bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Keeping Them Interested and Keeping Them Honest: Using an On-Line Learning and Development Environment Called NoobLab to Improve Outcomes and Prevent Plagiarism in Undergraduate Programming Pedagogy
Authors: Neve Paul  , Hunter Gordon  , Livingstone David
Published: February 2025

In this paper, we describe the design, development, deployment and evaluation of NoobLab, our novel on-line environment for the teaching and learning of computer programming. Although originally devised for the teaching of elementary Javascript, the system now also supports Java, PHP and a prescriptive form of pseudocode designed to assist in the teaching of elementary programming concepts. The system incorporates a number of innovative features, such as automated checking of program code, detection of plagiarism, “gamification”, and automatically logs all of each user's interactions with it, facilitating performing learning analytics relating to student engagement and performance. The system has already proved to be of value in teaching programming, and helping people to learn to program, not just to specialist Computer Science students, but also people studying Engineering or Mathematics as their main subject discipline.
Creating Smarter Teaching and Training Environments: Innovative Set-Up for Collaborative Hybrid Learning
Authors: Dafoulas Georgios A.  , Maia Cristiano  , Loomes Martin  , Serce Fatma C.  , Swigger Kathleen  , Brazile Robert  , Lopez Victor  , Alpaslan Ferda N.  , Milewski Allen
Published: February 2025

This paper brings together previous work from a number of research projects and teaching initiatives in an effort to introduce good practice in setting up supportive environments for collaborative learning. The paper discusses prior use of social media in learning support, the role of dashboards for learning analytics in Global Software Development training, the use of optical head-mounted displays for feedback and the use of NodeXl visualization in managing distributed teams. The scope of the paper is to provide a structured approach in organizing the creation of smarter teaching and training environments and explore ways to coordinate learning scenarios with the use of various techniques. The paper also discusses challenges from integrating multiple innovative features in educational contexts. Finally the paper attempts to investigate the use of smart laboratories in establishing additional learning support and gather primary data from blended and hybrid learning pilot studies.
Towards Integrating People with Intellectual Disabilities in the Digital World
Authors: Medina Jaime  , Saggion Horacio  , Schuurman Ineke  , Sevens Leen  , O'Flaherty John J.  , De Vliegher Annelies  , Daems Jo
Published: February 2025

Information and Communication Technologies have radically changed the way in which we access and share information. However, accessibility for all is still far from being a reality. People with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities (IDD) currently have very limited access to the information society and, in particular, to social media websites. Even though the recent technological advances have provided valuable support for people with disabilities, the focus has in most cases been placed on sensory and physical impairments, while IDD is normally not on the agenda of technology developers. In this paper, we will describe how the Able to Include project is changing this situation, using various Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques. We will also describe how the pilot studies guide us in improving our tools.
Creative Prototyping as an Inter-Dimensional Portal Between Disciplines
Authors: Kymäläinen Tiina
Published: February 2025

This paper uses a narrative literary study to discuss how the science fiction prototyping method has been applied so far in different disciplines, including technology and engineering research (specifically Intelligent Environment research), foresight, futures- and business studies. Then the paper presents very similar practices in human-computer interaction, entitled as e.g. critical design, speculative design and design fiction. After that, the paper focuses on their common denominator, scenario planning and scenario design, and deliberates briefly on how the creative, future-oriented prototyping differs from them. The main contribution is to propose a conversional tool – an inter-dimensional portal – for all the involved disciplines that is aimed at uniting their forces and passion for science fiction – for the greatest benefit of all mankind.
We Think – Therefore We Are
Authors: Hensman Jim
Published: February 2025

Future developments in AI and robotics, brain interfaces, the Internet and virtual and augmented reality, will make possible new types of integration of humans and machines which will change how we think, learn and live. This paper uses a story about a future scenario involving systems of this kind to respond to crises and disasters to explore the possibilities of collective intelligence and consider some of the deeper issues and challenges relating to the relationship between humans and machines.
Effect of Changing Body Fluid Levels on Intrabody Signal Propagation
Authors: Asogwa Clement Ogugua  , Lai Daniel T.H.
Published: February 2025

Intrabody signal propagation uses human body tissue as the communication medium. Human body tissue consists of various components in aqueous medium which are electrolytic in nature. Changes in the amount of water in the body changes the volume of the body fluid which in turn alters the overall impedance of the tissues. These changes affect the signal attenuation of an electrical signal passing through those tissues. We investigate the effect of body fluid changes on intrabody signal propagating between 900 kHz and 1.5 MHz. Our empirical measurements on 6 subjects show that within the first 20 minutes after intake of 600 ml of water, a propagating galvanic coupled signal would have maximum rate of signal gain occurring between 900 kHZ and 1.1 MHz. Understanding that rate at which the signal changes dues to changes in body fluid level can be used for investigating human body hydration patterns with potential application in diagnosing or monitoring body fluid disorder and diseases associated with loss or rapid gain of body fluid.
Assessing Producibility of Product Platforms Using Set-Based Concurrent Engineering
Authors: Landahl Jonas  , Levandowski Christoffer  , Johannesson Hans  , Isaksson Ola
Published: February 2025

This paper presents a method to facilitate model-based producibility assessments of product variants in the early phases of platform development. The approach uses set-based concurrent engineering principles to explore and narrow down a design space towards feasible alternatives. A case including tool accessibility and assembly robustness of an aerospace sub-system platform is used to demonstrate the approach. The assessment activities can be prepared in parallel, and support the concurrency needed, across design and manufacturing, to serve improved process efficiency. Ultimately, the approach may reduce late design modifications thanks to increased reuse of manufacturing knowledge, as well as reduce cost thanks to less physical prototyping and testing.
Variable Neighborhood Search for Transmission Network Expansion Planning Problem
Authors: Taglialenha Silvia Lopes De Sena  , Fernandes Christiane Wenck Nogueira  , Silva Vanina Markowki Durski
Published: February 2025

This paper explores the metaheuristic Variable Neighborhood Search (VNS) to solve the static long-term power transmission network expansion planning problem that consists of finding the optimum expansion arrangement (construction of new circuits) for a horizon of defined planning. VNS is a simple and effective metaheuristic for combinatorial optimization that changes neighborhood within a local algorithm, and makes the choice of implementations that integrate intensification and/or diversification strategies during the search process. The formulation of the proposed method is presented, illustrating implementation details in the transmission network expansion planning problem using the transportation model. Results obtained in tests performed with a medium network available in literature are summarized.
Determining the Presence of Periodontopathic Virulence Factors in Short-Term Postmortem Alzheimer's Disease Brain Tissue
Authors: Poole Sophie  , Singhrao Sim K.  , Kesavalu Lakshmyya  , Curtis Michael A.  , Crean StJohn
Published: February 2025

The aim of this study was to establish a link between periodontal disease and Alzheimer's disease (AD) with a view to identifying the major periodontal disease bacteria (Treponema denticola, Tannerella forsythia, and Porphyromonas gingivalis) and/or bacterial components in brain tissue from 12h postmortem delay. Our request matched 10 AD cases for tissue from Brains for Dementia Research alongside 10 non-AD age-related controls with similar or greater postmortem interval. We exposed SVGp12, an astrocyte cell line, to culture supernatant containing lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from the putative periodontal bacteria P. gingivalis. The challenged SVGp12 cells and cryosections from AD and control brains were immunolabeled and immunoblotted using a battery of antibodies including the anti-P. gingivalis-specific monoclonal antibody. Immunofluorescence labeling demonstrated the SVGp12 cell line was able to adsorb LPS from culture supernatant on its surface membrane; similar labeling was observed in four out of 10 AD cases. Immunoblotting demonstrated bands corresponding to LPS from P. gingivalis in the SVGp12 cell lysate and in the same four AD brain specimens which were positive when screened by immunofluorescence. All controls remained negative throughout while the same four cases were consistently positive for P. gingivalis LPS (p=0.029). This study confirms that LPS from periodontal bacteria can access the AD brain during life as labeling in the corresponding controls, with equivalent/longer postmortem interval, was absent. Demonstration of a known chronic oral-pathogen-related virulence factor reaching the human brains suggests an inflammatory role in the existing AD pathology.
Inflammation, Anti-inflammatory Agents, and Alzheimer's Disease: The Last 22 Years
Authors: McGeer Patrick L.  , Rogers Joseph  , McGeer Edith G.
Published: February 2025

Two basic discoveries spurred research into inflammation as a driving force in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The first was the identification of activated microglia in association with the lesions. The second was the discovery that rheumatoid arthritics, who regularly consume anti-inflammatory agents, were relatively spared from the disease. These findings led to an exploration of the inflammatory pathways that were involved in AD pathogenesis. A pivotal advance was the discovery that amyloid-&bgr; protein (A&bgr;) activated the complement system. This focused attention on anti-inflammatories as blockers of complement activation. More than 15 epidemiological studies have since showed a sparing effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in AD. A consistent finding has been that the longer the NSAIDs were used prior to clinical diagnosis, the greater the sparing effect. The reason has since emerged from studies of biomarkers such as amyloid-&bgr; (A&bgr;) levels in the cerebrospinal fluid and A&bgr; deposits in brain. They have established that the onset of AD commences at least a decade before cognitive decline permits clinical diagnosis. Such biomarker studies have revealed that a huge window of opportunity exists when application of NSAIDs, other anti-inflammatory agents, or complement activation blockers, could arrest further progress of AD, thus eliminating its manifestation. It can be anticipated that this principle will apply to many other chronic neurodegenerative diseases. Neuroinflammation, discovered in AD more than 30 years ago, has now become a major field of brain research today. Inhibiting it may be the key to successful treatment of many chronic neurological disorders.
Active Invasion of Porphyromonas gingivalis and Infection-Induced Complement Activation in ApoE
Authors: Poole Sophie  , Singhrao Sim K.  , Chukkapalli Sasanka  , Rivera Mercedes  , Velsko Irina  , Kesavalu Lakshmyya  , Crean StJohn
Published: February 2025

Periodontal disease is a polymicrobial inflammatory disease that leads to chronic systemic inflammation and direct infiltration of bacteria/bacterial components, which may contribute to the development of Alzheimer's disease. ApoE−/−mice were orally infected (n=12) with Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola, Tannerella forsythia, and Fusobacterium nucleatum as mono-and polymicrobial infections. ApoE−/−mice were sacrificed following 12 and 24 weeks of chronic infection. Bacterial genomic DNA was isolated from all brain tissues except for the F. nucleatum mono-infected group. Polymerase chain reaction was performed using universal 16s rDNA primers and species-specific primer sets for each organism to determine whether the infecting pathogens accessed the brain. Sequencing amplification products confirmed the invasion of bacteria into the brain during infection. The innate immune responses were detected using antibodies against complement activation products of C3 convertase stage and the membrane attack complex. Molecular methods demonstrated that 6 out of 12 ApoE−/−mice brains contained P. gingivalis genomic DNA at 12 weeks (p=0.006), and 9 out of 12 at 24 weeks of infection (p=0.0001). Microglia in both infected and control groups demonstrated strong intracellular labeling with C3 and C9, due to on-going biosynthesis. The pyramidal neurons of the hippocampus in 4 out of 12 infected mice brains demonstrated characteristic opsonization with C3 activation fragments (p=0.032). These results show that the oral pathogen P. gingivalis was able to access the ApoE−/−mice brain and thereby contributed to complement activation with bystander neuronal injury.
Bacterial Infection Increases the Risk of Alzheimer's Disease: An Evidence-Based Assessment
Authors: Maheshwari Priya  , Eslick Guy D.
Published: February 2025

Background: The possibility of an infectious etiology for Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been repeatedly postulated over the past three decades, with the roles of both viruses and bacteria having been investigated. Chlamydophila (formerly Chlamydia) pneumoniae (Cpn) and spirochetal bacteria have been two of the most frequently implicated bacterial groups in AD pathogenesis.
Alzheimer's Disease and Peripheral Infections: The Possible Contribution from Periodontal Infections, Model and Hypothesis
Authors: Kamer Angela R.  , Craig Ronald G.  , Glodzik-Sobanska Lidia  , Dasanayake Ananda  , Annam Kumar Raghava Chowdary  , Corby Patricia  , Bry Miroslow  , Janal Malvin N.  , Deepthii Gulivindala  , de Leon Mony J.
Published: February 2025

Alzheimer's disease (AD) affects approximately 5.3 million people in the U.S. and this number will increase as the population ages and the life-span increases. Therefore, of paramount importance is identifying mechanisms and factors that affect the risk of developing AD. The etiology and pathogenic mechanisms for AD have not been defined, although inflammation within the brain is thought to play a significant role. Consistent with this hypothesis, studies suggest that peripheral inflammations, dysbiotic conditions, and infections contribute to the inflammatory state of the brain and may constitute risks for AD. Recently, several peripheral conditions with an inflammatory basis such as diabetes and obesity have been recognized as risks for AD. Periodontitis is a prevalent, chronic peripheral polymicrobial disease associated with gram negative, anaerobic bacteria, which exhibits significant localized and systemic inflammatory effects. This review will present evidence suggesting that periodontal disease may also be a risk factor for AD and possible mechanistic links between periodontitis related inflammation and AD. It will review the pathogenesis of periodontitis and the mechanisms by which periodontal infections may affect the onset and progression of AD. Periodontitis is a treatable condition and may be a readily modifiable risk factor for AD. Therefore, further studies including intervention trials are warranted.
Herpes and Alzheimer's Disease: Subversion in the Central Nervous System and How It Might Be Halted
Authors: Itzhaki Ruth F.
Published: February 2025

The last 8 or so years have seen a large increase in the number of studies supporting the concept of a major role for herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1) in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The main advances have been made through studies in humans and in mice, investigating the likelihood of reactivation of the latent virus in brain. Others have aimed to explain the mechanisms in cells whereby the increase in amyloid-beta (A&bgr;) production on HSV1 infection of cells and mouse brains occurs, and the reason that infected cells make this increase. The possibility that other herpesviruses are involved in the development of AD has been explored, and human herpesvirus type 6, Epstein-Barr virus, and cytomegalovirus, in particular, have been implicated. Epidemiological studies have further supported the role specifically of HSV1 and its reactivation in the disease. Antiviral studies have continued, comparing those acting by different mechanisms, such as restricting viral replication, or blocking viral entry into cells, to treat HSV1-infected cell cultures, and then examining the extent to which the virus-induced increases in A&bgr; and AD-like tau are reduced. All the studies support the usage of antiviral treatment to slow or halt the progression of AD.
Alzheimer's Disease and Fungal Infection
Authors: Carrasco Luis  , Alonso Ruth  , Pisa Diana  , Rábano Alberto
Published: February 2025

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative condition that leads to dementia mainly among the elderly. Despite numerous efforts from many laboratories, the precise etiology of AD remains elusive. We have analyzed the existence of fungal infection in AD patients. A number of tests have been carried out in blood serum, including the detection of antibodies against several yeast species and fungal proteins, and also the presence of fungal (1,3)-&bgr;-glucan. Results from this analysis indicate that disseminated fungal infection can be detected in the majority of AD patients tested. We show that fungal proteins can be detected in cerebrospinal fluid using a slot-blot assay with different anti-fungal antibodies. In addition, proteomic analysis provides strong evidence for the existence of fungal proteins in brain samples Furthermore, amplification of fungal DNA by PCR followed by sequencing distinguishes several fungal species. PCR analysis of these samples reveals a variety of amplified DNA fragments that are dependent on the patient and the tissue tested. DNA sequencing of these fragments demonstrates that several fungal species can be found in brain samples. Collectively, these various assays show that fungal macromolecules can be detected in brain from AD patients and direct visualization of fungal infection in brain tissue provides compelling evidence for the presence for yeast-shaped cells and fungal hyphae. To our knowledge, these findings represent the first evidence that fungal infection is detectable in blood and brain samples from AD patients. The possibility that this may contribute to the etiological cause of AD is proposed.
Iron Withholding: A Defense Against Disease
Authors: Weinberg Eugene D.  , Miklossy Judith
Published: February 2025

Excessive and misplaced iron promotes anarray of neurodegenerative and endocrine diseases as well as cardiomyopathy, arthropathy, neoplasia and infection. Vertebrates maintain an iron withholding defense system designed to prevent accumulation of redox-active (free) iron in sensitive sites and to sequester the metal in innocuous packages. Numerous genetic, behavioral and environmental factors counteract the defense system. Our increasing awareness of the pathologic roles of iron, as well as of the methods for prevention of iron loading coupled with intensified research and development of tissue specific iron chelator drugs, can be expected to yield marked improvements in human health.
Gene Signature in Alzheimer's Disease and Environmental Factors: The Virus Chronicle
Authors: Licastro Federico  , Carbone Ilaria  , Ianni Manuela  , Porcellini Elisa
Published: February 2025

Genome wide association investigations from large cohorts of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and non demented controls (CTR) showed that a limited set of genes were associated (p>10−5) with the disease. A very recent study from our group showed that an additional limited group of SNP in selected genes were associated with AD. In this report we argue that the association of these genes with AD is suggestive of a pivotal role of environmental factors in the pathogenesis of the disease and one of these factors is virus infection. In other words, the genetic signature revealed by genome wide association (GWA) studies discloses a network of genes that might influence the ability of the central nervous system to cope with and fight against the invasion by virus of the herpes family. In fact, Nectin-2 (NC-2); apolipoprotein E (APOE); glycoprotein carcinoembryonic antigen related cell adhesion molecule-16 (CEACAM-16); B-cell lymphoma-3 (Bcl-3); translocase of outer mitochondrial membrane 40 homolog (T0MM-40); complement receptor-1 (CR-l); APOJ or clusterin and C-type lectin domain A family-16 member (CLEC-16A); Phosphatidyl inositol- binding clathrin assembly protein gene (PICALM); ATP-bonding cassette, sub family A, member 7 (ABCA7); membrane spanning A4 (MSA4); CD2 associated protein (CD2AP); cluster of differentiation 33 (CD33); and ephrin receptor A1 (EPHA1) result in a genetic signature that might affect individual brain susceptibility to infection by the herpes virus family during aging, leading to neuronal loss, inflammation, and amyloid deposition.
Pathogen Free Conditions Slow the Onset of Neurodegeneration in A Mouse Model of Nerve Growth Factor Deprivation
Authors: Carucci Nicola Maria  , Capsoni Simona
Published: February 2025

Several studies suggest that systemic infection occurring during ageing and chronic neurodegenerative diseases can evoke an exaggerated immune response that contributes to the progression of neurodegeneration and cognitive decline. However, studies directly addressing the relationship between microbial environment and the onset of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease (AD) animal models are lacking. Here we show that the onset of neurodegeneration that transgenic mice develop when raised in conventional husbandry slows down when raising anti-Nerve Growth Factor transgenic mice in a murine pathogen free condition.
Chlamydia Pneumoniae as an Etiologic Agent for Late-Onset Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Balin Brian J.  , Hammond Christine J.  , Little C. Scott  , Hingley Susan T.  , Appelt Denah M.  , Whittum-Hudson Judith A.  , Gerard Herve C.  , Hudson Alan P.
Published: February 2025

Sporadic, late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that is now the most common and severe form of dementia in the elderly. That dementia is thought to be a direct result of neuronal damage and loss associated with accumulations of abnormal protein deposits in the brain. Great strides have been made in the past 20 years with regard to understanding the pathological entities that arise in the AD brain, both for familial AD (~5% of all cases) and LOAD (~95% of all cases). The neuropathology observed includes: neuritic senile plaques (NSPs), neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), neuropil threads (NPs), and often deposits of cerebrovascular amyloid. Genetic, biochemical, and immunological analyses have provided a relatively detailed knowledge of these entities, but our understanding of the “trigger” events leading to the biological processes resulting in this pathology and neurodegeneration remains limited. For this reason, the etiology of AD, in particular LOAD, has remained elusive. However, a number of recent and ongoing studies have implicated infection in the etiology and pathogenesis of LOAD. This review focuses specifically on infection with Chlamydophila (Chlamydia) pneumoniae in LOAD and how this infection may function as a “trigger or initiator” in the pathogenesis of this disease.
Chronic Inflammation and Amyloidogenesis in Alzheimer's Disease – Role of Spirochetes
Authors: Miklossy Judith
Published: February 2025

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with dementia, brain atrophy and the aggregation and accumulation of a cortical amyloid-&bgr; peptide (A&bgr;). Chronic bacterial infections are frequently associated with amyloid deposition. It had been known from a century that the spirochete Treponema pallidum can cause dementia in the atrophic form of general paresis where. It is noteworthy that the pathological hallmarks of this atrophic form are similar to those of AD. Recent observations showed that bacteria, including spirochetes contain amyloidogenic proteins and also that A&bgr; deposition and tau phosphorylation can be induced in vitro or in vivo following exposure to bacteria or LPS. Bacteria or their poorly degradable debris are powerful inflammatory cytokine inducers, activate complement, affect vascular permeability, generate nitric oxide and free radicals, induce apoptosis and are amyloidogenic. All these processes are involved in the pathogenesis of AD. Old and new observations, reviewed here, indicate that to consider the possibility that bacteria, including several types of spirochetes highly prevalent in the population at large or their persisting debris may initiate cascade of events leading to chronic inflammation and amyloid deposition in AD is important, as appropriate antibacterial and antiinflammatory therapy would be available to prevent dementia.
Specificity of the Operation of Ukrainian Checkpoints in the Armed Conflict Zone in Eastern Ukraine in Light of Corruption Risks
Authors: Kęsek Rafał
Published: February 2025

This analysis contains the characteristics of the operation of Ukrainian checkpoints located on the so-called demarcation line in eastern Ukraine and on the administrative border with Crimea. The operation of checkpoints is analysed in the context of real and potential risks related to corruption.
ARETHUS – A Decision Support Platform for Reasoning About Security
Authors: Vaněk Ondřej  , Kopřiva Štěpán  , Hrstka Ondřej  , Pěchouček Michal
Published: February 2025

Asymmetric threats in the current world are focused on various critical infrastructures. We choose a subset of the infrastructures and a set of surveillance policies, and we propose a number of security countermeasures that should be able to detect and potentially prevent a potential attack. Our goal is to provide a unified decision support platform ARETHUS to help decision-makers notice a threat and then choose from a computed array of potential preventive actions. The platform is built using a mixed-reality concept, and allows mixing of real-world and simulated data to provide not only a real-time work environment, but also a testbed to test out various scenarios. We plug in a number of algorithms computing various patrolling policies for heterogeneous agents, and we make the platform extensible for use by others. We demonstrate the usability of the platform and the performance of the algorithms on a set of pipeline protection scenarios.
Legal and Regulatory Considerations to Expanding Telemedicine Services Across International Borders
Authors: Sokolovich Natasa
Published: February 2025

The use of telemedicine across national boundaries requires an understanding of the legal and regulatory challenges that we face in addressing application of telemedicine in disaster response and other humanitarian activities. This chapter focuses on multiple legal and regulatory considerations related to providing telemedicine services across international borders. While clinical standards of care across medical and surgical disciplines are fairly well-defined and generally accepted across the globe, there are various legal and regulatory laws, policies and procedures which limit physicians from openly engaging in the practice of medicine across international borders.
Validation of the MnTS in a Simulated Environment – Ukraine
Authors: Hostiuc Filip  , Latifi Rifat  , Poropatich Ronald  , Sokolovich Natasa  , Doarn Charles R.
Published: February 2025

NATO Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Center's consequence management field exercise (FX) Ukraine 2015 was co-sponsored by Ukraine and its State Emergency Service. Over 29 nations committed resources, equipment, exercise participants, directing staff and/or observers. Planning was compressed, with 2 formal planning conferences and an in-progress review in less than 4-month to plan an event that consisted of 2 days of academics, a 2-day command post exercise (CPX), a day-long 18-hour FX and a capabilities demonstration day for invited dignitaries. The lead-in scenario used seismic activity resulting from an underground sulfur mine accident to generate broad-spectrum emergency management response requirements: Urban Search and Rescue, restoration of public services, toxic industrial chemical releases, decontamination, environmental impact surveys, medical triage/treatments and a recovered radiation source. The Multinational Telemedicine System (MnTS), which is being developed under the NATO Science for Peace and Security Program, was successfully tested during a field exercise in Lviv, Ukraine in September 2015, attended by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and the President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko. The exercise permitted the first time use of the MnTS, an independent multinational telemedicine system, to enable provision of medical support in a disaster situation. While telemedicine/telehealth services do not replace real medical personnel, they do augment the teams on the ground with expertise that is not present at the scene of the disaster. Often case the medical infrastructure gets damaged, destroyed or otherwise compromise during disasters. This chapter describes how the multinational telemedicine system was used in simulated disaster conditions.
Impact of the Scheduling Strategy in Heterogeneous Systems That Provide Co-Scheduling
Authors: Süß Tim  , Döring Nils  , Gad Ramy  , Nagel Lars  , Brinkmann André  , Feld Dustin  , Schricker Eric  , Soddemann Thomas
Published: February 2025

For many years, the number of processing units per compute node is increasing significantly. For utilizing all or most of the available compute resources of a high-performance computing cluster, at least some of its nodes will have to be shared by several applications at the same time. Even if jobs are co-scheduled on a node, it can happen that compute resources remain idle, although there may be jobs that could make use of them (e.g., if the resource was temporarily blocked when the job was started). Heterogeneous schedulers, which schedule tasks for different devices, can bind jobs to resources in a way that can significantly reduce the idle time. Typically, such schedulers make their decisions based on a static strategy.
Initial Formulation of Why Disallowing Same Program Co-Schedules Improves Performance
Authors: De Blanche Andreas  , Lundqvist Thomas
Published: February 2025

Co-scheduling processes on different cores in the same server might lead to excessive slowdowns if they use the same shared resource, like a memory bus. If possible, processes with a high shared resource use should be allocated to different server nodes to avoid contention, thus avoiding slowdown. This article proposes the more general principle that twins, i.e. several instances of the same program, should be allocated to different server nodes. The rational for this is that instances of the same program use the same resources and they are more likely to be either low or high resource users. High resource users should obviously not be combined, but a bit non-intuitively, it is also shown that low resource users should also not be combined in order to not miss out on better scheduling opportunities. This is verified using both a probabilistic argument as well as experimentally using ten programs from the NAS parallel benchmark suite running on two different systems. By using the simple rule of forbidding these terrible twins, the average slowdown is shown to decrease from 6.6% down to 5.9% for System A and from 9.5% to 8.3% for System B. Furthermore, the worst case slowdown is lowered from 12.7% to 9.0% and 19.5% to 13% for systems A and B, respectively. Thus, indicating a considerable improvement despite the rule being program agnostic and having no information about any program's resource usage or slowdown behavior.
“Terrorism” and “Extremism” and the Implications for CVE Strategy
Authors: Al Majali Hussein  , Watson Robert Akira
Published: February 2025

Contemporary jihadi terrorism, perhaps best represented by al Qaeda and the Islamic State (ISIS), offers a compelling ideological narrative that connects local problems to global trends and exploits religion and history to justify the use of violence against Western targets as well as fellow Muslims. Like all terrorists – past, present, and future – today's jihadists are motivated by a desire to radically change what they perceive to be an unjust status quo. Using Major General Hussein Hazza' al Majali's presentation at the NATO Advanced Research Workshop, “Human Factors in the Defence Against Terrorism: The Case of Jordan,” as a starting point, this paper explores the difference between terrorism and extremism, devoting special attention to the latter. The distinction between terrorism and the extremist logic used to justify it drives this paper's assessment of approaches to counter- and de-radicalisation.
The Role of Discourse Analysis in Terrorism Studies: Comparing Inspire and Dabiq
Authors: Lorenzo-Dus Nuria  , Walker Luke  , Kinzel Anina
Published: February 2025

This paper examines methodology in Terrorism Studies, specifically claims that excessive attention being paid to terrorists' messages (their discourse) instead of to their target audiences has contributed to stagnation in this field. To do so, the paper first clarifies what a discourse analytic approach entails, differentiating it from the language-based content analytic approaches largely followed in Terrorism Studies to date. It then illustrates the potential value of such an approach by both explaining the methodology and reporting the key results of a Corpus-Assisted Discourse Studies piece of research into (de)legitimation in the online jihadist magazines Dabiq and Inspire. This research focused on the notion of the West and on terms used to designate Islam ‘non-believers’ in those magazines. The results revealed some similarities but also significant differences in the ways in which Inspire and Dabiq discursively ‘other’ the West by attacking different aspects of its ‘public image’. They also revealed notable differences regarding the discursive means via which they legitimate such othering with regard to individuals and groups that they pejoratively refer to as ‘kuffar’ (disbelievers) and ‘murtaddin’ (apostates).
Online Jihadi Instructional Content: The Role of Magazines
Authors: Conway Maura  , Parker Jodie  , Looney Sean
Published: February 2025

This chapter focuses on the instructional content, both text and images, published in 26 issues of three jihadi magazines: Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula's Inspire, Inspire's forerunner Jihad Recollections, and Somali Al-Shabab's Gaidi M'taani. Instruction was found to be a core component of Inspire as distinct from the varying types and levels of instruction appearing in Jihad Recollections and Gaidi M'taani. Noticeable too was that the text and images composing bomb-making instructional guides were not only the commonest, but also the most detailed types of guides contained in Inspire, with both a high number of images and lengthy supporting text. A clear finding is thus that the purpose of AQAP's Inspire was not just to inspire readers, in the sense of infusing them with some thought or feeling, but also to supply them with instructions on how these thoughts or feelings could be violently actuated.
Low Frequency Eddy Current Testing to Measure Thickness of Double Layer Plates Made of Nonmagnetic Steel
Authors: Tajima Naoki  , Yusa Noritaka  , Hashizume Hidetoshi
Published: February 2025

This study attempts to apply low frequency eddy current testing to measure the thickness of double-layered plates which consist of two 304 austenitic stainless steel plates with a thickness of about 30 mm and an air gap with a thickness of 80 mm. The results of numerical simulations show that a change in the magnetic flux density due to the thickness change of the plates appears at the center of the coil when the diameter of the exciting coil is as large as 300 mm and the exciting frequency is in the low tens of Hertz. Experimental verifications were conducted using a magneto-impedance sensor whose sensitivity was 1 mV/nT and sensing range was from 0.2 nT to 2000 nT. We used a large diameter pancake exciting coil and a compensating coil to make up for the short of the range of the magnetic sensor during the measurements. The signals of the sensor situated at the center of the exciting coil changed with the thickness of the double-layered plates, which agrees with the result of the simulations.
Real-Time Flaw Characterization Through Learning-by-Examples Techniques: A Comparative Study Applied to ECT
Authors: Ahmed Shamim  , Miorelli Roberto  , Salucci Marco  , Massa Andrea
Published: February 2025

In this paper, real time flaw characterization inside the structure under test (SUT) exploiting Learning by Examples (LBE) strategies is illustrated in the framework of Electromagnetic NDT (E-NDT). In particular, several LBE methodologies are investigated when dealing with the inversion of Eddy Current Testing (ECT) data. The performance of LBE algorithms is evaluated in terms of CPU time efficiency, and prediction accuracy on noisy data. Towards this end, a comparison between different regression techniques is shown by considering both synthetic and real experimental ECT data.
Optimization of Flexible Eddy Current Patterns with Low Sensitivity to Lift-Off
Authors: Decitre Jean-Marc
Published: February 2025

Eddy Current is a powerful mean of detection of defects located close to the surface in conductive parts. The use of winding coils has shown good efficiency and gave good results in lots of applications. Nevertheless, it reveals some limits in some cases, when the part has a complex shape for instance. Therefore, other technologies are investigated such as coils etched on kapton film. Thanks to this technology, it is possible to design efficient probes with a low sensitivity to lift-off, on the one hand thanks to the flexibility of the sensor, and on the other hand thanks to the intrinsic design of the pattern. The paper presents the method to optimize these two patterns and a comparison between simulation data and experimental data.
Customized Eddy Current Probes for Pipe Inspection
Authors: Machado Miguel A.  , Rosado Luís  , Pedrosa Nuno  , Miranda R.M.  , Piedade Moisés  , Santos Telmo G.
Published: February 2025

A novel Eddy Current (EC) probe configurations were developed to detect millimeter defects with any orientation on inner or outer pipe surfaces. The probes were designed and experimentally validated in different materials where the defects tested were identified with a high sensitivity and good signal-to-noise ratio.
Application of Electromagnetic Non-Destructive Testing Methods in Art Conservation
Authors: Chady Tomasz  , Manna Przemysław
Published: February 2025

Objects of cultural heritage must be treated with extreme care and the inspection should not cause any kind of material degradation. Electromagnetic methods of non-destructive testing (NDT) enables to achieve detailed information on internal structure of conducting and no conducting materials without any unwanted side effects. Two methods of NDT were considered as the most promising tools for such application: a digital radiography and a terahertz imaging. Results of inspection carried out for two objects are presented.
Fundamental Study on Magnetic Field Sensor Operating at High Temperature
Authors: Kikuchi Hiroaki  , Honmyo Katsufumi
Published: February 2025

We investigated magnetic properties of representative soft magnetic materials, then clarified that non-oriented iron-silicon steel maintains high permeability and shows the most stable temperature dependence of the properties in the temperature range from room temperature to 600°C. The fundamental element for the development of a magnetic field sensor using non-oriented Fe-Si steel was composed and the changes in inductance of the element, are proportional to the permeability of the material, were evaluated by applying a magnetic field to the element. The inductance decreases with increasing the magnetic field almost linearly, indicating the possibility of a magnetic field sensor operating at high temperature up to 600°C.
Active Cyber Defense as a Preemptive Self-Defense Measure
Authors: Gokce Yasir
Published: February 2025

Active Cyber Defense tend to be associated with the phrases “hacking back” or “attacking the attacker,” denoting retaliation or retribution with the likelihood of harming unrelated third parties. Nevertheless, Active Cyber Defense has long been employed by States facing increasingly sophisticated cyber incidents in combination with Passive Cyber Defense. Some of the Active Cyber Defense measures taken against another State in self-defense fall within the category of international law governing the use of force, and therefore should be dealt with using the tenets provided by that branch of law. The main assertion of this essay is that ethical and legal issues surrounding some Active Cyber Defense measures can effectively be handled through the legal framework provided by the Caroline formulation of the preemptive doctrine.
A Concurrent Design Architecture for Electronic Product Design and Test
Authors: Ng C.B. Richard  , Bil Cees  , Marzocca Pier
Published: February 2025

Concurrent Design (CD) has been applied in space missions and systems designs since the European Space Agency (ESA) evaluating the benefits of CD towards assessment studies as part of the definition for future space missions. In 1998, the European Space Research & Technology Centre (ESTEC) Concurrent Design Facility (CDF) was established to perform concurrent assessments of space missions. CDF approach is an alternative to the traditional design methods due to its abilities to address deficiencies such as, lack of synergy among design teams, inefficient design cycle, lack of systems-level perspective and developing a completely consistent design process. Research institutions, industries and universities using CDF/CE have reported better results than traditional methods for end-to-end space missions and space systems design projects. But, over the past 20 years, CDF/CEF has focused mainly in aerospace system design when compared with automotive and electronic products designs sectors. These commercial product design/manufacturing sectors are important to our global economy too, so CDF/CEF methods should also be widely expanded into these sectors. This should helps meet market windows, lower product costs with improved quality and reliability. In this respect, more engineers are required to be trained in CDF focusing in automotive and electronic products designs for production. This paper provides high level description of early CDF architecture, electronic volume production line architecture, and integrate the relevant parts of both to derive an enhance CD architecture. Next, the working principles of the main testing platform to capture production defects will be presented in order to show the benefits of incorporating design-for-testability (DFT) especially in the early CDF design phase, before providing an adaptation of this enhance CD version [1], suitable for education. This aims at familising students in the process of application of specific domain disciplines including design-for-manufacturability (DFM) and design-for-testability (DFT) for volume production.
Using Machine Learning to Forecast Patent Quality – Take “Vehicle Networking” Industry for Example
Authors: Fan Chin-Yuan  , Chang Shu-Hao  , Chang Hsin-Yuan  , Weng Sung-Shun  , Lo Shan
Published: February 2025

Machine learning has become a key development target globally in recent years. An increasing number of algorithms have been applied to solve practical issues. At the present stage, machine learning technologies have progressed from a pure research topic to tools employed for solving practical issues, becoming a key development direction of practical technologies and a prominent emerging discipline. Furthermore, current machine learning technologies have transformed from tools that supplement decision-making to methods that replace manual decision making when generating optimal decisions. This transformation fundamentally changes the tasks that required relatively long workhours in the past. In addition, this may even facilitate distinctive interpretations to effectively aid researchers and operators in addressing problems from a new perspective. Therefore, this study adopted a machine learning technology, namely artificial neural networks (ANNs), to examine relevant topics in patent quality. To verify the effect and identify the characteristics of machine learning in patent quality analysis, this study focused on the fast-changing internet of vehicles (IoV) industry. tailed analyses of key patents were also performed. Finally, a model of high-quality patents in this industry was developed to serve as a reference for other researchers.
Gamification to Engage Manufacturers with Servitization
Authors: Andrews Daniel  , Petridis Panagiotis  , Baines Tim  , Ziaee Bigdeli Ali  , Guang Shi Victor  , Baldwin James  , Ridgway Keith
Published: February 2025

Servitization can include many kinds of processes and outcomes depending upon the contexts in which it occurs. This means that servitization is difficult to model accurately in simulations. Games, on the other hand, prioritize the provision of engaging experiences for participants over modelling realistic processes, while Serious Games can combine elements of both games and simulations. Gamification is a more recent term than either ‘simulation’ or ‘serious game’ that has been retrospectively used to describe the process of combining game elements with simulation models to create serious games. As the knowledge base of servitization is quite broad, and specific processes of transformation have yet to be verified, serious games and gamification may be more suited to engaging manufacturers with servitization than simulations. Having co-created several gamified software applications based on servitization, we discuss our findings in relation to this process.