slope Stability Study with Sliding Risk in the Municipality Camaragibe / Pernambuco – Brazil
Authors: Albuquerque Magalhães Joany S.L.  , Quental Coutinho Roberto
Published: February 2025

This work aimed to study the geotechnical behavior of Alto Padre Cícero hill on the slope stability. The hillside, about 50 m high, is located in the municipality of Camaragibe at Pernambuco State – Brazil, in a residential area in a mixed occupation, including a church on top, which has a risk of sliding. Climatic and geological conditions were identified. It was conducted surveys for the geometry of the slope and field samples for prospecting the geotechnical profile. The geotechnical parameters of the slope were defined from the collection of samples and laboratory tests such as physical, difatograms X-ray, characteristic curve, hydraulic conductivity, oedometric test and direct shear. The geological unit was classified as Barreiras Formation. The samples were classified as sandy-silty clay and the dominant clay mineral was kaolinite. The water effect in the strength parameters is evaluated from the comparison of tests carried out on samples under natural conditions and in the saturated condition, simulating the effect of intense rainfall. The stability analysis presented safety factors in natural and saturated condition, respectively, 1.69 and 1.15 at the top, 1.80 and 1.69 in the hillside and 2.28 and 1.34 in the base and 1, and 1.46 to 72 general rupture. The safety factors of 1.15 for rupture potential at the top and 1.34 in the hillside are below the minimum recommended value for areas of high risk of loss of life and property losses.
The Oso, Washington, USA Landslide: Lessons Learned Through Field Reconnaissance and Data Collection
Authors: Benoit Jean  , Keaton Jeffrey R.  , Wartman Joseph  , Anderson Scott  , Delachapelle John  , Gilbert Robert  , Montgomery David R.
Published: February 2025

The neighborhood of Steelhead Drive in Oso, Washington, USA was devastated by a massive landslide on Saturday, 22 March 2014, after a three-week period of intense precipitation. Debris flows from the Oso Landslide rushed down along the slope rapidly, suddenly and without much warning, destroying homes, burying a section of a major highway and claiming 43 lives. The landslide was initiated within an approximately 200 m high hill slope comprised of unconsolidated glacial and colluvial deposits. The overall size of the Oso Landslide was estimated at approximately 8 million cubic meters. This paper presents a brief summary of the event as documented by a team from the Geotechnical Extreme Events Reconnaissance (GEER) Association. The field observations and other available data suggest that the event occurred in two main stages. Through this work as well as looking at the historical landslide data in the immediate Oso region, including hydrology, geology, geomorphology and rainfall data, the GEER team identified a number of factors potentially contributing to the Oso Landslide and provide some broader lessons for those involved in assessing landslide safety.
Measurement and Numerical Modeling of the Mechanical damping of impact forces by a ballast layer
Authors: Jacqueline Delphine  , Dimnet Eric  , Hemmati Sahar  , Vinceslas Gratien
Published: February 2025

In order to study the behavior of railway ballast under vibration and the distribution of pressure under the ballast layer, experimental and numerical studies have been performed. A physical model of ballast was used to study repeated impact loadings in the laboratory. The instrumented equipment enables the measurement of vertical force at the impact and under the ballast layer.
Towards a Mechanically Based Definition Of the Disturbance Factor Using The “Slope Model” Lattice Code
Authors: Silva Guzmán Rodrigo  , Gómez Pérez P Patricio
Published: February 2025

The disturbance factor (D) included in the Hoek-Brown criterion represents a strength reduction parameter associated to the damage induced in large open pit slopes as a result of the blasting process and also as a consequence of the stress relaxation and stress rotations induced by the excavations during the mining process. The spatial distribution of the D factor, as well as its value, remain unresolved issues in the current rock mechanics practice applied to slope stability analysis. While it is reasonable to expect that in the long term, numerical modeling based on lattice formulations or strain softening constitutive models will be able to address this issue properly, the current state-of-the-practice (using both limit equilibrium and numerical modeling approaches) will remain applicable for some time. Current methods would therefore benefit from more robust guidelines to define the extent of the disturbed zone, as well as the distribution of strength degradation of the rock masses within a mined slope. In this study, an empirically-based guideline is proposed for the distribution of disturbance with depth in a slope. Furthermore, a first step is made at providing a mechanical interpretation of the disturbance of large open pit slopes in medium to hard rocks due to loss of confinement and is aimed at defining the extent of disturbance using lattice modeling. As the final purpose of the study is identifying the real effect of the disturbance in the strength properties and its location with respect to the slope surface, some initial attempts are also made to measuring the strength of undisturbed and disturbed rock mass samples using a Synthetic Rock Mass approach.
Modelling the Law through Argument Maps: Legal Analysis and Design
Authors: Contissa Giuseppe
Published: February 2025

We present a research aimed at representing legal rules as argument maps. Such representation supports communication with non-lawyers and the integration of safety arguments with legal arguments. The approach has been used in real test applications in the ATM domain, to assess liability issues of new automated technologies.
Annotation of a German Legal Decision Corpus for Argumentation Mining
Authors: Kuhn Florian
Published: February 2025

German legal decisions have not yet been published as a research corpus for natural language processing or large-scale empirical research in linguistics. This poster contribution shows the work in progress of building a corpus of German legal decisions of the civil law sub-domain with a strong focus on Argumentation Mining research. This pilot study covers a small segment of a large collection of decision documents licensed under Creative Commons to explore the features of this text genre and define foundations for a two layered approach to Argumentation Mining using state-of-the-art machine learning techniques. Beside delivering a base for further research on this special text genre, an annotated corpus of German legal decisions can also help building applications for future Open Legal Data initiatives.
Judges Predict Directors' Liability
Authors: Pham Thy
Published: February 2025

This paper examines how judges make decisions in the complex and unstructured legal domain of directors' liability. The research results show that despite the complex legal environment, courts' decisions are highly consistent. This paper is the first to provide a logistic regression model for predicting directors' liability under Dutch company law based on case factors occurring in court decisions (2003–2013).
Monetary Policy Topic Extraction by Using LDA:
Authors: Shirota Yukari  , Hashimoto Takako  , Sakura Tamaki  , Chakraborty Basabi
Published: February 2025

In this paper, the minutes of the monetary policy of the Bank of Japan, the central bank of Japan, for the year 1998 has been analyzed for the extraction of the topics concerning Asian financial crisis. The currency crisis started in Thailand in 1997 and spread toward many Asian countries. We analyzed the Monetary Policy Meeting minutes by text mining technologies. Especially we conducted topic extraction from the meeting minutes using Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) model and the time series of the changes of extracted topic ratios are shown. From the analysis results, one topic which seems to be the Asian financial crisis related topic can be found. The topic ratio change curve clearly corresponds to the calm down of economic indices such as currency exchange ratios and market interest rates in the Asian countries.
Grid-connected PV Power Station's Harmonic Current Detection Based on Adaptive Neural Networks
Authors: Teng Yun  , Xiong Chao  , Li Chun-Lai  , Hui Qian  , Zhu Yi-Peng
Published: February 2025

A novel harmonic current detection method based on the adaptive neural networks is proposed in this paper to improve the quality of the power station. The harmonic parameters are estimated through the adaptive measurement theorem. It can predict the future time of harmonic currents according to the current data and the former historical data, achieving the harmonic in real-time and with fast detection. Simulations are conducted on the PV Power stations in a certain area. The results show that the algorithm achieves high accuracy and rapid speed in convergence and is a good candidate for measuring the harmonics with asynchronous sampling and short data in a grid-connected power plant.
Flight Risk Probabilities During Wake Encountering Using Multivariate Copula Model
Authors: Xue Yuan  , Xu Hao-Jun  , Wang Xiao-Long  , Pei Bin-Bin
Published: February 2025

Flight risk probabilities during wake encountering were evaluated using complex system theory and multivariate extreme value theory. A four adaptive weight parameter copula was proposed for modeling the distributions of three-dimensional extreme parameters. Visual two-dimensional and three-dimensional distribution maps of flight risk probability were built by using a four adaptive weight parameter copula. The topology characteristics of risk distributions at different stages were analyzed. This work can be used as an effective complement to aircraft system safety assessment methods. It also has some reference value for research on wake navigation control, risk aversion, airport safety interval improvement, environment risks visualization, and so on.
Construction of Sparse Single Layer Feedforward Networks with Better Generalization Performance and Its Application to Hand Written Recognition Tasks
Authors: Shen Feng-Shan  , Wang Li-Ming  , Zhang Zhuo  , Han Ying-Jie
Published: February 2025

A random vector functional-link (RVFL) net (also called Extreme Learning Machine, ELM) is a fast learning algorithm using single hidden layer feedforward neural networks (SLFNs). However, RVFL/ELM usually needs large scale hidden layer nodes and requires many memory resources. This paper proposes a sparse single layer feedforward network (SSLFN) with better generalization performance for multi-classification. In SSLFNs, the number of hidden layer nodes is not randomly set, but is related to the classes. For a k-class problem, the number of hidden layer nodes is simply set to k. Then, the function at each node is optimized so as to improve its generalization performance. Experimental results on HCL2000, MNIST and USPS benchmark datasets show the classification performance of SSLFNs with 10 hidden layer nodes has outperformed that of RVFL/ELM with thousands of hidden layer nodes.
Supply Chain Product Optimal Configuration Based on Data Mining
Authors: Zheng Hong-Zhen  , Chu Dian-Hui  , Xu Chun-Jiao
Published: February 2025

This paper takes customer preference sequence data and proposes a relationship model between customer preference orientation and customer characteristics which use the characteristics of the supply chain to draw on symbolic sequence clustering. It focuses on the study of symbol sequence data properties, and analyzes the essence of preference symbol sequence clustering based on symbolic sequencing in both formalized and materialized ways. It studies the application of the self-organizing feature map as a symbol sequence clustering algorithm, and makes the comparison between clustering models so that the research approach to study the structure of market segments based on consumer preferences can be realized in practice.
An Improved Nonlinear Chirp Scaling Algorithm for a Squinted SAR of Curvilinear Trajectory
Authors: Bao Min  , Shi Lin  , Xing Meng-Dao
Published: February 2025

For a maneuverable platform synthetic aperture radar (SAR), the track can be curvilinear. Thus, the conventional imaging algorithms that use linear trajectory models become questionable. In this paper, the true range history (curvilinear trajectory) is accurately expressed using higher-order approximation. Then, an accurate Two-Dimension (2-D) spectrum is derived based on the method of series reversion (MSR). Furthermore, an improved nonlinear chirp scaling algorithm (NLCSA) is presented to correct space-variant range cell migration (RCM) and range variance on secondary range compression (SRC). Finally, the simulation results show that the presented algorithm can effectively focus large scene and high squint angle in SAR of curvilinear trajectory.
P-information Law Models and the Separation-Discovery of Unknown Information Law
Authors: Ren Xue-Fang  , Zhang Ling  , Shi Kai-Quan
Published: February 2025

By improving function P-sets, models of the P-information law and their structures are proposed. The P-information law model consists of internal and external P-information laws, and demonstrates dynamic characteristics. The expansion-contraction generations of attribute conjunctions are then proposed, and the P-information law reasoning and various structures are provided. Furthermore, the intelligent separation-discovery of unknown information law and separation-discovery theorems are proposed, and verified by an application.
Evaluation of People, Social, and Organizational Issues – Sociotechnical Ethnographic Evaluation
Authors: Kaplan Bonnie
Published: February 2025

Sociotechnical approaches are grounded in theory and evidence-based. They are useful for evaluations involving health information technologies. This contribution begins with an overview of sociotechnical theory and ethnography. These theories concern interactions between technology, its use, people who use or are affected by it, and their organizational and societal situations. Then the contribution discusses planning and designing evaluations, including frameworks and models to focus an evaluation, and methodological considerations for conducting it. Next, ethical issues and further challenges and opportunities are taken up. Concluding case examples, referenced throughout, illustrate how good evaluations provide useful results to help design, implement, and use health information technologies effectively.
From Usability Engineering to Evidence-based Usability in Health IT
Authors: Marcilly Romaric  , Peute Linda  , Beuscart-Zephir Marie-Catherine
Published: February 2025

Usability is a critical factor in the acceptance, safe use, and success of health IT. The User-Centred Design process is widely promoted to improve usability. However, this traditional case by case approach that is rooted in the sound understanding of users' needs is not sufficient to improve technologies' usability and prevent usability-induced use-errors that may harm patients. It should be enriched with empirical evidence. This evidence is on design elements (what are the most valuable design principles, and the worst usability mistakes), and on the usability evaluation methods (which combination of methods is most suitable in which context). To achieve this evidence, several steps must be fulfilled and challenges must be overcome. Some attempts to search evidence for designing elements of health IT and for usability evaluation methods exist and are summarized. A concrete instance of evidence-based usability design principles for medication-related alerting systems is briefly described.
Accessing Patient Information for Probabilistic Patient Models Using Existing Standards
Authors: Gaebel Jan  , Cypko Mario A.  , Lemke Heinz U.
Published: February 2025

Clinical decision support systems (CDSS) are developed to facilitate physicians' decision making, particularly for complex, oncological diseases. Access to relevant patient specific information from electronic health records (EHR) is limited to the structure and transmission formats in the respective hospital information system. We propose a system-architecture for a standardized access to patient specific information for a CDSS for laryngeal cancer. Following the idea of a CDSS using Bayesian Networks, we developed an architecture concept applying clinical standards. We recommend the application of Arden Syntax for the definition and processing of needed medical knowledge and clinical information, as well as the use of HL7 FHIR to identify the relevant data elements in an EHR to increase the interoperability the CDSS.
Towards New Metrics for Bioresource Use
Authors: Mabile Laurence  , De Castro Paola  , Bravo Elena  , Parodi Barbara  , Thomsen Mogens  , Moore Samuel  , Cambon-Thomsen Anne
Published: February 2025

The BRIF is an ongoing initiative that encompasses reflections and actions from various stakeholders (researchers, funders, industrials, editors) towards i/ standardised identification schemes and reporting for better visibility and tracing of bioresources on the web; ii/ incentive policies from hosting institutions; iii/ creation of tools allowing follow up of their use. Tracing the use of bioresource is the first step in this process and for this purpose we have published the CoBRA (Citation of BioResources in journal Articles) guideline, launched the Open Journal of Bioresources and started developing new metrics. The CoBRA guideline aims to standardise the citation of bioresources in scientific articles in order to trace their use on the web. The Open Journal of Bioresources (OJB) was created in close collaboration with the open access publisher Ubiquity Press allowing both the resources and the OJB papers to be cited, and also providing authors with tools to get metrics on reuse and impact. New better adapted metrics are being worked out in a dedicated BRIF working subgroup. A first list of relevant parameters to take into account in the impact measure of bioresources has been provided. The tools proposed here foster easier access to samples and associated data as well as their optimised use, sharing and recognition for data producers. Input from the scientific editorial community would be highly appreciated at this stage.
Creating an IOT That Notifies Concerned People for the Falls of Geriatric Patients
Authors: Turkeli Serkan  , Kurt Kenan Kaan  , Catamak Adem  , Sonmez Remzi Yalin  , Atay Huseyin Tanzer
Published: February 2025

A fall is a multifactorial phenomenon which cause an increase in both mortality and injury rates. The cause of a fall is mostly related to loss in reflexes especially in older ages. A number of large prospective studies shows that elderly patients have significant fractures and injuries even sometimes in some cases a fall can be concluded with deaths. However, in case of fall, if the situation is noticed and aided quickly, the life quality can be increased significantly in older people. With implementation of preventive strategies or premonitory devices, this devastating problem can be solved.